Make a Wish

Hello, Friends!  It's Kren here with another "direct to paper technique" card.  When you feel like having some fun with color, get out those art supplies.  Layer on color onto tissue paper and save that metallic paint for last.  Then die cut a sentiment and an accent piece and there it is!  A birthday card that will bring something special to someone's day.  Thanks for stopping by today!

Marsh Silhouettes

We're using a new technique

with inks, stencils, and water at the

MFP Stamp Shop/SFF challenge this week.

We have a tutorial that you can follow here.

Every stencil will create a subtle and different effect,

but you are sure to like each one.

You could almost call it "selective blurring."
I have a stack of bg's done now, ready for 
a wonderful MFP silhouette image.
I chose Marsh Silhouettes for my image
and sentiment for this particular one.

Fall Leaves

Hello, Friends!  It's Kren here.
Thanks for stopping by A Fourth Life

so I can share cards created with Just For Fun Stamps.

Today I am going to share cards using Stamptangle images
Elm Leaf  D3858, 
Oak Leaf F3859, and
Maple Leaf E3860.
You know how I love leaves.

It all started with an acrylic background of multiple colors of paint, swiped onto card stock.  Then I dry brushed the paper with gesso to mute and soften the colors.  Here is a close up of one of the backgrounds.

Then I heat embossed the leaves and some extra card stock with either white embossing powder or granite ep.  I colored the leaves with Twinkling H20's.
And here is how the cards turned out.

I love to make my own background papers and you might want 

to try swiping some  acrylics too.

Check out the JFFStamps blog to see what other projects might inspire you!

Let the Sun Shine

Create a sponged circle background this week

for the Speedy Fox and Friends challenge

at the MFP Stamp Shop blog.

I wanted vibrant colors for mine

and once I started sponging, 

I just filled it all in.

Heat embossing keeps the sun

a vibrant focal point.

Challenges:

Word Art Wednesday 

You Are My Sunshine and My Rainbows

Hello, Friends!  We've had some rain lately and this card is so appropriate because sunshine is predicted for tomorrow.  Today's card uses a DTP technique using oil pastels.  I love the richness of the colors.  It was hard to pull it out of my dp stash, but I knew when I saw this Back to Paper digital image that a vibrant background was just what it needed.  The sentiment is from Verve and I just love the tone it sets.  This card is image #2 in the CDAC Progressive Challenge--required image-- and will also be entered at Crafty Boots--rainbows. I will also enter it into these challenges:  Make it Monday - W - always Anything Goes, Ooh La La Creations - 2W, SIO - (2nd week) Inspired by Nature;  Stamp and Create - M, 1E/week - (June) Summer Fun;  Tammy's Scrapin Corner - W, 2E, F - Anything Goes + Texture;  Use Your Stuff - W, JFF, use your stash - Summer-inspired;  Without Words - M, P10, 3E, CAS, hand-colored image - (June) Hot Colours;  Fitztown Challenge - W, F -  Anything Goes;  Crafty Bloggers Network - M, SIO - (June) Bright & Breezy;  Word Art Wednesday--Anything inspirational Goes; Alota Rubber Stamps--Summer Feeling.

An Elephant Never Forgets a Birthday

An elephant never forgets a birthday, and definitely not a child's birthday.  Here is another card for a child and this time it's a birthday for the FOSTV challenge at Mark's Finest Papers and Creative Creations Challenges.  It uses a Cuttlebug embossing folder with Adirondack inks applied for a direct to paper technique, Spellbinders ovals, and  an Inkadinkado image.

Sponging and Bleaching Background

 Back again with another acrylic paint background.  This time the acrylic paints were applied to card stock using wadded up toilet tissue.  Yes, that is correct, toilet paper.  I sponged on some subtle peach and mauve colors and then added gold paint as the final layer.  Applying the paint in this way adds color AND texture to the piece and makes the paper appear to be handmade.  The angel was black heat embossed on black card stock and bleached to lighten the interior of the image.  MS corner punching and a black card stock layer and then a kraft card blank.  This card will be entered in the Tutorial Time challenge on Speedy TV/MFP with the theme of using acrylic paints and in Nutcrafters Challenge , Paula Holifield Crafts,  and Stampavie because it uses kraft paper/card stock.  Whimsical Designs is calling for a Mixed Media project.   Stop by again soon!

A Card Can Tell a Whole Story

Faux Leather and Wax Paper Resist

Sometimes a card can tell a whole story.  A journey through the SW, Indian pictographs on cave walls or animal images burned onto leather, sandy and parched ground...That's how this card came to be.  Techniques:  the wax paper resist for one layer, stamped faux leather from the MFP/Speedy Fox and Friends challenge.  It's a masculine-themed using warm colors so it will also be entered in the following challenges:  Use Your Stuff--add texture;  Paper Creator Crafts- for the boys;  Delicious Doodles--something for the boys;  Word Art Wednesday--anything goes, and these blogs as well:
613 Avenue Create - Anything Goes
Ellapu - 2E - Anything Goes
Catch The Bug - 3E, SIO - Anything Goes
Our Creative Corner - 3E  M - Anything Goes
Inspire Me Fridays– Hosted on New Blog - 101 - Anything Goes!
Sister Act Card Challenge - W, Cards. Always Anything Goes
Paper Crafting Journey - 2W - (W1 of 2)  Anything Goes
Make it Monday - W - always Anything Goes

Dragonflies

Hello, Crafty Friends!  My second post today because I have a special card to share with you.  Dragonflies are very close to my heart because as an amateur photographer, I just can't seem to catch a photo of them. So I love dragonfly images.  The dragonfly you see here is sparkling with Twinkling H2O's.  The background paper is special as well.  It is a wax crayon resist  technique creating a batik effect that is fun and uncomplicated to do.  The effects are so interesting and adding the dragonfly images stamped to the background paper adds more dimension to the piece.  I was inspired to create this card because of a challenge on Crafting with Dragonflies.  It will be entered in several other challenges.  Allsorts -Add some sparkle;  Catch The Bug  - Anything Goes;   Inspire Me Fridays– Anything Goes!;  Sister Act Card Challenge - Cards, Always Anything Goes;  ABC Challenge - Make it Sparkle;  Alota Rubber Stamps - Bugs, bugs, bugs;  Our Creative Corner - Anything goes;  Sweet Stamps - Stamped background paper

Signs of the Orient

Hello again!  Today I have an Oriental "twinchie" card to share and a card that will be entered in the Inspiration Challenge at MFP/Speedy TV.   The red layer is heat embossed with gold and the twinchies are black and white images.  I love the red, black, and white combination with the touch of gold.  Hope you like it too!  Stop by again!

Muslin/Tissue Paper Tutorial

Hello, Paper Artists!  Welcome back to A Fourth Life.  Because I attended parochial schools and was on the business track in high school, I never was able to take art classes as electives.  That may be why I love to make backgrounds for my cards using art supplies.  Today, I have another mini-tutorial using muslin, magazine photos, glue, silver paint, and tissue paper. I am hoping Victorine Original Stamps--Mother's Day, and Speedy TV/FOSTV--tissue paper like my finished product.   Cut a piece of muslin and coat it with white liquid glue.  Attach cut out glossy photos from your favorite magazines to create a collage effect.  Let dry completely.  Coat again with white glue and crinkle tissue paper and lay on top.  Let it dry completely.  Dry brush silver paint in parts of the sheet of paper.  Use this background paper to make your card.  You might consider making the design and embellishments simple since the background will be so striking and textured.  Thanks for stopping by!

This card will be entered in the following challenges:
Splendiferous Creations--a feminine touch;  Broken Box Stock -- Mother's Day;  Make It Monday--Anything Goes;  Brown Sugar--Mother's Day;  Chocolate Coffee Cards--Mother's Day;  Creative Corner--Mother's Day;  Dilly Beans--the word Mother on the card;  Crafter's Cafe--Mother;  DL.Art Thankful Thursday--Anything Goes;  Word Art Wednesday--Anything Goes

Butterfly Vellum Window Card

Hello, Bloggers!  Today's card is something I call a Vellum Window Card.  The card is three panels with the first panel folded inside.  Cut a window in both of those panels and then dry emboss the middle section.  I inked one side of the embossing folder.  Insert your vellum image between panels 1 and 2, decorate, and you have a lovely Vellum Window Card.  I am entering  the Friends of Speedy TV challenge to use vellum, and also stop by Flutterby Wednesday's to see more lovely butterfly creations.  This card will also be entered in these challenges:  Joanna Sheen's Challenge--Spring into Spring;  Pile It On--embossing;   Scrappy Frogs--Think Spring;  Avenue 613--Anything Goes;  Word Art Wednesdays--Anything Goes;  Victorine Original Stamps--Springtime Flowers.    I hope this will inspire you to use vellum.  Stop in again!

Spring Showers Bring Flowers and Rainbows

Hello, Friends!  Now that it is April, I hope you are seeing signs of spring.  In FL, that last cool front has passed through, so very late this year that it caught us by surprise.  We will welcome some spring showers and hope yours will bring you rainbows and flowers--simple things that will bring us joy each day.  Today's card reflects the simplicity and joy of spring.  Hope you enjoy it!  Challenges:  MFP/Inspirational Challenge--rainbows; The Paper Girls--April Showers Bring May Flowers;   Word Play Saturday--Spring;   Penny Black--Spring into Spring;  Word Art Wednesday; Celebrate the Occasion --umbrella,  Cuttin' and Stampin' --showers, Cuttlebug Mania--April Showers, Papertake Weekly --Anything Goes,  Sweet Stamps--Spring Pastels, MFP/Speedy TV/Simple Salutations --Anything Goes, MFP/FOSTV--fave movie/song--"Raindrops Keep Falling on My Head", Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid--Newman AND Redford, SIGH!

Blessings Daffodil

Hello, friends!  Today I have a cheerful card to share called Blessings Daffodil.  It speaks of Easter and new beginnings, and beautiful things that are yellow and green like daffodils.  The background uses an embossing folder brayered with ink, the scalloped oval dp is sponged alcohol inks on glossy paper, the Copic-colored daffodil image is from Mark's finest Papers, as well as the sentiment, and the fancy tag is from Spellbinders.  You can view this card again at Friends of Speedy TV for an Easter challenge.  And here's hoping it qualifies for the following challenges:    ABC Challenges  Easter, Without Words Challenges  -- Easter,  Victorine Originals -- Easter;  Pause Dream Enjoy Challenges -- Anything Goes ; Make It Monday--Anything Goes, Crafty Boots Challenges --  Flowers, Word Art Wednesday  -- Inspirational.  But, more importantly, I hope you have a very special Easter, and that ALL your days are filled with blessings! kkSpeedy Fox and Friends challenge

Bold Border and a Daisy

Hello, Bloggers!  The card today began with a challenge to myself:  Use what is already in the "basket".  The "basket" is really a tote that sits under my counter to hold items I've pulled for other cards or the left overs--dp, images, embells .... you get the idea.  With the available items, I followed the Sketch with a Twist at SpeedyTV request to use a fancy border and that certainly set the theme for the sketch.  Then I added the MFP image colored with Copics and the MFP sentiment.  I wish you could see the shimmer of the alcohol ink dp used.   That dp was created summers ago and I just love the colors.  I guess you can guess why my work basket is overflowing! This card will also be shared at Word Art Wednesday. Thanks for stopping by and please leave a comment so I'll know you were here!  Have a wonderful day!

Leaves Of Green

Be sure to check out the animation on Google today.  It is too cute and will wish you a Happy St. Pat's Day!   Okay, back to business.  I love green so this card came together very quickly.  You can see the embossing folder background and then a favorite leaf stamp.  I did some fancy gesso/ink dtp techniques on the layers and added the gold bow for pizzazz.  I hope to enter this card in these challenges:
Speedy Fox/MFP
Wags N Whiskers
Just Add Ink
Milk Coffee Challenge

Rock Salt Daffodil

MFP Daffodil using Rock Salt Technique

Okay, so the title of this post makes it sound like I am touting a rock music group--The Rock Salt Daffodil--LOL!  Sorry about that!  Many colors and lots of rock salt went into the dp around the Mark's Finest Papers Daffodil set image.  I just LOVE this image.  It cheers me up so!  Hope you like it!  The challenge is located at http://mfpspeedytv.ning.com/page/tutorial-time-on-speedy-tv-challenge-36-02-15-13

Wild Thing!

A Giraffe, an Elephant, and an Alligator, Oh My!  Wild thing!

Today, I am working on an Animals plus Sketch Challenge at MFT/SpeedyTV.  When I found my animals set, I noticed I had attached two sheets of technique paper using waxed paper and ink that reminded me of a giraffe so that's how I started with the sketch.  I had to adjust the sketch to match the sizes of the stamps, but I think I still managed to make the sentiment the dominant portion of the card.  Maybe my hubby will get Wild Thing!  as his non-traditional Valentine's Day card.  He hates the red and white color combinations for the traditional cards.  You can see the challenge at http://mfpspeedytv.ning.com/page/sketch-with-a-twist-challenge-32-02-05-13.