Twofer Challenge #17

Hi everyone.  Time for Twofer Challenge #17 - Bees!  Turns out I didn't have one bee stamp or die in my stash ... I think I need to go shopping! :)  I borrowed this sweet bee stamp set from my friend Trina.  Thanks Trina!

As always, you need to create two cards using this month's prompt (Bees), following the rules in the badge below.  Make sure to take a picture of the two cards together and use that image when linking to the challenge.

I used the same bee stamp for my two cards.  The card above is stamped in the corner with fun flowers.  I watercoloured them using distress inks and then added more ink in-between the flowers, blending them with water, hoping it looked like more flowers in the background.  I don't think I succeeded but the background still is pretty. :)  I popped up a frame over the image for some dimension, as well as adding a pop dot to the back of the bee.  The tiny sentiments are adorable.  This makes one happy birthday card.

Next up ...

I used the same bee stamp as the above card, along with these delicious looking strawberries from the same stamp set.  I love this time of year when the fresh, local strawberries are in season.  Yummy!!  I used a piece of acetate to add some blue smooshed sky to the background.  Stamped my images in black and heat embossed in clear; then watercoloured with Distress inks and added a horizon line with brown ink.  The "bee happy" sentiment is so fun and makes me think of that song ... now I have it stuck in my head! :)  I hope this sweet card will make the recipient happy.

We are thrilled to have Coni (Which Craft?) as our Guest Designer this month.  Please check out the challenge post to see the fantastic cards from Coni and our Twofer Designers.  Then come play along.  The challenge is open for two full weeks from June 10 - 24.

Hope to see you in the gallery!

Stamps: Bee Happy (Hello Bluebird); Flowers (AliExpress)
Paper:  Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.); White card bases (Neenah 110 lb.)
Ink:  Black (Memento); Black (Versafine); Distress Inks:  Mustard Seed, Spiced Marmalade, Ripe Persimmon, Picked Raspberry, Tumbled Glass, Broken China (Tim Holtz); Tombow markers (red, black, brown)
Accessories & Tools:  clear embossing powder, heat tool, water brush, Rectangle Nestabilities (Spellbinders), acetate, Crystal Glaze (Nuvo), Clear wink of Stella, iridescent glitter

Challenges:
Twofer Challenge #17 - Bees

CAS Watercolour April Challenge

Hi everyone.  Welcome to the start of the CAS Watercolour April Challenge.  This month's challenge is being hosted by the talented Bonnie!

This was a quick and easy card.  I used three colours of Distress Inks (Salty Ocean, Peacock Feathers, and Mowed Lawn) to smoosh onto my card using a piece of acetate.  I love this technique because there is a bit more control over where the colour goes.

Once dry, I stamped a sentiment and glued on my pretty intricate die-cut bird.  As I said, easy, peasy and quick card. :)

Here's a close-up ...

Welcome to Stef (Perry Papercrafts), our Guest Designer this month at CAS Watercolour.  Be sure to check out the challenge post to see the gorgeous "bird" cards from Stef and our super creative Designers.

Then come play along.  Challenge is open until April 24th at midnight PST.

I'm entering this card in the Just Us Girls Challenge #434 - CAS (second entry).

Stamps:  Many Everyday Messages (Hero Arts)
Paper:  Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb. 400 Series)
Ink:  Distress Inks:  Salty Ocean, Peacock Feathers, Mowed Lawn (Tim Holtz); Black (Memento)
Accessories & Tools:  acetate sheet for smooshing, water mister, Bird of Roses die (Simon Says Stamp)

Challenges:
CAS Watercolour April Challenge - Bird
JUGS Challenge #434 - CAS

Mixed Media Play

Hi everyone.  I had some time recently and decided to play a bit with mixed media stamp layering.  I don't have a lot of experience, but I believe the only way to learn is to try and try again.  I think mixed media is an art genre where you are constantly learning new things and there are new products coming out all the time --- so FUN!

I'm starting out with just a simple panel and hope to add additional elements as I get more comfortable.

I came across a small card panel that I made when I first got my Distress Oxide inks. This panel had been sitting a long time because it was never quite right to use with my other card designs.  The colours were bright, but not bright enough ... and not subtle enough.  Somewhere in the middle.  I thought it would make a good base to add on top.

I'm happy with how my card turned out.  I used a NBUS stamp set I received from a dear friend.  I stamped the main image in black.  I randomly stamped some dictionary text in black and sponged white pigment ink through a small dot stencil.  I learned the white pigment faded when it dried, so stenciled again with white acrylic paint ... much better. :)

Here's a close-up ...

I'm adding this to the Simon Says Monday Challenge - In My Garden and to Craft Stamper's Magazine Take it, Make it March Challenge where Anything Goes..

Stamps:  Elegant Weeds (Hero Arts); Sentiments - Bloom Sketches (STAMPlorations); Dictonary (Stampin' Up!)
Paper:  Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb. 400 Series); White card base (Neenah 110 lb.)
Ink:  Distress Oxides (Tim Holtz); White Pigment (Hero Arts)
Accessories & Tools:  water mister, white embossing powder, black embossing powder, heat tool, Mini tiny circles stencil (The Crafter's Workshop), sponge dauber, white acrylic paint

Challenges:
Simon Says Monday Challenge - In My Garden
Craft Stamper Magazine Take it Make it March Challenge - Anything Goes

Magical Cork

Hi everyone.  No, this cork isn't magical as the title of my post implies. :)  But the cork does look good with the die-cut which has been coloured with Lindy's Magicals (Cattail Copper Brown).  I love that these little pots of powder are filled with goodness.  They are similar to Brushos in that each colour is actually made up of several different colours.  The great thing about Magicals ... they shimmer.  I have added a close-up photo below and hopefully you can see a bit of shimmer.

This is for the CAS Mix Up February Challenge - Felt, Cork, or Canvas.  I have already posted felt and canvas cards and couldn't miss out on the cork. :)

This cork is a gift from a sweet friend, and I had fun die-cutting it with my new-to-me leaf die that I HAD to have after seeing my Teamie Joanna use it.  Isn't is awesome.  This card is for my hubby's birthday in April.  He will love it!

Sprinkled magicals onto an acetate sheet, spritzed with a little water and smooshed the colour onto a regular piece of card stock.  Die-cut the leaf in frame and glued it on top of a cork background.  Added a stamped and heat embossed (in copper) sentiment.

Here's a close up ...

Since I had the negative pieces from the die-cut leaf sitting on my desk, I decided to make another card, this time inlaying the pieces into a white die-cut leaf frame.  Always great when you can use up those pretty bits and pieces.

... and here's the close-up ...

There's still a few days left before the CAS Mix Up Challenge closes at midnight (PST) Feb. 24th.  Hope you'll join us!

Stamps:  Fun Birthday Sentiments (Happy Little Stampers); Bouquet of Thanks (Simon Says Stamp)
Paper:  White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.)
Ink:  Lindy's Magicals (Autumn) - Cattail Copper Brown; Versamark
Accessories & Tools:  Framed Fern die (Penny Black), water mister, acetate, copper embossing powder, heat tool

Challenges:
CAS Mix Up February Challenge - Felt, Cork, or Canvas