... one more sunflower card ... :)

Hi everyone.  One more card for CAS Mix Up Challenge - Sunflower.

I LOVE this time of year.  And I do love sunflower images and this is a beauty.  It's a lovely image from Power Poppy (In Praise of Sunflowers).

I stamped the image in Toffee Crunch Momento ink (light brown permanent).  I then watercoloured using distress inks (mustard seed, wild honey, shabby shutters, peeled paint, gathered twigs, ground espresso).  I wanted to add a strip of patterned paper at the bottom and started looking for olive green paper, but came across this very old patterned paper from SU! in shades of brown. :) 

To finish, I stamped the two-part sentiment (from In Praise of Sunflowers stamp set) in more ground espresso ink. :)

Close-up ...

Sending this card to the following challenges:

NBUS Challenge #90 - first time using this stamp set

We Love Stamping September Challenge - Anything Goes option

CAS on Friday Challenge #343 - Autumn

SCS Ways to Use It Challenge (WT1122 - Anything Fall)

Thanks for stopping by!

Stamps:  In Praise of Sunflowers (Poppy Power)

Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.); patterned paper (SU!)
Ink:   Toffee Crunch (Momento); Distress Inks:  Mustard Seed, Wild honey, Shabby Shutters, Peeled Paint, Gathered Twigs, Ground Espresso (Tim Holtz)
Accessories:   Watercolour paint brushes (Princeton #2, #4 Round)

Challenges:

CAS Mix Up September Challenge - Watercolour - Sunflower

NBUS Challenge #90

We Love Stamping September Challenge

CAS on Friday Challenge #343 - Autumn

SCS Ways To Use It (WT1122 - Anything Fall)

Reminder - CAS Mix Up Challenge - Sunflower

Hi everyone.  Today I am sharing two cards made for reminders of the CAS Mix Up Challenge - Sunflower.  I put away my stamps this time and pulled out my watercolour paints and brushes and went for it. :)

I watched several videos on hand-painting sunflowers.  I spent a few days painting and trying to figure out what the heck I was doing. :)  All-in-all, it was fun.  And I did learn what NOT to do. :)

I used Kuretake watercolour paints, Blick Masterstroke Brushes, and Arches 140 lb. cold press (best w/c paper you can buy here, according to my son, Jeremy).

For the above card, I kept the image very small and die-cut with a medium-sized circle.  The sentiment is Penny Black Happy Snippets, stamped in Ground Espresso DOX ink.

I wanted to add a subtle background, so I ran my old olive cardstock through my embossing machine with the Laurel Leaves Background Plate (Simon Says Stamp - retired) with a silicone mat.  I left the "sandwich" fairly thin so the leaves pattern just shows.  I like it! :)  You can see the background slightly better in the photo below.

Close-up ...

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I practised a litte more and about a week later, ended up with this version.  Again, another small painting.  I'm happier with this painting. :)  I added a hello sentiment to finish.  I used all the same paints and paper as the card above.

Sending the above card to the following challenges:

SCS Ways to Use It Challenge - SCSWT1122 - Anything Fall

SCS Watercolor Wednesday Challenge - SCSWCW295 - A Freebie Week

SCS Watercolor Wednesday Challenge - SCSWCW329 - Pumpkin or Yellow Flower

I'm adding both these cards to the gallery of the CAS Mix Up September Watercolour Challenge - Sunflower, hosted by our wonderful Designer, Bobby.  Come join us!  The challenge is open until Sept. 30th.

Thanks for stopping by!

Card #1:

Stamps:  Happy Snippets (Penny Black)

Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Cold Press W/C paper (Arches 140 lb.); Old Olive cardstock (SU!)
Ink:   Kuretake Watercolour Paints; Ground Espresso DOX ink (Tim Holtz)
Accessories:   Blick Masterstroke Brushes (Round: #4, #6, Liner brush), Laurel Leaves Background plate (Simon Says Stamp - retired)

Card #2:

Stamps:  Happy Messages (Stampendous - closed)

Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Cold Press W/C paper (Arches 140 lb.); Old Olive cardstock (SU!)
Ink:   Kuretake Watercolour Paints; Rustic Distress Ink (Tim Holtz)
Accessories:   Blick Masterstroke Brushes (Round: #4, #6, Liner brush)

Challenges:

CAS Mix Up September Watercolour Challenge - Sunflower

SCS Ways to Use It Challenge - SCSWT1122 - Anything Fall

SCS Watercolor Wednesday Challenge - SCSWCW295 - A Freebie Week

SCS Watercolor Wednesday Challenge - SCSWCW329 - Pumpkin or Yellow Flower

Mini Watercolour Landscapes

Hi everyone.  There is a watercolour challenge posted every Wednesday at SCS (Splitcoast Stampers), which usually includes a video to follow.  I've started following along when I have time, watercolouring as best I can.  This usually means several attempts in the garbage, but I'm stubborn, so I just keep trying.  So far I've watercolour and posted two cards; tree following a challenge; birthday cake following a video from YouTube.  It's been a fun challenge for me. :)

This week at SCS, the video is Miniature Landscapes (click HERE to see the video), and the artist demonstrated four different scenes.  I started with the intention of making all four, but in the end, I have three to share.  The first card was the easiest of the bunch for me ... sand, sky, and a few clouds. :)  It turned out OK, so I made it into a card. :)

Close-up ...

* * * * *

The following two have a little more to them, but they are all basic landscapes, each with something different.

The next one is the grassy knoll with trees off in the distance, and a beautiful sky on a sunny day. :)  I added a sympathy sentiment as I was in need of a card for a dear friend.

The last one is another water scene.  This time more focus is on the sky and water with a small patch of sand at the bottom of the image.  There's a few different techniques for each of these simple landscapes, but I'm hoping with more practise, I will improve and build on them.

I'm sending these cards to:

SCS Watercolor Wednesday Challenge - WCW326 - Easy Miniature Landscapes

Thanks for stopping by!

Card #1:

Stamps:  Relax (Stampendous)

Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Cold Press W/C Paper (Arches 140 lb.)
Ink:   Kuretake W/C Paints;  Rusty Hinge distress ink (Tim Holtz)
Accessories:   Watercolour Paint brushes

Cards 2 & 3:

Stamps:  Retired Clearly Besotted stamp set; Retired Amy R stamp set

Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Cold Press W/C Paper (Arches 140 lb.)
Ink:   Liquid Concentrate W/C (Blick Art Materials); Black Pigment (Obsidian - Altenew)
Accessories:   Watercolour Paint brushes

Challenges:

SCS Watercolour Wednesdays - WCW326 - Easy Landscapes

August CAS Mix Up Challenge

Hi everyone.  This month's challenge at CAS Mix Up - Stenciling over Patterned Paper has Viv as our Host!  This is a great way to use your stencils in a new way ... and to use up some of your patterned paper that we all have in abundance. :)

I used an older piece of patterned paper (Sweather Weather - Stampin' Up!).  Stenciled using the Dreamweaver - Hibiscus Pair stencil, using distress inks.

I finished the card by tracing an outline through the stencil with a fine-tip black marker and adding a simple sentiment.

Close-up ...

Sending this card to the following challenges:

Darnell's IDEAS Calendar - Week 1 - Inks - used Distress inks to stencil the flowers

I hope you'll check out the CAS Mix Up August Challenge - Stenciling over Patterned Paper.  We'd love if you made a CAS card using this technique and then link up to the party at the bottom of the challenge post.  Hope to see you in the Gallery!

Thanks for stopping by!

Stamps:  Happy Messages (Stampendous - closed)

Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Sweater Weather Patterened Paper (SU!)
Ink:   Distress Inks:  Mustard Seed, Spiced Marmalade, Picked Raspberry, Shabby Shutters (Tim Holtz); Black (Memento)
Accessories:   Hibiscus Pair stencil (Dreamweaver), detailed sponges, .2 Fine-line Black marker

Challenges:

CAS Mix Up August Challenge - Stenciling over Patterned Paper

Darnell's IDEAS Challenge - Week 1 - Inks

Another Eclipse card

Hi everyone.  Just a reminder that this month at CAS Mix Up Challenge, the challenge is ...

For the card above, I tried the Optical Illusion variation of this technique.  I followed the video by Natasha Foote on the challenge blog, using two of the same patterned papers to create a card with partially layered strips.  This was quick and easy to create something a little different.

Close-up ...

Sending this card to the Simply Clean and Simple July Challenge - Birthday

Thanks for stopping by!

Stamps:  Spring Sentiments (Stampendous - closed)

Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Patterned Paper (unknown)
Ink:   Gathered Twigs DOX ink (Tim Holtz)
Accessories:   n/a

Challenges:

CAS Mix Up Challenge

Simply Clean and Simple July Challenge - Birthday

July CAS Mix Up Challenge

Hi everyone.  I'm so excited to be back with the CAS Mix Up Challenge.  This month the Designers are working with the Eclipse technique (sometimes called Hidden Word or Camouflage).  There are a few different ways to do this technique.  I went with the original of using a word die.  Check out the challenge for some helpful videos.

The image (Technique Tuesday) is stamped in Shadow Grey Archival ink and then watercoloured with a mix of Distress Inks and Dye Inks.  Once I finished, I used a hello die to cut out from my image, as well as cutting two extra layers from white card stock.  I layered the word dies together with the watercoloured version on top and popped them back onto my card front.  It turned out really well, although it's not easy to see in the photo.  Next time I'll offset the top layer slightly so it's more visible.

Close-up ... hopefully you can see the "hello" in the middle of the flower. :)

Please check out the CAS Mix Up Challenge blog to see a wonderful card made by our Guest Designer, Michele (I Card Everyone) and cards made by our talented Designers using different variations of this technique.

I hope you'll join us by making a CAS card using the Eclipse technique and includes stamping.  Hope to see you in the gallery!

Thanks for stopping by!

Stamps:  Fresh Peonies (Technique Tuesday - retired)

Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.)
Ink:  Shadow Grey (Archival Ink - Ranger); Distress Inks:  Saltwater Taffy, Abandoned Coral (Tim Holtz); Dye Inks:  Pear Pizzazz, Old Olive, Always Artichoke (SU!)
Accessories:  Waercolour Paint brushes, Bold Hello die (SSS)

Acrylic Block Stamping - Group of Cardmakers

Hi everyone.  This month at Group of Cardmakers, we are playing with an older technique (Acrylic Block Stamping), with a twist.

Please check out the details for this month's technique and link to videos on the blog, along with more card samples from Christine, Pat, & Susan.

Group of Cardmakers - Acrylic Block Stamping

For the card above, I used Lindy's Stamp Gang Magicals (powdered inks) with my smallest block to create a CAS card.  I sprinkled Magical powdered inks onto my acrylic block, spritzed with water, flipped it over onto my mixed media paper card front.  Once dry, I doodled the border using a .05 black fine point marker.  Next time I will use something a little thicker. :)  I stamped one of the images from the Floral Silhouette stamp set (Penny Black) in Black pigment ink, and stamped the sentiment (Banner Sentiments - Penny Black).  I cut my focal panel down and popped it up over top of my card base.

Close-up ...

* * * * *

For the next card, I used a medium-sized block and distress inks (mowed lawn, broken china) to create a soft coloured background, pressing the ink pads onto my acrylic block, spritzing with water, flipping over and stamping onto my mixed media card front.  I doodled a border using a 1.0 black fine point marker.  I then stamped one of the birds from Free as a Bird Stamp set (Jane Doodles) and sentiment in black pigment ink.  I stamped the bird image separately onto mixed media paper and watercoloured withmore distress inks.  I fussy-cut and adhered over top of my stamped image.  The panel was trimmed and popped it up on foam for added dimension.

Close-up ...

Sending this card to the following challenges:

SCS - CAS9042 - Things that Walk 

* * * * *

Two more quick cards using this technique, both using Lindy's Magicals for the backgrounds.  You are not limited by the size of your acrylic blocks.  You can cut out your acrylic block backgrounds to whatever size fits your image to use as a stand-alone panel ... or place behind a frame.  This is a quick way of creating watercolour backgrounds with easy clean-up.

The card above is from a large block stamping.  I cut it out and stamped my silhouette image (Meadow - Inkadinkado - available at Amazon) and a simple sentiment (Special Sentiments - Penny Black).  Popped the panel up on my card front and it was done.

* * * * *

The card above is from another block stamping, adding it behind my frame (Double Stitched Square Frame - AliExpress).  Simple silhouette die-cut (Little Leaves - Stampin' Up!), shaped with a stylus, was added over top of the background.  I left off the sentiment for now and will add once I decide what to use this card for. 

Thanks for stopping by!

Card #1:

Stamps:  Floral Silhouette (Penny Black); Banner Sentiments (Penny Black)

Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.)
Ink:  Lindy's Magicals; Obsidian black ink (Altenew)  
Accessories:  Small Acrylic Block, water mister, Fine black marker (.05)

Card #2:

Stamps:  Free as a Bird (Jane's Doodles)
Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.)
Ink:  Distress Inks:  Mowed Lawn, Broken China (Tim Holtz); Obsidian black ink (Altenew)  
Accessories:  Medium Acrylic Block, water mister, watercolour brushes, Fine black marker (1.0)

Card #3:

Stamps:  Meadow (Inkadinkado); Special Sentiments (Penny Black)

Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.)
Ink:  Magicals (Lindy's Stamp Gang); Obsidian Pigment (black - Altenew)
Accessories:  Large Acrylic block, water mister

Card #4:

Stamps:  n/a

Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.); Black cardstock (SU!)
Ink:  Magicals - Powders (Lindy's Stamp Gang)
Accessories:  Small acrylic block, water mister, Little Leaves die (SU!); Double Stitched Square Frame (AliExpress), stylus and foam pad for shaping leaves

Challenges:

Group of Cardmakers - Acrylic Block Stamping

SCS - CAS9042 - Things that Walk 

The Littlest Birds ...

Hi everyone.  Today's card is a sweet die I picked up from Temu Canada.  I seem to be on a bird kick these days. :)  There are lots of layers and pieces in this die set, which I cut from mixed media paper before watercolouring with distress re-inkers.

I cut an oval aperture from my card front and placed a background of embossed leaf sprigs (Spellbinders Leafy 3D Embossing Folder) to add a bit of texture.

The die-cut pieces are adhered together with glue and then placed over the aperture, with pop-dots added to create depth.

The card is finished with a simple sentiment (Stampendous - Spring Sentiments - closed), stamped in gathered twigs.  The whole card front is popped up on foam for even more dimension.

Close-up ...

Sending this card to the following challenges:

Darnell's IDEAS Calendar - Week 3 - Embossing

NBUS Challenge #87 - first time using this adorable bird die set :)

Die cut Divas June Challenge - Anything Goes

Thanks for stopping by!

Stamps:  Spring Sentiments (Stampendous - closed)

Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.)
Ink:   Distress Re-inkers:  Brushed Corduroy, Gathered Twigs, Candied Apple, Black Soot, Mowed Lawn, Rustic Wilderness, Mustard Seed, Spiced Marmalade (Tim Holtz)
Accessories:   Layered Bird on a Branch die (Temu Canada), Watercolour Brushes, Oval Die

Challenges:

Darnell's IDEAS Calendar - Week 3 - Embossing

NBUS Challenge #87

Die cut Divas June Challenge - Anything Goes

Saltwater Coneflowers

Hi everyone.  Today's card is inspired by a few challenges.  First up, Just Us Girls is looking for stenciling this week ... first time using this beautiful stencil from STAMPlorations, which was a gift from a friend, long ago.  I don't know why I waited so long to use it.  It's so pretty, especially as a background, softly sponged with Saltwater Taffy distress ink.

I used a new-to-me die set, which included a vase, with two leafy stems and two coneflowers.  This time I used the darker version of the background colour to watercolour the petals (Abandoned Coral), Shabby Shutters for watercolouring the stem & leaves ... and also the vase.  The center of the coneflowers is done with Gathered Twigs distress ink.  I LOVE pink and brown together.  

The final step was to stamp the sentiment in more Gathered Twigs (DOX inks this time). :)

Close-up ...

Sending this card to the following challenges:

Just Us Girls #825 - Anything Goes with Stenciling

Cut it Up #357 - Friendship

NBUS Challenge #87 - first time using the background stencil and the die

Darnell's IDEAS Calendar - Week 1 - Inks - second entry

Thanks for stopping by!

Stamps:  Many Everday Messages (Hero Arts - retired)

Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.)
Ink:   Distress Inks:  Saltwater Taffy, Abandoned Coral, Shabby Shutters, Gathered Twigs (Tim Holtz); Gathered Twigs Distress Oxide Ink (TH)
Accessories:   Burst Stencil (STAMPlorations), sponge brush, Coneflowers & Vase die (Temu Canada)

Challenges:

Just Us Girls #825 - Anything Goes with Stenciling

Cut it Up #357 - Friendship

NBUS Challenge #87

Darnell's IDEAS Calendar - Week 1 - Inks - second entry

Direct to Paper Inking - Group of Cardmakers

Hi everyone.  This month at Group of Cardmakers, we are using the direct to paper inking technique.

Please check out the details for this month's technique and link to videos on the blog, along with more card samples from Christine, Pat, & Susan.

Group of Cardmakers - Direct to Paper Inking

This technique is easy to do.  You just press your ink pad onto your paper and drag to cover as much area as possible.  It will take several swipes to get full coverage, but your colours on ink will be very strong and saturated.  This technique can be used in a variety of ways.

For my first card above I masked off the sides with removable tape (3M), then dragged my Mowed Lawn distress ink pad over approx. 1/3 of the bottom section of the exposed card.  I repeated a few times until the colours were fairly solid.  I flipped my card around and added Salvage Patina ink to the middle section, swiped a few times with the ink pad to get solid coverage.  One more time, with Salty Ocean ink pad distress ink pad to cover the remainder of the open card.

Once dry, I removed the tape and stamped two images from Meadow (Inkadinkado), and the sentiment A Little Sentimental (Clearly Besotted - retired).  I mounted my card front onto the base and the card was done!  Easy, peasy. :)

Close-up ...

* * * * *

While the stamp sets out for the first card, I used them again for the second card.  I created a small focal panel, swiping three colours of distress ink pads to create a sunset.  Next time I will try it with Distress Oxide inks ... I think it would give a smoother finish.

 A flower garden silhouette (Inkadinkado - Meadow), and simple sentiment (Clearly Besotted - retired) are stamped in black ink.  The panel is popped up over top of the card base for dimension.

Sending this card to the following challenges:

SCS Ways to Use It Challenge - WT1106 - Thank a caregiver

Thanks for stopping by!

Card #1:

Stamps:  Meadow (Inkadinkado); A Little Sentimental (Clearly Besotted - retired)

Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.)
Ink:   Distress Inks:  Mowed Lawn, Salvaged Patina, Salty Ocean (Tim Holtz); Black (Obsidian Pigment - Altenew)
Accessories:   Removable tape (3M)

Card #2:

Stamps:  Meadow (Inkadinkado); A Little Sentimental (Clearly Besotted - retired)

Paper:   Black card stock (SU!); Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.)
Ink:   Black (Obsidian Pigment - Altenew); Distress Inks:  Mustard Seed, Ripe Persimmon, Picked Raspberry (Tim Holtz)
Accessories:  n/a

Challenges:

SCS Ways to Use It Challenge - WT1106 - Thank a caregiver