Blossom Branch

Hi everyone.  Today I've used a NBUS (never-before-used-schtuff) stamp. :)  I've had this beautiful Penny Black image just waiting to be inked up.  I used distress markers to ink the stamp and then spritzed with a little water before stamping onto mixed media paper.  I did the leaves and the flowers separately hoping not to have too much cross-over of colours.  I lucked out.

I didn't want to add a black sentiment, but wanted something softer ... I may have gone a little too soft. :) 

Close-up ...

I'm entering into the Penny Black Saturday challenge - Something New.

Thanks for visiting!

Stamps:  Blossom Branch (Penny Black); Gratitude (Penny Black)
Paper:  Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.)
Ink: Distress Markers:  Shabby Shutters, Peeled Paint, Ripe Persimmon, Abandoned Coral (TH); Smoky Slate (SU!)
Accessories & Tools:  water mister, water brush, coloured pencils

Challenges:
Penny Black Saturday Challenge - Something New

January Rudolph Days

Hi everyone.  Today is the start of Rudolph Days.  The challenge runs from the 25th to end of month and it's anything goes - Christmas.

Today's card uses one of my favourite poinsettia images.  I LOVE this spray from Avery Elle.  There are a few different stamps in the set and there's matching dies too!

Watercoloured the poinsettia spray with Stampin' Up! inks and Distress Inks on mixed media paper; then splattered with diluted white acrylic paint.  Cut out with the die and popped it over top of a dry embossed snowflake background that I received AGES ago from my dear friend Susan.  Finished the card with the white heat embossed black banner.

Close-up ...

Thanks for coming by for a visit!

Stamps:  Holiday Bouquet (Avery Elle); Snowglobe Sentiments (My Favorite Thngs)
Paper:  Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.); White Card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Black card stock (SU!)
Ink:  Versafine Black; Real Red (SU!); Distress Inks:  Mowed Lawn, Salty Ocean, Mustard Seed (Tim Holtz); Versamark
Accessories & Tools:  Paint brush, diluted white acrylic paint, matching die for Holiday Bouquet (Avery Elle), white embossing powder, heat tool, snowflake embossing folder (unknown)

Challenges:
Rudolph Days - January

Twofer and Puppy Videos

Hi everyone.  Playing along with Twofer Card Challenge #23 - Hearts.  Twofer is also celebrating it's 2nd Blogaversary and there's lots of prizes to be won.  Congrats to Darnell and my wonderful teammates for two years of amazing challenges!

  

I used a stencil to create my two heart cards above.  The first card I used magicals through the open hearts.  Love the shimmer in real life.  I then did a light pink wash for the background and added a die-cut sentiment - Love.  The main panel is popped up.

For the second card.  I again used magicals to create a colourful background.  I used the stencil to outline three hearts (different sizes) using a black marker.  I fussy-cut the hearts and added them to the card front, popping up the top (smallest) heart balloon.  I stamped and watercoloured the sweet bear and also fussy-cut, popping it up and drew in the strings of the balloons to wrap around the wrist.  A sentiment was stamped in black to create a fun birthday card.

There's still lots of time to play along.  Challenge closes midnight Jan. 24 (PST).  We'd love to see your cards in the gallery!

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Four videos (taken by Alex) of Jessie playing with Violeta in the snow ...

Challenges:
Twofer Card Challenge #23 - Hearts

Dahlia Collage

Hi everyone.  I am wanting to try playing with more mixed media products this year, so I bought this new-to-me stamp, Dahlia Collage as an incentive ... isn't it beautiful??!!

The image was stamped with versamark and heat embossed with white.  I used Liquid Watercolour Concentrate to watercolour.  First I made up sprays with Violet and Turquoise, using lots of water to dilute.  Spray over the heat embossing and quickly blotted with paper towel to create a soft background.  Then used Violet and Turqoise, along with Green, watercolouring with full strength concentrate the dahlias and leaves.

To finish I stamped a large sentiment in black and then heat embossed in black so it would stand out over the busy background.  It didn't look great, so I lined the stamp up again and stamped a second time, heat embossing in black embossing powder as well.  This really helped to give the sentiment some umph! :)

Close-up ...

I'm entering this card into the Craft Stampers - Take it Make it challenge for January.

Stamps:  Dahlia Collage (Stampendous); Happy Messages (Stampendous)
Paper:  Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.)
Ink:  Liquid Watercolour Concentrate:  Violet, Turquoise, Green (Blick Art Materials); Obsidian Black (Altenew)
Accessories & Tools:  white embossing powder, heat tool, paint brush, black embossing powder

Challenges:
Craft Stamper - Take It Make It Challenge for January

CAS Challenge Reminders

Hi everyone.  We are changing things up a bit for the CAS Challenges.  The reminder posts will all be on the 15th of the month (CAS Mix Up, CAS Watercolour, CAS Christmas, CAS Stencil).  This is so it's a bit easier for us.

The above card is a reminder for CAS Mix Up - Partial Die-cutting, hosted by our wonderful Designer, Hideko.  The spray of flowers is heat embossed in gold, partially die-cut, watercoloured and placed over a black card base.  Simple gold embossed sentiment finishes the card.

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Here's a sampling of colours:

The above card is for CAS Watercolour - Cool Colours challenge hosted by Bonnie.  This time I used the colours from the colour swatches Bonnie provided.  So fun!!  The large sentiment is on the inside that matches this image (too big for the front of the card).  It says "When life gives you a rainy day, wear cute boots and dance in the puddles."

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This card is a reminder for the CAS Christmas - Tag challenge hosted by Christine.  I used a beautiful die-cut ornament gifted to me by a friend.  Die-cut, watercoloured, added sparkle and gloss, and added a hanger.  A sweet little tag with sentiment and twine bow finishes the card.

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The above card is for CAS Stencil - Use a New Stencil, hosted by Nancy. We are also celebrating our 1st birthday!  I used a new-to-me stencil from Funky Fossil (Knitted Background).  I sponged in rainbow colours, blending as I went.  Stamped the dog twice, watercoloured, fussy-cut one and just the paws on the second.  Stamped the sentiment in the background, popped up a frame overtop, added the dog at the bottom, and popped up his paws so they are hanging over the edge.

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I hope my cards have inspired you to take a look at the challenge blogs to see the amazing cards from our Designers, Guest Designers, and participants.  If you haven't had time to play along, there's over a week left before all four challenges close on January 24th at midnight PST.  Come join us!

CAS Mix Up Reminder - Flower spray
Stamps:  Kind Soul (W Plus 9); sentiment - Bouquet of Thanks (Simon Says Stamp
Paper:  Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.); Black card stock (SU!)
Ink:  Versamark; Distress Inks:  Abandoned Coral, Barn Door, Shabby Shutters, Peeled Paint, Squeezed Lemonade, Mustard Seed (Tim Holtz)
Accessories & Tools:  Matching die to kind soul flower spray (W Plus 9); Princess Gold embossing powder (Ranger), heat tool, water brush

CAS Watercolour Reminder - Cute Boots
Stamps:  Puddle Boots; Cute Boots (Stampendous)
Paper:  Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.)
Ink:  Versamark; Distress Inks:  Crushed Olive, Salty Ocean, Wilted Violet, Gathered Twigs (Tim Holtz)
Accessories & Tools: Clear embossing powder, heat tool, water brush


CAS Christmas Reminder - Cardinal Ornament
Stamps:
Paper:  Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.); Real Red card stock (SU!)
Ink:  Distress Inks:  Peeled Paint, Fired Brick (Tim Holtz)
Accessories & Tools:  Cardinal Ornament die (Cottage Cutz); water brush, glitter pen (Spectrum Noir - also gift from friend); Crystal Glaza (Nuvo)


CAS Stencil Reminder - Use a New Stencil
Stamps:  Dog (Impression Obsession - retired)
Paper:  Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.)
Ink:  Distress Inks:  Candied Apple, Carved Pumpkin, Mustard Seed, Mowed Lawn, Salty Ocean, Wilted Violet (Tim Holtz); Obsidian Black permanent (Altenew - gift from friend); Zig - light gray for dog
Accessories & Tools:  Knitted Background Stencil (Funky Fossil), Stitched frame die (AliExpress), waterbrush


Challenges:
CAS Mix Up - Partial Diecutting
CAS Watercolour - Cool Colours
CAS Christmas - Tag
CAS Stencil - Use a New Stencil

Thanks

Hi everyone.  Today's card uses a NBUS (never before used schtuff ala Darnell).

I really enjoy the Stampendous stamps and have a lot of them in my stash.  For the card above, I outlined the flowers using a Festive Berries distress ink marker and then stamped onto a piece of mixed media paper.  Repeated using Mowed Lawn marker for the leaves and stems.  I left the stamp and my card front in the Misti.  I then used a water brush to add more colour to the images.

Once I was happy, I repeated the first steps above, using the markers to re-stamp the outline.  I love this fun and easy technique for watercolouring.  I added a simple sentiment and some sequins for a bit of sparkle.

Close-up ...

Hope you are all having a wonderful day.  Thanks for visiting me!

* * * * *

Jessie

Lazy Sunday afternoon

Laying on the top of the couch!

Stamps:  Carnations (Stampendous); Lots of Thanks (Simon Says Stamp)
Paper:  Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.)
Ink:  Distress Ink and Markers:  Festive Berries, Mowed Lawn (Tim Holtz)
Accessories & Tools:  Misti, Waterbrush, clear sequins

CAS Stencil January 2020 Challenge

Hi everyone.  Today is the start of the first challenge of the year at CAS Stencil.  Not only is it our first challenge (hosted by the amazingly talented Nancy - scandinancy creates), but it's also our first anniversary.  Have to say that the past year went by WAY too fast! :)

We hope you'll join us to celebrate our first birthday at CAS Stencil!

... and the challenge this month is ...

Nancy would like you to use a new (or unused stencil) from your stash to create your CAS Stencil card.  Use any techniques or products you want and have fun!

For my card above, I used a new-to-me stencil from Simon Says Stamp called Tumbling Leaves.  I first saw this stencil on a stunning card designed by Cat (Cat Luvs Paper ), click HERE to see Cat's card.  I then HAD to buy this stencil.  :)  Used magical powders to create a stencil monoprint ... my favourite stencil technique.

We are thrilled to have Arlene (Sundaystamper Papercrafts) as our Guest Designer this month.  Thank you Arlene!

Please check out the challenge blog to see the amazing CAS stenciled cards from our talented Designers and Guest Designer.  I know you'll be inspired.  Come join us in celebrating our 1st birthday!

Stamps:  Happy Messages (Stampendous)
Paper:  Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.); White (Neenah 110 lb.); Black (SU!)
Ink:  Lindy's Magical Powders:  Autumn Maple Crimson, Red Hot Poker Orange; Versamark
Accessories & Tools:  Tumbling Leaves stencil (Simon Says Stamp), water mister, Princess Gold embossing powder (Ranger); heat tool

Challenges:
CAS Stencil January 2020 Challenge - Use a New Stencil

CAS Christmas January 2020 Challenge

Hi everyone.  Welcome to the first CAS Christmas challenge of the year.  I know it doesn't feel like time to make Christmas cards ... but if you play along all month with us, think of the cards you'll have finished and ready to go for late in the year. :)

We're starting off the new year with a challenge hosted by our wonderfully, talented Christine!

Such a fun and easy challenge.  Make sure to include a tag on your card ... or perhaps make your card tag shaped.  Just make sure it is a card, since this is a card challenge.

We are excited to have Jane (Onions & Paper) as our Guest Designer this month.  Welcome Jane!

Here's a close-up of my tag card ...

The background silver with royal blue glitter snowflakes was made with a stencil following Jennifer McGuire's video found HERE.  Of course, Jennifer knows how to do this without making a mess.  I had my two dear friends (Susan and Christine) to play with this technique and my room was covered in glitter. :)  I'm still working to clean it up. :)  But the background design is just gorgeous and I will definitely do this technique again.  The holly and berries are die-cut from Tonic Mirror paper which is so shiny and beautiful.

Check out our challenge blog to see the rest of the Designers and Guest Designer's tag cards.  Then come join us!

Stamps:  Snowglobe Sayings (MFT)
Paper:  White (Neenah 110 lb.); Mirror paper:  Green, Red (Tonic)
Ink:  Silver Delicata (Tsukineko)
Accessories & Tools:  Snowflake Stencil (Paper Artsy); Double-sided sheets, Silver Glitter, Royal Blue glitter, bone folder, swiffer, Pinpoint Mainstreet Tag dies (Poppy Stamps), Holly & Berry die (C.C. Designs), thin red ribbon

Challenges:
CAS Christmas January 2020 Challenge - Tag

CAS Watercolour January 2020 Challenge

Hi everyone.  Welcome to our first challenge of 2020!  This month's challenge is being hosted by the very talented and sweet, Bonnie (Stamping with Klass).  She has picked ...

Here's a sampling of cool colors

Perfect challenge for this time of year.  The above card is a birthday card for my dear friend, Karen (Snippets), who celebrated her birthday yesterday!

Happy Birthday Karen!!

About the card ... I stamped the woodland stream in weathered wood, keeping my stamp and card front in my misti.  I used a waterbrush to soften the lines of the stamping and give it more of a watercoloured look.  I then stamped again to bring back some of the details.  Added lots of powder from my embossing budy and stamped in Versamark, embossing in clear.  I then watercoloured the stream, hill tops and sky in shades of blue distress inks (salty ocean, faded jeans, chipped sapphire).  Die-cut the image with a circle die, popping it up over top of a dry embossed snowfall background (gift from friend).  Finished the card with a black sentiment banner heat embossed in white.  Inside the card is "happy birthday".  This could have been a Christmas card as well, if I changed the birthday sentiment.

Close-up ...

We are excited to have Chrissie (Simply One of a Kind) as our very first Guest Designer of 2020.  Welcome Chrissie!

Please check out the challenge blog to see the beautiful "Cool Colours" watercoloured cards from Chrissie and our talented Designers.  Come play along!

Stamps:  Woodland Stream (Inkylicious); Sentiment - Merry Up (Penny Black)
Paper:  Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.); White base (Neenah 110 lb.);  Black (SU!)
Ink:  Distress Inks:  Weathered Wood, Salty Ocean, Faded Jeans, Chipped Sapphire (Tim Holtz); Versamark
Accessories & Tools:  water brush, embossing buddy, clear embossing powder, heat tool, circle nestability (spellbinders), white embossing powder

Challenges:
CAS Watercolour January 2020 - Cool Colours

CAS Mix Up January 2020 Challenge

Hi everyone.  Happy New Year!!  Welcome to the start of the CAS Mix Up Challenge.  We have lots of fun challenges set up this year and we hope you'll play along!

We are starting the year off with a bang!  Hideko (Papercraft Boutique) is hosting this month and she has chosen ...

I have to admit that I was a bit worried as I've tried this technique before and failed.  But I watched the videos and it really is simple.  Who knew??!! :)

Stamped my peonies onto mixed media paper with permanent black ink and watercoloured using distress inks.  Temporary taped my matching die over top and then positioned the edge of my top cutting plate where I wanted the cut to be.  Easy, peasy!  I backed the image with some a beautiful soft green card stock and white heat embossed the sentiment.  For my CAS card design I have stamping, watercolouring, partial die-cutting, and heat embossing.

Here's a close-up ...

Thank you Hideko ... I'm so happy I have tried this technique again and I love the look!

We are excited to have Tristan (Tinstar Designs) as our Guest Designer this month.  Please check out the challenge blog to see the cards from the rest of our amazing Designers and Tristan!  Then come play along.  Challenge is open until the January 24th PST.

* * * * *

Jessie in the rain at

Deas Island Park

Stamps:  Perfect Peonies (Clearly Besotted)
Paper:  Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.); Wasabi card stock (SU!)
Ink:  Versafine Black; Distress Inks:  Festive Berries, Fired Brick, Twisted Citron, Mowed Lawn, Mustard Seed (Tim Holtz); Versamark
Accessories & Tools:  Matching die (Clearly Besotted), water brush, white embossing powder, heat tool

Challenges:
CAS Mix Up January 2020 Challenge - Partial Die-cutting