More Vellum Watercolouring

Hi everyone.  Another card to share with watercolouring on vellum.  I've had fun playing with this month's CAS Watercolour Challenge!

I was recently away for a few days, relaxing in a cabin on Galiano Island, overlooking Active Pass.  I have mentioned many times before on my blog, it's a favourite place for hubby and I to get away.  While I was there, I had some time to watercolour lots of images with my zigs.  The flower used today was one of those.

I previously made a smooshed background with yellow, green and blue inks ... can't remember what I used, but most likely Distress inks (my fav!).  I wanted to add something different to the look of the vellum, so I dry embossed with a delicate leafy design and used a flat sponge and silver Inka Gold to just catch the tops of the embossing to add highlights to my background.  I framed a small piece with a square stitched die and then added the fussy-cut flower that I mentioned above.  The card front is popped up from the background with a silver stamped sentiment.  I popped up the flower as well to add lots of dimension.  Added the flower to the corner of the square.

Here's a close-up ...

Stamps:  Persian Motifs (Altenew); Senitment (SU!)
Paper:  Vellum; White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.)
Ink:  Zigs; Silver Delicata (Tsukineko); Distress inks
Accessories & Tools:  water brush, Spring Leaves embossing folder (Elizabeth Craft Designs); Silver Inka Gold (Viva Decor), flat sponge, white embossing powder, heat tool

Challenges:
CAS Watercolour March Challenge - Watercolouring on Vellum

Success with Alcohol Inks

Hi everyone.  I have a love / hate relationship with alcohol inks. :)  I have had success with using them on pieces of copper and acetate, and with the floating alcohol inks technique.  But when it comes to playing with them on yupo paper that is all the rage now, I have had little success.  I made one a few months back and it turned out well ... turns out it was beginner's luck. :)

But, I'm stubborn! :)  And it has paid off for me.  I was determined to make things work and I found out that I had the best luck by smooshing alcohol inks.  I placed some drops of colour on a piece of foil (red and magenta) and added a few drops of gold metallic fixative.  Then I smooshed. :)

I ended up with several pieces that actually look pretty good.  I'm happy!  LOVE the vibrant colours from these inks and kept the cards super CAS by having just a single layer of my die-cuts along with splattering diluted gold acrylic paint in the background and stamping a sentiment.

I do struggle with a few products and techniques.  I'm just happy that I have overcome my problems with alcohol inks ... for now. :)

Here's a close-up of the poinsettia ... LOVE these bold colours.

And I made another using an ornament die ...

Updated:  Since I used snippets of my alcohol ink smooshed paper for the poinsettia and ornament, I'm heading over to the Snippets Playground to join the fun. :)  Di and Parsnip are celebrating their 250th week --- congrats!!

Stamps:  Peace - Merriest sentiments (Avery Elle); Be Joyful - Big Scripty Greetings Holiday (Simon Says)
Paper:  White card base (Neenah 110 lb.); Yupo white
Ink:  Alcohol inks:  Poppyfield (Ranger); Senorita Magenta, Gold (Pinata); Gold Delicata (Tsukineko)
Accessories & Tools:  Blooming Poinsettia die (Poppy Stamps); Ornament Set 2 die (Elizabeth Craft Designs), gold beads, gold cording, gold acrylic paint (Lumiere) for splattering, paint brush

Challenges:
Snippets Playground - Week 250

Inspired by Jules

Hi everyone.  Today I'm sharing a new technique I played with after being inspired by my good friend, Jules (Crafted by Jules).  Thanks Jules!

Jules has made a few cards using the Wax Paper Emboss Resist technique.  Click HERE and HERE to see her cards.  She tried it after seeing a video on Stamp TV by Gina K.

Basic instructions are to cut out a piece of wax paper a bit larger than your card fronts.  You will use two card fronts for one piece of wax paper.  Scrunch the wax paper tightly and then smooth out to create lots of texture (I didn't do this step ... just used my piece plain).  Place the wax paper into an embossing folder and run it through your machine.  Remove, then sandwich the embossed wax paper between two card fronts, place inside a piece of scrap copy paper to protect your iron, and iron over top on a medium to high setting (NO steam).  You end up with an embossed image on one card front, and a debossed (opposite) on the other.  It's a very cool and easy to do technique.

I sponged two colours of distress inks randomly over top (Twisted Citron and Peacock Feathers) to reveal the design.  I cut an angled panel, added a die-cut white leaf sprig, stamped a simple sentiment and added three dew drops made by my good friend Hazel (My Card Attic).  Thanks Hazel!

Here's a close-up ...

Easy and fun card to make! :)  Thanks so much for dropping by for a visit!

Stamps:  Sentiment - Painted Butterflies (Altenew)
Paper:  White (Neenah 110 lb. card stock)
Ink:  Twisted Citron, Peacock Feathers (Distress Inks by Tim Holtz)
Accessories & Tools:  Wax paper, Spring Leaves embossing folder (Elizabeth Craft Designs), Iron, sponges, Little Leaves die (Sizzix), Dew Drops (made by Hazel)

Merry Monday Card Challenge #200

Hi everyone.  I'm am so excited to be one of the Guest Designers to celebrate Merry Monday's 200th Challenge! :)  Congrats to Lesley and the team for this wonderful accomplishment.  Merry Monday is a very popular challenge and a great way to get a stash of Christmas cards made throughout the year.

Each of the Design Team members was asked to bring a guest to the party, and I was thrilled when Bonnie (Stamping with Klass) asked me.  Thanks Bonnie!! xx

Here is the challenge.  There's four different pictures to choose from for your inspiration.

I love the elegant picture with the silver glitter and pink ornaments.  That was my inspiration for the card above.  I started by stamping some splats onto my card front and heat embossing in silver.

Inka Gold (in rose, platinum and silver) was smooshed onto a piece of white card stock, and then die-cut for the solid ornament.  The intricate patterned top layer of the ornament was cut with silver glimmer paper.

To finish, the sentiment was heat embossed in silver onto black card stock and cut into a thin banner.  The ornament and banner are both popped up to add dimension to the card.

Used snippets for the ornament and banner, so I'm heading over for some play time at the Snippets Playground.

I've been inspired lately by my good friend, Hazel (My Craft Attic).  She frequently adds black to her card designs.  Just adding the thin, black banner really made the other colours pop.  Thank you Hazel!

Here's a close-up ...

________________

I couldn't help but make a second card for this fun challenge.  LOVE that adorable snowman in the inspiration photo.  It reminded me of a sweet digital file I have from Sweet 'n Sassy.  This snowman makes me smile! :)

The digital image was printed onto white card stock and fussy cut.  Zig markers were used to colour in his nose and scarf.

For something different, coloured card stock was used for the background, with sparkle texture effect spread over a snowfall stencil.  I love the sparkle. :)  Two torn snowbanks were added at the bottom, along with a simple stamped sentiment.  To finish it off, the top right corner was rounded..

I hope you'll come join the party at Merry Monday and help celebrate the 200th challenge.  Make a Christmas card using one of the four photos above as your inspiration ... any style of card is welcome!

Hope to see you at Merry Monday!  :)

Edited to add:  Heading over to join the fun at Muse Christmas Visions #39 - inspired by Kimberley Wiener.  Entering my snowman card above.  Thanks Kimberley!

Kimberley's MUSE card

________________

Since this snowman card has stamping, stenciling, embossing paste and tearing, it's another example for the CAS Mix Up April Challenge.

Pink & Silver ornament card:
Stamps:  Gorgeous Grunge, Warmth & Wonder - sentiment (SU!)
Paper:  White (Neenah); Black, Silver Glimmer (SU!)
Ink:  Versamark
Accessories & Tools:  Inka Gold (Rose, Platinum, Silver), water mister, Ornament Set 2 (Elizabeth Craft Designs), Silver embossing powder, heat tool, silver cording

Smiley Snowman card:
Stamps:  Smiley Snowman (Sweet 'N Sassy); Christmas Sampler (Paper Smooches)
Paper:  White (Neenah); Bermuda Bay (SU!)
Ink:  Real Red (SU!), Zigs (Red and two shades of Orange)
Accessories & Tools:  Falling Snow stencil (Simon Says), sparkle texture effect (Martha Stewart), Corner Rounder (We R Memory Keepers)

Challenges:
Merry Monday 200th Challenge
CAS Mix Up April Challenge - Stenciling
Snippets Playground - Week 224
MUSE Christmas Visions #39 - Kimberley

Holiday Artsy

Hi everyone.  Today I'm back with another Christmas card! :)  My stash is building up quite nicely. :)

I'm playing along with Muse: ChristmasVisions #38.  The muse for the current challenge is my good friend, Maria.  Congrats Maria!

Maria's card

I love Maria's artsy style.  I'm always learning from her as she uses lots of different mixed media products, which have become an obsession with me over the past couple of years. :)

Maria used an awesome stencil from STAMPlorations for her card, but since I recently used it on another Christmas card, I wanted to do something a little different.

I used a NBUS stamp set from StudioL2E called "Bokeh Builder".  It's solid dots and outline dots in the set ... I only used the solid ones to stamp a design onto white card stock.  I used the same colours as Maria's card (gold, green and red).  Once my card front was covered with dots, I used it to die-cut my three layer tree.  Basically, I made my own patterned paper. :)  I'm happy with how it turned out.

Here's a close-up which will hopefully give you a clearer view ...

I added a glittery star at the top of the tree, and also CASED Maria's repeat sentiment across the bottom.  My camera is giving me grief right now, so the photos are a bit blurry.  I have already mentioned to hubby that I'm hoping for a new camera for my birthday in a couple of months.  Finger's crossed! :)

____________________

Also wanted to share my recent craft shopping.  I went into Vancouver to Scrapbook Warehouse --- great selection!!  I was going to just buy gilding flakes and glue, but I ended with a few more things. :)  I'm already thinking I need to head back there for a few more. :)  Don't we have fun with this hobby??  Always so many new things to try. :)

Stamps:  Bokeh Builder (StudioL2E); Holiday Arsty (STAMPlorations)
Paper:  White (Neenah 110 lb. card stock); Silver glimmer paper (SU!)
Ink:  Delicata Gold (Tsukineko); Distress Inks:  Festive Berries, Twisted Citron (Tim Holtz)
Accessories & Tools: 5 part Pine (Elizabeth Craft Designs --- I only used three parts); Large Holiday Shapes die -- Star (Simon Says)

Challenges:
Muse: ChristmasVisions #38 - Maria Fischer

More homework ...

Hi everyone.  Yesterday I posted two cards with a watercolour wash sunrise in the background.  That wash was done wet paint on dry paper (wet on dry).  Today's wash is wet on wet ... just like it sounds, wet paint on wet paper.  I love how the colours of the paint flow when they hit the wet paper.  I did a random design with just adding squiggles of colour and letting the water do most of the work.  I also tilted my panel when it was really wet to allow the colours to run.

I started out by doing this wash on the horizontal.  But when I made my card, I loved the look with the panel being vertical.  It reminds me of the look of Northern Lights behind the snowy scene.  I'm really happy with how this turned out.  Of course, you can't go wrong with using green and turquoise together ... awesome colour combo! :)

I added two ripped white snowbanks at the bottom and a die-cut three which I embossed with flourishes.  I swiped my Versamark across the top of the embossing and then heat embossed with iridescent powder.  Just adds a bit of sparkle.  The sentiment is stamped with silver ink and doesn't show up well in the photo, but is pretty in real life.

Edited to add:  The technique I used for this background was one that I saw on YouTube (not the watercolour class that I'm taking right now).  The video is by Gina Kim and it's excellent.  Here's the link.

Stamps:  Red Star (sentiment) Penny Black
Paper:  White card base (Neehan); Watercolour Paper (Arches 140 lb. cold press)
Ink:  Phthalo Turquoise Watercolour (Winsor & Newton), Hookers Green Watercolour (Opus Essentials); Silver (Delicata)
Accessories & Tools:  1" flat brush, 5 Part Pine Die (Elizabeth Craft Designs), Musical Flourish embossing folder (Cuttlebug), Iridescent Embossing powder (Ice by Stampin' Up!), heat tool

Smooshed Inka Gold Christmas

Hi everyone.  Welcome to the last Happy Little Stampers CAS Challenge for the year. I've had so much fun with the HLS CAS challenges this year and I hope you have too.  Can't wait for you to see what's in store for 2016 --- I think you're going to love our challenges.  Thanks again to everyone who has entered cards.  We are thrilled with the response we've had every month.

Here's the newest challenge ...

Our sponsor is

Winning entry receives a HLS stamp set.

I have MANY favourite techniques ... but decided that smooshing is my most favourite right now, especially smooshing with Inka Gold wax paste. :)  I LOVE the colours, shimmer and shine of this amazing product.  And smooshing is one of the easiest and most beautiful techniques ... at least I think so.  Here's a link to my YouTube video on inka gold smooshing.

I used mixed media paper for this, but you can also use watercolour paper or regular card stock --- each of the papers has their own unique look.  Not only did I smoosh a panel of mixed media paper, but I smooshed it a couple of times, drying after each time. :)  It built up beautiful layers of colour.  I die-cut (another favourite technique of mine) a simple plain ornament, but then put it through my big shot with a flourish embossing folder.  LOVE the raised design on my smooshed paper.  I wanted the ornament to be the star of the card, so I only added a simple silver embossed sentiment and silver cord bow.  I didn't think anything else was needed.  This is a very quick and easy CAS card or QCAS as Darnell would say. :)

I'm also excited to announce that TaeEun (rainbow in november) is our Guest Designer for our CAS Challenge this month.  Welcome TaeEun.  We're so happy to have you on the team!

Please click HERE to check out TaeEun's CAS card, along with the rest of the cards from our very talented and inspiring designers.  And come make a CAS card with your favourite technique and link up to the challenge.  Hope to see you in the gallery!

I'm going to share this card at Sparkle Christmas #52 - Anything Goes,  and AAA Cards #53 - Anything Goes.  Also sharing at Fusion (Blue Christmas) ... and since I used a snippet for my ornament, I'm stopping by the Playhouse for Week #205. :)

Thanks for dropping by for a visit!

Stamps:  Mixed Christmas Sentiments (Happy Little Stampers)

Paper:  White card base (Neenah); Mixed Media Paper (Strathmore)
Ink:  Versamark
Accessories & Tools:  Inka Gold wax paste (Jade, Steel Blue, Platinum), water mister, Ornament Set 2 die (Elizabeth Craft Designs, Musical Flourish embossing folder (Cuttlebug), silver embossing powder, heat tool, silver cording

Challenges:

HLS December CAS Challenge
Sparkle Christmas #52 - Anything Goes
AAA Cards #53 - Anything Goes
Fusion (Blue Christmas)
Snippets Playhouse - Week 205

HLS July Christmas Challenge

Hi everyone.  Today is the start of our brand new Christmas Challenge at Happy Little Stampers.  Not only are we launching a new challenge, but we have a new design team to start things off.  Check out the challenge HERE to see the wonderful cards by the rest of the Design Team (Bozena, Carol D, Carol S, Gail, Ingrid, Kylie, LesLee, Mary, Susan).  And then come and join in the fun! :)

The rules are simple.  Make a Christmas card that uses the key word (this month is Tree) and upload to the challenge blog.  Any style of card is welcome!

I started with some die-cuts I had cut over a year ago when my friend Susan (Cardmaker's Garret) came for a crafty play day.  I love this set of tree dies that she has.  At that time I was on a kick to use up some of the many packages of Christmas papers that I had bought.  I cut the trees from the ugliest patterned paper you can imagine ... then they sat, and sat, and sat.  I decided I need to do something with them.  So I turned them over to the plain white backing, sprayed with two shades of green watercolour sprays, let them dry and then added some snow texture.  LOVE how they turned out.  And the ugly paper is on the backside. :)  No one will ever know. :)

I used Martha Stewart Sparkle Texture Effect for my snow.  I wanted to have a soft, dreamy looking snowy sky for the background, so I sponged two shades of distress ink (Tumbled Glass and Peacock Feathers) on to vellum, leaving a little white space at the bottom.  Then I splattered with diluted white acrylic paint.  I finished the card by adding a frame with the vellum taped to the inside, stamped a simple sentiment and attached the tree on top; and then popped everything up on my card base. Easy and so fun!! :)

I hope you'll come play along with our new challenge.  Never too early to start making Christmas cards. :)

Stamps:  Christmas Greetings (SU!)

Paper:  White (Neenah); Vellum (40 lb. Bazzill); Misc. patterned paper, Silver glimmer paper (SU!)
Ink:  Distress Inks:  Tumbled Glass, Peacock Feathers (Tim Holtz)
Accessories & Tools:  Spray mists (Lime Green, Green) made with liquid watercolour concentrate (Dick Blick), 5 part tree die (Elizabeth Craft Design dies), Large Holiday Shapes die - star (Simon Says), Sparkle Texture Effect (Martha Stewart), paint brush for splattering, white acrylic paint

Challenges:

HLS July Christmas Challenge

O Christmas Tree

Hi everyone.  Today's card is for the Sparkle Christmas Challenge (#12 - trees).  This is a die that I borrowed from my friend Susan.  It has five layers, but I opted to use just the three biggest for today's tree, sponging around the edges with a darker green to give it dimension.  I love the flourish pattern on the designer paper - and I wanted it to be the star, so left everything else white to show it off.  To give the tree even more dimension, I added foam tape at the bottom of each of the pieces ... and glued the peak of the middle and bottom layers to the card front.  The top piece is popped up at both the peak (with the star) and along the bottom.

I printed the sentiment at the bottom of a piece of white card stock (it's a digital sentiment), and then tore the edge.  I layered it on top of another, larger piece of torn card stock and then mounted those two pieces to my card front.  I added dazzling diamonds along the torn edges of the "snow", and once dry, mounted the tree in place.

I haven't mentioned this for a while, but when I use designer paper on my card, I usually add a strip (about 1 1/8" wide) to the inside bottom of the card for interest.  You can see just a peak of the inside in the photo above.

I made a second card exactly the same to donate and will keep one for my Christmas stash, which is already growing!  :)

Stamps:  Traditional Christmas Greetings (Pink Petticoat)
Paper:  White; 'Tis the Season Designer Paper (My Mind's Eye)
Ink:  Garden Green (SU!) - for sponging around the edges of the tree die-cuts
Accessories & Tools:  Big Shot, 5 part pine tree die (Elizabeth Craft Designs), star die (Simon Says), dazzling diamonds

Challenges:
Sparkle #12 - trees