Metallic Birthday

Hi everyone.  Today's card is a CASE of a card I made way back in 2014.  This is one of my favourite cards I've made in the many years I have been crafting, and it popped into my head recently.  I dug through my dies and found that I still had some leaves cut from leftover copper with alcohol inks pounced on top.  Awesome!  This means I'm getting to use up come long neglected die-cuts ... as well as some old patterned paper.  :)

Close-up ...

Sending this card to Seize the Birthday #284 - which was my inspiration!  Thanks Ashwini!

Also sending to IDEAS - "Anything Goes" week, self challenge by Dolly.  I've used some long neglected papers and copper! :)

This card is very close to the original card I made ... a little more CAS. :)  Always good to have masculine cards on hand. 

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Jessie and Violeta's walk in the park

 

Thanks for stopping by!

Stamps:  Simply Sentiments (Lawn Fawn

Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); River Rock (SU!); Early Espresso (SU!)
Ink:   Alcohol inks:  Red, Green, Yellow; Distress Oxides (Ground Espresso, Walnut Stain) Tim Holtz
Accessories:  Copper sheets, Leaf dies, branch die 

Challenges:

Seize the Birthday #284 - Use Metallics (optional)

IDEAS - May Anything Goes

Bokeh - Group of Seven

Hi everyone.  I have made several Bokeh cards in the past so this is not a new technique for me.  But as always, it's a great reminder of a technique that I enjoy that I have not done for a while.  Bokeh is easy to do ... basically sponging through a circle stencil over top of a colourful background.  You can create unique backgrounds by either sponging more colour through a circle stencil ... or by removing colour through a circle stencil.  So many possibilities!!

For the card above I sponged Distress Inks: Salvaged Patina, Mowed Lawn; then used a circle stencil to sponge different sizes of circles in white pigment ink.  I cut the panel down and added a silhouette leafy branch (Just Because - Uniko) in black ink.  I added a "Hello" sentiment (Everyday Messages - Maker's Movement) in black to finish the panel and then popped it up on foam and attached it to a black card base.  Very simple design, but interesting with the bokeh background.

Please check out the details for the technique and link to video on the blog ...

Group of Seven Cardmakers

Here's what I learned when I experimented with this technique ...

• It's important to overlap some of the circles and have them different shades of white ... this gives you the illusion of depth.
• I was unhappy with my first try on the above card.  The circle pattern I created was just ok.  So I sprayed lots of water and removed most of the coloured ink from my mixed media panel with a paper towel.  The white circles were still a bit visible.  When it dried, I sponged over top with green and blue inks a second time.  The circles from before, picked up the green and blue ink, creating subtle circles in the background.  I added my white circles on top and this gave me even more depth.  A happy mistake. :) 

For this next card, I sponged distress inks (Picked Raspberry, Kitsch Flamingo), let dry and then sponged white circles randomly overtop.  I placed the panel behind a die-cut (Evergreen Window - retired from Memory Box).  To finish I stamped a sentiment (Merry Messages - Lawn Fawn) in Delicata Silver ink.

I'm sending the first card to Stencil Fun May Challenge - Anything Stenciling Goes.

I'm sending the second card to Rudolph Days May Challenge.

Thanks for stopping by!

Stamps:  Just Because (Uniko); Everyday Messages (Maker's Movement)

Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Black card stock (SU!)
Ink:   Distress inks:  Salvaged Patina, Mowed Lawn (Tim Holtz); White Unicorn Pigment ink (Hero Arts); Black ink (Memento)
Accessories:   Sponges, circle stencil

Stamps:  Merry Messages (Lawn Fawn)

Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.)
Ink:   Distress Inks:  Picked Raspberry, Kitsch Flamingo (Tim Holtz); White Unicorn Pigment ink (Hero Arts); Delicata Silver Ink (Tsukineko)
Accessories:   Sponges, circle stencil, Evergreen Window die (Memory Box) 

Challenges:

Group of Seven - Bokeh

Stencil Fun Challenge - Anything Stenciling Goes

Rudolph Days May Challenge

Penny Black - Sophistication

Hi everyone.  Today I'm sharing another of the new Penny Black release.  This time I've used a cling stamp called Sophistication (40-929).

I started with the Honeycomb Stencil (Penny Black), sponging along one side of my card front in Salvaged Patina distress ink.  Removed the stencil and then stamped Sophistication in Smoky Slate ink (SU!) and heat embossed in clear.  

I watercoloured the image in Distress Inks (Ripe Persimmon, Crackling Campfire, and Peeled Paint).  I then stamped the sentiment (Family Sentiment - Penny Black) in more of the slate ink to finish the card.

Close-up ...

Sending the above card to two challenges:

Penny Black Saturday Challenge - May

Beautiful Blossoms - Anything Floral Goes 

    

Thanks for stopping by!

Penny Black Products

   Sophistication (40-929)               Honeycomb Stencil              Family Sentiment (30-555)

Stamps:  Sophistication; Family Sentiment (both Penny Black)

Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.)
Ink:  Distress Inks:  Salvaged Patina, Ripe Persimmon, Cracking Campfire, Peeled Paint (Tim Holtz); Smoky Slate (SU!) 
Accessories:   Honeycomb Stencil (Penny Black), sponge, Clear embossing powder (Ranger), heat tool, watercolour brushes

Challenges:

Penny Black Saturday Challenge - May

Beautiful Blossoms - Anything Floral Goes

IDEAS May - Embossing Folders

Hi everyone.  It's time for the next IDEAS Challenge with Darnell.  This week is "E for Embossing Folders".

I used a NBUS embossing folder for the background (Variegated - Penny Black).  I inked up the inside (deboss) of the embossing folder, added a piece of regular card stock and then ran it through my Gemini Jr.  LOVE how it turned out.  The soft green (Shabby Shutters Distress Ink) fills in the background while the embossing raises the white leaves and gives them dimension.  I cut the panel down to 2 1/2" x 3 1/4".  The Sketch Daisy die (Memory Box) was cut from white card stock.  The flower was sponged with Distress Inks (Saltwater Taffy, Abandoned Coral, Crackling Campfire).  The leaves were sponged with Shabby Shutter and Peeled Paint.  To finish, a simple Hello sentiment (Stampendous) was stamped in more of the Peeled Paint distress ink.

I'm sending the above card to three challenges (listed below with links):

IDEAS May Challenge - Embossing Folders

NBUS #62

Can you Handle the Pressure? May 11 - AG with a Twist of Flowers

   

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It's been a while since you've seen a photo of Jessie.  She turned five a few days ago --- time flies!  We're now been living with Jeremy, Alex and their dog, Violeta.  Jessie gets a walk everyday ... sometimes two! :)  She has definitely lost a bit of weight and is looking good, especially with her new hair cut that Jer and I gave her.  She is loving life with a full house.  There's always something happening and someone to play with. :)

Photo by Alex

On a personal note, this has been the right decision for hubby and I.  We love spending time with the family and they have been wonderful looking after chores that are now too much for us (gardening, grocery shopping, etc.).  Plus we get the benefit of Alex's amazing cooking skills a few times a week as we share the cooking duties.  We are blessed!

Thanks for stopping by!

Stamps:  Spring Sentiments - retired (Stampendous)

Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.)
Ink:  Distress Inks:  Shabby Shutters, Saltwater Taffy, Abandoned Coral (Tim Holtz); Cameo Coral Stampin' Up Writer 
Accessories:   Variegated embossing folder (Penny Black); Floral Stem Collage die - retired (Poppy Stamps), watercolour brushes, Jewel Drops (Nuvo)

Challenges:

IDEAS May Challenge - Embossing Folders

NBUS Challenge #62

Can You Handle the Pressure? - May 11 - AG with a Twist of Flowers

Penny Black - Refresh

Hi everyone.  Today's card uses one of the dies from the latest release at Penny Black, called Refresh (51-817).

I absolutely adore these lovely flowers in three different sizes.  I die-cut them from mixed media paper and sponged with Distress Inks (Mustard Seed, Spiced Marmalade, Carved Pumpkin).  I mounted them over top of a die-cut and embossed background panel (Semi-Circle Stackers 51-706), popping up the panel with foam for added dimension.  To finish this CAS design, I stamped the sentiment (Super Day 31-044) in Gathered Twigs Distress Ink and used my white Posca pen to add small dots to the flower centers.

Close-up ...

Sending the above card to three challenges:

NBUS Challenge #62

The Flower Challenge #91 - Colour your Flower.

Simply Clean & Simple May Challenge - optional theme:  Flowers.

    

Thanks for stopping by!

Penny Black Products

  

             Refresh (51-817)                   Semi-Circle Stackers (51-706)          Super Day (31-044)

Stamps:  Super Day (Penny Black)

Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.)
Ink:   Distress Inks:  Mustard Seed, Spiced Marmalade, Carved Pumpkin, Gathered Twigs (Tim Holtz)
Accessories:   Refresh dies (Penny Black), sponges, White Posca pen, Semi-circle Stacker Dies (Penny Black)

Challenges:

NBUS Challenge # 62

Simply Clean & Simple May Challenge - optional theme:  Flowers

The Flower Challenge #91 - Colour your Flower

Many Thanks

Hi everyone.  It's great to be back on-line after moving houses and being "unplugged" for a few weeks. :)

Today I'm sharing a card I made for Emily.  She has been walking Jessie for a few years and we will miss her.  I used one of the images from Daisy Darlings from Penny Black, stamped in black and watercoloured with Distress Inks (Mustard Seed, Ripe Persimmon, Brushed Corduroy, Gathered Twigs, and Mowed Lawn).  The sentiment is from the Happy Snippets (Penny Black) stamp set.

Close-up ...

I kept this card CAS (clean and simple) as the image is so darn adorable ... and I wanted it to be the focus. :)

I'm sending this to Penny Black Saturday Challenge - May.

Thanks for stopping by!

Stamps:  Dainty Darlings (Penny Black); Happy Snippets (Penny Black)

Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.)
Ink:  Black Pigment ink (Obsidian - Altenew); Distress Inks:  Mustard Seed, Ripe Persimmon, Brushed Corduroy, Gathered Twigs, Mowed Lawn (Tim Holtz) 
Accessories:   Watercolour brushes

Challenges:

Penny Black Saturday Challenge - May