Spring Tulips

Hi eveyrone.  The sun is shining and it's a warm, beautiful day.  I felt that I needed to post a spring card to celebrate the new season. :)

I was away for a week last month, staying at our favourite place on Galiano Island.  I always take some stamped images with me, along with my zigs.  Easy to pack and doesn't take up too much room.  This is one of the images I watercoloured while I was there.  This is from the new Penny Black release called Timeless.  Have to say that I have a lot of the stamps from this release.  So many gorgeous images.

Here's a close-up...

Went slightly off the edge with this to give it a little bit of a different look.  Used my waterbrush and zigs to watercolour and then stamped the sentiment once I was back home.

Entering into the following challenges:

Penny Black Saturday Mach Challenge - Anything Goes with optional challenge:  Clean and Simple


Seize the Birthday #162 - Spring - I added the toppings. :)

My cards are featured on the Penny Black blog.  I'm so excited!!  Hope you'll check out the link.

Thank you!

Stamps:  flutterby, smile today! (Penny Black)
Paper:  Mixed media (Strathmore 140 lb. 400 series)
Ink:  Zigs; Distress Oxides Ink:  Gathered Twigs (Tim Holtz)
Accessories & Tools:  water brush

Challenges:
Penny Black Saturday Challenge - Optional: CAS
Seize the Birthday #162 - Spring

Penny Black - Simplicity at its Best

Hi everyone.  I'm sharing a little sneak peek of my Penny Black card that is posted on the Simplicity at its best blog.  Click HERE to check out a full-size photo of my card, along with complete instructions on how it was made.

Also posting today on the SAIB blog is the talented designer, Mayline.  Make sure to drop by and see her beautiful creation as well!  Thank you!

March Rudolph Days

Hi everyone.  Today's card is for the March Rudolph Days.  This is a quick card with sponging distress inks over a stencil (pink for the flowers, lime for the holly).  No masking so there is a little overlapping of colours, but I'm happy with how it turned out.  And it only took a few minutes.  I added black lines with a thick black sharpie marker and stamped the sentiment in black. 

Very quick, easy, one-layer card. :)

Thanks for stopping by!

Stamps:  Art Deco Celebrate Christmas (Poppy Stamps)
Paper:  White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.)
Ink:  Distress Inks:  Picked Raspberry, Twisted Citron (Tim Holtz); Black (Memento)
Accessories & Tools:  Poinsettia stencil (Tim Holtz), mini sponges, black sharpie marker

Challenges:
March Rudolph Days - Anything Goes Christmas

Coral Pink Dahlias

Hi everyone.  I'm playing along in the STAMPlorations CAS March Challenge.  I HAD to ... these are my favourite colours! :)

I started by heat embossing the Framed Dahlia in white onto hot press watercolour paper.  I used distress inks and a water brush to watercolour, adding Abandoned Coral and Picked Raspberries for the flowers; and Twisted Citron and Mowed Lawn for the background.

I cut down the size of my panel and framed it with a small rectangle stitched frame die-cut.  The sentiment is stamped in Twisted Citron (3 times) to get the depth of colour I wanted.

Here's a close-up ...

Fun card to make that is fresh and colourful.  Could use that after all the snow we've had. :)  Come play along.  The challenge is open until the end of the month.

Stamps:  Framed Dahlia, Fond Expressions (STAMPlorations)
Paper:  Hot Press Watercolour paper (Arches 140 lb.); White card base (Neenah 110 lb.)
Ink:  Versamark; Distress Inks:  Abandoned Coral, Picked Raspberry, Twisted Citron, Mowed Lawn (Tim Holtz)
Accessories & Tools:  white embossing powder, heat tool, water brush, Stitched window die (MFT)

Challenges:
STAMPlorations CAS March Challenge - Coral Pink

Framed Deers on Vellum

Hi everyone.  Time for one more card for the CAS Christmas challenge - Deer.

We are also celebrating our first birthday at CAS Christmas with some prizes for the winning entry and also a random draw prize.

I smooshed brushos onto vellum for my background.  Once dry, I glued the vellum onto a piece of white card stock to keep it flat.  I ran it through my embosser with a Snowflake embossing folder ... upside-down, so I have a debossed design.  I love the satiny look the vellum gives to the background.

Mounted this sweet framed deer scene die from Poppy Stamps over my background and popped the panel on my card base.  The sentiment is stamped in Salty Ocean distress ink.

Here's a close-up ...

Since I watercoloured on vellum, I'm adding the above card to the CAS Watercolour challenge.

Both CAS Christmas and CAS Watercolour challenges will be open for a few more days.  Come join us!

Stamps:  Christmas Sentiments (Penny Black)
Paper:  Vellum; White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.)
Ink:  Brushos; Salty Ocean Distress Ink
Accessories & Tools:  water mister, Snowflake embossing folder (Cuttlebug); Playful Deer Stitched Frame die (Poppy Stamps),

Challenges:
CAS Christmas March Challenge - Deer
CAS Watercolour March Challenge - Watercolouring on Vellum

Ghosted Leaves

Hi everyone.  Back today with a reminder for the CAS Stencil March Challenge - Ghosting, being hosted by the wonderfully talented Julia.

For the card above, I used the same metallic inks and stencil that I did for this card.  But this time I tried it on watercolour paper instead of mixed media paper.  I learned another lesson ... the shimmer from the metallics doesn't show up on the textured watercolour paper.  Next time I'll just use inks and save the metallics for another project.

It did make a fantastic ghosted image, though.  I placed a leafy sprig stencil over top of the green and blue smooshed background, spritzed quickly with lots of water and quickly removed the stencil.  I blotted with a paper towel and ended up with a fairly crisp image.  It's in the background of the card with watercoloured, die-cut poppies over top and an antique frame to finish.  It does add a lot of dimension in the background.

Here's a close-up ...

I hope you'll give this technique a try and then join us at the challenge blog.   Check out the reminder cards from our Designers and wonderful Guest Designer, Ishani.  Remember to keep your card CAS and use ghosting through a stencil.

This is my second entry into the Take It Make Challenge at Craft Stamper Magazine.

And my second entry into The Flower Challenge #30 - Anything Goes.

Stamps:  Everyday Messages (Hero Arts
Paper:  Watercolour (Arches 140 lb. cold press); White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.)
Ink:  Mettalic Emerald, Metallic Turquoise (Liquid Metals by Ken Oliver); Distress Inks:  Twisted Citron, Mowed Lawn, Spiced Marmalade, Ripe Persimmon, Barn Door, Aged Mahogany (Tim Holtz)
Accessories & Tools:  Leaves Stencil (Simon Says Stamp), bodacious die - poppies (Penny Black), water mister, water brush, Antique frame (Penny Black)

Challenges:
CAS Stencil March Challenge - Ghosting
Take It Make It Challenge March
The Flower Challenge #30 - Anything Goes

Fractured Ice

Hi everyone.  Time for a reminder card for the CAS Christmas March Challenge - Deer, being hosted by our very talented Susan!

It's also our 1st Birthday Party, so I hope you'll play along and celebrate this us!

The card above is very simple.  I recently got a new embossing powder called Fractured Ice.  I used it on the bottom of my tree / deer die-cut and also added some random patches in the sky with my Versamark and heat embossed with the same Fractured Ice embossing powder.  The sentiment is stamped in black to pick up the specks of black in the embossing powder.  Super easy and quick card.  The photo doesn't do the card justice ... the embossing powder is very pretty.

Here's a close-up that shows the glitter ...

Please check out the challenge blog to see the amazing reminder cards from our DT and from are wonderful Guest Deigner, Chrissie.

Stamps:  Christmas Sentiments (Penny Black)
Paper:  White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.)
Ink:  Black (Memento); Versamark
Accessories & Tools:  Fractured Ice embossing powder (Allure), Tree & deer die (AliExpress)

Challenges:
CAS Christmas March Challenge - Deer

Tulips on Vellum

Hi everyone.  Back with a reminder card for CAS Watercolour March Challenge - Watercolour on Vellum.  This fun challenge was chosen by Jenny.

For my card above, I place my vellum piece in my Misti.  Arranged the tulip image, coloured the image with SU! markers and spritzed with just a little water, then stamped onto the vellum.  I love how it turned out with the variation of shades even though I only used one purple marker and one green.  And the vellum gives a dreamy look to the image.  So soft and pretty.

I left the vellum in the Misti to dry thoroughly before mounting it to the back of my white frame.  I stamped a simple sentiment using the same green ink, to finish the card.

Here's a close-up ...

I hope you'll check out the challenge blog to see the new reminder cards from all our Designers, along with our wonderful Guest Designers, Birgit and Ros!  I know you'll be inspired to play along.

Stamps:  efflorescence (Penny Black), happy snippets (Penny Black)
Paper:  White card base and frame (Neenah 110 lb.); vellum
Ink:  Old Olive, Elegant Eggplant (SU!)
Accessories & Tools:  water mister

Challenges:
CAS Watercolour March Challenge - Watercolour on Vellum

Faux Stained Glass Flower

Hi everyone.  Today I'm sharing my reminder card for the CAS Mix Up March Challenge - Faux Stained Glass, hosted by the mega talented Joanna!

CAS Mix Up is also celebrating it's 3rd Birthday!

Come join us!

I started my card by using a small piece of stencil monoprint I had in my stash from long ago.  I die-cut the flower a couple of times, sponging the bottom layer with inks and then adhering the layers together.  I filled the section with Crystal Glaze.  Added a decorative frame with the flower centered and popped up for lots of dimension.

Here's a close-up ...

You can see the shading on the leaves, but the shading on the flower disappeared once the glaze was added. :)  

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

I used snippets for the background, frame and flower die-cuts, so I'm heading over to the Playground for a visit with Di and friends!

I'm also joining in The Flower Challenge #30 - Anything Goes.

And I'm playing along with Memory Box Challenge #47 - Flower Power.

Stamps:  Happy Messages (Stampendous)
Paper:  Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb. 400 Series);  White (Neenah 110 lb. card stock)
Ink:  Distress Inks:  Squeezed Lemonade, Twisted Citron, Mowed Lawn, Abandoned Coral, Picked Raspberry (Tim Holtz)
Accessories & Tools:  Tile Stencil (TCW), Sketched Daisy die (Memory Box), Square Frame die (Penny Black), water mister, Crystal Glaze (Nuvo)

Challenges:
CAS Mix Up March Challenge - Faux Stained Glass
Snippets Playground Challenge #347
The Flower Challenge #30 - Anything Goes
Memory Box Challenge #47 - Flower Power

Penny Black - Radiant Metallics

Hi everyone.  Today I'm sharing a very CAS design using one of the new stamps from the Timeless release.  This beautiful flower is 40-669 radiant, which is heat embossed with Pearl-Ex powders and watercoloured with distress inks.  The sentiment is from another new set, 30-560 from the garden.

As I mentioned above, I've used Pearl-Ex powders on this image.  Pearl-Ex needs to have a bonding agent to adhere it to card stock.  For this card, I stamped the image in Versamark ink on Mixed Media paper and sprinkled with heat and stick powder, which melts to create a sticky surface.  I brushed the Pearl-Ex powder over top (Super Russet) and then heat set again to adhere the powders permantly to the card.  Once it cooled, I wiped down the card to remove any excess powders.

I watercoloured the image with distress inks. First I added a layer of Ripe Persimmon ink.  It looked very dull against the bright colour of the Pearl-Ex image, so I added a second layer of watercolouring over top using a deep red ink (Aged Mahogany) and added Black Soot ink to the center of the flower.  I fussy-cut the flower and then realized I had a matching die I could have used. :)  Next time I'll save myself a lot of time. :)

The flower is adhered to the card base using just a small piece of double-sided adhesive in the middle of the flower and another on the leaf.  This leaves the rest of the image loose and adds just a bit of movement.  A simple sentiment stamped in black completes the card.

Below are two close-ups which I hope show more of the beautiful shimmer from these wonderful powders ...

... and ...

Penny Black Products:
40-669 radiant
30-560 from the garden

Joining a few challenges with this card.
PB Saturday challenge where this month it is Anything Goes - Optional: Clean and Simple

CAS on Friday #153 - Embossing (I used heat embossing)

Stamps:  radiant (Penny Black); from the garden (Penny Black)
Paper:  Mixed Media paper (Strathmore 140 lb. 400 Series); White card base (Neenah 110 lb.)
Ink:  Versamark; Distress inks:  Ripe Persimmon, Aged Mahogany (Tim Holtz); Black (Memento)
Accessories & Tools:  Heat & stick powder (SU!), Super Russet Pearl-Ex powder, heat tool, water brush

Challenges:
Penny Black Saturday - Anything Goes - Optional: Clean and Simple
CAS on Friday #153 - Embossing

Musical Jingle Belles

Hi everyone.  As you can tell, I've had a lot of time in my studio lately.  Lots of posts ... but I wanted to get this up for the Jingle Belles Challenge - Music before it closes in just over a day.  :)

This card gave me a bit of grief. :)  Everything was going smoothly with this card until I added the red glitter glue berries.  The container exploded on me (my fault ... it wouldn't come out so I was squeezing as hard as possible!).  What a mess! :) Glitter everywhere ... on my card, desk, fingers, etc.  Luckily, it wiped off most things.  Please don't look too close at the berries ... they obviously were over ripe and exploded on the branch. :)

Here's a close-up ...

Thanks to Stef and Lauren for this great challenge!

Also entering this card into the Just Us Girls #478 - use a background stamp.  The challenge is hosted by my friend, Bobby.  I used a musical background for my card.  Fun challenge Bobby!

Stamps:  Music (Stampin' Up!); Christmas Sentiments (Gina Marie)
Paper:  Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb. 400 Series); White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.)
Ink:  Smoky Slate (SU!); Versamark; Distress inks:  Twisted Citron, Mowed Lawn (Tim Holtz)
Accessories & Tools:  Red embossing Powder (WOW!), heat tool, Stitched circle die (AliExpress), Arched Fir Branch die (Tutti Designs - gift from my friend Mary)

Challenges:
Jingle Belles - Music
Just Us Girls #478 - use a background stamp