Orange Roses

Hi everyone.  Today's card is the second image from the stamp set, Enchantingly (Penny Black).  Here's a link to the first image I used.  

I stamped the flowers in Toffee Crunch ink and then watercoloured with Distress Inks.  I used a circle stencil to add dots to the background using a light green.  The sentiment (Super Day - Penny Black) is stamped in more Toffee Crunch to finish the card.  

Close-up ...

Imspired to make this card by the following challenges:

1) The Flower Challenge #102 - Add Spots or Stripes

2) Penny Black Saturday Challenge - May - Anythng PB Goes

3) Just Us Girls #776 - Stencil week - Edited to add, thanks to Lisa! :)

 

* * * * *

My friends Fran & Deb were over for a visit recently.

Fran snapped this photo of Jessie chill-axing. :)

 

Thanks for stopping by!

Stamps:  Enchantingly; Super Day (both Penny Black)

Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.)
Ink:   Toffee Crunch (Memento); Distress Inks:  Shabby Shutters, Peeled Paint, Ripe Persimmon (Tim Holtz)
Accessories:   Watercolour paint brushes, Circle Stencil (Silhouette America cut file); sponges

Challenges:

The Flower Challenge #102

Penny Black Saturday Challenge - May

Just Us Girls #776 - Stencil week

Enchantingly

Hi everyone.  This weekend we had some lovely, sunny weather.  It feels good to see the sun and not have any rain. :)  Today's card is inspired by a few challenges.  They help so much in getting ideas flowing ...

This is a new-to-me stamp from Penny Black called Enchantingly.  I stamped in black ink and heat embossed the image in clear onto mixed media paper and then watercoloured using my Zig Clean Color Brush pens.  I haven't used them for a while and it was so much fun!!  I then cut out the flower with matching die (Enchantingly Cut Out - Penny Black).

It's no secret that my favourite colour is pink ... with orange as a close second.  I combined the two inks to create a lovely coral for my blossom.  Two shades of light green were used on the leaves.

I added a light sponging of colour over a stencil (Mini Tiny Circles - The Crafter's Workshop) on the card front before adding the flower (popped up for dimension).  The sentiment (from the same stamp set) is stamped in black and clear heat embossed to match the image.

Close-up ...

Sending this card to the following challenges:

1)  Darnell's IDEAS Challenge - Week 2 - Dies - used die for bloom and die-cut trellis background

2)  Time Out #286 - Pick 2 from the list (floral, stencil, spots, arch, water, pastel) - I used floral and stencil. 

3)  NBUS #73 - never-before-used-schtuff - this is my second entry this month.

4)  Die-Cut Diva's April Challenge - Flowers

  

* * * * *

Jessie was "helping" Alejandro do some Spring garden clean-up on Saturday.

He set up his camera and got these fantastic photos of her ...

Thanks for stopping by!

Stamps:  Enchantingly (Penny Black)

Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.)
Ink:   Black (Memento); Zig Clean Color Brush pens; Shabby Shutters Distress Ink (Tim Holtz)
Accessories:   Clear embossing powder, heat tool, Enchantingly Cut Out (Penny Black), watercolour brushes, Mini Tiny Circles stencil (The Crafter's Workshop), sponge

Challenges:

Darnell's IDEAS Challenge - Week 2 - Dies

Time Out #286 - Pick 2

NBUS #73 

Die-Cut Diva's April Challenge - Flowers

Embossing Paste - Group of Seven

Hi everyone.  This month at Group of Seven we are focussing on a product - Embossing Pastes.  We are exploring the different kinds of pastes, ways to use them, and ways to alter them in order to stretch the use of this amazing product (adding colour and/or texture).

Please check out the details for the technique and link to video on the blog ...

Group of Seven Cardmakers

My card uses Dreamweaver Embossing Paste coloured with Brushos Powder (Lime Green).  I added a bit of the powder to my paste on my work surface and used a palette knife to work in the colour until there were no longer streaks.  The powder is very concentrated, so I only used a small amount.  I placed a stencil (Wander & Find - retired) over top of my mixed media card front, secured with tape and used my palette knife to add over top of the stencil, covering just the middle as I had planned to add a card front over top with a circle aperture.  Once I was happy with the coverage, I removed the stencil and immediately washed it along with my palette knife.  I let the paste dry and then added my card front with circle aperture, showing off the stenciling underneath.  And I add a small image of watercoloured and fussy-cut flower over top, tucking the stem into the opening.  A simple sentiment was added to finish the card.

The embossing paste creates a lovely design as well as adding texture and colour.  It really gives the card something special to build on.

Sending this card to the IDEAS Challenge - A for Anything Goes.  I used embossing paste as my Anything Goes. :)

... and sending to Penny Black Saturday Challenge - March.  The flower image is Penny Black.

* * * * *

Here's what I learned when I experimented with this technique ...

• You can use a lot of different colouring mediums to colour your pastes.  That way you can save money by buying white paste and colouring yourself.  Make sure to use a colouring medium that is water soluable (re-inkers, watercolours, acrylic paints, watercolour powders, etc.
• Make sure to mix up enough paste (or even extra) so that it easily covers the area you want.  It's hard to make more afterwards and match the same colour tone.

* * * * *

Violeta & Jessie settling in for a nap after a long walk. :)

Thanks for stopping by!

Stamps:  Flower Collection (Penny Black); Sentiment - Scenic Sampler (Stampendous - Closed)

Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.)
Ink:  Obsidian (Black - Altenew); Brushos (Lime Green); Distress Inks:  Mowed Lawn, Ripe Persimmon, Mustard Seed (Tim Holtz) 
Accessories:   Wander & Find stencil (retired), White Embossing Paste (Dreamweaver), palette knife, Circle die (Spellbinders), 

Challenges:

Group of Seven - Embossing Pastes

IDEAS Challenge - Anything Goes

Penny Black Saturday Challenge - March

Textured Backgrounds using Die-cuts - Group of Seven

Hi everyone.   It's the start of a new technique at Group of Seven.  This time we are using die-cuts  to add texture to backgrounds.  Basically, it gives a faux dry embossed look.  It's a great way to stretch the use of your dies.

Please check out the details for the Textured Backgrounds using Die-cuts technique and link to videos on the blog ...

For the card above I used some older dies that I haven't used for a while.  I started with die-cutting Fresh Foliage from Smoky Slate card stock three times.  I arranged the sprigs onto another piece of the same colour of card stock.  I adhered the pieces with glue and set aside.

Black card stock was adhere to my Honeycomb stencil (Penny Black).  I sponged over top with Hickory Smoke Distress Oxide inks, removed the stencil and let dry.  A panel was added to the left side of the textured background and the used leftovers for the inside of the card.

The Framed Fern (Penny Black) was die-cut from black card stock three times and adhered together to get a thicker die-cut.  To finish, a heat embossed sentiment (Essential Sentiments - Maker's Movement) was adhered.  I glued the framed fern on top and popped up the whole panel with foam.

And one more ...

For this next card, I used a textured leaf die (Delicate Leafy Branch - Simon Says Stamp), which adds even more texture to the background.  The Floral Stem Collage (Poppy Stamps) was cut from mixed media paper, watercoloured with Distress Inks and popped over top.  A simple sentiment (A Little Sentimenal - Clearly Besotted) was stamped to finish.

The tone-on-tone of the background and adhered die-cuts adds a lovely texture, depth, and interest without overpowering the main design.  This is a really easy and straighforward technique that is fun to do. :)

* * * * *

Latest photo of Jessie.

She is enjoying a lazy afternoon.  Life is good! :)

Thanks for stopping by!

Card #1:

Stamps:  Essential Sentiments (Maker's Movement - closed)

Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.); Smoky Slate card stock (SU!); Black card stock (SU!)
Ink:   Hickory Smoke Distress Oxide (Tim Holtz); Versamark
Accessories:   Fresh Foliage die (Memory Box); Honeycomb Stencil (Penny Black), Framed Fern die (Penny Black), sponge, white embossing powder, heat tool

Card #2:

Stamps:  A Little Sentimental (Clearly Besotted - Retired)

Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.); 
Ink:   Distress Inks:  Salvaged Patina, Shabby Shutters, Saltwater Taffy, Abandoned Coral (Tim Holtz)
Accessories:   Delicate Leafy Branch (Simon Says Stamp), Floral Stem Collage (Poppy Stamps), watercolour paint brushes

Challenges:

Group of Seven - Textured Backgrounds using Die-cuts

Penny Black - Overflowing

Hi everyone.  Today I'm sharing a birthday card I made for Jeremy's sweet friend, Vanessa.  I used some new Penny Black products:  Overflowing (31-062) and Overflowing Cut-Out (51-822), and some older PB products as well.

I started with one of the images from the Overflowing stamp set, stamped in black ink and heat embossed in clear onto mixed media paper.  The image was die-cut from the matching die (Overflowing Cut Out) and then the flowers were sponged with Distress Inks: Pine Needles and Evergreen Bough.  I went over the sponging with a wet paint brush and added more depth of colour for shading.  The leaves are watercoloured with Distress Inks: Shabby Shutters and Peeled Paint.  A coat of Clear Wink of Stella was added overtop of the flowers to give a shimmery finish.

The Variegated 65-008 (Penny Black) embossing folder  was used to add a background to the sweet frame (Sewing Stackers 51-651 (Penny Black).  I added the flowers to the frame, adhering the bottom of the stems to the back of the frame, and popped up the flowers to add dimension.  The whole panel was popped up onto the card front.  A simple sentiment (Banner Sentiments 30-423 - Penny Black) was stamped in more of the Evergreen Bough to finish the card.

Close-up ...

Sending this card to the Simply Clean & Simple July Challenge

     

Thanks for stopping by!

Penny Black Products

                                             Overflowing (31-062)  /  Overflowing Cut Out (51-822)

   

                    Variegated EF (65-008)           Sewing Stackers (51-651)      Banner Sentiments (30-423)

* * * * *

My sweet friends Susan & Christine came by for lunch yesterday.

Here's a photo of "the girls" in our back yard.

Photo of play day

Jessie, Violeta, Tessa

Stamps:  Overflowing; Banner Sentiments (both Penny Black)

Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.)
Ink:   Black Pigment ink (Obsidian - Altenew); Distress inks:  Shabby Shutters, Peeled Paint, Evergreen Bough, Pine Needles (Tim Holtz)
Accessories:   Clear embossing powder (Ranger), sponges, watercolour brushes, Sewing Stackers frames (Penny Black), Variegated embossing folder (Penny Black), Clear Wink of Stella

Challenges:

Simply Clean & Simple July Challenge

Metallic Birthday

Hi everyone.  Today's card is a CASE of a card I made way back in 2014.  This is one of my favourite cards I've made in the many years I have been crafting, and it popped into my head recently.  I dug through my dies and found that I still had some leaves cut from leftover copper with alcohol inks pounced on top.  Awesome!  This means I'm getting to use up come long neglected die-cuts ... as well as some old patterned paper.  :)

Close-up ...

Sending this card to Seize the Birthday #284 - which was my inspiration!  Thanks Ashwini!

Also sending to IDEAS - "Anything Goes" week, self challenge by Dolly.  I've used some long neglected papers and copper! :)

This card is very close to the original card I made ... a little more CAS. :)  Always good to have masculine cards on hand. 

* * * * *

Jessie and Violeta's walk in the park

 

Thanks for stopping by!

Stamps:  Simply Sentiments (Lawn Fawn

Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); River Rock (SU!); Early Espresso (SU!)
Ink:   Alcohol inks:  Red, Green, Yellow; Distress Oxides (Ground Espresso, Walnut Stain) Tim Holtz
Accessories:  Copper sheets, Leaf dies, branch die 

Challenges:

Seize the Birthday #284 - Use Metallics (optional)

IDEAS - May Anything Goes

IDEAS May - Embossing Folders

Hi everyone.  It's time for the next IDEAS Challenge with Darnell.  This week is "E for Embossing Folders".

I used a NBUS embossing folder for the background (Variegated - Penny Black).  I inked up the inside (deboss) of the embossing folder, added a piece of regular card stock and then ran it through my Gemini Jr.  LOVE how it turned out.  The soft green (Shabby Shutters Distress Ink) fills in the background while the embossing raises the white leaves and gives them dimension.  I cut the panel down to 2 1/2" x 3 1/4".  The Sketch Daisy die (Memory Box) was cut from white card stock.  The flower was sponged with Distress Inks (Saltwater Taffy, Abandoned Coral, Crackling Campfire).  The leaves were sponged with Shabby Shutter and Peeled Paint.  To finish, a simple Hello sentiment (Stampendous) was stamped in more of the Peeled Paint distress ink.

I'm sending the above card to three challenges (listed below with links):

IDEAS May Challenge - Embossing Folders

NBUS #62

Can you Handle the Pressure? May 11 - AG with a Twist of Flowers

   

* * * * *

It's been a while since you've seen a photo of Jessie.  She turned five a few days ago --- time flies!  We're now been living with Jeremy, Alejandro and their dog, Violeta.  Jessie gets a walk everyday ... sometimes two! :)  She has definitely lost a bit of weight and is looking good, especially with her new hair cut that Jer and I gave her.  She is loving life with a full house.  There's always something happening and someone to play with. :)

Photo by Alejandro

On a personal note, this has been the right decision for hubby and I.  We love spending time with the family and they have been wonderful looking after chores that are now too much for us (gardening, grocery shopping, etc.).  Plus we get the benefit of Alejandro's amazing cooking skills a few times a week as we share the cooking duties.  We are blessed!

Thanks for stopping by!

Stamps:  Spring Sentiments - retired (Stampendous)

Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.)
Ink:  Distress Inks:  Shabby Shutters, Saltwater Taffy, Abandoned Coral (Tim Holtz); Cameo Coral Stampin' Up Writer 
Accessories:   Variegated embossing folder (Penny Black); Floral Stem Collage die - retired (Poppy Stamps), watercolour brushes, Jewel Drops (Nuvo)

Challenges:

IDEAS May Challenge - Embossing Folders

NBUS Challenge #62

Can You Handle the Pressure? - May 11 - AG with a Twist of Flowers