Thursday, June 18, 2026

The Littlest Birds ...

Hi everyone.  Today's card is a sweet die I picked up from Temu Canada.  I seem to be on a bird kick these days. :)  There are lots of layers and pieces in this die set, which I cut from mixed media paper before watercolouring with distress re-inkers.

I cut an oval aperture from my card front and placed a background of embossed leaf sprigs (Spellbinders Leafy 3D Embossing Folder) to add a bit of texture.

The die-cut pieces are adhered together with glue and then placed over the aperture, with pop-dots added to create depth.

The card is finished with a simple sentiment (Stampendous - Spring Sentiments - closed), stamped in gathered twigs.  The whole card front is popped up on foam for even more dimension.

Close-up ...
Sending this card to the following challenges:
NBUS Challenge #87 - first time using this adorable bird die set :)


Thanks for stopping by!

Stamps:  Spring Sentiments (Stampendous - closed)
Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.)
Ink:   Distress Re-inkers:  Brushed Corduroy, Gathered Twigs, Candied Apple, Black Soot, Mowed Lawn, Rustic Wilderness, Mustard Seed, Spiced Marmalade (Tim Holtz)
Accessories:   Layered Bird on a Branch die (Temu Canada), Watercolour Brushes, Oval Die

Challenges:

Monday, June 15, 2026

Reminder June CAS Christmas Challenge

Hi everyone.  I made a second card for this month's CAS Christmas Challenge - Bird.  The challenge is open until the end of the month.

For today's card I used a die-cut (Bird Ornament - Penny Black), cut from mixed media paper and watercoloured with distress re-inkers.  Once the watercolouring was done, a second die was cut from white card stock and layered together to give some strength and dimension.  Brown twine was added for the hanger, along with tiny pop dots to the back of the ornament for added dimension.  Sentiment (Festive Snippets - Penny Black) was stamped on the card front and ornament adhered before the front card panel was popped up with more foam from the card base.

Close-up ...
Sending this card to the following challenges:

* * * * *

Excited to announce the re-start of the CAS Mix Up Challenge!!

First challenge starts on July 3rd.  Hope you'll join us!

Thanks for stopping by!

Stamps:  Festive Snippets (Penny Black)
Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.)
Ink:   Distress Reinkers:  Mowed Lawn, Rustic Wilderness, Pine Needles, Candied Apple, Aged Mahogany, Gathered Twigs (Tim Holtz); Distress ink:  Brushed Corduroy
Accessories:   Bird Ornament die (Penny Black), watercolour brushes, Brown Twine, White acrylic paint pen (Posca)

Challenges:

Monday, June 08, 2026

Snow Day!

Hi everyone.  Today's card is for the Christmas Kickstart Challenge #111 - Snow Day!  I've been so busy with setting up the CAS Challenges lately, that I haven't been able to play along as much as I would like to.  Thankfully, I had time today and, of course, who could resist having a snow play day! :)

The image is Fun Flurries (Penny Black).  This is the first time using this particular stamp from the set, although I have used the other.  I stamped in black ink and heat embossed with clear before watercolouring with distress re-inkers.  I added slight waves of soft blue ink in the sky (little hard to see in the photos), and tore a strip of paper for the snow hill.  I sponged more of the same blue ink along the torn edge and added some glitter for sparkle.  Clear Wink of Stella was also added to the bear's hat cuff and pompom, adding a little more sparkle as well.  The image is cut out using the matching die (Fun Flurries Cut Out - Penny Black).  Add the sentiment from Christmas Sentiments (Gina Marie Designs) to finish the card.

Close-up ...
Sending this card to the following challenges:
NBUS Challenge #87 - first time using this stamp




Thanks for stopping by!

Stamps:  Fun Flurries (Penny Black); Christmas Sentiments (Gina Marie Designs)
Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.)
Ink:   Black (Obsidian Pigment - Altenew); Distress Re-inkers:  Candied Apple, Aged Mahogany, Mowed Lawn, Rustic Wilderness, Black Soot, Brushed Corduroy, Gathered Twigs (Tim Holtz)
Accessories:   Fun Flurries Cut Out (die), watercolour paint brushes, detail sponge, Clear Embossing powder (Ranger), heat tool, Crystal Glaze (Nuvo), glitter, Clear Wink of Stella

Challenges:

Wednesday, June 03, 2026

Saltwater Coneflowers

Hi everyone.  Today's card is inspired by a few challenges.  First up, Just Us Girls is looking for stenciling this week ... first time using this beautiful stencil from STAMPlorations, which was a gift from a friend, long ago.  I don't know why I waited so long to use it.  It's so pretty, especially as a background, softly sponged with Saltwater Taffy distress ink.

I used a new-to-me die set, which included a vase, with two leafy stems and two coneflowers.  This time I used the darker version of the background colour to watercolour the petals (Abandoned Coral), Shabby Shutters for watercolouring the stem & leaves ... and also the vase.  The center of the coneflowers is done with Gathered Twigs distress ink.  I LOVE pink and brown together.  

The final step was to stamp the sentiment in more Gathered Twigs (DOX inks this time). :)

Close-up ...
Sending this card to the following challenges:
NBUS Challenge #87 - first time using the background stencil and the die

Thanks for stopping by!

Stamps:  Many Everday Messages (Hero Arts - retired)
Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.)
Ink:   Distress Inks:  Saltwater Taffy, Abandoned Coral, Shabby Shutters, Gathered Twigs (Tim Holtz); Gathered Twigs Distress Oxide Ink (TH)
Accessories:   Burst Stencil (STAMPlorations), sponge brush, Coneflowers & Vase die (Temu Canada)

Challenges: