Batik with Group of Seven

Hi there.  I'm so glad you stopped by!

The Group of Seven has used a Batik technique for our cards this month.

On 80 lb. cardstock, I stamped this large flower with embossing ink and heat set 

with clear embossing powder. Using a light shade of blue Distress ink, I ink blended over

the embossing.  I folded the card several times vertically and horizontally, using a

bone folder to sharpen the creases. Then I smoothed it out again on the back side.

Back to the front, I ink blended a darker shade of blue Distress ink.  When the creases

weren't showing up as well as I wanted, I folded it to the back along the

creases and added more ink along the creases on the front.  A finger dauber

worked better for this. Make sense?

I wanted a little more interest in the background so I stamped the flower with

a dark blue ink over the embossing.  I had so much ink on the white embossing that

it wouldn't rub off with a paper towel so I used a baby wipe to clean it up.

It was like magic!

Then I tried a different technique...

This time I stamped some leaves on 80 lb. cardstock with a light green ink and blended

over it lightly with the same color ink.  Then I stamped with embossing ink and heat set

with clear embossing powder and blended a medium green ink over top. (Let the embossing

cool before doing this.)  I stamped some more leaves with dark green ink in a few places.

Then came the creasing as on the first card and adding dark green ink to bring out

those fold line.

To finish it off, I stamped some leaves and heat set with white embossing powder.

I cut the piece in two to get a second card.

There is a link to a video tutorial on the Group of Seven blog and my creative

friends have more cards made with the batik technique for your inspiration.

There's also a linky if you want to try this technique and link it up with us.

We love to see what worked, and didn't work, for you.

Card Recipe (card 1)

Stamps:  Passionate (PB), Flora & Fauna 3 (W9 ret)

Ink:   Wow Embossing, Tumbled Glass, Faded Jeans (DI), Dapper Denim (SU)

Paper:   Neenah 80 lb., Solar White

Other:  Clear EP, Simply Succulent Labels die (ret SU)

Card Recipe (cards 2 & 3)

Stamps:  Forever Fern (SU), Celebrate Everyday (HA)

Ink:  Wow Embossing, Sage, Eucalyptus, Spruce Tips (PFS)

Paper:   Neenah 80 lb Solar White, Copper Foil

Other:  Clear EP, White EP, Stately EF (ret), Happy Birthday Poe Script dies (PS), Little Chickadee die (SB)

Enjoy!

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Hummingbird

Hi there.  I'm so glad you stopped by!

I've been seeing a hummingbird checking around for flowers.

I'm late getting them planted this year so he came to the window to give

me a quick reminder before he darted off.

This little guy is paired up with a NBUS flower die and embossing folder.

Challenges:

Can You Handle the Pressure - ATG Using embossing folder (did not use the option of zoo animals)

CAS on Friday #309 - Things with Wings

Time Out #289 - Your Favorite Winged Thing

NBUS #74 - Never Before Used Schtuff (flower dies)

     

Card Recipe

Stamps:  

Ink:   Cherry, Field, Lemonade (SSS)

Paper:   Neenah Solar White, Watercolor (Fabriano)

Other:  Floral Festoon EF (SSS), Delicate Florals Hummingbird dies (SB), Etched Crocus Stems die (SSS)

Enjoy!

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Poppies for Memorial Day 2025

Hi there.  I'm so glad you stopped by!

MEMORIAL DAY

I'd like to share this thought with permission from Angela at Unity...

"As we head into this special weekend, let’s all just take a little intentional pause—

not just for the cookouts or the extra day off—but for the reason we honor this time: the lives given for our freedom.

Our heroes didn’t just fight for a country. They fought for us—for our ability to live, connect, love, laugh, and yes, even grieve in peace.

So whether you're surrounded by family, catching up with an old friend, or spending the day in quiet solitude—remember this: every moment of connection, every act of kindness, every deep breath of freedom is so very sacred and lovely.

Let’s honor them by living fully.

Love big.

Reach out.

Share a smile.

Be brave with your heart.

This is how we remember. This is how we carry them forward, and oh they SO DESERVE to be carried forward."

Thank you for letting me share this, Angela.

Challenges:

Freshly Made Sketches #687 - Sketch by Verena

Card Recipe

Stamps:  Easy Expressions Original (Ton)

Ink:   Versafine Onyx Black

Paper:  Neenah Solar White

Other:  Iceland Poppies die (SSS), Real Red, Mossy Meadow, Early Espresso (SU Markers), Burlap EF (HB), Easy Expressions Die (Ton)

Enjoy!

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Forest Gnome Box Card

Hi there.  I'm so glad you stopped by!

I rarely make cards with a special fold.  I've had pretty good luck with

this box card.

This card has been folded, pierced with a backplate die, embossed and die cut.

I added a pocket on the back with a tag for the message.

Challenges:

Seize the Birthday #306 - Add a frame

Card Recipe

Stamps:  BP A Little Message (SB)

Ink:   Lumberjack Plaid, Chartered Mariner, Left over green

Paper:   Neenah Solar White

Other:  Spring Leaves Cover Plate (HB), Mushroom Harvest EF (SB), Mushroom Die (SB 2023 Advent Calendar), Gnome Die (SSS), Eucalyptus Leaves (SSS), Flights of Fancy (PB)

Enjoy!

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Take Care

Hi there.  I'm so glad you stopped by!

I have ignored my Betterpress for too long.

But before I press more, or buy more plates, I need to color all those

pieces I've already pressed and some that friends have shared with me too.

This was at the top of the pile.  The hummingbird was pressed on a leftover

piece of Betterpress paper.  After I colored him, I fussy cut him out and popped

him up for added dimension.

I love coloring on this Betterpress paper!  It takes the water so well and

works as well with Copics.

Challenges:

Triple B - I have birds and blooms.

Card Recipe

Stamps:  Hummingbird Nectar PP (Alt), Sentiment (Alt)

Ink:   BP Black, Versafine Onyx Black

Paper:   BP Porcelain, Black, Neenah Solar White

Other:  Arteza Twimarkers (Ruby Red, Moss Green, Lemon Yellow, Apple Green, Fern Green, Raspberry Red), Essential Arches Dies (SB)

Enjoy!

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A Note to Say Hello

Hi there.  I'm so glad you stopped by!

I was able to use several NBUS on this card.

I'd been eyeing these edger dies at Penny Black and added one

with the companion stamp set to my Christmas present.

It's taken a while to use it, but I have things in the NBUS box that

have been in there longer.

I'm sure you understand (wink).

I had used the other stamp in this set for this card and I wanted to use this stamp

before I put the set on the shelf.  Sometimes when I try to watercolor roses,

I end up with a mess.  So I stamped and heat embossed before coloring.

The small points on these markers made it easy to put a swipe at the bottom of

each petal and blend the color out with water.  The embossing kept the color from

bleeding into the next petal.  I really like the way it turned out.

I die cut the roses with the companion die set and die cut the edger.

The sentiment was stamped on a snippet strip and woven in.  It's not an original

idea.  I think Jill Foster had done one this way.

and a twofer.....

I had an extra rose bud from the first Winsomely card and made a home for it.

Challenges:

Darnell's I.D.E.A.S. - 3rd Monday Embossing

NBUS #74 - Never Before Used Schtuff

Penny Black Saturday - ATG Using Penny Black Product

 

Card Recipe (card 1)

Stamps:  Winsomely (PB), Note Builder (PB)

Ink:   Whisper White, Versafine Onyx Black

Paper:  Watercolor (Fabriano), Old Olive, Neenah Solar White

Other:  White EP, Arteza Twimarkers (Olive Green, Wild Pink, Bubble Green, Pink, Burgundy), Winsomely Die (PB) Note Edger Die (PB), Texture EF (PB)

Card Recipe (card 2)

Stamps:  Faith (PB), Winsomely (PB)

Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black

Paper:  Watercolor (Fabriano), Neenah Solar White

Other:  Arteza Twimarkers (Olive Green, Wild Pink, Bubblegum Pink, Burgundy), Winsomely Dies (PB), Double Frame Die (PB), Cascadia Butterfly (MB)

Enjoy!

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Yellow Irises

Hi there.  I'm so glad you stopped by!

When I saw this card that my friend Bobby did, I had to go on a search

for this pretty iris die set.

I chose to go yellow on mine and stared out by cutting the pieces from 

mixed media paper.  I couldn't get the brightness I wanted with watercolors,

so I pulled out my Distress re-inkers and was able to get the colors I had in mind.

A few flicks with colored pencils added some dimension to the petals.

The Flower Challenge is asking for stripes or spots with our flowers this month, 

so I pulled out an embossing folder with stripes.  I added a few stamped

spots to the sentiment strip and put that last leaf I'd cut to accent it.

Challenges:

The Flower Challenge #102 - Add stripes or spots to floral card

NBUS #74 - Never before used schtuff

Seize the Birthday #305 - Birthday card with flowers

 

 

Card Recipe

Stamps:  Special Sentiments (PB), Splatters

Ink:   Versafine Onyx Black, So Saffron (SU)

Paper:   Mixed Media (Strathmore), Neenah Solar White, Daffodil Delight (SU)

Other:  Into the Blooms: Iris (PTI), Distress re-inkers (Mustard Seed, Rustic Wilderness), Caran d'ache Supracolor pencils (Dk Carmine, Orangish Yellow), Stripes EF (SU ret)

Enjoy!

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Irises for Color Hues

Hi there.  I'm so glad you stopped by!

Time for another challenge at Color Hues.

This time the super talented Karen chose the colors.

I just so happened to have a NBUS die that worked great for these colors.

I die cut the irises from mixed media paper and watercolored by smooshing ink

on a palette and picking up the color with a waterbrush.

To add the same colors on the background, I laid the die cuts on another piece

of mixed media paper and colored outside the die cuts a bit.

Our amazing teammates are sure to inspire you with their fantastic

creations and we are joined this month by the equally talented Rachel.

I hope you'll check us out and join in at Color Hues.

This challenge ends May 29th at 9:00 AM EDT.

Card Recipe

Stamps:  Airy Greetings (SSS)

Ink:   Pale Plum, Perfect Plum, Pretty in Pink (SU), Old Paper (DI)

Paper:   Mixed Media (Strathmore), Neenah Solar White, Grout Gray (MFT)

Other:  Layered Iris die (SB), Simply Succulents die (ret SU), Pierced Blanket Cover Die (Picket Fence)

Enjoy!

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Hope

Hi there.  I'm so glad you stopped by!

Hope is the thing with feathers

that perches in the soul.

And sings the tune without the words.

And never stops at all.

                          

                                 Emily Dickinson

  

I hope you have a lovely day.

Challenges:

Triple B - Birds, Blooms, & Butterflies (no butterflies today)

Card Recipe

Stamps:  Happy Snippets (PB)

Ink:   Versafine Onyx Black, Seafoam, Lilac, Orchid, Violet (SSS)

Paper:  Mixed Media (Strathmore), Better Press, Neenah   

Other:  Delicate Florals Hummingbird, Chelsea Floral EF & Die (SSS), Simply Succulents Label Die

 (SU) 

Enjoy!

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Sweet Friendship

Hi there.  I'm so glad you stopped by!

I did some more strawberry cards while I had that die set out.

The strawberries were cut from mixed media paper and colored with Stampin' Up inkpads.

I smoosh the ink into the inside of the cover and pick up with my waterbrush.

I used a white gel pen to lighten the seeds and then topped them off with a

Neon Yellow Sharpie.

And one more....

This time I cut them from a light green cardstock and used blending brushes to

add color.  A touch with a barely damp waterbrush blends the color. 

I've had this burlap die in my NBUS box for who knows how long!

It has finally made it's debut.

This sentiment stamp was inked with markers, huffed and thankfully

stamped well first try.

Challenges:

Just Us Girls #774 - Word Week - Fruit

NBUS #74 - Never Before Used Schtuff 

Word Power - Make the sentiment the focus

Darnell's I.D.E.A.S. - Week 2 - Dies

 

 

Card Recipe (card 1)

Stamps:  Faith (PB)

Ink:   Versafine Onyx Black, Real Red, Cherry Cobbler, Gumball Green Garden Green, Daffodil Delight (SU)

Paper: Mixed Media (Strathmore), Neenah Solar White

Other:  Strawberries (Elizabeth Craft), Reflections - Numbers 6 Die (PTI), White Gel Pen, Neon Yellow Sharpie

Card Recipe (card 2)

Stamps:  Banner Sentiments (PTI)

Ink:  Real Red, Cherry Cobbler, Gumball Green Garden Green, Daffodil Delight (SU) 

Paper:   Soft Seafoam, Crumb Cake, Naturals Ivory

Other:  Strawberries (EC), Burlap Die (Alt), White Gel Pen, Neon Yellow Sharpie, SU Markers (Baked Brown Sugar, Real Red)

Enjoy!

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Winsomely Fresh

Hi there.  I'm so glad you stopped by!

Back to my NBUS box for a Penny Black stamp and die.

I inked the single flower with Warm Glow ink for a no-line watercolor look and colored

with Arteza Twimarkers.  I was glad that I'd bought the die too and used it

to cut out the flowers since I'd inked up several.

I used the sketch from Freshly Made Sketches to plant them on two 

different embossed pieces.

Challenges:

Freshly Made Sketches #685 - Sketch by Linda

NBUS #74 - Never Before Used Schtuff

Simply Clean & Simple - CAS with option of flowers

 

Card Recipe

Stamps:  Winsomely (PB), Thinking of You (Alt)

Ink:   Warm Glow (GKD), Baked Brown Sugar (SU)

Paper:   Watercolor (Fabriano), Neenah Solar White

Other:  Arteza Twimarkers (Ruby Red, Moss Green, Jungle Green, Hazlenut Brown), Winsomely Die (PB), Tile Reflection EF (SB), Subtle EF (SU)

Enjoy!

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Your sweet and thoughtful comments warm my heart!