How to Use the "Ugly" Alcohol-Inked Paper (Winner Announcement)

Hello friends!

I don't know about you...but I have my share of "success" and epic fails of creating my own alcohol-inked paper.

Today's post is to inspire you to reexamine your seemingly ugly/un-usable/nearly trashed alcohol inked paper. I mean, after all that "investment", we couldn't really afford to throw all that away, could we? Yupo paper, assorted Alcohol Ink....these are expensive stuff! 

Christmas Stockings Stamp & Die Bundle

Altenew Christmas Stockings 
 Christmas Stocking Die here.

Most shops are out of stocks right now, except Scrapbook.com. Hurry if you want them.
 
I had a merry time of creating a piece of colorful paper!
You can see the process via my Instagram "yesvirginialu" under "My Story" (click on my profile photo or here). Honestly, I was going to do some more Alcohol Lift Ink! As I progressed, the paper gets more colorful and vibrant.... and then it became messy and ugly! 😟

By the end, I thought this paper is a TOSSER! I was NOT happy that all that effort and ink were going to be wasted. I left the paper in my craft area and came back a few hours later...

I then created 6 Christmas stockings with one sheet of my ugly alcohol-ink paper.

Card #1

Card #2

Card #3

Card #4

Since I had little control of the flow of the alcohol inks ( I know you can use a straw, but I didn't at  the time), I took a serious look at the colors when I stamped the stockings....and that seemed to have worked! Once I had my 6 stockings, I created a background that will go with the stockings.

As you can see, the Christmas stocking were not conventional, but they are totally unique and different.


The take away lesson? Try to make sense with the image that you create. It can be abstract, of course, but you can also create something totally cool and original if you pick out the right supplies!
Does that make sense?

Last but certainly not the least, TWO winners are getting $15 Altenew Gift Certificate.

These two winners are randomly selected from Instagram followers and Blog Post comments.

~~~~~~~DRUM ROLL PLEASE~~~~~~~~ 

the Instagram winner is sophienme (from this post)

the blog comment winner is Harriet  (from this post)

Congratulations, ladies, please e-mail me at becr8ive2@gmail.com to claim your prize.

Thank you, everyone, for your continuing support.

The next TWO $15 Altenew gift certificate giveaway continues and will be announced on Oct. 31st.

Spellbinders Sale! 

Blitsy Sale!

More Altenew Washi Tape-Inspired Card

Hello friends!

I am popping with a quick post about using the latest Altenew Washi Tape Release

September 2018 Release Washi Tape Bundle
from: ALTENEW

If you have not checked out the Blog Hop, please click here and comment for a chance to win.

Today's card took me about 10 minutes to create ( NOT including the stamping of the Larkspur).

Believe it or now, I used 3 different types of Washi Tape:
Golden Edge , Leaf and Gilded Ombre

The Washi Tape that took the center stage is obviously Build-a-Flower: Larkspur (now $22.75 was $35, it's 35% off!). It is one of my favorite Build-a-Flower collection.  

An extra stamped Larkspur happened to be sitting on my craft desk. So, it totally made sense to find it a "home". I also want to point out that the Sakura White Medium Gelly Pen.
is the best kind that I have ever had! See the tiny white spots? Yes, I used the White Gelly Pen.
It worked so beautifully!


 I got too lazy to stamp the leaves and stems, I decided to use just the die cut for the leaves.....
and they worked!

Hope you are inspired to try using Washi Tape with your projects.
Have a great weekend!  Thank you for stopping by!

  Click here for Altenew sales.

Altenew September 2018 Washi Tape Release Blog Hop + Giveaway

Hello friends!

Warning: Super-heavy photo post 😍

This is a fun blog hop celebrating the release of Washi Tape from Altenew!
You can see the entire Washi Tape release here.
I am super excited to share 4 cards with you.
If you arrive from the blog of  Lilith Eeckels, you are in the right place!

All the details about this blog hop, please visit Altenew's Card Blog and Scrapbook Blog.

Card #1 Love You
Featured Washi Tape: Nebula Watercolor,  Golden Edge  


After applying Nebula Watercolor, I used Half Tone Squares  
along with a Tan Embossing Mat. 


This really adds textures and interest to the background. 


I also used Golden Edge for the sentiment. Love the shine.

Card #2 Merci
Featured Washi Tape: Glitter Flurries, Golden Edge  


I LOVE the images and prints from this Washi Tape and it took little time to create an elegant card.

I fussy-cut one of the images and popped it up.  It is most appropriate to use Merci from " Thanks Around the World ". Tre chic!



Card #3 Hi
Featured Washi Tape: Red Ombre


 At first look, you might find Red Ombre a bit intimidating. But if you see my examples, you would agree that this is one awesome Washi Tape to own in your crafting arsenal.



I used the dies from Build-a-Flower Sakura Blossom Set and layered each petal. It was so much fun assembling the flowers.

Because it was effortless to create the flowers, I decided to add more details with Classy Stripe Stencil,  Geo Frames Stamp and Die Bundle and Floral Alphabet


Card #4 
Featured Washi Tape: Red Ombre
I was so inspired by Red Ombre and decided to utilize its rich color and ombre.... 
 


This may be my favorite card as it is totally unique!



I could have kept it simple once I added the Under the Cherry Blossom Tree. However, I thought it would not be completed without adding some gilded ( Scallop Builder Stencil) pattern.




The Gold-gilded (Nuvo) truly represents the "sea of clouds" as the Chinese would describe it.
I am truly impressed with the dazzling Red Ombre!!

 You can see the entire Washi Tape release here.(Altenew shop) 
and here (Simon Says Stamp) and all links below.

Prizes: to celebrate this release, Altenew is giving away a $50 gift certificate to 6 lucky winners. Please leave a comment on the Altenew Card Blog and/or Altenew Scrapbook Blog by Wednesday, Oct. 3rd,  for a chance to win! 6 winners will be announced on Altenew blogs on 10/6/2018. 

Giveaway: please leave me a comment (and tell me your favorite project/stamp/die) in this very post for chance to win a Altenew $30 Gift certificate. The winner will be announced on Oct. 2nd right here in this blog.  

Today's Blog Hop Order: 

Altenew Card Blog

Laura Bassen

Lilith Eeckels

🌸-------->Virginia Lu<--------🌸

Kristina Pokazanieva

Zinia Redo

Therese Calvird

Janette Kausen

Agnieszka Malyszek

Nicole Picadura

Rubeena Ianigro

Amy Tangerine

Altenew Scrapbook Blog

Vicky Papaioannou

May Sukyong Park

Svitlana Shayevich

Laurie Willison

Sveta Fotinia

Kymona Tracey

Mona Tóth

Erum Tasneem

Reiko Tsuchida

Lydia Evans

Anna Komenda

Norine Borys

Laura Jane

Enza Gudor

TaeEun Yoo

Sandra Dietrich

Nancy McCelland 

Your next stop is the blog of Kristina Pokazanieva

Have fun hopping! Thanks for stopping by!   

The Little Stamp Set That Could

Hello friends!

I am popping in with a quick post about using the smallest 2" x3" stamp set. 

From Our Home Stamp & Die Bundle
from: ALTENEW

If you enjoying stamping smaller pieces and putting your own spin with colors.
These types of stamps will fit the bill (also the cheapest).

Here is my simple example.

 I decided to stamp one of the squares from Halftone Squares Stamp.
The subtle textures from the Halftone really help to draw the eyes to the focal point.
If you are concerned about the cost of dies, I'd say... forget about buying the Halftone Square Dies!
You CAN cut squares and lines with a trimmer. 😊
  

Although stamp set like this doesn't have many elements, you can add tons of details and make it special and unique! For example, I silver-embossed the edges and added "smoke" with Pico Embelllisher ( or any Nuvo Drops,  Liquid Pearls or Stickles).

To make the sentiment extra special, I popped up the die-cut trees on each side.

 

I hope that you enjoy today's post.

Check out the Altenw sales from Sept. 26th to 30th HERE

Don't forget to use the code "USFREE" or "SHIP7OFF" if your order is over $100. 

 Thank you for stopping by!

Altenew Warehouse Sale and Markers Refills Release Blog Hop Winner

Hello friends!

I want to thank you for leaving me awesome blog hop comments!
It is time to announcement the winner of Artist Markers Refills Blog Hop. 

The $20 Altenew Gift Certificate goes to....

mindy1414 said...

Your card is beautiful, I love how you also incorporated the "lift" technique it gives such an elegant look and feel. Thanks for the inspiration.

September 20, 2018 at 6:00 PM

Congratulations, mindy1414 , please e-mail me asap at becr8ive2@gmail.com to claim your prize. 

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Last, but certainly not the least...
TODAY is the LAST DAY!

Altenew is having a WAREHOUSE SALE!

Lots and lots of markdowns.  

I am listing items that are mostly 50 % off. 

You can find out more here.

 

The comment feature in this post has been disabled.

More Alcohol Lift Ink

Hello friends!

I have been experimenting more with Alcohol Lift Ink with my alcohol inks. 

Today's card is one of those that did turn out...

Yes, Virginia ...

Not all alcohol ink creations come out as planned, hoped and expected.
I am using this Xmas Sprig as my example.

Penny Black - Christmas - Cling Mounted Rubber Stamps - Xmas Sprig
from: Scrapbook.com

 If you are not familiar with Alcohl Ink, this is pretty much what you do. 

I started out with creating colorful background with the mix of alcohol ink and Alcohol Blending Solution on Yupo Paper.

 Once it is dried, I stamped the Alcohol Lift Ink and waited till it's dry. It doesn't take long to dry, however, it does take a while to start to see the lifted images. I buffed the surface gently with a piece of dry cloth. It is so neat to see the imprint!

This is when you can actually stop the process since part of the ink has been be lifted and leave you a subtle texture/imprint on your glossy paper.

I decided to add more color, so I stamped more in Expresso Distress Oxide on top and one the side.

Once I stamped the sentiment..... and I felt that there was no embellishment needed.

edited: would you believe this card was created with the exact same stamp...but different medium?


Check out  the Penny Black Sales over Scrapbook.com

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Back in Stock over Simon Says Stamp 
Penny Black: Winter Still, Pine Branch Metal Die, Tranquil Hamlet
 Thank you so much for stopping by!

  Affiliate links are applied at no additional cost to you.
That means, I will get a small credit if you use my links to shop.
 Thank you for your support!