Ok, after an over whelming response I recreated this card so you can see how it was done.  :)  But, this also leaves me with two of the same card, so I’ll give one away here as blog candy.  If you would like a chance at getting it, please leave a comment on this post.  If you are getting this blog update by e-mail and you wish to comment, please click this link that will take you to my blog so you can comment for a chance to win this card http://zindorf.blogs.splitcoaststampers.com/2008/06/25/isc-leaf-in-pond-tutorial/

I’ll use a random number generator to pick a number on Friday morning.

The images used on this card are by Innovative Stamp Creations, Stamp Sheets “Summer Flair” and “Fall Leaves”.  Here is a link to their online store:

http://www.innovativestampcreations.com/ischomepage.html

Let’s get started on the tutorial.  

Supplies:

Stamped Leaf image on Whisper White card stock by first loading the stamp with Versamark and then Lettuce ink before stamping.

Heat embossed image using clear embossing powder and a heat gun.

Colored in the open area of the leaf with a Prismacolor Chartreuse marker.

Colored the leaf with a Prismacolor Light Olive Green marker leaving some of the leaf points light green.

Colored over the entire image with a Versamark Marker and heat embossed using clear embossing powder and a heat gun.

Stamped half of the grasses image by loading only part of the stamp with Versamark and then lettuce ink before stamping.

Heat embossed grasses using clear embossing powder and a heat gun.

Brayered over the card stock with Pool ink.

Cut various sizes of circle with a Coluzzle out of card stock to use as mask.

Using the largest circle (3 5/8″) I held it in place as I sponged Stream ink around it.  I tried to have the darkest ink area right at the mask edge.

Using a smaller circle (2.5″), I put it in the middle and sponged Stream ink around the outside edge of it.

Using the smallest circle (2″), I put it in the middle and sponged Stream ink around the outside edge of it.

I created a larger circle on the outside of the others by sponging Stream ink in the corners of the card stock.  You could use a larger circle mask for this step.

Stamped the black grasses in the upper left corner by loading Basic Black ink on half of the stamp.

To give the illusion of part of the leaf being under water I made a line between the dark green and the light green areas on the image with a White Gel pen.

There you have it!  The finished cards all assembled, measuring 5.25″ x 5.25″.

Hope your day is filled with peace and cool pond breezes. 

Until my next post . . . . . . . . .

Michelle

I’m continuing on with the ways to use a leaf image week here on my blog.  Why Leaf week, because I can, lol.  No, really I love leaf/nature images.  There is something comforting and peaceful about an image of a leaf.  At least that is how I view them.  :)  They shouldn’t just be used for fall cards, as I have been so very guilty of in the past.  This creation ended up looking masculine to me, which is a plus in my world, since I’m surround by men.

The images used today are from Innovative Stamp Creations.  Here is a link to their online store:  http://www.innovativestampcreations.com/ischomepage.html

I also made this card, but I don’t have a tutorial for it.  My camera battery died after the first shot when I was making it.  I would probably be willing to recreate it, but only if there is enough interest in the tutorial.  So if you are interested in the tutorial, please leave a comment on this post or if you are getting this by e-mail click on this link to leave a comment.  http://zindorf.blogs.splitcoaststampers.com/2008/06/23/isc-wood-and-leaf-tutorial/

Let’s get started on the tutorial. 

Supplies:

Stamps:  Innovative Stamp Creations “Wood Grain” & Fall Leaves

Paper:  SU Whisper White, Basic Black, Blush Blossom & Really Rust

Ink:  Palette Noir Black, SU Basic Black & Handsome Hunter, Adirondack Peach Bellini & Ginger

Assessories:  Prismacolor Markers Forest Green & Spearmint, Brayer, Versamark Marker, Clear embossing Powder, heat gun, Sponges, Brads, ticket corner punch, Piercing tools, White Gel pen, Grunge board hinges.

Stamped leaf on Whisper White card stock with Palette Noir Black ink. 

Note:  I used this ink because I am going to color the image with solvent based markers and the Palette ink will not smear with this medium.

Colored the leaf image in with a Prismacolor Spearmint marker.

Colored part of the leaf with a Prismacolor Forest Green marker.

Colored over the entire image again with the Spearmint marker to soften and blend the colors together.

Added a bit more Forest green at the bottom of the leaf.    I love these solvent based Prismacolor markers because, just like I’ve shown here with just two markers, you can layer the colors to get a whole lot of variation in shading.  Fun huh?

Colored over the entire image with a Versamark marker and heat embossed using clear embossing powder and a heat gun.

Brayered over the entire card stock with Peach Bellini ink.

Brayered Ginger ink on the right side of the card stock.

Using a large unmounted stamp, such as this Wood Grain stamp, is so very easy.  I just put them on my work surface face side up.  Ink them by swiping my ink pad across the top.  Put my card stock face down on the rubber stamp.  Put a scrap piece of paper over it and rub it with my hand to transfer the image onto the card stock.

Note:  After inking the wood grain stamp, I used a sponge and swiped from top to bottom on the rubber stamp to get more of a stripe in the wood image.

Sponged Basic Black ink heavily at the Right side of the card stock.

Sponged a little Handsome Hunter ink at the left side of the black ink to soften the black edge.

Sponged Ginger ink at the bottom of the leaf image to create a shadow.

Outlined the top of the leaf image with a white gel pen to add some highlight.

I got this Grunge board by Tim Holtz from Innovative Stamp Creations and decided to give it a try today.  First of all, this is not like chip board it is so flexible.  I was amazed at how it took ink too.  I inked my hinge pieces with basic black ink.

Used a ticket corner punch on the corners of my main image panel.

Assembled the card and pierced along the top, bottom and left side of the Really Rust Panel with my piercing tools.

Here is my finished card measuring 5″ x 6.5″.

Thanks for hanging out with me today while I continue on with my Leaf excursion.  Hopefully, you will start to see leaves in a whole new light too.

May your day be filled with the tinkling sound of  Aspen leaves.

Until my next post. . . . . . .

Michelle

I was thinking today (watch out!) about all the different ways that a leaf can be used.  I use to only think about using leaf images during the fall and always colored them in fall colors.    Well this week I am going to try to think out of that fall box and use leaf images in other ways.  The leaf image itself is very powerful and can often be used alone.  This image is by Asela Hopkins from her new “Botanical Dreams” set is stunning.  This set can be found at Gina K. Designs, http://www.ginakdesigns.com/.

Ready to start this tutorial?  Let’s go. 

Supplies:

Stamp leaf image with black ink on Whisper White Card stock.

Color image with a Gable Green Marker.

Color Inside of the leaves with an Old Olive marker.

Colored inside the Old Olive with a Always Artichoke marker.

Colored over entire leaf image with the Gable Green marker to blend and soften edges.

Colored over leaf image with a Versamark marker and heat embossed using clear embossing powder and a heat gun.

You can’t see it in the photos, but I dotted the card stock all over with the Versamark marker and then heat embossed the dots with clear embossing powder and a heat gun.  You will be able to see it in later steps.

Sponged on Soft Sky ink in a circular motion all over the card stock.

After the Soft Sky ink dried entirely, I sponged a bit of Versamark on the card stock to create a speckled background.  I covered the sponged versamark with clear embossing powder, but it seemed to be to thick so I took a sponged and sponged some of the embossing powder off before heating it with a heat gun.  Note:  this you will also see better in later steps.

Sponged on Blue Bayou ink.

Use the swirl Cuttle bug folder to emboss the card stock.

Sponged on some more Blue Bayou ink on the swirls around the leaf image to define them.

Sponged on Not Quite Navy ink leaving some light spots on the card stock showing.

Getting darker yet, sponged on Night of Navy ink.

Even getting darker on the left side and on the top right corner, sponged Black ink.

Assembled card and added Photo corner punches.

Added a brad to the photo corner punches and here the card is finished, measuring 5″ x 6.5″.

Well I had a wonderful day yesterday stamping with Mary Brown, Connie Babbert and Karen Barber.  Here is a picture of us together at a teahouse  we went to for lunch.

From left to right, Me, Karen Barber, Mary Brown and Connie Babbert.

We had the most fantastic time stamping together.  Here is a glimps of the projects we made, less mine, you seen mine on my post yesterday.  They are so very talent! 

They wip out 3D projects like they are nothing.  I struggle with 3D, that’s for sure!!!  Anyway, if you ever get the opportunity to stamp with any of these ladies, do it!  You won’t regret it.

Well that’s it for today!  Hope your Sunday is sensational!

Until my next post. . . . . . .

Michelle

This was created with a brand new set by Asela Hopkins “Botanical Dreams” that can be purchased from Gina K. Designs.  Here is the link to Gina’s online store:  http://www.ginakdesigns.com/

I’m going on a little drive to Columbus, OH today with my friend Karen Barber to meet two new stamping friends, Connie & Mary.  We are all bringing a shoe box swap to share with each other.  A shoe box swap is when you bring all the makings for a project for everyone to make one and kind of teach the stamp project to the people you are stamping with.  It is loads of fun and I can’t wait to see what they have in store for me.    I love stamping with friends old and new!  Anyway, if you are Karen, Connie or Mary stop reading this post! LOL.  This is my shoe box swap for today.  Wish you all could come and stamp with us, but since you can’t, are you ready for the tutorial?

Let’s get started. 

Supplies:

Paper:  SU Whisper White, Not Quite Navy& Soft Sky

Ink:  SU Soft Sky, Basic Black & Not Quite Navy

Accessories:  1 3/8″ Circle punch, post it notes, Brads, Brayer, Sponges, Stamp-a-ma-jig, Old Olive Marker

Punched 1 3/8″ circle from the sticky part of a post it note to use as a mask for the moon.

Brayer on Soft Sky ink at the top half of the card stock.

Brayered on Soft Sky ink at the bottom 1/4 of the card stock.

Brayered Not Quite Navy ink at the top of the card stock not covering the Soft Sky ink completely.

Brayered Not Quite Navy ink at the very bottom of the card stock.

Covered the sky area of the card stock with post it notes.  The sticky part of the post it note is put were I want my horizon line to be.

Sponge on Not Quite Navy using a right to left swiping motion, right at the edge of the post it note onto the card stock.   This really defines the horizon line and gives a water look.

Removed post it note mask.

With an almost dry sponge, sponged with a swiping motion across the moon, leaving faint streaks of Not Quite Navy.

Stamp the plant image 4 times with Basic Black ink at the lower left corner of the card stock.

Using a Stamp-a-ma-jig for placement, stamp the sentiment with Basic Black ink.  What would I do without my Stamp-a-ma-jig.  I guess I would just send out cards with crooked stuff stamp on them (like in the old days).  LOL

Sponged Basic Black ink on the lower left corner using an up ward swiping motion to create a grassy effect.

Colored the plant leaves with an Old Olive marker.

Assembled the card and here it is finished measuring 5.25″ x 5.25″.

One more thing, I want to tell you about the Spellbinders Nestabilities sale going on at Innovative Stamp Creations.  Here are the details. 

 Innovative Stamp Creations 
15-16% OFF Spellbinders Nestabilities diecuts!
Discount has been applied on the shopping cart!
OFFER ends Sunday 6/22/08
Some nesties are in stock others will arrive next week! 
Have fun shopping!

Hey, when you make a purchase, tell them I sent you in the comments section when checking out.  :)   Enjoy!

May all your dreams come true today!

Until my next post, because I’m out of here to go stamp and make new friends .. . . . . . . . .

Michelle

I created this card using the sketch challenge on Innovative Stamp Creations’ site and the Innovation Stamp Creations set Friendship.  Here are the details for the challenge.

ISCC6 Sketch Challenge

WIN a FREE ISC Stamp Sheet of your choice!
Super easy, use ISC stamps only on your design, then post your link in the comments section on the Innovative Stamp CreationsBlog
A random name will be chosen and announced on the blog!

Ends: 6/29/08 (c6)

Let’s get started on the tutorial. 

Supplies:

Stamped face image on Whisper White card stock using Palette Noir black ink.

Cut the image in a circle using a circle Coluzzle template.

Sponge Soft Sky ink on the image using a circular motion and leaving a light area in the middle of the image.

Sponge Bordering Blue ink on the image, not covering the Soft Sky ink entirely.

Sponge Not Quite Navy ink around the edge of the image.

Colored the eyes with a Bordering Blue marker.

Colored the highlight in the eye with a White Gel Pen.

Background panel:  Brayered Soft Sky ink on Whisper White card stock.

Brayered Not Quite Navy Ink on the top and bottom of the card stock, leaving the Soft Sky ink showing in the middle.

Covered the bottom of the card stock with post it notes to mask it.

Ripped a Jagged edge in a piece of scrap paper to use to mask the top of the card stock and to create a mountain image.

Holding the scrap paper mask in place, sponged black ink in the unmasked area.

Removed both masks.

Turned card stock upside down and put post it notes on to mask a little bit of the card stock under the mountains to create a beach.  Sponged Not Quite Navy ink right at the edge of the post it notes using a swiping motion from right to left.  This creates the look of water.  

Removed mask and adhered friendship image to the background.

Using yet another post it note, I placed it on the card stock and sponged Not Quite ink at the edge of it to create rays of light.   Moving the post it note and sponging ink over and over again until I went completely around the image.

Using a ruler, added a line of White gel pen on each Not Quite Navy light ray.

Assembled card and using a Stamp-a-ma-jig, stamped sentiment with black ink.

Here is the finished card, measuring 5″ x 6.5″.

Hope you enjoyed this tutorial and will try putting rays of light on one of your projects. 

One more thing before I wrap things up today.   We have a winner for the Basic Grey stamp set!  Note:  I ended up using a random number generator, because my husband thought it too much pressure to pick a number when there were over 400 entries and he didn’t want to make any one upset, lol.  Such a sweetie that man of mine is!    Drum roll please.. . . .. . . . . . .

It is comment 198 

Karen, who wrote: 

“Thanks for your wonderful tutorials- I have learned so much from you! And it seems I have the insidious CRS as well!

It’s so generous of you that you’d put out this blog candy as well as share your secrets- thank you!”

Karen I will be e-mailing you for your address. 

A big thank you to everyone that played along.  All of your comments were heart warming and some very funny.   Stampers are the best people!

May your day be filled with sunshine.

Until my next post. . . . . .

Michelle