It's coffee o'clock.

Hi everyone.  Having lots of time in my studio playing this week. :)  Today I'm playing along with the challenge Inspired by all the Little Things #84, hosted by Darnell.  Doesn't that birthday cake look delicious??!! :)

I went a totally different way with this inspiration photo.  I used the colours of the cake (pink, blue, purple) in my background with a piece of watercolouring tissue paper. The chocolate icing has turned into a delicious cup of coffee. :)  I added a shimmer spritz to the coffee cup and frame to make it more festive and it also darkens the brown card stock.  Stamped the sentiment in the same ink colour as the card stock, heat embossing in clear.

Here's a close-up ...

Stamps:  All you need is Coffee (STAMPlorations)
Paper:  White tissue paper; White card base (Neenah 110 lb.); Early Espresso (SU!)
Ink:  Distress inks:  Wilted Violet, Worn Lipstick, Cracked Pistachio, Broken China (Tim Holtz); Early Espresso (SU!)
Accessories & Tools:  water mister, Coffee Cup Silhouette die (STAMPlorations), shimmer mist

Challenges:
Inspired by all the Little Things #84

Snowy Cityscapes

Hi everyone.  Playing along with this week's Merry Monday #287 - Colleen's Inspiration Photo.

It's an adorable, whimsical village.  I don't have any stamps or dies like that, so I modernized it with a silver heat embossed cityscape that I fussy-cut.  I used some pieces from my stash for the backgrounds of both cards ... yes, there are two. :)  These pieces are from when we had a Salt challenge at CAS Mix Up many months ago.  I know I used watercolour paper, but don't remember the ink (most likely turquoise brushos).  You can see the design left from the kosher salt I used. :)  I added my white cityscape and a torn piece of white card stock for the snowy hill.  Both cards are done the same, but just different shapes.

Here's a close-up of both ...

The challenge is open until Sunday noon (PST), so still lots of time to play along.  Check out the challenge post HERE to see the beautiful cards from the very talented Design Team.  I'm adding Card #1 to this challenge.

Card #2 will be heading to April Rudolph's Day Challenge - Anything Goes Christmas.  This challenge runs each month from the 25th to end of month.  Mo and her team has provided some lovely inspiration.  Hope you'll find time to check it out and play along.

Stamps:  Cityscape (AliExpress); Snowglobe Sentiments (MFT)
Paper:  White (Neenah 110 lb.); Watercolour (Arches 140 lb. cold press)
Ink:  Versamark; colour for background watercolouring with salt --- best guess Turquoise Brushos
Accessories & Tools:  Water mister, salt, silver embossing powder, heat tool, Circle Nestabilities (Spellbinder)

Challenges:
Merry Monday #287 - Colleen's Inspiration Photo
April Rudolph Days Challenge - Anything Goes Christmas

Good Neighbours

I love this sweet flower garden image from Penny Black.  I had to buy it after seeing it coloured to perfection by Hannelie (click here to see her card).

I stamped in Archival Black ink and then watercoloured with my zigs.  I really enjoy this type of watercolouring. :)

I added a sentiment banner at the bottom, stamped in green to match the leaves on the image.

Here's a close-up ...

I made this card to play along with Penny Black Saturday Challenge where Anything Goes.

Come join in the fun.  Remember to use a Penny Black product as your main focal point of your card.

Stamps:  good neighbors (Penny Black); Sentiment - eloquence (Penny Black)
Paper:  Mixed Media paper (Strathmore 140 lb.)
Ink:  Black Archival (Ranger); Zigs
Accessories & Tools:  water brush, clear wink of stella

Challenges:
Penny Black Saturday - Anything Goes

Mixed Media Thistle

Hi everyone.  Having fun layering elements to create more of a mixed media card.  This time I layered a few shades of DOX inks, the most prominent being Wilted Violet and Fired Brick.  Love how the dox inks show all the splashes and splatters of colour with drying in between layers.

I stamped a bit of dictionary background randomly on my panel, and then stamped my thistle in archival black ink.  I added just a little bit of purple to the flower tops with a zig watercolour pen.  To finish, I used white acrylic paint through a mini dot stencil (again randomly on the panel) and then heat embossed the sentiment in white onto black card stock.  I cut the words up to I could add them separately.

Here's a close-up ...

Love this thistle image ... it's part of a two image set that I received from a friend.  Thanks Dolly!

I'm entering this card into the Craft Stamper Magazine Take It Make It Challenge:  April - Anything Goes.

And also entering into Just Us Girls #437 - Prominently Purple.  Thanks for the reminder Linda!

Stamps:  Elegant Weeds (Hero Arts); Sentiment - Bloom Sketches (STAMPlorations)
Paper:  Mixed media paper (Strathmore 140 lb. 400 Series); White card base (Neenah 110 lb.); Black (Stampin' Up!)
Ink:  DOX inks:  Wilted Violet, Fired Brick, Worn Lipstick (Tim Holtz); Black Archival (Ranger); Zigs
Accessories & Tools:  water mister, Mini Tiny Circles stencil (The Crafter's Workshop), white acrylic paint, sponge, white embossing powder, heat tool

Challenges:
CSM Take It Make It Challenge: April - Anything Goes
JUGS #437 - Prominently Purple

Making a Splash

Hi everyone.  One more card for the CAS Watercolour April Challenge - Bird.

Another quick and fun card to make.  I used two flamingo die-cuts that I received as a gift from a sweet friend!  I die-cut them from mixed media paper and watercoloured with a mix of spun sugar and picked raspberry distress inks.

For the background, I used another piece of mixed media paper, adding water to the card front first with a wet paint brush, then dropping in distress inks (peacock feathers, broken china).  Once the watercoloured puddle was finished, I used the same paint to splatter a few splashes of water, protecting the rest of my card front with some paper towels.  Once dry, I added clear wink of stella over the puddle to give it some shine.

The sentiment is computer generated (cartoon inkstrokes font).  The flamingos were popped up on top and I rounded the top right corner to finish.

Here's a close-up ...

The challenge is open for three more days.  Come join us!

Stamps:  sentiment computer generated
Paper:  Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb. 400 Series)
Ink:  Distress Inks:  Peacock Feathers, Broken China, Spun Sugar, Picked Raspberry (Tim Holtz)
Accessories & Tools:  paint brush, clear wink of stella, Flamingo dies (Gina Marie Designs), black pen

Challenges:
CAS Watercolour April Challenge - Bird

Most Wonderful Time of Year

Hi everyone.  I am so happy I had time this morning to play along with Sue's challenge - #286 - Favourite Christmas Verse.

I'm not sure if my sentiment is a verse, but I do love this sentiment and it gets me singing the song. :)

I started with a background coloured with Magicals.  I LOVE this colour (Tibetan Poppy Teal).  I stamped a snowflake background over top and heat embossed in iridescent embossing powder.  I used the background to create two cards with the same design.  I will keep one for my stash and the other will be donated.

I used a NBUS die that I've only had a short while.  I love how it frames the background and adds a few trees for interest.  The sentiment is heat embossed in silver.

The magicals have a shimmer and shine like no other.  It doesn't come across in the photos unless I tilt the panel so the light catches the shimmer.

Here's a close-up ...

Come play along with this fun challenge.  The DT have provided beautiful, inspirational cards.  The challenge is open until noon on Sunday (PST).

I'm also adding this to the Poppystamps Challenge - PSC#43 - Framed.  As I mentioned, I just got this beautiful frame die and couldn't wait to use it. :)

Stamps:  Snowflake Background (Hero Arts); Sentiment - Say It's Christmas - Clearly Besotted
Paper:  Mixed Media paper for background (Strathmore 140 lb.); White card base and front (Neenah 110 lb.)
Ink:  Lindy's magicals (Tibetan Poppy Teal); Versamark
Accessories & Tools:  water mister, iridescent embossing powder (SU!), silver embossing powder (Ranger), heat tool, Sloping Hillside die (Poppystamps)

Challenges:
Merry Monday #286 - Favourite Christmas Verse
Poppystamps Challenge - PSC #43 - Framed

Star Ornaments

Hi everyone.  This is a reminder card for the CAS Christmas April Challenge - Ornament, hosted by Bonnie.

Today I'm sharing an ornament card that doesn't use an ornament stamp or die.  Always great to stretch the use of our supplies, ornaments can be made from lots of different things (stars, snowflakes, circles, etc.).

Above I've used my stitched star dies to create some shimmery star ornaments.  I cut the star from Be Creative double sided tape, adding a light weight card stock to the one side before cutting.  I removed the cover to reveal the sticky side and topped it with gilding flakes.  I pressed them down and then used a piece of Rub-it Scrub-it to burnish.  I also stamped a background of splatters with gilding flake glue and added flakes to them as well.

Here's a close-up ...

I hope you'll check out the challenge blog to see the amazing reminder cards from our Designers, and our wonderful Guest Designer, Hideko.

I know you'll be inspired.  So come join us.  The challenge is open for another week, closing at April 24th at midnight (PST).

Stamps:  Merry and Bright (SU! - retired)
Paper:  White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.)
Ink:  Versamark
Accessories & Tools:  Star dies (AliExpress), Be Creative Tape, Verdigris Gilding Flakes (Cosmic Shimmer), gilding flake glue, gold metallic pen

Challenges:
CAS Christmas April Challenge - Ornament

Happy Birthday Wishes

Hi everyone.  It's already more than half way through April.  That means it's time for a reminder post for the CAS Watercolour challenge.

This month Bonnie wants us to add a bird (or birds) to our CAS Watercoloured cards.  I combined two older stamps to create a little water scene with bull rushes and a bird. :)  The stamps were inked with Stampin' Up! markers, spritzed with a little water and then stamped onto mixed media paper.  I used my water brush to move just a little bit of the colour around.  I took one of the markers, scribbled some on my palette, added a little water and then did the wash at the bottom.  The sentiment was stamped in dark brown ink ... same ink used for outlining the bird and bull rushes.  To finish, I rounded the top right corner.  The images were a bit low, so by adding the corner rounding, it makes the card look more balanced.

Here's a close-up ...

Check out the reminder post on the challenge blog to see more inspiring bird cards from our Guest Designer, Stef, our talented Designers, and our fantastic challenge participants.  Then come join us!

Stamps:  Simply Sketched (Stampin' Up!); Be Thankful (Innovative Stamp Creations);
Paper:  Mixed Media paper (Strathmore 140 lb. 400 Series)
Ink:  Markers:  Old Olive, Always Artichoke, Early Espresso, Baked Brown Sugar, Lost Lagoon (Stampin' Up!)
Accessories & Tools:  water mister, water brush, corner rounder (We R Memory Keepers)

Challenges:
CAS Watercolour April Challenge - Bird

Hello There

Hi everyone.  I have something special to share with you today.  A sweet card maker, Ishani (Quillish), contacted me a few weeks back and said she wanted to learn more techniques and thought CASEing my cards would help her do that.  She is starting a series of posts, CASEing cards of mine with new-to-her techniques.  I'm so honoured.  Thanks you so much Ishani!

The series is starting today and I asked if I could participate in the first post.  Today Ishani and I are both CASEing the card below, which is a recent card done with the rubber band technique.

CASEing this card

Here's a close-up of my CASE of the card above.

I used one of the left over samples of rubber band technique with white embossing from making my video.  I simply sprinkled on some Tibetan Poppy Teal Magical powder (Lindy's), misted with lots of water and then tilted the panel to let the colours flow.  I managed to keep some deep colours in the center with lighter towards the edges.  Love how it turned out.

A bird on a branch is die-cut from black card stock, a thin (1/16") black frame added to the panel and it is popped up on foam for dimension.  The card is finished with a black stamped sentiment.

The colours from the Magicals are beautiful.  No only the colours, but the shimmer that comes along with the Magicals.  I managed to capture some of it in a closeup ... see below.

Thank you for stopping by to see my card today.  If you have time, please stop by to see Ishani's CASE of my card by clicking HERE.

I'm adding this card to these two galleries:  CAS Mix Up April Challenge - Rubber Band Technique and CAS Watercolour April Challenge - Bird.



Stamps:  Many Everyday Messages (Hero Arts)
Paper:  Mixed Media paper (Strathmore 140 lb. 400 Series);  White card base (Neenah 110 lb.); Black (Stampin' Up!)
Ink:  Versamark; Tibetan Poppy Teal (Lindy's Stamp Gang Magicals)
Accessories & Tools:  Brayer, rubber bands, white embossing powder, heat tool, water mister, bird on a branch die (AliExpress)

Challenges:
CAS Mix Up April Challenge - Rubber Band Technique
CAS Watercolour April Challenge - Bird

Rubber Band Ornaments

Hi everyone.  Today is the reminder for the CAS Mix Up April Challenge - Rubber Band Technique, hosted by Julia.

The card above only took a few minutes to make, so I ended up making three to build my Christmas card stash.  I used pieces of acetate with alcohol inks that I had in my stash, added a backing of computer paper.  Used a brayer, covered with elastic bands, loading it with Versamark ink and running it lightly over top of my acetate.  Then sprinkled on embossing powder (gold for the card above), and heat to melt the powder.  Die-cut my ornament and popped it up on my card front with a heat embossed sentiment and some gold cording.

This is such a fun and easy technique.  I hope you'll give it a try.

Here's close-ups of the three cards (all the same design, but different colours) ...

Please check out the challenge blog to see the reminder post with new cards from our Designers and wonderful Guest Designer, Hideko.  Then come play along.

I'm adding this to the CAS Christmas April Challenge - Ornament.

Stamps:
Paper:  White (Neenah 110 lb. card stock)
Ink:  Alcohol inks; Versamark
Accessories & Tools:  acetate sheet, gold and silver embossing powders, heat tool, Ornament die (Elizabeth Craft Dies), gold cording, silver cording

Challenges:
CAS Mix Up April Challenge - Rubber Band Technique
CAS Christmas April Challenge - Ornament

With Love

Hi everyone.  I was looking through my box of unfinished projects and found this card with the image already heat embossed, but not coloured.  I thought it would be a nice card for Mother's Day, which is in about a month's time here in Canada.

I had my watercolour sprays out on my work table, so started with pink.  The colours were too intense and took over the first few petals I coloured without me being able to add shading.  So I added lots of water and kept blotting with a dry paper towel to remove as much of the pink as possible.  I thought I'd try Ripe Persimmon distress ink over top and see if it looked OK.  To my surprise, I was really happy with the look.  Glad I didn't just chuck this in the garbage. :)

Used a water brush and distress inks to colour, stamped the sentiment in matching liquid platinum embossing powder and added splatters to finish.  Happy with this card and I know my mom will love it. :)

Here's a close-up ...

Thanks for stopping by for a visit!

Stamps:  Smile (dee's artsy impressions - STAMPlorations); Bouquet Thanks sentiment (Simon Says Stamp)
Paper:  Mixed Media paper (Strathmore 140 lb. 400 Series)
Ink:  Distress Inks:  Ripe Persimmon, Twisted Citron, Mowed Lawn, Mustard Seed (Tim Holtz)
Accessories & Tools:  Liquid Platinum embossing powder (Ranger), heat tool, waterbrush

Twofer Card Challenge #4

Hi everyone.  Welcome to the start of Twofer Card Challenge #4.  I think you'll have a fun time with this month's challenge ...

Just a reminder that the challenge is to make two cards with different designs for different occasions using either the same stamp or die. 

I used the same cat stamp from the Paper Smooches stamp set - Chubby Chums.  I love the expression on his face. :)

First up is the Christmas card.  I stamped and fussy-cut my cat from mixed media paper and then added a bit of watercolouring with my gray zigs.  I stamped a Santa hat from another stamp, fussy-cut, coloured with Brushos wet with shimmer spray (I was experimenting). :)  Added some Martha Stewart "Sparkle Texture" paste to the brim and pompom.  I glued the hat onto the cat and added glossy accents to his eyes.  I used my computer to add the printed sentiment "Meowy Christmas" onto my patterned paper (font is "A Little Pot").  Cut the Christmas patterned paper to size and popped it up on my card front, popping up the cat on top of that.  This card makes me happy!!

Here's a close-up:

... and closer-up ...

For my second card (love card for my hubby), I again stamped the same cat onto mixed media paper and fussy-cut, then coloured with my gray zigs.  I die-cut my card front with a semi-circle, adding the same die-cut over top in red to create a frame.  I stamped paw prints in the background in soft gray ink.  I stamped a second cat, this time just fussy-cutting the front paws.  Those are glued onto the top of the frame so that it appears that he's hanging on.  I added glossy accents for his eyes, and then stamped the sentiment "You're Purrr-fect" in black, adding a paw print at the end. 

Here's a close-up ...

... and closer-up ...

That's it, two different designs for two different occasions using the same stamp.  I hope you'll come play along.

We have some fantastic inspiration from our talented Designers along with our wonderful Guest Designer this month, Pia.  Check out the challenge blog HERE.

Card#1:  Meowy Christmas
Stamps:  Chubby Chums (Paper Smooches); Sentiment - computer generated
Paper:  Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb. 400 Series); White card base (Neenah 110 lb.); festive & frosty designer paper (Penny Black)
Ink:  Black (Archival by Ranger); Gray Zigs
Accessories & Tools:  paint brush, scarlet brushos, shimmer spray, glossy accents, Sparkle Texture (Martha Stewart)

Card#2:  You're Purrr-fect
Stamps:  Chubby Chums (Paper Smooches)
Paper:  Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb. 400 Series); White card base (Neenah 110 lb.); Real Red (Stampin' Up!)
Ink:  Black (Archval by Ranger); Gray Zigs; Smoky Slate (Stampin' Up!)
Accessories & Tools:  Semi-Circle die (AliExpress), glossy accents


Challenges:
Twofer Card Challenge #4 - Pets