Saturday, September 19, 2026

Reminder - CAS Mix Up Challenge - Sunflower

Hi everyone.  Today I am sharing two cards made for reminders of the CAS Mix Up Challenge - Sunflower.  I put away my stamps this time and pulled out my watercolour paints and brushes and went for it. :)


I watched several videos on hand-painting sunflowers.  I spent a few days painting and trying to figure out what the heck I was doing. :)  All-in-all, it was fun.  And I did learn what NOT to do. :)

I used Kuretake watercolour paints, Blick Masterstroke Brushes, and Arches 140 lb. cold press (best w/c paper you can buy here, according to my son, Jeremy).

For the above card, I kept the image very small and die-cut with a medium-sized circle.  The sentiment is Penny Black Happy Snippets, stamped in Ground Espresso DOX ink.

I wanted to add a subtle background, so I ran my old olive cardstock through my embossing machine with the Laurel Leaves Background Plate (Simon Says Stamp - retired) with a silicone mat.  I left the "sandwich" fairly thin so the leaves pattern just shows.  I like it! :)  You can see the background slightly better in the photo below.

Close-up ...

* * * * *
I practised a litte more and about a week later, ended up with this version.  Again, another small painting.  I'm happier with this painting. :)  I added a hello sentiment to finish.  I used all the same paints and paper as the card above.
Sending the above card to the following challenges:
SCS Ways to Use It Challenge - SCSWT1122 - Anything Fall
SCS Watercolor Wednesday Challenge - SCSWCW295 - A Freebie Week

I'm adding both these cards to the gallery of the CAS Mix Up September Watercolour Challenge - Sunflower, hosted by our wonderful Designer, Bobby.  Come join us!  The challenge is open until Sept. 30th.

Thanks for stopping by!

Card #1:
Stamps:  Happy Snippets (Penny Black)
Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Cold Press W/C paper (Arches 140 lb.); Old Olive cardstock (SU!)
Ink:   Kuretake Watercolour Paints; Ground Espresso DOX ink (Tim Holtz)
Accessories:   Blick Masterstroke Brushes (Round: #4, #6, Liner brush), Laurel Leaves Background plate (Simon Says Stamp - retired)

Card #2:
Stamps:  Happy Messages (Stampendous - closed)
Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Cold Press W/C paper (Arches 140 lb.); Old Olive cardstock (SU!)
Ink:   Kuretake Watercolour Paints; Rustic Distress Ink (Tim Holtz)
Accessories:   Blick Masterstroke Brushes (Round: #4, #6, Liner brush)

Challenges:
SCS Ways to Use It Challenge - SCSWT1122 - Anything Fall
SCS Watercolor Wednesday Challenge - SCSWCW295 - A Freebie Week

Thursday, September 17, 2026

Reminder CAS Christmas Challenge - Woodland Critters

Hi everyone.  We are half way through the CAS Christmas Sepember Challenge - Woodland Critters, hosted by Lisa.


I adore all the Penny Black critter images I have ... but this one is the sweetest. :)  I stamped Hopping by (Penny Black) in black ink onto mixed media paper.  I heat embossed in clear and then watercoloured using distress inks and reinkers.  I used the matching die (Hopping by Cut Out - Penny Black) to die-cut the image.  I cut a medium-sized panel for my card, sponged softly with Salty Ocean distress ink on the right side.  I added two torn snowhills at the bottom with the stamped sentiment from the same stamp set, done in Candied Apple Distress Oxide ink.  The bunny was added on top, just slipping his feet slightly under the edge of the torn snow and popped up with dimensions.  The whole panel was popped up from the card front.

Close-up ...
Sending this card to the following challenges:
Darnell's IDEAS Challenge - Week 2 - Dies - I used the matching die to cut out the bunny image
SCS Christmas Challenge - CCC26SEP

I hope you'll have time to join our challenge.  See you in the gallery!
Thanks for stopping by!

Stamps:  Hopping by (Penny Black)
Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.)
Ink:  Black Ink:  Obsidian (Altenew); Distress inks and reinkers:  Pumice Stone, Candied Apple, Mowed Lawn, Salty Ocean, Mustard Seed (Tim Holtz)
Accessories:   Hopping by Cut Out (Penny Black), Sponge, White Posca pen, red chalk

Challenges:
SCS Christmas Challenge - CCC26SEP

Tuesday, September 15, 2026

Reminder - Christmas Kickstart Challenge #114 - Reindeer Games

Hi everyone.  I'm Guest Designing this month at Christmas Kickstart Challenge #114 - Reindeer Games.  I'm so happy to be working with Jo again ... she is so sweet and wonderfully talented.  Thanks again Jo!  

 

I'm back with a reminder card using a favourite stamp I've used many times before.  This little guy makes me happy. :)

He is stamped in black pigment ink, heat embossed in clear, die-cut with matching die, watercoloured with distress inks, and then a few finishing touches are added with crystal glaze and white acrylic pen.  It is popped over top of a piece of long retired SU! patterned paper and two torn pieces of white cardstock provide snowhills at the bottom.  The panel is popped up, and a sentiment (Season's Gifts - Penny Black) is stamped under the panel with the same black ink.

Close-up ...
There's still lots of time to play along at Christmas Kickstart Challenge #114 - Reindeer Games.  Hope to see you in the gallery!

Thanks for stopping by!

Stamps:  Little Reindeer (Gerda Steiner); Season's Gifts (Penny Black)
Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.); Retired patterened paper (SU!)
Ink:   Black Pigment (Obsidian - Altenew); Distress Inks:  Brushed Corduroy, Gathered Twigs, Candied Apple, Mowed Lawn, Mustard Seed (Tim Holtz)
Accessories:   Little Reindeer die (Gerda Steiner), clear embossing powder, heat tool, watercolour paint brushes, crystal glaze (Nuvo), white acrylic pen (Posca).

Challenges:

Friday, September 11, 2026

Poinsettia Present

Hi everyone.  Today's card uses a NBUS (never-before-used-schtuff) stamp and die set (Present - Penny Black).  I bought this a while ago, but this is the first time using it.

I stamped the Present image in black pigment ink and clear heat embossed to set the colour.  I spent time masking the outside edges and the ribbon and bow and then stamped a poinsettia image (Holiday Bouquet - Avery Elle) off the edge to add a bit of design to the present.  The masks were removed and then the poinsettia image was watercoloured using distress re-inkers.  I used silver delicata reinker to watercolour the bow and ribbon.

To finish, a tiny tag was added with a simple sentiment.
 
Close-up ...
Sending this card to the following challenges:
NBUS Challenge #90 - first time using this stamp and matching die ... and tag die
SCS September Fan Club Christmas Challenge (SCSCCSEP26) - must be a SCS member

Thanks for stopping by!

Stamps:  Present (Penny Black); Holiday Bouquet (Avery Elle)
Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.); Cherry Cobbler card base? (SU!)
Ink:   Black Pigment (Obsidian - Altenew); Distress Reinkers:  Candied Apple, Aged Mahogany, Mowed Lawn, Rustic Wilderness, Mustard Seed, Wild Honey (Tim Holtz); Silver Delicata Reinker
Accessories:  Clear embossing powder (Ranger), heat tool, removeable tape for masking, watercolour paint brushes (Princeton), small tag die (unknown)

Challenges:
SCS September Fan Club Christmas Challenge (SCSCCSEP26) - must be a SCS member