Guesting at Seize the Birthday!

Hi everyone.  I'm back with my second card this month as Surprise Party Guest at Seize the Birthday Challenge #274 - Fall Items (Food, Flowers, Leaves).

 

Fall is my favourite time of year.  I just LOVE the colours of the fall flowers and the changing leaves.  Today I've used Beautiful Bouquet Dahlia from WPlus9 (retired).  My great uncle used to have a field of dahlias on his property.  They were so beautiful and I have loved that flower since I was a little girl. :)

I stamped the image in black and heat embossed in clear over a stencil monoprint background using the Mini Tiny Circles stencil from The Crafter's Workshop.  The background is done with Peeled Paint distress ink and I've used more distress inks to watercolour the bouquet (Seedless Preserves, Forest Moss, Mustard Seed, Ripe Persimmon).

The card front is cut with a circle aperture for the bouquet to peek through.  This creates a CAS mixed media design, which is finished with a simple sentiment (Endless Birthday Wishes by Stampin' Up! - retired).  

I'm sending the above card to Stencil Fun November Challenge (3rd entry!).

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Come join the challenge at Seize the Birthday with your fall season birthday cards.  Hope to see you in the gallery!

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Stamps:  Beautiful Bouquet Dahlia (WPlus9 - retired); Endless Birthday Wishes (SU! - retired)

Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.)
Ink:   Black (Memento); Distress Inks:  Peeled Paint, Forest Moss, Seedless Preserves, Mustard Seed, Ripe Persimmon (Tim Holtz)
Accessories:   Mini Tiny Circles Stencil (The Crafter's Workshop), Clear embossing powder (Ranger), heat tool, watercolour brushes, Circle Nestability (retired - Spellbinders)

Challenges:

Seize the Birthday Challenge #274 - Fall Items

Stencil Fun November Challenge

More Off the Edge cards

Hi everyone.  A few more cards for June's Group of Seven technique - Off the Edge.  I do love this design element!

The card above uses a stencil "Off the Edge".  I started by masking the outside petals of the sunflower stencil (Mini Joyful Sunflower (6x6) - The Crafter's Workshop) using post-it-notes, sponged two shades of brown Distress Inks (Brushed Corduroy, Gathered Twigs) for the center and then removed the masks.  Add more masking to the inside of the flower and then sponged the petals in more Distress Inks (Squeezed Lemonade, Spiced Marmalade).  Removed the mask and then simply stamped a sentiment from Thoughtful Messages stamp set (Simon Says Stamp) to finish this one layer card. :)

Sending this card to the Stencil Fun Challenge - July - optional Birthday (2nd entry).  Thanks Diane and Darlene!

... and another ...

I stamped Red Star (Penny Black) in Antique Linen distress ink and then did no-line watercolouring of the poinsettia and greenery using Distress inks (Candied Apple, Fired Brick, Mowed Lawn, Mustard Seed).  For some reason, my camera saw a pinky red for this poinsettia. :)

Sending the above card over to Penny Black Saturday Challenge - July - optional "The Great Outdoors".  

I hope you'll join us at the link party on the Group of Seven Cardmaker's blog if you'd like to share your creations.

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Card #1:

Stamps:  Thoughtful Messages (Simon Says Stamp)

Paper:   White card tock (Neenah 110 lb.)

Ink:   Distress Inks:  Brushed Corduroy, Gathered Twigs, Squeezed Lemonade, Spiced Marmalade (Tim Holtz); Black (Memento)
Accessories:   Mini Joyful Sunflower stencil (The Crafter's Workshop), sponges, masking tape, 

Card #2:

Stamps:  Red Star (Penny Black

Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Mixed Media paper (Strathmore 140 lb.)

Ink:   Distress Inks:  Antique Linen, Fired Brick (Tim Holtz); Gumball Green, Summer Sun-retired (SU!)
Accessories:  Watercolour brushes

Challenges:

July Stencil Fun Challenge

Penny Black Saturday Challenge - July

In the Studio with Christine

Hi everyone.   A couple of days ago, my friend Christine came over to have a play with Distress Embossing Glazes.  Both of us had bought several of them 2-3 years ago and only used them once.  Here is a link to Christine's post for today with her card she made at our play day!  It's beautiful!!

We had a fun time playing, chatting and eating. :)  We had a few challenges using the Glazes, but we are both happy with how our cards turned out.

I love the vibrancy of the rainbow card above, inspired by Jennifer McGuire's video on Distress Embossing Glazes.  Once I was finished blending DOX inks, stenciling leaves and adding different colours of Glazes, I splattered with water and then splattered again with diluted white paint.  I used a lovely, large die-cut sentiment that I received from a dear stamping friend many years ago. :)  I have to say that I LOVE rainbow cards and I need to make them more often ... they are so happy! :)    

I'm sending the above card to the May Stencil Fun Challenge - Flowers.  I didn't use the optional theme this time. :)

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Thanks for stopping by!

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Stamps:  n/a

Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.)
Ink:   DOX Inks:  Candied Apple, Ripe Persimmon, Mustard Seed, Mowed Lawn, Peacock Feathers, Wilted Violet (Tim Holtz); Versamark
Accessories:   Gentle Leaf Slimline Stencil (The Crafter's Workshop), Distress Embossing Glazes:  Fired Brick, Fossilized Amber, Peeled Paint, Broken China, Villianous Potion (Tim Holtz), heat tool, white acrylic paint, splatter brush

Challenges:

May Stencil Fun Challenge

Stenciling with Pan Pastels

Hi everyone.  Today I'm sharing another card made from my stash of card fronts.

This is one of the backgrounds I made a few years back when crafting with my sweet friends Susan and Christine.  We were together working at Christine's house and she had us using stencils (Aspen Trees stencil by The Crafter's Workshop) with pan pastels.  The shimmer and shine from the pearlescent violet pan pastels is really amazing.  Hopefully you can see it in the photo above.  I simply added two torn snow hills, a silhouette deer (gift from another friend), and a sentiment (Season's Gifts - Penny Black) to finish off this card. 

I'm sending this over to CAS Christmas September Challenge that closes at the end of today.

I hope you are inspired to go through your stash of goodies and see what you can use to make a quick and easy card.  

Thanks for stopping by!

If you would like to subscribe by email,

please fill out the subscription form in the upper right sidebar.

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It is also important to add SWL1subscribers@gmail.com to your contact list

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"unsubscribe" to the message.

Thank you.

Stamps:  Season's Gift (Penny Black)

Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); black card stock
Ink:   Black (Memento)
Accessories:   Aspen Trees stencil (TCW), pan pastels, sponges

Challenges:

CAS Christmas September Challenge - Sparkle and/or Shine

Snowdrops

Hi everyone.  I'm sharing a card using an adorable stencil Snowdrops (Dinky), gifted to me by a sweet friend.  LOVE these snowdrops.  

I sponged the stems with bright green ink (mowed lawn).  Pearlescent embossing paste was used for the snowdrop flower heads.  I love the shine from this paste.

Added a simple background of more sponging with green over a small dot stencil (Mini Tiny Circles - The Crafter's Workshop) and popping up the main panel to give it some dimension.   A black sentiment banner (Banner Sentiments - Penny Black) adds some lovely contrast to the design.

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If you would like to subscribe by email,

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Thank you.

Stamps:  Banner Sentiments (Penny Black)

Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Mixed Media paper (Strathmore 140 lb.); Black card stock (SU!)
Ink:  Mowed Lawn Distress Ink (Tim Holtz); Versamark
Accessories:   Snowdrops Stencil (Dinky); Pearlescent embossing paste, palette knife, Mini Tiny Circles stencil (TCW), White embossing powder (Ranger), heat tool

Guest Designer for Just Us Girls - Challenge #602

Hi everyone.  It's my third week as Guest Designer for Just Us Girls.  I'm having so much fun!!

This week's challenge (#602) is Yellow, Red, and Orange --- perfect for this time of year!

LOVE this colour combination, which is perfect for Autumn cards!  For my card today I started by smooshing my mixed media card through liquid concentrate watercolours in the three colours above.  This makes a vibrant and colourful background with lots of saturated colours.  I used a new-to-me stencil, Slimline Gentle Leaves (The Crafter's Workshop) overtop of the watercolours, using Versamark before heat embossing with Princess Gold embossing powder.  I used the same gold embossing powder to heat emboss the sentiment (Lacey Leaf Stamp - Concord & 9th - retired).

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This is a fun and easy challenge.  I hope you'll join us at Just Us Girls!

Stamps:  Sentiment - Lacey Leaves (Concord & 9th - retired)

Paper:  Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.); White card base (Neenah 110 lb.) 
Ink:   Liquid Watercolor Concentrate (Blick); Versamark
Accessories:   water mister, Slimline Gentle Leaves Stencil (TCW), Princess Gold embossing powder (Ranger), heat tool

Challenges:
Just Us Girls Challenge #602 - Yellow, Red, Orange

CAS Challenges September Reminder

Hi everyone.  We are at the mid-point of the month, so time for Reminders for our two Challenges.  First up, CAS Mix Up September Reminder - Autumn Colours.

Leslie is our host.

I used a retired set from Stampin' Up! called Falling leaves.  I stamped two oak leaves in brown archival ink and then watercoloured using autumn colours.  I fussy-cut them and added a layer of Clear Rock Candy Distress Glaze.  This gives the leaves a beautiful, shiny, crackle finish.  The crackle is hard to see, but lovely in real life.  

My card front has one side stenciled with a leaf stencil from Silhouette America using Twisted Citron ink.  The other side is a Harlequin Stencil (The Crafter's Workshop) with white crackle paste.  Once everything was dry, I stamped the sentiment (Many Everyday Message - Hero Arts) in gathered twigs distress ink and glued the two leaves, popping up the top one slightly.

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Next is CAS Christmas September Reminder - Plaid.

Colleen is our host.

I do love plaid, especially on a Christmas card.  This time I used patterned paper (Modascrap (Sudtirol) to create three strips of plaid.  I die-cut Blooming Poinsettia (Poppy Stamps) from real red card stock, sponging the edges of the petals with Real Red ink.  I glued the three layers together, offsetting the petals and once dry, shaped the petals with my fingers.  To finish, I added small brown rhinstones to the center of the flower and stamped the sentiment (Merry Up - Penny Black) in Candied Apple distress ink.  I didn't use Real Red ink to stamp the sentiment because it stamps quite dark red on the white card stock I use.

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I hope you'll check out the challenge blogs to see the amazing cards from our Designers, Guest Designers, and participants.  If you haven't had time to play along, there's over a week left before both challenges close on 24th at midnight PST.  Come join us!

CAS Mix Up Reminder - Crackled Leaves
Stamps:  Gently Falling (SU!); Many Everyday Messages (Hero Arts)
Paper:  Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.); White card base (Neenah 110 lb.)
Ink:  Cocoa (Memento); Distress Inks:  Mustard Seed, Ripe Persimmon, Candied Apple, Twisted Citron, Gathered Twigs (Tim Holtz)
Accessories & Tools:  Leaf stencil (Silhouette America), acetate sheet, sponge, Harlequin Stencil (TCW), White crackle paste (DecoArt), Clear Rock Candy (Tim Holtz)


CAS Christmas Reminder - Joyful Wishes
Stamps:  Merry Up (Penny Black)O
Paper:  White card base (Neenah 110 lb.);  Modascrap patterned paper (Sudtirol);  Real Red card stock (Stampin' Up!)
Ink:  Real Red (Stampin' Up!); Candied Apple distress ink (Tim Holtz)
Accessories & Tools:  Blooming Poinsettia die (Poppy Stamps), sponge, mini brown rhinestones


Challenges:
CAS Mix Up September Reminder - Autumn Colours
CAS Christmas September Reminder - Plaid

The Flower Challenge #53

Hi everyone.  It's the start of the new challenge at The Flower Challenge #53.

This is a new-to-me stamp (Statement Flowers - Simon Says Stamp) that I watercoloured with distress inks on mixed media paper.  I first added some stenciled dots (Mini Tiny Circles Stencil - TCW) to the background before stamping and colouring the flowers.  I do love the large size of these flowers --- were fun to watercolour.  To finish, I added a shadow around the flowers using a dark gray Zig brush marker.  Both the flowers and sentiment (Many Everyday Messages - Hero Arts) are stamped in black and heat embossed in clear.

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We are thrilled to have Sathya (Sathya Paper Crafts) are our Guest Designer this month.  Make sure to check out the challenge blog to see the amazing art from our Designers and lovely Guest Designer, Sathya!

I hope to see you in our gallery!

Edited to Add:  Since this is the first time using this beautiful stamp, I'm heading over to add my card to the NBUS #23 gallery!

Stamps:  Statement Flowers (Altenew); Many Everyday Messages (Hero Arts)

Paper:  Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.)

Inks:  Black (Memento); Distress Inks:  Mowed Lawn, Shabby Shutters, Peeled Paint, Abandoned Coral, Candied Apple, Fired Brick, Aged Mahogany, Mustard Seed, Wild Honey; Zig: Gray

Accessories:  Mini Tiny Circles stencil (TCW), sponge, Clear embossing powder, heat tool, water brush

Challenges:

The Flower Challenge #53 - Use your latest Stamps or Dies

NBUS #23 Challenge

The Flower Challenge #52 Reminder

Hi everyone.  This is the reminder post for The Flower Challenge's January Challenge.  This month, we are looking for Embossing (heat or dry).  Remember to use florals as your main image.  Thank you!

This time I used dry embossing of a new-to-me folder from Simon Says Stamp called Peony Bundle.  It's one of those 3-D embossing folders that gives a very deep impression.  I used mixed media paper so that I could watercolour over top with Distress Inks.  But before embossing, I did add a light sponge of soft brown over top of a stencil (Cubist from Crafter's Workshop).  It's very subtle in the background.

I finished the card by stamping a sentiment in purple to bring out the purple in the small branch of berries at the top of the design.  Using DOX ink gave me a true purple that was not effected by the green watercoloured leaves in the background.

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I hope you'll check out the challenge blog to see the amazing Embossed cards from the rest of TFC Designers.  

Hope to see you in the gallery!

Product Links

Cubist Stencil (Crafter's Workshop)

Peony Bundle embossing folder (Simon Says Stamp)

Thoughtful Messages (Simon Says Stamp)

Stamps:  Thoughtful Messages (Simon Says Stamp)
Paper:   Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.)
Ink:   Distress Inks:  Candied Apples, Fired Brick, Shabby Shutters, Peeled Paint, Mowed Lawn, Mustard Seed, Wilted Violet); DOX inks:  Wilted Violet (Tim Holtz)
Accessories:   Peony Bundle Embossing Folder (Simon Says Stamp), water brush

Challenges:

The Flower Challenge #52 Reminder - Embossing Heat/Dry

May CAS Challenge Reminders

Hi everyone.  Welcome to the reminder post for all four CAS Challenges.  It's been a fun month with lots of new things to try.  Starting with CAS Mix Up, Linda wanted us to use Gesso as a resist.

Linda is our host.

I have to say that Gesso intimidated me and I've had it a long time and not used it very often (just basecoats).  But this is a great way to use it.  Pulled a background from my stash that I made the other day using leftover magicals.  It was very soft and pretty.  Placed my bird stencil (NBUS) over top and sponged with gesso.  It dries really quickly!.  Then I sprinkled more of the same four colours of magicals and spritzed with water.  I let it sit for a few second and then blotted with a paper towel.  I repeated one more time until I was happy with the vibrancy of the colours.  Once dry, I placed a leaf stencil (gift from friend), over top, masking off where it overlapped with the bird.  I sponged two shades of green distress ink.  To finish I stamped a very simple sentiment at the top right with blue and added a stitched frame in white.  I'm feeling a lot more confident using Gesso now!

Thanks so much for this great challenge Linda!

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Jenny is our host.

CAS Watercolour Reminder.  Created the background by smooshing some distress inks.  Added falling snow by splattering diluted white acrylic paint.  Die-cut the front panel and then stamped my image in matching ink.

Fantastic challenge Jenny!!  I had lots of fun creating night skies for my DT cards!

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I'm your host.

CAS Christmas Reminder.  Have had this stamp for a couple of years and not used it yet. :)  Placed the image in my Misti and coloured up the stems with brown ink and stamped a couple of times until I was happy with the depth of colour.  Repeated the same for the berries, adding bright red and burgundy shading.  Used diluted white acrylic paint and my stylus to add dots to some of the berries.  Framed the panel in black and added a black sentiment banner with white heat embossed sentiment.  Had to include the close-up photo so you could see the shimmer from the Wink of Stella on the berries.

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Since this is a NBUS stamp, I'm sending this card over to the NBUS #14 Challenge gallery.

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Hilary is our host.

CAS Stencil Reminder.  I started with a card panel from my stash.  I already had a stencil monoprint of chicken wire done with liquid watercolours in orange and yellow (subtle shades of those colours).  I added a flourish stencil over top and sponged with brown.  I topped that with a mini circle stencil, sponged with rust.  I used a double frame die-cut.  I adhered a watercoloured leafy sprig die-cut in bright oranges and brown to the panel, then adhereed to my card front.  A simple sentiment was stamped with the same colour as the sponged flourish stenciling.

Another fun challenge this month --- thanks Hilary!

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I hope you'll check out the challenge blogs to see the amazing cards from our Designers, Guest Designers, and participants.  If you haven't had time to play along, there's over a week left before all four challenges close on 24th at midnight PST.  Come join us!

CAS Mix Up Reminder - Bird and Branch
Stamps:  Happy Messages (Stampendous)
Paper:  Mixed Medi paper (Strathmore 140 lb.); White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.)
Ink:  Magicals:  Hydrangea Blue, Hag's Wart Orange, Cana lily burnt orange, Drop Dead Gorgeous Green (Lindy's); Distress Inks: Twisted Citron, Mowed Lawn, Broken China (Tim Holtz)
Accessories & Tools: Some Birds stencil (STAMPlorations), Lovely Leaves (Studio 490), water mister, sponge dauber, Stitched Rectangle die (Lil' Inkers)

CAS Watercolour Reminder - Winter Night Sky
Stamps:  Holiday Bouquet - sentiment (Avery Elle)
Paper:  Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.); White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.)
Ink:  Distress Inks:  Cracked Pistachio, Chipped Sapphire (Tim Holtz)
Accessories & Tools:  water mister, Evergreen Window die (Memory Box)

CAS Christmas Reminder - More Berries
Stamps:  Merry Berry (Winnie & Walter); Snowglobe Sentiments (My Favorite Things)
Paper:  Mixed Media paper (Strathmore 140 lb.); White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Black card stock (Stampin' Up!)
Ink:  Soft Suede, Real Red, Bravo Burgundy (Stampin' Up!); Versamark
Accessories & Tools:  white acrylic paint, stylus, Clear Wink of Stella, white embossing powder, heat tool

CAS Stencil Reminder - Layered Stenciling
Stamps:  Many Everyday Messages (Hero Arts)
Paper:  Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.); White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.)
Ink:  Liquid Watercolours:  Orange, Yellow (Blick Art Materials); Distress Inks:  Vintage Photo, Rusty Hinge (Tim Holtz)
Accessories & Tools:  water mister, Chicken Wire stencil (TCW), Flourish Layering stencil (Tim Holtz), Mini Tiny Circles (TCW); Hemstitch Rectangles dies (Spellbinders)


Challenges:
CAS Mix Up - Gesso Resist
CAS Watercolour - Night Sky
CAS Christmas - Winter Berries
CAS Stencil - Layered Stenciling