Moon Baby

Hello, Crafters.

After buying this stamp set when it was first released, this is the first time I have used it - can you believe it?

The images in this set are so cute I really don't know why I haven't used it sooner. And why today? 

Probably because one of the ladies in my team, became a grandmother again yesterday (Friday). 

Lilian shared photographs of her new granddaughter, Halle, and Halle's big sister who's about three years old.

I'm working on a new project at the moment - more news on that if it comes to fruition - and I've been working with the Stampin' Blends.

It seemed the logical thing to carry on working with them when I stopped working on the project and started on today's card!

A lot of my card making skills are self-taught, and learning how to get the best out of blends is also going to finish up as another self-taught skill!

The first thing I learned is that it's best to use our Thick Whisper White Cardstock (CS). 

I've also learned not to paint right up the edge of the outline, and also not to keep going over the same area time, and time again! 
 
For me to get the best results with blending, I found if I paint the entire image with the light colour Stampin' Blends first, then I use the dark pen to paint the area I want dark. 

Next I like to give that area a little bit of time to dry, so I move onto another part of the image to start colouring, preferably an area that isn't adjacent to where I have just been painting.

I follow the same process on the new area as before, and when I've finished painting the dark colour on the second area, I move onto a third area, or back to the first. 
 
When I start painting on an area for the second time, I use the light colour, and start painting on the dark area where it joins the light area. 

I've found this is the best way for me to get a good blend between the light and dark. 

What I've explained here is just the bare bones of using alcohol markers, as well as what I've found out by experimenting! 

I hope you find it helpful, but please bear in mind, I'm very much a novice at the moment, so we can learn this together!☺

To create today's card I stamped the baby image on a piece of Thick Whisper White Cardstock, and coloured it using the Light and Dark Pool Party Stampin' Blends, and the Ivory which I believe has been produced as a skintone, as well as the Bronze Stampin' Blend.

I layered the image onto a piece of Pool Party CS. 

Then I built my card base starting with Whisper White CS, with a layer of Pool Party CS, and a top layer of the silver stripe design from the Springtime Foils Designer Series Paper.

This is one of the three new products that are now available from the Sale-a-bration (SAB) gift brochure - these gifts are freebies for qualifying orders (contact me if you'd like more information: janb@janbcards.com) 

After I had adhered these three pieces together, I adhered the baby image using Dimensionals. 

Using Pool Party Ink and a scrap of Pool Party CS, I stamped the HELLO BABY sentiment onto a scrap of Thick Whisper White CS, and punched it out using the 1 1/8" Scalloped Circle Punch. 

I layered this onto a piece of Pool Party CS which I 'd punched out using the 1 3/8" Scalloped Circle Punch. 

I adhered it to the top left-hand corner of the card front, and finished off the front of the card by adding five self-adhesive Sequins.

I love how well behaved these sequins are! LOL!

Inside the card I adhered a layer of Pool Party CS, and a layer of Whisper White CS. 

The baby image is the first successful image I'd painted, but I'd spoiled it by trying to decorate the white space around the baby - that's all I'm saying about that!! ☺ 

Anyway, I fussy cut it and adhered it inside my card!

Going back to the Stampin' Blends, I have a lot to learn, and I'd be very happy to hear any quick tips you may have!!

That's it from me today. I hope you have a very enjoyable weekend, and I'll be back tomorrow, so until then, happy crafting.

JanB.