1.20.19 Cute Peek-a-boo Window Card Using Blending (cosmetic) brushes

On January 12, 2019 I completed a You Tube live that was all about using blending brushes to make backgrounds for cards. I asked my crafty friends on the live stream to pick out the colors for me to blend and the stamps to use with each card panel. This teamwork approach resulted in this cute peek-a-boo window card featuring a sweet bunny family.  

Cosmetic Style Blending Brushes are all the rave right now in the craft world. They are being touted as life altering. And for good reason. These soft bristled, velvety smooth,ergonomically shaped blending tools are like a dream when using them to apply ink to paper. Very little "elbow grease" is required to lay down a nice layer of ink. 

I purchased an initial three pack set of Cosmetic Blending Brushes at a big box retail chain for a the low price of $5.00.  I wanted to see what all the hype was about before making a larger investment. When I played with them I found them to be so effortless to use, I decided to purchase more.  I also purchased a set of 10 for $10.00 on Amazon.

Here is the inside of the Green Card:

Here are some other example cards that I made using the cosmetic blending brushes for the background panel (embossed first with Brutus Monroe embossing folder).  The cute sentiments and characters that I colored in with copic markers are also from Brutus Monroe.

 These cards were alot of fun to create because the blending brushes made it so easy and because I did these cards during a You Tube live stream where I got alot of good ideas from the people watching.  Thank you my crafty friends!

1.16.19 Just Breathe

Just Breathe

There are some days that are more stressful.  Some memories that are too painful, and every year those anniversary dates roll around again. The years since the tragedy has taken place really seem like just yesterday. They say time can heal all wounds but that's really not true.  Love can help the hurt, but the wound is still there.  Just breathe my friend, Just breathe. Deep breathing exercises can help reduce stress, lower blood pressure, and reduce anxiety.  Guided imagery and meditation can do wonders.

These are the things I had in mind when I created this card. The mantra "Just Breathe" isn't one that is found on too many stamps or dies in the card making industry. I have searched and I've only found one stamp set with those words.  I was so glad that my dear husband got me a Brother Scan N Cut for Christmas. I found a shop on Etsy that had this sentiment available as an SVG file and I purchased it. I printed it out three times on my Scan N Cut then glued the three layers together, making a thicker stack paper and giving he words some dimension.

As the words dried, I used the Brutus Monroe Embossing Folder "Petal Flowers" to emboss a piece of 4" x 5.25" white 110 pound Neenah card stock.  I ran the folder with the paper inside through my Big Kick.  Then I used Brutus Monroe surface inks in these colors: Rock Candy, Cornflower, Sea and Cabana.  I used (cosmetic) blending brushes to apply the ink on my embossed card stock. I would like to say I was successful at making it look like an Ombré effect, but it actually looks more like stained glass, and I am OK with that.  I then secured the inked panel to a 4.25" x 5.5" folded card.

Last step was embossing the word "Just Breathe" with Brutus Monroe Alabaster embossing powder and using my heat tool to set the embossing powder.  Then I glued the words "Just Breathe"onto the front of the blue panel and my card was done!

This is one of the my favorite cards because of the sentiment "Just Breathe."  I hope you remember to "Just Breathe"and relax the next time you feel your blood pressure begin to boil. 

Remember, You are loved and the world needs your light.  I need your light. Don't forget you matter to me.

1.15.19 Ladybug Happy Valentine's Day

I love ladybugs. Using the two ladybug stamps from the December 2018 Brutus Monroe Inspiration Box Kit's Lucky You Stamp set, I created my own black and white patterned paper. I made several panels of the same style, using both the large and the small ladybug stamps. 

Using copic makers, I colored one Ladybug to be the accent focal point of my black and white card panel. I selected a sentiment from the Brutus Monroe sentiments stamp set. "Sent with Love" was the sentiment that I selected, because this is a Valentine's Day Card for my Aunt Linda who asked on Facebook that I make her a card.  I used a circle die to cut the Sentiment out. On a separate piece of white card stock I then colored some small and large ladybugs. I cut those out on my Brother Scan N Cut machine. I put one of the little lady bugs on the circle with the sentiment and colored in the two tiny hearts on the Sentiment. After I glued my Sentiment circle onto the panel, I placed three red sequins on as accents. Finally, I glued the finished panel to a piece of red card stock folded in half to complete this cute tri-colored Valentine's Day Card. 

My second card was created using the same steps as above, except I used a large lady bug and one small heart from the Brutus Monroe Lucky You stamp set as my accents to the black and white panel. I changed it up a bit for the sentiment. I used a heart shaped die cut out on black paper. I placed the die cut word "love" across the heart and added three Brutus Monroe red flat back pearls to the black heart. This card panel was then glued to a folded red card base. 

I repeated this process and made half a dozen assorted lady bug cards 

similar to the two featured in the photos above. 

Happy Valentine's Day (early) everyone!

1.14.19

Hello and welcome to my Blog. Learning how to post and this is a test.  Will post a blog about the cards that I made soon!!!