Sunday, February 18, 2018

Alcohol Inks and Mandalas

I wanted to pop in today to share a few cards I created recently. I am sincerely trying to post more frequently despite the fact that I am having supreme difficulty getting decent photos of my projects.

I've been trying different things for picture taking. Trying my phone, which ends up slightly blurry. Trying my camera, which ends up blurry or dark or in some other way unappealing. Trying in my living room by the big picture window, which ends up with a blue cast. On my dining room table, which ends up blurry and a bit dark. I even tried my bright bedroom as seen in the first photo here and that looks odd to me. I've tried editing these and this is as good as I can get it. I really think my camera is too old, but I haven't pulled the trigger to buy a new one. I have to do something though, because it's getting pretty frustrating. So, feel free to enlarge if you like, but no promises on how decent it looks. Eventually I'll get it worked out.

Enough of that vent, here's what I've been working on.

The first card I am sharing is to give you an idea of what I used for the second card. I used alcohol inks on Yupo paper to get the look you see in this heart. I also added some gold mixative. I tried to capture how pretty and intense the color is.

The Lawn Fawn hugs sentiment is cut from some gold cardstock I bought at Hobby Lobby over the holidays. It's got some dimension from a couple of cuts from black cardstock and layered. 

I had some of the alcohol inked paper left over and recently received the My Favorite Things new Magical Mandala die which I thought would look neat die cut from the alcohol inked background. I tried it on a background I didn't like as much and it failed to cut cleanly despite running the die through a couple of times. I thought the Yupo paper couldn't be cut cleanly until I saw a blogger who shared a card with this same die cut from Yupo paper. I asked her if she did anything special. Nope, just ran it through a few times. So I tried again, this time running it through like 5-6 times. It cut better, but I still struggled to get some of the pieces out.  (My Cuttlebug is the original one from like 2005 or so, it probably is showing its age, too). 
Here's what I came up with. 
 Despite all the struggles getting a clean cut, I am thrilled with the end result!
The happy birthday is heat embossed in gold using the sentiment from Paper Smooches recently released In Stitches stamp set. The rounded corner stitched mat is from MFT Blueprints 31.

This final card is not alcohol inked at all. I just thought I'd share it because I was using the Magical Mandala die. It cut regular cardstock beautifully. I cased a card made by Torico  as shown in this blog post . She colored vellum with Copic markers to get the stained glass effect. I remember learning that technique way back in my early years of paper crafting. I love how these techniques come around again and are so fresh and fun. 
I didn't have a frame for the stained glass window effect that Torico used, so I adhered the vellum to the cardstock mandala using Stick It. I then fussy cut around the edge  of the mandala to cut away the excess vellum. I colored the back side of the vellum using Copic markers.  I used what turned out to be the last of the adhesive in my Xyron 5 inch machine to cover the back of the vellum so I could attach it to the mat. I heat embossed the sentiment in silver. I added the white dots with my white Uniball gel. pen. I'm so happy with the final result. 

Thanks so much for stopping by. 
I hope you have a happy day!

Hugs,

9 comments:

Kay Miller said...

Jeanne these are beautiful!!! The alcohol inked ones are just amazing, but I have to admit I am totally smitten by the pastel stained glass one! That is so pretty! I will defnitely put that on my list of things to try! Along with the Mandala die that you have now convinced me I need! haha! ((Hugs))

Sharli Schaitberger said...

Woot! You've posted some of your alcohol ink creations! I really love them ALL. The heart with the streaks of gold is gorgeous! The middle one, where you die cut the mandala, is spectacular - such pretty colors and so delicate! The last one is soft and lovely - and loads more work that I'm up to! Seriously! But you have rung the bell with these three!
Hugs!!

Alanna said...

What great cards Jeanne. I love that Mandala die and am sorry it was giving you such fits. Do you have a metal shim? I think it's a must have for intricate dies like that.

As for your photography, I'm sorry that's giving you troubles as well. I wish I had some good words to give but as someone who also struggles getting good photos, I feel your pain.

Anita in France said...

A trio of loveliness, Jeanne ... each so deliciously CAS! The rich, saturated AI colour on the heart is gorgeous with the glimmer of gold ... and the mandala is so fine and delicate ... beautiful in both versions! Hugs, Anita :)

Loll said...

Beautiful cards Jeanne. I LOVE the colours of your AI heart. Absolutely gorgeous combination and so elegant with the added gold. The hugs die is just perfect.

Pretty Mandala die. Looks amazing in both the AI and Copic-coloured vellum. Wonderful CAS designs Jeanne!!

xx

Patti said...

Oh Jeanne! you have really created some masterpieces here!! I can't decide which I LOVE more!! beautifully done! I hate it when dies don't cut all the way through but I applaud your sticking to it because these are splendid in every way!!

♥ Patti

Georgiana said...

All are so pretty!

Barb said...

Jeanne! It looks like you're having a fun experimenting with new things. Good for you! Your cards are lovely. The colors are oh so pretty! Bravo to you for sticking with it on that Mandala die! Sounds like a bit of nightmare. But, the end results are beautiful!

I'm so pleased to see you having fun in your crafty space!

Hugs,
Barb:)

Fiona said...

Thank you Jeanne for your kind words on my butterfly card for Inspired By challenge - I feel your pain with taking decent photos too though yours look great to me.