Summer Daisy

Hi everyone.   Love the colors from the Color Challenge at SCS (#489 - bermuda bay, pool party, calypso coral) so wanted to play along.  This is also a reminder that the latest challenge at ATS&M #106 is Anything Goes.

And I'm entering this card into Simon Says - Anything Goes, and Merry Monday where they are having a Birthday Hop for LeAnne ... Happy Birthday LeAnne!!

The daisy is watercolored using diluted reinkers for the petals, stem and base of the center ...  and undiluted for the highlighting and shading on the petals and center.  I also added little dots of dazzling details (clear glitter glue) for the center to make it sparkle.

A clean and simple card with just a white frame popped up on the base and the flower popped up on top of the frame.  The sentiment is stamped in Bermuda Bay ink.

Stamps:  Graceful (Penny Black); Happiest Birthday Wishes (SU!)
Paper:  White (Neenah); Watercolor (Arches 140lb. cold press)
Ink:  Bermuda Bay, Pool Party, Calypso Coral (SU!); Staz-on Black
Accessories & Tools:  Paint Brush, Dazzling Details, Square Nesties (Spellbinders)

Challenges:
SCS Color Challenge #489
Simon Says - Anything Goes
Merry Monday - LeAnne's Birthday
ATS&M #106

Butterfly on Cork

Hi everyone.  Today is the start of the new challenge from ATS&M - #106 - Anything Goes.  This is one of the most popular challenges because it's wide open for you to make any type of card/project you'd like.

This challenge is being sponsored by:

Prize:  3 digital images

I did a little experimenting recently and this is what I ended up with :)  The cork sheets I bought have a backing sheet that gets removed to expose a sticky surface. The cork is fairly thin and pliable, so I first mounted my rectangle of cork onto a white card stock piece the same size to make it sturdy.  Then I swiped my distress ink pad (Vintage Photo) on the inside of an embossing folder (raised pattern side).  I placed my cork on top and ran it through my big shot.  The pattern was embossed and inked at the same time - love how it turned out.

Because there is a lot of design with the embossing pattern, I wanted to keep the rest of the card very simple.  I added a two-layer butterfly, with the top layer coated in Wink of Stella for some glittery shine.  A simple sentiment finishes the card.

Here's a close-up of the card so hopefully you can see the cork design better ...

And while I was at it, I made a second card ...

The challenge is open for one week.  I hope you'll join us ... click here to check out the challenge and see the rest of the DT's beautiful cards.

Stamps:  A Little Sentimental (Clearly Besotted
Paper:  110 lb. white (Neenah); black (SU!)
Ink:  Vintage Photo (Distress Ink by Tim Holtz); Black (Memento)
Accessories & Tools:  Cork, Musical Flourish embossing folder (Cuttlebug), Moonlight and Kaleidoscope Butterfly dies (Memory Box), Clear Wink of Stella

Congrats Jer!

Hi everyone.  Today is our family dinner ... every other Sunday my kids, their spouses, and our grandbaby come over for dinner.  Today's dinner is all about Jeremy (my youngest son) ... he just received his Masters Of Education and we couldn't be prouder of him.  My mom is also joining us tonight for the celebration ... really looking forward to having everyone together.

I saw this amazing card on my friend Vicki's blog ... and just LOVED the circles cut file.  I followed her link to Daniela Dobson's blog and found that Daniela provided the cut files for free ... very generous!!  And I LOVED her card, so I CASED (copy and share everything) the layout, using a different technique for the background, and changing up some details.  Thank you to Daniela for providing this wonderful cut file! :)

This is a very "artsy" card, so I thought Jer would love it since he is a Visual Arts guy. :)

I started by squiggling some re-inkers onto my craft sheet, misting with water and then dropping two pieces of watercolor paper on top to soak up the ink.  I let them dry and then dropped them on top of the leftover ink to add more color (I did this three times).  I used one of the pieces of watercolor paper for making the banner and adding a strip to the inside of the card for interest.  And I used my Silhouette Cameo to cut out the fabulous circles.  I used two sentiment stamp sets and the "You" die-cut (three layers) for the banner.

I'm entering this card into three challenges ... Less is More #182 - Anything Goes, Inkspirational #61 - word promtp Splash (my second entry); and CAS-ology #105 - cue card:  Run.

Stamps:  A Little Sentimental (Clearly Besotted); Celebrate Sentiment Builders (STAMPlorations)
Paper:  Watercolor (Tim Holtz), White (Neenah)
Ink:  Gumball Green, Tempting Turquoise, Bermuda Bay, Pacific Point (SU!)
Accessories & Tools:  water mister, Silhouette Cameo, Circles cut file (Daniela Dobson), You die (Simon Says)

Challenges:
Less is More #182
Inkspirational #61
CAS-ology  #105

Hello

Hi everyone.  Simple CAS card today for The Card Concept Challenge #15 - just LOVE this color combo!

Used a mix of Pool Party Designer Paper to create my four-square background. Hello die is cut from Kiwi Kiss and layered with white die-cuts in-behind to make it thicker ... a little clear Wink of Stella gives it some shimmer.  And finally, added just a little bloom (sponging on the edges for shading) on the tip of the hello die-cut for some fun.

Paper:  Pool Party Designer Paper, Kiwi Kiss (SU!); white (Neenah)
Ink:  Pool Party (SU!)
Accessories & Tools:  Big Shot, Hello die (Simon Says), hydrangea punch (Martha Stewart), clear Wink of Stella pen

Challenges:
The Card Concept #15

Vellum Flowers

Hi everyone.  Today I tried out a technique I saw on Jennifer McGuire's blog.  She embossed onto vellum and colored her image with markers, using a soft cloth to blend the inks.  The only difference is that I colored on the front of the image so that the colors were more vibrant.  I love how it turned out.  I made a few of the flowers and leaves (leaves are simply stamped in ink and fussy cut), so also made a tag (below).

This card is for the latest challenge at Simon Says Stamp - Emboss It! ... and for SCS Free For All Challenge (F4A230 - bright and beautiful) from last week (just catching up!).  The colors used for the flower are bright (orange, pink and red).

And the tag below is for a couple of challenges ... Tag, You're It! Challenge #2 - to create a CAS tag inspired by Lauren Bassen's beautiful tag (I kept the same colors and used a grid for my background, along with vellum accents) ... and for SCS Mix-ability Challenge #78 - summer tags (I used markers for coloring the vellum, and sponged ink for the background grid).

Here's the tag ...

Stamps:  Fifth Avenue Floral (SU!); Lots of Thanks (Simon Says); A Little Sentimental (Clearly Besotted)
Paper:  White; Vellum (Bazzill)
Ink:  Daffodil Delight, Pear Pizzazz, Pumpkin Pie, Melon Mambo, Real Red, Smoky Slate (SU!)
Accessories & Tools:  White embossing powder, heat tool, soft cloth, harlequin stencil, sponge, Tangerine Tango 1/4" satin ribbon

Challenges:
Simon Says - Emboss It!
SCS Free for All #230
Tag, You're It! - #2
SCS Mix-ability #78

Summer Sunset

Hi everyone.  I really appreciate all of you who wished me a speedy recovery - thanks so much!! :)  Am feeling good today and hope that this nasty virus is finally on it's way.

I made a card for the SCS Color Challenge (#488 - pick three or more colors from this list:  blushing bride, daffodil delight, island indigo, lost lagoon, mossy meadow, pistachio pudding, strawberry slush) - dessert is to make it a summer card.  I decided to sponge a summer sunset - love this color combo.  I used distress inks that are my closest in color (mustard seed, tattered rose, worn lipstick).  I then misted it with water to give it some visual texture.  I didn't want to cover up the gorgeous colors, so used vellum for my leafy die-cut.  I stamped the sentiment on a cut-off from resizing my main panel.

This is also for the Fusion Challenge (July 17 - French Cupcakes) ... I thought the colors were the same as the flowers on the cupcakes.

Super simple, easy, quick ... but really pretty - I'm happy! :)  Hope you like it too.

Stamps:  Where the heart is (Simon Says)
Paper:  White (Neenah); 40 lb. vellum (Bazzill)
Ink:  Distress inks:  Mustard Seed, Tattered Rose, Worn Lipstick; Smoky Slate (SU!)
Accessories & Tools:  Sponges, water mister, Fresh Foliage die (Memory Box)

Challenges:
SCS Color #488
Fusion - French Cupcakes

A Day at the Beach

Hi everyone.  Today's SCS CAS challenge (#282) is a day at the beach.  Wonderful way to spend a sunny, summery day! :)

I used a digital image from Sweet 'n Sassy, printing it onto watercolor paper and then simply used my water brush to pick up color directly from my ink pads and following along the lines of the image.  I added some Dazzling Details glitter glue along the horizon and along the wave lines of the ocean to give it some sparkle. Easy, and fun card to do that didn't take very long.

Stamps:  Ocean Paradise (Sweet 'n Sassy digital image); Beach Sentiments (Amy R)
Paper:  110 lb. white (Neenah); Watercolor paper (Tim Holtz)
Ink:  Tempting Turquoise, Crumb Cake, Baked Brown Sugar, Garden Green, Pumpkin Pie, Melon Mambo, Soft Sky (SU!); Black (Memento)
Accessories & Tools:  Aqua Painter, Dazzling Diamonds (SU!)

Challenges:
SCS - CAS #282

Soft Maple Leaves

Hi everyone.  This card is for a couple of challenges.  First up, SCS Featured Stamper this week is Karren J.  I LOVE Karren's style of card making ... and I CASED (copy and share everything) this card.  I kept the main design the same, with a sponged background of yellow and green, stamped script and leaves.  I changed it up a little by adding splatters of water, along with suede lacing, charm and twine.

This card is also perfect for the Mixed Media Card Challenge #1 - Touch of Nature.

It's down to the final days to enter this challenge (it closes July 25).  There's lots of amazing cards and tons of inspiration in the gallery, so I hope you'll check them out and enter the challenge if you haven't already.


Edited to add:  My friend Sandie mentioned that my card above qualifies for the latest challenge at Inkspirational (#61 - Word Prompt:  Splash) ... so I'm entering. Thanks Sandie! :)

Stamps:  En Francais (SU!); Lisa's Painted Maple Leaf (Hero Arts)
Paper:  110 lb. white (Neenah); Whisper White (SU!)
Ink:  So Saffron, Old Olive, Mossy Meadow (SU!)
Accessories & Tools:  sponges, paint brush (for splattering), moss suede lacing, bloom charm, twine

Challenge:
SCS - Featured Stampter #389
Mixed Media Card Challenge #1
Inkspirational #61 - Splash

Celebrate Your Birthday!

Hi everyone.  Another two weeks has flown by and time for the next ATCAS challenge.  First, wanted to thank all of you that participate in our challenges ... we LOVE seeing your cards!

This challenge is being run by the multi-talented Jaydee (Stampin! with Jaydee).  She has chosen this code word ...

This challenge is sponged by

Prize:  7 digital images

I love Bugaboo's fun and whimsical images and have used them A LOT! :)  Love this little guy all dressed up in his party finery and floating through the air with the balloons.  It makes me smile! :)  I colored him in Copics and added some sparkle to his hat, horn and spots.  The balloons are coated with Crystal Effects (Glossy Accents) to give them shine and dimension.  I used chalk to add the "air" around him.

I hope you'll join us for this fun challenge ... it's open for two weeks, so lots of time to play along.  Cathy (Cathy's Card Spot) is with us again as our Guest Designer --- it's been fabulous having her on the team.  Click here to see Cathy's "Celebrate" card and the wonderful cards from the rest of the Design Team.

Stamps:  Turtles - birthday (Bugaboo Stamps); sentiment is computer generated
Paper:  110 lb. white (Neenah)
Ink:  Copics
Accessories & Tools:  Clear Wink of Stella, Crystal Effects, blue chalk, sponge

You're the Best!

Hi everyone.  I've been sick for the past seven days (the past couple of blog posts were done early and scheduled).  I'm so bored with being sick that I decided I would go into the studio today and play a bit.  I had fun and it took my mind off my aches and pains for a while.  Card making is great therapy! :)

I was thrilled that I got an honorable mention for my tag for the first challenge at the new blog "Tag You're It! Challenge".  My friend Carol let me know that I was mentioned, so I went to thank the DT and was blown away by the inspiration tag for the second challenge made by Laura Bassen.  I knew that's what I wanted to do today. :)

Here's the challenge ...

I kept the same color scheme and added a "grid" of chicken wire which was sprayed on using a mist I made with white re-inker, frost paint, rubbing alcohol and water.  I kept the leaf motif ... although I used heated copper instead of vellum.  The sentiment was stamped in black and cut into a banner.  A length of seam binding was dyed with inks and water, scrunched, dried and added for the finishing touch.

Here's another view that shows the dimension of the copper leaves ...

I'm also entering this tag into Virginia's View Challenge #5 - Die-cuts (copper leaf sprig).

Now that my fingers are inky and the fun is over, I'm heading for a nap ... :)

Stamps:  A Little Sentimental (Clearly Besotted)
Paper:  110 lb. white (Neenah)
Ink:  Distress inks:  Mustard Seed, Spiced Marmalade, Ripe Persimmon (Tim Holtz); Black (Memento); Whisper White re-inker (SU!)
Accessories & Tools:  Big Shot, Little Leaves die (Sizzix), copper metal sheet .005 thickness (K&S Precision Metals), mini butane torch, Chicken wire stencil (Crafter's Workshop), Frost White acrylic paint (Tsukineko), rubbing alcohol, mini mister, seam binding

Challenges:
Tag You're It! Challenge #2
Virginia's View Challenge #5

Birthday Blooms

Hi everyone.  Today's card is for my very good friend and fellow card maker, Bonnie (Stamping with Klass).  Happy Birthday Bonnie!  Have a wonderful day, my friend! :)

I wanted to send Bonnie a basket full of sunshine to brighten her day, so I filled this little basket with bright flowers and added some fun twine.

We met on-line and were also team members for about six months on the Merry Monday Challenge DT.  Bonnie makes beautiful CAS cards.  I admire her work and have learned lots from her as well as being inspired by her.

She has already received my card in the mail (actually over a week before her birthday) ... sometimes the postal service surprises me :) ... so now I'm sharing it here with you.

Stamps:  A Little Sentimental (Clearly Besotted)
Paper:  White (Neenah); Pear Pizzazz, Melon Mambo, Tangerine Tango, Daffodil Delight (SU!)
Ink:  Pear Pizzazz, Melon Mambo, Tangerine Tango, Daffodil Delight (SU!)
Accessories & Tools:  Big Shot, Woven Basket die (Memory Box), Leafy Branch die (C.C. Designs), Hydrangea Punch (Martha Stewart), Lattice cut file, Silhouette Cameo, Mandarin Twine (The Twinery), sponges, stylus and mat, white gel pen

Sunrise ...

Hi everyone.  Time for a new challenge at ATS&M #104 - CAS.  I LOVE making CAS cards and today I did a quick watercolor using one of our sponsor's images.  This image is from a set of four (sunrise, day, trees, sunset).  They are all in a similar style with the stained glass look - love it and thought it would be perfect to watercolor.

Here's more info about the challenge ...

Our sponsor is

Prize:  3 digital images

I printed the image onto watercolor paper.  I used my paint palette to mix up re-inkers with a few drops of water (Daffodil Delight, Tangerine Tango, Real Red, Pear Pizzazz, Old Olive and Mossy Meadow).  I used a paint brush and dipped into the diluted ink, doing one section at a time.  I added a base color and then added a darker version for some interest.  After it dried, I went on to a new section.  Just remember to let an area dry before watercoloring another area that is touching it ... otherwise you'll have bleeding of the colors.  I did have a little bleeding from the black ink, but I'm OK with it  :)

Simple and fun card to make.  The hardest part was waiting for the ink to dry :)

The challenge is open for one week and any style of card is welcome.  Remember to follow the theme of the challenge (CAS - Clean & Simple)  ... and have fun! :)

I hope you'll join us ... click here to check out the challenge and see the rest of the DT's beautiful cards.

Stamps:  Digi33301 (sunrise, day, trees, sunset) - set of four from Eureka Stamps; Be Happy Sentiments (Amy R)
Paper:  110 lb. white (Neenah); watercolor (Arches 140 lb. cold press)
Ink:  Daffodil Delight, Tangerine Tango, Real Red, Pear Pizzazz, Old Olive, Mossy Meadow (SU!)
Accessories & Tools:  paint brush, water

Watercolored Roses

Hi everyone.  This card was all about experimenting.  I took an watercolor on-line class a while back and just couldn't seem to watercolor flowers without making a mess. Today I took some time and realized that a lot of the problem was me :)  Patience is a virtue ... definitely required for watercoloring ... and something I'm a little short on :)  In the end, I did manage to wait for the different layers to dry ... and I'm happy with the final result, although there is LOTS of room for improvement.

I used one of my newest purchases for this card ... a stamp set from Clearly Besotted called Bridal Bouquet.  I only used the outline stamp for the roses and then (as shirley bee would say) ... sloshed on some watercolors. :)  I stamped the leaves, watercolored over them, and then re-stamped to give them more color.

I used my re-inkers for this ... diluting them with water.  Some day I'll actually have to use watercolor paints ... but that's a whole new learning curve and it will have to wait.  I used the color challenge from SCS (Color Challenge #486 - Old Olive, Calypso Coral, Daffodil Delight).  Love this combination.  I found that with using the re-inkers, the colors are strong and instead of a coral, I ended up with more of an orange ... still pretty!

Lots of experimenting over the past few days and I'm having some successes ... and some things end up in the garbarge ... but I'm learning, so it's all good! :)

Stamps:  Bridal Bouquet; A Little Sentimental (both Clearly Besotted)
Paper:  110 lb. white; watercolor (Tim Holtz)
Ink:  Old Olive, Calypso Coral, Daffodil Delight (SU!); Black (Staz-on and Memento)
Accessories & Tools:  paint brushes, post-it notes for masking

Ferns from the Garden

Hi everyone.  Today I'm CASE'ing (copy and share everything) a card made by my friend, Karen (Snippets).  She is a very talented stamper who brings her love of gardening to a lot of her beautiful cards. She also incorporates wonderful techniques into her CAS cards ... I especially am in awe of her watercoloring - just amazing!  This week, Karen has been chosen as the Featured Stamper for the CAS challenge at Splitcoaststampers (CAS#280).  It gave me a chance to CASE one of her beautiful cards (and this is a total case --- I only changed up the background embossing folder and sentiment!).

Congrats Karen ... I hope you enjoy your special week - you deserve it!! :)

In CASE'ing Karen's card, I followed her instructions, including going out to my garden and snipping off some fern leaves to use as a stamp for the design on the tag.  I ink up the fern leaves with distress inks, lightly sprayed with water, and then pressed them into watercolor paper.  It was lots of fun! :)  I pulled strands from the burlap strip to give it a frayed edge.  I used the strands for the strings at the top of the tag.


Reminder, this card is another example of mixed media for the new Mixed Media Card Challenge #1 (Touch of Nature - optional element:  tag).  I hope you'll join in the fun!

Stamps:  Sweet Sunny Sentiments (Amy R)
Paper:  110 lb. white (Neenah); watercolor paper (Tim Holtz)
Ink:  Distress Inks:  Mowed Lawn, Forest Moss; Black (Memento)
Accessories & Tools:  Big Shot, Stitched Tag die (Paper Smooches), Burlap Paper, water mister, Woodgrain embossing folder (Sizzix)

Thank You Tag

If you're here to join Kylie's Birthday Party, click HERE.

Hi everyone.  Today I made a CAS tag for the new Tag You're It! Challenge #1 - be inspired by Virginia Lu's CAS tags.

I LOVE all three of Virginia's tags, so wanted to play along.  I kept her color combination and used white embossing for the flowers and "thank".  The "You" is a die from Simon Says.  After sponging and heat embossing the tag, I thought it needed something more, so ran it through my Big Shot with the brick embossing folder - love the added texture and interest!

Stamps:  Paradise (Heidi Grace); A Little Sentimental (Clearly Besotted)
Paper:  110 lb. white (Neenah)
Ink:  Pear Pizzazz, Tangerine Tango, Tempting Turquoise (SU!); Versamark
Accessories & Tools:  Big Shot, white embossing powder, heat tool, Brick embossing folder (Tim Holtz), You die (Simon Says), green satin ribbon

I've had a few requests for instructions on how I made Kylie's birthday card I posted a couple of days ago.  I'll include a small picture of the card and the instructions below.  Thanks so much for the interest!

I started by mixing heavy gloss gel (clear) with gold paint.  It looks milky gold when mixed together, but once it dries, it leaves a translucent gold that is so pretty.  I spread it randomly over a harlequin stencil.

The leaves are die-cut from watercolor paper.  I squirted three shades of orange ink onto my craft sheet, misted with water, dragged the leaves through the diluted ink, and then let them dry.  I repeated this a couple more times, drying in-between each addition.  In the end, I had very saturated shades of orange and rust - love how it turned out.  A friend of mine thought this should be called the "Saturated Watercolor Technique" and I think that's a perfect name - thanks Nancy! :)  When the leaves were dry, I misted them with gold shimmer paint ... hard to see in the photo, but the leaves sparkle.  I also removed the pump from the spray mist and let larger drops drip from the end over the leaves.  The happy die was cut from gold foil paper and white (three layers in all and glued together to make it thick) and I stamped the "birthday" in gold paint and then cut it out and popped it up on the card.  To finish I took several loops of fine, gold thread and tied them into a bow.  Here's the products I used for the card ...

Stamps:  A Little Sentimental (Clearly Besotted)
Paper:  110 lb. white for base (Neenah); watercolor for leaves (Arches 140 lb. cold press); Gold Foil (SU!)
Ink:  Re-inkers:  Pumpkin Pie, Tangerine Tango, Cajun Craze (SU!)
Accessories & Tools:  Big Shot, Tattered Leaves die (Tim Holtz for Sizzix), happy die (Simon Says), harlequin stencil (cut with my Silhouette Cameo), heavy gel gloss (Golden), gold paint (Lumiere), water mister, frost white acrylic paint (for making shimmer mist along with gold paint and water), gold thread

Happy Birthday Kylie!

For my ATCAS post, click HERE.

Hi everyone.  Today is Kylie's birthday.  She is a fabulous friend who is kind, generous, supportive and a lot of fun!  Not only that ... Kylie is incredibly talented.  Check out her blog  Kylie's is Addicted to Stamps (and now butteflies) - you'll be glad you did. Kylie is also our leader at ATS&M and ATCAS challenge blogs ... and the BEST boss ever! :)

Today is all about you, Kylie.  Below is a Linky Party in your honor.  Friends have come together to help make this a fun and exciting birthday for you.

Kylie, here is my birthday card to you, my friend.  Have a fantastic birthday with lots of fun and lots of laughs.  And enjoy this special tribute to you!!  Happy Birthday!!

To all of Kylie's friends ... come join in the fun and link up below.  Thanks for playing along!

Here's how to play.  Make a card for Kylie ... upload to your blog or favorite gallery (Flickr, Splitcoast Stampers, etc.) and link below to join the party.  The link will be open for two weeks, so there's lots of time to play along and send your happy birthday wishes to Kylie.

Thanks to Sandie and Nonni for setting up the "Linky"! :)

For details on how I made this card, please click HERE.

An InLinkz Link-up

Reminder ... my card for Kylie works great for the new Mixed Media Card Challenge #1 - Touch of Nature.  The challenge is open until July 25th ... hope you'll play along!! :)