The Amy Doodle Of It All . . .

Gel Press Fun!

Recently I watched a couple of video's about the Gel Press. Now I have played with it before but I am one of those people that sometimes needs to really play with a new product before I get the hang of it. I must say that I highly recommend playing with the Gel Press for an entire weekend to try it out. I guarantee once you start you won't be able to stop! I LOVE my GEL PRESS! 




It is so satisfying to play with it and create one of a kind backgrounds that in turn create clean and simple cards! I am always in need of clean and simple cards. Not only for my own stash, but also for the family members that are always wanting a stash of handmade cards of their own. Here are a few I made using just some blending techniques with Distress Oxide inks and a couple stencils.

 

I also did a project recently where I made 52 Valentines for a local Senior Center. You would think that's a lot of backgrounds but to be honest I couldn't stop myself...LOL. Once I got creating I just kept experimenting and playing with different stencils and Inks, and the project went by so fast! I used a combination of Distress Inks & Distress Oxide inks. (I like to buy mine HERE)






I intend to make a video on my Gel Press but for now it's just in the works. If you are looking for somewhere to get started I HIGHLY recommend Jennifer McGuire's Gel Plate video series. You will get lots of helpful tips and tons of inspiration!

Jennifer McGuire Gel Press Video

Be sure to check out my channel and be on the watch for new content coming!

Amy Hurley Purdie YouTube Channel

Distress Ink Saturday

I hope this Saturday morning you are all doing well and HOPEFULLY find yourself with a little time to kick back and be creative! With that purpose in mind I thought it might be fun for a throwback and list some of my Distress Ink Background videos for you to play with! Working with Distress Inks by far is one of my very favorite crafting activities. There is nothing more satisfying than seeing that white paper transform into something really colorful and fun!Here are some throwback videos to some projects I made using Distress Inks:

Space (personal fav)

Bokeh
This one is so fun because there are just no rules!

 

Next here is a non instructional but hopefully relaxing 10 min rainbow unicorn card
because don't we all need more rainbow unicorns in our life ; )

 

 

Please remember to take time out for you today and be creative!

Have a great weekend!

 

You can find my YouTube Channel HERE

Die Cut Sentiment Cards

Do you have sets of sentiment cutting dies that you just don't know what to do with? You love those dies, but you never use them because you're just not sure how to make it the star rather than the supporting actor.

Here's an idea you can use to make your cutting die the star of the card!

 

 Let's get started!

I am going to use Distress Inks for this project because they are my favorites!

 

You are going to take a 5 1/4" x 4" white cardstock paper, and blend Cracked Pistachio, and Evergreen Bough as shown.

On a second piece of 5 1/4" x 4" white cardstock paper  you'll need to blend Spun Sugar, and Picked Raspberry as shown.

Finish out the background by blending Spiced Marmalade, and Dried Marigold.

Next die cut out your sentiment. I am using My Favorite Things "HUGS" die cut.

Set aside the letters. I will be using Brutus Monroe Party Monsters stamp set that features a little monster giving a great big hug! (Plus it's the stamp I created and I am kind of partial to it...lol) Stamp your little monster all over the card using Picked Raspberry.
 

Next tape your letters into the cut out using the opposite cards colors. Then glue a 5 1/4"x4" white card base to secure it.

Finished!

Don't worry about the little smudges here and there because those little "mistakes" are embellishment opportunities!
 

 You know what would cover those smears perfectly....SPARKLE!

I like to use Glossy accents when doing embellishments because it dries so quickly. I also use my quickstik because it makes picking up tiny things a breeze!

 

See! No more mistakes only a perfect place to add a little sparkle!

I hope you enjoyed this quick litttle tutorial and I hope you try to use your sentiment dies in a new and fun way!

Supplies Used:

Distress Inks ( I get them here because they are a really great price):

Picked Raspberry

Spun Sugar

Spiced Marmalade

Dried Marigold

Cracked Pistachio

Evergreen Bough

Ink Blending Tool

MFT Die Big Hugs

Glossy Accents

Quick Stik

Brutus|Monroe Monster Party Stamp Set

 

 

Spunk Rock Crafting . . . reminding you
to take time out for you because you're worth it,
there are no mistakes only embellishment opportunities,
and to keep it Spunky & Fun ; )

Bokeh Background Tutorial

I just love making Distress Ink backgrounds! They are definitely my favorite and I could just make them all day. This week I thought I would showcase my bokeh background. They make for really interesting card backdrops and plus they are so fun to make!

 

 

To create this background you'll need:

White Cardstock

*****SERIOUSLY THE BEST PRICE I HAVE EVER FOUND*****

Distress Ink:

Shaded Lilac

Spun Sugar

Squeezed Lemonade

White Pigment Ink

Ink Blending Tool

 

 

 

 

Space Background Technique

A few card makers have asked me about how I make my space backgrounds, so I thought I would make a quick video on how to create one. It's pretty easy to do and all you need are some white cardstock, Distress Inks, Ink Blenders, and a white gel pen.

 

*On a side note: sometimes I have used a splatter paint technique for stars like in the sample above, but more often than not I will try to splatter and get blobs of white that ruined the look I was going for. So in the video I am showing the technique I use now which is a white gel pen to create the stars.

 

Supplies:

White Cardstock

*****SERIOUSLY THE BEST PRICE I HAVE EVER FOUND*****

Distress Ink:

Picked Raspberry

Salty Ocean

Twisted Citron

Black Soot

Ink Blending Tool

White Gel Pen

 

Remember to get out there and try something new. You can do it!

 

 

Spunk Rock Crafting . . . reminding you
to take time out for you because you're worth it,
there are no mistakes only embellishment opportunities,
and to keep it Spunky & Fun ; )