Full Bloom - Blooming Tulips

Hi everyone.  Sharing three floral cards all using the same image from the Penny Black Full Bloom release.   I'm using a sketch stamp image called Blooming Tulips (40-683).  LOVE this stamp!

This first card shows off the beauty of the whole image.  The card is done by inking the stamp with distress markers, spritzing with water, and stamping onto mixed media paper.  This was repeated until I got the intensity of colour I wanted.  I also used a water brush to move some of the excess ink around. A birthday sentiment (special sentiments 30-574) was stamped in dark brown and clear heat embossed to finish the card.

Here's a close-up ...

I had fun playing with the image, so made two more cards. :)  These cards show how using just a portion of the image creates a whole different look.

After watercolouring this image (using same technique described above), I cut my panel to size and stamped the sentiment (special sentiments 30-574) in the same green ink used for the leaves.

Here's a close-up ...

I was on a roll having fun playing with this beautiful image, so I made one more card. :)

The card is finished with a lovely die-cut frame (square frames 51-517), sentiment (family sentiments 30-555) stamped in green ink, and clear sequins for a bit of sparkle.  The main panel is popped up with mounting foam to add some dimension.

Here's a close-up ...

I hope you've enjoyed my cards.  Thanks for coming by for a visit!

Penny Black Products:
blooming tulips (40-683)
special sentiments (30-574)
family sentiments (30-555)
square frame die (51-517)

Card #1: Birthday Tulips
Stamps:  blooming tulips (Penny Black); special sentiments (Penny Black)
Paper:  Mixed Media paper (Strathmore 140 lb. 400 Series)
Ink:  Distress Ink & Markers:  Ripe Persimmon, Festive Berries, Barn Door, Shabby Shutters, Peeled Paint, Gathered Twigs (Tim Holtz)
Accessories & Tools:  water mister, water brush, Clear embossing powder (Ranger), heat tool

Card #2: Thank You
Stamps:  blooming tulips (Penny Black); special sentiments (Penny Black)
Paper:  Mixed Media paper (Strathmore 140 lb. 400 Series)
Ink:  Distress Ink & Markers:  Seedless Preserves, Shabby Shutters, Peeled Paint, Black Soot (Tim Holtz)
Accessories & Tools:  water mister, water brush

Card #3: big hugs
Stamps:  blooming tulips (Penny Black); family sentiments (Penny Black)
Paper:  Mixed Media paper (Strathmore 140 lb. 400 Series)
Ink:  Distress Inks:  Picked Raspberry, Shabby Shutters; Distress Markers: Candied Apple, Peeled Paint, Black Soot (Tim Holtz)
Accessories & Tools:  water mister, water brush, square frame die (Penny Black); clear sequins

April Rudolph Days

Hi everyone.  Today my card is for April's Rudolph Days.  Maureen is hosting again this month with an Anything Goes Christmas theme.

I started with a Penny Black stamp that I recently bought, but believe it might be older stock as it was wood mounted.  I just loved the row of trees, heat embossing them in white.  After masking off the bottom, Lindy's magical spray was used to spray the sky.  These have a lot of shimmer that you'll see in the close-up below.  Water droplets where added over the sky and then blotted with a paper towel to create some visual texture.  A simple sentiment was stamped in silver ink to finish the card.

Here's a close-up ...

This was super quick to make so I made a second one to donate. This would look amazing with any colour of sky.

I hope you'll check out the Rudolph Days challenge and come play along!

Stamps:  Christmas Park (Penny Black); Christmas Sentiments (Penny Black)
Paper:   Mixed Media paper (Strathmore 140 lb. 400 Series)
Ink:   Versamark; Lindy's Magical Spray - Delphinium Turquoise; Delicata Silver ink (Tsukineko)
Accessories & Tools:   White embossing powder (Ranger), heat tool

Challenges:
Rudolph Days April Challenge

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.

If you have time, would love if you left me a comment on the SAIB blog.  Thank you!

Penny Black New Release - Full Bloom

Hi everyone. I'm excited to share some cards using the new Penny Black Full Bloom Release!  There are some gorgeous stamps, dies, and sentiment stamp sets that you are going to LOVE!  I'm starting off with this beautiful planter full of blooms (golden dance 30-562).  The card below also uses a sentiment stamp from the new release (special sentiments 30-574).  

This is a very simple image to watercolour.  I started by stamping in black ink and clear heat embossing the line image.  I watercoloured using Distress Inks (Worn Lipstick for the flowers; Peeled Paint for the leaves; and Black Soot for the planter).  I used a little more Black Soot to add a shadow at the bottom.

The same green ink was diluted and used to splatter the background.  The sentiment (LOVE the font!) is stamped in black and heat embossed in clear so it matched the same intensity as the main image.

Here's a close-up ...

I had to keep playing with this beautiful image, so I made a second card.  I used the same stamp (golden dance 30-562) and a different sentiment stamp, but from the same stamp set used above (special sentiments 30-574).

The image is stamped in the middle of my background, masked off, and stamped two more times, one on each side.  I cut it down to fit into this narrow, long frame.

The flower heads are watercoloured using Carved Pumpkin Distress Ink, and the leaves are the same as above, using Peeled Paint.

The frame is popped up on foam for added dimension.  The sentiment is stamped several times in Shabby Shutters Distress ink.  Using Peeled Paint would have made it too dark.

Here's a close-up ...

I hope you've enjoyed my cards using the new release. 

Penny Black Products:
golden dance  30-562
special sentiments  30-574

Stamps: golden dance (Penny Black);  special sentiments (Penny Black
Paper:  Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.); White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.)
Ink:  Black ink (Memento); Distress Inks:  Worn Lipstick, Peeled Paint, Carved Pumpkin, Shabby Shutters (Tim Holtz)
Accessories & Tools:  Clear embossing powder (Ranger); heat tool; water brush, Rectangle frame die (AliExpress)

Magical Monoprint

Hi everyone.  Today is the reminder post for CAS Stencil April Challnege - Embossing Pastes / Gels, host by the lovely, Barb.

I had a lot of fun making this pretty stencil monoprint using a flourish stencil.  I used Tiffanylou Blue Magicals and once it as dry, I placed the stencil back over top, lining of up the image, and added white embossing paste with a palette knife.  I love how the magicals add bits of shimmer here and there in the background.  The image has an antique frame with a very small opening.  I wanted to focus the eye on the background, and the pretty leaf die-cut that is also coloured with the same magical powders.  A simple sentiment is stamped in Delicata silver ink.

Here's a close-up ...

There's still a week left to play along.  I hope you'll check out the gallery to see the amazing cards from our participants, Designers and Guest Designer, Bobby!

Stamps:  Many Everyday Messages (Hero Arts)
Paper:  Mixed media (Strathmore 140 lb. 400 Series); White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.)
Ink:  Magicals; Delicata Silver Ink (Tsukenecko)
Accessories & Tools:  Fourish stencil (Kaiser Kraft); Magicals (Lindy's), White embossing paste (Dreamweaver), palette knife, Antique frame die (Penny Black); Little Leaves die (SU!)

Challenges:
CAS Stencil April Challenge - Embossing Pastes / Gels

Emmerson Elf

Hi everyone.  Today is the reminder that we are well into the CAS Christmas April Challenge - Elf, hosted by Nance. 

This is another fun image from Whipper Snapper.  Stamped in permanent black ink and than watercoloured with zigs.  Cut the panel down to size and mounted on a bright green card base.  Sentiment is heat embossed in white at the bottom of the card.

Here's a close-up ...

Please check out the challenge blog to see the adorable elf cards from our Guest Designer, JoAnn and the rest of our Designers.  There's still a week left to play.  Come join us!

Stamps:  Emmerson Elf (Whipper Snapper); Christmas Sampler (Paper Smooches)
Paper:  Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb. 400 Series); Gumball Green (Stampin' Up!)
Ink:  Black (Memento); Zigs
Accessories & Tools:  Clear embossing powder, heat tool, water brush, white gel pen, white embossing powder

Challenges:
CAS Christmas April Challenge - Elf

Pink Poppies

Hi everyone.  Today's card is a reminder for the CAS Watercolour April Challenge - Poppy ... hosted by me! :)  I do love poppies, and my favourite colour is pink ... so that's how today's card came about.

I hope you'll find time to check out the reminder post on the challenge blog to see the beautiful poppy cards from our Designers, and from our incredibly talented Guest Designer, Rachel.  Then come join us!  Challenge is open until end of day, April 24th.

I used a fairly new poppy die from Penny Black to create my card.  Die-cut from mixed media paper and watercoloured with distress inks, these flowers were easy to do.  Masked my card front on two sides and then sponged more of the same green ink, starting at the corner (darker) and fading out as I worked towards the center.  A fun, easy and CAS card!

Here's a close-up ...

Sending this card over to the Penny Black Saturday Challenge - Fresh Spring.  This will be my second entry there.  And also adding to Penny Black and More April Challenge - Spring.

Stamps: Gratitude (Penny Black)
Paper:  White (Neenah 110 lb. card stock); Mixed media (Strathmore 140 lb. 400 Series)
Ink:  Distress Inks:  Picked Raspberry, Peeled Paint (Tim Holtz)
Accessories & Tools:  bodacious die (Penny Black), water brush, sponge

Challenges:
CAS Watercolour April Challenge - Poppy
Penny Black Saturday Challenge - Fresh Spring
Penny Black and More April Challenge - Spring

Vintage Radiant

Hi everyone.  Today we have a reminder post on the CAS Mix Up challenge blog with some new inspiring cards for you.  This month's challenge is being hosted by Susan, and she is challenging us to layer stamping and heat embossing.

This time I didn't use a layering stamp set.  Instead, I started by stamping and heat embossing a script background using a soft sand colour and clear embossing powder.  I then stamped my large flower over top in a dark brown, also heat embossed in clear.  I wanted the flower image to be on top.

I watercoloured the flower and leaf using two shades of purple and one shade of brown.  Since this is done over top of the heat embossed images, it is a resist, where the heat embossing resists the ink.  The deep colours I used for the flower enhanced the light script embossing and made it more prominent.  I sponged around the edges of the flower and leaf with more of the same brown.  It gives the image a vintage-y look ... well, vintage for me. :)  I absolutely adore this square frame and have used it a lot and will continue to do so.  I'm happy with how it works together with the pretty, fussy-cut flower.  A very simple sentiment, stamped in matching ink, finishes the card.

Here's a close-up ...

I hope you'll have time to check out the challenge blog to see the new cards from the rest of our talented Designers, along with our Guest Designer, BozenA.  Then come join us!

I'm entering this card into the Take It Make It April Challenge at Craft Stamper Magazine.

Stamps:  radiant; script; happy snippets (Penny Black)
Paper:  Mixed media (Strathmore 140 lb. 400 Series); White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.)
Ink:  Sahara Sand (Stampin' Up!); Distress Inks:  Gathered Twigs, Victorian Velvet, Seedless Preserves (Tim Holtz)
Accessories & Tools:  Clear embossing powder, heat tool, water brush, Square Frame die (Penny Black),

Challenges:
CAS Mix Up April Challenge - Layered Stamping with Heat Embossing
Take It Make It April Challenge - Craft Stamper Magazine - Anything Goes

Penny Black - Plant Our Love

Hi everyone.  Today I'm using one of the sweet die-cuts from the new Timeless Release.  This is 51-497 plant our love die.  Isn't it adorable??!!  I used a sentiment from another new stamp set, 30-560 from the garden.

This is my favourite style of card ... a bright colourful and interesting background with a clean, white die-cut that pops with the contrast.  Today's card was super easy to make.  I used one of my mop-up paper towels (used from mopping up excess ink after another project).  I separated the layers and wraped one layer around a piece of card stock, securing with glue.  That is the background.  I added a simple white frame and the adorable pot of hearts over top.  I stamped the sentiment in black ink and used the large heart part of the die (normally used to decorate the pot), as an add-on beside my sentiment.

Here's a close-up ...

You can see the quilted design from the piece of paper towel in the background.  Adds lots of texture, along with the bright colours.

Penny Black Products:
51-497 plant our love die
30-560 from the garden

Stamps: from the garden (Penny Black)
Paper:  White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.)
Ink:  Left over mop-up of watercolour concentrate; Black (Memento)
Accessories & Tools:  plant our love die (Penny Black)

Twofer Challenge #15

Hi everyone.  Time for a new Twofer Card Challenge.  We are already at #15 ... it's been loads of fun!  The challenge is ...

Please follow the rules below and the prompt above and then add your cards to the gallery.  Make sure to take one picture with both cards to share on the link to the gallery.

I used to go down to Stanley Park Zoo quite a bit when I was younger.  We always stopped to see the Polar Bears.  They were huge, magnificent animals.  The ones on my cards are a little tamer. :)

After watercolouring my bears and their red scarf for a Love card, I decided I wanted to back it with some pretty patterned paper.  I love this swirly paper that I've had for years.  The red scarf was lost in the image.  I took a silver pen and oulined it ... hopefully giving it some presence.  You gotta' love that it's tied in a heart! :)

My second card is for Christmas.  I stenciled stars in the background with iridescent glitter paste ... you can just see a small glimpse in the photo, but it's so much prettier in real life.  I cut the image and background (made with my new Lindy magical sprays) using a partial circle die ... almost looks like the top of a snow globe.  I added more stenciling on the blue background - falling snow done with snowflake paste which had a little glitter included.

We have Susan (Cardmaker's Garret) joining us this month are our Guest Designer.  Welcome Susan!

Please check out the challenge blog to see the amazing Zoo Animal cards from our Designers and special Guest Designer, Susan.  Then come join us!

Stamps: nose to nose (Penny Black);
Paper:  Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb. 400 Series); White (Neenah 110 lb.); Patterned red paper (unknown)
Ink:  Black (Memento); Distress Inks:  Gathered Twigs, Candied Apple, Twisted Citron, Broken China (Tim Holtz).
Accessories & Tools:  clear embossing powder, heat tool, water brush, silver metallic pen, partial circle die (AliExpress), Stars stencil (Ali Express), Falling Snow stencil (Simon Says Stamp), iridescent embossing powder, white embossing paste

Challenges:
Twofer Card Challenge #15 - Zoo Animals

Snowman Trio

Hi everyone.  Today I'm playing along with Jingle Belles.  This challenge is all about "three of a kind".

I stamped my images in black, clear heat embossed, and then watercoloured with my zigs.  I die-cut a picture frame and added the cute snowmen in the three square boxes, and a die-cut sentiment from a leftover piece of watercoloured blue card stock, added to the top area of the frame.  The sentiment is coated a couple of times with clear wink of stella to add a little sparkle.

Here's a close-up ...

There's still a few days left before the challenge closes.  So if you have time, why not create a Christmas card with "three of a kind" and join the fun!

Stamps:  Snowman Quartet (Whipper Snapper)
Paper:  Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb. 400 Series); White card base and frame (Neennah 110 lb.)
Ink:  Black (Memento); Zigs; Broken Glass distress Ink (Tim Holtz)
Accessories & Tools:  Water brush, Frame die (AliExpress), Let it snow die (CUTplorations), clear wink of stella

Challenges:
Jingle Belles - Three of a Kind