Bright Birthday Butterfly

Hi everyone.  It's the start of the Happy Little Stampers November Sketch Challenge.

This challenge is sponsored by

Plus

I had fun with my sprays again ... LOVE them! :)  I made a sprayed background a while back and had it sitting in a box ... it worked perfectly for my butterfly.  I used yellow and bright green sprays, and there was also a leaf stencil over top, but you can't see the design with such a small piece. :)  I used the same colours to create my main panel .. using mixed media paper and blotting with a paper towel every time I sprayed a new colour.  This kept the background the same colours, but with a softer look.  A simple stamped sentiment banner and a few sequins and the card was done.

We 're excited to have Jen (Magic Flying Boots) as our guest designer this month for the sketch challenge.  Welcome Jen!!  Please drop by her blog and check out her amazing creations.

And check out our fun challenge HERE to see Jen's sketch card, along with the cards made by the rest of our wonderfully talented design team.  We hope you'll play along.

Thanks for dropping by for a visit!

Stamps:  Butterfly Birthday (Happy Little Stampers)

Paper:  White card base (Neenah); Mixed Media Paper (Strathmore)

Ink:  Black Archival (Ranger); Black (Memento)

Accessories & Tools:  Yellow, Lime Green and Green sprays made from liquid watercolour concentrate (Dick Blick), sequins

Challenges:

HLS November Sketch Challenge

Blooming Buds

Hi everyone.  The other day I saw THE most beautiful watercoloured card by my friend, Deepti.  Not only is the card gorgeous, but the images are designed by Deepti (Dee's Artsy Impressions).  I've had this set for a little while, but this is my first time inking it up. :)

After seeing Dee's card HERE, I had to give no-line watercolouring a try.  I just did it on a small scrap of watercolour paper, thinking it would just be a practice piece and be tossed afterwards.  But I was really happy with how my first attempt turned out, so made it into a card. :)  Thanks Deepti for the wonderful inspiration!

I'm going to drop by Snippets Playground since I used a small snippet of watercolour paper for this card.  Di and the gang are celebrating the 200th challenge!  Congrats!

Also, this reminds me of this week's Muse card #139 - Tracey McNeely, so I'm entering there as well.  And Simon Says Wednesday Challenge is Anything Goes.

In a personal note, life continues with it's challenges for our family.  Hubby has to have surgery this Friday.  Luckily it's only day surgery, but he has a lot of health issues, so any time is he under general anesthesia, it's a concern.  I would appreciate any good thoughts you'll send his way.  Thank you!

Thanks for dropping by!

Stamps:  Blooming Buds (Dee's Artsy Impressions); Fun Birthday Sentiments (Happy Little Stampers)

Paper:  White card base (Neenah); Watercolour Paper (Arches 140 lb. cold press)
Ink:  Smoky Slate (SU!); Distress inks:  Spiced Marmalade, Ripe Persimmon, Shabby Shutters, Peeled Paint (Tim Holtz); Versamark
Accessories & Tools:  Water brush, Black permanent marker (sharpie), gold embossing powder, heat tool

Challenges:

Snippets Playground #200
Muse #139
Simon Says Wednesday - Anything Goes

Happy Little Stampers New Release Blog Hop

Happy Little Stampers are celebrating the second release of their stamps with a

blog hop! YAY!

I'm so excited to be a part of the Happy Little Stampers Design Team.  And I'm happy to be sharing some cards I've made with the awesome second release.

Comment on the HLS Blog and then continue on to each Designer.

You must comment on all the blogs in the hop to be eligible for prizes.

Here's the order:

Happy Little Stampers 

Kylie Purtell

Loll Thompson (that's me!)

Joyce Mehrberg

Gloria Lee

Tanja Kabel

Susan Bridgman

LesLee Stone-Rasmus

Gail Townsend

Carol Steedman

Melissa Lane

Linda Walmsley

Birgit Norton

Kim Heggins

Valentyna Komisarento

Sue Trembeth

Bonnie Klass

Toni Maddox

Chrissie Stokes

Anita Bowden

Carol Dunham

Ingrid Blackburn

You should have come to me from Kylie's blog.  If you've missed something, just go to the HLS Blog to start and you'll find your way.

The blog hop will run until Oct. 31st, giving you enough time to hop through and check out what the designers have created.

GRAND PRIZE

One lucky commenter (selected randomly) will $50 AUD gift certificate for
Happy Little Stampers Shop


MORE PRIZES

Four lucky commenters (selected randomly) will each win a special prize

My card using the HLS Everyday Sentiments stamp set.

Smooshed Inka Gold background (gold, red, platinum) and ornament.  Stamped sentiment in Delicate gold ink.

* * * * *

My card using the HLS Birthday Friends and Mix Mash stamp sets.

 

Stamped and fussy-cut elephant.  Die-cut balloon, sponged in bright pink, stamped with design and heat embossed in silver.  Glossy accents on balloon for shine and dimension, and twine added for string.  

* * * * *

My card using the HLS Whimsical Friends and Birthday Friends stamp sets.

 

Stitched border background.  Stamped and paper pieced elephant,  fussy-cut and popped up on green woodgrain DSP.

I hope you have enjoyed seeing the cards I've made with the

new release from Happy Little Stampers. 


  Next you need to hop over to Joyce's blog.

More Smooshing :)

Hi everyone.  Today I'm sharing another smooshed card. :)  I made this a few weeks back when I had a day in the studio with my two good friends, Frances and Debbie. I showed them the smooshing technique using distress inks and Inka Gold.  The background above is just distress inks ... I love this soft colour combo.  I have since sent this card for a very special friend who had a birthday earlier this month. :)

I used three colours of distress inks (orange, pink and purple) ... I just love this combination of colours.  I added a simple white die-cut and stamped the sentiment in soft gray to match the muted tones of this card.

Hope you're all having a great week ... and thanks for taking time to stop by for a visit!

Stamps:  A Little Sentimental (Clearly Besotted)

Paper:  White card base and die-cut (Neenah); Mixed Media (Strathmore)
Ink:  Ripe Persimmon, Picked Raspberry, Seedless Preserves (Distress Inks by Tim Holtz); Smoky Slate (SU!)
Accessories & Tools:  water mister, Lavish Branch die (Memory Box)

Smooshing with Inka Gold

Hi everyone.  Today I'm sharing my new video tutorial on Smooshing with Inka Gold. :)

I show two different ways in which to "smoosh" with inka gold --- the first using different colours of Inka Gold, and the second using just one colour of Inka Gold and Distress Re-inker.  The card above is the last (third) panel I made with the Gold and Distress Re-inker in the video.  :)

I hope you'll take a look at the video below, or you can watch it in a larger size on YouTube.  If you like the video, please give it a thumbs up to let me know! :) Thank you!  :)





To make the card above, I used the third (lightest) panel from the gold Inka Gold and Peacock Feather's Distress Re-inker for the background.  I die-cut the butterfly's body from the second panel (a bit darker).

I sponged Inka Gold onto white cardstock, once dry, I buffed it to a shine.  I then die-cut the top layer of the butterfly and the flourish from the sponged inka gold card stock.  The sentiment is stamped in Delicata gold ink to finish the card.

I'm entering the card into a few challenges.  Virginia's View wants to see Colouring this month ... I used my Inka Gold and Peacock Feathers distress ink to colour the background and the butterfly.  CAS-ology #168 is looking for a card that includes "You" ... I have "you" in the sentiment. :)

Addicted to Stamps & More #166 is Anything Goes. :)  ... and Simon Says Monday is looking for Watercolouring (I watercoloured with my Inka Gold!). :)


I hope you enjoy the card and video.  Thanks for stopping by for a visit.

Stamps:  Butterfly Birthday Sentiment (Happy Little Stampers)

Paper:  White (Neenah)
Ink:  Peacock Feathers Distress Re-inker (concentrate) from Tim Holtz; Delicata Gold (Tsukineko)
Accessories & Tools:  Inka Gold wax paste in gold, palette knife, water mister, Moonlight and Kaleidoscope butterfly dies (Memory Box); Flourish #6 (Crafty Ann)

Challenges:

Virginia's View #19 - All things Coloured
CAS-ology #168 - You
ATS&M #166 - Anything Goes
Simon Says Monday - Watercolouring

October Challenge Reminders

Hi everyone.  Just a reminder that we are half way through the Happy Little Stampers October Challenges.  We have three challenges running this month ... CAS - Paper Piecing, Sketch, and Christmas - Poinsettia.

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

First, my CAS Challenge - Paper Piecing card ...

First I made my own background paper by spritzing mixed media paper with water and sprinkling on Brusho Watercolour crystals (yellow, orange, brilliant red). Then I left it alone so the crystals could do their magic, spreading and bursting in the water. Once dry, I used my coloured paper to paper piece the three leaves, and then die-cut them with matching dies.

I've sent this off a while ago to a friend who is recovering from surgery.  I hope it brightened his day. :)


Next, is a card for the Christmas Challenge - Poinsettia.

I stamped my Poinsettia in Versamark onto mixed media paper and heat embossed in gold.  I used my waterbrush and some Inka Gold wax (Gold) to watercolour the poinsettia.  When dry, I added a second coat of Inka Gold wax ... this time red and I ended up with a beautiful pink poinsettia. :)  I fussy-cut and then added gold glitter glue to the center and piled on some different sized gold seed beads for a little added bling. :)

I hope you'll check out the challenge blog to see some more inspiration from our wonderful Guest Designers (Sylvia of Poppy's Papercraft Patch for CAS - Paper Piecing); (Pat of Colourful Creations for Christmas - Poinsettia); and (Valentyna of Flourishtina for Sketch).  And there are some amazing cards from some of our talented Design Team as well ... well worth checking it out!! :)

There's still a couple of weeks left for this challenge, so lots of time to play along if you haven't had a chance yet.  Come join in the fun!! :)

Thanks for coming by for a visit!

CAS Card:
Stamps:  One with Nature (Simon Says Stamp)
Paper:  White card base (Neenah); Mixed Media (Strathmore)
Ink:  Black Archival (Ranger); Brushos; Black (Memento)
Accessories & Tools:  water mister, Nature dies (Simon Says Stamp)

Christmas Card:
Stamps:  Warm Wishes (Penny Black); Handy Christmas Sentiments (Amy R)
Paper:  White card base (Neenah); Mixed Media (Strathmore)
Ink:  Versamark
Accessories & Tools:  Gold embossing powder (Hero Arts), heat tool, Inka Gold wax paste (Gold and Red), water brush, gold glitter glue, gold seed beads, 1/2" corner rounder (We R Memory Keepers)

Challenges:

HLS Oct. CAS Challenge - Paper Piecing
HLS Oct. Christmas Challenge - Poinsettia

Crackled Maple Leaf & I've been published

Hi everyone.  Today I'm sharing a card I made for a friend.  Just wanted to let him know I'm thinking of him as he deals with some tough medical issues.

I coloured the maple leaf by watercolouring with distress inks.  Here's a link to my video tutorial on how I did that. :)

After it was all dry, I coated it twice (drying in-between layers) with Clear Rock Candy crackle paint.  By adding thick coats of the crackle paint, I ended up with really nice cracks and a shiny finish.

I sponged over a mesh stencil for the background and popped up my maple leaf on top.  A simple sentiment finishes the card.  Quick and Easy CAS card. :)

I'm entering this into the current Time Out Challenge #41 that is closing soon.  The challenge is to be "inspired by words" and those words are "Autumn ... the year's last, loveliest smile".

____________________

I'm excited to share that I have been published again.  This time my Butterfly and Bloom card has been published at Paper Crafter's Library for their Tuesday Trend Watch segment.  :)

Click HERE to see the article.



And I've had some new followers join my blog.  Welcome!! :)


Thanks for stopping by for a visit!

Stamps:  Gently Falling (SU!); A Little Sentimental (Clearly Besotted)
Paper:  White card base (Neenah); Watercolour Paper (Arches 140 lb. cold press)
Ink:  Spiced Marmalade, Ripe Persimmon, Fired Brick (Distress Inks by Tim Holtz); Soft Suede, Crushed Curry (SU!)
Accessories & Tools:  water brush, Textured Mesh Stencil (Memory Box), sponge, Clear Rock Candy Crackle Paint (Tim Holtz)

Challenges:

Time Out Challenge #41 - Inspired by Words

Sparkle Christmas

Hi everyone.   Today I'm sharing my Design Team card for the latest Addicted to CAS Challenge.

This challenge is being hosted by the extremely talented Sarah (Sazzle Dazzle Crafts).  Sarah wants us to "Sparkle" with our cards. :)

This challenge is sponsored by Happy Little Stampers

I love to add a bit of sparkle to my cards ... especially Christmas cards.  This card is all die-cuts with the exception of the stamped sentiment.  I do love working with die-cuts ... and this time I used ones that aren't specific to Christmas to create a Christmas-y wreath. :)  I used the Dazzling Details glimmer paper from SU!, along with a soft green copic marker to colour the leaves, and then added three rhinestone "berries".  I'm really happy with how this turned out, but found it very difficult to get a picture that shows the sentiment well.  It is stamped in a very soft green to match the leaves, and then embossed with iridescent powder.  Much prettier and sparkler in real life. :)

Here's a close-up ...

Please click HERE to see the amazing cards "Sparkle" cards from the rest of the talented Design Team.  I know you'll be inspired to play along! :)

I'm also entering this into the Simon Says Wednesday Challenge - Clean and Simple Christmas.

Hope to see you in the gallery.  And as always, I appreciate you dropping by for a visit!!

Stamps:  Mixed Christmas Sentiments (Happy Little Stampers)

Paper:  White (Neenah); Dazzling Diamonds Glimmer Paper (SU!)
Ink:  Pistachio Pudding (SU!); Versamark; Green copic
Accessories & Tools:  Circle Nestabilities (Spellbinders), Little Leaves die (Sizzix), red rhinesones, iridescent ice embossing powder (SU!)

Challenges:

Addicted to CAS #74 - Sparkle
SSS Wednesday - CAS Christmas

Watercoloured Poinsettia

Hi everyone.  Time for the Happy Little Stampers October Christmas Challenge.

This challenge is sponsored by

I die-cut three of the smallest poinsettia flowers from watercolour paper.  I pressed my Festive Berries ink onto my craft mat and used a water brush to pick up the ink and colour my flowers.  I used Twisted Citron for the leaves.  I didn't add any shading, instead I decided to leave it as is so the bright colours really popped off the white card front.  I could have used coloured card stock, but I like the soft texture of the watercolour paper.  It's just another way to colour.

I shaped the petals with my stylus and mat, and then glued them all together, off-setting the petals.  I added some gold seed beads to the center for a little bit of sparkle.  A simple stamped sentiment and the card was finished.  Easy, peasy and fun card to make. :)

This month we have Pat (Colourful Creations) as our Guest Designer.  Welcome to the team Pat!! :) Please click HERE to see Pat's beautiful poinsettia Christmas card, and the other wonderful cards from the rest of the talented Design Team.

I hope you'll make a Christmas card featuring a poinsettia (any style of card is welcome), and then join our challenge.  The winner will receive a stamp set from Happy Little Stampers.  Come join in the fun!!

Thanks for stopping by for a visit!

Stamps:  Mixed Christmas Sentiments (Happy Little Stampers)

Paper:  White card base (Neenah); Watercolour (Arches 140 lb. hot press)
Ink:  Festive Berries, Twisted Citron (Distress inks from Tim Holtz)
Accessories & Tools:  Blooming Poinsettia die (Poppy Stamps), Tender Leaves die (Memory Box), water brush, stylus and mat for shaping, gold seed beads

Challenges:

HLS October Christmas Challenge

Flowery Butterfly

Hi everyone.  It's the start of the Happy Little Stampers October CAS Challenge - Paper Piecing.

This challenge is sponsored by

This is such a fun technique!  It's an oldie, but a goodie.  I have added a little difference to mine by sponging with a stencil first and then paper piecing my butterfly overtop.  Worked great!

Today, we excited to have Sylvia (Poppy's Papercraft Patch) as our Guest Designer.  I was on the Design Team at Addicted to CAS with Sylvia for a couple of years.  She is so talented and I am always thrilled to see what she comes up with.  If you haven't been to Sylvia's blog, please take the time for a visit.  I know you'll be glad you did!

And I hope you'll play along with our fun challenge.  See you in the gallery! :)

Thanks for coming by for a visit!

Stamps:  Butterfly Birthday (Happy Little Stampers)

Paper:  White (Neenah); I {heart} Summer DSP (Simple Stories)
Ink:  Black (Memento); Pear Pizzazz, Old Olive (SU!)
Accessories & Tools:  Lovely Leaves stencil (Wendy Vecchi), sponges, Clear Wink of Stella

Challenges:

HLS October CAS Challenge - Paper Piecing

Gifts from a Sweet Friend ...

Hi everyone.  Today I'm sharing a card I made with a beautiful 2-layer die-cut butterfly that was sent to me by my sweet friend Barb (Barb's Studio Creations). Not only did she send me this butterfly with the watercolour paper body and vellum intricate topper, but she sent me a huge package of goodies for my birthday back in the summer.  Lots of butterfly die-cuts in card stock, watercolour paper and vellum ... also some die-cut words, flowers, scribble circles and leafy frames ... and pieces of matboard.  Barb, thank you again for your most generous gift.  I'm finally getting a chance to play with all these gorgeous die-cuts.  Thank you, thank you!! :)

Today I used my two favourite colours of sprays (magenta / orange) to colour this large butterfly.  I spritzed them onto my mat and "smooshed" my butterfly.  Love how it turned out.  For the background, I used two of the Gorgeous Grunge stamps from Stampin' Up!  Love this set!  I sprayed them in bright yellow and stamped onto my card stock base.  I think spraying them gave them even more of a fun, random design. :)  And it created this bright sunshiny background to highlight the butterfly. I stamped a simple sentiment in soft brown to finish.

I'm going to enter this into the ATS&M Challenge #164 - CAS. :)

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Coming soon!!

The Twelve Tags of Christmas Tag Event is returning again this year. :)  I'm so excited to announce the tag event will be starting on this blog on Wednesday, November 4th and will run for Twelve Days.  I will be posting a Mixed Media Christmas tag made by me each of the twelve days along with two other tags made by my very talented friends.  There are 25 Guest Designers that I know will inspire you.

A link-up will be set up so participants can add their mixed media Christmas tags as well.  The link-up will be open during the twelve days of the event (Nov. 4 - 15), and will remain open for an extra week to give participants lots of time to play along. There will be prizes as well with the winners being picked by an independent judge as well as random draw prizes. :)

I hope you'll check back on Nov. 4th for the launch of the Twelve Tags of Christmas and follow along ... and join in with your tag (or tags!).  It's going to be lots of fun! :)

Stamps:  Gorgeous Grunge (SU!); A Little Sentimental (Clearly Besotted)

Paper:  White card base (Neenah); Watercolour; Vellum
Ink:  Baked Brown Sugar (SU!)
Accessories & Tools:  Life is Beautiful Butterfly Dies (Papertrey Inc.), Watercolour sprays in Magenta, Orange, Yellow (Dick Blick)

Challenges:

ATS&M #164 - CAS