Take a Journey Inspired by my Crafting Muse

Miss Monica over at TaylorMadeCards4U is turning 50! In celebration, we're bringing you a Journey inspired Hop full of amazing prizes! All you need to do is hop along and if you're inspired, create your own Journey Inspired project and link back to Monica's blog post.

Monica has long been my card making muse. Her eye for a vintage flair and her steampunk influence are what I aspire to create. I was honored when she asked me to hop along with her for her birthday and hope I am able to inspire you to try something new!

The greatest thing about mixed media is that anything goes. Any items you find laying around can be used and it's a great opportunity to upcycle! Keeping that in mind, here is my creation

I started out with a page from an old book. It had very few photos in it, but with our hop theme of "Journey" I thought this image was a great fit.

Using Ranger Distress Oxide Inks in Fossilized Amber and Vintage Photo, I used a sponge dauber to darken the edges of my photo.


Grabbing two rolls of washi tape, I adhered random lengths to the right side of my image.











Using a script stamp from Rubbernecker stamps, I stamped a little script in the lower left corner. It's tough to see, but it's those little details that make for an added vintage feel.

I then took a scoop of Dreamweaver Translucent Embossing Paste and mixed it well with a spritz of Walnut Ink in Terra Cotta. Using a paper towel, I spread it over the entire card front then hit it with my heat gun. This provided a glossy finish, and strengthened my very brittle book page.

I then hand tore the edges and opted to leave them white, for the simple contrast.

Finally, I stamped a sentiment from the Unity Stamp Co February Kit of the month in dark brown pigment ink and clear embossed it in the upper left side. It reads "Life Brings us to Unexpected Places, Love Brings Us Home." I thought this was an excellent tribute to our challenge!

I mounted my card front onto some terra cotta paper and onto a chocolate brown card base.

This card was very quick to put together and I'd encourage you all to give something like this a try!
More so, I encourage you to hop on over to Monica's blog and leave her some Birthday love, as well as read about all the ways you could win one of many fabulous prizes in honor of her special day!
Thanks for stopping by on your journey!

Quick Card - Truly Rest

Today I wanted to share with you a very quick set of cards I made, using images and stamps from Unity Stamp CompanyFor this card, I used the Truly Rest image and sentiment.

To make this card, I cut strips of blue cardstock into 12 x 3 inch strips. I then stamped 3 images onto each strip, using VersaMark and heat embossed the entire strip using Nuvo Embossing Powder in Classic Gold. I like to assembly line out my cards when possible and this was a great way to do so. I was able to stamp, then sprinkle, then heat emboss 3 images at a time this way.

I then trimmed my images into 2.75 x 2.75 inch squares and inked the edges in both a light and dark blue, smudging the corners for an additional distressed look. I then trimmed a piece of patterned paper into 3 x 3 inch squares, and a piece of green solid card stock into a 3.25 x 3.25 inch square, then matted my image.

I then selected two different patterns of washi tape, one in a blue and green chevron and one in blue polka dots. I placed one piece of the wider chevron washi tape at the top of a yellow 3.75 x 5 inch piece of card stock, and two strips of the thinner polka dot washi below it, leaving very little space in between.
Using blue dye ink, I stamped the sentiment onto my yellow card stock. I then placed my matted image at an angle atop my washi tape. I glued that piece onto a 5.25 x 4 inch piece of patterned paper and adhered it to my 5.5 x 4.25 inch craft card base. I placed 3 dots of Nuvo Crystal Drops in Midnight Blue.

If you haven't checked out the Nuvo line, you can shop at So Suzy Stamps for a wide variety of embossing powders, Glitter Drops, and Crystal Drops.

I kept the inside of my card simple. I matted a piece of white cardstock measuring 3.75 x 5 inches onto a piece of solid green card stock measuring 5.25 x 4 inches.

Using a bit of an assembly line, I was able to make 9 cards (2 sets for my Etsy shop at 1 for charity) within about 90 mins. I did let the Crystal Drops dry over night before packaging them.

These cards remind me of the hope Spring brings and I feel both serenity and cheer when I look at them! Let me know what they make you feel!