Eat, Sleep, Craft, Repeat 2019

(l to r:)  Christine, Trina, Susan, Darnell, Colleen, Loll (me),

Bonnie, Nancy, Linda

Hi everyone.  Recently returned home after spending a week with my stamping buddies.  This is the third year for the ESCR (Eat, Sleep, Craft, Repeat) retreats, with each year being better than the last!  We were lucky to find a very large house in the Crescent Beach, B.C. area to accommodate our expanding group and allow us the opportunity to have wonderful guests join us throughout the week.

What fun we had!  From last year's group of me, Susan, Christine, Nancy, Darnell, and our guest Trina (who came for the whole retreat this year) ... we were joined by our wonderful, sweet friend, Bonnie.  We were all so excited to finally meet Bonnie in person after being on-line friends for years!

We also had three guests join us for a few days; Linda and Colleen, and Nancy's daughter Jeani.  We all just clicked and had a great time together!

We had Alex taking photographs of our crafting again this year.  Check out the tab at the top of this blog Retreat Photos to see us in action!

The location for the retreat was awesome.  Huge house so that we could spread out; Crescent Beach and White Rock Beach within a short drive (gorgeous!!); a local craft store for some retail therapy; and a delicious, yummy bakery a couple of blocks away! :)

Today I'm sharing a card made from the retreat.  This is one of my cards from an Embossing Paste / Gel session that I led.  We played with glass bead gel, white paste, glitter gels, crackle paste and more.  Everyone had fun getting messy! :)

This is one of my favourites from the session.  I started by smooshing my card front with distress inks in yellow, orange and reddish purple.  Love this combination.  I borrowed this amazing stencil from my friend Nancy and sponged with the same colours over the flower, but with more intensity.  I cleaned off the stencil, placed it back over top, lining up the image.  I then used a palette knife to add a thick layer of glass bead gel.  I LOVE the sparkle and shine from this gel.  It's really spectacular.

Here's a close-up ...

Everyone from the retreat is posting one of their cards made at the retreat.  I hope you'll find time to pop by and visit to see what we were up to!

Susan

Christine

Nancy

Darnell (aka Dolly)

Trina

Bonnie

Colleen

Linda

I'll be sharing more retreat cards over the next few weeks.  See you soon!


Entering this card into the ARTplorations May Mixed Media Challenge ...

Stamps: smile today! (Penny Black)
Paper:  Mixed Media paper (Strathmore 140 lb.); White card base (Neenah 110 lb.)
Ink:  Distress Inks:  Mustard Seed, Ripe Persimmon, Seedless Preserves (Tim Holtz)
Accessories & Tools:  water mister, Peeking Dahlias stencil (STAMPlorations), Glass bead gel (Golden), palette knife

Challenges:
ARTplorations May Mixed Media Challenge - use a stencil

Penny Black - Simplicity at its Best

Hi everyone.  I'm sharing my last sneak peek of a 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.

I LOVE Penny Black stamps and dies, and I've had a fun year of designing for the Simplicity at its best blog.  Thanks to Jill for giving me this amazing opportunity!  And thanks to all of you for your wonderful support!

I'm happy to say that I will continue designing for Penny Black.  Watch for my CAS designs for new releases on Penny Black Facebook and Instagram!

May Rudolph Days

Hi everyone.  Today's card is for May's Rudolph Days run by the wonderful Maureen (Scraps of Life with Scrappimo!)  While at the retreat, I was thrilled to meet Maureen in person.  Actually, all of us at the retreat were so happy to spend an afternoon with Maureen.  She is as sweet as you would expect from her blog posts!

Here's a group photo ...

l to r:  Bonnie, Susan, Christine, Darnell, Maureen - hiding in the back :),

Trina, Nancy, me

On to the card.  I just love this sweet stamp that was gifted to me by my adorable and sweet friend, Bonnie!  Thanks Bonnie!!

I stamped it in black and heat embossed in clear before using my zigs to colour.  I added some crystal glaze to the heart-shaped balloons and stamped the sentiment in a matching green, adding a silver star at the top.

I decided afterwards to stencil falling snow ... so had to be careful not to get any on the image.  It worked! :)

Here's a close-up ...

I hope you'll play along with Rudolph Days.  It's an "Anything Goes Christmas" challenge that runs from the 25th to end of month.  Come join the fun!

Stamps:  Love to my Heart (Unity Stamp); Christmas sentiments (Gina Marie Designs)
Paper:  Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.); Silver foil (SU!)
Ink:  Black (Memento); Zigs, Distress Inks:  Twisted Citron, Mowed Lawn (Tim Holtz)
Accessories & Tools:  Clear embossing powder (Ranger), heat tool, water brush, Crystal glaze (Nuvo), Falling Snow stencil (Simon Says Stamp), White embossing paste (Dreamweaver), palette knife

Challenges:
May Rudolph Days - Anything Goes Christmas

Penny Black - Delicate Beauty

Hi everyone.  Today I'm sharing a CAS design using 30-559 delicate beauty, along with a background die, 51-499 diamond cut.

I started by stamping the flower image in permanent gray ink onto mixed media paper.  I wanted to try a softer look than stamping in black.

I watercoloured the image using Abandoned Coral and Mowed Lawn Distress Inks.  The die was cut from white card stock.  I thought it looked like lattice, so wove the stem of the flower through the spaces.

To finish, a white heat embossed sentiment on black banner was added to the bottom.

Here's a close-up ...

Penny Black Products:
30-559 delicate beauty
51-499 diamond cut die

Stamps:
Paper:  Mixed Media paper (Strathmore 140 lb. 400 Series); White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Black card stock (SU!)
Ink:  Archival Gray (?); Distress Inks:  Abandoned Coral, Mowed Lawn (Tim Holtz); Versamark
Accessories & Tools:  water brush, ? die, white embossing powder, heat tool

Paste Stenciling with Heat Embossing

Hi everyone.  Just has to share one more card for the CAS Stencil May Challenge - Stenciling over a Coloured Background.

I started by smoshing my favourite combination of colours on mixed media paper (Picked Raspberry, Ripe Persimmon, Spiced Marmalade).

Once dry, I cut down my panel and placed a large flower stencil over top, just using about 1/4 of the design.  A palette knife was used to add white embossing paste.  I removed the stencil and quickly sprinkled with gold tinsel embossing powder.  I left it to dry before heat setting the embossing powder ... or so I thought.  The paste started to puff up a bit as I was heating it, which means it wasn't completely dry.  I was still happy with the look. :)

A simple sentiment was heat embossed in gold and a white, square frame was added around the panel.

Here's a close-up ...

There's still a few days left to play along before the challenge closes.  Hope to see you in the gallery!

Stamps:  happy snippets (Penny Black)
Paper:  Mixed media (Strathmore 140 lb. 400 Series); White (Neenah 110 lb.)
Ink:  Distress Inks:  Spiced Marmalade, Ripe Persimmon, Picked Raspberry (Tim Holtz); Versamark
Accessories & Tools:  water mister, Bloom stencil (Mayco), White embossing Paste (Dreamweaver), palette knife, Gold Tinsel embossing powder (Ranger), Gold embossing powder (Ranger), Square Frame die (Penny Black)

Challenges:
CAS Stencil May Challenge - Stenciling over a Coloured Background

Hedgie Christmas

Hi everyone.  One more Christmas Stocking card for the CAS Christmas challenge before it closes in three days.

I had this sweet Penny Black image that I hadn't inked up yet.  Always great to use something from my NBUS box!

I stamped the image in Black Memento and then clear heat embossed.  Fussy-cut before watercolouring this time.  Used a few distress inks to colour the image and then popped it over top of a wordy Christmas patterned paper.  A fun sentiment was stamped in the same green ink as I used on the stocking.  Added clear wink of stella on the fur cuff of the stocking, but it doesn't show in the photo.

Here's a close-up ...

The sentiment says it all ... I smiled the whole time I was making this! :)

Stamps:  merry delight (Penny Black); christmas sentiments (Penny Black)
Paper:  Patterned paper (unknow); White (Neenah 110 lb.)
Ink:  Black (Memento); Distress Inks:  Barn Door, Aged Mahogany, Twisted Citron, Mowed Lawn, Brushed Corduroy, Gathered Twigs, Walnut Stain, Worn Lipstick (Tim Holtz); Zig flesh marker
Accessories & Tools: Clear embossing powder, heat tool, water brush, white gel pen, white paint pen, clear wink of stella

Challenges:
CAS Christmas May Challenge - Stocking

Bleached Brushos

Hi everyone.  Sharing one of my many cards that I've finished at the retreat so far.  This technique was led by Susan (Cardmaker's Garret).  Such a fun and easy technique with great results.  We were all thrilled to learn this and we all vowed to use it again and again!

Smooshed the brushos for background and let air dry.  Stamped the image in permanent black in and then used a cheap, small paint brush to remove colour from the flowers using bleach.  Don't use a good brush because the bleach could damage it.  Finished the card with a black card base and frame with white heat embossed sentiment.

It's been a whirlwind week with very fun and crazy days filled with crafting, laughing and lot of good food.  The people attending aren't bad either. LOL!!

We are staying at a huge house in Crescent Beach BC that we got for a song and a dance.  Turns out it's a bit run down with lots of little quirks, but it just made things even more fun.

Joining me this year are Susan, Christine, Nancy, Dolly, Trina, Bonnie, Linda, and Colleen.  Most I have "known" on-line for years, but first time meeting Bonnie, Linda and Colleen.

It's been a fantastic time!!!

Hope to share more cards soon, but might have to wait until I'm back home.  We have a couple more days before the retreat is over and we're excited to welcome Maureen (Scrappymo!) for lunch and a visit tomorrow!

Stamps:  First blush (Penny Black); Special Sentiments (Penny Black)
Paper:  Watercolour paper (Blick Cold Press); Black (SU!)
Ink:  Brushos, Archival Black; Versamark
Accessories & Tools:  water mister, small cheap paint brush, bleach, white embossing powder, heat tool

Stenciling with UTEE

Hi everyone.  Back with a reminder card for CAS Stencil May Challenge - Stenciling over a Coloured Background, hosted by the wonderful Sue!

I started by lightly smooshing a piece of mixed media card with olive and just a little of two shades of blue ink.  You need to have your background panel completely dry before proceeding with this technique.  Also a good idea (even if it's dry) to add anti-static powder before placeing stencil over top.

Placed leaves stencil over top, pounced with Versamark, sprinkled with UTEE (Ultra Thick Embossing Enamel) and heat set.  I quickly sprinkled another coat of UTEE while the first coat was still hot and melted.  It stuck to most of it, so I heat set that part and then warmed up the part that it didn't stick to and sprinkled quickly with more UTEE.  I love the thick, shiny coating it gives the leaves.

Once everything had cooled, I sponged over top with more of the two shades of blue ink ... mostly around the leaves to make them stand out.  The UTEE resists the ink, but it will sit on top, so you need to wipe it with a paper towel to reveal a clear image.  I'm so happy with how this turned out.  This is Jer's birthday card ... he's all about the artsy!! :)

To finish, I splattered diluted acrylic gold paint over my main panel and also my card front.  The main panel was then popped up with foam to add dimension.  The sentiment was stamped to match the background, first with olive ink; then the darker shade of blue, followed by olive again.  I love how easy it is to match the colours for the sentiment.

Here's a close-up ...

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

Then come join us ... there's still one week left to play along.

I'm entering the above card at the Take It Make It challenge at Craft Stamper Magazine.

Stamps:  Many Everyday Messages (Hero Arts)
Paper:  Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb. 400 Series); White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.)
Ink:  Distress Inks:  Crushed Olive, Broken China, Salty Ocean (Tim Holtz); Versamark; Delicata Gold (Tsukineko)
Accessories & Tools:  Sponges, Leaves Stencil (Simon Says Stamp), UTEE (Ultra-Thick Embossing Enamel), heat tool, paint brush for splattering, Lumiere Gold Acrylic Paint

Challenges:
CAS Stencil May Challenge - Stencil over Coloured Background
Craft Stamper Take It Make It May Challenge

Eat, Sleep, Craft, Repeat Retreat 2019

Hi everyone.  It's the time of year for the annual craft retreat.  We met Wednesday at Crescent Beach, B.C. and are having lots of fun learning new techniques and playing with different products.

Above are some of the small note cards I gave to each of the girls.  I'm so thrilled to be together with my pals Susan, Christine, and Trina (Vancouver), my dear friends Nancy (Oregon) and Darnell, aka Dolly (California), and are excited to have four first time atteendees joining us, Bonnie (North Carolina), Jeani (Washington State), Colleen (Oregon), and Lin (Washington State).

What a crazy bunch of girls! :)  We are having lots of fun and there is rarely a quiet moment as these girls LOVE to talk! :)

I'll be sharing some of our makes over the next few days.  Stay tuned! :)

Stamps: Variety of stamps
Paper:  Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.); White card base (Neenah 110 lb.)
Ink:  Black ink (Memento); Distress Inks (Tim Holtz)
Accessories & Tools:  clear embossing powder, water brush

Be Jolly

Hi everyone.  Today is my reminder card for CAS Christmas May Challenge - Stocking, hosted by the talented Trina.

I went for a super CAS design this time.  I used an adorable "be jolly" die, stacked three layers thick with white card stock and topped with a bright green layer.

I die-cut a Christmas stocking from red and white felt as well as white card stock.  Glued the felt onto the card stock pieces for stability.  The red stocking part was dry embossed with a waffle design that, to me, looks like it's been knitted.  Added two small die-cut holly and a red rhinstone to finish the stock.  I then glued the stocking over top of the "j" from the die-cut.  Mountd my image onto a white card.  Easy, peasy.  This would look so cute with using different matching papers, so I might make more of these. :)

Close-up ...

Please check out the challenge blog to see the adorable stocking cards from our Designers, and from our wonderful Guest Designer, Helen.

There's still over a week left to play along.  Join us!

Paper: White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Gumball green card stock (SU!)
Accessories & Tools: be jolly die (CUTplorations), Stocking die (Sizzix), red felt, white felt, scrap of patterned paper for the holly, red rhinstone

Challenges:
CAS Christmas May Challenge - Stocking

Sweetest Birthday

Hi everyone.  It's time for the reminder that there's only about a week left to play along with us at the CAS Watercolour May Challenge - For a Child, hosted by the mega talented Karen!  We are also thrilled to have Bobby as our Guest Designer this month.

Doesn't everyone love ice cream bars??!!  This is my first time inking up this fun stamp set from Avery Alle.  I have a sweet tooth (that's an understatement!).  When I was young, I loved to buy Creamsicles.  They were vanilla ice cream bars coated with orange.  Delicious!!  These stamps reminded me of them, so I coloured them in bright, ice cream colours using my Zigs, after stamping the images in black and clear embossing.  Crystal Glaze was added to the bright part of the orange and pink ice cream bars.

The background is a paper towel transfer background using the same colours, cut with a stitched, partial circle die.  The bars are popped up for some added dimesion.  I stamped the sentiment in black and embossed with clear so it would match the bar images.

Here's a close-up ...

Check out the fun gallery of cards on the challenge blog.  And then come join us.  Still lots of time to play along!

Stamps:  Sweetest (Avery Elle)
Paper:  Mixed Media paper (Strathmore 140 lb. 400 Series); White card base (Neenah 110 lb.)
Ink:  Black (Memento); Zigs
Accessories & Tools:  Clear embossing powder (Ranger), heat tool, water brush, crystal glaze (Nuvo)

Challenges:
CAS Watercolour May Challenge - For a Child

Rain and Rainbow

Hi everyone.  We're already half way through May and I'm here with a reminder card for the CAS Mix Up May Challenge - Baby Wipe, which is hosted by the beautiful Bonnie.

I wanted to try something different and had an idea for creating a rainbow with the baby wipe ... and it worked.  It did take me a few tries to get the look I wanted.

Here's how I did it ...  I folded a baby wipe several times until I ended up with a small rectangle with the fold on the short side (about 2 " wide).  Re-inkers were placed one drop in a line, on a palette, with all the colours of the rainbow.  The drops should be just about touching and in this order (red, orange, yellow, green, blue, purple).  I dipped the folded edge of the baby wipe into the reinkers and then swiped across my paper, making sure red was at the top.  It took several tries for me to work out how to get the best image.  I found using mixed media paper worked the best.  I did keep a few of my rejects and used one for the rainbow bike on this card! :)

I've had this wonderful sentiment for a while, so this was the perfect opportunity to use it.  It's stamped in black ink and clear heat embossed so it stands out well against the colours.  It makes a lovely encouragement card.

Here's a close-up ...

Check out the CAS Mix Up challenge blog to see the beautiful and unique baby wipe CAS cards by our Designers and Guest Designer, Berry.  I know you'll be inspired to play along!  See you in the gallery!

Stamps:  After the Rain (Impression Obsession)
Paper:  Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb. 400 Series); White card base (Neenah 110 lb.)
Ink:  Distress Re-inkers:  Candied Apple, Spiced Marmalade, Mustard Seed, Mowed Lawn, Peacock Feathers (Tim Holtz);  Violet Liquid Concentrate Watercolour (Blick Art Materials); Black (Memento)
Accessories & Tools:  Baby Wipe, Pipette for Violet Watercolour, clear embossing powder, heat tool

Challenges:
CAS Mix Up May Challenge - Baby Wipe

Full Bloom - It's Your Day

Hi everyone.  Today I'm using a sweet image is from Penny Black's new release Full Bloom.  The stamp set is called It's Your Day (30-553) and it has a matching die (... your day cut out 51-537).  Isn't it cute??  :)

I stamped the cake in black and clear heat embossed.  The cake, candles and sweet party bear were all watercolouring using distress inks.  Clear wink of stella was added to the candles for a little sparkle, and gloss accents to make them shine, but couldn't get that to show in the photos.

I stamped and die-cut two of the images, using one (with coloured candles) as the backdrop, and popping the cake and bear layer on top to add a bit of dimension.., with yellow splatters in the background.

The sentiment (from the same stamp set) is stamped in black and clear heat embossed to match the image.

Here's a close-up ...

I hope you enjoyed seeing this fun card.  Thanks for stopping by for a visit!

This month's CAS Watercolour Challenge - For a Child is a perfect challenge to enter this card ... so I'm heading over to add it to the gallery.

Stamps:  it's your day (Penny Black)
Paper:  Mixed media paper (Strathmore 140 lb. 400 Series); White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.)
Ink:  Black (Memento); Distress Inks:  Mustard Seed, Twisted Citron, Broken China, Wilted Violet, Candied Apple, Ripe Persimmon (Tim Holtz
Accessories & Tools:  Clear embossing powder (Ranger), heat tool, your day cut out (Penny Black), water brush, Clear ink of stella, Crystal glaze (Nuvo)

Challenges:
CAS Watercolour May Challenge - For a Child

Twofer Challenge #16

Hi everyone.  Welcome to Twofer Challenge #16 - Things with Wheels!

As always, participants are required to follow the rules listed below, while using the challenge prompt above.

I bought this bicyle die a LONG time ago, but it's the first time using.  Another thing from one of my NBUS boxes (I now have three!).

I had a leftover rainbow from experimenting just sitting on my desk.  It's one of my tries that didn't quite work for another project.  It worked great for my bicycle!  I thought with the pretty colours, this would be a great encouragement/get well card so I stenciled a sunburst in the background.  Hopefully this card will make someone feel better. :)

Here's the close-up ...

For my second card, I wanted to make a spring birthday card ... I always need LOTS of those.  This time I used the same bicycle die, but left it white.  I die-cut little leaves and flowers watercoloured them with zigs, and made a posy in the bike's basket.  I used one of my paper towel transfer backgrounds, stamped the sentiment in black and adhered the bicycle to the card front.

Here's a close-up ...

I had a lot of fun making these cards and I hope you'll join us for some fun as well!  We are thrilled to have two wonderful Guest Designers joining us this month.  Welcome to Hilary Jane (Fiddling About) and Cornelia (Stempel Spass).

Please check out the challenge blog to see the fun and artistic cards from our Designers and Guest Designers.  Then come play along.  The challenge is open until May 24th at midnight.

Card #1: A little bit of Sunshine
Stamps:  happy snippets (Penny Black)
Paper:  Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb. 400 Series); White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.)
Ink:  Distress Inks:  candied apple, spiced marmalade, mustard seed, mowed lawn, peacock feathers, wilted violet (Tim Holtz); Black (Memento)
Accessories & Tools:  Sunburst stencil (Silhouette America), sponges, Bicycle die (AliExpress), Black marker

Card #2:  Happy Birthday
Stamps:  Cosmos - sentiment (Technique Tuesday)
Paper:  Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb. 400 Series); White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.)
Ink:  Zigs; Black (Memento)
Accessories & Tools:  Bicycle die (AliExpress), water brush, stylus and mat to shape flowers

Challenges:
Twofer Card Challenge #16 - Things with Wheels