Glowing Your Way Through Halloween PLUS a Giveaway!

Happy Halloween! 

Today we are all about Fall and Halloween for our Wednesday Blog Hop. In addition to the amazing projects that our team has created for you this week we also have a ***GIVEAWAY!*** We wanted to have a little fun with our blog hop this week, and give away ONE 25.00 GIFT CERTIFICATE to the Brutus Monroe store! Just leave a comment on each blog post along the hop to be entered! Winner will be announced on next Wednesday's blog hop post, November 7th, on the Brutus Monroe blog. Please remember to check back next week to see if you are the winner! 

***BONUS ENTRY- Post ANY project you have created in the Brutus Monroe Fan Club group on Facebook with the hashtag,#TrickOrTreatGiveaway! Good luck!

For this weeks card, I wanted to create a fun interactive glow in the dark Halloween card using the All Hallows Eve stamp set along with foiling, Aqua Pigments and the star of the show Glow in the Dark Glitter Glaze.  To begin I added deco foil transfer gel to a piece of Raven cardstock using Newton Nooks Flying Bat stencil. Once it had dried I added purple deco foil and cut a circle in the middle using Circle Foundation Dies. along with a larger circle from clear acetate.  

To create the shaker element I covered a panel of  Raven cardstock  with Glow in the Dark Glitter Glaze. This glaze has an amazing glow!! I have to store it in a drawer because it will glow in the middle of the night on my desk.  Once the glaze had dried I added Spooky Night sequin mix for the shaker bits. I LOVE this mix. There are large pumpkins and spider webs along with smaller elements that worked well with the Glow in the Dark Glitter Glaze. 

Two sheets of fun foam were used to create the dimensions for the large shaker pieces to move. Once it was adhered to the panel the only thing left was to watercolor the fun characters from All Hallows Eve stamp set. I used Aqua Pigments to watercolor the Frankenstein boy and bat from the stamp set. Once they had dried, I fussy cut them they were adhered using foam squares to the panel under the shaker element and at the top. 

I love how this fun card came out. It is going to my nephews and I am sure they will spend hours in the bathroom or closet watching it glow. 😀

Check out all of the great projects from our team this week below. Don't forget to leave a comment to be entered to win a 25.00 gift card from Brutus Monroe. Announced on November 7, 2018. 

MARIE

JESS

HEATHER

BERINA

LAUREN

DANIEL

SHARON

WALESKA

Have a great day!

-Heather B.

Note: I do use affiliated links. What this means to you is, at NO additional cost to you I receive a commission when you purchase a product through one of the product links. This allows me to continue to purchase new products and create additional inspiration. I list links for several companies so you are able to locate the best prices for the product.

Die cutting, Heat Embossing and Aqua Pigments All Together For One Beautiful Snowy Creation

Hello! As the last leaves fall from the trees the empty branches will soon be draped with beautiful blankets of snow. Today we have a card for you that shows the beauty of snow in purples and blues using heat embossing, die cutting and aqua pigments.

To create the back panel of the card, I taped down the Snowflake stencil using purple tape onto a piece of Aubergine cardstock. Once it was secure, clear embossing ink was added directly from pad to paper until the open areas in the stencil were coated. For this panel I added Icicle embossing powder and heat set it to create a great tone on tone look with a little shine.

Next, I created the panels that were used to cut the hexagon shapes. The panel was used by adding generous amounts of water to a piece of watercolor paper and then dropping blue violet and turquoise Aqua Pigments onto the paper and moving them around until I got the desired look. Once it had dried, the same technique using the snowflake stencil that was used for the base on the aqua pigment panel except this time it was coated in Sterling embossing powder. I love the gorgeous silver and shine that you get from the Sterling embossing powder.

After the panel was embossed, I used the two smallest dies from the Hexagon Foundation set to cut the mail focal point of the card. They were randomly placed on the Aubergine panel and then adhered with foam squares to give them dimension.

Finally, the sentiment was added using Raven embossing powder on vellum and positioned on the left side of the card.

This is a fun way to use backgrounds that you may have created and been holding on to for the perfect time to use them. Take a look at your dies and see how you can use them with the panels to create something unique.



Have a great day!!

-Heather B.

Note: I do use affiliated links. What this means to you is, at NO additional cost to you I receive a commission when you purchase a product through one of the product links. This allows me to continue to purchase new products and create additional inspiration. I list links for several companies so you are able to locate the best prices for the product.

Beautiful Floral Backgrounds Made Simple

Hello! Today the Brutus Monroe Inspiration Team is all about Florals. Brutus Monroe has many beautiful floral stamps available to purchase for any occasion card that you may need. Today I am showing you a simple card using the Botanical Background stamp.

First, I stamped the background using clear embossing ink on a piece of rogue cardstock. I originally intended to heat emboss the florals with alabaster embossing powder, however once I had stamped it out I realized that I loved the watermark look and decided not to emboss. I love when the products take you in a direction you didn't intend, but love the results better than what you had planned. 

Once the clear embossing ink  had dried I added a piece of ribbon from a previous inspiration box down the side and stamped out the "Happy Birthday" sentiment from Super Sentimental in Raven Detail Ink on the bottom of the card. I wanted the florals to be the main focal point. 

Finally, I added it to a card base using rogue and added a white cut down panel inside to write a message

This card was so simple and would be so easy to make in bulk. You could stamp out several of these very quickly adding different sentiments and using multiple colors of cardstock for variety. 

For more floral fabulous inspiration check out the rest of the Inspiration Teams projects below. 

BERINA

HEATHER

JESS

WALESKA

SHARON

MARIE

LAUREN

Have a great day!

-Heather B.

Note: I do use affiliated links. What this means to you is, at NO additional cost to you I receive a commission when you purchase a product through one of the product links. This allows me to continue to purchase new products and create additional inspiration. I list links for several companies so you are able to locate the best prices for the product.

Dance With Denim Over the Rainbow

Hello! 

Today I am showing you a card created using the Dance with Denim Brutus Monroe and Unity background stamp along with the Thanks die. I used a die cut inlay technique to create a continuous background and sentiment. This technique was a lot of fun and can be used in many different ways with numerous backgrounds and die cuts. Let's get started! 

First, I inked up the background stamp with Wagon, Jack-O-Lantern, Phonebook, Envy, Cornflower and Aubergine surface inks in a rainbow pattern vertically down the stamp. Using a Misti I stamped the background on an A2 size panel. One of my favorite things about these background stamps is the size. They are the perfect size for an A2 panel. 

Next, I taped the Thanks die. in the center of the inked panel with purple tape and ran it through my die cut machine. To give the sentiment a small amount of dimension I also cut it three times from Not Your Mama's white cardstock. After I adhered the panel to my card base I glued the Thanks die cuts together and then adhered it to the panel. It should fit in like a puzzle piece. Make sure you save all of the inside parts of the die to add back in as well. To complete the card I added bottle cap sequence Glass Slipper. 

Thanks it! So simple and there are so many ways that you can do the same technique with many different stamps. There are also now 4 new Christmas Collaboration stamps with Unity available. This technique would make great holiday cards. Check them out here. 

Thanks for stopping by!

Have an awesome Tuesday!

-Heather B. 

Note: I do use affiliated links. What this means to you is, at NO additional cost to you I receive a commission when you purchase a product through one of the product links. This allows me to continue to purchase new products and create additional inspiration. I list links for several companies so you are able to locate the best prices for the product.

Fall in Love with Aqua Pigments

Hello! It's Wednesday, that means another Inspiration Team Blog Hop with tons of inspiration. Today

we are showing you projects created using Aqua Pigments. The Brutus|Monroe Aqua Pigments are specially formulated watercolors that work beautiful on all types of mediums. It is suggested to use them straight out of the bottle but they can have water added to them to lighten any color within the range.

Key Features:

• Non-Toxic
• 1 Fluid Ounce of Pigment
• Color Fusion allows for colors to bend with ease
• True Color Names
• Convenient Dropper Bottle
• Child Proof Lid 

I am showing you how adding a few drops of household bleach to your clean water can give your backgrounds a awesome effect that you can't get with regular water. The dropper bottle makes this technique so easy!

After I added the bleach to the water I used a large paint brush and generously added the water to a panel of watercolor paper. Make sure that the paper is completely wet or the technique will not work in all area's.  I used yellow first, dropping it in random places on the panel. When you drop the pigments they spread out, but have a darker "eye" in the center that will fade out. After the yellow, I dropped orange, then brown and went back with each color to fill in spaces until I had the panel completely covered with color. 

Next,  I cut a tag from Brown Butter cardstock using the Foundation tag dies to add my sentiment. The sentiment is heat embossed with the October Embossing Powder of the Month Club Golden Gourd.  To add interest to the tag I added a piece of orange ribbon from the October Inspiration Box and sequence from Lilac Lane. Once the tag was attached that completed this simple, fun card. 

I encourage you to try the Aqua Pigments. They are so much fun and kind of addicting once you start creating with them. :) 

Check out the fantastic projects from the rest of our design team below. 

MARIE

BERINA

JESS

HEATHER

LAUREN

WALESKA

SHARON

Have a great day!

-Heather B.

Note: I do use affiliated links. What this means to you is, at NO additional cost to you I receive a commission when you purchase a product through one of the product links. This allows me to continue to purchase new products and create additional inspiration. I list links for several companies so you are able to locate the best prices for the product.

Embossing the Day Away

Hello! Welcome back to the Wednesday Brutus Monroe Inspiration Team blog hop. This week we are all about embossing powders. Did you know that Brutus Monroe has awesome embossing powders that melt evenly and give amazing coverage for the area or item that you want embossed. 

There is also a subscription of the month Embossing Club. When you sign up for the Embossing Powder club, you will receive never before released limited edition powder once each month. IF there are any powders left over from the subscriptions, they will be sold in store until gone.

Also, as a subscriber, will also receive 15% off on every in store purchase at any time. All of this for only 8.00 a month! 

To create this gorgeous Hello card I used the August embossing powder of the month Emerald City. It is a beautiful green color, but when you tip it to the side you can see yellow in it as if you are looking at the hidden yellow brick road. To start I used clear embossing ink on the Watercolor background stamp then applied it to a piece of Midnight cardstock , next I applied the embossing powder onto the cardstock and heat set it with the Wagner Heat Tool. 

To create the hello on the front. To give the Hello die dimension I cut it 4 times using Phonebook cardstock and glued then together. Then adhered it to the panel. 

For the butterfly I used heat embossed the solid image from Butterfly Sentiments 2.0 using Fairy Dust embossing powder then used the coordinating dies to cut it out of Phonebook cardstock. Finally, to finish up the butterfly I used Raven detail ink to stamp the detail stamp from the set of the same butterfly. 

I adhered everything to a Midnight card base and the card is complete. Very simple, yet a beautiful card to brighten someones day. Don't forget to subscribe to the Embossing Powder Club so you don't miss out! 

Don't forget to check out all of the amazing projects created by our design team below. 

MARIE

JESS

LAUREN

BERINA

WALESKA

SHARON

HEATHER

Have a great day!

-Heather B.

Note: I do use affiliated links. What this means to you is, at NO additional cost to you I receive a commission when you purchase a product through one of the product links. This allows me to continue to purchase new products and create additional inspiration. I list links for several companies so you are able to locate the best prices for the product.

Snowflake Layered Embossing Card

Hello!

One of my favorite techniques in card making is heat embossing. It is so magical watching powder turn to a beautiful shine right before your eyes. It never gets old! Today I am showing you how to layer embossing powders to create a beautiful snowflake background.

To begin I  used purple tape to create diagonal strips on a panel of Midnight cardstock. Next, I added clear embossing ink directly to the panel. It is ok if you get it on the tape that will be removed after the embossing powder is heat set.  Now for the magic...adding Gilded embossing powder and heat set it with the Wagner heat tool.

After removing the tape strips I used an antistatic powder bag over the entire panel and secured the snowflake stencil (definitely one of my favorite stencils ever!). Using the same clear embossing ink to paper technique I then added Sterling embossing powder to the snowflakes. Don't be afraid to put the clear embossing ink over the Gilded lines, the sterling will heat emboss directly over it without damaging the gold.

To add the sentiment I cut the words "Let it Snow" using Brutus Monroe Upper Case Alphabet Dies cut from watermelon glitterstock. They were glued to a piece of vellum cut using Circle Foundation dies and placed in the center of the card panel. To add a final touch I used a piece of ribbon from the June subscription box.

I hope this card started your creative mind thinking of the many fun ways that you can layer embossing powder.  Don't forget to show us what you create! We love to see the amazing ways you use our products! Tag us using #createyourownending #brutusmonroe or post in our Fan Club Facebook group found here.


Have a great day!!

-Heather B.


Note: I do use affiliated links. What this means to you is, at NO additional cost to you I receive a commission when you purchase a product through one of the product links. This allows me to continue to purchase new products and create additional inspiration. I list links for several companies so you are able to locate the best prices for the product.

Sweet and Scary Candy Corn Vampire| Brutus Monroe Stamp Club of the Month October

We have officially entered October. Fall leaves, spider webs, pumpkins, bats and candy corn vampires Wait, CANDY CORN VAMPIRES?! Yep!  Brutus Monroe has combined two favorites of Halloween into one adorable stamp! How do you get yours?? 

All you have to do is sign up for the monthly stamp club. With the monthly stamp club you will receive a 2x3 stamp set for only $5 which includes your shipping and handling! The stamp set is designed each month by Christopher and will be shipped out to you by the 15th of the month (excluding holidays, in the event of a holiday falling on shipment day the stamp will ship on the next business day)

To received the current months stamp you must order by the last day of the current month. Your first charge will incur the day you sign up for the club and on the first of the month, every month thereafter. 

With the stamp club you will receive:
A new stamp designed monthly and shipped directly to you before it is listed on the website
15% off of your everyday regular priced purchases at Brutus|Monroe.com (WOW!) - this discount will be applied automatically the next time you sign in, if you are not seeing the discount immediately after your purchase, please refresh your browser.

For the card design I wanted to combine the monthly stamp set with the newly released Pumpkin Faces stamp set.  For the background I blended aubergine , midnight, and cornflower surface inks. I wanted the background to have more of a blue tint to make the candy corn bats and candy corn vampire stand out.

There was a lot of masking paper  used to create the candy corn bats and to bunch up the pumpkins in the corner. I used Raven detail ink to stamp the vampire candy corn stamp so I could do copic coloring without fear of the ink bleeding into the coloring.

I used Raven embossing powder on the bats wings and the pumpkins faces. The adorable "Bite Me" sentiment that comes with the set was added by heat embossing Twisted Tangerine on raven card stock. 

The candy corn vampire was attached with foam tape to give it dimension from the smaller candy corn bats.

I hope you enjoyed this adorable Candy Corn Vampire scene using the new October Stamp Monthly Stamp Club stamp. Don't forget to subscribe to get yours today! Check out the rest of the amazing designs created by our inspiration team below.

HEATHER

SHARON

LAUREN

MARIE

JESS

-Have a fabulous day!

Heather

Note: I do use affiliated links. What this means to you is, at NO additional cost to you I receive a commission when you purchase a product through one of the product links. This allows me to continue to purchase new products and create additional inspiration. I list links for several companies so you are able to locate the best prices for the product.