The Flower Challenge #54

Hi everyone.  It's the start of March's The Flower Challenge #54.  This month we are playing with purple. :)

We are excited to have Beccy's Place as our wonderful sponsor this month with a prize of a $10 AU gift code voucher to be redeemed for any digital stamps in her online shop www.beccysplace.com. Beccy has also provided digi stamps to our team too, see below for details.

I chose "Spring Tulips" from Beccy's digital stamps.  I love the thought of spring not being very far away.  I started by printing the digital image in soft gray and then watercoloured the flowers and leaves with Seedless Preserves and Hickory Smoke distress inks.  I then watercoloured the watering can with Milled Lavender, but it was too pale, so I did a second coat, this time with a light wash of Seedless Preserves.  Happy with how it looks.  The sentiment is from a retired Technique Tuesday stamp set called Cosmos - I love the font of the sentiments in that set. 

Close-up ...

We are happy to have Colleen (Irish Rose Creations) as our Guest Designer this month.  Welcome Colleen!

I hope you'll check out the challenge blog to see all the amazing "shades of purple" cards from our Designers and wonderful Guest Designer, Colleen.

Hope to see you in The Flower Challenge's gallery!

Products

Spring Tulips (Becky's Digital Stamps)

Stamps:  Spring Tulips (Beccy's Place); Cosmos (Technique Tuesday)

Paper:   Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.)
Ink:   Distress Inks:  Seedless Preserves, Hickory Smoke, Milled Lavender (Tim Holtz)
Accessories:   water brush

Challenges:

The Flower Challenge #54 - Shades of Purple

Gesso through Stencil

Hi everyone.  Hope you are having a great day!  

Sharing another new-to-me technique.  Following Eileen Godwin's methods, I sponged (very lightly) gesso through a stencil (Leaves - Simon Says Stamp - retired) onto my card front.  It dries in seconds and then I could move on to the next part, which was sponging distress inks (Mustard Seed, Spiced Marmalade, Worn Lipstick) over top of the gesso'd stenciling (I masked a border before starting).  Used blender brushes to get a nice blend of colour and then used a damp paper towel to remove some of the ink from the gesso'd areas (resist).  Removed the mask and then stamped my image (Wildflowers - Inkadinkado) and sentiment (Cosmos - Technique Tuesday - retired).

To finish added some Clear Wink of Stella around the outside of the stenciling leaves and stems, making sure not to touch the black ink stamped wildflower because it was done in non-permanent ink.  Added a few white dots around the stem of the flower to complete the card. 

Close-up ...

This is another technique I did with my friends over Zoom.  We are learning to much and having a lot of fun! :)

Is it just me, or does it seem like stamps and stencils are being retired more quickly now??!!  I guess it's all to keep us buying the latest new releases.  But I do love a lot of my older stamps and stencils and I won't be getting rid of them.  This just means my studio is bursting at the seams right now and I really need to find a larger space. :)

I'm sending this card over to the Seize the Birthday #207.  I'm not using the optional topping this month, but wanted to share my latest birthday card! :)

Stamps:  Meadow (Inkadinkado); Cosmos (Technique Tuesday - retired)

Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.)
Ink:   Distress Inks:  Mustard Seed, Spiced Marmalade, Worn Lipstick (Tim Holtz); Black (Memento)
Accessories:   White Gesso, Leaves Stencil (Simon Says Stamp), sponge, blending brushes, masking tape, Clear Wink of Stella, White Posca pen

Challenges:
Seize the Birthday #207 - Hearts

CAS Mix Up November Challenge

Hi everyone.  It's the start of our last CAS Mix Up challenge for 2020.  Bonnie (Stamping with Klass) is hosting our Watercolour challenge - Off the Edge.  Make a CAS watercoloured card with an off-the-edge design and join us in our gallery!

We are thrilled to have Michele (I Card Everyone) as our Guest Designer this month.  Welcome Michele!

I stamped this new-to-me image Azalea (Power Poppy) in black ink and heat embossed in clear.  I watercoloured using distress inks.  I've used Kathy Racoosin 's technique of using gray to add shading to an image.  After the image was watercoloured, I used a dark gray zig watercolour marker to colour into all the nooks and crannies around the outside of the image.  I used my waterbrush to move and soften the colour.  The shading gives the image more depth.

Close-up ...

To finish, I stamped my sentiment and heat embossed in clear to match the flowers.  And I took a white Posca pen to add white to the stamens.  I love this pen! :)

I hope you'll check out the challenge blog to see the amazing, watercoloured, off-the edge cards from our Designers and wonderul Guest Designer, Michele!  Then come play along!

Stamps:  Azalea (Power Poppy), Cosmos - sentiment - retired (Technique Tuesday)
Paper:  Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.);
Ink:  Black (Memento); Distress Inks:  Abandoned Coral, Ripe Persimmon, Candied Apple, Shabby Shutters, Peeled Paint, Gathered Twigs (Tim Holtz); Zig marker - gray
Accessories & Tools:  Clear embossing powder (Ranger), waterbrush, heat tool, white acrylic paint pen (Posca)

Challenges:
CAS Mix Up November Challenge - Off the Edge

Zooming with Friends - September

Hi everyone.  A couple of weeks ago, we had our regular monthly group crafting session with Zoom.  This time we decided that we needed to pull out a long-neglected product to play with ... we chose Perfect Pearls.  Sharing four of my Perfect Pearl cards today that I made as samples for our crafting session.  And the rest of the group is sharing too - see below for links to their Perfect Pearl cards (Bonnie, Brenda, Christine, Darnell, Susan).

I only have four Perfect Pearls colours - all metallics (Pearl, Gold, Copper, Bronze) that I received as a gift ages ago from my dear friend, Mary.

Have to say it was fun to research and play with these lovely little pots of shimmer.  During our session, we covered several Perfect Pearl techniques. We had a LOT of fun. 

For the card above, I used Picked Raspberry Distress ink mixed with Pearl-coloured Perfect Pearls and water to watercolour this lovely image from Penny Black.  The image is heat embossed in Liquid Platinum and then watercoloured  That's it.  The colours shimmer from the added Pearl powder, which you can see a bit better in the close-up photo below.

Close-up ...

For our second technique, we smooshed a mixture of distress inks and Perfect Pearls. 

I used Mustard Seed and Carved Pumpkin Distress Inks, along with Pearl-coloured Perfect Pearls to create this shimmery, pearl background.  I then stamped my image in Versamark, dusted with Copper Perfect Pearls, and misted lightly with water to set the powder.

Close-up ... you can see the shimmer better from this angle.

Here's another card using the other half of my smooshed background.

This time Bronze Perfect Pearls were used to dust over the Vintage Photo Ink-stamped image.

Close-up shows shimmer must better ...

The last technique I'm sharing from our zoom meeting is watercolouring die-cuts with Perfect Pearls.

I used two colours of Perfect Pearls on the leaf sprig, Gold and Bronze.  I mixed the powders with water and painted two coats onto my leaves and stems, which creates an opaque look.  The sentiment is stamped in Versamark, dusted with gold Perfect Pearls, and set with a light mist of water.

Close-up ...

The group of us are all posting our cards today.  Would love for you to check out the links to the others blogs and leave them a comment as well.

Bonnie
Brenda

Christine
Darnell
Susan

Thanks for coming by for a visit!

Twofer Challenge #29

Hi everyone.  Today I'm playing along with Twofer Challenge #29.  I'm sure you can guess what the challenge prompt is ... :)

Remember to follow the rules ...

I have created two different designs for two different occasions using the same butterfly die-cut.

First up, a CAS birthday card ...

The background behind the butterfly is stamped in delicata silver ink.  The butterfly's main body is cut from a piece of mixed media paper that had been smooshed with purple and red metallic liquids.  The outline of the butterfly is layered over top and a simple sentiment is stamped to finish the card.  This a one layer card which I don't make often.

The second card is a CAS mixed media encouragement card ...

The background is from my stash of paper towel transfers with pink and orange inks.  I stenciled over top with a honeycomb stencil in both bright pink and gold inks.  You can't really see the original background any more unless close up.  This time I only used the outline of the butterfly.  Die-cutting it from black really makes it pop off the background.  I complimented it with a black sentiment banner with white embossing.

I hope you'll come join in the Twofer Challenge.  It only runs for two weeks, so have your two cards posted before end of day July 24th!  Hope to see you in the gallery!

Products
Flitter Side Butterfly die (Memory Box)
Liquid Metallics (Ken Oliver)
Many Everyday Messages (Hero Arts)

Card #1 - Happy Birthday Butterfly
Stamps:  Gorgeous Grunge (SU! - retired); Happy Birthday sentiment (Cosmos - Technique Tuesday - retired)
Paper:  White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.)
Ink:  Delicata Silver (Tsukineko); Black (Memento)
Accessories & Tools: Flitter Side Butterfly (Memory Box); Liquid Metallics:  Ruby Red, Quartz (Ken Oliver)

Card #2 - Happy Birthday Butterfly
Stamps:  Many Everyday Messages (Hero Arts)
Paper:  White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Black card stock (SU!)
Ink:  Picked Raspberry Distress Ink (Tim Holtz); Delicata Gold (Tsukineko); Versamark
Accessories & Tools: Flitter Side Butterfly (Memory Box); Honeycomb stencil (cut with my Silhouette Cameo); sponges, white embossing powder, heat tool

Challenges:
Twofer Challenge #29 - Butterflies

CAS Mix Up June Challenge

Hi everyone.  Welcome to the new CAS Mix Up Challenges.  If you haven't looked at the Challenge blog yet, please do visit to see the changes.

This month's challenge is for Mixed Media and is hosted by Susan (Cat's Inkcorporated).  Susan wants us to have a play with embossing vellum.

There are several ways to emboss vellum.  My card today uses heat embossing.  I stamped my image with Versamark and heat embossed with liquid platinum.  I then watercoloured the image using magicals.  I love the shimmer of these paints!  Most watercolour mediums will rub off vellum, but these lovely powders mixed with the slightest amount of water, stay permanent.

I mounted my watercoloured, heat embossed vellum onto a piece of acetate for stability.  Then popped it up over my card base with a thin white frame.

Close-up ...

We are thrilled to have Bonnie (Crafter at Large) as our Guest Designer this month.

Please check out the challenge blog to see the beautiful assortment of embossed vellum cards from Bonnie and our amazing Designers.  Then come play along.

Challenge is open until the 24th of the month, so there's lots of time to play.  Hope to see you in the gallery!

Products used:
Kind Soul Stamp (WPlus9)

Stamps:  Kind Soul (WPlus9); Cosmos - senitment (Technique Tuesday - retired)
Paper:  Vellum (Stampin' Up!); White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.)
Ink:  Versamark; Magicals: Hydrangea Blue, Hag's Wart Orange, Cana lily burnt orange, Drop Dead Gorgeous Green (Lindy's)
Accessories & Tools:  Liquid Platinum embossing powder (Ranger), heat tool

Challenges:
CAS Mix Up June Challenge - Embossed Vellum

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

Happy Hydrangea

Hi everyone.  Today I'm sharing a sweet card that is perfect no matter what time of year.  I'm adding this to the gallery at CAS Watercolour June Challenge - Something Blue.

This pretty hydrangea has been in my NBUS stash for a long time.  Happy to finally get it inked up.  It also comes with a matching die.  I don't mind fussy-cutting, but the dies are so quick! :)

The flower was stamped in Versamark ink onto mixed media paper.  It was then heat embossed with liquid platinum which is a warm silver (love this colour!).  I watercoloured the flower and leaves using distress inks.  Using a white gel pen, added white to the center fo the flowers and then die-cut the image.  I used another NBUS stamp for the background.  A small script that is off to one side, stamped in the lightest blue I used for the flower.  The sentiment (from the same stamp set) is stamped and heat embossed to match the image.  I die-cut the flower from foam as well and popped up the layers onto the card front, which is also popped up from the card base. :)

Here's a close-up ...

Still three days left to play before the challenge closes at midnight (PDST) June 24th.

Stamps:  Happy Hydrangea (Technique Tuesday); Gabi's Postcards from Paris (49th & Market)
Paper:  Mixed media (Strathmore 140 lb. 400 Series); White card base (Neenah 110 lb.)
Ink:  Versamark; Distress inks:  Broken Glass, Peacock Feathers, Mermaid Lagoon, Twisted Citron, Mowed Lawn (Tim Holtz)
Accessories & Tools:  Liquid Platinum embossing powder (Ranger), heat tool, Happy Hydrangea die (Technique Tuesday), water brush, white gel pen

Challenges:
CAS Watercolour June Challenge - Something Blue

Twofer Challenge #16

Hi everyone.  Welcome to Twofer Challenge #16 - Things with Wheels!

As always, participants are required to follow the rules listed below, while using the challenge prompt above.

I bought this bicyle die a LONG time ago, but it's the first time using.  Another thing from one of my NBUS boxes (I now have three!).

I had a leftover rainbow from experimenting just sitting on my desk.  It's one of my tries that didn't quite work for another project.  It worked great for my bicycle!  I thought with the pretty colours, this would be a great encouragement/get well card so I stenciled a sunburst in the background.  Hopefully this card will make someone feel better. :)

Here's the close-up ...

For my second card, I wanted to make a spring birthday card ... I always need LOTS of those.  This time I used the same bicycle die, but left it white.  I die-cut little leaves and flowers watercoloured them with zigs, and made a posy in the bike's basket.  I used one of my paper towel transfer backgrounds, stamped the sentiment in black and adhered the bicycle to the card front.

Here's a close-up ...

I had a lot of fun making these cards and I hope you'll join us for some fun as well!  We are thrilled to have two wonderful Guest Designers joining us this month.  Welcome to Hilary Jane (Fiddling About) and Cornelia (Stempel Spass).

Please check out the challenge blog to see the fun and artistic cards from our Designers and Guest Designers.  Then come play along.  The challenge is open until May 24th at midnight.

Card #1: A little bit of Sunshine
Stamps:  happy snippets (Penny Black)
Paper:  Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb. 400 Series); White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.)
Ink:  Distress Inks:  candied apple, spiced marmalade, mustard seed, mowed lawn, peacock feathers, wilted violet (Tim Holtz); Black (Memento)
Accessories & Tools:  Sunburst stencil (Silhouette America), sponges, Bicycle die (AliExpress), Black marker

Card #2:  Happy Birthday
Stamps:  Cosmos - sentiment (Technique Tuesday)
Paper:  Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb. 400 Series); White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.)
Ink:  Zigs; Black (Memento)
Accessories & Tools:  Bicycle die (AliExpress), water brush, stylus and mat to shape flowers

Challenges:
Twofer Card Challenge #16 - Things with Wheels

CAS Watercolour February Challenge

Hi everyone.  Welcome to the CAS Watercolour February Challenge.  This month's host is Marcia (Marcia's Stampin' Pad).  She has chosen a great colour combination for us to work with this month ...

I love blending two colours of ink to create a whole new shade.  This is what happened when I used pink distress ink and then blended red over top.  Very vibrant colours for my pretty flower.  I kept the stem and leaves neutral, watercolouring with Sahara Sand.  I watercoloured a second flower and fussy-cut, then adhered it to the inside of my card.  You can just see the edges peeking out on the left hand side. :)

Here's a close-up ...

... and ... even closer-up.   It was hard get the background to show as white (which it is) ... this is the best I could do.

I hope you'll check out the challenge blog to see the amazing cards from our Designers, along with a beautiful card from our wonderful Guest Designer Darnell (djkardkreations).  Then come join us.  Remember to keep your card CAS (clean and simple), and use watercolouring on your card.

See you in the gallery! :)

Stamps:  Remarkable You (Stampin' Up!); Sentiment (Cosmos - Technique Tuesday)
Paper:  Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb. 400 Series); White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.)
Ink:  Versafine Black Ink-permanent (Tsukineko); Distress Inks:  Picked Raspberry, Festive Berries (Tim Holtz); Sahara Sand ink (Stampin' Up!)
Accessories & Tools:  water brush

Challenges:
CAS Watercolour February Challenge - Red and Pink