You're so Tweet!

Hi everyone.  Today we are half way through July so it's time for a CAS Mix Up Reminder.  Check out the challenge blog to see new inspiration from the Designers and our wonderful Guest Designer, Sue.

Bonnie is hosting this month and she has us colouring our die-cuts.  It really makes them special when you add some colours and other details.  The sweet little birdhouses above are a new-to-me die-cut.  I cut them from woodgrain paper given to me by a sweet friend. :)  Then watercoloured them with distress inks.

I created a Splash Watercolour background with two layers of Tumbled Glass distress ink.  Once dry, I used some tiny grass stamps and leaf sprig stamps to create my grass at the bottom, and the leaves off to the left side.  I used first and second generation stamping with the leaves to add dimension.  I used the same colour for the sentiment as I did for the sweet little birds.

Here's a close-up ...

Since I used Splash Watercolouring for the background, I'm sending this card over to the CAS Watercolour as well.

I hope you'll be inspired to come play along.  Colour your die-cuts using any colour medium, keep your card CAS, and then join our gallery!

Stamps:  Sentiment - Love Bug (Fiskars); Master Garden #1 (Kittie Kits - Rubbernecker)
Paper:  White card base (Neenah 110 lb.); Woodgrain - gift from a friend; Black (SU!)
Ink:  Distress Inks:  Tumbled Glass, Twisted Citron, Mowed Lawn, Salty Ocean, Brushed Corduroy, Gathered Twigs, Walnut Stain (Tim Holtz)
Accessories & Tools:  water mister, water brush, white gel pen

Challenges:
CAS Mix Up July Challenge - Colour your Die-cuts
CAS Watercolour July Challenge - Splash Watercolouring

CAS Mix Up July Challenge

Hi everyone.  Happy Canada Day to all my fellow Canadians!  And Happy 4th to all my U.S. friends on Monday!

Today is the start of the CAS Mix Up July Challenge ... check it out!

I always have fun working with markers! :)

I stamped my flowers and heat embossed in gold first, then die-cut with a stitched tag.  I used Zig Clean Color Brushes and a damp paint brush to watercolour the flowers, added a couple of ribbons to the top, and a popped-up heat embossed sentiment in gold on black card stock.  I popped the tag up over top of my card front which was stamped with a splats background and heat embossed (again in gold to tie everything together).

This card has a lot going on, and it's still Clean and Simple.  On mixed media paper, I have watercolouring (using Zig markers), stamping, heat embossing, and die-cutting.  :)

Here's a close-up of the tag ...

While I was at it, I made a second card using the same images.  :)

We are so excited to have Colleen Foelker (One Smile Lifts a Spirit) as our Guest Designer for July.  Colleen won the May Heat Embossing challenge with THIS AMAZING card.  Welcome Colleen!

I hope you'll come share your Clean and Simple Marker cards with us at CAS Mix Up July Challenge - Markers.

Stamps:  Field of Poppies (Rubbernecker);  Gorgeous Grunge (SU); Bloom Sketches - sentiment (STAMPlorations); A Little Sentimental (Clearly Besotted)
Paper:  White card base (Neenah); Mixed Media (Strathmore 400 Series)
Ink:  Versamark; Zig markers (Scarlet Red and Pink)
Accessories & Tools:  Gold embossing powder, heat tool, Stitched Tag Die (Lil' Inkers), satin ribbon and sheer ribbon (both from SU!), Stitched Rectangles (Lil' Inkers)

Challenges:
CAS Mix Up July Challenge - Markers

Merry Christmas

Hi everyone.  Today is the start of the Happy Little Stamper's August Sketch Challenge.

I don't have any pennant stamp or banner stamps, so this stumped me for a little while.  Then I finally came up with this idea viewing the sketch upside down.  Hmmm ... looked like hills with trees to me, albeit rainbow-coloured trees. :)

For my card, I masked the sides of my card front with large post-it notes, and also cut out my snowbank die with another post-it note to use for my hills.  The trees were inked with light green and then used a darker green marker to randomly add some interest to the trees.  I huffed on the stamp to moisten it, stamped once, and then stamped again to create a faded tree in the background (second generation stamping).  I do love this technique.

I used a sponge to add definition to the snow banks.  I added a stamped and popped up sentiment to finish.

I hope you'll check out the challenge blog HERE to see the wonderful and creative cards done by the rest of the Design Team.  And I hope you'll join us for this fun challenge!

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More exciting news from Happy Little Stampers.  A few days ago I mentioned that there are now a line of Happy Little Stamps, check out the shop HERE.

We are also excited to announce the Happy Little Stampers Craft Retreat in the UK, Summer of 2016.

Click HERE to see all the details.  There is a limited number of spots, so if you'd like to attend, please fill out the "expression of interest" form before Aug. 31, 2015. Thank you!

Stamps:  Outdoor Master (Kittie Kits from Rubbernecker Stamps); Season of Joy - sentiment (SU!)

Paper:  White (Neenah)
Ink:  Soft Sky, Pear Pizzazz, Old Olive (SU!)
Accessories & Tools:  post-it notes for masking, Snow Drifts die (My Favorite Things), sponges

Challenges:

HLS August Sketch Challenge

HLS July CAS Challenge - Stamping

Hi everyone.  It's the start of the  July CAS Challenge at Happy Little Stampers, and it's the start of our new Design Team.  Yay!!  Kylie and I are thrilled to have eight talented designers joining us.  Welcome to Anita, Bonnie, Chrissie, Hazel, Linda, Sue, Toni and Valentyna. :)

Today is my friend, Dolly's (aka Darnell) birthday .  Hopefully she received this card in time and this is not the first time she's seeing it! :)

Happy Birthday Dolly!

This card is all about the wonderful technique of generation stamping (or second generation). Basically you stamp an image and then stamp again (and possibly again) without reinking your stamp.  Multi-generation stamping can create the illusion of depth or movement.

I inked my tree trunk and then used a paper towel to randomly removed some of the ink from the top branches, stamped off once onto scrap paper, and then stamped onto my card front.  This gave me a general outline for the tree without having dark branches that would show through the leaves.

Then I stamped the leaves three times before re-inking and stamping again.  It really creates the look of leaves in the background and foreground, giving the tree visual dimension.  So cool! :)

I hope you'll be inspired to join in our fun challenge.  It's open for the whole month of July, so there's lots of time to play along.  Simply make a CAS card that includes stamping and join the challenge.

This card actually works perfectly for the HLS July Sketch challenge that began two days ago, so I'm adding it over there as well.  Here's the sketch ...

And Virginia's View Challenge for July is 100% Stamping, so I'm linking up there.

Stamps:  Leafless Limbs (Stampscapes); Leaf sprig (Kittie Kits Outdoor Master from Rubbernecker), Be Happy Sentiments (Amy R)

Paper:  White (Neenah)
Ink:  Distress Inks:  Squeezed Lemonade, Shabby Shutters, Peeled Paint, Brushed Corduroy (Tim Holtz)
Accessories & Tools:  sponges

Challenges:

HLS July CAS Challenge - Stamping
HLS July Sketch Challenge
Virginia's View #16 - 100% Stamping

Stencil Mask

Hi everyone.  Today's challenge at SCS for new techniques is Cluster Stamping, run by the very talented Joan Ervin.  The challenge is to take a die-cut (at least 2" wide or long ... the bigger, the easier to use), and make a stencil out of it.  Then cluster stamp inside the stencil area.  So fun!!  I had to give it a try.  Mine is basically a one layer card ... except that I always add a smaller card front - so I guess it's more like a one layer card front. :)

I used a window die to cut from a post-it note.  I placed the die-cut window on my card front and then used the rest for the cut (outside of window) as a mask over top.  Then I sponged some green for the grassy area and blue for the sky.  I used only two stamps for the window scene ... a leafy sprig that I stamped two or three times before re-inking (second generation stamping), and a branch with buds.  I love how it turned out.  Taking off the masks to reveal the card front was so exciting. :)  I stamped the sentiment in soft gray to mimic the softness of this sponged scene.

This is perfect for the Happy Little Stampers April CAS Challenge - Stenciling.  And it's a different way to use die-cuts and stencils.  Awesome!

I'm definitely going to be making more of these cards!

Stamps:  Cause a Scene - Master #1 (Kittie Kits from Rubbernecker Stamps); Branches (Inkadinkado); Elements of Style (SU)
Paper:  White (Neenah)
Ink:  Distress inks:  Shabby Shutters, Peeled Paint, Tumbled Glass (Tim Holtz); Early Espresso, Melon Mambo, Smoky Slate (SU!)
Accessories & Tools:  Small Madison Arched Window die (Poppy Stamps), post it notes for making mask, sponges

Challenges:
HLS April CAS Challenge - Stenciling
SCS TLC #528 - Cluster Stamping

Watercolour Stamping

Hi everyone.  Day 3 of the watercolor course and we have three new techniques to try today.  I didn't get any of the techniques done from Day 2, but wanted to move on to the Day 3 lessons.  This time I chose to start with the Watercolor Stamping technique.

I have used these images a few times on card stock, stamping with ink and using second and third generation stamping to create a layered look.  This is my first time stamping onto w/c paper and using water to blend.  Love the look.

I actually made three of these images as I went along.  As Kristina mentioned in her video instruction, she learned things each time she made a card, so I tried making three as I went along, hopefully improving each time :)  This image was my third and the best of the group.  I still have a lot to learn, but I'm happy with how it turned out.

Here's a close-up so you can see more details.

I only had a short time to work on the images above as Hubby and I had a field trip this afternoon, heading to Steveston for lunch and a walk along the wharf.  Beautiful sunny and warm day and it was so wonderful to look out at the water.

We had planned this a while back as I knew that after sitting for many hours in my studio for Day 1 an 2 of the class, I would need to get moving.  It was the perfect break. :)

Might be back with another card depending on how my time goes in the studio.  It's almost 5pm here, so not a lot of time left for me to play before starting dinner.

I'm entering this into the following challenges:  ATS&M #94 - CAS, and Simon Says - Spring Flowers.

Stamps:  Master #1 - Kittie Kits (Rubbernecker Stamps); Flower Pot (Rubber-Art Stamps); Where your Heart is sentiment (Simon Says)
Paper:  Watercolor (Arches 140lb. cold press)
Ink:  Pear Pizzazz, Old Olive, Bashful Blue, Baked Brown Sugar, Cameo Coral, Calypso Coral (SU!)
Accessories & Tools:  paint bush, masking fluid

Challenges:
ATS&M #94 - CAS
Simon Says - Spring Flowers

Love Grows

Hi everyone.  Time for a new challenge at Addicted to CAS.  This time, the challenge is being run by the very talented Sylvia (Poppy's Papercraft Patch), and she chose this word ...

This challenge is being sponsored by

Prize:  Rubber Stamp Set "It's All About You"

(please follow the rules to be eligible to win)

Now, I only used one wheel on my card ... so hope that's OK with Sylvia! :)

I inked the wheelbarrow with my gray marker and stamped.  I used my blender pen to add more ink to the wheelbarrow, masked it with a post-it note and then stamped leaf sprigs and flowers (yellow, red and purple) using generation stamping.  I removed the mask and stamped a few leaf sprigs that are falling over the side of the wheelbarrow and a few of the red flowers as well.  I like the watercolored look.

The sentiment is from a Fiskars set I had bought a while back from my local $1 store (it was $3.00 for the whole set).  I have several of these clear stamp sets, but find I don't always get a crisp and clean stamp from them so didn't use them very much.  Then I watched a video by Darlene Devries (DarleneDesign.com) ... where she describes having the same trouble and how she fixed this problem.  She places the stamp on her acrylic block, figures out where she wants it on her card, places a Stamp-a-ma-jig against the block, inks and stamps.  She lifts up her stamp, leaving the stamp-a-ma-jig in place, and re-inks and stamps again if necessary.  I did that today and it worked perfectly.  Thanks for the great tip Darlene!!  By the way, if you haven't checked out Darlene's blog, please do so if you have time ... she does a video each week showing how she makes her cards.  I have learned a lot from her!

This is the last challenge of March ... which means we have to bid fond farewell to our March Guest Designer ... Karen.  Thanks so much Karen for joining us this month ... we've really enjoyed having you on our Design Team!!! :)

As always, our challenge is open for two weeks so there's lots of time to play along.  Please check out the challenge for Addicted to CAS - Wheels ... and see all the wonderful cards from the rest of the Design Team.

Stamps:  Always Thanksful (SU!); Master #1 (Kittie Kits - Rubbernecker Stamps); Friendship Garden (Fiskars)
Paper:  White (Neenah - card base); Whisper White (SU!)
Ink:  Smoky Slate, Early Espresso, Basic Gray, Black, Gumball Green, Daffodil Delight, Real Red, Elegant Eggplant (SU!)
Accessories & Tools:  blender pen, Stamp-a-ma-jig

Pot of Spring Flowers

Hi everyone.  Wishing you a lovely day!! ... just like the card :)  This is for the LOVEFEST2014 challenges at SCS - challenge E - inspiration photos and hosted by The Cat's Pajamas.

The pictures are a series of garden scene with sweet little bird houses.  I focused on the garden itself, stamping this pot of spring tulips.  This card is Clean ... but not Simple.  It took me several tries to get the pot just as I wanted it.  But I'm happy with it now.  I do love the Pocket Silhouette stamp set and have used it a lot over the years ... I never get tired of it.  I'm enjoying making spring cards, even though spring is a while off yet.

Here's how I stamped the pot of flowers ...  I stamped the pot and then masked around the outside, sponging more ink to give the pot dimension.  I removed the outer mask and then masked the pot itself.  I stamped the three sprigs of blooms, inking them with my markers - green for the stems, pink for the blooms, and thumping a darker pink on the edges before stamping - this gives the two-tone blooms.  I removed the mask on the pot.  I inked my leaf sprig stamp and stamped twice before re-inking and repeating until I filled in the pot (second generation stamping).  I added a little green sponging above the rim of the pot to fill in any blank spaces.

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We've had basically no snow this winter ... until now.  I was so excited when last Friday, the weatherman predicted the possibility of a little bit of snow overnight - yay!  It was an understatement as it has been snowing for the better part of three days.  We have about 8" of snow and it's so gorgeous - pure, white and so pretty on the trees - LOVE IT!.  I'll include a few pics.

This is our backyard ... the large tree is a vine maple that is starting to sag on the left side from all the weight of the snow.  Will try to get out there today and see if I can knock some snow off so the branches don't break.

and here's the front yard ... the red maple tree is gorgeous (yes, we Canadians love our maple trees!). :)  You can tell in the pictures that we still have what I call "snow sky" ... looks like we're in for another day of snow - yay! :)

Stamps:  Pocket Silhouettes (SU!); Pot (Rubber-Art Stamps); Cause A Scene - Master #1 - Kittie Kits (Rubbernecker Stamps); Be Happy Sentiments (Amy R)
Paper:  white (neenah)
Ink:  Sahara Sand, Pear Pizzazz, Regal Rose, Rose Red, Crumb Cake (SU!)
Accessories & Tools:  sponges, post-it note for masking, stamp-a-ma-jig

Challenges:
LOVEFEST2014E

Through the Window

Hi everyone.  Here's my DT card is for today's challenge at Addicted to CAS.  Remember, the challenge runs for two weeks, so there's lots of time to enter!!

This challenge is being run by the mega talented Christine (Das Kartenchaos)  ... and she chose this fun word:

This challenge is sponsored by

Prize:  $20 Gift Voucher

(please follow the rules to be eligible to win)

I added an acetate panel between two layers of the window die to create the "glass" for the window.  I then added Martha Stewart's Sparkle Texture Effect on the four glass panels, along the top of the window and window box for snow.

Inside, there is a decorated Christmas tree with ornaments and a glittery star at the top and I sponged the walls in a nice, warm yellow.

Here's a close-up:

Stamps:  Moose Is Loose (Kittie Kits - Rubbernecker Stamps); Merry and Bright Sentiments (Amy R)
Paper:  White (C.C. Designs), Whisper White (SU!)
Ink:  Old Olive, Garden Green, So Saffron, Real Red, Whisper White re-inker (SU!)
Accessories & Tools:  Big Shot, Small Madison Window die and Small Flower Box (Poppy Stamps), Brick Embossing Folder (Tim Holtz for Sizzix), Stamp-a-ma-jig, sponge, Martha Stewart Sparkle Texture Effect, acetate sheet, adhesives, glue, and dimensionals

I hope I have inspired you to join in our fun challenge ...  Addicted to CAS - Transparent. Come check out all the wonderful creations by the other Design Team members.

More flower pots ...

Hi everyone.  Continuing to experiment with my flower box die ... turning it into pots.  This time I used the Small Flower Box die from Poppy Stamps.  I had a hard time getting the three pots the same size, so will have to figure out a process.  Even though they aren't perfect, still loving this card and another way to use an old (and well-used) stamp from SU! called Pocket Silhouettes.

Here's a close-up ... I'm thinking I should have made the pots a little larger and filled them more to fill the page - maybe next time :)

I'm still working on setting up the cards for my class in August and decided to make another flower box card using a different flower stamp (this time tulips).  I'll let the girls decide which one they want to make (the lavender from yesterday or today's tulip card).  Again, this is a re-make of a card I did last spring, changing up the colors, card base color and removing some layers to make it more CAS.  It inspired me to make the card above ...

Here's the new(er) version:

Same process as yesterday ... but I have just now realized that I didn't give any details, so in case you're interested in how I did this - here goes.  Masked my card front 1 1/2" from the bottom.  Placed my flower box die on top of the mask at the top and marked with a pencil at both ends ... this is to make sure I don't stamp flowers that would be outside the box.  Remove die and then inked my leaf sprig and stamped three times, including a second generation stamping with each pass (this gives lighter stamps that look like they are in the background and creates the illusion of depth).  Did the same with the flowers, inking the stamp with my Stampin' Write markers and stamping and stamping again before reinking.  Also added some leaf sprigs on the flower box.  Removed the mask, stamped the sentiment (just got it in the mail today from C.C. Designs) and then popped up the card front on the card base and added the flower box (also popped up for added dimension).


Here's a close-up:

Do love the two-tone tulips and the bright green leaf sprigs.

Stamps:  Pocket Silhouettes (SU!); Leaf Sprig - Cause a Scene Master #1 (Kittie Kits - Rubbernecker); Sweet Summer Sentiments (Amy R)
Paper:  White (Neenah)
Ink:  Gumball Green, Primrose Petals, Raspberry Ripple, Crumb Cake (SU!)
Accessories & Tools:  Big Shot, Grand Flower Box die (Poppy Stamps), Stamp-a-ma-jig, adhesives and dimensionals

Topiary

Hi everyone.  I've been battling the flu for the past week so haven't been around visiting blogs.  Starting to feel better and hope to be back surfing the net soon ... I have really missed seeing all my favorite crafters for a couple of weeks now and am eager to see what you've all been up to!

Today I'm organizing a CAS Card Class for mid-August and was going through my cards to pick out three for the class.  I came across a set of Flower Box cards that I made last spring and decided I would update one of them for the class to make (see below).  As I was making a sample card, I thought of changing it up a bit and making the image into a topiary.  I love how it turned out .... and you can see the similarities from my Flower Box card below.  Used the same inks, stamps and die-cut ... yes, that is a Flower Box die-cut from Poppy Stamps.  Once I cut it out, I repositioned it in the same die-cut to cut off the excess and make it into a pot ... so happy with how it turned out.  I sponged around the pot and shaped it a bit to give it a curve - love all the dimension!

Here's a close-up:

Here's where I started ... this is an updated version of a card I made last spring (I changed the card base to white, reduced the layers to make it more CAS and changed up the sentiment.

I am going to stick with the flower box card for the class as the topiary was a bit fiddly (and easy to mess up), so I'll leave that as a one-of :)  Still working on which other two cards I'm going to include.  I had so much fun re-making a previous card, that I may do that some more today. The class will get to try their hand at coloring a stamp with multiple colored markers, second generation stamping, sponging and masking.  Fun and easy techniques ... perfect for a beginner's class.

I think it's going to be a fun day and I look forward to getting back to having friends (and this time family as my cousins are coming to learn) over to share my passion for stamping.

Here's a close-up:

Stamps:  Pocket Silhouettes (SU!); Cause A Scene Master #1 (Kittie Kits - Rubbernecker Stamps); Be Happy Sentiments (Amy R)
Paper:  White (C.C. Designs)
Ink:  Old Olive, Elegant Eggplant, Crumb Cake (SU!)
Accessories & Tools:  Big Shot, Grand Flower Box die (Poppy Stamps), sponge, Stamp-a-ma-jig, post-it note for masking, adhesives, and dimensionals

Bloomin' Marvelous

Hi everyone.  Just had to make a second card with the colors of the SCS Color Challenge from yesterday (CC413 - tangerine tango, lucky limeade, whisper white).  This time I used a lovely stamp that was sent to me by my good friend Peggy.  Love this image and thought it would work perfectly with the watercolor spritz technique - turned out soft and feminine - just the look I was wanting.  I used my new SU! Bloomin' Marvelous sentiment stamp that I just got (for free) during the Sale-a-bration event.  I do love getting things for free!! :)

Normally I would just stamped the flower and sentiment and been finished, but today I decided to use some sheer thin ribbon that I've had for a while to add some interest to the top.  And I attached a lime green dragonfly charm that I've had for AGES.  Hope you like.

Stamps:  Floral 496-12 (Rubbernecker Stamps); Bloomin' Marvelous (SU!)
Paper:  White (card base); Watercolor
Ink:  Kiwi Kiss, Tangerine Tango (SU!)
Accessories & Tools:  water mister, 1/8" Tangerine Tango sheer ribbon, dragonfly charm (unknown), removable tape, glue, glue dots, and dimensionals

I masked the blooms with removable tape and inked the rest of the stamp with Kiwi Kiss ink (I don't have a Kiwi Kiss or Lucky Limeade Stampin' Write marker or I would have used that instead).  I removed the tape and inked the blooms with my Tangerine Tango Stampin' Write marker.  I misted the stamp five times and stamped onto the watercolor paper card front.  I inked the sentiment and misted three times before stamping it on the card front.  I added the ribbons and charm and then popped the card front up on my card base to give added dimension.


Here's a close-up view of the main image: