I have joined a group sometime last year, where all the members can make birthday cards for other members who's birthday are at that month. These are the cards that I've made for my crafty friends. Sending birthday cards to crafty friends and receiving birthday cards from your crafty friends is awesome.  Let me tell you, this is as much fun as you can get. 

The details

I’ve decided to use Hero Arts monthly hero kit, February kit, for birthday card. I absolutely love this kit, you can make many different cards. First, I die cut a paper and stamp the newspaper background on the front and the top portion of the paper to create newspaper-like wrapping paper for the bouquet. Second, embossing the happy birthday sentiment with white embossing powder onto black card stock and then die cut it into sentiment flag. Finally, die cut some bows for the decoration.

For the bouquet, I've die cut the flowers and leaves using color cardstock then applied the detail with sponge and ink. After that, simply glue the flower to the stem. The rest is easy assembly, in no time the bouquet is ready. Finally, I've made some background A2 cardstock using stencil and Nuvo expanding mousse. The texture definitely adds some dimensions and interest to the card.  

I am very please with the outcome. I hope my friends will like them as well.

Thank you for visiting~

I had a dream the other day that butterflies were reborn from flowers. All the butterflies would have vivid color when they flew out of flower. It is almost like the petal had color-dyed the butterflies. Interesting dream I’ll say.

It is quite simple for this card. Simply blend the color using stencils and distress oxide ink pad. Then stamp the flower with black ink at last. There were only two tips and tricks for making this card. 1. Using distress oxide ink pad because the color will sit on top of previous layer, the butterflies will be more visible on the petal. 2. Stenciling first then stamping the image. The reason is simple, stencil is not flexible, if you stamp the image first, it might not match perfectly with stencil. However, clear stamp is more flexible, matching to the stencil blended area is a simple task.

My world is more colorful with you in it. ^^

Thank you for visiting~

This is a quick and easy card. Using any landscape stamp as background and any large stamp as focal point. In this case I have used Stampin Up Mediterranean Moments and Hero arts Spill the tea stamp set.

Simply stamp the background in grey color and blend the edge with distress ink pad in vintage photo to get an old photo look. Then coloring the tea cup any color you desired and raise the cup with thick foam pad to add some dimension. After that, complete the card with a strip of sentiment.  Fast and easy as is. 

Thank you for visiting and happy crafting~

上個月的ATC交換題目是"外太空"，所以將背景弄成外太空的樣子，再依夢想為故事與外太空無邊境結合，希望夢想丶命運掌握在自己的手裡。

四張ATC 的故事分別為～
Dream big 遠大的夢想
My soul is in the sky 我的靈魂屬於無止盡的天空
Let your dreams take flight 讓你的夢想起飛
It is not in the stars to hold our destiny but in ourselves 掌握著我們命運的不是天上的星星而是我們自己

用三個氧化印台salty ocean丶mustard seed 和picked raspberry無規則的刷滿一整張，再切成ATC的尺寸。

再將邊緣刷上black soot的顏色，中間不規則形狀留住彩色的部分。之後灑水用紙巾吸乾了再用白色壓克力加點水灑在卡上並吹乾。

用銀色亮粉壓克力顔料加水灑在卡上並吹乾，呈現出來的效果有如星際一般，這樣背景就完成了。接下來就可以放字章和主題章了～

感覺上放了很多照片，但都拍了。不放的話好像對不起自己啊!😆 其實這次的ATC 還隱藏了個㊙️密，不知道有收到卡的朋友們有沒有人發現呢？㊙️密就在⋯⋯

小小提示：有黑暗才能看到光明
​請容許稍後揭曉^^

Update:
這次的ATC 我用了螢光凸粉，所以在電燈下照光一陣子之後就會看到星星的出現囉～

Material / supplies used:
Hero Arts Monthly hero kit August 2017
Tim Holtz distress oxide ink
VersaFine Clair Nocturne
Dina Wakley white heavy body acrylic paint 
Hero Arts white embossing powder
Folk Art extreme glitter silver glitter finish acrylic paint
​

Thank you for visiting

The long winter is finally near to the end. I can see flower starting to bloom. Happy Spring~ I have used Waffle Flower magnolia stamp set for my one layer card. Yes I could have just color the flower, cut in out and place them on a blue background. But masking technique on one layer card was in my mind at the moment. I am glad I stick with it, Absolutely love the outcome.

Using distress oxide ink and blending brush to blend out each masking area with milled lavender and seedless preserves oxide ink in flower, mowed lawn in leaves and walnut stain in stem. 

After finished coloring each section, re-stamping the outline one more time in brown ink is necessary to make the image pop. Finally masking the entire flower and then finish off the background with salty ocean oxide ink and birch press circle burst stencil using blending tool.

Material/ supplies used:
Waffle Flower Magnolia stamp set
Picket Fence Studios Life Changing blender brush
Ranger Distress Oxide Ink
​Misti stamping tool

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Thank you for visiting

上次使用Mama Elephant 的 hogs and kisses 以及lion dance水晶章來製作豬年賀卡時，受到很大的回應。大家對於豬小弟穿戴舞龍舞獅的表演覺得有趣，所以這次也用同樣的水晶章做另外兩張卡片。一張是豬小妹穿著舞獅裝，一張則是豬小妹豬小弟的父母獻元寶賀新年。這樣全家都到齊了～ 豬小弟舞龍舞獅卡可以看這裡: www.elainelaine.com/blog/welcome-the-year-of-pig-2019

同樣是使用復古氧化印台刷背景，之後將剪好的舞獅貼在豬小妹身上像是穿著舞獅正在觀望的樣子。製作這張時發現了一個蓋印上的問題，謹賀新年字章蓋完黑色會慢慢變不深，還好我有好多手作朋友幫我一起找答案，很快就找到了解決方法。解決方法會在下面解說～

利用Mama Elephant 的兩隻坐豬剛好坐在墊子上，手托著黃金元寶，豬年獻元寶是很喜氣的一張～

〈關於蓋印字體不黑的問題〉

背景使用氧化印台上色，有時可能因起化學變化而導致之後蓋印上去的顏色會稍微變淡，幾個方法可以改善：
​
1. 使用油性印台
氧化印台會和水起化學作用所以用油性印台會比水性印台來的出色，很多廠牌都有出油性印台，我這次測驗了3款，最黑的是Versafine onyx black～

2. 吹風機是freeze time 的最佳幫手
雖說使用油性印台，但不同牌子的配方都不太一樣所以顏色還是有深淺之分，被氧化的程度也不一定，Versafine 的Onyx black 黑色的確最深，但如果要使用其他顏色蓋印，另外兩個印台Versafine Clair 和Ranger archival 就有很多非常漂亮的顏色可蓋印，那要如何不讓顏色好像被吃掉的感覺，這時候就要靠熱風槍了，蓋印完後要以迅雷不及掩耳的速度趕快吹乾它，讓所有畫面定格。其實要多謝Ann Chuang老師的一句話，Ann老師說一定要蓋兩次才會黑，因為第一次一定起化學作用第二次是和油性顏料接觸所以一定黑。因為這句話突然想到那就不讓它起化學作用，所以要在起化學變化之前趕快吹乾所有蓋印，用heat set 來定色。

3. Micro Glaze 除了有保護作用還有拋光的效果
不只一家廠商有出Micro Glaze，比較有名的是Judikins 和Tim Holtz。Micro glaze 大部分都用來保護作品，在作品上塗上薄薄的一層可以不讓指紋丶水漬殘留在作品上，有防水的功能。這一次也是為了保護作品而使用micro glaze卻意外發現可以讓蓋印字的顔色更加明亮，就像車子打完蠟之後，顏色變亮一樣。

這些是我的作卡心得，有興趣的朋友也可以試試，如果你有新的發現也請多多分享。最後分享我的春節卡片大合照💕

Material/supplies used:
Mama Elephant hogs and kisses clear stamp
Mama Elephant lion dance clear stamp
Micia Chinese New Year wood mount stamp
Tim Holts distress oxide ink
Tsukineko VersaFine onyx black ink
Tsukineko VersaFine Clair Nocturne ink
Ranger archival jet black ink
Tim Holtz Micro glaze

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在此感謝老師們的幫助，可以從老師們的部落格學到很多，有興趣者請看看下面的連結🔗
​Ann 的手作花園  anncard.blogspot.com

Thank you for visiting~ 謝謝觀賞！

舞獅章雖說是2018年的舊款，但搭配性很高，只要是跟舞龍舞獅有關的，過年過節都可以用到它。先蓋印小豬上完色之後再用removeable tape遮住小豬方便上背景色。發現Post-it 出的removable labeling tape 非常好用，連小小的尾巴都不會翹起來，很容易刷色，使用完的遮蔽貼紙就直接黏在印章膠片上面方便下次使用。

舞獅章的腳被我剪掉才可以露可愛的小豬，兒子說應該就擺在他頭上可是會像最後一張根本不知道是誰😂所以將舞獅頭和背部拆開來使用，看起來像小豬在奔跑表演的樣子，效果非常好！舞獅背部看起來很像軟軟的白毛是使用了加熱會起泡的白色凸粉，通常是用在雪景上但只用在造雪實在是太可惜了，它的3D效果增加了趣味性。

Material/supplies use:
Mama elephant hogs and kisses clear stamp
Mama elephant lion dance clear stamp
Miciacrafts good luck sentiment wood stamp
Hero Arts white puff embossing powder
Hero Arts  thick lacquer pen
Versafine Clair-nocturne
Distress Oxide ink pad- peacock feather
Picket fence studios life changing blender brush

謝謝光臨～
Thank you for visiting~

I am sharing a Christmas card that how I pictures a white Christmas will be. Using embossing powder as snow on the roof of each house can be tricky since it is applying on an embossing folder, in this case it isn't the more the merrier.  By gently brush a think layer of Versamark ink will get plenty of snow effect. I choose white satin pearl embossing powder instead of white powder to give the snow enough shine and ​pearlescent white look. The result is magical. 

Material/supplies used in cardmaking:
Cuttlebug embossing folder-village
Memory Box 30043 circle forest scene dies
Hero Arts white satin pearl embossing powder
Hero Arts My monthly hero kit October 2017
Tim Holtz distress oxide ink pad

Thank you for visiting~

Today, I am sharing a birthday card that I made for a dear family friend of over 15 years. Floral cards are one of my favorite cards to make because it is addicting. The more flowers you stamp, the more exciting it gets, which makes you want to stamp more. :) In this card, I have used two stamp sets from Altenew, one is the “life is awesome” stamp set for the main floral scenes, the other is the “botanical you” stamp set for the tiny berries. At last, I completed the look with a frame made from a craft die.

Material/supplies used in card making:
Altenew life is awesome stamp set
Altenew Botanical you stamp set
​Elizabeth craft designs happy frame craft dies

Thank you for visiting~

Today, I am sharing a simple but cozy Christmas card. The stamp that I used is from Concord and 9th Winter Wear stamp set. There is no masking involved while assembling the girl. It is super easy to stamp and color but the feeling is cozier than ever. 

I have colored two girls and decided to use the green scarf girl and save the other girl for later. While I was debating how I am gonna display my girl with the background from dark to light or light to dark, taking pictures and seeing from the different angles definitely helps in decision making.

Material/supplies used in cardmaking:
Concord and 9th winter wear stamp set
Altenew Sincere Greetings stamp set
Tim Holtz Diestress Oxide ink pad

Thank you for visiting~

I always believe red is one of the most festive color. So it is must be included in 2018 Christmas card collection. This is a tri-fold card with deer ornament die and Chinese sentiment “Jesus loves you”. The card then was closed with a paper band that stamped with Merry Christmas or Happy Holiday.

Thank you for visiting~

Material/Supply used in card making:
Hero Arts Deer and Ornament fancy dies
Cuttlebug embossing folder - village
​Judikins glow in the dark embossing powder

Thank you for visiting~

Sharing one of my favorite Christmas card this year. Two of my cats Sammy and Mikey are in the tree as well. Mikey is the sleepy head at the bottom of the tree and Sammy is the Siamese cat at the bottom right.

Material/ supplies used in card making:
Mama Elephant oh kitty tree clear stamp
Copic coloring
Tim Holts distress oxide ink pad blending for the background

Thank you for visiting~

Material/Supplies used in card making:
Dreamerland craft Balloon Ride stamp
Simon Says Stamp circle saying holiday clear stamp
Tim Holtz distress oxide ink pad

Thank you for visiting~