Graphic Birthday

Hi everyone.  Time for the September Sketch Challenge ...

This challenge is sponsored by

Plus

I've had this grid background stamp for several months but don't think it's been inked up until now.  I have a lot of NBUS in my stash, all nicely filed away (and usually forgotten!).  I've now pulled out all I could find and keep them in a separate basket ... hopefully they'll get used now. :)  I think it's a sign I may need to slow down with my buying. :)  You'll notice I didn't say stop buying ... just slow down. Baby steps! :)

I inked up the grid with versamark and heat embossed in white.  Then I used my new distress inks, Twisted Citron and Mermain Lagoon (LOVE this colour combo), to add in some colour using a water brush.  After I did a few squares, I spritzed with a little water and then tilted my card front so the diluted ink would run.  Happy with how this turned out.

I used this bold sentiment from Happy Little Stampers to finish off my card.  I stamped over top of the white embossed grid, and of course, the ink didn't stick where there was white embossing, so I just used a permanent black marker to fill in any blank spots.

I hope you'll join us for this fun sketch challenge.  Come check out the challenge HERE and see the amazing cards from the Design Team.


I'm entering this into a couple of challenges:  Less is More is looking for cards using sprays / mists;  Addicted to Stamp & More is looking for CAS cards (3rd entry); and Simon Says Stamp Wednesday is Anything Goes (3rd entry). :)

Thanks for stopping by for a visit!!

Stamps:  Grid Background (Simon Says Stamp); Bold Birthday Sentiments (Happy Little Stampers)

Paper:  White card base (Neenah); Mixed Media (Strathmore)
Ink:  Versamark; Twisted Citron, Mermain Lagoon (Distress inks by Tim Holtz); Black (Memento)
Accessories & Tools:  White embossing powder (Hero Arts), heat tool, water brush, black sharpie

Challenges:

HLS September Sketch Challenge
Less Is More #239 - Sprays / Mists
ATS&M #159 - CAS
SSS Wednesday - Anything Goes

Blue Blooms

Hi everyone.  It's the start of a new challenge at Addicted to CAS.

This challenge is being hosted by the super talented Joanna (Harty by Heart) ... and she'll have us all feeling "BLUE" this week. :)

This challenge is sponsored by

I'm still having fun experimenting with both my watercolour sprays and my Zig watercolour pens. :)

This time I made the background using the Faux Mother-of-Pearl technique (click link to see video).  But instead of sponging with waterbased inks after sponging on the frost resist paint, I used my watercolour sprays to add colour.  I sprayed several times, blotting in-between with paper towel until I got the depth of colour I was happy with.  By that time, the card stock was really wet, so I let it dry overnight.  It did warp, but I find if I run it through my Big Shot between two new plates and add a shim, it flattens out really well.  I love the shimmer and shine of the background. Here's a close-up photo so you can see it ...

I stamped my flowers onto mixed media paper in waterproof black (I love working on mixed media paper with the zigs ... or any kind of watercolouring for that matter). The watercolours blend and move so easily as they don't absorb into the paper as fast as w/c paper.  I coloured them with just one shade of turquoise, adding layers to create depth.  Used green for the stems and a little yellow for the flower centers.  I then fussy-cut them and popped them up over my main panel, which was framed with black.  A simple black stamped sentiment and the card was done.

I hope you'll come join us at ATCAS for this fun challenge.  We have Linda (PaperCutting Kind of Day) guest designing for us this month.  Come check out the challenge HERE to see Linda's beautiful "blue" card and the cards from the rest of our wonderfully talented Design Team.  I know you'll be inspired to join in.

I'm going to enter this card into a couple of other challenges:  ATS&M #159 - CAS (second entry) and Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - Anything Goes (also second entry). :)

Thanks for dropping by for a visit!

Stamps:  Efflorescence (Penny Black); Where Your Heart Is (Simon Says)

Paper:  White card base and main panel (Neenah); Mixed Media (Strathmore); Black (SU!)
Ink:  Black Archival (Ranger)
Accessories & Tools:  Frost Paint (Tsukineko), saran wrap, Green and Turquoise Watercolour Sprays made from w/c concentrate (Dick Blick)

Challenges:

ATCAS #71 - Blue
ATS&M #159 - CAS
SSS Wednesday - Anything Goes

We need your help

We need your help.

Our dear friend Bozena (friend and fellow design team member at Happy Little Stampers), needs our help in saving her brother’s life.

Her brother, Christopher (46) has been diagnosed with inoperable lung cancer. He has gone through two courses of chemotherapy and is not strong enough to continue with more treatments.

The only option for him now is to try alternative medical treatments, which are available in Germany, but have a very high financial cost ($220,000 Euros --- approximately $246,000 US).

We have been blessed with many friends made through this wonderful craft of card making. And we know that crafters are very generous of heart.

We ask that you help Christopher fund his medical treatments.  An account has been set up for donations and you can get all the information on Bozena's blog.  Click on the donation box in the right hand column at the top (you'll see a picture of Christopher there). Please consider donating to help save Christopher’s life. Any amount … even a few dollars, when donated by many, grows quickly.

Whether you are able to help financially or not, please consider adding Christopher to your prayers.

Thank you so much.

Another way to support Christopher.

Our crafting community is known for pulling together in support of those in need. If you have time, a positive message card would be greatly appreciated to boost Christopher’s spirits. Thanks to Marti for this wonderful suggestion.

Cards may be send to:

Christopher Szendzielorz

ul. Piwarskiego 3/80

00-770 Warsaw

Poland

Butterfly Fly Away

Hi everyone.  Having fun playing with my new Happy Little Stampers stamps. :)

This time I used the Butterfly Birthday set.  I stamped the butterfly in brown and heat embossed with clear.  Then I used two distress inks to colour (twisted citron, mermaid lagoon --- LOVE these together!).  I fussy-cut the butterfly and popped it up on my card front over top of stenciled leaves.  I finished by stamping the sentiment in the same brown as the butterfly.  Easy and fun card to make.

I'm entering this into the Addicted to Stamps & More Challenge #159 - CAS.  And I'm entering into the Simon Says Wednesday Challenge - Anything Goes.

That's it for me today ... quick card and quick post. :)

Have a great rest of the week and thanks for stopping by.

Stamps:  Butterfly Birthday (Happy Little Stampers)

Paper:  White (Neenah)
Ink:  Distress inks:  Twisted Citron, Mermaid Lagoon (Tim Holtz); Baked Brown Sugar (SU!)
Accessories & Tools:  clear embossing powder, heat tool, waterbrush, leafy stencil made with my Silhouette Cameo, sponge

Challenges:

ATS&M #159 - CAS
SSS Wednesday - Anything Goes

Season's Greetings

Hi everyone.  Today I'm sharing a Christmas card that I made for a couple of challenges.  I LOVE this beautiful Penny Black stamp called Red Star.  Not only does it have the beautiful poinsettia, but it also comes with the sentiment.

I used my SU! markers to colour onto my stamp, misted with a bit of water, and then stamped onto mixed media paper.  Because this paper doesn't absorb as quickly as watercolour paper, it gave me lots of time to use a water brush to move some of the ink around.

I inked my sentiment stamp and then used my water brush to just touch it likely in a few places before stamping.  I was hoping it would give it a bit of a watercolour look to match the image ... and I think it worked.  I'm happy with how it came out.

I'm entering this into Merry Monday Challenge #169 - use light green, dark green and red.

And I'm entering this into ATS&M #158 - Holidays.

Thanks to everyone that was concerned about my hubby.  He is feeling much better.  And our air conditioning is installed and working ... what a relief.  ;)

Thanks for coming by for a visit ... and welcome to my new followers!  Glad you could join me!

Stamps:  Red Star (Penny Black)

Paper:  Mixed Media (Strathmore)
Ink:  SU! Markers:  Real Red, Cherry Cobbler, Pear Pizzazz, Old Olive, Daffodil Delight
Accessories & Tools:  water mister, water brush

Challenges:

Merry Monday #169
ATS&M #158 - Holidays

Brushos and Butterfly

Hi everyone.  Playing some more with my Happy Little Stampers stamps.  This is part of the Butterfly Birthday set.  I simply heat embossed my butterfly and sentiment in white onto mixed media paper, and then sprinkled yellow, leaf green and turquoise brusho crystals and then misted lots of water.  Fun, easy and quick card to make. :)

It's been a busy start to the week.  We are having a heat pump installed (heating and A/C).  Yesterday, the furnace was installed and today it's the air conditioner.  It should be up and running by this afternoon! :)  Hubby and I have suffered through the heat this summer.  It's been exceptionally warmer than usual for our area, and I think it's just a sign of the way it's going to be.  The A/C should help keep us cool and feeling better in the summers from now on.  Speaking of feeling better, hubby is sick today and in bed.  Hopefully I'll be able to learn how to run the new system before the installers leave today.  Wish me luck! :)

Thanks for coming by for a visit!

Stamps:  Butterfly Birthday (Happy Little Stampers)

Paper:  Mixed Media (Strathmore)
Ink:  Versamark; Brushos (Yellow, Leaf Green, Turquoise)
Accessories & Tools:  White embossing powder, heat tool, water mister

Happy Graduation

Hi everyone.  It's the start of a new challenge at Addicted to CAS.  I can't believe how quickly time flies between challenges! :)

This challenge is hosted by the very creative and sweet Barb (Barb's Studio Creations) ... and she has chosen this word ...

This challenge is sponsored by

I made the above graduation card for a family friend who just graduated from Grade 12 at the end of June.  Natasha is a very smart, beautiful and talented young woman and I know she will enjoy her time at University.  Congrats Natasha!!

I used a panel I made a while back with concentrated liquid watercolour paint (yellow, orange, magenta) to die-cut the butterfly.

I stamped the sentiment in black, placing it so that the butterfly could snuggle right up against it.  I decided it needed something a little extra, so stamped the splat in gold ink for the background behind the butterfly.  To tie the butterfly in with the gold splats, I dry embossed the butterfly with script and sponged with Inka Gold wax paste.  I used a foam brush and swiped lightly across the embossing just to highlight the raised areas.  Using stiff foam works well for this.  I added just a little to the tips of the antennas as well. :)

I hope you'll find time to check out the ATCAS School Challenge.  You'll see the wonderful cards from our Design Team, along with a card made by our extremely talented August Guest Designer, Linda (PaperCutting Kind of Day).

I'm also going to add this to the Mixed Media August Card Challenge ... where they are looking for Butterflies this month, with an optional element of gold.  I know this is super CAS, but it does have a lot of mixed media in this card, but in small doses (stamping, watercolour sprayed background, die-cuts, dry embossing, and inka gold wax paste highlights). :)

And I'm adding it to Virginia's View Challenge #17 - All About Embellishments.  The butterfly embellishment is the star of this card. :)

Thanks for coming by for a visit!

Stamps:  Gorgeous Grunge (SU!); Happy (Simon Says)

Paper:  White (Neenah); Black (SU!); Watercolour (Arches 140 lb. cold press)
Ink:  Delicata Gold (Tsukineko)
Accessories & Tools:  Yellow, Orange and Magenta Liquid Watercolour Concentrate (Dick Blick), Frost White Paint (Tsukineko), Moonlight butterfly die (Memory Box), sponge, Inka Gold

Challenges:

ATCAS #70 - School
Mixed Media August Card Challenge - Butterflies
Virginia's View #17 - Embellishments

August Challenge Reminders

Hi everyone.  Just a reminder that we are half way through the Happy Little Stampers August Challenges.  We have three challenges running each month ... CAS, Sketch, and Christmas.

I have made a card for the CAS and Christmas challenges to share with you today.

First up, the CAS challenge.

I stamped my poppies and coloured them with my Zig Watercolour Pens.  Then I stamped the image onto post-it notes and fussy-cut to create a mask.  Yellow ink was sponged over top of a mesh stencil and then I removed the mask and stamped a simple sentiment.

I'm entering this into the Addicted to Stamps & More Challenge #157 - Make Your Mark.


Next, the Christmas challenge.

Lots of sparkle on this card, although it's hard to see in the photo above so I'm including a close-up below.  I used brushos on coated card stock for the background (thanks Susan for the card stock!).  The coated card stock shows more muted tones of Brushos ... so pretty.  Then I stamped over top with a snowflake background and heat embossed in iridescent embossing powder.  The hills and trees are die-cut and more sparkle was added with some Dazzling Details glitter glue.  The sentiment is stamped using the new Happy Little Stampers Mixed Christmas Sentiments. :)

Here's the close-up so you can see the sparkle ...

We also have a fun Sketch challenge.

I hope I have inspired you to play along.  The challenges are open for another couple of weeks.  Come join in the fun! :)

Thanks for coming by for a visit.  And always, I love hearing from you!

CAS Card:

Stamps:  Blooming Garden (Penny Black); Friendship Garden (Fiskars)
Paper:  White (Neenah)
Ink:  Black Archival (Ranger); Zig Watercolor Pens; Squeezed Lemonade Distress Ink (Tim Holtz)
Accessories & Tools:  Textured Mesh Stencil (Memory Box), sponged, post-it notes for masking

Christmas Card:
Stamps:   Snowflake Background (Hero Arts); Mixed Christmas Sentiments (Happy Little Stampers)
Paper:  White (Neenah); Coated Card stock (Spicers)
Ink:  Brushos (turquoise, ultra marine, purple); Versamark
Accessories & Tools:  water mister; Ice embossing powder (SU!); Liquid Platinum embossing powder (Ranger), Snowdrifts dies (My Favorite Things); Fir Tree Border die (Impression Obsession); Dazzling Details glitter glue (SU!)

Challenges:

HLS August CAS Challenge - Masking
HLS August Christmas Challenge - Sparkle
HLS August Sketch Challenge

ATS&M #157 - Make Your Mark

Mixed Media Birthday

Hi everyone.  Today I'm sharing a birthday card that I gave to my son-in-law, Alex. His birthday isn't for a couple more weeks, but they are heading for a long weekend away in Seattle soon and wanted to give him some $$ to treat himself while he was there. :)

I made this background a long time ago and was waiting to use it for someone very special ... and that's Alex! :)  I made the background using the Saturated Watercolouring technique (click link to see my video tutorial on this).  It is basically smooshing using re-inkers so that you get more vibrant (or saturated) colours. :)

I used turquoise and orange reinkers for this and was really happy how it turned out. There's always a risk when using complementary colours (opposites on the colour wheel), as sometimes they will mix together and you end up with a brown, muddy mess.  You'll see that there are a little bits of brown in spots, but I'm happy with it.

I added more layers by stamping script over top in medium brown, and then added a stencil, randomly covered in matte heavy gel.  It's hard to see, but it adds another layer.  I popped up the watercolour panel onto some cream linen-textured paper that was a gift from my friend Christine (thanks Christine!).  To finish the card I added two die-cut cork leaves and stamped sentiment.

I'm entering this into Virginia's View #17 - All Things Embellished.

Hope you enjoyed my card and thanks for coming by for a visit.

Stamps:  Butterfly Birthday sentiment (Happy Little Stampers); En Francais (SU!)

Paper:  Cream Linen (Spicers), Watercolour (Arches 140 lb. cold press)
Ink:  Baked Brown Sugar; Re-inkers:  Tempting Turquoise, Tangerine Tango (SU!)
Accessories & Tools:  water mister, Cubist stencil (Crafter's Workshop), matte heavy gel (Golden), Meadow Leaf die (Poppy Stamps), cork

Challenges:

Virginia's View #17 - All Things Embellished

Layered Butterfly

Hi everyone.  A few days ago, I had a crafty day with two of my stamping friends (Susan and Christine).  We did three (maybe more) techniques ... Susan showed us how to do the faux metal after watching Jennifer McGuire's video tutorial, we played with Inka Gold wax paste, and I showed Susan and Christine the Stencil Monoprint technique (card background above).  I LOVE this technique.  It's so fun and easy to do.  If you haven't tried it, check out this easy to follow video tutorial by my friend, Lee-Anne Cross.  I know you'll be hooked on this technique if you give it a try. :)

We used mixed media paper for this (Lee-Anne uses watercolour paper in her video --- both papers are great for this technique).  Susan and I used watercolour sprays to spray the back of our stencils, and Christine used distress inks with water spray.  All three turned out so pretty!

I then added this pretty butterfly from the Butterfly Birthday stamp set by Happy Little Stampers (the sentiment is also included in this set).  I stamped it onto my card front, and then stamped it twice more onto scraps of white card stock.  I fussy cut out the butterfly wings from one stamping, and just the body from the other.  I coloured using my Zig watercolour pens, adding wink of stella on top for some shimmer.  Then I layered the wings on top of my stamped card front image, curling and adding pop dots for dimension.  I added the body on top to create my layered butterfly.  I used frost sprays for the background, which is also shimmery, but hard to photograph.  I'll include a close-up below and hopefully you can see more of the sparkle. :)

I'm having a lot of fun playing with my new Happy Little Stamper stamps.  :)  If you want to check out the first release, click HERE.

Thanks for coming by for a visit!

Stamps:  Butterfly Birthday (Happy Little Stampers)

Paper:  White card base (Neenah); Mixed Media (Strathmore)
Ink:  Archival Black (Ranger); Black (Memento); Zig Clean Color Brush Pens (yellow, pink)
Accessories & Tools:  Mini Tile Texture Stencil (Crafter's Workshop); Watercolour Frost sprays made with liquid watercolour concentrate (Dick Blick) and Frost White Paint (Tsukineko), Wink of Stella

More Fun with Inka Gold

Hi everyone.  I've been experimenting with Inka Gold wax paste again.

Two friends came over yesterday and we all got a bit messy with sprays and inka gold.  Love how my backgrounds turned out, but I'm saving them for something special, so will share with you later.  After Susan and Christine left, I decided to have some more fun playing with inka gold ...

This time I used a foam brush to just pick some up out of the jar and swish it onto my craft mat.  I used three colours, Steel Blue, Jade, and Platinum.  Just a little of this stuff goes a long way.  I spritzed with water and then smooshed with some mixed media paper.  It also works with card stock, but it does flow better on the mixed media.  I ended up spritzing too much water, so I added just a little more of the wax paste until it worked well for me.  I made six backgrounds and have the rest stored away for a later time. :)  It's great to make lots of backgrounds when you have all the stuff out ... and then only have to clean up once.  I'm all about avoiding having to clean! :)

Here's a close-up so you can see a bit more shimmer.

I didn't want to cover up that pretty background, so added a simple white die-cut along with a sentiment.  I used one of the new Happy Little Stampers sentiments from the Butterfly Birthday set.  I love this font and the size ... I know I'll be using this sentiment a lot! :)

It was a great day ... lots of fun hanging out with Susan and Christine, and then more time playing and creating some fun and pretty backgrounds. :)

Before I go, I wanted to share a picture of the latest painting done by my son, Jeremy.  He is an artist and teaches art at local high schools in our area.  This is an impressionistic painting of Times Square in New York, done with acrylics.  He was there a few years ago and took a photograph, which he used to create his painting. There's lots of texture on the painting, which doesn't show in the photo.

Here's the street view in New York from one of Jer's photos:

... and here's his painting (40" square),

Pretty incredible, right??!!  I LOVE this painting.  It's going up in his new apartment that he's moving to next week.  For now, it's safely stored at my house until the move, so I get to enjoy it in the meantime. :)

Entering this into ATS&M #156 - Anything Goes

Stamps:  Butterfly Birthday (Happy Little Stampers)

Paper:  White card base and leaf sprig (Neenah); Mixed Media (Strathmore)
Ink:  Versamark
Accessories & Tools:  Inka Gold Wax Paste in Steel blue, Jade and Platinum, sponge brushes, water mister, Fresh Foliage die (Memory Box), Liquid Platinum embossing powder, heat tool.

Challenges:

ATS&M#156 - Anything Goes

HLS Stamps have arrived!

Hi everyone.  I'm so excited today.  I just received my order of Happy Little Stampers first release.  LOVE these stamps!  Kylie has done an amazing job of coming up with some beautiful butterfly images, as well as using awesome fonts for sentiments.  I had a lot of fun making this card today! :)

This is the Butterfly Birthday set from Happy Little Stampers.  I'm so happy with the mix of sizes of butterflies and the sweet sentiments to go with them.  The quality is exceptional ... you can see the clean, clear stamping I got --- fantastic!

I created the background using two of my watercolour sprays onto mixed media paper with a chicken wire stencil (stencil monoprint).  Then I just stamped the butterfly and sentiment in black over top, added a frame of black and my card was done.  Easy peasy!

I'm entering this into the Mixed Media Card Challenge, where they are looking for Butterflies.  This is a very CAS mixed media card, but does have lots of elements to add visual depth.

I'm also entering this into ATS&M #156 - Anything Goes.

Thanks for coming by for a visit!

Stamps:  Butterfly Birthday (Happy Little Stampers)

Paper:  White card base (Neenah); Mixed Media Paper (Strathmore); Black (SU!)
Ink:  Black (Memento)
Accessories & Tools:  Yellow and green watercolour sprays made with liquid watercolour concentrate (Dick Blick); Chicken wire stencil (Crafter's Workshop)

Challenges:

Mixed Media Card Challenge - Butterflies
ATS&M #156 - Anything Goes

Sparkly Christmas

Hi everyone.  Today is the start of the Happy Little Stampers August Christmas Challenge.

Christmas cards are one of my favourite cards to make ... and I do love to add a little bit of sparkle and shine. :)

I used a die borrowed from my friend Susan (Cardmaker's Garret) to cut out this pretty ornament and then used turquoise glitter paper for the backing.  I cut out the "Merry" from the same silver foil paper and also from white and stacked them together to create a thicker sentiment.  I stamped the word Christmas and heat embossed in silver and added a silver bow to finish.

A simple CAS Christmas card. :)  So simple that I made a second one.

I hope you'll check out the challenge HERE to see the rest of the cards from the wonderfully talented Design Team.

It's never too early to start making Christmas cards ... so come join in the fun.  Any style of card is welcome, just make sure to add a bit of sparkle! :)

Since I used a snippet to die-cut my "Merry", I'm heading over to the Snippets Playground for a visit. :)

Stamps:  Christmas (Simon Says)

Paper:  White (Neenah); Silver Foil (SU!); Turquoise Glitter ($1 Store); Gold Foil & Red Glimmer (SU!)
Ink:  Versamark
Accessories & Tools:  Ornament die (borrowed so don't know brand), [Merry Christmas die (Simon Says), silver embossing powder (Ranger), silver cording
[Ornament Set 2 - Elizabeth Craft Dies; gold embossing powder - Hero Arts, gold cording]

Challenges:

HLS August Christmas Challenge
Snippets Playground - Week 188