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.

Thanks for stopping by!

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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

Penny Black - Pansies

Hi everyone.  Today I'm sharing a card made with a new release from Penny Black called Pansies (40-818).

I do love pansies ... they have those cute little faces. :)  I researched colours of pansies.  There are so many!!  But I loved the combination of pink and dark pink (of course!). :)

I made a few smooshed backgrounds last week using distress inks; Worn Lipstick, Fossilized Amber, and Wilted Violet.  This background was the second pull, using the leftover inks which means the colours are light.  I thought it worked well with the pink pansies.

I stamped my pansies in black ink and heat embossed with clear before watercolouring using my Gansai Tambi paints.  I rarely use these paints ... they work so differently from my usual distress inks.  It will take me a while to get comfortable with them.  I used a deep pinky red, watered down to create the soft pink and used with less water for the darker pink of my flowers.  I used leaf green for the stems and leaves and added a very bright yellow orange for the stamens of my flowers.

Once the panel was watercoloured, I cut it into an angled panel to place over my card base.  I stamped my sentiment (Faith.Hope.Love 30-800) in black ink with clear embossing, on a white strip of card stock so it stood out against the pansies.  I then popped up the panel with foam onto my card base.  I really like how this image fills the angled panel.

Close-up ...

I'm sending this card over to the Penny Black Saturday Challenge for April - Anything Goes with Optional "Easter".  I definitely used Easter colours. :)

And I'm also sending this to Color Hues #38 - Pink and Green Challenge.

Thanks for stopping by!

Penny Black Products

Pansies (40-818)

Faith.Hope.Love (30-800)

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Thank you.

Stamps:  Pansies (Penny Black); Faith.Hope.Love. (Penny Black)

Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Mixed Media paper (Strathmore 140 lb.)
Ink:   Distress Inks:  Worn Lipstick, Wilted Violet, Mustard Seed (Tim Holtz); Gansia Tambi watercolour paints (Kuretake)
Accessories:   Clear embossing powder (Ranger), heat tool, Paint brushes (Blick Art Maerials)

Challenges:
PBSC - Anything Goes - optional "Easter"

Color Hues #38 - Pink and Green

Cozy Cabin

Hi everyone.  Today I'm sharing a no-line watercoloured card using a beautiful winter scene from Penny Black (Cozy Cabin).

I started by stamping the image onto Hot Press watercolour paper in Antique Linen distress ink (very light).  Then used a variety of other distress ink colours to watercolour the image and add a light blue to the sky.  Finished the card by using white acrylic paint to add snow to the trees, cabin and splattered over the whole card.  The sentiment (Snowflake Season by Penny Black) is stamped in brown.

Close-up ...

I'm entering this card into the Christmas Craft Creations Challenge - Make a Scene.

* * * * *

We have had a lot of snow over the past week.

Jessie has enjoyed hopping through the deep snow and as always,

finding the biggest stick she can carry makes her happy.

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Stamps:  Cozy Cabin; Snowflake Season (both Penny Black)

Paper:   Watercolour Paper (Arches 140 lb. Hot Press)
Ink:   Distress Inks:  Antique Linen, Rusty Hinge, Gathered Twigs, Ground Espresso, Mowed Lawn, Rustic Wilderness, Fired Brick, Tumbled Glass (Tim Holtz)
Accessories:  paint brushes, splatter brush, white acrylic paint

Challenges:

Christmas Craft Creations Challenge - Make a Scene.

Winterberry Background x 2

Hi everyone.  I've had this stamp (Pinkfresh Studio's Winterberry Background) for a while, so happy to finally be inking it up for Christmas!  I used no-line watercoloring this time, although you can see some of the lines with the lighter green leaves.  That's another thing ... I do love twisted citron distress ink, but it DOES NOT photograph well.  It always looks yellow.  Trust me, the lighter leaves are green! :)

Started by inking up the image with antique linen distress ink.  Used distress re-inkers and watercolour paint brushes (#4, #2 round) to watercolour this background.  To finish, I used my white Posca pen to add highlights to the berries and some of the leaves.  I used a new-to-me die-cut sentiment banner from Simon Says (Holiday Words On a Line) and cut it from red card stock.  It was lost in the busy pattern, so I anchored it with a strip of white.  Worked great! :)

Close-up ...

I really like this background and wanted to try it with my new-to-me fine tec watercolours ...

LOVE the shimmer of these amazing watercolours!

I cut out a small strip to add in the sentiment banner.  You can just see it peeking out from the inside of the card.  It's small, but adds a nice little somethin' somethin' to the inside. :)

Close-up ... this really shows the shimmer of the paints!

I'm heading over to NBUS Challenge #32.  I used three new NBUS on this card (stamp, die, watercolours).  I'm having fun working my way through my new schtuff!

And I'm entering this pearly card into Peace on Earth Christmas Challenge #4.  I went with the Anything Goes for this challenge.  The mood board is AMAZING, so I might be back with another card inspired by it! :)

Thanks for stopping by!

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Stamps:  Winterberry Background (Pinkfresh Studio)

Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Mixed Media paper (Strathmore 140 lb.); Real Red card stock (SU!)
Ink:   Antique Linen Distress Ink; Distress Re-inkers:  Candied Apple, Twisted Citron, Mowed Lawn (Tim Holtz)
Accessories:   Watercolour Paint brushes (#4, #2 round) - Blick Art Materials; White Posca pen; Liquid Platinum

Stamps:  Winterberry Background (Pinkfresh Studio)

Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Black card stock (SU!)
Ink:   Versamark; Pearlescent Watercolours (Fine Tec)
Accessories:   Watercolour Paint brushes (#4, #2 round) - Blick Art Materials; Liquid Platinum Embossing Powder, heat tool, CZ Design Sentiment Strips Reverse Christmas (Simon Says)

Challenges:
NBUS Challenge #32

Peace on Earch Christmas Challenge #4

Penny Black - Festive Fragrance

Hi everyone.  Today I'm sharing a card using another stamp from the new Penny Black release, Making Spirits bright.  The stamp is called Festive Fragrance (40-791).

I stamped the image in Sahara Sand ink (SU!) very lightly and then no line watercoloured the Christmas greenery in shades of green, red, and brown for the vases and grounding.  The sentiment (Holly Days 30-869) is the final touch.  I had a few smudges of brown ink in my background so just added a few more to give it a vintage look. :)

Close-up ...

* * * * *

We celebrated our Thanksgiving on Saturday, Oct. 9th with a lovely Turkey dinner.  While it was cooking, I mentioned that I would like to ink up this image and my son, Jeremy asked if we could watercolour together.  He has a degree in Visual Arts and is an Art Teacher at a High School in Richmond.  Below are the two images, photos taken by Jeremy and edited with a few filters.  I'm sure you can tell that the one on the right is Jeremy's version. :)  It was fun to work together and I did learn lots from him as well.     

                                       Loll                                                                               Jeremy

  

I went back and added a horizon line to my card and darkened up the vases and shadows.  What a difference, as you can see from the card at the top of this post.  

* * * * *

Jessie enjoyed her turkey dinner too! :)

Sleeping it off in front of the fire ...

Photo by Alejandro Garcia

Penny Black Product Links

Festive Fragrance (40-791)

Holly Days (30-869)

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Stamps:  Festive Fragrance; Holly Days (both Penny Black)

Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Mixed Media paper (Strathmore 140 lb.)
Ink:   Sahara Sand (SU!); Distress Inks:  Mowed Lawn, Rustic Wilderness, Candied Apple, Aged Mahogany, Gathered Twigs, Ground Espresso (Tim Holtz)
Accessories:   Paint brushes, Basic Gray marker (SU!), White Posca pen

Penny Black - Merriest

Hi everyone.  Today I'm sharing a no-line watercolouring of one of the new releases from Penny Black's Making Spirits Bright collection.  This is called Merriest (40-794).

I stamped the image onto mixed media paper with smoky slate ink (SU!) and then watercoloured over top using distress inks:  Mowed Lawn, Rustic Wilderness, Candied Apple, Aged Mahogany.  

To finish, I stamped the Joy sentiment (Holly Days 30-869) in Candied Apple distress ink, followed by two layers of Fired Brick distress inks.  Happy how it matched the colour of the berries.  I added a few white dots using my Posca pen before framing the image using another new release from Penny Black, Semi-Circle Stackers (51-706).

Close-up ...

I'm sending this card to the Penny Black Saturday Challenge October - Anythings Goes.

And to NBUS Challenge #31.

Thanks for coming by for a visit!

Product Links

Merriest (40-797)

Holly Days (30-869)

Semi-Circle Stackers (51-706)

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Stamps:  Merriest (Penny Black); Holly Days (Penny Black)

Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Mixed Media paper (Strathmore 140 lb.)
Ink:   Smoky Slate (SU!); Distress Inks:  Mowed Lawn, Rustic Wilderness, Candied Apple, Aged Mahogany, Fired Brick (Tim Holtz)
Accessories:   watercolour paint brushes, white Posca pen, Semi-Circle Stackers Frame die (Penny Black)

Challenges:

PBSC October - Anything Goes

NBUS Challenge #31

The Flower Challenge #53 Reminder

Hi everyone.  It's already half way through February and time for the reminder post for The Flower Challenge #53.

I used a new stamp and new die on my card above.  The roses are actually a stamp (Peony Bouquet from Simon Says Stamp), even though it looks like a stencil (and they do sell a stencil with this design as well).

I inked all the roses with Picked Raspberry distress ink and stamped onto mixed media paper.  I wiped off the stamp and then added Mowed Lawn distress ink on the leaves and stamped again to finish the image.  I used my water brush to move colours around.  I added some Candied Apple and more Picked Raspberry ink to add shading  Wild Honey distress ink was used to add the centers of the flowers.  I thought the card looked very flat, so cut a rectangle from the center, added a white card stock backing slightly larger than the image; then popped up on foam over top of the card base.

The sentiment is a die (Happy Birthday Friendship Script from Memory Box).  Die-cut from black and added Crystal Glaze over top to give some shine and dimension.  Then adhered the die-cut to the center of the card.

Close-up ...

I hope you'll check out the challenge blog to see the amazing reminder cards from the talented Designers.  

Hope to see you in the gallery

Since I used a new stamp and die, I'm entering this card into NBUS Challenge #23 (never-before-used-schtuff). :)

Stamps:  Peony Bouquet (Simon Says Stamp)

Paper:  Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.)
Ink:   Distress Inks:  Picked Raspberry, Mowed Lawn, Candied Apple, Wild Honey (Tim Holtz)
Accessories:   water brush, rectangle die, Happy Birthday die (Memory Box), Crystal Glaze (Nuvo)

Challenges:

The Flower Challenge #53

NBUS Challenge #23

The Flower Challenge #49 - Circle / Circles

Hi everyone.  I'm so excited to announce that I have joined the Design Team for The Flower Challenge - YAY!  I do love making cards with flowers, so this is just perfect for me.  I'm thrilled to be working with a very talented group of Designers.  And this month, we have a lovely Guest Designer, Colleen Balija (Irish Rose Creations).  Welcome Colleen!

The Flower Challenge #49 ...

And this is also a very special month at The Flower Challenge

We're celebrating 4 years of challenges!  Congrats to the team!

Please help us celebrate our birthday by joining in our challenge.

Prizes are listed on the challenge blog.

* * * * *

I started by creating a soft background with a stencil monoprint of tiny circles, done in soft green ink.

Once dry, I stamped the flowers and leaves in Archival Black ink and watercoloured using Distress Inks.  The simple sentiment was stamped in black before the image was die-cut using a circle die.

Very simple and quick card.

Close-up ...

I hope you'll come join our challenge.  Please make sure a flower or flowers is the main part of your card design and follow the challenge prompt.  Hope to see you in The Flower Challenge #49 gallery!

Products

Mini Tiny Circles (The Crafter's Workshop)

Spring Sentiments - Stampendous

Stamps:  Cosmos Spray- retired; Spring Sentiments (both from Stampendous)
Paper:  Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.)
Ink:  Archival Black Ink (Ranger); Distress Inks:  Shabby Shutters, Ripe Persimmon, Aged Mahogany, Peeled Paint (Tim Holtz)
Accessories:  Mini Tiny circles stencil (The Crafter's Workshop), water brush, circle nestabilities - retired (Spellbinders)

Challenges:
The Flower Challenge #49 - Circle / Circles

FadeOut Ink

Hi everyone.  Today I experimented with FadeOut Ink.  I was inspired after seeing my friend Trina's card HERE.  I've had my ink pad for several months .. it might even be a year, but have not used it yet.  Today is the day.  Sending this to the NBUS #15 Challenge. ;)

I stamped my flowers and leaves with FadeOut ink and then watercoloured using Distress inks.  When you watercolour over top of the outlines, they show up in a darker version of ink, similar to what happens when you use Archival Gray Shadow ink.  After a few hours, the lines are completely gone.  It's going to take me a while to get used to this ink, but what a great way to do no-line watercolouring.

I splattered the background with a mix of pink and orange inks that I used to colour the flowers.  Then stamped a large sentiment in soft gray ink.  I thought it needed something to make it look more finished, so added the thin oval frame in light gray to match the sentiment.  Popped the panel up on my card base and done!

Close-up ...

I'm sending this over to the Penny Black Saturday Challenge - Anything Goes (optional spots and/or stripes).  This time I have the spots from my splattering! :)

Thanks for stopping by!

Products
Flower Collection (Penny Black)
Special Sentiments (Penny Black)
FadeOut Ink (Ink on 3) - SSS

Stamps:  Flower Collection (Penny Black); Special Sentiments (Penny Black)
Paper:  Mixed Media (Fabriano 140 lb.); White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Soft Slate (Stampin' Up!)
Ink:  FadeOut Ink (Ink on 3); Distress inks:  Twisted Citron, Mowed Lawn, Ripe Persimmon, Picked Raspberry); Gray Shadow (Archival)
Accessories & Tools:  paint brushes, Oval Nestabilities dies (Spellbinder)

Challenges:
NBUS #15 Challenge
Penny Black Saturday Challenge - Anything Goes (optional:Spots and/or Stripes)