Enchantingly

Hi everyone.  This weekend we had some lovely, sunny weather.  It feels good to see the sun and not have any rain. :)  Today's card is inspired by a few challenges.  They help so much in getting ideas flowing ...

This is a new-to-me stamp from Penny Black called Enchantingly.  I stamped in black ink and heat embossed the image in clear onto mixed media paper and then watercoloured using my Zig Clean Color Brush pens.  I haven't used them for a while and it was so much fun!!  I then cut out the flower with matching die (Enchantingly Cut Out - Penny Black).

It's no secret that my favourite colour is pink ... with orange as a close second.  I combined the two inks to create a lovely coral for my blossom.  Two shades of light green were used on the leaves.

I added a light sponging of colour over a stencil (Mini Tiny Circles - The Crafter's Workshop) on the card front before adding the flower (popped up for dimension).  The sentiment (from the same stamp set) is stamped in black and clear heat embossed to match the image.

Close-up ...

Sending this card to the following challenges:

1)  Darnell's IDEAS Challenge - Week 2 - Dies - used die for bloom and die-cut trellis background

2)  Time Out #286 - Pick 2 from the list (floral, stencil, spots, arch, water, pastel) - I used floral and stencil. 

3)  NBUS #73 - never-before-used-schtuff - this is my second entry this month.

4)  Die-Cut Diva's April Challenge - Flowers

  

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Jessie was "helping" Alejandro do some Spring garden clean-up on Saturday.

He set up his camera and got these fantastic photos of her ...

Thanks for stopping by!

Stamps:  Enchantingly (Penny Black)

Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.)
Ink:   Black (Memento); Zig Clean Color Brush pens; Shabby Shutters Distress Ink (Tim Holtz)
Accessories:   Clear embossing powder, heat tool, Enchantingly Cut Out (Penny Black), watercolour brushes, Mini Tiny Circles stencil (The Crafter's Workshop), sponge

Challenges:

Darnell's IDEAS Challenge - Week 2 - Dies

Time Out #286 - Pick 2

NBUS #73 

Die-Cut Diva's April Challenge - Flowers

Orange and Teal

Hi everyone.  I was total inspired by challenges to create this card today, starting with Darnell's IDEAS Challenge - Week 1 - Inks.  I used Distress inks to watercolour my tulips and leaves in the colours of the Color Hues Challenge #107.  I also used one of my many PB stamps to join in with PBSC April Challenge, using Spring colours for The Flower Challenge #101.  Thanks to all the challenges that made making this card so fun! :)

After watercolouring the flowers and leaves (Overflowing - Penny Black), I used the matching die (Overflowing Cut Out - PB) to die-cut the image.  I also die-cut a PB frame (Sewing Stackers) and stamped the sentiment (Super Day - PB) to finish the card.  The frame and flowers are popped up with dots. :)

Close-up ...

Sending the above card to the following challenges:

1)  Darnell's IDEAS Challenge - Week 1 - Inks - thank for the inspiration dear friend!

2)  Color Hues #107 - Orange and Teal - love this combo

3)  Penny Black Saturday Challenge April - AG or Easter - I opted for Anything PB Goes

4)  The Flower Challenge #101 - Use Spring Colours - I used Spring colours and Spring flowers. :)

  

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Sharing a photo of Gord on his 70th birthday.

We had a wonderful time celebrating. :)

Thanks for stopping by!

Stamps:  Overflowing (Penny Black); Super Day (Penny Black

Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.)
Ink:   Black Pigment (Lawn Fawn); Distress Inks:  Carved Pumpkin, Crackling Campfire, Evergreen Bough, Pine Needles (Tim Holtz)
Accessories:   Overflowing Cut Out (Penny Black), Watercolour Brushes, Sewing Stackers Frame (Penny Black)

Challenges:

Darnell's IDEAS Challenge - Week #1- Inks

Color Hues #107 - Orange and Teal

PBSC - April - Anything PB Goes

The Flower Challenge #101 - Use Spring Colours

Happy 70th Birthday Gord!!

Hi everyone.  Today I'm sharing Gord's birthday card I made for him.  He turns 70 today!! :)  His stereo is his hobby.  He spends many hours a day listening to music, so the embossed musical notes (Melody - Penny Black) for the background of the card is perfect. :)  He also loves to relax and spends most of his time listening to music in a red leather recliner.  This is a self-portrait. :)  This is his happy place.

Tonight we are celebrating him with his favourite dinner (that I cook) ... shrimp linguine.  There's also a very special cake from Chez Christophe called Gianduja Cherise (linked) - hazelnut mousse and cherry confit.  Doesn't that sound delicious??!!  Gord's all-time favourite flavour --- cherry ... favourite nut - hazelnut.  You gotta love it! :)

For the card ...

I used a new-to-me image from Penny Black, called Unwind, along with it's matching die.  I stamped in black ink and watercoloured with Distress Inks.  I had so much fun making this card.  I've been away from card making for a long time and I'm just getting my feet wet making a few this week.  Even though all my supplies aren't fully unpacked, I have found enough for a couple of cards and hope to be making and sharing more cards soon.

Close-up ...

I'm sending this card to the following challenges:

1)  NBUS Challenge #73 - the stamp, die and embossing folders are NBUS!

2)  Seize the Birthday #302 - Milestone ... how perfect is that??!!

3)  Just Us Girls #769 - Die Week - No Flowers

 

Thanks for stopping by!

Stamps:  Unwind (Penny Black)

Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.)
Ink:   Black Pigment Ink (Lawn Fawn); Distress Inks:  Brushed Corduroy, Gathered Twigs, Lumberjack Plaid, Aged Mahogany, Black Soot (Tim Holtz)
Accessories:   Melody embossing folder (Penny Black), Watercolour brushes, Unwind Cut Out (Penny Black), Red Chalk, White Paint Pen (Posca), 

Challenges:

NBUS Challenge #73 

Seize the Birthday #302 - Milestone

Just Us Girls #769 - Die Week - No Flowers

Embossing Paste - Product Focus - Group of Seven

Hi everyone.  This month at Group of Seven we are focussing on a product - Embossing Pastes.  We are exploring the different kinds of pastes, ways to use them, and ways to alter them in order to stretch the use of this amazing product (adding colour and/or texture).

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

Group of Seven Cardmakers

My card uses Dreamweaver Embossing Paste coloured with Brushos Powder (Lime Green).  I added a bit of the powder to my paste on my work surface and used a palette knife to work in the colour until there were no longer streaks.  The powder is very concentrated, so I only used a small amount.  I placed a stencil (Wander & Find - retired) over top of my mixed media card front, secured with tape and used my palette knife to add over top of the stencil, covering just the middle as I had planned to add a card front over top with a circle aperture.  Once I was happy with the coverage, I removed the stencil and immediately washed it along with my palette knife.  I let the paste dry and then added my card front with circle aperture, showing off the stenciling underneath.  And I add a small image of watercoloured and fussy-cut flower over top, tucking the stem into the opening.  A simple sentiment was added to finish the card.

The embossing paste creates a lovely design as well as adding texture and colour.  It really gives the card something special to build on.

Sending this card to the IDEAS Challenge - A for Anything Goes.  I used embossing paste as my Anything Goes. :)

... and sending to Penny Black Saturday Challenge - March.  The flower image is Penny Black.

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

• You can use a lot of different colouring mediums to colour your pastes.  That way you can save money by buying white paste and colouring yourself.  Make sure to use a colouring medium that is water soluable (re-inkers, watercolours, acrylic paints, watercolour powders, etc.
• Make sure to mix up enough paste (or even extra) so that it easily covers the area you want.  It's hard to make more afterwards and match the same colour tone.

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Violeta & Jessie settling in for a nap after a long walk. :)

Thanks for stopping by!

Stamps:  Flower Collection (Penny Black); Sentiment - Scenic Sampler (Stampendous - Closed)

Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.)
Ink:  Obsidian (Black - Altenew); Brushos (Lime Green); Distress Inks:  Mowed Lawn, Ripe Persimmon, Mustard Seed (Tim Holtz) 
Accessories:   Wander & Find stencil (retired), White Embossing Paste (Dreamweaver), palette knife, Circle die (Spellbinders), 

Challenges:

Group of Seven - Embossing Pastes

IDEAS Challenge - Anything Goes

Penny Black Saturday Challenge - March