Penny Black - Layered Leaves and more ...

Hi everyone,  Today's cards use a few of the new stand-alone dies from the new release.  First, I'm sharing a CAS (clean and simple) masculine birthday card made with Layered Leaves die 51-633.

I die-cut the leaves from white card stock.  I used a watercoloured piece from my stash ... this has a bit of sparkle, so I'm pretty sure it is a mix of Lindy's magicals on watercolour paper.  I placed the die-cut leaves over the watercolour piece and traced with a pencil, then fussy-cut.  Adhered the white over top of the watercoloured background and then adhered to my card front.  I stamped a happy birthday sentiment (smile today! 30-461) in weathered wood distress ink.  It matched pretty well! :)

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My second card uses the beautiful die, Creative Curves 51-611.  This makes a lovely backdrop for any image.

The bright white card front and black die-cut panel create a lot of contrast in this design.  A pretty stamped butterfly (Wings and Vases 30-704), coloured with zigs and fussy-cut is all that's needed to complete this design, along with a simple black stamped sentiment, Good Wishes 30-541.

My third card uses the new Bench (51-621) die.

Created a very loose watercolour wash for the background from green and blue inks.  Stamped a leafy branch from the Country Charisma stamp set 30-690, watercolouring in two shades of green ink.  Popped up the die-cut bench, which was sponged in two shades of brown ink. Finished with a blue ink stamped sentiment, Good Wishes (30-541).

Thanks so much for dropping by!

Penny Black Products

Layered Leaves die 51-633
smile today! sentiment set 30-461

Creative Curves 51-611

Wing and Vases 30-704
Good Wishes 30-541

Bench die 51-621

Country Charisma 30-690

Good Wishes 30-541

Card #1:  Layered Leaves
Stamps:  smile today! (Penny Black)
Paper:  Watercolour paper (Arches cold press 140 lb.); White (Neenah 110 lb.)
Ink:  Lindy's magicals
Accessories & Tools:  Layered Leaves die (Penny Black)

Card #2:  Butterfly Curves
Stamps:  Wings and Vases; Good Wishes (both Penny Black)
Paper:  Black card stock (SU!); White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Mixed Media paper (Strathmore 140 lb.)
Ink:  Zigs
Accessories & Tools:  Creative Curves die (Penny Black), waterbrush

Card #3:  Enjoy every moment
Stamps:  Country Charisma; Good Wishes (both Penny Black)
Paper:  Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.)
Ink:  Distress Inks:  Twisted Citron, Mowed Lawn, Tumbled Glass, Broken China, Antique Linen, Brushed Corduroy (Tim Holtz)
Accessories & Tools:  Bench die (Penny Black), waterbrush

Penny Black - Wings and Vases

Hi everyone.  Today I'm using one of the beautiful images from the Wings & Vases (30-704) stamp set .  Comes with matching dies, ... vases cut out (51-619).  This is a set of eight beautiful images with matching die-cuts for five of the images (2 bouquets of flowers and three small flowers).

I started by heat embossing the vase and flowers in Liquid Platinum.  I love the warm tone of this embossing powder.  Used a water brush to watercolour the flowers and vase using distress inks.  Die-cut the image and added glaze on top of the vase for some shine.

Watercoloured the background with diluted Liquid Metals in coral.  Adhered the beautiful white die-cut, creative curves (51-611) on top and then popped up my vase of flowers on top of that.  To finish, I stamped a simple sentiment from the million thanks (30-680), heat embossing in liquid platinum to match the flowers.

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I'm entering this card into the Craft Stampers Magazine - Take It Make It March Challenge.

Thanks for coming by for a visit!

Penny Black Products
wings & vases stamp set 30-704
... vases cut out 51-619
creative curves die 51-611
million thanks (30-680)

Stamps: wing & vases; million thanks (both from Penny Black)
Paper:  Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.)
Ink:  Versamark; Distress Inks:  shabby shutters, peeled paint, abandoned coral, fired brick, peacock feathers;  Liquid Metals - coral (Ken Oliver)
Accessories & Tools:  Liquid Platinum embossing powder (Ranger), heat tool, water brush, ... vases cut out (Penny Black), creative curves die (Penny Black), Crystal Glaze (Nuvo), water mister

Challenges:
CSM - Take It Make It Challenge - March

March CAS Challenges Reminder

Hi everyone.  Today is the reminders for all the CAS Challenges.  First up, CAS Mix Up

Jenny is our host.

Well, this is a totally different style of card for me.  I had a lot of fun making it.  I watched one of the videos Jenny provided where three drops of different colours of acrylic paint were placed on card stock and then pulled across using a credit card (or any straight edge).  I tried some of the greens and blues and wasn't happy.  Then I remembered my Liquitex Acrylic Paints I bought about 5 years ago and haven't used very much (shame on me!).  I pulled out Burnt Sienna, Raw Sienna, and Neutral Gray 5.  Went to add some to my card stock and some of the paints had separated because they were so old (not the gray).  Pulled it across and ended up with this artsy background.  Found an artsy sentiment set to stamp over top and heat embossed in clear. I think I'll keep this for Jer's birthday card in May! :)

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Julia is our host.

CAS Watercolour March challenge.  I bought some daisies one year that were called "Irish Eyes" because the center was bright green. They didn't last in my garden over the winter, but I thought of them when I made this card.  I took artistic license with my daisies as they are yellow in real life. :)

Stamped the image in grey shadow archival ink.  Watercoloured using distress inks to add a little bit of colour here and there.  Used smoky slate (gray) ink from SU! to watercolour a shadow on the wall and ground.

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Colleen is our host.

CAS Christmas March Challenge.  Stamped this beautiful poinsettia image onto mixed media paper and heat embossed in silver.  The sentiment is silver embossed as well.  Watercoloured the image with distress inks, splattering some of the red ink to finish the design.

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Viv is our host.

CAS Stencil March Challenge.  Made a stencil out of a Penny Black leaf die and sprayed it with Pixie spray so it would stick to the watercoloured background that was not completely flat (from my stash of backgrounds).  Sponged two shades of green distress ink and then sprinkled with clear embossing powder.  Heat set and repeated.  Still not shiny enough for me, so added a melted layer of UTEE- perfect!  Cut my panel to size to fit inside the frame, popped up on foam and added a small stamped sentiment banner.  Showing you the above shot so you can see the shine from the embossing.  Oh, and don't use Pixie Spray when heat embossing over top.  It leaves a sticky residue and the embossing powder sticks to everything ... guess how I know that?? :)  Always learning. :)

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I hope you'll check out the challenge blogs to see the amazing cards from our Designers, Guest Designers, and participants.  If you haven't had time to play along, there's over a week left before all four challenges close on 24th at midnight PDST.  Come join us!

CAS Mix Up Reminder - Paint Outside the Lines
Stamps:  Subway Builder Art - Create (STAMPlorations)
Paper:  White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.)
Ink:  Acrylic Paints:  Burnt Sienna, Raw Sienna, Neutral Gray 5 (Liquitex); Black ink (Memento)
Accessories & Tools:  Stencil pal to pull paint, clear embossing powder, heat tool

CAS Watercolour Reminder - Wishing You Luck
Stamps: Corner Vase (Serendipity)
Paper:  Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.)
Ink:  Grey Shadow (Ranger Archival); Distress Inks:  Peacock Feathers, Mowed Lawn (Tim Holtz); Smoky Slate (SU!)
Accessories & Tools:  Water brush

CAS Christmas Reminder - Enjoy the Season
Stamps:  Warm Wishes; ? (both Penny Black)
Paper:  Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.); White card base (Neenah 110 lb.)
Ink:  Versamark; Distress Inks:  Festive Berries, Barn Door, Twisted Citron (Tim Holtz)
Accessories & Tools:  Silver embossing powder (Ranger), heat tool, water brush

CAS Stencil Reminder - Leafy Thanks
Stamps:  Million Thanks (Penny Black)
Paper:  Mixed Media paper (Strathmore 140 lb.); White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.)
Ink:  Distress Inks:  Twisted Citron, Mowed Lawn (Tim Holtz); Versamark
Accessories & Tools:  Lindy's magicals background from my stash, Lively die (Penny Black), acetate sheet, clear embossing powder, UTEE powder, heat tool, Simple Stackers die (Penny Black)


Challenges:
CAS Mix Up - Acrylic Paint
CAS Watercolour - Luck of the Irish
CAS Christmas - Winter Flower
CAS Stencil - Heat Embossing

Penny Black - Lolly

Hi everyone.  Today's card uses one of the smaller sets from the new Secret Garden release, Lolly (30-688). Come on! ... I had to have this. :)  

I stamped Lolly (30-688) and heat embossed with black.  Then used distress inks to colour her.  She is adorable!  Couldn't help but smile the whole time I was watercolouring her. :)  I fussy-cut her and the lollypop separately.  Used a Paper Towel Background (click on link to see video tutorial) from my stash, stamped the image again, and paper pieced with my fussy-cut image.  This is so colourful and fun!

Close-up ...

Thanks for stopping by!

Penny Black Products
Lolly 30-688

Stamps:  Lolly (Penny Black)
Paper:  Mixed media (Strathmore 140 lb.); White card base (Neenah 110 lb.)
Ink:  Black (Memento); Distress Inks:  Pumice Stone, Picked Raspberry, Mustard Seed, Antique Linen, Brushed Corduroy, Mowed Lawn (Tim Holtz)
Accessories & Tools:  Clear embossing powder (Ranger), heat tool, water brush, red chalk, white gel pen, ink saturated paper towel to make background

More Green for Irish Luck

Hi everyone.  Made a few quick CAS cards for CAS Watercolour's March Challenge - Luck of the Irish, so sharing another today.  It doesn't have to be about St. Paddy's Day ... as long as it ties in.  And green is definitely an Irish colour. :)

Inked up my image with two shades of green ink, spritzed with a little water and pressed onto mixed media paper.  Inked the image a second time (no water this time) and stamped over top to sharpen up the images.  Added a simple sentiment in black, and popped up my main panel over a larger panel of green.  Fun and easy card!

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Hope to see you in the gallery at CAS Watercolour!

* * * * *

My Mom (91 years young) stayed with us for the weekend.

She and Jessie had a great time together. :)

Stamps:  Wild Floral (Inkylicious); special sentiments (Penny Black)
Paper:  Mixed Media paper (Strathmore 140 lb.); Gumball Green (SU!)
Ink:  Distress Inks:  Twisted Citron, Mowed Lawn (Tim Holtz); Black (Memento)
Accessories & Tools:  water mister

Challenges:
CAS Watercolour March Challenge - Luck of the Irish

Penny Black New Release - Secret Garden

Hi everyone.  Penny Black released their new spring line of products (Secret Garden) just a little while ago.  And WOW! ... lots of amazing stamps and dies.

Today I'm sharing two cards that I've made with the beautiful cling stamp exhilaration (#40-745).  I will link to all products used on today's cards at the bottom of the post.

This first card is done with no-line watercolouring.  I stamped the image in a very soft tan colour and then watercoloured over top with distress inks.  I splattered a little of the green for the background and stamped a lovely thank you sentiment (part of the new release - million thanks #30-680) in the same coral ink used for the flowers.  I added this fabulous new frame (simple stackers #51-613).  I love it! and can see using this set of four frames A LOT!

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I'm entering the above card in The Flower Challenge #42 - Anything Goes.

For my next card I used the same stamp (exhilaration 40-745), but this time I used brushos direct to stamp (using a damp brush), spritzed with water and stamped onto a mixed media panel.  The card below is my second pressing of the inked stamp (without adding more inks, but adding just a light spritz of water).  The first press is beautiful, much darker with more saturated colours and I will share at another time.  I love the softness of the second press from this image ...

I used three colours of Brushos powders (Lime Green, Rose Red, Crimson), sprinkled onto my palette, picked up with a damp brush and added directly onto the stamp.  I spritzed with a fine mist of water a few times and pressed the wet image onto a piece of mixed media paper.  I used a small water brush to move a little of the extra colour around.  Once dry the sentiment (gratitude 30-105) was stamped in light gray ink and sequins were added to balance the design and add some sparkle.

Penny Black Products

exhilaration (40-745)
million thanks (30-680)
simple stackers (51-613)
gratitude (30-105)

Card #1 - Thank you
Stamps:  exhilaration; million thanks (Penny Black)
Paper:  Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.); White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.)
Ink:  Sahara Sand (SU!); Distress Inks:  Mowed Lawn, Abandoned Coral, Fired Brick,  (Tim Holtz)
Accessories & Tools: water brush, simple stackers die frames (Penny Black)

Card #2 - Have a Wonderful Day
Stamps:  exhilaration; gratitude (Penny Black)
Paper:  Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.); White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.)
Ink:  Brushos:  Lime Green, Rose Red, Crimson
Accessories & Tools: water mister, small painter's brush, water brush, clear sequins

Challenges:
The Flower Challenge #42 - Anything Goes

CAS Stencil March Challenge

Hi everyone.  It's the start of March's CAS Stencil Challenge.  This month is being hosted by the super talented Viv (Viv's Visuals).  She wants us to use Heat Embossing through our stencils!  This is such a great technique and you can get lots of different designs by just changing up the colour of the embossing powder!

Our Guest Designer this month is Cat (Cat Luvs Paper).  Cat is so talented and we are excited to have her on our team this month!  Welcome Cat!

I have had the stencil used in the above card for a couple of years or more ... and I'm ashamed to say this is it's first outting! :) I heat embossed through a strip of the stencil in white and then dripped wet watercolours along the edge, using a water brush to spread.  I just love this colour combination as it definitely says Spring is here (or near!). :)  I added a simple silhouette daisy die-cut (shaped with my stylus and mat), and a black sentiment.

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After making the first card, I thought the stencil would make a great ocean scene.  So I made a second card with the same stencil, heat embossed in white again.  This time I did direct to paper with three of my distress inks (ombre) and used a water brush to move the colour.  I cut out the ocean along the top wave and adhered to my card front.  A cute die-cut Octopus (thanks Ros!) was watercoloured and tucked in-between the layers of card.  A simple sentiment finishes the card.

... and the close-up ...

Thanks for coming by for a visit!  I hope you'll join us for this very easy and fun challenge at CAS Stencil.

Daisy Silhouette:
Stamps:  Thoughtful Messages (Simon Says Stamp)
Paper:  Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.);  Black (SU!)
Ink:  Distress Inks:  Picked Raspberry, Ripe Persimmon, Mustard Seed); Black (Memento)
Accessories & Tools:  Evolution Stencil (STAMPlorations), White embossing powder (Ranger), heat tool, water brush, Bashful die (Penny Black)

Ocean Waves:
Stamps:  Ocean Wisdom (Stampendous)
Paper:  Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.)
Ink:  Distress Inks:  Salty Ocean, Broken China, Tumbled Glass; Ripe Persimmon (Tim Holtz)
Accessories & Tools:  Evolution stencil (STAMPlorations), white embossing powder (Ranger), heat tool, water brush, Octopus (gift from a friend), Crystal Glaze (Nuvo)

Challenges:
CAS Stencil March Challenge - Heat Embossing

CAS Christmas March Challenge

Hi everyone.  We're on to March already!!  Time for a new challenge --- CAS Christmas March Challenge - Winter Flower.  This month's challenge is being hosted by our lovely Colleen (One Smile Lifts a Spirit).

We are so happy to have Linda (Scrappin', Stampin', & Singin') joining us as our Guest Designer this month.  YAY Linda!!

I've had this Penny Black stamp for a long time and I've only used it twice.  It's so pretty and delicate, and I thought the blooms would look lovely in red.  I inked the stamp with markers, spritzed with a little water and then stamped onto mixed media paper.  I love this technique!  It gives an instant watercolour look.  Sometimes I have to stamp a second time (maybe with more ink, maybe with more water, or maybe with neither or both).  Just depends on how the first pressing looks.

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I hope you'll come join us and keep up your stash of making Christmas cards throughout the year.

Stamps:  Full Bloom (Penny Black); Christmas Sentiments (Penny Black)
Paper:  Mixed Media Paper (Strathmore 140 lb.)
Ink:  Real Red, Pear Pizzazz (SU!); Black (Memento)
Accessories & Tools:  Water spritzer, water brush

Challenges:
CAS Christmas March Challenge - Winter Flowers

CAS Watercolour March Challenge

Hi everyone.  This month at CAS Watercolour we are celebrating all things Irish!  This fun challenge is being hosted by our wonderful, Julia (Create with Me).

We are excited to have Hannelie (Desert Diva) as our Guest Designer this month.  Welcome Hannelie!

I couldn't resist buying this adorable Irish bear image.  He is stamped in permanent black ink, watercoloured with inks, and fussy-cut.  The image was stamped a second time on the card front, along with the sentiment banner.  The fussy-cut bear was adhered on top of the image (sort of paper pieced).  So this is really a one layer card. :)

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Come join in the fun!  Create a CAS card with watercolouring as the main focal point and make sure it is something that ties into "Luck of the Irish".

Stamps: Irish Luck (Penny Black)
Paper:  Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.); White card base (Neenah 110 lb.)
Ink:  Permanent Black ink (Versafine); Distress Inks:  Mowed Lawn, Forest Moss, Brushed Corduroy, Rusty Hinge (Tim Holtz); Garden Green ink (SU!); Green zig
Accessories & Tools:  Water brush

Challenges:
CAS Watercolour March Challenge - Luck of the Irish