More playing with Eileen's Sponging Techniques

Hi everyone.  Sharing another card from our last Zoom call (I have another three that I will share over the next week or so).  This one uses a technique from Eileen Godwin that I've used before.  I started by sponging lightly against a straight edge.  I moved the straight edge in several directions and used three different colours of distress ink (Mustard Seed, Ripe Persimmon, Picked Raspberry).  The sponging was done with blender brushes which gives a very soft blend.  Then I placed a sweet daisy stencil (PM008 PA Mini Mask from Paper Artsy - gift from a lovely friend), overtop and used the same three colours to sponge over top.

Finished the card by stamping a silhouette image of leaves (Soulful Silhouettes from Penny Black) and hello (Many Everyday Messages - Hero Arts) sentiment.  I love the layering that Eileen does in her work, and I'm enjoying trying it for myself more and more.

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I'm playing along with Penny Black Saturday Challenge where Anything Goes.

I hope you have enjoyed seeing this card.  Thanks so much for stopping by!

Stamps:  Soulful Silhouettes (Penny Black);  Many Everyday Messages (Hero Arts)

Paper:   Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.)
Ink:   Distress Inks:  Mustard Seed, Ripe Persimmon, Picked Raspberry (Tim Holtz); Black (Memento)
Accessories:   Stencil scraper (straight edge); blender bruses, Paper Artsy Mini Stencil, sponges

Challenges:
Penny Black Saturday Challenge - Anything Goes

January Rudolph Days

Hi everyone.  Today I'm playing along with Rudolph Days.  Maureen runs this Christmas challenge from the 25th to end of month, January - November.  It's always Anything Goes Christmas.

Today I inked up an adorable stamp that I received from a sweet friend.  The little dog resting their chin on the window sill reminds me of Jessie.  I think she might have even posed for the artist that created this stamp. :)  Of course, I had to go with the Blenheim colours like Jessie! :)  The pup images (Hunkydory's King Charles Spaniel) images are stamped in black, clear heat embossed, and watercoloured with Rusty Hinge distress ink.  I fussy-cut the pups and set them aside.  Found a lovely green argyle patterened paper for the background, stamped the dogs again and then paper pieced my fussy-cut ones on top.  Framed it all with a stitched rectangle frame and then added watercoloured and glossed Christmas lights to the top of the "window".  The sentiment (Merry Messages - Lawn Fawn) is stamped in red to finish the card.

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I had a lot of fun making this card! :)

Since this is the first time inking up with adorable stamp, I'm entering this card into the NBUS #22 Challenge ...

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Speaking of Jessie ... 

Found out several months ago that Jessie had major problems with both hips.  It is a genetic defect but it didn't show up until she was over one year old.  She had surgery on one hip on Monday and is doing OK.  She's starting to put weight on her leg now that it's a few days post-op.  She slept non-stop for most of the first couple of days, but now she has spurts of energy and wants to play, run, and jump (which is forbidden for the first two weeks after surgery).  It's a bit of a challenge to keep her quiet. :)

Jessie is a trouper and we know she will do well with her recovery.

Here's a photo of her today ... she was being stubborn (wonder where she gets that from??), and wouldn't look at the camera.  Took me a while to get a photo of her sweet face. :)

    

Stamps:  King Charles Spaniel (Hunkydory) - gift from friend; Merry Messages (Lawn Fawn) 

Paper:   Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.); White card base and frame (Neenah 110 lb.); Green Argylie (unknown)
Ink:   Black (Momentum); Distress Inks:  Rusty Hinge, Fired Brick, Mowed Lawn, Mustard Seed, Salty Ocean (Tim Holtz)
Accessories:   Clear embossing powder, heat tool, waterbrush, Christmas lights die (?), Posca white acrylic paint pen, Crystal Glaze (Nuvo), Stitched rectangle die (?)

Challenges:

January Rudolph Days - Anything Goes Christmas

NBUS #22 Challenge

More Mixed Media Play Time

Hi everyone.  I had so much fun following Eileen Godwin's techniques last week, that I have continued to play with layering stamps and stencils to create mixed media cards.  Eileen really helped me get out of my comfort zone of CAS design.  

Today's card uses three stencils and one stamp to create a fun and bold card for a friend.  I started by doing a stencil monprint on mixed media paper with a crackle stencil (retired) in Distress inks Brushed Corduroy and Gathered Twigs.  I then used the beautiful STAMPlorations Peeking Dahlias stencil to add flowers to the corners.  I LOVE this stencil ... it reminds me of my Great Uncle Fred who always had a huge garden of dahlias each year ... all different colours, shapes and sizes.  I used several Distress inks to sponge the dahlias (Abandoned Coral, Candied Apple, Fired Brick, Aged Mahogant, Black Soot).  It really adds so much depth with the shading.  I used my black thick POSCA pen to add the "seeds" in the center and a fine liner black to add some details to the petals.  The center is covered in Crystal Glaze to give it shine and depth.  

I added a little stenciling of some beautiful vines (Twisted Vines from Sweet Poppy Stencils - gift from a sweet friend). Used Brushed Corduroy again so that it shows over the crackle background.  The vines are outlined with Clear Wink of Stella for some sparkle.

Finally, stamped the sentiment Friend (Happy Messages from Stampendous) to finish the card.

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I'm entering this card into the STAMPlorations January Stencil Challenge.

Thanks for stopping by!

Stamps:  Happy Messages (Stampendous)

Paper:   Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.)
Ink:   Distress Inks:  Brushed Corduroy, Gathered Twigs, Abandoned Coral, Candied Apple, Fired Brick, Aged Mahogany, Black Soot
Accessories:   Water mister, Crackle stencil - retired (Prima); Peeking Dahlias stencil (STAMPlorations), Twisted Vines Stencil (Sweet Poppy Stencils), sponges, Black Posca Pen, Fine Black Liner (Sharpie), Clear Wink of Stella, Crystal Glaze (Nuvo)

Challenges:
STAMPlorations January Stencil Challenge

CAS Challenges January Reminder

Hi everyone.  We are half way through the month, which means it's time for the CAS Challenges reminder cards. 

First up, CAS Mix Up - Splatters. This has been a fun and easy challenge.  Thanks for hosting Hilary!

As I mentioned in my blog earlier (2nd card in post), I have been working on an on-line class by Heather Telford (Heather Telford's Winter Wonder class).  I made two cards that I'm sharing today using her Snowy Vistas tutorial.  These are so much fun to make! :)

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This card is a morning sunrise card.  I used the same colours Heather used for her example ... LOVE these colours together!   :)  Added white splattering for falling snow, a simple frame, and stamped the sentiment to finish the card.

Sponging, masking, stamping, die-cutting, and splattering are included in the CAS design.

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Next up is the CAS Christmas Reminder with Julia as host.  My favourite thing is to make backgrounds for my silhouettes.  So fun!  Thanks Julia!

This time I made a Night Sky Snowy Vista following the tutorial in Heather Telford's Winter Wonder class.

I punched a small circle from a post-it note to mask for the moon before sponging the sky :)  Used different trees for this card than the one above.  There are so many things that could be added to create wonderul winter scenes.

Sponging, masking, stamping, and splattering are included on this card design.

I'm also going to add this card to the CAS Mix Up Challenge - Splatters ...

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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 both challenges close on 24th at midnight PST.  Come join us!

Product Links

Tannenbaum Trio (Penny Black)
Cozy Cabin  (Penny Black)

Simple Stackers Frames (Penny Black)

Christmas Sentiments (Penny Black)

CAS Mix Up Reminder - Winter Sunrise

Stamps:  Tannenbaum Trio (Penny Black); Christmas Sentiments

Paper:  Mixed media (Strathmore 140 lb.); White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.)
Ink:   Distress Inks:  Wild Honey, Worn Lipstick, Dusty Concord, Black Soot (Tim Holtz)
Accessories:   Blending brushes, white acrylic paint for splattering snow, post-it note masks, Simple Stackers frames (Penny Black)

CAS Christmas Reminder - Snowy Night

Stamps:  Season's Greetings (retired) - Stampin' Up!; Snowglobe Sentiments - retired (My Favorite Things)
Paper:  Mixed media (Strathmore 140 lb.); White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.)
Ink:  Distress Inks:  Tumbled Glass, Salty Ocean, Chipped Sapphire (Tim Holtz)
Accessories & Tools:  3/4" circle punch, post-it note, blending brushes, white acrylic paint, splatter brush

Challenges:

CAS Mix Up January challenge - Splatters

CAS Christmas January Challenge - Silhouette

The Flower Challenge #52 Reminder

Hi everyone.  This is the reminder post for The Flower Challenge's January Challenge.  This month, we are looking for Embossing (heat or dry).  Remember to use florals as your main image.  Thank you!

This time I used dry embossing of a new-to-me folder from Simon Says Stamp called Peony Bundle.  It's one of those 3-D embossing folders that gives a very deep impression.  I used mixed media paper so that I could watercolour over top with Distress Inks.  But before embossing, I did add a light sponge of soft brown over top of a stencil (Cubist from Crafter's Workshop).  It's very subtle in the background.

I finished the card by stamping a sentiment in purple to bring out the purple in the small branch of berries at the top of the design.  Using DOX ink gave me a true purple that was not effected by the green watercoloured leaves in the background.

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I hope you'll check out the challenge blog to see the amazing Embossed cards from the rest of TFC Designers.  

Hope to see you in the gallery!

Product Links

Cubist Stencil (Crafter's Workshop)

Peony Bundle embossing folder (Simon Says Stamp)

Thoughtful Messages (Simon Says Stamp)

Stamps:  Thoughtful Messages (Simon Says Stamp)
Paper:   Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.)
Ink:   Distress Inks:  Candied Apples, Fired Brick, Shabby Shutters, Peeled Paint, Mowed Lawn, Mustard Seed, Wilted Violet); DOX inks:  Wilted Violet (Tim Holtz)
Accessories:   Peony Bundle Embossing Folder (Simon Says Stamp), water brush

Challenges:

The Flower Challenge #52 Reminder - Embossing Heat/Dry

Zoom Call Card

Hi everyone.  Today I'm sharing a card I made as a sample for a Sponging Techniques Zoom call held earlier today with a few of my dear stamping friends.

I followed one of Eileen Godwin's techniques for this card (click HERE for link to Eileen's video).

For the background I used a Flourish stencil from Tim Holtz.  The Tulip stencil is one I cut with my silhouette cameo a few years back.  The sentiment is from a retired set from Technique Tuesday.

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I'm entering this card into the Just For Girls Challenge #566 - Use a stencil.  I've actually used two on this card. :)

I will be back later this month with a few more cards using the techniques from today's session.  Thanks for stopping by!

Product Links

Flourish Stencil (Tim Holtz)

Stamps:  Cosmos - retired (Technique Tuesday)
Paper:   Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.)
Ink:   Distress Inks:  Mustard Seed, Ripe Persimmon, Seedless Preserves (Tim Holtz); Black (Memento)
Accessories:  Low-tac tape for masking, Flourish stencil (Tim Holtz), Gesso, sponges, Tulip stencil (Silhouette America image),  Clear Wink of Stella, POSCA white acrylic paint pen  

Challenges:
Just for Girls #566 - Use a Stencil

Twofer Challenge #34

Hi eveyone.  I'm excited to be playing along with Twofer Challenge #34 today.  The challenge this month is ...

I do love to make flower cards. :)  Don't forget the rules for this challenge ...

The above cards are made from a lovely Simon Says Stamp set called Look for the Rainbows  I used the spray image, heat embossing in Liquid Platinum on mixed media paper before watercolouring with distress inks and reinkers (Abandoned Coral, Mowed Lawn) for the card on the right.  I then fussy-cut the bottom of the image and placed over a black card base which has a heat embossed sentiment to match.

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For my second card, using the same floral spray, I stamped in black and heat embossed with clear on mixed media paper before watercolouring with distress inks and reinkers (Wilted Violet, Mowed Lawn).  The sentiment is stamped in black and heat embossed in clear as well so that it matches the shine of the image.

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Both these cards have already gone out in the mail! :)  

Sending the first card to The Flower Challenge #52 - Embossing Heat/Dry.

Product Links

Look for the Rainbows (Simon Says Stamp)

Thoughtful Messages (Simon Says Stamp)

Stamps:  Look for the Rainbows; Thoughtful Messages (both from Simon Says Stamp)
Paper:   Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.); Black card stock (SU!)
Ink:   Versamark; Black (Memento); Distress Inks:  Abandoned Coral, Mowed Lawn, Wilted Violet (Tim Holtz)
Accessories:   Liquid Platinum embossing powder, Clear embossing powder (both from Ranger), heat tool, water brush

Challenges:

Twofer Challenge #34

The Flower Challenge #52 - Embossing Heat/Dry

Happy Together

Hi everyone.  Today's card is just for fun! :)  I had some time with nothing pressing going on, so I had a play with this fun cacti stamp from Penny Black.  I used a mix of inks (distress and dye) to colour the plants and pots.  The "wooden" floor is just random strokes of antique linen and brushed corduroy inks.  I used my scorpal to score the lines 1/4" apart.  The ink absorbed into the indentation of the lines to make them darker.  Love how it turned out!

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I'm entering this card into the Penny Black Saturday Challenge for January - Anything Goes ...

Thanks for coming by for a visit!

Products
Happy Together - Penny Black
Grown with Love - sentiment only (Penny Black)

Stamps:  Happy Together and Grown with Love (both from Penny Black)
Paper:  Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.)
Ink:  Distress Inks:  Antique Linen, Brushed Corduroy, Rusty Hine, Twisted Citron, Evergreen Bough, Pine Needles, Picked Raspberry (Tim Holtz); Dye Inks:  Gumball Green (retired), Garden Green (SU!); Black (Memento
Accessories & Tools:  Water brush, scoring tool

Challenges:
Penny Black Saturday Challenge - Anything Goes

The Flower Challenge #52

Hi everyone.  Welcome to the first challenge for 2021 at The Flower Challenge.  

We are excited to have Jyoti (CARDSNCRAFTSNYC) as our Guest Designer this month.  Welcome Jyoti!

I love to heat emboss outline images.  It helps me keep the colours from going over the edge.  I've used gold embossing for the card above, with the image watercoloured with Distress inks.  I used a light gray zig to add a light shadow around the flower spray.  To finish, a black sentiment banner with white embossing placed over top. :)

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These are my favourite colours (pink and orange ... plus a little yellow).  I definitely like bright, happy colours.

Hope you'll check out the challenge blog to see all the amazing flower cards from our Guest Designer Jyoti and The Flower Challenge Designers.  Then come play along!  Would love to see you in the gallery!

Product Links

Flower Cascade (Penny Black)

Happy Snippets (Penny Black)

Stamps:  Flower Cascade (Penny Black); Happy Snippets (Penny Black)
Paper:   Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.); Black card stock (Stampin' Up!)
Ink:   Versamark; Distress inks:  Twisted Citron, Mowed Lawn, Mustard Seed, Wild Honey, Abandoned Coral, Picked Raspberry (Tim Holtz)
Accessories:   Gold embossing powder (Ranger), water brush, white embossing powder, heat tool

Challenges:

The Flower Challenge #52 - Embossing Heat/ Dry

CAS Christmas January Challenge

Hi everyone.  Happy New Year!  It's great to be back after taking two weeks off.  I'm starting off the new year with my first Christmas card for the CAS Christmas January Challenge. :)

This month Julia is our host and she wants us to use Silhouettes on our Christmas card.

A silhouette can be light or dark as long as it is solid.

The background was made during a Zoom session with some crafty friends late last year.  We made night skies.  I used two or three colours of brushos spritzed with water on mixed media paper.  I let the ink flow which created some lovely streaks in the background that remind me of the Aurora Borialis --- so pretty!  I simply added a die-cut of winter trees over top, stamped a sentiment, and splattered falling snow.

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We are so happy to have Pat (Colourful Card Creations) as our Guest Designer this month.  Welcome Pat!

I hope you'll check out the challenge blog to see the amazing silhouette cards from Pat and the CAS Christmas's Designers.  Then come play along!  It's never too early to get a start on Christmas cards.  I make them throughout the year so that when it comes time to send them out, I'm not rushed to make a bunch of cards ... they are already done! :)

Adding this card to the Christmas Craft Creations challenge - Winter Blues ...

... and Merry Little Christmas January Challenge - Anything Goes Christmas!

Also sending this card to the CAS Mix Up January Challenge - Splatters!

Product Links

In the Winter die (Penny Black)

Bright & Light (Penny Black)

Stamps:  
Paper:   Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.); White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.)
Ink:  Brushos; Salty Ocean Distress Ink (Tim Holtz) 
Accessories:   In the Winter die (Penny Black); white acrylic paint for splattering

Challenges:
CAS Christmas January Challenge - Silhouettes

Christmas Craft Creations Challenge - Winter Blues

Merry Little Christmas January Challenge - Anything Goes Christmas!

CAS Mix Up January Challenge - Splatters