ART FROM THE ROAD: El Golfo de Santa Clara, Sonora, Mexico

Hello, and thank you for visiting my blog today. To begin, I want to share a great time and space saver I have found. A number of weeks ago, I purchased a ream (150 sheets) of 8-1/2 x 11" 120# white card stock and, periodically, I use my paper trimmer to cut some sheets, each one yielding one card blank, measuring 4-1/4 x 11" (later scored at 5-1/2"), and two pieces cut to 4-1/4  x 5-1/2". It is on these smaller pieces that I do my actual creating. When ready, I can either adhere the artwork directly to the front of the card blank or trim the artwork and use matting before adhering to the card blank. (I guess if you are a cardmaker, you will get this!) Previously, I made cards in every size and shape and color imaginable, which required me to store card blanks in all those sizes and shapes and colors! No more! I make white cards measuring 4-1/4 x 5-1/2". Now, I can buy more art supplies and store them in that empty space!!

Moving on, I have another card to share with you. Quite simple to make but not without a challenge or two along the way. I have chosen to use another of the products recently purchased from Altenew.com, called Hanging Gardens. 

On its website, Altenew graciously provides inspirational samples to assist its customers with creative ideas. Inspiration in this case was provided by Design Team Member Laurie Willison.

I began by grabbing a  pre-cut piece of white card stock, measuring 4-1/4 x 5-1/2",  the size of my pre-cut card blank. Using the grid lines of my glass work surface, I was able to easily mask off 3/4" rectangles by using 1/4" washi tape.

I had already gathered my artsy supplies, including my Sizzix Big Kick, the Hanging Gardens die, four mini ink cubes from Altenew.com (Midnight Violet, Deep Iris, Lavender Fields, and Soft Lilac), a blending brush (only needed one since the four colors are in the same family), and a scrap piece of card stock to protect neighboring rectangles as I added the inks.

Applying the inks was quite time consuming and frustrating as the colors always looked mottled. Happily, in the end, they were perfect. (Hard to be patient at times!)

I wanted the die-cut image to stand out against the background, so I cut three and glued them together before adhering it (them) to the artwork.

Yeah, it was the "gluing them together" that was my biggest nightmare. I started by using a Quickie Glue Pen but that wasn't providing enough glue. I then tried the Zig Two-Way Chisel Tip and it provided too much glue! I have used this technique before on many occasions, always successfully. I guess it was so much fine detail in this beautiful image that did me in. That said, I remain very happy with the end result!

When I began to make this card, I had no idea which sentiment I would be using. Sadly, before I was even done, it became a sympathy card. The sentiment is from Hero Arts.

Thanks for coming by. I appreciate both your visit and your taking a moment to leave a comment. Both inspire me!