Only In The Darkness Can You See The Stars -- with Pear Blossom's EZ-Lights

I'm back as a guest on the Pear Blossom Press blog with this night scene light-up card!  I have all of the specific details to make this beautiful card over on their blog and hope you will join me there!

I have wanted to make a night scene card with Pear Blossom's EZ-Lights Twinkle since I first saw the lights!  I thought this Mountain Circlescape die set by Honey Bee Stamps was perfect for my scene.

You may think it's too complicated to make a light-up card, but I promise if you make one, you will find out that it's not hard at all!

These next two photos show my planning process for where to place the battery pack of the lights.  As I mentioned, all of the details over at Pear Blossom.

I must mention the World's Best Foam Tape by Pear Blossom.  It truly is amazing!!!  You really can pull off the layer to reposition it!  (The packaging says within 30 minutes.)  I did need to that, and it came right off.  I would love this foam tape in a regular depth--I can wish!!

In my Instagram post, you can slide through the photos to see a short video of the lights.  It's so pretty when lit up!

After holding the button, the lights begin to alternate lighting up to look like twinkle lights!

I absolutely love this sentiment which I perfect for my card!

Thank yo so much for stopping by!  Please click over to the Pear Blossom blog to check out my post.  I'd love for you to leave me a comment if you do!  Have a wonderful and crafty week!

Thank you for shopping with my affiliate links (never any additional cost to you)!

AECP, In The Mood for Color

My card today is inspired by Altenew Academy's class called In The Mood For Color.  This is also another card for my Level 2 classes of Altenew Educator Certification Program (AECP).  This class focuses on using various colors on your cards while considering the "mood" that a color may evoke.  My card uses blue as that is a calming, soothing color.  This color is just right for a sympathy card.

I really like how this card was so quick and easy to make.  Sympathy cards are so good to have on hand as it's not too fun to be making one when you actually need it.  However, that's another reason why I like this card--it is easy to make when you need to make one at the last minute.

The florals in the Extra Special stamp are two layers and very easy to line up and stamp.  I used Altenew inks in Iceberg and Eastern Sky for the flowers and Frayed Leaf and Forest Glades for the leaves.  I stamped the outline and the sentiment onto light gray card stock in a medium toned gray ink.  I feel like using the gray inks helps to keep this card's "mood" calming.  I used a blue pencil to add just a few extra shadows to the flowers.  Lastly, I added some Nuvo Crystal Drops in Gloss White to the flower centers and scattered other drops around the card for a bit more interest.  This panel is adhered to a white top-folding A2 card base.



Thank you very much for stopping by!  This class is so good to help you think about colors and I hope to have inspired you with my card today.

Carol :)

Supplies:
Altenew Extra Special
Altenew Kind Words
Altenew inks:  Frayed Leaf, Forest Glades, Iceberg, Eastern Sky
Nuvo Crystal Drops Gloss White
Simon Says Stamp gray card stock
Hero Arts Charcoal Mid-tone Shadow Ink

AECP, Seasonal Scene Building

I have a card here today for another class in the AECP.  This card is inspired by the lesson in Irresistible Inking Techniques where you create a background for your scene.  You can check out all the fabulous classes in Altenew Academy HERE.

I purchased Altenew's Kind Words set right after it came out.  I can't believe this is the first time I've used it.   It has the most beautiful sentiments along with some beautiful starry stamps.  I thought a starry night time background fit perfectly.

I inked the Distress Oxides onto Strathmore Bristol Smooth paper using the lightest color in the center and working out to the darkest.  I kept blending the inks with the foam blending tools until I was happy with the look.  I wanted to keep the background kind of uncluttered, so I placed the stamp where I wanted it, spritzed some water into my palm and used my fingers to scatter the droplets around.  By having the stamp in place, it kept that area free from the water drops that I felt might distract from the sentiment.

Once the card was thoroughly dry, I used my anti-static powder bag and swiped it all over the card to minimize the stray embossing powder bits.  Using my MISTI, I positioned the stamps and picked them up with the door.  Next I stamped with Versamark clear sticky embossing ink, added white embossing powder and heat set it.  I repeated these steps to add another layer of white embossing powder for dimension and a more solid coverage.  

    

The Fine Frames Cover Die is awesome!  This is the first time I've used this one too.  It cuts many frames in one pass, some thinner than others.  I used one of the wider frames to help me position the thin frame straight.  I adhered it with Collage Medium as it will dry with a matte finish and won't show if any seeps out.  I added foam tape to the back and adhered it to my top folding A2 card base.

As a finishing touch, I used a white gel pens to add tiny stars.

Thanks so much for stopping by and taking a look.  I really appreciate it!

Carol :)

Supplies:

Altenew Kind Words

Altenew Fine Frames Cover Die

Distress Oxide Inks:  Black Soot, Chipped Sapphire, Faded Jeans, Shaded Lilac

Simon Says Stamp Fine Detail White Embossing Powder

Ranger Distress Collage Medium - Matte