Happy Birthday Susan!

Hi everyone.  Happy Birthday to Susan (Cardmaker's Garret).  Hope you have a wonderful day, my sweet friend!!

Blue is Susan's favourite colour, so I took artistic license today and painted my peonies blue. :)  I started by randomly inking a script background (En Francais from SU!) with Shadow Grey Archival ink.  I didn't want it solid because I knew I was going to watercolour over top, so I just added light inking here and there before stamping onto mixed media paper.  The great thing about Archival ink is that it's permanent, so I can watercolour overtop without loosing the background image.

I then embossed my panel using Peony Bundle Embossing Folder (Simon Says).  I misted the back of my panel lightly before embossing, preventing cracks that you sometimes get when using a 3D embossing folder.  Worked like a charm. :)

I watercoloured the embossed image with Distress Inks:  Salvage Patina, Mowed Lawn, Mermaid Lagoon, Mustard Seed, and Wild Honey.  I added a few layers of each colour to create depth and to add to the dimension of the image.  To finish, I stamped the sentiment (Endless Birthday Wishes - SU retired) in Distress Oxide ink.

Close-up ...

If you know Susan, I hope you'll take a few minutes to wish her a happy birthday!

I'm sending this card to the Can You Handle the Pressure challenge - Anything with Embossing Folders Goes.  I didn't use the optional twist this month of Christmas.

Thanks for stopping by!

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Stamps:  En Francais & Endless Birthday Wishes (SU! - both retired)

Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.)
Ink:   Shadow Grey Archival Ink (Ranger); Distress Ink:  Salvage Patina, Mowed Lawn, Mermaid Lagoon, Mustard Seed, Wild Honey (Tim Holtz); Mowed Lawn Doxide Inks (Tim Holtz)
Accessories:   Peony Bundle Embossing Folder (Simon Says Stamp); watercolour brushes

Challenges:

Group of Seven Pinterest - Colouring Dry Embossing

Can You Handle the Pressure - Anything Embossing Goes

Guest Designer for Just Us Girls - Challenge #603

Hi everyone.  It's my last week as Guest Designer at Just Us Girls ... I'm sorry it's coming to a close.

The challenge this week (#603) is Photo Challenge.

I couldn't wait to dive into my card for this challenge.  I LOVE flowers, especially lilacs, which are not only beautiful, but have a wonderful fragrance!  Unfortunately, I don't have a lilac stamp that would work ... I need to do some shopping! :)

Instead I used this beautiful stamp, Bouquet of Thanks (Simon Says Stamp).  I stamped the image twice onto mixed media paper in black ink and heat embossed with clear embossing powder.  I used Wilted Violet Distress re-inker to watercolour my flowers, and Mowed Lawn ink for the stems.  I die-cut the two sets of flowers with the matching die, and set aside.

The background is dry embossed with a wood plank embossing folder (Stampin' Up! - retired).  This was my nod to the wooden barrel in the photo.  To finish, I popped up the flower blooms, gluing the stems to the card front.  The sentiment (Thoughtful Messages - Simon Says Stamp) is heat embossed with white on black card stock.  It's popped up on the card front for added dimension.  Last thing was to use my black Posca pen to add black dots to the stamins.

Close-up ...

Inside:

I hope you'll check out Just Us Girls challenge blog to see all the amazing cards from the Designers and then join in!

I have had a wonderful time creating cards for Just Us Girls as their September Guest Designer.  I want to thank the team for having me, with a special shout-out to Vicki, who was so encouraging.  I enjoyed all four of the challenges this month! Thank You!!

If you would like to subscribe by email,

please fill out the subscription form in the upper right sidebar.

It is also important to add sw1subscribers@gmail.com to your contact list

so Google recognizes the address and delivers the updates.

Stamps:  Bouquet of Thanks, Thoughtful Messages (both Simon Says Stamp)

Paper:   Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.); White card base (Neenah 110 lb.); black card stock (SU!)
Ink:   Black (Memento); Wilted Violet Distress Re-inker; Mowed Lawn Distress Ink (Tim Holtz); Versamark
Accessories:   Clear heat embossing powder (Ranger), heat tool, paint brushes (#2 & #4 Round), Woodland Embossing Folder (SU!), White embossing powder, Black Posca pen

Challenges:
Just Us Girls Challenge #603 - Photo Inspiration

The Flower Challenge #58 Reminder

Hi everyone.  Today is the reminder that we are half way through the month for The Flower Challenge.  Still lots of time to play along ...

I added both spots and stripes to my card today.  Started by adding a dotty border using the Hemstitch Rectangles die (Spellbinders).  I then stamped my flower (Birthday Blooms - SU! - retired) in princess gold embossing powder and heated it to melt.  I watercoloured using distress inks (Abandoned Coral, Candied Apple, Mowed Lawn, Rustic Wilderness).  I fussy cut my image and set aside.

I bought some corrugated card stock from AliExpress a while back and wanted to add some to my card (the stripes!).  I used a dark brown which worked really well with the colours of my bloom.  Added a piece that fit just inside the dotty frame and then popped up the flower over top.  I stamped the sentiment (part of the stamp set) and also heat embossed in princess gold.

Close-up ...

I hope you'll check out the challenge blog to see the amazing reminder cards from the Designers.  Make sure to take a look at the gallery ... it's filled with lots of amazing spots and / or stripes cards!

Thanks for dropping by!

Product Links

Hemstitch Rectangles dies (Spellbinders)

Stamps:  Birthday Blooms - retired (Stampin' Up!)

Paper:   Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.); White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Corrugated Brown card stock (AliExpress)
Ink:   Versamark; Distress Inks:  Abandoned Coral, Candied Apple, Mowed Lawn, Rustic Wilderness (Tim Holtz)
Accessories:  Princess Gold  Embossing powder (Ranger), heat tool, water brush, Hemstitch Rectangles (Spellbinders)

Challenges:

The Flower Challenge #58 - Spots and/or Stripes

The Flower Challenge #50 Reminder

Hi everyone.  We are half way through November so it's time for The Flower Challenge #50 Reminder.  

I started with a beautiful image sent to me by a good friend.  I do love this beautiful image (Hellebores from Power Poppy Stamps) and will definitely buy this set for myself once it's back in stock.  Hellebores is also called a Christmas Rose because it blooms this time of year.  It comes in many colours ... white, pink, red, purple and more).  I used distress inks to watercolour.  Added highlights using zigs and watercolour pencils.  The sentiment is retired (Stampin' Up!).

Close-up ...

There's still 10 days left before the challenge closes, so lots of time to join in the fun!

Stamps:  Hellebores (Power Poppy); Painted Petals - retired (Stampin' Up!)
Paper:   Mixed Media
Ink:   Distress Inks:  Worn Lipstick, Twisted Citron, Mowed Lawn, Tumbled Glass); Shadow Grey (Archival)
Accessories:  water brush, zigs, watercolour pencils  

Challenges:

The Flower Challenge #50 Reminder

Another Zoom Session with another Zoom Group

Hi everyone.  I'm playing along with another group of crafting friends, meeting up once a month.  We had our first session on Sept. 30th and it was all about using embossing folders.  I have lots, but rarely remember to pull them out.

It was a lot of fun and we all got some samples done and have made some into cards.  We are all sharing our finished cards today, so check below for links to the other girl's blogs.  I hope you'll take a look.  I know you'll be inspired! 

For the card above, the technique was double embossing.  I had never done this before.  It's so easy and the results are awesome!  First I dry embossed white card stock with the Pinewood Planks embossing folder.  I then took the dry embossed card stock and placed it into a second embossing folder, Layered Leaves (both are 3D folders from Stampin' Up!).  I love the design I got with the woodgrain planks in the background and the leaves in the foreground.  So cool!  The card front was sponged with Antique Linen distress ink to highlight the embossed design.

I cut a flower die that was a gift from a sweet friend.  I watercoloured the leaves in shades of brown; the flower petals in red with brown in the center and sponged brown on the outer edges.  I used the same brown marker to add details to the center of the two flowers and finished with a brown half pearl.  The sentiment is stamped in the same brown and then restamped in red.  The colour works perfectly with the flower!

Close-up ...

The next card is a bit of a surprise.  At least I was surprised making it.  The dry embossed panel is made from toilet paper!  Four layers held together with a light spritz of water and then embossed with a leaves folder (Spring Leaves - retired - Elizabeth Craft Designs).  I love how it looks like handmade paper.  

I tore the edges to create a square, adding a die-cut leaf sprig (Little Leaves die - retired - Sizzix for SU!) on top that is watercoloured with bright green ink and coated with glass bead gel.  It's backed with black card stock to add some contrast with a white heat embossed sentiment.

For my last card, I dry embossed a piece of silver foil card stock and then added drips of three colours of alcohol inks.  I used blending solution to thin out the inks so they would flow down the card.  I always use a piece of aluminum foil to protect my work surface and catch any extra ink.  I also wear vinyl gloves, and used my fingers to pick up some extra ink off the foil and press it onto my card stock.  Worked great ... and then I'll use the aluminum foil to make a card as well! :)

I used my favourite combination of alcohol inks for this (all Ranger); Wild Plum, Sunset Orange, Sunshine Yellow.  I added a black die-cut of Flower Flourish (from Penny Black) and stamped my sentiment (Noveau Flowers - retired- Clearly Besotted at the bottom.  The panel is popped up on foam to add a bit of dimension.

Hope you enjoyed my embossing folder cards.  It was fun to learn new ways to use my EFs.

Check out the wonderful cards from the other members of the group:

Colleen

Julia

Linda

Marcia

Nancy

Thanks for stopping by!

Card #1 - Double Embossing

Stamps:  Scripty Sentiments (AliExpress)
Paper:   Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.); White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.)
Ink:   Distress Inks:  Antique Linen, Fired Brick, Gathered Twigs (Tim Holtz)
Accessories:   Pinewood Planks embossing folder (SU!); Layered Leaves embossing folder (SU!), sponge, water brush, brown marker, brown pearls

Card #2 - Handmade Paper

Stamps:  Essential Messages (Maker's Movement)
Paper:   Toilet paper, White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Black card stock (SU!)
Ink:   Bright Green; Versamark
Accessories:   Little Leaves die (Sizzix), Glass Bead Gel (Golden), white embossing powder, heat tool

Card #3 - Foil and Alcohol Inks

Stamps:  Noveau Flowers - sentiment only (Clearly Besotted)
Paper:   Silver Foil card stock (SU!); White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Black card stock (SU!)
Ink:   Alcohol Inks:  Wild Plum, Sunset Orange, Sunshine Yellow (Ranger); Black (Memento)
Accessories:   Courrier embossing folder (Carabelle Studios), blending solution, Flower Flourish die (Penny Black)

Watercolour stamp sets

Hi everyone.  I haven't bought many stamp sets from Stampin' Up! for a long time, but when I saw the latest catalogue ... WOW!  Lots of watercoloured-looking stamp sets.  A lot of the work is already done ... just add ink! :)

Today is an amazing set called Beautiful Friendship.  All I did was ink up the stamp with three shades of blue (one at a time, spritzing, stamping and blotting with paper towel after each addition), working lightest to darkest inks.  This was my first time trying this stamp and this CAS design was done in about 10 minutes.  You gotta love that!

Close-up ...

The sentiment is from the same stamp set.  I first stamped it in green, but it looked too washed out.  Overstamped in black, which is a LOT of contrast.  Might have been better with a soft gray or dark blue. :) Oh well, next time. :)

Since this is new to me, I'm adding it to the NBUS #18 gallery ...

Stamps:  Beautiful Friendship (Stampin' Up!)
Paper:  Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.)
Ink:  Distress Inks:  Tumbled Glass, Broken China, Salty Ocean, Shabby Shutters (Tim Holtz); Black (Memento)
Accessories & Tools:  Water mister

Challenges:
NBUS #18 Challenge

Twofer Challenge #31

Hi everyone.  Today is the start of the Twofer Challenge #31.  I used some backgrounds that had been in my stash for a while.  Always great to have them handy to make some quick cards.

This first card is coloured with leftover inks from another project.  I don't want them to go to waste so always smoosh the leftovers with a piece of mixed media paper.

I have had this stamp for a very long time.  It's Pine Tree (Stampscapes) and it's so beautiful.  I stamped a few of the trees in black (1st and second generation stamping) and used a light gray ink for the background trees.  I have already sent this off to a dear friend who lost his mother recently.

The second card started with another piece from my stash - watercoloured tissue paper.  I love the colours and bit of texture from the wrinkled tissue paper.  Stamped Pine Tree (Stampscapes) again twice and then mounted my image on a black card base with circle aperture.  A simple "HELLO" finishes the card.

Edited to add:  Several of you have mentioned that these cards remind you of the fires burning in Oregon and California.  I made these cards a few months back, long before the fires started and did not intend on making cards to reflect the terrible devastation that is happening now.  Sorry if my post has upset anyone.

Card #1: Your in my Thoughts
Stamps:  Pine Tree (Stampscapes); Best Thoughts - retired (Stampin' Up!)
Paper:  Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.)
Ink:  Black (Memento); Smoky Slate (SU!)
Accessories & Tools:

Card #2: Hello
Stamps:  Pine Tree (Stampscapes); Happy Messages (Stampendous)
Paper:  White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Tissue Paper; Black card stock (SU!)
Ink:  Black (Memento); Smoky Slate (SU!)
Accessories & Tools:  Circle Nestability die - retired (Spellbinders)

Challenges:
Twofer Challenge #31

At the Beach

Hi everyone.  Adding another card to the CAS Mix Up August Challenge - Beach (Watercolouring).

Another new stamp set!! :)  I thought this would be so fun to play with .  It's easy too.  I just inked up the stamps separately and stamped onto mixed media paper.  Then I took a water brush and moved the inks around to create a watercoloured card. :)  I think it would have blended better if I spritzed the inked stamps with a light mist of water before stamping, but I was working outside on my deck (enjoying the sunshine) and my mister was in my studio.  I was too lazy to go get it! :)

Close-up ...

Since this is a new stamp set (and the sentiment is new too), I'm adding my card to the NBUS #17 challenge.  I've been pretty busy using NBUS stamps and dies this month! :)

Products
Waterfront stamp set (Stampin' Up!)
Ocean Wisdom (Stampendous)

Stamps:  Waterfront (SU!); Ocean Wisdom (Stampendous)
Paper:  Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.)
Ink:  Distress Inks:  Tumbled Glass, Broken China, Antique Linen, Brushed Corduroy, Gathered Twigs, Mowed Lawn (Tim Holtz)
Accessories & Tools:  water brush, stamping blocks

Challenges:
CAS Mix Up August Challenge - Beach
NBUS #17 Challenge

Split 4 with Watercolouring

Hi everyone.  I'm back with another set of cards using the Split 4 technique (click here for link to video by Robin Broome).  This time I took a little extra time to watercolour my cards once all the stamping was done and the cards were cut apart.  I love how all four turned out.  This stamp set from Stampin' Up! (Forever Fern) is perfect for this technique. :)

I used three colours of distress inks (twisted citron, evergreen bough, pine needles).  I thought I'd watercolour all four card fronts BEFORE cutting them apart.  Being a lefty, my hand dragged across the stamped images and smeared ink.  I was able to use that to my advantage by watercolouring the smeared ink into the blue watercolouring you see around in the background.  But now I know it's best to cut them apart before watercolouring. :)  Always learning something! :)

Here's a close-up of the other three from the set ...

I hope you'll give this fun technique a try.  FYI, distress inks worked really well for this  Because they are so easily dissolved with water, I could stamp them all and not worry about how much time I took to start watercolouring.  I have since tried this using dye inks, but once they have dried, you can't get the colour to move.  So if you want to use inks to watercolour, distress inks are important when doing this technique with watercolouring.

Since this is a new-to-me stamp set, I'm adding my card to the NBUS #16 gallery (never-before-used-schtuff).  I hope you'll join me there!

Products
Forever Fern (Stampin' Up!)

Stamps:  Forever Fern (SU!); Painted Petals - retired (SU!)
Paper:  Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.)
Ink:  Distress Inks:  Twisted Citron, Evergreen Bough, Pine Needles (Tim Holtz)
Accessories & Tools:  Water brush

Challenges:
NBUS #16 Challenge

Happy Belated Birthday Laura!

Hi everyone.  This is a card I sent to Laura (one of my blog followers) who turned 80 years old a while ago.  I'm hoping that she's received my card in the mail by now.  Hope you had a wonderful birthday Laura!

I love this hydrangea from Stampin' Up!  It's an old stamp set, but one I will hang on to.  I watercoloured the hydrangea bloom and butterfly with Distress inks before fussy-cutting both images.  I die-cut this fabulous Penny Black frame and adhered my images on top, popping up the butterfly for a little extra dimension.  I added one of my favourite HB sentiments from Technique Tuesday.

Close-up ...

* * * * *

Jessie on Mother's Day

Stopped running after Violeta for a moment to pose for this picture.

Don't usually see her tired with her tongue hanging out. :)

Celebrating both birthdays on May 17
Jessie's BD (May 15) and Jer's BD (May 17)

Jessie's birthday portrait

Jer and his girlzies

Photos by Alejandro Garcia

Copyrighted

Stamps:  Best Thoughts (Stampin' Up!); Cosmos - sentiment (Technique Tuesday)
Paper:  Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.); White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.)
Ink:  Black (Versafine); Distress Inks:  Salty Ocean, Mowed Lawn, Ripe Persimmon, Mustard Seed (Tim Holtz)
Accessories & Tools:  Watercolour paint brush, Simple Stackers Frame die (Penny Black), white gel pen