Colourful Thanks

Hi everyone.  Time for the new April Sketch Challenge at Happy Little Stampers. Kylie has once again come up with a wonderful sketch that can be used for any style of card. Hope you'll play along! :)

I had fun experimenting with my latest crafty purchase --- liquid watercolour concentrate.  There are lots of different ways to use the watercolour concentrate. Today I squirted it directly onto my craft sheet (just like I did with re-inkers when I made this video on the Saturated Watercolouring Technique), then I squirted Frost Pearl paint on top, misted all over with water and plopped my piece of watercolour paper on top, pressing down and holding for a few minutes so it would absorb the colour.  I then picked up the piece and dipped it again for any areas that weren't covered.  I made four background pieces, using one on my card today and saving the rest for another time. :) The two colours I used were Magenta and Orange ... aren't they awesome together??!! And I love the streaks of the frost paint.

I simply placed the panel behind a rectangle aperture on my card front.  Very simple and clean design that get's a lot of impact from the vibrant watercoloured panel.  I die-cut 'thanks' three times from white card stock and glued them together to make a thick die-cut.  Then I coated it (twice) with Clear Wink of Stella to give it a little sparkle (not able to capture the sparkle with my camera).

I hope you'll join us for our fun and easy April Sketch Challenge at Happy Little Stampers. See you in the gallery! :)

Paper:  White (Neenah); Arches 140 lb. cold press watercolour paper
Ink:  Magenta and Orange liquid watercolour concentrate (Dick Blick)
Accessories & Tools:  Frost White (Tsukineko); water mister, Rectangle Nestability (Spellbinders), Thanks die (Paper Smooches), clear wink of stella

Challenges:

HLS April Sketch Challenge

Total Cuteness

Hi everyone.  Time for a new challenge at Addicted to CAS.  This time, the challenge is hosted by me!  I chose this fun word ...

This challenge's sponsor is

I used a super cute stamp from our Sponsor, Create a Smile.  Show us what Cute means to you ... make a CAS (clean and simple) card and join in the fun!

We're so happy to have Birgit (Rapport fran ett skrivbord) joining us as Guest Designer this month. Click HERE to see her "Cute" card, and the cards from the rest of our very talented design team.

For my card, I created a bokeh background. :)  I used a small, damp sponge dauber to add colour and fun.  I saw this done by Christine (owner of Create a Smile) a few years back when we were on the same Design Team (at ATCAS!), and I've wanted to try it since then.  I thought this made a great background to show off this sweet image.

The little penquin in the gift box is paper-layered ... very similar to paper pieced, except each layer is added on top of each other, rather than it being one layer of pieced parts. Hope that makes sense! :)  And I sponged around the outside edges of each piece to give the image lots of depth.

I hope you'll check out the Design Team cards at ATCAS and join in the fun!  See you in the gallery! :)


This also works for the Happy Little Stampers March CAS Challenge - Sponging.  I sponged around the penguin and gift image ... and used sponge daubers for the background.

And this is my second entry into the NBUS Challenge #4 --- this is the first time using this adorable stamp!

Stamps:  Penguin Party (Create a Smile); Sentiment Sampler (Paper Smooches)
Paper:  White (Neenah); Basic Gray (SU!)
Ink:  Black (Memento); Distress Inks:  Squeezed Lemonade, Spiced Marmalade, Ripe Persimmon (Tim Holtz)
Accessories & Tools:  Stitched Mat die (Lil' Inkers), sponge dauber, sponges, white gel pen, crystal effects

Challenges:

ATCAS #60 - Cute
HLS March CAS - Sponging
NBUS #4

Sponging with Stencils

Hi everyone.  Back with the final reminder for the March CAS Challenge - Sponging. We are thrilled to again have a phenomenal amount of creative entries this month - YAY! So much beautiful eye candy in the gallery! :)

Today's card uses layered stencils to sponge this pretty design.  I used the technique in this video by Jennifer McGuire.  I was so impressed with how beautiful her card was, I went out and bought a stencil that I thought would work for this technique.  Fast forward to months later and I haven't used it yet. :)  That happens to me a lot.  Anyways, after deciding to make Sponging the challenge for this month, I immediately thought of it and pulled it out.

I didn't re-watch the video by Jennifer, so I may not have followed her instructions exactly, but I remembered the gist of it. :)  I'm really happy with how this turned out ... so pretty and delicate.  I used my clear Wink of Stella pen to go over the stems, and outline the leaves, flowers, and hello to add just a bit of sparkle.  :) Unfortunately, it doesn't show up in the photo.

I'm also entering this into the latest NBUS Challenge #4 - congrat to Darnell for reaching an amazing amount of followers.  This is the first time I've used this stencil.

and also entering it into ATS&M #136 - Anything Goes.

I hope you'll join us for our CAS challenge at Happy Little Stampers Blog.  There's only a few more days left to play along, so grab your sponges, make a CAS (clean and simple) card and join in the fun!

I hope you've enjoyed seeing all the lovely CAS sponged cards in the gallery ... and ones done by Susan, Kylie and me.  Looking forward to our next CAS Challenge which will be posted April 3  at 6am (AEST) ... that's 1pm April 2 my time (PDST). :)

Stamps:  Sunny Sentiments (Amy R)
Paper:  White (Neenah)
Ink:  Distress Inks:  Shabby Shutters, Peeled Paint, Picked Raspberry, Barn Door (Tim Holtz)
Accessories & Tools:  Promenade Stencil (Penny Black), Textured Mesh Stencil (Memory Box), sponges, Clear Wink of Stella

Challenges:

HLS March CAS Challenge - Sponging
NBUS #4
ATS&M #136 - Anything Goes

Christmas Gift

Hi everyone.  Couldn't resist joining in this week's challenge from Merry Monday #150 - Gifts.

Haven't used my copics for a while, so pulled them out and coloured this adorable digital image from Bugaboo.  Added a little bit of sparkle to the furry on his hat and pompom using my clear wink of stella pen.  I also went over the JOY lettering with the clear wink of stella to give it a bit of sparkle, but it just made it look blurry in the photo. :(

We've had lots of rain over the past few days, so I've spent lots of time in my studio. Did manage to get several cards made even though my mojo is struggling at the moment.  I'll be sharing my cards with you over the next few weeks. :)

Stamps:  Christmas Teddy (Bugaboo Digital Stamps), Big Christmas Words (Amy R)
Paper:  White (Neenah)
Ink:  Real Red, Pistachio Pudding; Copics: G43, R27, R29, E44, E77
Accessories & Tools:  Clear Wink of Stella pen, Maraschino Twine (The Twinery), Classic Tags die (Memory Box), sponge

Challenges:

Merry Monday #150 - Gifts

CAS Poppies

Hi everyone.  I love these poppies from Penny Black and have made many watercoloured cards with them.  Today I watercoloured them again, but then fussy-cut them out and added them to my card front, along with a very simple sentiment.  I'm really happy with the look of this VERY CAS card. :)

Yesterday I had my first fun field trip since my accident ... and what a perfect day to be out with the warm temps and sunny skies. :)  As many of you now, I tore a tendon in my leg back in late January. After surgery and a week in the hospital, I've been home for seven weeks, using a walker to get around until last week when I switched to crutches. Getting out and about with a walker was just too difficult, but the crutches have made that easier, so hubby drove me over to my mom's and we had a cup of tea and a visit. It's been a long time since I've seen her, so this was a real treat!  Looking forward to getting out and about more often now that I'm mobile. :)


Today I'm playing along with the latest challenge at AAA Cards - #35 - Bare Naked.  As the rules state, you can use the baby image for inspiration.  Or you can make any CAS card as long as it's VERY CAS, with lots of white space ... my favourite! :)

And CAS-ology #138 - Blossom.

Stamps:  Blooming Garden (Penny Black); Sunny Sentiments (Amy R)
Paper:  White (Neenah); Watercolour (Arches 140 lb. cold press)
Ink:  Black Archival (Ranger); Distress Inks:  Dried Marigold, Spiced Marmalade, Shabby Shutters, Peeled Paint (Tim Holtz); Old Olive (SU!)
Accessories & Tools: water brushes

Challenges:
AAA #35 - Bare Naked
CAS-ology #138 - Blossom

Sponged Watercolouring

Hi everyone.  This is a reminder that we're into our third week of the Happy Little Stampers March CAS Challenge.  Lots of beautiful entries already in the gallery! :)

Today's card is sponged watercolouring.  Not sure if that's a good name for it, but it's something that I have done a few times before and it works beautifully.  I just sponged distress inks onto watercolour paper to create my background grass and sky.  Then I sprayed it with water until the inks started to flow.  Once dry, I used the Watercolour Spritz technique to add the flowers (ink stamp with markers, spritz with a little water and then stamp onto dry watercolour paper).  I love my spring garden with a mix of coloured tulips! :)  I used a water brush and some Pear Pizzazz ink to add the strokes of grass at the bottom, and added a soft gray stamped sentiment.  I like the subtle colour of the sentiment as it doesn't take away from the beautiful blue sky.

I experimented with the sponged watercolour background on three different types of watercolour paper and they all turned out differently.  I like this version the best, so would recommend Arches 140 lb. cold press w/c paper for this technique.  I know it's a little more expensive that other w/c papers, but so worth it, in my opinion. :) Dick Blick has a sale on right now, so I just stocked up (sale ends today). :)

I was inspired by the Happy Little Stampers March Sketch Challenge to make this card ...

Stamps:  Pocket Silhouettes (SU!); Sunny Sentiments (Amy R)
Paper:  White (card base - Neenah); Arches 140 lb. cold press watercolour paper
Ink:  Distress inks: Shabby Shutters, Peeled Paint, Tumbled Glass (Tim Holtz); Pear Pizzazz, Summer Sun, Melon Mambo, Tangerine Tango (SU!)
Accessories & Tools:  Sponges, water mister, water brush

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I'm again sharing a couple of cards I made while on the Design Team for the Dirty Dozen at Splitcoaststampers.  These cards have not been posted on my blog before, so thought I'd share a few more that use sponging.  Both cards have sponging around the outside edges of die-cuts to add interest and dimension.

Have a Sunny Day
Stamps:  Sweet Summer Sentiments (Amy R)
Paper:  White (Neehan); Daffodil Delight (SU!)
Ink:  Crushed Curry, Bermuda Bay (SU!)
Accessories & Tools:  Large Stitched Sunshine die (Lil' Inkers), Puffy Clouds die (Memory Box), sponges

Birthday Wishes
Stamps:  Happiest Birthday Wishes (SU!)
Paper:  White (Neenah); Pear Pizzazz, Blushing Bride (SU!)
Ink:  Pear Pizzazz, Regal Rose, Rose Red (SU!)
Accessories & Tools:  Breezy Wreath die (Poppy Stamps), Hydrangea punch (Martha Stewart), white gel pen, stylus and mat, sponges

Challenges:
HLS March CAS Challenge - Sponging
HLS March Sketch Challenge

Out on a Limb

Hi everyone.  Today is the start of the new challenge at Addicted to CAS.  This time, the challenge is hosted by the very talented Vicki (All I Do Is Stamp).

Our sponsor for this challenge is

I used free digital images available from Scribbles Designs (click on link above), to create this fun card.  I fussy-cut the pieces and paper layered (paper pieced) the owl, sponging around the outside edges of all the pieces to add shading and depth. Then I glued it together, added clear wink of stella to the beak and eyes before coating them in glossy accents.  So fun!  The leaves with fussy-cut, sponged for shading, and shaped with my stylus and mat before mounting them to a die-cut branch.

This month we are so thrilled to have Birgit (Rapport fran ett skrivbord) joining us as Guest Designer.  Please click HERE to see Birgit's amazing "green" card, along with the cards from the rest of our talented Design Team.

Come join in the fun and play along.  Make a CAS card that includes green and enter the challenge ... hope to see you in the gallery! :)

I'm entering this card into Simon Says Wednesday Challenge - Things that fly.

Stamps:  Owl and Leaves (free digital images from Scribbles Designs); On a Limb (Stampendous)

Paper:  White (Neenah); River Rock, Baked Brown Sugar, Pear Pizzazz (SU!)
Ink:  River Rock, Baked Brown Sugar, Tangerine Tango, Old Olive (SU!)
Accessories & Tools:  Twigs & Berries die (Memory Box), sponges, stylus and mat, clear wink of stella, crystal effects

Challenges:

ATCAS #59 - Green
Simon Says Wednesday - Things that Fly

Sponged Sunset

Hi everyone.  Back with a different style of card today.  Haven't done a sponged (or brayered) scene for a long time. :)  Love the bright and vibrant colours of these Distress Inks and they blend so beautifully.

I started by masking off a small circle for my sun.  Then I sponged the sunset colours starting with the lightest shade (yellow --- which eventually was covered with brown), medium orange and then bright orange.  I removed the mask for the sun and sponged more yellow over top.  Then I ripped two pieces of scrap paper and used them for my mountain ranges.  I sponged over the bottom of the panel with medium brown and then added the second mask and just sponged the very bottom with dark brown.  I stamped the tree silhouette and sentiment in black and mounted the panel onto my card front.  Fun and easy card to make! :)

The challenge at Happy Little Stampers for March is Sponging.  Click on the link and check out the challenge, DT cards and the wonderful entries we'have had so far.  And then grab your sponges and play along.  :)

And this is also for the Happy Little Stampers March Sketch Challenge ...

I'm going to enter this into the CAS-ology - Tropical challenge as I think these sunset colours are definitely tropical.

Stamps:  Vignette: Silhouette Trees (STAMPlorations); Be Happy Sentiments (Amy R)

Paper:  White (Neenah)
Ink:  Black (Memento); Distress Inks:  Squeezed Lemonade, Mustard Seed, Spiced Marmalade, Ripe Persimmon, Vintage Photo, Walnut Stain (Tim Holtz)
Accessories & Tools:  sponges, post-it note for mask, circle punch, torn scrap paper for mountain range masks

Challenges:
HLS March CAS Challenge - Sponging
HLS March Sketch Challenge
CAS-ology #137 - Tropical

Faux Mother of Pearl

Hi everyone.  We are already into the second week of the March CAS challenge ... and there are some gorgeous cards in the gallery.  I hope you'll check them out and join in the fun with you CAS Sponged cards!  :)

My card above uses the Faux Mother of Pearl technique.  I have made a youtube video to watch if you're interested in trying this technique.  Basically you randomly pounce a little shimmer paint using a scrunched up piece of cling wrap.  Once dry, you sponge over top with ink ... distress inks and dye inks work best.  The shimmer paint acts as a resist so the ink sits on top of the randomly pounced design --- you just puff it off with a dry paper towel.  Makes for an easy, but beautiful, design that can be used as a background or for die-cutting.  Today I simply punched out four squares from my Faux Mother of Pearl paper and added two-layer butterfly with a scroll die, which I hope looks like a butterfly trail.  :)  A simple sentiment and the card was done.

I hope you'll give this technique a try, or use any sponging technique that you like and join in our fun and easy challenge.  Be sure to keep your card CAS, use some sort of sponging and add to the link at Happy Little Stampers blog.

This is also a reminder of the Mixed Media Card Challenge - Hints of Spring that is running until Mar. 25.   Still lots of time to play! :)

I'll be back next week with a final reminder card for the challenge.  In the meantime, check out the cards below! :)

Butterfly Grid

Stamps:  Bitty Birthday (SU!)

Paper:   White (Neenah); Vellum - 40 lb. (Bazzill)

Ink:  Tangerine Tango, Melon Mambo, Smoky Slate (SU!) 

Accessories & Tools:   Frost Shimmer Paint (Tsukineko), cling wrap, sponges; Elegant Scrollwork die, Moonlight Butterfly die, Kaleidoscope Butterfly die (all from Memory Box)

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I'm going to share a couple of more Faux Mother of Pearl cards I made while on the Dirty Dozen Design Team at SCS.  These haven't been posted on this blog before, so I'm sharing them today.  They are made from one piece of card stock done with the Faux Mother of Pearl technique.  I cut the piece up to create a background for the first card, and used the leftovers to die-cut the butterfly on the second card.

Flowery Thank You

Stamps:  Short and Sweet (SU!)

Paper:  White (Neenah); Whisper White, Bermuda Bay (SU!)

Ink:  Certainly Celery, Tempting Turquoise, Bermuda Bay (SU!)

Accessories & Tools:  Frost Shimmer Paint (Tsukineko), cling wrap, sponges, Madera Corner die (Memory Box), Hydrangea punch (Martha Stewart), Oval Nestability (Spellbinders), half pearls

Lacey Butterfly

Stamps:  Be Happy Sentiments (Amy R)

Paper:  White (Neenah); Whisper White (SU!)

Ink:  Certainly Celery, Tempting Turquoise, Bermuda Bay (SU!)

Accessories & Tools:  Frost Shimmer Paint (Tsukineko), cling wrap, sponges, Circle Nestability (Spellbinders), Flourish #6 die (Crafty Ann); Moonlight Butterfly and Kaleidoscope Butterfly dies (Memory Box), Scoring Plate; Paper piercing tool, and mat

Challenges:

HLS March CAS Challenge - Sponging

Mixed Media Card Challenge - Hints of Spring

Christmas Poinsettia

Hi everyone.  I looked at my box of Christmas cards this year and was surprised to see that I already have ten made :)  Looks like I'm keeping up with my plan to make at least one a week - yay!  So, continuing on, I used the challenge at Merry Monday (#148 - Red and Green) as my jumping off point for today's card.

And, I used Vicki's card from the current Muse Challenge (#107) for my layout and design.  I liked how Vicki has a vertical strip, with her blocks of patterned paper split to include a stamped sentiment within the strip.

Vicki's Muse card

I started by masking off the front of my card.  Then I placed a small piece of removable tape across where I wanted the sentiment to go.  I placed a leafy stencil over top and sponged Shabby Shutters distress ink.  I removed the masks and stamped my sentiment in red ink.

The poinsettia is die-cut with three layers from red cardstock.  I sponged around the edges of all the petals with red ink to give it some dimension.  Then I used my stylus and mat to shape the petals and assembled the flower with just little dabs of glue at the center.

This was a quick and easy card for me to make as I had the poinsettia already done and sitting in my unfinished project box.  Actually, it's boxes ... and no matter how many times I pull something out to put on a card, there seems to be three more going back in.  It's a loosing battle :)

Also wanted to remind everyone about the Happy Little Stampers March CAS Challenge - Sponging.  I use sponging on the majority of my cards.  Such an easy way to add colour, depth and dimension. :)

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You may have noticed my blog has a few look! :)  After four years of the same design, I thought it was time to try something new.  Thanks to Kylie for helping me with all the technical parts of getting this set up.  So appreciated, my friend!!

Stamps:  Season of Joy (SU!)

Paper:  White (Neenah); Real Red, Old Olive (SU!)
Ink:  Shabby Shutters (Tim Holtz); Real Red (SU!)
Accessories & Tools:  masking tape, leafy stencil cut with my Silhouette Cameo, sponges, Blooming Poinsettia die (Poppy Stamps)

Challenges:

Merry Monday #148 - Red and Green
Muse #107 - Vicki Dutcher
HLS March CAS Challenge - Sponging

Happy Belated Birthday, Peggy

Today's card is a CASE of a card done by my good friend, Kylie (Kylie's Addicted to Stamps).  She was the Guest Designer at Time Out last month with the challenge to CASE this gorgeous card made by her (see below).  Unfortunately, I was still recovering from my surgery, so I didn't get a chance to join in the wonderful challenge.  But once I was feeling better, I HAD to make one ... and I made this with a special friend in mind, Peggy.

Peggy is a very talented stamper who I met through SCS.  She is a master at layering intricate dies to make the most beautiful and elegant cards.  It was her birthday a little while ago, so I made the above card with her in mind.  Happy Belated Birthday, Peggy! :)

Here's Kylie's card that I CASE'd (copy and share everything)

I LOVE this design and basically copied it, just reversing the order of the background so the embossing is on the bottom, and adding die-cut tulips in place of Kylie's pretty flowers.

I'm adding this to the Happy Little Stampers March CAS Challenge - Sponging.

The sponging I did on this card is with the tulips.  I sponged around the outside edges of all the tulip petals before shaping them with my stylus and mat.  The sponging gives them visual depth and I usually do that with most of my die-cuts.  It makes a big difference.

This is also a reminder for the Mixed Media Card Challenge #9 - Hints of Spring. These tulips definitely scream spring to me :)

Also entering it into the Simon Says Wednesday Challenge - Special Lady / Girly ... where they are looking for anything girly or feminine. :)  And into Virginia's View Challenge #13 - All Things Embossed.



And just noticed that the challenge for Addicted to Stamps & More is CAS (#134), so entering there as well. :)

Stamps:  Whimsical Words (SU!)
Paper:  White (Neenah);  Melon Mambo, Pretty in Pink, Gumball Green (SU!)
Ink:  Melon Mambo, Regal Rose (SU!)
Accessories & Tools:  Tulip die (C.C. Designs), Stitched Tag Die (Paper Smooches), Striped Embossing Folder (Sizzix), sponges, Pink Sorbet Twine (The Twinery)


Challenges:
HLS March CAS Challenge - Sponging
Mixed Media Card Challenge #9 - Hints of Spring
Simon Says - Special Lady / Girly
Addicted to Stamps & More #134 - CAS
Virginia's View - Challenge #13 - All Things Embossed

HLS March CAS Challenge - Sponging

Hi everyone.  At Happy Little Stampers, it's the start of March's CAS Challenge ...

The above card uses two different sponging techniques.  One of my favourite ways to sponge is over a stencil to create some interest in the background. Here I partially sponged the background to bring focus to the area of my main focal point (the hibiscus flower).  I also added sponging to the petals of the hibiscus, giving the flower lots of colour and dimension.  I layered the die-cut, using a solid flower for the base, and then adding a second layer on top of the individually-cut petals, popping them up for dimension with rolled glue dots. Finally I inked a stamp from the Gorgeous Grunge set (SU!) in versamark and heat embossed with gold ... same embossing for the sentiment.

This month we are so happy to have Susan joining us as our Guest Designer.  I hope you'll check out her gallery ... lots of beautiful cards to inspire!  So happy to have you with us Susan! :)


And if you also add your card at the challenge of at Happy Little Stampers Forum, you are automatically entered for a randomly-drawn prize at the end of March.  :)

I'll be back in a week with a reminder card using a different sponging technique. :) See you soon! :)

Also, happy birthday to Virginia's View challenge!! :)  Congrats on turning one and congrats on hosting a fabulous challenge, Virginia!  I'm joining in for Challenge #13 - All Things Embossed (the gold sentiment and "splatters" are heat embossed).

And also entering this into the Less Is More Challenge (#213 - This makes me happy).  I am totally happy with this card.  I think it's the combination of mixed media in a CAS design with colours and techniques I adore. :)

And this is also a reminder of the current challenge at Mixed Media Card Challenge - Hints of Spring.  This card is definitely spring-y to me :)

Stamps:  Gorgeous Grunge (SU!), Where the Heart Is (Simon Says)
Paper:  White (Neenah)
Inks:  Distress inks:  Shabby Shutters, Peeled Paint, Squeezed Lemonaide, Mustard Seed, Spiced Marmalade, Ripe Persimmon (Tim Holtz)
Accessories & Tools:  Hibiscus Flower die (Memory Box), Twigs and Berries die for leaves (Memory Box), blender pen, gold embossing powder (Hero Arts), heat tool, Branch Background cut file, Silhouette Cameo for cutting stencil, plastic sheet, sponges

Challenges:
HLS March CAS Challenge - Sponging
Virginia's View - Challenge #13
Less Is More #213 - This Makes Me Happy
Mixed Media Card Challenge - March - Spring