Guest Designer at Magenta

Hi everyone.  I'm excited today to be Guest Designer for Magenta.  Thanks to Helene for inviting me!  I love their stamps and stencils!

Today's card uses a beautiful daisy stamp from Magenta.  The stamp is called Daisy - Small and it measures approx. 2.75" x 2.75".  There's also a larger version, Daisy - Large which is approx. 3.75" x 3.75".

I started by stamping the daisy several times onto my card front using Antique Linen distress ink.  It makes for a subtle but interesting background.

I stamped the daisy twice more in Brushed Corduroy ink (a bit darker) and heat embossed first in clear, then in UTEE (Ultra Thick Embossing Enamel), which gives lots of shine.  I watercoloured both daisies with distress inks and fussy-cut.  I cut down the petals for one daisy (top layer), just about to the center.  This makes it easier to shape with my stylus and mat.  I then adhered the two layers together with glue (just in the center).

I stamped the sentiment and heat embossed in Ancient Amber Baked Texture embossing powder because I thought it was similar to the colour of the flower.  That was done on a strip of black card stock which was adhered to my card front.  The layered daisy was popped up on top.

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I had a lot of fun playing with my Magenta Daisy stamp!

Stamps:  Daisy - Small (Magenta); Smile sentiment (AliExpress)
Paper:  White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Mixed Media paper (Strathmore 140 lb.); Black card stock (SU!)
Ink:  Distress Inks:  Antique Linen, Brushed Corduroy, Abandoned Coral, Aged Mahogany (Tim Holtz); Versamark
Accessories & Tools:  Clear embossing powder, UTEE, Ancient Amber Baked Texture embossing powder, heat tool

April Rudolph Days

Hi everyone.  Today's card is for the April Rudolph Days Challenge.  This challenge runs every month from the 25th to end of month.  I do love making Christmas cards! :)

Today's card also uses a NBUS stamp set from Poppy Power called "Cozy Cupfuls".  I just bought this recently and had to play with it right away.  Sweet images.  I stamped in permanent black ink and watercoloured with distress inks and dye inks.

I framed it with an antique frame fro Penny Black onto an olive green card base.  Sentiment is stamped in black to match image.

I'm heading over to join the new NBUS Challenge #13 since this is a new-to-me stamp. :)

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I hope you'll come play along and build (or start) your stash of Christmas cards.

These are difficult times.  I hope you are all well and have avoided getting this horrific virus.  Hubby and I (and Jessie) are home full-time.  We miss our family and friends.  Stay safe everyone!

Stamps:  Cozy Cupfuls (Power Poppy)
Paper:  Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.); White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Old Olive card stock (Stampin' Up!)
Ink:  Black (Versafine); Dye Inks:  Real Red, Old Olive (Stampin' Up!); Distress Inks:  Brushed Corduroy, Aged Mahogany, Pumice Stone (Tim Holtz)
Accessories & Tools:  paint brushes, Antique Frames die (Penny Black)

Challenges:
April Rudolph Days - Anything Goes Christmas
NBUS Challenge #13

Penny Black - Wings and Vases

Hi everyone.  Back again with another card using the new release.  I'm using Wings & Vases (30-704) again.  There are lots of images in this set, each of them beautiful!

This time I made an acrylic block background using Lindy's magicals.  The ink was left over from a Stencil Monoprint I had made and I couldn't let them go to waste.  Once dry, I stamped the vase of roses and heat embossed in princess gold embossing powder.  I love this yellow gold embossing, especially with pink, orange and yellow.

I used a small paint brush and some bleach to remove colour from the flowers, leaves, and vase.  I liked how there was still a little bit of colour after bleaching, so decided to leave it as is.  A simple sentiment (It's your day 30-553) was heat embossed in gold to match the vase.

Entering into the CAS Mix Up April Challenge - Bleaching.

Penny Black Products
Wings & Vases (30-704)
It's your day (30-553)

Stamps:  Wings & Vases; It's your day (both Penny Black)
Paper:  Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.)
Ink:  Magicals:  Yellow Rose of Texas, Hag's Wort Orange, Pretty in Pink Pink (Lindy's); Versamark
Accessories & Tools:  acrylic block, water mister, Princess Gold embossing Powder (Ranger), heat tool, bleach, small paint brush

Challenges:
CAS Mix Up April Challenge - Bleaching

Penny Black More Exhilaration

Hi everyone.  I'm back with another card using the beautiful exhilaration cling stamp (40-745) from the new Penny Black Release Secret Garden.

This is a very CAS card using only a small part of the stamp image on a small panel that is popped up over the card base.  This is done with no-line watercolouring.  Happy with the bright spring colours, using Distress Inks.  

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Since this is CAS design and it has Spring Flowers, I'm adding this to the CAS Watercolour April Challenge.

Lots of amazing cards in the gallery ... come take a look.  And join us with your CAS Spring Flower card.  The challenge is open until midnight April 24th.

Penny Black Products
exhilaration 40-745

* * * * *

Jessie went for a sleepover at Violeta's house yesterday.
Gord and I missed that sweet face right away!

Alex sent a photo of them after only being together for about an hour.

Already pooped out from playing together! :)

... and then another at the end of the evening.

They are the best of pals!

Stamps:  exhilaration; million thanks (Penny Black)
Paper:  Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.); White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.)
Ink:  Sahara Sand (SU!); Distress Inks:  Mowed Lawn, Picked Raspberry, Fired Brick,  (Tim Holtz)
Accessories & Tools: water brush

Challenges:
CAS Watercolour April Challenge - Spring Flowers

April CAS Challenge Reminders

I have made two cards for reminders for the CAS Challenges.  First up, CAS Mix Up and CAS Watercolour.

I'm the host.                                    Susan is the host.

  

I do love this bleaching technique.  I have used bleach (but water will also work but most likely won't remove all the colour) for my reminder card this time on Tan Mixed Media paper that was gifted to me by my friend, Christine.

I stamped my peonies in versamark and heat embossed with princess gold embossing powder.  Bleached the image and it came out very white.  Thought about leaving it like that, but decided I wanted to try to add distress inks over the bleached areas to see how this tan mixed media paper worked.  It worked well!  I used some watercolour pencils to add darker shading.  Definitely need more practice with pencils!

Peonies are spring flowers ... at least in my garden.  I have the early ones that are bright pink (almost red) and are shorter than the other varieties that bloom in summer.

I sent this card to my sweet friend Hideko for her birthday two days ago.  So happy it arrived in time!  Hope you had a wonderful birthday Hideko! xx

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Next card is for CAS Christmas  challenge ...

Bonnie is host.

  

Very CAS card using a scribble star image that is coated with gilding flakes.  The sentiment "making spirits bright" is part of the jingle bells song.  I'm going to be humming that tune for a few days, I'm sure. :)

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I hope you'll check out 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 the CAS challenges close on 24th at midnight PST.  Come join us!

CAS Mix Up & CAS Watercolour Reminder - Birthday Peonies for Hideko
Stamps: Perfect Peonies (Clearly Besotted); Noveau Flowers sentiment (Clearly Besotted)
Paper:  Tan Mixed Media (gift from friend); White (Neenah 110 lb.)
Ink:  Versamark; Distress Inks:  Picked Raspberry, Twisted Citron, Mowed Lawn, Mustard Seed (Tim Holtz)
Accessories & Tools:  Princess Gold embossing powder (Ranger), heat tool, water brush, watercolour pencils


CAS Christmas - Making Spirits Bright
Stamps:  Scribble Star (Rubber-Art Stamps); Full of Merriment (Penny Black
Paper:  White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.)
Ink:  Delicata Gold (Tsukineko)
Accessories & Tools:  water brush

Challenges:
CAS Mix Up - Bleaching
CAS Watercolour - Spring Flowers
CAS Christmas April - Christmas Song

Penny Black Country Charisma

Hi everyone.  Today I'm sharing two cards made with one of the new stamp sets, Country Charisma (30-690).  There's also a matching die set for each of the six images, Country Charisma cut out (51-634).  Especially love the watering can and pitcher that can be used when lots of different images.

I felt that I should make an all-blue card with this set.  Somehow, a bit of rust got added in. :)  I love the contrast.  Made a small slit with an exacto knife in the top of the pitcher so I could tuck the stems inside.  Finished with a simple black stamped sentiment from an older stamp set (Heartfelt 30-286)

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For my next card I used the watering can from the Country Charisma stamp set 30-690, with matching die cut, Country Charisma cut out 51-634.  This time I filled the watering can with roses from the Wings and Vases stamp set 30-704, using the matching cut out for the roses, vases cut out 51-619.  The sentiment is stamped in black, Special Sentiments 30-574, a very versatile stamp set!

I started with a background from my stash  It is a paper towel ink transfer background with Lindy's magicals ... so there's a little bit of shine (hard to capture in a photo).  Stamped the sentiment at the bottom and popped up the watering can full of roses on top.

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Thanks for coming by for a visit!


Penny Black Products
Country Charisma 30-690
Country Charisma cut out 51-634
Heartfelt 30-286

Card #1 - Enjoy your day!
Stamps:  Country Charisma, Heartfelt (both Penny Black)
Paper:  Mixed Media paper (Strathmore 140 lb.); White card base (Neenah 110 lb.)
Ink:  Black (Permanent):  Versafine; Distress Inks:  Chipped Sapphire, Rusty Hinge (Tim Holtz)
Accessories & Tools:  Country Charisa cut out, waterbrush

Card #2 - With Lots of Love
Stamps:  Country Charisma, Wings and Vases, Special sentiments (all Penny Black)
Paper:  Mixed Media paper (Strathmore 140 lb.); White card base (Neenah 110 lb.)
Ink:  Black (Permanent):  Versafine; Distress Inks:  Weathered Wood, Dusty Concord, Wilted Violet, Mowed Lawn (Tim Holtz)
Accessories & Tools:  Country Charisa cut out, Wings and Vases cut out, waterbrush, paper towel ink transfer background from my stash

Twofer Challenge #26

Hi everyone.  So happy to be playing along with Twofer's challenge this month.

I have an umbrella die-cut that I used for both cards.  The first card is an umbrella filled with spring flowers.

Pulled out this old Stampin' Up! stamp set, Pocket Silhouettes.  I can't tell you how many times I have used this.  I coloured my stamps with distress markers and stamped directly onto my card front (masked off an area so the flowers would stay within the umbrella).  I added a few stamped leaf sprigs to fill in and also added those to the umbrella to have the leaves trailing.  Hard to see, but I scored two lines near the bottom of the umbrella to ground it.  Stamped the sentiment in soft green to match.

Second card is a sweet bear holding an umbrella as it rains.

I masked the cupcake the bear was originally holding and placed the umbrella there instead.  Watercolour the bear and rainbow-coloured umbrella with a mix of Distress Inks and Stampin' Up! inks.  Placed a rain stencil over the bear and sponged very light blue ink around the bear.  Added crystal glaze over each raindrop to give it shine.  Popped up the umbrella over top, added a watercoloured grassy hill for the bear to stand on and stamped the sentiment.

I hope you'll come play along at Twofer this month.  The challenge is open until the 24th.

* * * * *

Haven't posted a pic of Jessie for a while.  She's been busy as usual. :)

Never a dull moment with her around.

Alex took the photos.

Jessie (my baby)                                     Violeta (my grand-baby)

 

Card #1 - Note to a Friend
Stamps:  Pocket Silhouettes (SU!);
Paper:  White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.)
Ink:  Markers:  Melon Mambo, Elegant Eggplant, Pear Pizzazz (Stampin' Up!)
Accessories & Tools:  Petite Umbrella die (Memory Box)

Card #2 - Hello
Stamps:  Love and Cuddles (Penny Black); Many Everyday Messages (Hero Arts)
Paper:  Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.)
Ink:  Disttress Inks:  Brushed Corduroy, Walnut Stain, Candied Apple, Tumbled Glass (Tim Holtz); Markers:  Elegant Eggplant, Pacific Point, Gumball Green, Daffodil Delight, Tangerine Tango, Real Red (Stampin' Up!)
Accessories & Tools:  Water brush, Petite Umbrella die (Memory Box), Rain stencil (cut with Silhouette Cameo file), sponge, Crystal Glaze (Nuvo)


Challenges:
Twofer Challenge #26 - Rain / Umbrella

Penny Black - Unforgettable

Hi everyone.  Today I'm back with another amazing image from the new Secret Garden release from Penny Black.  The stamp I used below is Unforgettable (40-734).

I started with a background from my stash.  It's a very subtle smooshing of magicals ... mainly you see bits of blue, purple, and pink.  Stamped my image over top and heat embossed in white.  Watercoloured the blooms and leaves with distress inks and then added a shadow of gray around the outside of the image to add some depth.  The hard part was figuring out how to add my sentiment without covering up the pretty flowers. :)  I decided to add a black banner sentiment (Happy Snippets 30-358) with white heat embossed sentiment at the bottom.

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I'm entering my card into a few challenges:

The Flower Challenge #43 - Spring / Autumn  

Craft Stamper Magazine Take It Make It April Challenge.

Thanks for dropping by!

Penny Black Products
Unforgettable (40-734)
Happy Snippets (30-358)

Stamps:  Unforgettable; Happy Snippets (both from Penny Black)
Paper:  Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.); Black card stock (SU!)
Ink:  Distress Inks:  Spun Sugar, Picked Raspberry, Dusty Concord, Wilted Violet, Evergreen Bough, Squeezed Lemonade, Festive Berries (Tim Holtz); Smoky Slate (SU!)
Accessories & Tools:  White embossing powder, heat tool, water brush

Challenges:
The Flower Challenge #43 - Spring / Autumn
CSM - Take It Make It April Challenge

Happy Birthday Gord!

Hi everyone.  Yesterday was my hubby's birthday.  I was hoping to have a celebration for him this year since it is a milestone birthday, but it will just be the three of us (me, hubby, Jessie).  I'm sure Jessie will be happy to help hubby blow out the candles. :)

I made this quick and easy card for his birthday.  Hubby loves to vacation in BC, anywhere there is water to look at.  It is very calming and peaceful.  I know he will love this card.

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I used three NBUS (Never-Before-Used-Schtuff) so I'm entering into their new challenge - NBUS #13.  New are Dried Marigold distress ink, bullrushes and bird images, and sentiment.

Thanks for coming by for a visit!

Stamps:  Bullrushes2 (Inkylicious); Birthday Blowout (Poppy Stamps)
Paper:  White (Neenah 110 lb. card stock)
Ink:  Distress Inks:  Tumbled Glass, Broken China, Dried Marigold (Tim Holtz); Black (Memento)
Accessories & Tools:  Blending brushes

Challenges:
NBUS #13

CAS Stencil April Challenge

Hi everyone.  Today's card is for the new CAS Stencil April Challenge, hosted by the talented Cathy (Cathy's Card Spot).  The gallery will be filled with shiny and elegant cards this month!!

Our Guest Designer this month is Mac (Sweetest of Peas).  Mac is an amazing mixed media artist and she is GD this month at CAS Stencil and CAS Mix Up!!  Welcome Mac!

So this card is actually very simple.  I used a large flower stencil, sponged gilding flake glue over top and then removed stencil to let glue dry.  Once clear (the glue is still a bit tacky), I applied two colours of gilding flakes.  The center is Red Blaze ... I love all the pretty colours in this mix (gold, bronze, pink, orange, etc.).  The outer layer of the petals is done with Warm Sunrise (gold and bright copper).  It justs a little something different to have the two colours.  I cut my panel to size and stamped a large sentiment, then heat embossed in black so it would show up over top of the gilding flakes.

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I hope you'll come play along with us this month.  Pull out those gilding flakes and get a bit messy!

Stamps:  Thoughtful Messages (Simon Says Stamp)
Paper:  White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.)
Ink:  Versamark
Accessories & Tools:  Bloom stencil (Mayco); Flake & Glitter Glue (Cosmic Shimmer); Gilding Flakes - Red Blaze & Warm Sunset (Cosmic Shimmer); Rub & Scrub, Black embossing powder, heat tool.

Challenges:
CAS Stencil April Challenge - Gilding Flakes

CAS Christmas April Challenge

Hi everyone.  Welcome to the start of the April CAS Christmas challenge!  This month is hosted by Bonnie (Stamping with Klass), and she wants you to base your CAS card on a Christmas Song!  Fun, right??!! :)  So I'm Decking the Halls .... FA LA LA LA LA, LA LA LA LA!

And we are excited to have Birgit (Rapport fran ett skrivbord) Guest Designing for us again this month.  Welcome Birgit!

I used a NBUS stamp that I've had for a couple of years.  Aren't these caroling snowmen adorable! I had a fun time watercolouring them with distress inks.

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Decided to do a second card, this time watercolouring with lighter colours ...

This one was tricker to watercolour because Jessie stole my favourite water brush off my work desk between me making these two cards.  She chewed it until I could just barely tell what it was. Into the garbage it went (the water brush that is). :)

... and close-up ...

Hope you'll come play along and build your stash of Christmas cards throughout the year.

As I mentioned above, this is a NBUS stamp, so I'm entering my card into Darnell's new NBUS Challenge!  I'm so excited to see this challenge has returned.  I know I'll be playing along a lot as I have three, yes three, containers of NBUS items to use! :)

Thanks Dolly!!

Stamps:  Caroling Snowmen (Whipper Snapper
Paper:  Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.)
Ink:  Black permanent (Versafine); Real red (SU!); Distress inks:  Crushed Olive, Faded Jeans, Broken China, Black Soot (Tim Holtz)
Accessories & Tools:  water brush, red chalk

Challenges:
CAS Christmas April Challenge - Christmas Song
NBUS Challenge #13