VanGoghChica Studio

I made this card to further explore inking different backgrounds. It was fun and I got kind of playful. Here's my breakdown of how I did it.   Supplies Altenew  Butterfly Dreams set Altenew  Pigment ink in permanent black Altenew Fresh Dye ink sets in  Golden Sunset ,  Sweet Dreams  and  Enchanted Garden . Altenew Fresh Dye ink in  Coral Berr Altenew  mini blending brushes Altenew  white cardstock Die cutting machine and frame die Gold cardstock Metallic gold marker Glue Cut a 4.25"X5.5" (A2 size) piece of white cardstock. Also create an A2 foldover card from blank cardstock Using ever-so-soft pressure, swirl a buildup of colors onto the front of the card and on the cutout frame. I used three inks to create the background. I found that inking the frame a darker color made the frame more of a presence and that is what I wanted. The butterflies fly on top of, within and under the frame. Use die cut machine and frame die to cut large a...

In my You Tube video, I explain the different components in making this card. I enjoyed this process - blending ink,  mixing colors. And I have to say, I am getting more accomplished with new tools, such as my die cutting machine. So, let's get to it. I recommend watching the video first and then read the supplies list and instructions. Supplies Altenew Sweet Rose Bouquet stamp and die set Altenew Better Together stamp set Altenew white cardstock   Altenew Pocketful of Sunshine fresh dye ink set   Altenew fresh dye inks in Bamboo , Frayed Leaf and Evergreen Altenew Crisp ink in Parrot and Grass Field Die cutting machine Glue Blending tool First cut your card stock to A2 size (4.25"X5.5") On separate card stock, ink the roses in it's four layers and leaves in two layers. Cut roses and leaves out with your die cutting machine With Bamboo ink and blending tool, blend bamboo around top of card. Go slowly and VERY light. I also added frayed leaf and citrus burst in layer...

How to live with my disabilities as an artist.

Initially, I bought this flamingo stamp set because I live in South Florida and like that I get to see flamingos. But as I was working with all the pink gradations (four different pinks in one bird!) in my flamingo, I was reminded of how people used to say they brought babies. So this became a new baby card. I want to clarify that I chose pink because it relates to the heart chakra and love, not for little girls.  Coming from a background as a painter, I really enjoyed making this card because I worked with a lot of different shades of pink and I got to apply the ink hands-on for the background. My playful side also enjoyed creating the munched up border; it looks like those flamingos were munching their own card, lol. You may notice something else in my photos. I was talking with a photographer friend and recommending she watermark her photographs that she publishes online when she reminded me that I don't do that for my own work! Good point. I used to, but then stopped because it...

 Have you ever received a fancy card with letterpress type? With letterpress, the paper is textured and you can literally see the printing process. It denotes an important and special feel to the card. Letterpress is officially done at a printers; but I have a trick to make a faux letterpress card.  This trick is actually multi-step, requiring agile fingers and patience. I will show you a tip to make it go smoother. It took me several tries to figure it out but I am happy to pass it along. But first:  Supplies White cardstock Altenew Butterfly Dreams layering stamp set Altenew Fancy Hello Die Altenew fresh dye ink sets in Golden Sunset  and Sweet Dreams Die cutting machine Spray adhesive Vellum The first thing you will do is die cut five fancy hellos from card stock. Then you glue each fancy hello on top of each other, making one thick fancy hello. For me, this was harder than it sounds. I have neuropathy in my non dominant hand and this creates numb fingertips and ...

  My first class in the Clean & Simple (CAS) style of card making was basic. I admit, that I had to hold myself back while creating this card. Basically, I stamped the images and colored in two spots that I felt balanced the composition and injected a little pizazz. It is pretty straight forward.  Supplies Altenew Many Thanks stamp set Altenew Healthcare Heroes stamp set Altenew fresh dye ink in crimson Altenew pigment ink in permanent black Staedtler watercolor pencil no. 124 Hangfan alcohol marker in carmine No. 6 round brush One item that I did not list in the supplies is Altenew Stampwheel 2.0. I did not list it because it is absolutely not necessary. But I am writing about it because it makes your life so much easier if you're going to be making cards regularly. I love it! If you are into making cards, put it on your gift wish list now. A birthday or celebration anytime soon? This detail shows how thorough my black ink stamped. Without the Stampwheel 2.0 , I would pro...

Here you can View my YouTube video that is a check in which focuses on my art journal pages. Here are pictures of my art journal pages that I show in the video.

I made another card illustrating how repetitively stamped backgrounds can create a visual rhythm to your design. This simple layout had me stamping, blending, cutting and glueing. I felt like a school kid with my big glue stick. Now, when you look at my supply list, you're going to smack your head when you look at all the inks. Rest assured, you only need a red, a green and a black. I like to mix colors. I often use different shades of a same color to create small variations. Another tip I can give you regarding supplies is to purchase coordinating sets when you can. Especially for beginners, this actually lessens the amount of supplies you're going to need because most of the main elements will be included.  Supplies Altenew Mini Delight One in a Melon stamps and die set Altenew fresh dye inks in frayed leaf, olive, crimson, coral berry, permanent black A striped stencil Two Altenew blending brushes Altenew Glitter cardstock set 3"X6" White cardstock Altenew  Sciss...

Click on my video product review of altenew's mini blending brushes.  

This card is a far cry from the multilayered roses in a Victorian garden card I made two posts ago. Granted, a skeletal human spine and brain are not usual thank you card images. Does it clarify things if I tell you this is a thank you card that I plan on giving my neurosurgeon(s) at my next appointment.? Thought so. Within this last year, I had two serious spinal neurosurgeries. They were both myelopathy emergencies and I was quite ill by the time I was taken to surgery. The good news is that I have regained abilities with my hands for the most part and my doctors arrested the spinal compression that was causing me to lose my balance and that would eventually paralyze, then kill me.  I am still trying to walk and hope the end of the year will see me getting around without a wheelchair or walker. But even if I stay as I am now, I am so very, very grateful to the neurosurgery department of Cleveland Clinic Hospital in Florida for saving my life and giving me back much of my abilitie...

Clean and Simple (CAS) refers to a style of card making which utilizes minimal tools such as inks, stamps and your own hand. Often images are stamped and then colored in with watercolor, alcohol marker or some other sort of color.                                               Of all the card making styles, CAS gives the card maker much more latitude to express themselves freehand. Because CAS is so popular and easy to do, I will offer various examples in the next several posts. I made two cards for the creatives in my life. Card number one featured stamping of brushes and a few stain-like rings. I then used watercolor to do the rest. On the inside, is the sentiment. My second card featured the sentiment on the front and I stamped, painted and splattered color all over. The inside is blank. I definitely played more while making the second card. It is...

I am not one inclined to decorate with very ornate flowers, filigree or lace. Delicate flower buds in oh-so-quaint settings are not in my usual repetoire of designs. But the second class of layering in my AECP card making course lends itself to this kind of Victorian-ish look. So, voila, here is my card featuring four layer roses nestled in a garden themed frame. I think the card is pure delicacy and I did not feel any sentiment needed to be on the front of the card. Actually, the embossed frame of flowers, leaves and butterflies does not leave much room for any sentiment. It is just a dainty note to drop a line to someone special. For this card, you will need approximately four shades of inks in the red family, a couple shades of greens and an embossing folder. You will also do well to get a stamp with matching die set.  Supplies: Altenew Sweet Rose Bouquet stamp and die set Altenew Parrot crisp ink , or any light spring green Altenew Grass Field crisp ink  (this actually a ...

  I thought I would show you some common mistakes that can happen when you make cards.  Both my ladies' features sported ink that ran: my brunettes brown tears coming down and hijab wearing friend, whose lips also dripped rosy ink. I believe I had too much ink on my stamp, and thus when I pressed it, it squished out of the prescribed lines. The mistake on my brunette in the bottom left photo is for other card makers that are messy like me. I constantly smudge paint and ink. I've always been a little messy gal, and I still struggle with that; and here I smudged her hair. The last image on the lower right is a common mistake. If you do not have something like the stamp wheel 2.0 or other stamping alignment aids, you will notice that the lines on the left side of my brunette did not stamp completely. It is almost impossible to line up a stamp to land exactly where the first stamp landed unless you use a tool that's meant to help you with alignment. I bought the stamp wheel 2.0...