In the Studio with Susan and Christine

Hi everyone.  Spent yesterday in my studio with two wonderful, crafty friends ... Susan and Christine.  We met through Splitcoaststampers, which is an amazing community of wonderful crafters.  We meet up about once a month or so, to have a play day. :)  Yesterday we experimented with different types of watercolour mediums and papers.  It was a lot of fun!!

Christine brought the above embossed image (gloss gel paste through a stencil on top of coated card stock), and her bister powders.  We sprinkled the bister on top of the stenciling and spritzed with lots of water.  I got a little carried away (as I usually do) and added way more crystals than I needed so it turned out fairly dark.  I thought this would make a great masculine card and I am always in need of those.  I simply added a small strip of heated copper at the bottom and stamped a sentiment. Easy card to make since I already had the main panel done from yesterday.

We usually have a fourth friend join us, but Shirl was not feeling well.  We missed you Shirl!!

I'll be back over the next while sharing more of our experiments.  Thanks for stopping by and visiting.

Stamps:  Bitty Birthday (Stampin' Up!)
Paper:  Coated Card Stock
Ink:  Bister powders; Black (Memento)
Accessories & Tools:  water mister, gloss gel, Clock stencil (The Crafter's Workshop), heated copper

More Brushos and Aspen Trees

Hi everyone.  Last week I posted these cards using the same stencil, layout and design, but using just Black Brushos for the background.  These are so many pigments within each colour.  Today is just Light Brown Brushos.  So happy with how they turned out.

Here's my second one ...

Just wanted to share. :)

Since I used snippets for my die-cut deers, and snippets for the torn snowdrifts, I'm linking up to Snippet Playground. :)

And I'm linking up to Simon Says Wednesday - Anything Goes.

Edited to add:  Thanks to Linby, I'm linking up to  Mo's May Rudolph Days Challenge.


Hope you're have a great day!

Stamps:  Sentiments from dee's artsy impressions and Amy R
Paper:  White card base and snow drifts (Neenah 110 lb. card stock); Mixed Media (Strathmore 400 Series); Baked Brown Sugar (SU!)
Ink:  Light Brown Brushos; Baked Brown Sugar (SU!)
Accessories & Tools:  Aspen Trees stencil (The Crafter's Workshop), water mister, Deer Trio dies (Impression Obsession)

Challenges:
Snippets Playground - Week 230
Simon Says Wednesday - Anything Goes
May Rudolph Days Challenge

Thank You, Dear Friend

Hi everyone.  Having fun with my Zig watercolour brushes again. Love them!

I made this thank you card for a dear friend.  She has now received it in the mail, so I'm sharing with you. :)

I stamped and heat embossed "delightful" from Penny Black in liquid platinum embossing powder on mixed media paper.  I then watercoloured with my zigs, using a damp paint brush.  I added some small dots with a white gel pen to the petals to give them some extra interest.  The sentiment is also heat embossed in liquid platinum and sequins were added for a little sparkle.  I'm happy with this one layer CAS Mix Up (mixed media) design, which includes stamping, heat embossing, and watercolouring.

I'm entering this into Time Out Challenges #57 - Inspired by words "May all your weeds be wild flowers".

Also entering into Penny Black and More Challenge - Anything Goes.



I was so happy with my card above that I made a second card.  Same design, just different colours. :)

I'm linking this card to AAA #65 - The 2nd Big Birthday Bash.  Congrats to all the team as they celebrate this fantastic milestone!

And I'm entering into Simon Says Wednesday - Anything Goes.  I used a Technique Tuesday sentiment for the card above.

Edited to add:  Thanks to Bobby ... I'm entering this into Fusion Challenge - Something Blue. :)

* * * * *

I have added a new Pinterest Board.  CAS Mixed Media has become a bit part of my life, so I decided to add a new board for that style of card.  Would love for you to check it out if you have time.

As well, I have been working on my blog post labels and have managed to reduce them from 322 (yikes!) to 117. :)  I wish it could be less, but for now, I'm happy with 117.  I have added them to the bottom of my blog for anyone looking for something in particular.


Thanks for stopping by!

Stamps:  Delightful (Penny Black); Sentiment - Lots of Thanks (Simon Says) and Cosmos (Technique Tuesday)
Paper:  Mixed Media (Strathmore 400 series)
Ink:  Versamark; Zig Clean Color Real Brushes
Accessories & Tools:  Liquid platinum embossing powder (Ranger), heat tool, paintbrush, white gel pen, sequins

Challenges:
AAA#65 - 2nd birthday bash
Time Out #57
Penny Black and More - Anything Goes
Simon Says Wednesday - Anything Goes
Fusion Challenge - Something Blue

Embossing with Uncoloured Images

Hi everyone.  Today I'm sharing another Heat Embossed card as a reminder that the CAS Mix Up May Challenge - Heat Embossing is closing in a few days.

The panel above started with randomly heat embossing some script background (I do love this background!). :)   Colour was then added over top of the embossing using the acetate smooshing technique with Distress Inks (Twisted Citron and Broken China).  Love the subtle colours paired with the embossed script.

I also heat embossed a few butterflies and then fussy cut them out.  I didn't colour them this time, instead leaving just the embossed liquid platinum as the colour.  This is all because of my friend Maria and her post she did about the "illustrated" style and a new trend of having the focal images uncoloured.  Not my usual, but I gave this a try and have to say that I really like how this turned out.  :)  Thanks Maria!

It's so easy to make a CAS Mix Up card ... my card has stamping, heat embossing, and acetate smooshing.  Still lots of open space, which is the CAS (clean and simple) part of the challenge.


I hope you'll come play along with our May challenge at CAS Mix Up.  There's still a few days left to play along  The challenge closes end of day May 24th (PDT).

Thanks for stopping by!

Stamps:  Fluttering (Memory Box); En Francais (SU)
Paper:   White (Neenah 110 lb. card stock)
Ink:  Versamark; Distress inks:  Twisted Citron, Broken China (Tim Holtz)
Accessories & Tools:  Liquid Platinum embossing powder (Ranger), heat tool, acetate sheet, water mister

Challenges:
CAS Mix Up May Challenge - Heat Embossing

New Goodies

Hi everyone.  Having some fun with my new die from Penny Black.  I do love poinsettias and this one is so pretty.  The poinsettia full bloom (back piece) is cut from a piece of smooshed Inka gold and Regal Rose re-inker that I had in my stash. Gold foil card stock was used for the lacy topper.

I also used a small strip of gold patterned vellum that was given to me ages ago by my good friend Nancy.  Thanks Nancy!

The panel with the poinsettia is popped up for added dimension, and the sentiment is heat embossed in gold.

I was so happy with how the first card turned out, that I made a second, which I will donate to charity.

My CAS Mix Up card has stamping, heat embossing, die-cuts, smooshing, inka gold and vellum.  Just a reminder that our May challenge is closing in a few days.  Still time to play along. Challenge is open until midnight, May 24th PDT (Pacific Daylight Time).

Thanks for dropping by for a visit!

Stamps:  Handy Christmas Greetings (Amy R)
Paper:  White (Neenah), Gold Patterned Vellum (gift from Nancy); Gold Foil
Ink:  Versamark; Regal Rose Re-inker
Accessories & Tools:  Gold wax (Inka Gold), water mister, Burst of Red dies (Penny Black)

Challenges:
CAS Mix Up May Challenge - Heat Embossing

Deer Trio

Hi everyone.  I was inspired by today's Muse: Christmas Visions #45 Challenge by Cornelia.  Gorgeous card, and even though mine looks a lot different than Cornelia's card, it has the same layout with the curved division.

Cornelia's card

Today I received some new craft goodies in the mail.  I LOVE this tree stencil and paired it with my new deer trio die-cuts.

Even though this looks like a complicated card, it is not.  I simply placed my tree stencil over some mixed media paper, sprinkled with a little of the black brushos (black is one of my favourites as it has MANY colours within the one little pot of goodness).  I spritzed with water, removed the stencil and blotted with paper towel. Background done. :)

I tore two pieces of white card stock for my snow drifts, and added two of my deer die-cuts.  Simple stamped greeting and the card was finished.

I still had one more deer left, so made a second card with the same design, only changing it to landscape.

Fun and easy ... and now I have two more Christmas cards for my stash. :)

Thanks for stopping by!




Stamps:  Believe (Penny Black)
Paper:  White (Neenah 110 lb. card stock); Mixed Media (Strathmore 400 series); Basic Gray (SU!)
Ink:  Smoky Slate; Brushos - Black
Accessories & Tools:  Aspen Trees Stencil (The Crafter's Workshop), water mister, Deer Trio dies (Impression Obsession)

Challenges:
MUSE: Christmas Visions #45 - Cornelia

Inspired by Mary

Hi everyone.  Today I was visiting blogs of friends that I follow and I came across this post from my friend MaryH.  I LOVE Mary's beautiful card, and was intrigued by the video tutorial she included with her post.  I watched the Ellen Hutson video and had to try the technique right away. :)

I embossed my stencil onto my card front ... it's just a subtle embossing, but you can definitely see the depth in real life.  Sponged on my colours (there's a few booboo's where I got a little crazy with the green, but all in all, pretty easy to do with masking off areas with removable tape).  Once I was finished, I removed the stencil and then brushed on the Perfect Pearls.  It adds a subtle sparkle to the flowers.

Here's a close-up ...

All the stars seemed to align, so I'm entering this into three challenges. :)

I used a snippet of black cardstock to heat emboss my sentiment, so I'm dropping by the Snippet Playground for a little fun time. :)

Also entering this into the CAS Challenge at ATS&M.

And into the challenge at CAS-ology #198 (cue card: Stencil).

Plus this is a reminder of the CAS Mix Up challenge that is running until May 24th. This is a CAS Mix Up card with stamping, dry embossing, stenciling, sponging, heat embossing and perfect pearls.

Thanks for the inspiration Mary.  This was a fun technique and another great way to use my stencils!

Stamps:  Sunny Sentiments (Amy R)
Paper:  White (Neenah 110 lb. card stock)
Ink:  Distress Inks:  Mustard Seed, Ripe Persimmon, Peeled Paint, Festive Berries, Wilted Violet (Tim Holtz); Versamark
Accessories & Tools:  Silhouette Cameo for cutting out my stencil, Silicone mat and texture plate for embossing the stencil in my Big Shot, sponges, masking tape, perfect pearls, brush, white embossing powder, heat tool.

Challenges:
Snippets Playground - Week 229
ATS&M #194 - CAS
CAS-ology #198 - Stencil
CAS Mix Up May Challenge - Heat Embossing

More Magenta

Hi everyone.  Today I'm entering a second card into the STAMPlorations May CAS Challenge.  I used the optional twist of Magenta.

I haven't done a sponged sunset for a long time ... it was fun to get my fingers inky! :)

I sponged distress inks for my background (squeezed lemonade, ripe persimmon, and picked raspberry topped with wilted violet to get my magenta colour).  Then I sprayed with water to add some visual texture.  Love how it turned out.

I stamped two trees in black ink and then added a die-cut curve at the bottom that I got from my good friend Hazel.  Thanks Hazel!

The sentiment is heat embossed in white to finish things off.

Thanks so much for stopping by for a visit!

Edited to add:  I'm heading over to join the fun at ATCAS Challenge #88 - code word: Midnight.  Thanks to Barb for letting me know! :)

Stamps:Vignette: Tree Silhouettes (STAMPlorations); Sentiment - Bloom Sketches (STAMPlorations)
Paper:  White (Neenah 110 lb. card stock); Black (SU!)
Ink:  Distress Inks:  Squeezed Lemonade, Ripe Persimmon, Picked Raspberry and Wilted Violet (Tim Holtz); Versamark
Accessories & Tools:  Sponges, water mister, die-cut hill (gift from a friend), white embossing powder, heat tool

Challenges:
STAMPlorations May CAS Challenge - Magenta
ATCAS #88 - Midnight

For my wonderful Mom

Hi everyone.  Sharing the card I gave to my Mom for Mother's Day.  My family met at my mom's house and we ordered in dinner from a restaurant.  It was nice to spend some time together.

This is also a reminder for the CAS Mix Up May Challenge - Heat Embossing.  I heat embossed my flower and sentiment in gold.  Also heat embossed the inside sentiment that read "Happy Mother's Day".

This CAS Mix Up card has heat embossing, watercolouring, stenciling and fussy-cutting, but is still a CAS design.

I used mixed media paper for this flower.  I watercoloured with my Zig brushes and then fussy-cut.  It's a bit tricky getting a good cut with mixed media paper as it's quite thick, but I managed with only a few edges that aren't smooth.  The background is sponged over a leaf stencil just randomly at the bottom of the card front.

Come join us!  The challenge is open until midnight May 24th (PDT) so there's still lots of time to play along.

Stamps:  Persian Motifs (Altenew); Sentiments - A Word for You (SU!); Happy (Simon Says); The Big, the bold and the happy (Winnie & Walter)
Paper:  White (Neenah 110 lb.); Mixed Media (Strathmore 400 series)
Ink:  Twisted Citron (Tim Holtz); Versamark; Zig Clean Color Real Brushes
Accessories & Tools:  Gold embossing powder (Ranger), heat tool, leaf stencil cut with my Silhouette Cameo, sponge, paint brush

Challenges:
CAS Mix Up May Challenge - Heat Embossing

Snowy Woodgrain

Hi everyone.  Today I made a card for the Merry Monday challenge #204 hosted by Deanne.

I used a technique by my good friend Karen (Snippets) to create this woodgrain background.  Click HERE to see Karen's tutorial --- so fun!

Then I tore a piece of white card stock to create my snowy hill, cut out the deer using my Silhouette Cameo (sponging kraft ink over top), and stamped a simple sentiment.

I hope you'll come play long.  There's still lots of time to play ... challenge closes Sunday, May 15 at noon (PDT).

Edited to Add:  Heading over to join in the fun at CAS-ology where the Cue Card is "Tear".  Thanks for the heads up Jules! :)

... and I just saw that this week's challenge at ATS&M is Holiday! :)

Stamps:  Sentiment - Christmas Bell Medley (dee's artsy impressions sold at STAMPlorations)
Paper:  White (Neenah)
Ink:  Distress Inks:  Brushed Corduroy, Vintage Photo, Walnut Stain (Tim Holtz); Baked Brown Sugar (SU!)
Accessories & Tools:  Scoring tool, Silhouette cameo for cutting my deer, sponge

Challenges:
Merry Monday #204 - Woodgrain, Kraft and White
CAS-ology 197 - Tear
ATS&M #193 - Holiday

Magenta Rose Buds

Hi everyone.  Playing along with the STAMPlorations May CAS Challenge using the optional colour twist ...

Hard to see in the photo, but the background has embossing from a texture plate which adds a little interest.

I stamped and heat embossed the bouquet of rose buds and sentiment in gold, and then heat embossed the bouquet again onto some mixed media paper which had been watercoloured with magenta and a touch of orange.  Then I fussy cut the coloured blooms and paper pieced them onto my card front.

Super easy card that didn't take long as I had the embossed background in my stash (a gift from a friend), along with my watercoloured background in my stash. :)  Love it when a card comes together fast. :)

I used a snippet of paper for my colourful rose buds, so I'm popping into the Playground for a visit! :)

And even though this card is very CAS, it is also a CAS Mix Up card with heat embossing, watercolouring, dry embossing and paper piecing. :)

Thanks for stopping by!

Stamps:  Rose Buds (The Bee's Knees); Fond Expressions2 (STAMPlorations)
Paper:  White card base; Mixed Media (Strathemore 400 series)
Ink:  Versamark
Accessories & Tools:  Sprays made from Liquid Watercolour Concentrate in Magenta and Orange (Dick Blick), Gold embossing powder (Ranger), heat tool

Challenges:
STAMPlorations May CAS Challenge - Optional Colour Twist: Magenta
Snippets Playground - Week 228
CAS Mix Up May Challenge - Heat Embossing

Playing more with Brushos

Hi everyone.  Today I'm having more fun with my Brushos ... and using one of my new stencils from STAMPlorations.  I just received my latest order with ten ... yep, TEN new stencils to play with. :)

I simply placed my stencil over top of a piece of mixed media paper, sprinkled lemon brushos mostly in the center areas of the roses, and then brilliant over the rest of the areas of the roses.  Spritzed with water and then removed the stencil and blotted up the excess water with paper towel.  I love how the colours flowed and the softness once blotted with paper towel.  I stamped my sentiment and framed the card front in black.

Easy, peasy card ... and another example of CAS Mixed Media card (stenciling, brushos, die-cut, stamping).

Thanks for coming by ... and Happy Mother's Day!

Stamps:  The Big, the bold and the happy (Winnie & Walter)
Paper:  White card base (Neenah 110 lb card stock); Mixed Media card front (Strathmore 400 series); Black card front
Ink:  Black (Memento); Brushos (Lemon, Brilliant Red)
Accessories & Tools:  Old Rose Prints stencil (ARTplorations / STAMPlorations), water mister, paper towel, Rectangle Nestability (Spellbinders)

Brushos and Bleach

Hi everyone.  Had another day of experimenting in my studio.  So fun! :)  Today I was trying out the bleaching technique on a brushos background that is a small part of this wonderful video from Dina of Splitcoaststampers.  Even though this video is almost a year old, I only saw it for the first time last night and was mesmerized by all the way Dina shows how to use Brushos (or Color Bursts, or Bister Powders). Worth watching!

Before I started making my card, I put on some grubby clothes that I didn't care about.  I have worked with bleach before.  Even though I'm really careful, I still end up with it everywhere.  Or so it seems. :)  Just a warning for anyone else that is messy like me. :)

I have some empty water brushes, so filled one with bleach and used on one of my Brushos backgrounds from my stash.  Didn't work the best.  Took a long time to get the bleach to soak in.  Then I remembered Dina mentioning about using it on "fresh" brushos to get more contrast and so created a smooshed Brushos background, dried it with my heat tool (not completely dry), stamped the flower sprig in Archival ink, and went over it lightly with a bleach filled waterbrush.  LOVE how it turned out.

Not sure why it worked better on a new background and not ones in my stash, but maybe the colour sets more over time??  Not sure.  This would be the same for the ghosting technique she shows in the video as well.  Where you place a stencil over top of the brushos background, spritz with water and then remove the excess water with a paper towel.  Doesn't show on backgrounds that have been made a while. :)

It's great to learn things.  I'll be trying out more of Dina's techniques ... so many fantastic ideas.

Thanks for visiting!

Stamps:  Delightful (Penny Black); Sentiment - Subway Art Builders Dare (STAMPlorations)
Paper:  Watercolour (Arches 140 lb. Hot Press)
Ink:  Archival Black (Ranger); Brushos (Lime Green, Lemon and Turquoise)
Accessories & Tools:  Water mister, heat tool, waterbrush filled with bleach

Inspired by Jules

Hi everyone.  Today I'm sharing a new technique I played with after being inspired by my good friend, Jules (Crafted by Jules).  Thanks Jules!

Jules has made a few cards using the Wax Paper Emboss Resist technique.  Click HERE and HERE to see her cards.  She tried it after seeing a video on Stamp TV by Gina K.

Basic instructions are to cut out a piece of wax paper a bit larger than your card fronts.  You will use two card fronts for one piece of wax paper.  Scrunch the wax paper tightly and then smooth out to create lots of texture (I didn't do this step ... just used my piece plain).  Place the wax paper into an embossing folder and run it through your machine.  Remove, then sandwich the embossed wax paper between two card fronts, place inside a piece of scrap copy paper to protect your iron, and iron over top on a medium to high setting (NO steam).  You end up with an embossed image on one card front, and a debossed (opposite) on the other.  It's a very cool and easy to do technique.

I sponged two colours of distress inks randomly over top (Twisted Citron and Peacock Feathers) to reveal the design.  I cut an angled panel, added a die-cut white leaf sprig, stamped a simple sentiment and added three dew drops made by my good friend Hazel (My Card Attic).  Thanks Hazel!

Here's a close-up ...

Easy and fun card to make! :)  Thanks so much for dropping by for a visit!

Stamps:  Sentiment - Painted Butterflies (Altenew)
Paper:  White (Neenah 110 lb. card stock)
Ink:  Twisted Citron, Peacock Feathers (Distress Inks by Tim Holtz)
Accessories & Tools:  Wax paper, Spring Leaves embossing folder (Elizabeth Craft Designs), Iron, sponges, Little Leaves die (Sizzix), Dew Drops (made by Hazel)