Sunday, April 19, 2015


Art 'n Soul's Inspiration Station continues today with a beautiful and elegant-looking card by Carolyn Gough. She said it was quite simple to make! Using the template and sentiment stamp from Magenta that all of us are using this month . . .


Magenta 07.730.H

Magenta Template Floral Background TM27

Here it is . . .

by Carolyn Gough

For the template design:
Place the template on yellow card stock, apply white pigment ink with
a finger dauber and let dry. Mask the dots in the stencil design. Shift
the stencil slightly, and then apply Distressed Ink in Peeled Paint with
a finger dauber and let dry. Apply liquid pearl.




It was quite colorful today at Art 'n Soul. Cindy Sharp taught two classes using alcohol inks in many creative ways. I took part in the afternoon class . . . painting with alcohol inks . . . and thoroughly enjoyed it. It was one of those classes you wish extra 'play' time was scheduled into the late evening to continue on and on and on and on. Of course, we may have run out of the glossy papers by then.

This was my favorite of all of Cindy's class samples, and it's what drew Judy and I to immediately sign up for this class!


by Cindy Sharp


This technique used adhesive-backed floral die cuts, crumpled waxed paper, glossy card stock, archival ink, liquid adhesive, alcohol inks applied with a small brush tip, alcohol marker pens, i.e., Sharpie, Copic, Spectrum Noir, and Q-tips.


by Judy Daugherty

by Debbie Gaetz
I need to go back and lighten up some of the
background colors so the flowers will
pop more.


For the second technique, we used glossy card stock, various size straws, and alcohol markers. At one point, I thought of the 'sidewalk crack art' process and how it might be used with the 'blown-out' alcohol ink colors. Hmmmmm . . . .

by Judy Daugherty

by Judy Daugherty

Judy is very artistic and was able to make outlines of flowers and greenery with an alcohol marker with great effect. I am a great admirer of Judy's artistry.


I kept marveling at how Judy was able to "blow" very symmetrically to achieve wonderful flower patterns. All of my efforts seemed to go in one direction. Do you see my dilemma?

by Debbie Gaetz

by Debbie Gaetz
Do you see that cute little chubby hand in there?
I lightly outlined it.

So I decided to continue with my pattern and rotate the card stock around with each blow of the same color. I then dropped one drop of alcohol ink in the middle of each 'blossom' and let it spread on its own. I did take a light colored Spectrum Noir alcohol marker and lightly shadowed around each flower. Later, I think I am going to use my colored Pico Embellishers in the center of each drop for a more texturized look.


by Debbie Gaetz

Another technique was to apply Liquitex Glazing Liquid in an 'artistic' pattern, drop your alcohol ink colors, and then mix together to form a pattern or artistic rendition of a still life or landscape. Something to keep working on, for sure! Here is Cindy's sample . . .

by Cindy Sharp


I have a ways to go! I really like how the liquid glaze dried clear and left reflection light in the water.

Cindy gave us two excellent recommendations . . .

  • Purchase this book:


  • "Paint" this chart with your alcohol inks:




On the Magenta blog, I love what Bianca has done with watercolors, inks, the templates and stamps.

by Bianca van Noort, Design Team Magenta
Here is the link to the blog post with the information:



Jean Okimoto is at it again . . . making beautiful cards for the Memory Box blog. In this first card, she has created a beautifully colored bird . . .

by Jean Okimoto for Memory Box
(did you notice the shower curtain ring she has used to corral
her nesting dies?)
Click on this link for the how-to:


And then she has made this beautiful card using two of the newly-released dies from Memory Box.

by Jean Okimoto for Memory Box
Click on this link to her detailed instruction sheet:



On the French Memory Box blog, Bibiana has made a beautiful card using one of the new Memory Box stencils.

by Bibiana Martinez-Ziegler for Memory Box
Click on this link for the details:



On the Poppy Stamps' blog, Pam Simpson has made a very easy and elegant card using one of their new dies.

by Pam Simpson for Poppy Stamps
Click on this link for her blog posting:




On Facebook, Els from Elizabeth Craft Designs announced she's busy making card samples for her first time attending the Hobby Show in Japan. This is the card sample she shared . . . 


by Els van de Burgt, Elizabeth Craft Designs



Impression Obsession's current challenge is "School Spirit" . . . and every member of their Design Team has contributed their interpretation of the theme. Some of them created graduation cards; here is Karen Amidon's Graduation card. I love the sentiment!

by Karen Amidon for Impression Obsession
Click on this link to see Karen's how-to and the inside design:




On the IMAGINE Crafts' blog, these are 3 cards created using the monoprinted background technique. Mixed media lovers will love these . . .


by Isha Gupta
Artist-in-Residence for IMAGINE Crafts

by Penny Ward
Artist-in-Residence for IMAGINE Crafts

by Maureen Cronin
Artist-in-Residence for IMAGINE Crafts
Click on this link to the IMAGINE Crafts' blog for the details:




Today is Marj's Fabulous Spring Florals class at Art 'n Soul. Carolyn will be at the store all day to help you find inspiration and the matching tools and products you'll need.










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