Creating and Connecting

Alcohol inks are addicting! I had so much fun with friends this past weekend, crafting and laughing! They wanted to try alcohol inks with no arguments from me.  I did a "twofer" out of the background and I can not choose a favorite. Tips: 1. I use my Copic marker refills and 91% Isopropyl alcohol.  Choose 3 or 4 colors that are similar color, with some being lighter, others darker.  I chose 3 cooler reds, RV02, R89 and RV99, and 1 warmer red, R46.  If you follow me you know I like to mix warm (bluer tone) colors and cool (yellower tone) colors. 2. Drop 3 or 4 drops of each color on Yupo paper cut to 5 by 8 inches (half of a sheet). I put the darker colors more toward the center and the lighter colors on the edges. I put is down in a gentle "S" shaped pattern at a diagonal. 3.  Blow it around with a straw or air compressor to spread the ink.  I have tried both and find I get similar results, but find the air compressor is easier because I don't have to blo

The magic began even before we reached the ice sculptures at the 2020 Lake Louise Ice Magic Festival.  As we walked down the snow covered path beside Lake Louise two horse drawn sleighs passed us, each pulled by two black, beautiful horses.  The snow was gently falling (I did not photoshop the snow into the photos.).  It was truly magical!             Thank you for taking time out of your day to stop by and say hello.  If you enjoyed your visit, please click on the "subscribe" button above and follow me on my journey.   Betty  

I can't tell you how much fun I am having pulling out stamp sets I have had for a while including Gerda Steiner's Go Wild and Party Animals stamps. Look at those adorable eyes on all those cute critters! I thought, "they need to all be loaded on one card for maximum cuteness impact" (it ended up to be most but not quite all of the images). Here is what I came up with.   I am joining a few challenges with this card including: Gerda Steiner Share Your Design Challenge , Inkspirational Challenges , Just Us Girls Challenge , and The Male Room Challenge .  In case you want to make a similar card here is what I did (instructions then photo to follow): 1. Cut 2 pieces of white 80 lb. cardstock 4 1/2 by 9 inches. 2. Score each at 1/2 and 4 inches on the 4 1/2 inch width. 3. Cut or die cut a 2 7/8 by 6 /12 inch window, 1 1/2 inches from the bottom of one panel.  4. Fold at the scored lines. 5. Cut light blue cardstock 4 1/2 by 5 1/2 inches. 6. Score at 1/

It is a beautiful day because I got back into my craft room, and I am using the Beautiful Day stamp set by Altenew. My card was inspired by 2 challenges that I am joining.  Virginia at the  Altenew January 2020 Inspiration Challenge  chose this amazing color combination. Don't you just love it! And the theme at the Flower Challenge  inspired me to make a shaped card.  I love that challenges bring out cards that I otherwise likely would not come up with.   Tips: 1. Stamp your images and emboss them with your white embossing powder on your favorite water color paper.  2. Water color your images and then cut them out.  I used Daniel Smith watercolor combination including Quinacridone Lilac, Rose of Ultramarine, Cadmium Orange Hue, Permanent Green Light, Sap Green and Under Sea Green.  I repeated a bit of the purply pink in the orange flowers and the green leaves as well as on its own on some flowers for some continuity in colors through the card. 3. To make this 9 by 4