Splash Watercolouring Challenge

Hi everyone.  Today I'm honoured to have my Splash Watercolour video as the inspiration for this week's Technique's Challenge at Splitcoaststampers (SCS). :)

My dear friend, Karen (Snippets), is running the challenge.  She's been having fun lately with my Splash Watercolour technique.  The card above is heading over to the gallery at SCS for the challenge.  You have to be a member to join the challenges, but if you aren't a member, you can look around the site all you want.  It has lots of amazing instructional videos, inspirational cards, and challenges.  It's free to join and then you can upload cards to your own gallery on SCS and comment on other cards.  This is where I started with my stamping years ago and I have maintained a lot of wonderful friendships with amazing crafters that I met there.  It's worth checking out!

I started this card by heat embossing in white, a background stamp I've had for a few months.  Isn't it great??  I love it.  Then I chose my colours ... distress inks in spiced marmalade, fired brick and wilted violet.  These colours can be tricky because orange and purple mix to create brown.  So a light hand, and drying in-between layers helps.  There are lots of layers of ink on this card.

I added a simple white butterfly and stamped the sentiment in a different ink.  In order to match the wilted violet in the background (which was diluted with water), I ended up using Rich Razzleberry (SU!) and it worked perfectly. :)

Here's a close-up.

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CHALLENGE!

I thought it might be fun to run a mini challenge here as well.  I've set up a linky below - it's open for one week.  Any style of card is welcome, but you must use the Splash Watercolouring technique.  I'll do a random draw and send out a small prize package to the winner.  Come play along!  And if you are an SCS member, make sure to add your card to the TLC challenge gallery as well!

An InLinkz Link-up

Stamps: Different Dreams (Unity); Happy Birthday (HLS)
Paper:  Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.); White card base and butterfly (Neenah 110 lb.)
Ink:  Versamark;  Distress inks:  Spiced Marmalade, Fired Brick, Wilted Violet (Tim Holtz); Rich Razzleberry (SU!)
Accessories & Tools:  White embossing powder, heat tool, water mister, Moonlight Butterfly die (Memory Box)

Challenges:
TLC #662 - Splash Watercolouring

CASEing Colleen

Hi everyone.  Today I'm CASEing a card made by my sweet friend, Colleen (One Smile Lifts a Spirit).  She posted her card several months ago, but I couldn't get it out of my head. :)

Colleen's card

Isn't it gorgeous??!!  I just love the softness of colouring on vellum.  I didn't have the colouring products that Colleen used, so I used zigs to colour onto the back of my white embossed vellum flowers.  Thanks to Aileen for giving me the tip to not use any water when working with vellum!!  Much appreciated, Aileen!

After I fussy-cut my zig'd (is that a new verb??) flowers, they curled up into little tubes.  I used temporary tape to adhere them to my craft mat and then place a weight on top.  It did flatten them a little, but I still needed to add lots of adhesive to get them to lay flat.

I stamped a sentiment first, after figuring out where in to line it up within my thin, stitched frame.  Then I popped up the frame and adhered the flowers on top.  It was fun colouring on vellum and I will do that again.  Thank you so much for the inspiration Colleen!

Here's a close-up.

I hope you'll check out Colleen's blog (One Smile Lifts a Spirit).  She is very talented and I know you'll enjoy checking out her cards.

Thanks for stopping by for a visit!

Stamps:  Bamboo Rose (Altenew)
Paper:  Vellum; White card base and panel (Neenah 110 lb.)
Ink:  Versamark; Zigs
Accessories & Tools:  white embossing powder, heat tool, paint brush,

Merry and BRIGHT!

Hi everyone.  I wasn't kidding with the title. :)  This is the brightest Christmas card I've ever made. :)  It may be a little over the top, but the snowman looks happy with his rainbow scarf and hat.  This is for Merry Monday Challenge # 262 - Gift(s).

Stamped the image in archival black ink and used zigs to colour.  Add some soft blue sponging for the sky and splattered with white acrylic paint for snow ... that's a little hard to see in the photo.  Finished by stamping the sentiment and adding a little bit of clear Wink of Stella along the lines of the snow drifts.  Easy, peasy card to make.  :)

Stamps:  Sweet Snowman (Penny Black); Big Christmas Wishes (Amy R - retired)
Paper:  Mixed Media paper (Strathmore 140 lb.)
Ink:  Archival Black (Ranger); zigs
Accessories & Tools:  water brush, sponges, paint brush for splattering, white acrylic paint, clear Wink of Stella

Challenges:
Merry Monday #262 - Gifts

October Rudolph Days

Hi everyone.  Playing along with Rudolph Days. The challenge runs from the 25th to the end of the month.

I used a new-to-me die set of ornaments (gifted from a sweet friend) to create a shaker card.  I've not had a lot of success with making shaker cards, but this worked out really well for me.

Here's a close-up.

I was on a roll ... so here's another version ...

It's a great way to use some of my thousands of sequins. :)  I'll be making more of these!

Thanks for stopping by for a visit!

Stamps:  Christmas Messages (Hero Arts); Season's Gift (Penny Black)
Paper:  White (Neenah 110 lb. card stock); Gold Foil, Silver Foil (SU!)
Ink:  Versamark
Accessories & Tools:  Ornament & Shadow Layer set dies (Gina Marie Designs), acetate, gold embossing powder, silver embossing powder, heat tool; sequins: (red, iridescent, silver, clear) and (gold, dark green, light green, iridescent green, clear); gold cording, silver cording

Challenges:
October Rudolph Days

Birthday Iris

Hi everyone.  Today I'm sharing a birthday card I made for a very sweet friend.  She loves irises and the colour purple. :)

I created a CAS mixed media card by including watercolouring, die-cuts and stamping.  I LOVE my new partial honeycomb die-cut ... you'll be seeing a lot more of it soon.  The iris was cut from hot press watercolour.  Zigs were used for colouring the stems, and distress ink (wilted violet) for the flower.

This is one of my favourite 'Happy Birthday' sentiments.  It's from a stamp set by Technique Tuesday called Cosmos.  I haven't used any of the other stamps (including a beautiful bouquet of cosmos).  Hopefully I can show it some love soon.

Here's a close-up of the card ...

I added a few sequins for a little bit of sparkle.

I'm entering this into The Flower Challenge #13 (second entry), where they are celebrating their 1st birthday.  This is another of my favourite flowers. :)

  

And I'm playing along with CAS on Friday #119 - Flowers.

Thanks for coming by for a visit!

Stamps:  Sentiment - Cosmos (Technique Tuesday)
Paper:  Watercolour paper (Arches 140 lb. hot press) for iris; White card base (Neenah 110 lb)
Ink:  Zigs; Wilted Violet Distress Ink (Tim Holtz)
Accessories & Tools:  iris die (Penny Black); partial honeycomb (set of four different) from AliExpress, water brush, sequins

Challenges:
The Flower Challenge #13 - 1st Birthday Celebration
CAS on Friday #119 - Flowers

Mum Tag

Hi everyone.  I've made a second tag for the Tag You're It! challenge.  I'm not sure that this qualifies, but hope so.

I have used Marcia's (Featured Designer) tag for inspiration.  I don't have any sweet images like Marcia used on her tag, but used her autumn theme.  I do love the colours of autumn, and the flowers, like the mum above.  Mums are so beautiful and last a VERY long time. :)

I stamped the mum bouquet off the edge of the tag, in medium brown ink and heat embossed in clear.  Then I used my zigs to watercolour the flower and leaves.  I used the same ink and clear embossing on the sentiment.  I added a bright green, tone-on-tone, polka dot ribbon at the top.

Here's the close-up.

There's only a few more days left for this month's challenge ... I hope you'll check it out and play along!

Stamps:  Beautiful Bouquet: Mums (WPlus9); Sentiment - Gratitude (Penny Black)
Paper:  Mixed Media paper (Strathmore 140 lb.)
Ink:  Brushed Corduroy (Tim Holtz); Zigs
Accessories & Tools:  clear embossing powder, heat tool, water brush, bright green ribbon

Challenges:
Tag You're It! #75

Hello Autumn Tag

Hi everyone.  Today I'm playing along with "Tag You're It!" where my sweet friend Marcia (Marcia's Stampin' Pad), is the Featured Designer.

Marcia's tag

Isn't her tag adorable??!!  I don't have any cute images like that, so I decided to go with an autumn tree that is loosing it's leaves.  Maybe the little girl in Marcia's tag might like to play on the tree swing? :)

Here's a close-up.

I stamped my tree and sentiment in Brushed Corduroy and heat embossed in clear.  Then I used distress inks and a waterbrush to watercolour the tag.  Added ribbon and a twine bow to finish.

Thank you for the wonderful inspiration Marcia.  I had fun making this quick, CAS tag.

Stamps:  Tree Swing (Stampendous); Sentiment - Bouquet of Thanks (Simon Says Stamp)
Paper:  Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.)
Ink:  Distress Inks:  Brushed Corduroy, Walnut Stain, Spiced Marmalade, Ripe Persimmon, Fired Brick, Twisted Citron, Mowed Lawn
Accessories & Tools:  Clearn embossing powder, heat tool, water brush, ribbon, twine

Challenges:
Tag You're It! #75

Autumn Leaves

Hi everyone.  Today's card uses a new-to-me die.  It's over top of a Brushos watercoloured panel done in yellow, orange and red.  The sentiment is stamped in a coordinating colour.

Very simple CAS design.  I'm adding this to the CAS Watercolour October Challenge - Fall Leaves.

There's still a few days left to play along.  Challenge closes midnight October 24th (PST).  Come join us!

Stamps:  Many Everyday Messages (Hero Arts)
Paper:  Watercolour (Arches 140 lb. cold press); White card base (Neenah 110 lb.)
Ink:  Brushos:  Yellow, Orange, Red
Accessories & Tools:  water mister, Cute Leaves Plate die (AliExpress)

Challenges:
CAS Watercolour October Challenge - Fall Leaves

Take Care

Hi everyone.  More fun playing with Distress Oxides and stenciling.  This is another card with layered stencils.  The CAS Mix Up challenge is open for a few more days. Hope you'll join us if you haven't already.

Three stencils were used on the panel.  Started out by smooshing a background of purple and red.  Then added more red by stenciling through a mini dot stencil.  Next a pretty star and circle shaped stencil was used on opposite corners with more purple.  Last, the bird was sponged through a stencil in dark brown.  I stamped a little bit of script over the bird and heat embossed in liquid platinum to give him a lift ... he was looking rather flat just the one colour. :)

I added a backing panel that was 1/2" longer so I could stamp my sentiment.  This card was sent to a friend's husband who was in a terrible skiing accident.  Wanted to let him know I was thinking of him.  Thankfully his recovery has been going well.

Thanks for coming by!

Stamps:  Script (Penny Black); Take Care sentiment (Bamboo Roses by Altenew)
Paper:  White card base (Neenah 110 lb.); Mixed Media paper for main panel (Strathmore 140 lb.)
Ink:  Distress Oxides:  Wilted Violet, Fired Brick, Walnut Stain (Tim Holtz);  Versamark
Accessories & Tools:  water mister, sponges, Mini Tiny Circles stencil (The Crafter's Workshop); Tim Holtz stencil (name unknown), Some Birds stencil (STAMPlorations), liquid platinum embossing powder (Ranger) heat tool

Challenges:
CAS Mix Up October Challenge - Layering Stencils

Favourite Flowers

Hi everyone.  Today I'm playing along with The Flower Challenge.  They are celebrating their 1st birthday of the challenge.  Congrats to the creator, Aileen, and the very talented Design Team.

    

So much beautiful eye candy with the DT cards AND in the gallery!

I'm also entering this card into the Craft Stamper Take It Make It October Challenge - Anything Goes (with stamping).

I couldn't pick a favourite flower stamp.  Instead, I'm using ONE of my favourites stamps that was gifted to me by a sweet friend.  I LOVE colouring this stamp.

For this card, I stamped the outline image in pale brown.  Again with the no-line watercolouring ... I'm obsessed with it right now. :)  Once I was finished with colouring, I put the stamp back in my Misti (had taken it out because I didn't think I'd stamp it again).  Lucky for me, it matched up and I over-stamped in a deeper brown.  I really like the softness of the brown outline with the colours I've used.  I used that same brown to stamp the sentiment.  I added a little detail to the flowers with a white gel pen.

Here's a close-up ...

The Flower Challenge 1st Birthday Celebration runs until the 25th of the month.  Still lots of time to play along!

The Take It Make It challenge is also open until the 25th ... lots of inspiring cards by the DT and in the gallery - check it out!

Stamps:  Kind Soul (WPlus9); Sentiment - Cosmos (Technique Tuesday)
Paper:  Watercolour paper (Arches 140 lb. hot press)
Ink:  Sahara Sand (SU!); Zigs, Brushed Corduroy Distress Ink (Tim Holtz)
Accessories & Tools:  water brush, white gel pen

Challenges:
The Flower Challenge #13 - 1st Birthday Celebration
Craft Stamper Take It Make It October Challenge

Autumn Ferns

Hi everyone.  Today's card is a reminder for the CAS Watercolour October Challenge - Fall Leaves.  And also a reminder that we are celebrating our 1st Birthday this month at CWCC!

Come join us ... there is a prize for the winning card ... and also one prize for a random pick among all entries.

When I think of fall leaves, I automatically visualize shades of yellow, orange and reds.  Not today.  Today's card is all about the fern.  I recently bought this beautiful background fern stamp.  I don't own a lot of background stamps because with my CAS style I thought I wouldn't get a lot of use out of them.  Wrong!  I cut it down to create a small, but colourful panel of watercoloured ferns.  I used my Stampin' Write markers to colour the rubber stamp, spritzed with water and stamped onto mixed media paper, pressing down firmly.  Once the stamp was removed, I used a paper towel to mop up any excess water/ink, which left a beautiful, soft image for the background.  Love it!

I simply added a black die-cut silhouette fern leaf.  I added a very thin frame of black and a black stamped sentiment to tie it all together.

Check out the challenge blog to see the amazing reminder cards made by our design team and wonderful Guest Designer, Marcia.

Stamps:  Plant Background (The Stampin' Place; Sentiment - Bouquet of Thanks (Simon Says Stamp)
Paper:  Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.); White card base (Neenah 110 lb.); Black (SU!)
Ink:  Markers:  Daffodil Delight, Old Olive, Always Artichoke, Bermuda Bay, Island Indigo (SU!)
Accessories & Tools:  water mister, Pair of Ferns die (Cheery Lynn)

Challenges:
CAS Watercolour October Challenge - Fall Leaves

Layered Daisies

Hi everyone.  Today's card is a reminder for the CAS Mix Up October challenge, hosted by Julia.

This is a different way of layering stencils.  I used my Silhouette Cameo to cut three stencils, all with the same daisy design, but in different sizes.  I placed the stencil over my card front and used ink and my clarity brushes to add in a variety of colours and sizes. The lighter daisies give the illusion that they are in the background, giving this one layer card some depth.

The card front was run through the Big Shot with a stitched rectangle die to add some stitching lines around the edges.  I used a Distress marker (Brushed Corduroy) to add some dots to a few of the flowers.  A simple stamped sentiment finishes the card.

These fun, bright flowers make me happy. :)

Make sure to check out the challenge blog to see the reminder cards from our DT and our Guest Designer Sue's.  And then come join us!

Stamps:  Gratitude (Penny Black)
Paper:  White (Neenah 110 lb. card stock)
Ink:  Distress Inks:  Squeezed Lemonade, Mustard Seed, Spiced Marmalade, Ripe Persimmon, Worn Lipstick, Picked Raspberry, Brushed Corduroy (Tim Holtz)
Accessories & Tools:  Daisy stencil cut with my Silhouette Cameo, clarity brushes, Stitched Mat die (Lil' Inkers)

Challenges:
CAS Mix Up October Challenge - Layering Stencils

In the Studio with Patt and Vicky

Hi everyone.  Today I had fun playing in the studio with two friends. :)  Vicky is new to stamping and wanted to learn about different ways to use her Big Shot, along with learning about distress inks and DOX inks.  The three of us had fun getting inky.

We also found time to play with tissue paper watercolouring using different colouring mediums.  We used distress inks, distress sprays, and Brushos.  Lots of inky mess ... nothing could be better!! :)

The card above was me showing Patt and Vicky how to smoosh with DOX inks, layering them to create a mixed media background.  I cut mine down to a small rectangle, added a white shaped die-cut and stamped a simple sentiment in matching ink.  So fun and easy to make.

I'm playing along with a couple of challenges.  First AAA#100 - Sketch ... what a great CAS design!  I used my over interpretation and hope it's close enough.  CAS-ology #270 is looking for "Odd".  My one spray of flower is an odd number.

  

Thanks for coming by for a visit!

Stamps:  Sentiment - Where the Heart is (Simon Says Stamp)
Paper:  Mixed Media panel (Strathmore 140 lb.); White card base (Neenah 110 lb.)
Ink:  Distress Inks:  Wilted Violet, Wild Honey, Fired Brick (Tim Holtz
Accessories & Tools:  water mister, heat tool, Flower Frolic die (Penny Black)

Challenges:
AAA #100 - Sketch
CAS-ology #270 - Odd