Fall 2025: Gel Monoprinting Workshop Wednesday, November 5, 2025

Hello everyone,

Hope you are doing well. Below is a quick recap of the cards we made in class. There are two classes remaining for this Fall session, November 19 and December 10, 2025. Please note there will be no classes during the Thanksgiving week.

See you in class.

Connie

Embossed Dragonflies: Brayer Antique Linen & Victorian Velvet Distress Oxide inks onto gel plate. Place flower stencil on top and place scrap over to rub stencil images onto gel plate. Remove scrap paper and stencil and place white paper onto gel plate. Rub well and pull print. Die cut print with shape die. Stamp and heat emboss dragonflies & sentiment onto print panel. Adhere panel on to rose card base. Add gems and bow to finish as shown.

Stencil & Color Friend: Brayer Scattered Straw & Twisted Citron Distress Oxide inks onto gel plate. Place leaves stencil on top and place white paper over. Rub well to transfer leaves images onto white paper for background print. Stamp image onto print with Portobello VersaFine Clair ink. Die cut with rectangular die and color images with Prismacolor pencils. Adhere panel onto black mat before adhering to yellow card base. Add gems and sticker sentiment to finish card as shown.

Watercolor Lighthouse: Scribble green and blue Distress Watercolor Crayons onto gel plate and mist gel plate with water. Place wave stencil on top and place mixed media card panel over. Rub well for a few minutes to let the watercolor soak into card panel. Remove and dry card panel. Cut panel down to size and adhere behind lighthouse die cut panel before adhering to white card base. Add stamp sentiment to finish.

Jelly Fish on Acrylic: Brayer lavender & purple metallic acrylic paints onto gel plate and place white paper on top to pull 1st print. Brayer green metallic, light and dark blue acrylic paints onto gel plate. Place jelly fish die cut in the middle of the painted gel plate to act as a mask and place the 1st print back onto gel plate. Rub well and full the final print. Let dry before cutting print with rectangular stitch die. Stamp jelly fish image onto the purple jelly fish silhouette with black ink. Adhere print onto white mat before adhering onto aqua card base. Color jelly fish with shimmer pen, add gems and sticker sentiment to finish.

Fall 2025: Handmade Greeting Cards Workshops on Wednesday, October 29 and Saturday, November 1, 2025

Hello everyone,

Hope you are doing well. Below is a quick recap of the cards we made in class. 

There are two classes remaining for this Fall session: November 12 and December 3 for Wednesday's class, and November 22 and December 6 for Saturday's class. Please note there will be no classes during the Thanksgiving week.

See you in class.

Connie

Hedgehog Birthday Shaker:  Punch out circle from polka dot panel and tape clear acetate on the back side of panel over the opening. Place foam tape all around the circle to create a well to contain beads & sequins and also along the edges of the back of the polka dot panel. Stamp hedgehog and birthday sentiment on watercolor card panel with black ink and color image with watercolor pencils. Punch out birthday greeting for the card front. Pour some beads & sequins in the center of hedgehog and carefully adhere the polka dot panel on top. Wrap ribbon around panel and adhere sentiment before adhering to orange card base to finish.

Stencil Hummingbird: Place swirl stencil onto white card panel and lightly sponge Twisted Citron Distress ink to add pattern onto panel. Stamp hummingbird and vines with Warm Breeze VeraFine Clair ink. Color bird and vines with yellow and orange markers and brush on Clear Wink of Stella for shimmer. Adhere panel onto black mat and wrap sheer ribbon around before adhering to blue card base. Add punch out shape with sticker sentiment and green gems to finish.

Turkey Iris Folding: Follow Iris pattern provided to assemble the turkey together. Adhere onto burgundy mat before adhering on top of ivory card base. Add bow, wiggle eye and stamp sentiment to finish card as shown.

Two-Step Stamp Hydrangea: Stamp outline flowers and leaves with Rose Bud and Bamboo Leaves Memento inks respectively onto white card panel. Stamp background flowers and leaves with Angel Pink and New Sprout Memento inks respectively over the outline images. Adhere panel onto black mat before adhering onto pink card base. Add pink gems, bow and stamp sentiment to finish card.

 

 

Fall 2025: Gel Monoprinting Workshop Wednesday, October 22, 2025

Hello everyone,

Hope you are staying cool. Here is a quick recap of the cards we made in class. Next class meeting will be November 5, 2025. See you soon.

Take care,

Connie

Acrylic Leaves Background: Brayer a thin layer of copper acrylic paint on gel plate and place leaves on top. Place a piece of scrap paper over top and rub well. Remove scrap paper and leaves and allow the leave images left on the gel plate to dry completely. Once dry, brayer a mix of yellow, orange and light green acrylic paints over the entire gel plate. Place white paper on top, rub well and pull print. Die cut print with a rectangular stitch die. Assemble card by placing print on top of green mat before adhering to rust card base. Add die cut squirrel, gems, bow and stamped sentiment to finish as shown.

Distress Oxide Background w. Embossed Stamp Image: Brayer Antique Linen and Wilted Violet on gel plate. Place uninked swirl background stamp onto inked gel plate to transfer image. Place white paper on top to pull print. Die cut print with rectangular frame. Stamp and heat emboss grapes and floral image with Wilted Violet Glaze Embossing powder. Adhere print onto purple mat before adhering onto ivory card base.Add gems, ribbon and stamped sentiment to finish.

Gelato Stencil Background w. Floral Bouquet: Spritz gel plate with water and scribble pink, purple and light green gelato onto gel plate. Place swirl stencil on to wet gel plate and place multi-media card panel on top. Rub well for a few minutes to let color soak into card panel. Remove paper and dry out with heat gun. Die cut print with scallop rectangle die. Stamp floral bouquet with black ink and color with Distress Markers. Adhere panel onto lime card base. Add gems and bow to finish.

Perfect Pearl 3D Emboss Roses: Brayer pastel green acrylic paint onto gel plate and place embossed rose cardboard on top. Rub lightly all over to transfer rose images onto plate. Remove embossed rose cardboard and let paint dry completely. Brush on pink and green Perfect Pearl powder over rose images on gel plate. Wipe off any excess powder and brayer a light coat of iridescent white acrylic paint. Place white paper on top and rub well to pull print. Die cut print with shape die and use 3D rose embossing folder to line up images and run through the machine to emboss panel. Adhere panel onto ivory mat, wrap ribbon and adhere sticker sentiment before adhering onto red card base.

 

Fall 2025: Handmade Greeting Cards Workshops on Wednesday, October 15 and Saturday, October 18, 2025

Hello everyone,

Hope you are doing well. Below is a quick recap of the cards we made in class this week. Next class meeting will be Wednesday afternoon (October 29) at Malaga Cove and Saturday morning (November 1) at Rancho Del Mar.

Take care,

Connie 

Iris Folding Kite: Follow the pattern provided and alternate the two pattern papers. Use stripe pattern paper for odd numbers and green swirl for even numbers.

Embossed Pumpkins & Sunflowers: Line all 4 borders of white card panel with removable tapes and sponge on Mustard Seed & Spiced Marmalade distress inks. Brush on gold Perfect Pearl powder to cover the colored area and wipe off any excess powder. Remove tape borders and place panel into the pumpkins & sunflowers embossing folder to emboss images. Wrap ribbon around panel and adhere onto green mat before adhering to yellow card base. Add stamped sentiment and gems to finish as shown.

Stamp Flowers & Butterflies: Line all 4 borders of white card panel with removable tapes and sponge  Lilac Posies Memento ink onto half of the panel as shown. Stamp flowers and butterflies with Lilac Posies ink. Adhere panel onto black mat and onto pink card base. Add stamp sentiment and gems to finish card.

 

Fun Fold Dragonflies - Front: Stamp dragonflies onto peach base card panel with VersaMark clear ink. Stamp two dragonflies on peach card panel and heat emboss with gold embossing powder. Cut out the dragonflies with matching dies.

 

Fun Fold Dragonflies - Open: Adhere vellum pattern papers and white card panels as shown to assemble card. Add gold embossed dragonflies and gold sticker sentiment to finish card.

 

 

 

Fall 2025: Gel Monoprinting Workshop Wednesday October 8, 2025

Hello everyone,

Hope you have a great week.

Below is a quick recap of the cards we made in our first class. Next class meeting will be on October 22, 2025 at Malaga Cove Campus, Room 13. See you then.

Take care,

Connie

Seahorse in Acrylic: Brayer coral & yellow acrylic paints onto gel plate and pull 1st print. Brayer metallic blue, metallic green & matte light blue acrylic onto gel plate. Place die cut seahorse in the middle of the gel plate and use wavy cardboard to stamp pattern onto gel plate. Place 1st print back onto gel plate and rub well to pull final print. Die cut frame and stamp seahorse image over the seahorse space. Add coral reefs, gems and sentiment to assemble card together as shown.

Dragonfly in Alcohol Inks & Acrylic: Drizzle rubbing alcohol over the gel plate and drop few drops of green and blue alcohol inks on top. Use blower to spread ink around to cover the entire gel plate. Place swirl stencil on top and use blower to spread and dry ink. Remove stencil and brayer a thin layer of white iridescent acrylic paint over the entire gel plate. Place paper on top, rub well and pull print. Use dragonfly die to cut out image. Adhere dragonfly onto white card base, add gems and sentiment sticker to finish as shown.

Butterflies with Distress Oxide Inks: Brayer Festive Berries, Scattered Straw and Wilted Violet Distress Oxide inks onto gel plate. Place butterflies stencil on to gel plate and place paper over to pull 1st print. Remove stencil and brayer remaining inks onto gel plate. Place 1st print back onto gel plate to add background color for the final print. Cut out frame using rectangular die. Glue white butterflies die cut on top of print before adhering onto white card base. Add gems and sticker sentiment to finish as shown.

Autumn Leaves w. Perfect Pearl & Acrylic: Place leaves stencil onto gel plate. Brush Orange, Green and Copper Perfect Pearl powders to color leaves. Clean off excess powders and remove stencil. Brayer a thin layer of gold acrylic paint over the gel plate. Place paper on top, rub well and pull print. Die cut print with rectangular and leaves dies. Adhere print onto burgundy card panel before adhering onto ivory card base. Add stamp sentiment and ribbon to finish card as shown.

 

Fall 2025: Handmade Greeting Cards Workshops on Wednesday, October 1 and Saturday, October 4, 2025

Hello everyone,

Hope you are having a great week. 

Below is a quick recap of the cards we made in our first class. Next class meeting will be October 15 for my Wednesday afternoon class and October 18, 2025 for my Saturday morning class. See you then.

Take care,

Connie 

Squirrel Iris Folding: Fold and adhere pattern papers following the Iris Folding pattern provide. Add stamped sentiment and bow to finish card and assemble card together as shown.

Stamp & Stencil Flowers and Bees: Place hexagon stencil on top of white card panel and brush on Dandelion & Tangelo Memento inks. Stamp flowers & bees with black ink. Color images with yellow & orange markers, blend with Wink of Stella clear ink and add glitter glue on top. Stamp leaves on the right and bottom of panel with New Sprout & Bamboo Leaves. Brush edges with Tangelo and Bamboo Leaves for more colors as needed. Add stamp sentiment, ribbon and assemble card as shown.

 

Polished Stone Wild Flowers & Dragonflies: Wet a cotton ball with rubbing alcohol and add a few drop of pink & purple reinkers. Dab onto glossy card panel to color the entire panel. Stamp flowers & dragonflies with black StazOn ink. Add sticker sentiment, wrap bakers' twine on side panel and assemble card as shown.

 

Polished Stone Wild Flowers & Dragonflies: Fold 4-1/4 x 11" white card base in half and fold the right side front corner up to align with the top to form a triangle fold. Adhere only the top half of the burgundy front panel onto the triangle fold as shown.

Distress Crayon Embossed Butterflies: Using a damp sponge to apply yellow and orange distress crayon colors onto watercolor panel. Cut out butterflies with Sizzix Die Cut and Embossing Butterfly folder. Lightly rub gold wax color onto die cut butterflies to bring out details. Add emboss leaves panel, gems and sticker sentiment to assemble card as shown.

Distress Crayon Embossed Butterflies: Fold the card base and only adhere the right wing of one butterfly onto the bottom of the card base allowing the left wing to use as a latch for the left panel as shown.

Summer 2025 - Watercolor Stamping Workshop August 6, 2025

Hello everyone,

Hope you are staying cool and hydrated. Below is a quick recap of the cards we made in class.

FYI, my Fall Class Session will start on October 1st, 2025. I will email you the link as soon as the class schedule is posted online. Enjoy the rest of Summer and hope to see you all in the Fall.

Take care,

Connie 

Fall Bouquet: Stamp bouquet on watercolor paper with Vintage Photo Distress ink and color with watercolors. Emboss mustard card panel with embossing folder. Add ribbon and sticker sentiment and adhere to ivory card base as shown.

Just A Note Leaves: Apply Twisted Citron and Peeled Paint Distress Stain inks onto leaf stamp and stamp images onto watercolor paper. Apply same inks onto scripts stamp and lightly stamp in empty spaces around leaves. Add stamped sentiment, gems and ribbon and adhere onto green card base.

Purple Lupine Flowers: Stamp Lupine flowers and leaves with Shaded Lilac and Rustic Wilderness distress inks. Lightly mist with water before stamping on watercolor paper. Repeat process for each flower stem. Using a watercolor brush and Wilted Violet distress ink, add some accents to the center flowers. Add water to background with a little shade of Tumble Glass distress ink. Adhere to purple mat and on white card base. Add gems and stamped sentiment to finish as shown.

Red Roses: Stamp image with black ink onto watercolor paper. Using Candied Apple distress ink to color the roses and gradually add more color for more dimensions. Color flower centers with Spiced Marmalade distress ink and color leaves with Forest Moss and Peeled Paint. Adhere panel onto brown card base. Add gems, bow and stamped sentiment to finish card as shown.

Poppies Teapot: Stamp images one at time using Tombow water based markers. Using a slightly damp brush, pull out colors from the lines of stamp images to bring out the colors. Scribble markers on palette and brush on more colors to image as needed. Adhere watercolor panel onto pink polka dots paper. Wrap red twines around the bottom and add stamped sentiment before adhering to ivory card base.