Wetlands

I found this image while sorting through my craft room, I have no idea why I didn't turn it into a card when I stamped it,  I really don't  know.  

It has taken a few years but it is finally a card.  I used the retired  "wetlands"  stamp  for this card and a new set for the sentiment. I can't remember what it's called at the moment.

Guest artist Sharon.

This card was sent to me for my birthday last summer.  I am little bit late posting it.
It was made for me by my lovely  friend Sharon.
Sharon used the Wetland Stamp set for this card along with  one ink and white gel pen. Isn't it effective.

Wetlands Sunset Card

Today's post is a sunset card.  I love sunsets so I thought it would be  good to have a go at creating one with sponges.
The inks I used were Sunset Yellow, Real Red, Cherry Cobbler, Chocolate Chip and black Stazon.
I started by sponging over the top section of the card with yellow, then masked off a circle for the sun and the horizon. Working on the sky  I sponged on more yellow until the colour was quite intense.

 Then I applied the real red ink  gently working in from the edges of the card.   To finish the sky I added a touch of cherry cobbler in the  top corners. 
Once I was happy with the sky I removed the horizon mask (leaving the sun mask on) turned it  around, stuck it back down where the sky line finished and began working on the water.

First I applied yellow to the centre foreground.
I then applied the real red to the horizon line and worked down the card until the red and yellow met and then softly blending the two colours until I had the depth of orange I wanted.

 Using the Cherry Cobbler ink  I added a touch more colour to the horizon.
The Chocolate Chip was sponged on to the bottom two corners  and then I removed the Mask from the sun and stamped the image along the lower edge of the card using black Stazon , Making sure I  varied the height of the foliage.
Finally I stamped the Greeting using the Stamp-a-ma jig to get the position just right.
Warning : 
Do make sure your hands are clean after each step and before touching your work. 
I must have inked  this  scene about five times before this one, because I didn't 
I  totally ruined some nice sunset picture with my inky fingers.

Wetlands Goose Card

I occasionally   Google  Stampin Up cards (images) to gain some inspiration from other demonstrators. I came across  a card very similar to this created by the amazing Michelle Zindorf.

Michelle's cards seem to jump out at you from the  screen.
There is something about Michelle's a cards that put them in a league of their own. 
I have never tried to CASE one of her cards before because I didn't think,  I would be able to do it justice as brayering is not one of my strong points.
But Michelle has very kindly put a tutorial on her blog showing us all how to reproduce this card.
So I thought I would have a go.
I don't have the ink pad colours she used so I used Marina mist and a touch of pacific point to do the brayering.  I don't think this has come out to bad on the whole.
I have also changed the colour the bottom layer to crumb cake and I stamped feathers on it from the fine feathers stamp set before putting it all together.
Another thing I did differently was stamp the goose and masked it off before brayering  to keep the white area s white.  I also used white craft ink and a  small  damp paintbrush to go over the goose's breast as my white gel pen is very scratchy, so I only use it for fine lines not to cover large areas.  I  also used the blender pen to blend in the edged of the white ink into the sahara sands ink.
 I also added a greeting.

 If you want to have a go at this card go to Michelle's blog for the tutorial.  While your there take a good look at her cards they are truly amazing and you'll see what I mean about them jumping out the screen at you.   If She can't inspire you.... Nobody can.

Wetlands Card.

Here we have another card I have CASED from the very talented Brenda Keenan.
Brenda  has made a video on the making of this card and you can see it on You Tube.

I stamped a bit more greenery on mine to hide a couple of  ink spots that were not meant  to be there.
I must admit this took me about three attempts  as I kept putting my inky fingers in just the wrong place or I smudged  the greeting and I ruined the whole thing. But I persevered until I ended up with one that was acceptable.

 If you have the Wetlands stamp set from Stampin' Up have a go at this one.
You  need five ink pads:  soft sky,  old olive, pacific point, crumb cake and black Stazon.
Sponge or sponge daubers.
Whisper white, pacific point and crumb cake card stock.
Markers  in crumb cake and soft suede to colour the birds.(Brenda used just the crumb cake marker but I added a few dots of soft suede  in the darker areas.)
The wetland stamp set,
and some linen thread.
Post it notes for masking or a sheet of  paper and the two way glue pen.
I used a white gel pen to add white under carriages  and highlights on the birds.