Happiest of Birthdays

Hi everyone.  I was inspired by three challenges for today's card - YAY! :)

I wanted to make a dainty, feminine card. :)  A layer of dry embossed vellum is added overtop of my card front.  I was hoping it would show more in the photo, but it looks as though I simply dry embossed my card front.  In real life, you can see the difference.  My card front this time is ivory ... not my usual white. 

The vase of flowers is stamped twice in black and heat embossed with clear before cutting out with matching die.  I watercoloured the flowers only on one of the images and cut out around the bottom of the flowers.  I popped the flowers up over top of my vase of flowers to add some extra dimension and then placed it inside a frame.

To finish, the sentiment is stamped in black ink and heat embossed in clear to match the rest of the stamping on the card front.

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Sending this card to the following challenges:

1)  We Love Stamping August Challenge - Flowers - hosted by my dear friend Hilary

2)  Penny Black Saturday Challenge - August - Optional:  Embossing (Heat or Dry) - 2nd entry - used both Heat and Dry Embossing

3)  Just Us Girls #787 - Die Week - Florals

Thanks for stopping by!

Stamps:  Wings and Vases (Penny Black); Watching Bloom Sentiment (Memory Box - retired)

Paper:   White card stock base (Neenah 110 lb.); Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.); Vellum
Ink:   Black (Memento); Distress Inks:  Peeled Paint, Picked Raspberry, Festive Berries, Mustard Seed (Tim Holtz)
Accessories:   Clear embossing powder, heat tool, watercolour brushes, Wings and Vases Cut Out (Penny Black), Whirl Frame Cut Out (Penny Black), Dots & Dashes embossing folder (Penny Black)

Challenges:

We Love Stamping August Challenge - Flowers

Penny Black Saturday Challenge - August - Optional:  Embossing (Heat or Dry)

Just Us Girls #787 - Die Week - Florals

Sleding Sweetness

Hi everyone.  I pulled out a fairly new Penny Black set to play with (Sleding Sweetness) - my first time using this set.  Their critters are so adorable, especially the winter bears.  I had fun colouring these adorable images. :)

I started by sponging the card front with Distress inks (Mustard Seed, Salvaged Patina).  I stamped the branches in the background (Refined - Penny Black) in Hickory Smoke ink and added a torn snowhill at the bottom.  The bear and mouse are stamped in black and clear heat embossed on mixed media paper, before cutting them out with the matching dies (Sleding Sweetness Cut Out).  More Distress inks were used to watercolour.  I splattered the background and the images with diluted white acrylic paint before putting them all together.  A simple "JOY" sentiment (Full of Christmas - Penny Black) finishes the card.

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Sending this to Darnell's IDEAS Challenge - Week 1 - Inks.  And I'm also sending it to Darnell's other challenge - NBUS Challenge #77.  Both these challenges help to keep me making cards and using a variety of my supplies, along with NBUS items that might normally languish in the cupboards for years!  Thank you, dear friend!!  :)

Also sending this to PBSC August Challenge - Optional:  Embossing.  I used heat embossing for my images and sentiment. :)

Thanks for stopping by!

Stamps:  Sleding Sweetness (Penny Black); Refinded (Penny Black; Full of Christmas (Penny Black)

Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.)
Ink:   Black (Memento); Distress Inks:  Salvaged Patina, Mustard Seed, Brushed Corduroy, Gathered Twigs, Lumberjack Plaid, Candied Apple, Aged Mahogany, Hickory Smoke, Salty Ocean (Tim Holtz)
Accessories:   Clear embossing powder, heat tool, sponges, watercolour paint brushes, Sleding Sweetness Cut Outs (Penny Black), diluted white acrylic paint

Challenges:

Darnell's IDEAS Challenge - Weekly - 1) Inks

NBUS Challenge #77

PBSC August Challenge - Optional:  Embossing

Postage Christmas Cards

Hi everyone.  Today I'm sharing my most recent Christmas card using the Postage stamp image (Posted - Penny Black) as my background.  I have made a few of these types of cards in the past, but have decided I want to make several using this Postage Stamp with various Christmas images as the design. :)  You'll be seeing more of these, similar to last year's JOY postings.

My first one uses a wonderful stencil from Tim Holtz (Layered Poinsettia).  I didn't bother to mask in-between the poinsettias and holly, opting to use a smaller stencil brush and being fairly careful, although the colours did get mixed a bit. :)

I used Distress Inks:  Candied Apple, Aged Mahogany, Mowed Lawn, Rustic Wilderness.  This is a great set of Christmas colours together.

The sentiment (Bright & Light - Penny Black) is stamped with more Candied Apple ink to finish the card.

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I'm sending this card to the following challenges:

1)  Darnell's IDEAS June Challenge - Week 5 - Stenciling

2)  Merry Little Christmas Challenge #63 - Anything Christmas Goes

Thanks for stopping by!

Stamps:  Bright & Light (Penny Black)

Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.)
Ink:   Shadow Grey (Archival); Distress Inks:  Candied Apple, Aged Mahogany, Mowed Lawn, Rustic Wilderness (Tim Holtz)
Accessories:   Layered Poinsettias Stencil (Tim Holtz), brushes for sponging, silver metallic pen (Pilot)

Challenges:

Darnell's IDEAS June Challenge - Week 5 - Stenciling

Merry Little Christmas Challenge #63

Colourful Hello

Hi everyone.  Today I'm sharing a fun card I made, inspired by AAA Colourful #17 challenge.  Here's the colours of the challenge ... it closes July 14.

I just love these colours together.  They made a bright and happy card. :)

I started with a stencil (Textured Mesh - Memory Box), randomly sponging each of the colours over the background.  I die-cut two of the flowers (Refresh - Penny Black) from black card stock, shaping them with a stylus and mat before adding them to the card front.  The sentiment (Hello Builder - Penny Black) is stamped in black ink to finish the card.

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This was a very easy and quick card to make ... you gotta' love that! :)

I'm sending this card to the following challenges:

1)  AAA Colourful #17

2)  Darnell's IDEAS Challenge - Week 4 - Anything Goes

3)  PBSC June Challenge - Anything Penny Black Goes - I used Penny Black die and sentiment.

 

Thanks for stopping by!

Stamps:  Hello Builder (Penny Black)

Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Black card stock (SU!)
Ink:   Distress Inks:  Mustard Seed, Spiced Marmalade, Ripe Persimmon, Picked Raspberry, Wilted Violet (Tim Holtz); Black (Memento)
Accessories:   Textured Mesh stencil (Memory Box), Refresh flower dies (Penny Black), sponges

Challenges:

AAA Colourful #17

Darnell's IDEAS Challenge - Week 4 - Anything Goes

PBSC June Challenge - Anything Penny Black Goes

Christmas Love and Magic

Hi everyone.  Today I'm working on building my stash of Christmas cards for sending out to family and friends in December.

I'm starting with this new-to-me image of a sweet bear with a bouquet of holly (Love & Magic - Penny Black).  I stamped him in black ink and heat embossed with clear on mixed media paper before watercolouring using distress inks.  I fussy-cut him, added gloss to the holly; once dry, I splattered diluted white acrylic paint for falling snow.  He is then popped up overtop of the background panel, which is dry embossed with Allover Stitches EF (Penny Black) ... first time using this embossing folder. :)  I stamped the sentiment banner (Shine Upon You - Penny Black), adhering at the bottom of the panel before adding it to my card front.

I hope you like this quick and easy CAS design.

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I'm sending this card to the following challenges:

1)  Darnell's IDEAS - Week 3 - EFs

2)  NBUS Challenge #75 - first time using this sweet image :)

3)  Christmas Kickstart Challenge #99 - Christmas Critters

Thanks for stopping by!

Stamps:  Love & Magic; Shine Upon You (both from Penny Black)

Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.)
Ink:   Black (Memento); Distress Inks:  Brushed Corduroy, Gathered Twigs, Lumberjack Plaid, Aged Mahogany, Mowed Lawn, Rustic Wilderness, Squeezed Lemonade, Lost Shadow (Tim Holtz)
Accessories:   Allover Stitches Embossing Folder (Penny Black), Watercolour brushes, crystal glaze (Nuvo), diluted white acrylic paint

Challenges:

Darnell's IDEAS - Week 3 - EFs

NBUS Challenge #75

Christmas Kickstart Challenge #99 - Christmas Critters

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.  

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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! :)

 

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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

Christmas Greetings

Hi everyone.  Today I'm working on building my Christmas stash.  I haven't been making many cards so far this year, especially Christmas ones so you will be seeing more soon. :)

This uses a new-to-me embossing folder (3D Berries Abound - Penny Black), with matching stencils (3D Berries Abound Layers - Penny Black).  I dry embossed my card stock and then placed the stencils overtop, one at a time, and sponged with Distress inks (Mowed Lawn, Candied Apple, Aged Mahogany, Gathered Twigs).  To add a bit of detail, I used a fine paint brush with Rustic Wilderness ink to go over the lines of embossing on the leaves.

I cut the panel to size, and added Crystal Effects over the berries, leaving it to dry overnight.  I added the panel to my card base and stamped the sentiment (Believe - Penny Black) to finish.

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Sending this card to the  IDEAS - Week 3 - Embossing Folders challenge.

 

Thanks for stopping by!

Stamps:  Believe (Penny Black)

Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.)
Ink:   Distress Inks:  Mowed Lawn, Candied Apple, Aged Mahogany, Gathered Twigs, Rustic Wilderness (Tim Holtz)
Accessories:  3D Berries Abound EF (Penny Black), 3D Berries Abound Layers (Penny Black), Sponges, paint brush, Crystal Effects 

Challenges:

IDEAS - Week 3 - Embossing Folders

Festive Blossoms

Hi everyone.  Today I'm sharing a CAS Christmas card using a new-to-me stamp, Festive Blossoms (Penny Black).  I used only a small portion of the image, first stamping in Brushed Corduroy distress ink and then watercolouring overtop with SU! markers.  I am definitely out of practise watercolouring. :)

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To finish the card, I cut my panel to size, added a few highlight strokes with my white acrylic pen and stamped the sentiment (Christmas Sentiments - Penny Black) in Forest Moss distress ink.

Sending this card to a few challenges:

1) NBUS #74 - first time using the Festive Blossom image

2) IDEAS Challenge week 4 - Anything Goes

3) Merry Little Christmas Challenge # 62 - Anything Christmas goes

 

Thanks for stopping by!

Stamps:  Festive Blossoms & Christmas Sentiments (both Penny Black)

Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Old Olive card stock (SU!)
Ink:   Brushed Corduroy distress ink (Tim Holtz); Old Olive, Always Artichoke, Real Red, Cherry Cobbler, Daffodil Delight, Pumpkin Pie Markers (SU!)
Accessories:   Paint brushes, White Acrylic Pen (Posca)

Challenges:

NBUS #74

IDEAS Challenge week 4

Merry Little Christmas Challenge # 62

Orange and Teal

Hi everyone.  I was total inspired by challenges to create this card today, starting with Darnell's IDEAS Challenge - Week 1 - Inks.  I used Distress inks to watercolour my tulips and leaves in the colours of the Color Hues Challenge #107.  I also used one of my many PB stamps to join in with PBSC April Challenge, using Spring colours for The Flower Challenge #101.  Thanks to all the challenges that made making this card so fun! :)

After watercolouring the flowers and leaves (Overflowing - Penny Black), I used the matching die (Overflowing Cut Out - PB) to die-cut the image.  I also die-cut a PB frame (Sewing Stackers) and stamped the sentiment (Super Day - PB) to finish the card.  The frame and flowers are popped up with dots. :)

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Sending the above card to the following challenges:

1)  Darnell's IDEAS Challenge - Week 1 - Inks - thank for the inspiration dear friend!

2)  Color Hues #107 - Orange and Teal - love this combo

3)  Penny Black Saturday Challenge April - AG or Easter - I opted for Anything PB Goes

4)  The Flower Challenge #101 - Use Spring Colours - I used Spring colours and Spring flowers. :)

  

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Sharing a photo of Gord on his 70th birthday.

We had a wonderful time celebrating. :)

Thanks for stopping by!

Stamps:  Overflowing (Penny Black); Super Day (Penny Black

Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.)
Ink:   Black Pigment (Lawn Fawn); Distress Inks:  Carved Pumpkin, Crackling Campfire, Evergreen Bough, Pine Needles (Tim Holtz)
Accessories:   Overflowing Cut Out (Penny Black), Watercolour Brushes, Sewing Stackers Frame (Penny Black)

Challenges:

Darnell's IDEAS Challenge - Week #1- Inks

Color Hues #107 - Orange and Teal

PBSC - April - Anything PB Goes

The Flower Challenge #101 - Use Spring Colours