Dreaming - Happy Heights

Hi everyone.  I'm here with another new stamp from the Penny Black Dreaming release.  This time I'm using one of the fun images from Happy Heights (30-548).  So cute! :)

Don't you just love his expression?  This guy brings a smile to my face.  I wanted him to be the focal, so added a very simple black heat embossed sentiment (Special Sentiments - 30-574) with heart (Huggable - 30-588).  And added a little grass under his feet.  The watercolouring is done with distress inks and crystal glaze was added to the heart and hooves for a little shine

Here's a close-up ...

Thanks for stopping by for a visit!

Stamps:  Happy Heights (Penny Black); Special Sentiments (Penny Black)
Paper:  Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.)
Ink:  Black (Memento); Distress Inks:  Squeezed Lemonade, Mustard Seed, Gathered Twigs, Festive Berry, Twisted Citron, Mowed Lawn (Tim Holtz)
Accessories & Tools:  Clear embossing powder (Ranger), heat tool, water brush, Crystal Glaze (Nuvo)

July Rudolph Days

Hi everyone.  It's the start of July Rudolph Days Challenge, where it's "Anything Goes Christmas".  I just bought this adorable stamp and couldn't wait to ink it up when it arrived.  Isn't it the sweetest hippo EVER??!! :)

I stamped him in black on mixed media paper and clear embossed.  I used my zigs to watercolour and then fussy-cut.  I created a stitched white frame and used some patterned paper from the festive and frosty pad that I bought last year.  Just perfect behind this little guy to add a bit of colour and interest.  The frame is popped up and so is the hippo.  I also cut little slits between his feet and body so that I could slide the frame in-between, leaving his feet to hang over ever so slightly.  I think it worked great.

Here's a close-up ...

I sponged a little red chalk for his pink cheeks. :)  Crystal Glaze was added to his eyes, teeth and nails.  I was going to add some "snow" texture to the white part of his striped hat, but thought he looked great without it.

Stamps:  Hippo Holiday (Stampendous); Art Deco Celebrate Christmas (Poppy Stamps)
Paper:  Mixed media (Strathmore 140 lb.); White card base and frame (Neenah 110 lb.); festive & frosty patterned paper (Penny Black)
Ink:  Black (Memento); Zigs
Accessories & Tools:  clear embossing powder, heat tool, water brush, Stitched Frame die (Lil' Inkers), red chalk, crystal glaze (Nuvo)

Challenges:
Rudolph Days - July

New Addition to our Family

Jessie

Hi everyone.  No card for today.  Instead I'm sharing the lastest addition to our family.  Jessie is a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel X Beagle.  She is the cutest, most cuddly pup EVER!  She is teeny, tiny ... weighing in just over 4 lbs. at 10 weeks old.  We only picked her up yesterday (she is from Lone Bute, just outside 100 Mile House in the Cariboo).

Jessie and I already love each other.  We hang out together, playing, snuggling, and even sometimes napping together. :)  She will be my constant companion, and I can't be happier. :)

Here's a few more photos ... and then I'll try not to inundate you in the future. :)  The one below is taken inside with no flash, so the colours are a bit dark.  The picture above, and the last picture below show Jessie's true colours.

Cut Up Stamping

Hi everyone.  Another new-to-me technique that was led by Nancy (scandinancy creates) at our Eat, Sleep, Craft, Repeat Retreat in May.  This is one awesome technique and we all had fun with it.  I used this technique recently on one of my Twofer Garden cards HERE ... but these are the first cards I made with this technique.

You start with a finished card front.  Then you cut it up into different designs, leaving space between the cuts.  Some of the spaces can be used for adding your sentiment, or just leave the space blank.  It does take a little figuring as you have to remove part of your image for each of the cuts, otherwise the design will be wonky.

One tip to share:  I stamped both of the cards using Archival Shadow Grey Ink.  It works great with zigs and gives a subtler look than stamping in black.  Another great thing I found was that the gray takes on the colour you are watercolouring over top, leaving a darker outline of the same colour.  For example.  Take a look at the flower just below.  See the dark pink lines within the flowers ... those are the original stamp in Archival Shadow Grey with the pink zig over top for watercolouring the petals.  Very cool!!

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

And I have another that I finished at the retreat.  Both cards are watercoloured with Zigs.

And close-up ...

Stamps:  Harmony (Penny Black); Unfolding (Penny Black); Happy Snippets (Penny Black)
Paper:  Mixed Media paper (Strathmore 140 lb.); White card base (Neenah 110 lb.); Baked Brown Sugar card stock (Stampin' Up!)
Ink:  Archival Shadow Grey (Ranger); Zigs; Versamark
Accessories & Tools:  Water brush

Sweet Pea Bouquet

Hi everyone.  One more bouquet card for the CAS Watercolour July Challenge before it closes in a few days.

We've had a fun time this month, celebrating the birthdays of two AMAZING ladies, who are two of the sweetest people you'd ever meet!  I'm so grateful to call them both friend!

One more birthday wish to Darnell and Bonnie.  I hope you both had a wonderful birthday and also enjoyed the tributes here at CAS Watercolour.  We love you!!

This was a quick card to make.  First time inking this new-to-me stamp.  This bouquet was stamped in permanent black ink and watercoloured with Distress inks and a water brush.  A white gel pen added a few dots here and there, with a black stamped sentiment to finish the card.

Here's a close-up ...

There's still a few days left before the challenge closes.  Hope you'll have some time to join us in our gallery!

Stamps:  Sweet Pea Bouquet (Stampendous); Many Everyday Messages (Hero Arts)
Paper:  Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.)
Ink:  Versafine Black; Distress Inks:  Salty Ocean, Squeezed Lemonade, Mustard Seed, Spiced Marmalade, Ripe Persimmon, Spun Sugar, Picked Raspberry, Shabby Shutters, Peeled Paint (Tim Holtz; Black (Memento)
Accessories & Tools:  water brush

Challenges:
CAS Watercolour July Challenge - Bouquet of Flowers

Dreaming - Flower Collection

Hi everyone.  Back with another image from the Flower Collection (30-575), which is part of the new Dreaming release from Penny Black.  There are four images plus one sentiment in this stamp set and I have now used three of the images and the sentiment.  LOVE THIS SET!  Today features a pretty bouquet of flowers in a pail.  I've used different colours, techniques, and layout for each card.

Starting off with a very CAS design.  Image stamped in light gray permanent ink and watercoloured with distress inks.  Used a sentiment from one of the other new sentiments sets called Huggable (30-588), along with knotted twine at the top (haven't used twine for ages!).

Close-up ...

Next up is the same image, stamped in black and heat embossed in clear onto a smooshed (coloured) background.  The smooshing was done with a few drops of Liquid Metals and water quite a while ago and was in my stash.  I love the soft seafoam green colour.

I used bleach and a small paint brush to remove the colour from the flowers, leaves and pail.  Once dry, distress inks were used to watercolour the image.  To finish a simple sentiment (Happy Heights 30-548) was stamped in black and heat embossed in clear to match the image.  The card is finished with a Square Frames (51-517) and popped up on foam over the card base.

Close-up ...

For the last card, the same image was stamped onto mixed media paper and heat embossed in silver, then fussy-cut.  A circle aperture was cut into the card front with a frame of silver on top. The sentiment (from the same stamp set -- Flower Collection) was stamped and heat embossed in silver to match.

The card front was popped up on foam from the base adding lots of dimension.  The image was watercoloured with distress inks and popped up into the circle window.

Close-up ...

You can see all the shine from the silver embossing.  So pretty!

Thanks for stopping by.  I hope you enjoyed my cards.

Entering these challenges:
Penny Black Saturday Challenge - July. - Hugs card

CAS Watercolour July Challenge - Bouquet of Flowers. - Hello card

Penny Black and More July Challenge - Summer Colours. Thank You card

 ******Summer Colours******

Card #1:  Hugs
Stamps:  Flower Collection 30-575; Huggable ? (both from Penny Black)
Paper:  Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.)
Ink:  Grey Shadow Archival (Ranger); Distress Inks:  Salty Ocean, Abandoned Coral, Festive Berries, Twisted Citron, Mowed Lawn, Pumice Stone (Tim Holtz)
Accessories & Tools:  water brush, twine (The Twinery)

Card #2:  Hello
Stamps:  Flower Collection 30-575; Hello sentiment (Happy Heights 30-548) - both from Penny Black
Paper:  Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.); White card base (Neenah 110 lb.)
Ink:  Black (Memento); Distress Inks:  Seedless Preserves, Mowed Lawn, Mustard Seed, Wild Honey, Black Soot (Tim Holtz)
Accessories & Tools:  Square Frames 51-517 die (Penny Black); Emerald Liquid Metals (Ken Oliver), Clear embossing powder (Ranger), heat tool, water brush

Card #3:  Thank You
Stamps:  Flower Collection 30-575 (Penny Black)
Paper:  Mixed Media (Strathmor 140 lb.); White card base and front (Neenah 110 lb.); Silver Foil (SU!)
Ink:  Versamark; Distress Inks:  Wilted Violet, Picked Raspberry, Mowed Lawn (Tim Holta)
Accessories & Tools:  Circle Nestabilities dies (Spellbinder), Silver embossing powder (Ranger), heat tool, water brush


Challenges:
Penny Black Saturday Challenge - July
CAS Watercolour July Challenge - Bouquet of Flowers
Penny Black and More July Challenge - Summer Colours

Izzy's Wedding Card

Hi everyone.  Sharing a wedding card I made for my son's very good friend, Izzy.  She and Kin were married yesterday and I wanted to make a special card for them.  This is larger than my usual A2 card - it's approx. 5 1/4 x 7 1/2.  I added a lovely typed poem to the inside.

The card is folded on the left ... most of my cards are top folding, so it was a little hard for me to adjust to the side fold and get a straight photo. :)  The card front is 1/2" shorter than the back.  I added gold washi table to the inside back ... it's makes a pretty edge.  I also layered three strips of the same washi tape, overlapping slightly to die-cut the "Love" die, then added Crystal Glaze overtop for some extra shine.

The bouquet of flowers is a new stamp set with it's first inking.  I stamped in Versamark and heat embossed in liquid platinum.  I love how this works with the pink roses.  Flowers and leaves are watercoloured with distress inks and popped up for added dimension.  This is pretty close to the colours of Izzy's wedding bouquet - soft pink roses, bright greenery and gold accents.

Here's a close-up ...you can see more of the shimmer and shine from the washi tape and heat embossing.

I'm entering this card into The Flower Challenge #34, where they are looking for pretty pastels.

And also adding this to the CAS Watercolour gallery - this month we are looking for Bouquet of Flowers.

Stamps:  Roses Be Happy (Stampendous)
Paper:  Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.); White card base (Neenah 110 lb.)
Ink:  Versamark: Distress Inks: Picked Raspberry, Twisted Citron, Mowed Lawn (Tim Holtz)
Accessories & Tools:  gold glitter washi tape, Love die (Simon Says Stamp), Liquid Platinum embossing powder (Ranger), heat tool, water brush, Crystal glaze (Nuvo)

Challenges:
The Flower Challenge #34 - Pretty Pastels
CAS Watercolour July Challenge - Bouquet of Flowers

Silver Cone Flower

Hi everyone.  Today's card is for the CAS Stencil July Reminder - Alcohol Inks / Alcohol Lift, hosted by our very talented Cathy.

I started by creating a very colourful background of alcohol inks in my favourite combination (Wild Plum and Sunshine Yellow - from Ranger), along with Tangerine from Pinata.  This is so bright and fun.  I used a NBUS stencil that I've had for a couple of years, placing it over top of the colourful background and using a sponge dauber to lightly add silver alcohol ink through the stencil.  When I removed the stencil I thought the flower didn't stand out enough so I outlined it with a fine tip permanent black marker.  A die-cut frame was added over top with the stamped sentiment.  I experimented with stamping in black and then silver, but it didn't really look great.  It just lightened the black a little.  Oh well, experiments are good to learn what doesn't work as well. :)

Here's a close-up ... sorry for the reflection from the overhead lights.

Please check out the challenge blog to see the new reminder cards from our Designers, and special Guest Designer, Janet.  I know you'll be inspired to play along!

I'll share this card at Take It Make It challenge (Craft Stamper Magazine).

Stamps: Happy Messages (Stampendous)
Paper:  Yupo; White card base and frame (Neenah 110 lb.)
Ink:  Alcohol Inks:  Wild Plum, Sunlight Yellow, Silver Mixative (Ranger); Tangerine (Pinata); Black (Memento)
Accessories & Tools: Blending Solution (Ranger), Cone Flower stencil (The Crafter's Workshop), Fine Black marker (Sharpie), Antique Frames die (Penny Black)

Challenges:
CAS Stencil July Challenge - Alcohol Inks / Alcohol Lift
Craft Stamper Magazine Take It Make it July Challenge 

Be Joyful

Hi everyone.  Today's card is for the CAS Christmas July Reminder - Snowflake Challenge, hosted by the wonderful Bonnie.

We also have a fantastic Guest Desiger Jane, joining us this month!

I seem to be in the mode of recovery lately.  This is a stencil monoprint that just didn't work as well as I had hoped.  The snowflakes weren't very clear, but I was happy with the colour of the inked background.  So I took a fine silver metallic pen and outlined the snowflakes.  Looks way better. :)  Thank goodness I was able to use it because my "stash" of failed backgrounds container is at it's limit. :)

Two snowhills were created by tearing the edge of white paper and layering at the bottom of the panel.  The graceful reindeer was heat embossed in silver three times, giving it a thick and shiny coat.

Here's a close-up ...

There's still a week left to play along with our challenge if you haven't had time yet.  Create a CAS Christmas card that has a snowflake or snowflakes and join us.

Stamps:  Big Scripty Greetings - Holiday (Simon Says Stamp)
Paper:  Mixed media (Strathmore 140 lb.); White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.)
Ink:  Distress Inks:  Broken Glass, Salty Ocean, Wilted Violet (Tim Holtz); Versamark
Accessories & Tools:  Snowflake stencil (Paper Artsy), water mister, silver metallic pen, Leap of Joy die (Penny Black), silver embossing powder, heat tool

Challenges:
CAS Christmas July Challenge - Snowflake

Happy Birthday Bonnie!!

Hi everyone.  Today is the reminder for the CAS Watercolour July Challenge - Bouquet of Flowers, hosted by Susan.  But there's more ... today we are celebrating the birthday of our dear, sweet, lovely Bonnie!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY BONNIE!!

I hope you're having a wonderful day!!

I made this card in Bonnie's honour and I'm hoping she has received it, but didn't open until this morning (there were directions to not open until the 16th!).

Bonnie has the most beautiful and elegant style of card making so I was channeling her when I made this card.  You are a constant source of inspiration to me, Bonnie!

Stamped the bouquet in Versamark onto mixed media paper and heat embossed in white.  Watercoloured with distress inks; then stamped the sentiment and splattered light gray ink over the card front..

Here's a close-up ...

Finishing the card took me much longer that than it did to watercolour the image.  I don't white emboss flowers often, so I found it a little harder to figure out the image (which has the flowers all bunched together).  I kept looking at the stamp cover to see the outlined image in black. :).  I tried it will kinds of frames, different coloured card stock ... but in the end, went with a white card base, fussy-cut the bouquet and popped it up on top for some dimension.

We are thrilled to have Leslie as our Guest Designer this month.  Please check out the challenge blog to see all the reminder cards from Leslie and the Designers, honouring our sweet Bonnie on her special day!

Come join us ... make a card using a bouquet of flowers and add your card to the gallery.

Stamps:  Bowl Bouquet (Stampendous); Happy Birthday (unknown)
Paper:  Mixed media paper (Strathmore 140 lb.)
Ink:  Versamark; Distress Inks:  Mowed Lawn, Seedless Preserves, Mustard Seed, Abandoned Coral, Tumbled Glass, Broken China, Pumice Stone; Smokey Slate ink (Stampin' Up!)
Accessories & Tools:  White embossing powder (Ranger), heat tool, splatter brush

Challenges:
CAS Watercolour July Challenge - Bouquet of Flowers

Barley Silhouette

Hi everyone.  Today is my reminder card for CAS Mix Up's July Challenge - Alcohol Ink Lift, hosted by Bonnie.

This time I created a softer coloured background using pink, peach and a little yellow.  Then I placed a barley stencil over top and used a sponge dauber lightly wet with blending solution.  It worked well as long as I didn't add too much blending solution, otherwise it would leak under the stencil and just make blobs.  Ask me how I know this. :)  I wanted to make this into a masculine birthday card so added a simple dark gray sentiment banner, heat embossed with white and then popped the panel up on my card base.

Here's a close-up ...

Hope you'll check out the challenge blog to see the new reminder cards from the rest of our Designers and Guest Designer, Michelle.  Come play along!  We'd love to see you in the galleries!

Since CAS Stencil's challenge this month is using a stencil with Alcohol Inks / Alcohol Ink Lift, I'm adding it to that gallery as well.

Stamps:  Nouveau Flowers (Clearly Besotted)
Paper:  Yupo; Whie card base (Neenah 110 lb.); Basic Gray (Stampin' Up!)
Ink:  Alcohol Inks:  Pink Sherbert, Peach Bellini, Honeycomb (Ranger); Versamark
Accessories & Tools:  Blending Solution (Ranger), Barley stencil (ARTplorations), sponge dauber, white embossing powder, heat tool

Challenges:
CAS Mix Up July Challenge - Alcohol Ink Lift
CAS Stencil July Challenge - Alcohol Inks / Alcohol Ink Lift