Gently Falling and a Bleach Technique...

Here's a card we made at a workshop last weekend which uses the direct to stamp bleaching technique.  Keep your eye out for a Technique Tuesday to show this technique and other bleaching ideas.

 Here's what I used for this card:

• Cardstock - Cajun Craze, Cherry Cobbler, Soft Suede, Always Artichoke, More Mustard, Crumb Cake and Early Espresso Core'dinations
• Ink - Early Espresso and bleach
• Stamp Set - Seasonal Sayings & Gently Falling
• Woodgrain embossing folder
• Brushed Bronze button
• Linen Thread
• Always Artichoke Seam Binding
• 1 3/4" and 1 3/8" circle punches
• Apothecary Accents framelit
• Sanding block

Here's the inside of the card with just the bleaching.

Boy, Do I Have Some Catching Up to Do!!!

Wow, it has been too long since I posted, hasn't it?  So much has gone on that my blogging just took a back seat to everything else.  Since I posted last, I held my annual 30 Christmas cards class, helped another demo put the class together for her customers, spent 17 days in Bodega Bay and had Cassidy home for Thanksgiving!  The best part - definitely having my daughter home for Thanksgiving.   I knew I would cry a bit when I saw her come down the escalator at the airport but in actuality, she barely  made it to the bottom before I was running up and grabbing ahold of her to give her the biggest hug ever.  Man, have I missed that girl!  Fortunately she will be home again on the 17th for three glorious weeks!

And now to stamping business!  Technique Tuesday is on hold until the beginning of the year.  Later today I will be posting the first of 24 gifts I have received so those will fill up the month of December.  Until then, here's three cards that we made at an October workshop I held.  Each of the cards was CASE'd from cards I saw on Splitcoaststampers with my own little twist added to them.  Thank you to the lovely ladies who inspired me!

 Supplies Needed:

• Early Espresso, Island Indigo & Very Vanilla cardstock.
• Vellum
• Gently Falling & Hand Penned Holidays stamp sets
• More Mustard, Cajun Craze, Cherry Cobbler, Chocolate Chip, Pool Party & Island Indigo Classic Ink & Chocolate Chip Craft Ink
• Gold Embossing Powder
• Spice Cake Designer Button & Gold Brads
• Island Indigo Ruffled Ribbon & Linen Thread

 Supplies Needed:

• Very Vanilla, Melon Mambo, Lucky Limeade & Basic Black Cardstock
• Basic Black Classic & Craft Inks
• Regal Rose, Melon Mambo, Lucky Limeade & Old Olive Classic Inks
• Happiness Shared & Nature's Pace stamp sets
• Brights Glitter Brad & Pearl
• Framed Tulips Embossing Folder
• Dazzling Diamonds

Supplies Needed:

• Pear Pizzazz, Wisteria Wonder, Concord Crush & Whisper White Cardstock
• Wisteria Wonder, Pear Pizzazz, Daffodil Delight, Pumpkin Pie & Concord Crush Inks
• Fabulous Florets & Teeny Tiny Wishes Stamp Sets
• Versamark & White Embossing Powder
• Pear Pizzazz Seam Binding Ribbon & Antique Brads
• Scallop Circle, 3 1/2" Circle, 3" Circle & Beautiful Wings Dies
• Oval, Scallop Oval & Modern Label Punches
• Pearls

Brayer Class - Stampin' Up!'s Gently Falling Stamp Set

We made this card during my recent brayer class too.  This time, we ran the cardstock through the Big Shot using the Finial Press embossing folder and then inked our brayers and lightly ran it over the raised image.  You do not want to press too hard; otherwise you will get ink in the debossed areas.  Keep reinking your brayer and adding color until you like the contrast.  Some of the attendees turned it over and saw a very different look by inking the back side so try both ways and see what you like!
We then took the solid images from the Gently Falling stamp set from the current Holiday Mini catalog and inked them with the More Mustard, Cajun Craze, Garden Green and Riding Hood Red markers.  Using Early Espresso ink, we stamped the outline images over the solid images.  We finished the card with some ribbon and Bitty Buttons.