Hope, Joy, Love

Hi everyone.  I wanted to thank everyone for the wonderful well wishes on my birthday.  My mantel is filled with amazing cards.  Every card is uniquely beautiful with messages of love inside.  It made my day very special!  

A few days ago I had a Zoom call with my Crafty Friends.  This month we talked about embossing pastes and gels.  There are so many amazing products on the market.  We did more chatting than making cards, but I did get this one card made.

I started by sponging two colours of distress ink (Mowed Lawn, Rustic Wilderness) for the tree background using a 2part stencil Farmhouse Tree (Honey Bee).  I placed the stencil over the tree and added a layer of white embossing paste.  The green ink seeped into the paste a bit so after the paste was dry, I placed the stencil back over top and used white acrylic paint to add a couple of layers onto the paste.  Looks a lot better.

Added two torn snow hills at the bottom and then stamped the sentiment from Bright & Light (Penny Black) in Mowed Lawn (stamped several times to make a good impression).

I'm sending this card over to Rudolph Days Challenge.  It's an Anything Christmas Goes Challenge which runs from the 25th until end of month, Jan - Nov.  Maureen has been running this for years and I try to play along each month to help keep my stash growing throughout the year.  Thanks Maureen!

Thanks for stopping by!

Product Links

Farmhouse Tree Stencil (Honey Bee)

Bright & Light (Penny Black)

Stamps:  Bright & Light (Penny Black)

Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.)
Ink:   Distress Inks:  Mowed Lawn, Rustic Wilderness (Tim Holtz)
Accessories:   Farmhouse Tree Stencil (Honey Bee), sponging brushes, white embossing paste (Dreamweaver), palette knife, white acrylic paint, paint brush

Challenges:

Rudolph Days June Challenge - Anything Christmas Goes

New Home

Hi everyone.  Today I'm sharing a card made for my son Jeremy.  He has friends that just bought their first home so he asked me to make them a card.

I pulled out an older stamp set from Simon Says "Where Your Heart Is" (retired).  Stamped and fussy cut the house (including door and three windows).  Watercoloured the house with distress inks Pumice Stone, Candied Apple, and Aged Mahogany.

Stenciled the two-part tree (Layered Tree - Wendy Vecchi), sponging more distress inks:  Gathered Twigs, Twisted Citron, Mowed Lawn.  Sponged more of the two shades of green ink along the bottom to create some grass.

Popped up the house on top and stamped the sentiment in black.

I think Jer's friends will like the card. :)

Thanks for stopping by!

Products

Layered Tree Stencil (Studio 490 Wendy Vecchi)

Stamps:  Where Your Heart Is (Simon Says Stamp - retired)

Paper:   Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.); White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.)
Ink:   Black (Memento); Distress Inks:  Pumice Stone, Candied Apple, Aged Mahogany, Gathered Twigs, Twisted Citron, Mowed Lawn (Tim Holtz)
Accessories:   Clear embossing powder (Ranger), heat tool, paint brushes, Layered Tree Stencil (Wendy Vecchi - retired), sponges, Crystal Glaze (Nuvo)

Lots of Snowmen

Hi everyone.  Made another snowman card for my Christmas card stash, as well as playing along again with CAS Christmas.  Hideko is hosting this very fun challenge.

This time I inked up an adorable row of snowmen (Simply Celebrate Winter - Lawn Fawn) and die-cut with matching die (Lawn Cuts).  I added just a little watercolouring to their accessories in rainbow colours.  Added them over top of a smooshed brushos background with torn snow hills and splattered falling snow.  To finish, stamped the sentiment that comes with the set, in black ink and heat embossed in clear.

Sending this card over to the Merry Little Christmas Challenge #35 - Anything Christmas Goes.

And also entering the card into Christmas Craft Creations June Challenge - Heat Embossing.  The snowmen, trees, and sentiment are all clear embossed over black ink.

Thanks for stopping by!

Product Links

Simply Celebrate Winter (Lawn Fawn)

Simply Celebrate Winter (Lawn Cuts)

Stamps:  Simply Celebrate Winter (Lawn Fawn)

Paper:   Watercolour paper (Arches Hot Press 140 lb.)
Ink:   Brushos; Black (Memento); Distress Inks:  Candied Apple, Squeezed Lemonade, Mowed Lawn, Salty Ocean, Wilted Violet (Tim Holtz)
Accessories:   water mister, white acrylic paint, splatter brush, paint brush, clear embossing powder, heat tool, Simply Celebrate Winter dies (Lawn Cuts / Lawn Fawn)

Challenges:
CAS Christmas June Challenge - Snowman

Merry Little Christmas Challenge #35 - Anything Christmas Goes

Christmas Craft Creations Challenge June - Heat Embossing

More Sunflower cards

Hi everyone.  After posting a card the other day using the pretty sunflower stamp (Pop Sunflower - Stampendous) - (click HERE to see the card), I decided to make two more.  They do make happy cards. :)

The card above uses patterned paper for the background (I'm on a roll!). :)  Love this woodgrain paper.  Works perfectly with the sunflowers.  I watercoloured the flowers in a new-to-me colour combo of Rusty Hinge and Aged Mahogany.  Love the colours together. Splattered more of the same two colours in the background.  The sentiment is from the same stamp set.

For the second card, I watercolour with distress inks again, using bright shades of yellow and orange.  Added a piece of burlap to ground the jar.  The sentiment is from the same stamp set.

Sending this over to the CAS on Friday Challenge - Flowers.

Thanks for stopping by!

Product Links

Pop Sunflower (Stampendous)

Card #1 - Sunflowers on Woodgrain

Stamps:  Pop Sunflower (Stampendous)

Paper:   Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.); White card base (Neenah 110 lb.); Patterned Paper (unknown)
Ink:   Black (Memento); Distress Inks:  Rusty Hinge, Aged Mahogany, Ground Espresso, Mowed Lawn, Broken Glass (Tm Holtz)
Accessories:  Clear embossing powder (Ranger), heat tool, paint brush

Card #2 - Sunflowers on Burlap

Stamps:  Pop Sunflower (Stampendous)

Paper:   Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.); White card base (Neenah 110 lb.)
Ink:   Black (Memento); Distress Inks:  Mustard Seed, Wild Honey, Abandoned Coral, Ripe Persimmon, Mowed Lawn, Broken Glass (Tm Holtz)
Accessories:  Clear embossing powder (Ranger), heat tool, paint brush, burlap

Challenges:
CAS on Friday - Flowers

Twofer #39 Challenge

Hi everyone.  Welcome to the new challenge - Twofer #39!

Please follow the rules:

I wanted to use the Rays Layering stencil- retired (Tim Holtz) for my two sunshine cards.  The first card uses a piece of patterned paper from the I {heart} summer collection (Simple Stories).  I was surprised that this paper is still for sale ... it's from 2013! :)

I sponged Versamark through the stencil on the left hand side of the card, sprinkling with Fossilized Amber Distress Glaze before heat embossing.  The design is subtle, but I like how the glaze allows the works in the background to show through.  A simple sentiment "Hello Sunshine" (Spring Sentiments - Stampendous) was also heat embossed onto a thin white sentiment banner near the bottom of the card.  This card is meant as happy mail to celebrate the openings after almost 1 1/2 years of restrictions for Covid.  There are a few quotes on the paper "OK gather with family", "Visit with Friends".  Doesn't that sound great??!!

The second card uses the same sun stencil.  This time I sponged my card stock with Mustard Seed distress Ink before stenciling (sponging) over top with Wild Honey Distress ink.  I added a silhouette die-cut of a bicycle (AliExpress) and a sentiment "Wishing you a Sunny Day" (Pop Sunflower - Stampendous).  This card is meant as an encouragement for a friend that needs a little sunshine in her life right now.

Thanks for stopping by!

Product Links

I {heart} Summer patterned paper - Simple Stories

Spring Sentiments - Stampendous

Pop Sunflower - Stampendous

Card #1 - Hello Sunshine

Stamps:  Pop Sunflower - Stampendous

Paper:   Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.); White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Black card stock (Stampin' Up!); I {heart} summer (Simple Stories)
Ink:   Versamark
Accessories:   Rays Layering Stencil (Tim Holtz); Fossilized Amber Distress Glaze (Tim Holtz)

Card #2 - Wishing Sunny Day

Stamps:  Pop Sunflower - Stampendous

Paper:   Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.); White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Black card stock (Stampin' Up!); Unknown (Simple Stories)
Ink:   Versamark; Distress Inks:  Mustard Seed, Wild Honey (Tim Holtz); Black (Memento)
Accessories:  Rays Layering Stencil (Tim Holtz), sponges, bicycle die (AliExpress)

Challenges:

Twofer Challenge #39 - Sunshine

Stamping Friends are the BEST!

Hi everyone.  Today I'm sharing a card I watercoloured using Arteza Mica Powders.  My dear friend Barb won a set of 60 colours and she generously mailed 52 of them to me!  She just kept a few out for herself to play with, but thought I would get more use from them.

The colours and the sparkle is gorgeous.  Mica Powders do not have a bonding agent, so if you brushed them or smooshed them with water onto a piece of card stock, the colours would dry and then brush off.  You need to add something to make them stick.  For watercolouring, I added Gum Arabic (also used for many other purposes - most familiar to me is blending pencil colouring).  The ratio for mixing is 1 part Gum Arabic to 4 parts Mica Powder.

The card above stamped and heat embossed in Gold (Beautiful Bouquet Dahlia - W Plus 9), then watercoloured with three colours of Mica Powders (Red Raspberry, Iris Purple, Spring Green).  So pretty!  Thanks again Barb!!

These powders make it a difficult card to photograph.  I have done my best to try to capture the shimmer from these amazing powders below ... they really are special!

Close-up ...

Thanks for stopping by!

Product Links

Beautiful Bouquet Dahlia (W Plus 9)

Stamps:  Beautiful Bouquet Dahlia (W Plus 9)

Paper:   Watercolour paper (Arches Hot Press 140 lb.)
Ink:   Versamark; Mica Powders (Arteza)
Accessories:  Gold embossing powder, heat tool, paint brush, Gum Arabic, corner die (AliExpress)

CAS Challenges June Reminder

Hi everyone.  Time for reminder cards for both CAS Mix Up and CAS Christmas for June!

Viv is our host.

Starting with CAS Mix Up, the above card was a simple and easy card to make.  I sponged a piece of mixed media paper with angled horizontal strips of yellow, red, and purple.  Misted the paper with water and took a large brush to go back and forth over the colours, washing my brush in-between colour changes.  This is an easy way to make a watercoloured background.  I let it dry and then splattered with drops of water and blotted to add some texture.

The birds stencil (STAMPlorations - Some Birds) is sponged in black ink.  Added a simple frame and black sentiment (Many Everyday Messages - Hero Arts) to finish the card.

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Hideko is our host.

Here is the reminder card for June's CAS Christmas challenge - Snowman.  I love this sweet image from Gerda Steiner (Little Snowman).  I created some backgrounds using Brushos (Turquoise, Violet, White).  I always sprinkle way too much, so just kept adding water and ended up with six backgrounds. :)

I added two torn snowhills on top.  Then stamped my image onto my card and also onto a piece of mixed media paper.  Fussy cut the image and watercoloured using distress inks.  Added some dots with a white acrylic pen and red chalk for his cheeks.  Glued him on top of the image stamped on my card.

Added a simple sentiment (Simple Celebrate Winter - Lawn Fawn) stamped in black and clear heat embossed to match the image.

Quick, fun card to make.

Close-up ...

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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!

CAS Mix Up Reminder - Hello There
Stamps:  Many Everyday Messages (Hero Arts)
Paper:  Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.); White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.)
Ink:  Distress Inks:  Mustard Seed, Candied Apple, Wilted Violet, Black Soot (Tim Holtz); Black (Memento)
Accessories & Tools:  Sponges, water mister, paint brush, Some Birds Stencil (STAMPlorations), Rectangle Nestabilities (Spellbinders)


CAS Christmas Reminder - Little Snowman Greetings
Stamps:  Little Snowman (Gerda Steiner); Sentiment - Simply Celebrate Winter (Lawn Fawn)
Paper:  Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.); White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.)
Ink:  Brushos:  Turquoise, Voilet; Black (Memento); Distress Inks:  Carved Pumpkin, Wilted Violet, Salty Ocean, Tumbled Glass (Tim Holtz)
Accessories & Tools:  water mister, clear embossing powder, paint brush, White Posca pen, red chalk


Challenges:
CAS Mix Up June Challenge - Flight
CAS Christmas June Challenge - Snowman

The Flower Challenge #57 Reminder

Hi everyone.  Back with a reminder for The Flower Challenge #57 - CAS.  This month we are sponsored by the wonderful Joy Clair Designs and I have used the same digital stamp set as my first card (Floral Joy Digital Stamp) for this challenge HERE.  Changing up the design really gives a totally different look.

This time I printed out the individual elements of the open flower, closed flower, and two leaf sprigs.  I fussy-cut before sponging colour, and in hindsight, it would have been easier to sponge first.  Those leaves are pretty small! :)  I used Distress Inks to sponge the leaves (Mowed Lawn), along with Chipped Sapphire and Wilted Violet for the flowers (I love these two colours together).  I shaped all the pieces with a stylus and mat to add dimension.  Then popped up the pieces onto the inside cut of a frame die (Sewing Stackers - Penny Black).  Love the reversed scallop edging with this design!  To finish, I stamped the sentiment (Essential Sentiments - Maker's Movement) in Wilted Violet and then stamped over top with Chipped Sapphire.  The mix of colours looks great with the flowers.

Close-up ...

I hope you'll check out the challenge blog to see the beautiful reminder cards from our Designers.  And if you haven't had a chance to play along yet, come join the fun!  Challenge is open until end of day June 25th.

Product Links

Floral Joy - Digital Stamp (Joy Clair Designs)

Essential Sentiments (Maker's Movement)

Sewing Stackers (Penny Black)

Stamps:  Floral Joy (Joy Clair Designs); Essential Sentiments (Maker's Movement)

Paper:   Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.); White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.)
Ink:   Distress Inks:  Mowed Lawn, Chipped Sapphire, Wilted Violet (Tim Holtz)
Accessories:   sponges, Sewing Stackers frame (Penny Black), White Posca acrylic pen, stylus and mat

Challenges:

The Flower Challenge #57 - CAS

Sunflowers

Hi everyone.  Back with my third set from Stampendous (Pop Sunflower) that I recently bought.  I wanted to spread some sunshine and these images certainly do that. :)

I stamped the image in black ink onto mixed media paper and heat embossed in clear; flowers first, then masked the flowers and stamped the jar.  Watercoloured with distress inks and then fussy-cut the image.  This is another save card.  I had added a shadow to the bottom of the card and it got out of hand and ended up way too large, hence the fussy-cutting. :)

This time I placed the jar of flowers over some patterned summer paper, I {heart} Summer patterned paper - Simple Stories.  This is an old set of paper, which I thought would have been long retired, but apparently not. :)  I glued the jar flat to the paper and popped up the flowers with pop dots.

I added the sentiment "Sending Smiles & Sunshine" to the inside of the card along with two small, watercoloured sunflowers, all part of the same stamp set.

Close-up ...

Thanks for stopping by!

Edited to add:  Sending this to NBUS Challenge #27.

Product Links

Pop Sunflower (Stampendous)

I {heart} Summer patterned paper - Simple Stories

Stamps:  Pop Sunflower (Stampendous)

Paper:   Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.); White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); I {heart} summer (Simple Stories)
Ink:   Black (Memento); Distress Inks:  Mustard Seed, Wild Honey, Mowed Lawn, Vintage Photo, Rusty Hinge, Broken China (Tim Holtz)
Accessories:   Clear embossing poweder (Ranger); heat tool, paint brush

Challenges:

NBUS Challnege #27

Lovely Flowers

Hi everyone.  Another beautiful stamp set from Stampendous - Lovely Flowers.  These images are so quick and easy to work with.  I stamped the jar in black ink and heat embossed in clear.  Added some masking tape to the top of the jar and stamped the flowers over top (again in black ink and heat embossed in clear.  Watercolouring these fun, whimsical flowers is a dream! :)  I used distress inks for the flowers and then added a grounding with gray dye ink at the bottom.  I love the choice of sentiments and how you can mix and match them.  I have one more stamp set that I'll share with you soon.

Close-up ...

Thanks for stopping by for a visit!

Product Links

Lovely Flowers (Stampendous)

Stamps:  Lovely Flowers (Stampendous)

Paper:   Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.); White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.)
Ink:   Black (Memento); Distress Inks:  Abandoned Coral, Squeezed Lemonade, Cracked Pistachio, Wilted Violet, Salty Ocean (Tim Holtz); Smoky Slate (Stampin' Up!)
Accessories:   Clear embossing powder (Ranger), heat tool, paint brush, masking tape

Rose Teacup

Hi everyone.  First, wanted to say that I'm happy to be back in my studio after being away for a week.  First Jessie was not well for about three days, then I felt off for the past four days after receiving my second vaccination.  Thankfully I had some posts scheduled ahead.  Happy to be creating again. :)

I decided to ink up one of my latest purchases to create this very CAS, whimsical card.  I am currently making cards to donate to a program through the Lions Club, sending cards to seniors.  I'm sure some senior will be happy to get this pretty teacup filled with roses (Rose Teacup - Stampendous). :)  I bought a series of three stamp sets from Stampendous, so you'll be seeing more similar cards.

Heat emboss in Princess Gold embossing powder (yellow gold - love it!) and then watercoloured with distress inks.  Fussy cut the roses and popped them up on top of the tea cup.  Added a light gray grounding for the cup with masking tape and my soft blending brush.

Adding this to The Flower Challenge #57 Challenge - CAS.  I do love making CAS cards. :)

Thanks for coming by for a visit!

Product Links

Rose Teacup (Stampendous)

Stamps:  Rose Teacup (Stampendous)

Paper:   Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.); White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.)
Ink:   Versamark; Distress Inks:  Mustard Seed, Picked Raspberry, Mowed Lawn, Broken Glass (Tim Holtz); Smoky Slate (Stampin' Up!)
Accessories:   Princess Gold embossing powder (Ranger), heat tool, paint brush, masking tape, blending brush

Challenges:

The Flower Challenge #57 - CAS

The Flower Challenge #57

Hi everyone.  Today is the start of The Flower Challenge #57 - CAS!  For my card, I used a digital image provided by our Sponsor - Joy Clair Designs.  These flowers are so fun to watercolour!

I printed the design onto Mixed Media paper and then set the ink with my heat tool.  I used Distress Inks (Mowed Lawn, Peacock Feathers, Mustard Seed, Ripe Persimmon, Crackling Campfire) to watercolour the image.  I added a little sponging through a simple tiny circle stencil (Mini Tiny Circles stencil - The Crafter's Workshop) with more Mowed Lawn ink to add something for the background.

Close-up ...

We are thrilled to have Rachel (Rachel Alvarado Designs) as our Guest Designer this month.  Please check out the challenge blog to see the beautiful CAS cards from our Designers and our wonderful Guest Designer, Rachel.

Product Links

Floral Joy - Digital Stamp (Joy Clair Designs)

MiniTiny Circles Stencil (The Crafter's Workshop)

Stamps:  Floral Joy (Joy Clair Stamps)

Paper:   Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.)
Ink:   Distress Inks:  Mustard Seed, Ripe Persimmon, Crackling Campfire, Mowed Lawn, Peacock Feathers (Tim Holtz)
Accessories:   water brush, Mini Tiny Circles stencil (The Crafter's Workshop), sponge, white Posca acrylic pen

Challenges:

The Flower Challenge #57 - CAS

CAS Christmas June Challenge

Hi everyone.  It's the start of this month's CAS Christmas challenge, which is hosted by the lovely Hideko (Papercraft Boutique).

I had a lot of fun making this card.  Snowmen are so cute!!  I stamped the snowman and heart, Love in My Heart - Unity (a gift from a dear friend) in black ink and heat embossed in clear.  Then fussy cut before watercolouring.  I added light blue ink to the body to give it some dimension and have it stand out from the background.

For the background, I used white embossing paste through a stencil (Snowflakes - Paper Artsy).  Then I tore a piece of white card stock to create snow at the bottom of the card.  This gives me a place to stamp my sentiment (Merry Up! - Penny Black) and also tuck the bottom of the snowman in-behind.  The snowman and heart are popped up for added dimension.

Close-up ...

To finish I just added some white dots to his scarf, as well as wink'd and glazed the heart.

We are so happy to have Steph (My Paper Corner) as our Guest Designer this month!  Welcome Steph!  Come check out the challenge blog to see Steph's fun snowman card, and the cards from our wonderful Designers.

Product Links

Snowflake Stencil (Paper Artsy)

Love in My Heart (Unity)

Merry Up! (Penny Black)

* * * * *

Jessie's says it's "Belly Rub Time".

* * * * *

Stamps:  Love in My Heart (Unity); Merry Up! (Penny Black)

Paper:   Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.); White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.)
Ink:   Black (Memento); Distress Inks:  Fired Brick, Aged Mahogany (Tim Holtz); Zigs: Yellow, Orange, Light Gray, Mid Brown, Dark Brown
Accessories:   Clear embossing powder (Ranger), heat tool, paint brush, Snowflakes stencil (Paper Artsy), White Embossing paste (Dreamweaver), Stencil Pal, Clear Wink of Stella, Crystlal Glaze (Nuvo)

Challenges:
CAS Christmas June Challenge - Snowman