Summer Ride

Hi everyone.  Today's card is inspired by the latest challenge at Seize the Birthday #311 - No Flowers. :)  I pulled out a bicycle die after seeing a card on-line (sorry, don't know who made it), using this wonderful colour combination.

I die-cut the bike from mixed media paper and watercoloured with Distress Inks.  I created the background using the Acetate Smooshing technique and the same colours.  I stamped the sentiment (Signature Greetings - Memory Box), and then added a little more ink to ground the bike.  Very simple card that was fun to make!

Close-up ...

Thanks for stopping by!

Stamps:  Signature Greetings (Memory Box)

Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.)
Ink:   Distress Inks:  Antique Linen, Brushed Corduroy, Worn Lipstick (Tim Holtz)
Accessories:   Bicycle die (AliExpress), Acetate sheet, watercolour paint brushes

Challenges:

Seize the Birthday #311 - No Flowers

Lovely Iris

Hi everyone.  Today I'm sharing a CAS Mixed Media card.  I started by using a background that's been in my stash for a long time.  The background is coloured using blue powdered inks.  Once dry, I placed a flourish stencil over top and used glitter paste to fill in the design.  It's so pretty in real life ... but glitter is almost impossible to photograph.

I added a die-cut Iris, that is watercoloured using Distress Inks.  A simple rectangle frame was popped up over top with the sentiment stamped in purple ink.

Close-up ...

Sending this card to:

Darnell's IDEAS Challenge - Week 3 - Embossing - this time I used Wet (glitter paste)

Inkspirational Challenge #348 - CAS - Optional: Flowers

AAA CAS Cards #297 - Anything CAS Goes

Thanks for stopping by!

Stamps:  Super Day (Penny Black)

Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.)
Ink:   Distress Inks:  Peeled Paint, Mustard Seed, Wilted Violet (Tim Holtz)
Accessories:   Powdered Inks, Flourish stencil, Glitter Paste, Palette knife, Iris die (Penny Black), watercolour paint brushes

Challenges:

Darnell's IDEAS Challenge - Week 3 - Embossing - this time I used Wet (glitter paste)

Inkspirational Challenge #348 - CAS - Optional: Flowers

AAA CAS Cards #297 - Anything CAS Goes

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.

Close-up ...

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

Northern Lights

Hi everyone.  I tried out a new-to-me technique ... Northern Lights.  I have never seen Northern Lights in person, but have seem them on TV and in photos.  They are spectacular!

I've made three cards following the same video, Ink Blended Northern Lights by Lydia Fiedler (7:17).  For my card above, I randomly sponged areas of Mowed Lawn and areas of Wilted Violet Distress inks, trying not to have them overlap, which would give me brown ink. :)  I used Villaneous Potion distress ink for the dark part of the sky, sponging over top of my colours, but leaving areas where the colours in the background showed through.  

I masked off the sky and then used SU! inks for the silhouette of the mountains.  First used Basic Gray ink, and then finished along the top of the mountains with Basic Black.  I found SU! inks covered the Distress Ink colours better to give the mountains a consistent darkness.  I removed the mask and stamped Pine Row (Stampscapes) along the top of the mountain (first and second generation stamping).  To finish, I stamped a retired sentiment stamp in Versamark and heat embossed with white embossing powder.

Sending this card to Darnell's IDEAS Challenge - Week 4 - Anything Goes

* * * * *

Second card follows the same video ...

I followed Understand Blue's video using the same colours she did (Distress Inks: Mustard Seed, Twisted Citron, Mowed Lawn, Chipped Sapphire).  I added a die-cut scene (Winter Village - Penny Black) and a torn hill, stamped with sentiment (Bright & Light - Penny Black) to finish.  I'm happy how it turned out. :)

Sending this card to the Rudolph Days July Challenge and Merry Little Christmas Challenge #63.

.. and one more ...

This time I sponged Mustard Seed and Picked Raspberry distress inks before sponging Chipped Sapphire ink over top, leaving areas where the colour underneath showed.  I used the Pine Row Stamp (Stampscapes) to create a forest ... I'm obsessed with this stamp lately! :)  Again, I used first, second, and third generation stamping to create depth to my forest. :)  To finish, I used a stamp gifted from a friend to white heat embossed the sentiment and then splattered with diluted white acrylic paint to depict stars.

* * * * *

My friend Susan (Cardmaker's Garret) is also posting Northern Lights cards today ... click HERE.  Aren't they AMAZING??!!  

Link to other recommended videos:

2) Beautiful Northern Lights by Ciara T. Designs (16:19)

3) Northern Lights Demo by Marilyn G. (31:19)

4) Quick Northern Lights by Kevin Nakagawa (19:32)

Thanks for stopping by!

Card #1:

Stamps:  Pine Row (Stampscapes); Birthday Blowout (Poppy Stamps - retired)

Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Black card stock base (SU!)
Ink:   Distress Inks:  Mowed Lawn, Wilted Violet, Villaneous Potion (Tim Holtz); Basic Black & Basic Gray (SU!); Versamark
Accessories:  Sponges, White embossing powder (Ranger), heat tool, diluted white acrylic paint for splattering

Card #2:

Stamps:  Bright and Light (Penny Black)

Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.)
Ink:   Distress Inks:  Mustard Seed, Twisted Citron, Mowed Lawn, Chipped Sapphire (Tim Holtz); Basic Black & Basic Gray (SU!); Versamark
Accessories:  Sponges, Winter Village die (Penny Black), diluted white acrylic paint for splattering

Card #3:

Stamps:  Pine Row (Stampscapes); Signature Greetings (Memory Box)

Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.)
Ink:   Distress Inks:  Mustard Seed, Pink Raspberry, Chipped Sapphire (Tim Holtz); Basic Black & Basic Gray (SU!); Versamark
Accessories:  Sponges, White embossing powder (Ranger), heat tool, diluted white acrylic paint for splattering

Challenges:

Darnell's IDEAS Challenge - Week 4 - Anything Goes

Rudolph Days July Challenge

Merry Little Christmas Challenge #63

Birthday Wishes for Bonnie!

Hi everyone.  Today's card is for my sweet friend, Bonnie (Stamping with Klass).  It's her birthday and I made a special card to celebrate.  HAPPY BIRTHDAY BONNIE!!

I was inspired by an earlier challenge at Seize the Birthday - Fancy Folds, to dig out this fun Box Card die from Honey Bee that I've had for probably two years.  It's the first outing!! :)  Unfortunately, I didn't get the card made in time for the challenge ...

I started by cutting my pieces from white card stock.  I then stenciled the outside of the main box layer with Wander & Find Stencil (Carta Bella - retired).  I used Shabby Shutters and Peeled Paint distress inks with sponges.  I love how it turned out.  It gives me a base of stylized "leaves" to show off the flowers inside.  The flowers are an older set from PoppyStamps (Peony Stems & Blossoms).  I stamped in black, clear heat embossed, and then watercoloured with more distress inks.  I used the matching die to cut them out.  The sentiment (gift from a dear friend), was stamped in more of the Peeled Paint ink and then cut out with a matching die.

I then assembled the box card following this wonderful video.  It was pretty easy to put together, but I did fuss a lot with where to place the flowers and sentiment. :)

Close-up ...

I'm also sharing a photo straight on and one with it folded up for mailing (creates a card that fits a standard A2 envelope).

I'm sending this card to the following challenges:

1)  Seize the Birthday #309 - Anything Birthday Goes

2)  Darnell's IDEAS - Week 2 - Dies.  2nd entry.  Used dies for the box and for all the flowers.

3)  NBUS Challenge #76 - first time using this box die

 

Thanks for stopping by!

Stamps:  Peony Stems & Blossoms (PoppyStamps - retired); Signature Greetings (Memory Box) - gift from a dear friend

Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.)
Ink:   Distress Inks:  Shabby Shutters, Peeled Paint, Mustard Seed, Wild Honey, Spiced Marmalade, Ripe Persimmon, Candied Apple, Aged Mahogany (Tim Holtz)
Accessories:   Box Card die (Honey Bee); Wander & Find Stencil (Carta Bella - retired); Clear embossing powder (Ranger), heat tool, sponges, watercolour paint brushes, Signature Greetings die (Memory Box)

Challenges:

Seize the Birthday #309 - Anything Birthday Goes

Darnell's IDEAS - Week 2 - Dies

NBUS Challenge #76

Birthday Celebration

Hi everyone.  Today's card was inspired by Seize the Birthday Challenge #309 - Food and/or drink.  I've had this sweet birthday cake image for a long time and haven't used it on a card yet.  I stamped the cake with black ink and heat embossed in clear before die-cutting using the matching die.  Then I lightly watercolour using Zigs.

I placed it over a paper towel background (leftover ink mopped up with a paper towel, spritzed with water and then pressed into card stock).  The background looked great behind the cake, but I felt it needed a little more, so I doodled confetti, streamers, and stars using a fine black pen.  The card was finished with a white embossed sentiment (Simply Sentiments - Lawn Fawn) on black cardstock, with the cake popped up over top.  Easy, peasy and fun card to make! :)

Close-up ...

Sending this card to the following challenges:

1)  Seize the Birthday #309 - Food and/or drink

2)  Darnell's IDEAS Challenge - Week 2 - Dies

3)  NBUS Challenge #76 - first time using this image and die

Thanks for stopping by!

Stamps:  Birthday Cake (Gemini by Crafter's Companion)

Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.); Black cardstock (SU!)
Ink:  Black (Memento); Zigs (light yellow, dark yellow, light pink, red); Versamark
Accessories:   Clear embossing powder, heat tool, watercolour paint brushes, white embossing powder, fine black marker

Challenges:

Seize the Birthday #309 - Food and/or drink

Darnell's IDEAS Challenge - Week 2 - Dies

NBUS Challenge #76

Happy Birthday Dolly!

Hi everyone.  Today is Darnell's (aka Dolly's) birthday.  HAPPY BIRTHDAY, my dear friend!! :)

I'm sharing the card I made for her ... hopefully it arrived in time!

This is from a stamp, die, stencil and embossing folder set that Dolly gifted to me when she came for a visit in May.  This is such a beautiful set and I had so much fun making this card for her.  I used teal for the main flowers on the card, which I believe is one of her favourite colours.  The stamp/stencil set made this a quick and easy card, even though it looks complicated. :)  I added my own shading rather than using the stencil, because I like to control the blending of the colours.  And I used the fabulous sentiment from the set too. :)  I finished by adding a few dots and dashes of white with a posca paint pen.

Close-up ...

I'm sending this card to the following challenges:

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

2)  Seize the Birthday #308 - I used the Anything Birthday Goes option. :)

 

Thanks for stopping by!

Stamps:  Fragrant Florals (Altenew)

Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.)
Ink:  Black (Memento); Distress Inks:  Evergreen Bough, Pine Needles, Squeezed Lemonade, Mustard Seed, Wilted Violet, Shabby Shutters, Peeled Paint (Tim Holtz) 
Accessories:   Clear embossing powder, heat tool, sponges, white paint pen (Posca)

Challenges:

Darnell's IDEAS June Challenge - Week 5 - Stencils

Seize the Birthday #308

Generation Stamping - Group of Seven

Hi everyone.   Quick note ... my current computer is done. :(  I have bought a new one, but can't figure out the new system ... everything has changed so much.  It will be a while before I'm up and running again.  Won't be able to visit your blogs, answer emails, etc. for a while.  I'll be back! :)

Today's technique is a basic stamping technique that creates the illusion of depth by simply offsetting the image and stamping a second time without re-inking.  This creates a lighter version of the image and makes it appear as if it is in the background.

This can also be used to create movement.  For instance, if stamping an animal, you can offset sideways and stamp (without reinking) as many times as possible before the ink is used up.  It appears as if the animal is running.

Please check out the details for Generation Stamping technique and link to video on the blog ...

Group of Seven Cardmakers

This is the card I recently gave my son, Jeremy, for his birthday.  I started by sponging the main panel with Distress Inks (Mustard Seed, Spiced Marmalade, Peacock Feathers).  I then stamped the Pine Tree (Stampscapes) in Black ink.  Without re-inking, I moved the stamp down and to the right, and then stamped a second time my panel.  It took me a little while to decide I wanted a third tree.  By then the leftover ink on my stamp was dry.  So I inked the image again, stamped off on a piece of scrap paper, and then stamped the third tree.  This gave me a lighter image.  The two side trees look as though they are in the background behind my main (center) tree. :)  Easy peasy technique.

I cut the panel to size, added a strip of black card stock with white heat embossed sentiment at the bottom.  Then I popped the panel up with foam onto my black card base.

Sending this card to the AAA Cards Challenge #293 - Anything CAS Goes.  

* * * * *

I have created a Christmas card using the generation technique ...

I've used another tree image.  This time Pine Row from Stampscapes.  The background is sponged with Distress Inks: Salvaged Patina, Salty Ocean, Wilted Violet.  The stamp was ink'd with black Memento ink and stamp in the middle, then stamped again to the left and higher up ... and then again, offsetting it from the other stampings.  I repeated this two more times to make a forest of trees in the background. :) 

I tore a piece of white card stock for my "snowhill", and stamped a retired sentiment from Paper Smooches.  I splattered with diluted white acrylic paint for falling snow to finish the card.

Sending this card to the Rudolph Days June Challenge.

Thanks for stopping by!

Card #1:

Stamps:  Pine Tree (Stampscapes); Birthday Blowout (PoppyStamps - retired)

Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Black card stock (SU!)
Ink:   Distress Inks:  Mustard Seed, Spiced Marmalade, Salvaged Patina (Tim Holtz); Versamark
Accessories:  sponges, White embossing powder (Ranger), heat tool 

Card #2:

Stamps:  Pine Row (Stampscapes); Christmas Sampler (Paper Smooches - retired)

Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Black card stock (SU!)
Ink:   Distress Inks:  Salvaged Patina, Salty Ocean, Wilted Violet (Tim Holtz); Black (Memento)
Accessories:   sponges, diluted white acrylic paint

Challenges:

Group of Seven - Generation Stamping

AAA Cards Challenge #293 - Anything CAS Goes

Rudolph Days June Challenge

Special card for Leisa

Hi everyone.  Today I'm sharing a card to celebrate Leisa's birthday (daughter of a dear friend).  I hope she's received it by now.

I made this card using the lovely Nature's Magic Set (Altenew).  This set has two pretty flower sprigs that come with a stamp, die, and matching stencils.  You gotta love that! :)  I used only one of the flower sprigs to create this CAS birthday card.  Stamped the flowers in black ink and heat embossed in black before watercolouring with distress inks (Saltwater Taffy, Abandoned Coral, Shabby Shutters, Peeled Paint).  I have used these colours before with this image ... they just seem perfect to me, so why change it??!! :)

I used a sweet die-cut rectangle frame with stitched lines (AliExpress) to cut my aperture.  I stamped the sentiment (Super Day - Penny Black) on the card front and then popped it up over top of my card base.  I tucked the flowers into the aperture.

Close-up ...

I'm sending this card to the following challenges:

1)  IDEAS Challenge - Week 4 - Anything Goes (2nd entry) - I used stenciling

2)  AAA Cards #293 - Anything CAS Goes

Thanks for stopping by!

Stamps:  Nature's Magic (Altenew); Super Day (Penny Black)

Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.)
Ink:  Black (Memento); Distress Inks:  Saltwater Taffy, Abandoned Coral, Shabby Shutters, Peeled Paint (Tim Holtz)  
Accessories:   Stitched Rectangle die (AliExpress), Clear embossing powder (Ranger), heat tool, sponges

Challenges:

IDEAS Challenge - Week 4 - Anything Goes (2nd entry)

AAA Cards #293 - Anything CAS Goes

CAS Birthday

Hi everyone.  I made this CAS birthday card the other day, using a sweet frame that I adore from Penny Black (Sewing Stackers).  It's just the perfect compliment to the flowery panel. :)

The flowers are stamped in Memento Toffee Crunch and then sponged using matching stencils, although I only used three out of the five layering stencils, opting to add the shading myself instead of using their two shading stencils.  I used distress inks (Saltwater Taffy, Abandoned Coral, Candied Apple, Shabby Shutters, Peeled Paint) to colour the flowers and leaves, then added a simple sentiment and the little scalloped frame cut from kraft paper.  The panel is popped up for added dimension.

Close-up ...

I'm sending this card to the following challenges:

1)  Darnell's IDEAS Challenge - Week 2 - Dies challenge.  Thanks for the inspiration!

2)  We Love Stamping - June - Nature or Anything Goes

3)  Color Hues #111 - Coral and Green - used shades of coral and green for the flower and leaves.  Light brown is my neutral.

3)  Die-cut Divas - June - Colour Challenge - use three of the colours + die-cut.  I've used light brown, light coral, dark coral, green from the colour palette and die-cut frame. :)

Thanks for stopping by!

Stamps:  Blooming Branch Stamp (retired); Super Day (Penny Black)

Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.); Kraft card stock
Ink:  Toffee Crunch (Memento); Distress Inks:  Saltwater Taffy, Abandoned Coral, Candied Apple, Shabby Shutters, Peeled Paint
Accessories:   Blooming Branch Stencils (retired), detail sponge brushes, Sewing Stackers Frames (Penny Black)

Challenges:

IDEAS Challenge - Week 2 - Dies

We Love Stamping - June - Nature or AG

Color Hues #111 - Coral and Green

Die-cut Divas - June - Colour Challenge