Guest Designing at Christmas Kickstart Challenge

Hi everyone.  I'm excited to be Guest Designing at Christmas Kickstart Challenge #103 - Snow Alert!  Thanks for inviting me JO!! :)

There are so many possibilities with Snow ... and I had tons of ideas running through my head.  I looked through my NBUS (never-before-used-schtuff) pile and found an adorable stamp and die set ... 

I stamped the image in black ink and heat embossed with clear on both mixed media paper and white card stock.  Then I watercoloured the mixed media image with Distress Inks.  The mixed media card is ivory, not white and I wanted to have the snowman, bear's hat cuff & pompom to be white, so I fussy-cut all the watercoloured pieces and paper pieced them onto the image stamped on white card.

I added some Clear Wink of Stella to the bear's hat cuff and pompom for some shimmer and red chalk for the cheeks.  I sponged my card front with two shades of blue ink and then splattered with diluted white acrylic paint for snow.

I popped up the image onto my background and added some torn snow hills and a simple sentiment to finish the card. 

Close-up ...

Also sending this card to NBUS Challenge #79.  This is the first outing for this stamp set :) 

Hope to see you in the gallery at Christmas Kickstart Challenge #103 - Snow Alert! 

Thanks for stopping by!

Stamps:  Fun Flurries (Penny Black)

Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.)
Ink:   Black (Memento); Distress Inks:  Brushed Corduroy, Gathered Twigs, Candied Apple, Aged Mahogany, Black Soot, Salty Ocean, Spiced Marmalade, Rusty Hinge (Tim Holtz)
Accessories:   Fun Flurries die (Penny Black), watercolour paint brushes, red chalk, white acrylic pen (Posca), diluted white acrylic paint, Clear Wink of Stella

Challenges:

Christmas Kickstart Challenge #103 - Snow Alert! 

NBUS Challenge #79

Penny Black - Messenger

For the above card I started with stamping the main image, Messenger (Penny Black) onto mixed media paper using black pigment ink.  The image was heat set before watercolouring with Distress Inks and Zig markers.  The small rectange stencil from Background Basics (Penny Black) was placed over top before sponging with Brushed Corduroy Distress Ink around the inside edges.  The Double Frames (Penny Black) were cut from red card stock and patterned green card and layered over top of the image.  To finish, the sentiment (from the same stamp set) was stamped in more black ink.  The sponging and double frames give this a vintage look.

Made a second card using everything the same as above, except for reversing the order of the card used for the double frames ...  

... and one more using this beautiful image ...

I fussy-cut the bird and pinecone after watercolouring with Distress inks on mixed media paper.  The full image was stamped again onto a patterned paper leftover cut from the center of the frame in card one.  The fussy-cut cardinal and pinecone were adhered over top of the bottom image to add depth (paper piecing).  I used my zig markers to add colour to the pine branch.  The sentiment from the same stamp set was stamped in Candied Apple Distress ink to finish the card.

Sending the above card to:

1) Rudolph Days Challenge - September.  Thanks Helen!

2) Simply Clean & Simple Challenge - September

 

Thanks for stopping by!

Penny Black Products

Messenger (31-085)

Background Basics (25-021)

Double Frames (51-825)

Stamps:  Messenger (Penny Black)

Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.); Real Red card stock (SU!); Always Artichoke patterned paper (SU!)
Ink:   Black pigment ink (Versafine Clair Nocturne); Distress Inks:  Candied Apple, Aged Mahogany, Black Soot, Brushed Corduroy, Gathered Twigs (Tim Holtz); Zig watercolour markers
Accessories:   Watercolour paint brushes, Background Basics (Stencils - Penny Black); Double Frames dies (Penny Black)

Challenges:

Rudolph Days Challenge - September

Simply Clean & Simple Challenge - September

Penny Black - Daisy Darlings

Hi everyone.  Today my card uses one of the images from the new release, Daisy Darlings (Penny Black).  Such a cute image!! :)

I went with an oldy (but goody) technique of paper piecing.  I used a piece of Pear Pizzazz (SU!) soft green paper, dry embossed it with a cross-stitch embossing folder (gift from a dear friend) and then highlighted the embossing with distress inks.  

I used distress inks to watercolour the bear, adding some red chalk to his cheeks with white dots (Posca pen).  Used a distress marker to colour the ribbon and handle (all of these are cut out and added on top of a stamped image on my main panel.  To finish, I die-cut and embossed a frame (Semi-Circle Stackers - Penny Black) and added a sentiment (Happy Snippets - Penny Black).

Close-up ...

I'm sending this card to the Simply Clean & Simple March Challenge - optional theme Green.

Penny Black Products

Daisy Darlings (31-040)

Semi-Circle Stackers (51-706)

Happy Snippets (31-358)

Thanks for stopping by!

Stamps:  Daisy Darlings; Happy Snippets (Penny Black)

Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.); Pear Pizzazz card stock (SU!)
Ink:  Black Pigment (Obsidian - Altenew); Distress Inks:  Brushed Corduroy, Gathered Twigs, Mustard Seed, Wild Honey, Shabby Shutters (Tim Holtz) 
Accessories:   Clear embossing powder (Ranger), heat tool, watercolour paint brushes, Cross-Stitch embossing folder (Taylor Expressions), Semi-Circle Stacker Frame die (Penny Black)

Challenges:

Simply Clean & Simple March Challenge

Kitten in Cup

Hi everyone.  This is a pre-scheduled post that I did at the end of February.  I wasn't sure if I'd be up for making cards after surgery, and I wanted to be able to play along in the Rudolph Days March challenge ... I like to play along each month and have done so for several years. :)

I started with an adorable kitten die that I received from the wonderful Maureen, keeper of the Rudolph Days challenge.  Thanks again Maureen!

I die cut the kitten in the cup in several colours of card stock (white, red, gray, patterned paper - ho ho ho christmas from Polkadoodles) and then pieced it together, adding sponged shading along the edges of the plain coloured pieces.

I smiled the whole time I was making this card! :)

Close-up ... 

As I mentioned above, I'm sending this over to the Rudolph Days March challenge. :)

As well, this is the first time using this sweet die, so I'm sending it over to NBUS Challenge #48 - thanks Dolly!

Thanks for stopping by!

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Stamps:  n/a

Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Slate Gray, Real Red card stock (SU!); ho ho ho Christmas (Polkadoodles)
Ink:   Basic Gray; Real Red (SU!); Distress Inks:  Tumbled Glass, Spun Sugar (Tim Holtz)
Accessories:  Kitten in Cup die (Cottage Cutz), sponges,  black fine tip marker, Circle die (Spellbinders)

Challenges:

Rudolph Days March Challenge - Anything Christmas goes

NBUS Challenge #48

Paper Piecing with Die-cuts

Hi everyone.  Today is another paper pieced card for this month's CAS Mix Up challenge, but with a twist.  I used die-cuts to paper piece this lovely Holly & Berry Branch die from Penny Black.

I die-cut the image three times (one from green patterned paper, one from red patterned paper, one from brown card stock).  I used the green image as the base, cutting off the holly leaves and berries to add the branch in brown overtop, and cutting off the holly leaves and branch from the red patterned paper for the berries.  I added crystal glaze to the berries for some shine.

The background is made with SSS Falling Snow stencil, covered with white embossing paste.  Once dry, it was cut to size.  A simple sentiment (MFT Snowglobe Sentiments - retired) was stamped to add another pop of red.

This card has paper piecing, die-cutting, stenciling, embossing paste, and heat embossing.

Thanks for stopping by!

Product Links

Holly & Berry Branch die (Penny Black)

Falling Snow Stencil (Simon Says Stamp)

Stamps:  Snowglobe sentiments - retired (My Favorite Things)

Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Patterned paper (unknown); Baked Brown Sugar card stock (Stampin' Up!)
Ink:   Versamark
Accessories:   Holly & Berry Branch die (Penny Black), Falling Snow stencil (Simon Says Stamp), white embossing paste, palette knife, Apple Red embossing powder (WOW!), crystal glaze (Nuvo)

Challenges:
CAS Mix Up April Challenge - Paper Piecing

The Flower Challenge #55

Hi everyone.  It's the start of a new challenge at The Flower Challenge #55 - Pretty Pastels.  We are thrilled to have a sponsor this month, Varda Sharma.  I used one of their free images for my card today.  You can find this FREE image HERE.

We also have an amazing Guest Designer with us this month.  Welcome to Keia (Confessions of a Paperholic)!

I started by printing off the image twice.  One for my background, which I sponged lightly with three colours of Distress Inks (Mustard Seed, Spiced Marmalade, Picked Raspberry).  For the second image, I fussy-cut the flowers and leaves, watercoloured, added dimension using a stylus and foam mat, and then paper pieced on top of the background.  I used Mustard Seed and Picked Raspberry distress inks on my flowers, Mowed Lawn distress ink on the leaves.

To finish, I stamped in black ink, one of the sentiments from Stampendous Spring Sentiment stamp set. I also added just a few drops of Black Liquid Pearl to the flower centers.

Close-up ...

I hope you'll check out the challenge blog to see the Pretty Pastel cards from our Designers and wonderful Guest Designer, Keia.

Come join us.  The challenge is open until April 25th!

Product Links

Flower Cluster1 (Varda Sharma)

Spring Sentiments (Stampendous)

Stamps:  Flower Cluster 1 (Varda Sharma digital stamps); Spring Sentiments (Stampendous)

Paper:   Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.)
Ink:   Distress Inks:  Mustard Seed, Spiced Marmalade, Picked Raspberry, Mowed Lawn (Tim Holtz); Black (Memento)
Accessories:   blending brushes, watercolour brush, Black Liquid Pearl

Challenges:

The Flower Challenge #55 - Pretty Pastels

CAS Watercolour March Challenge

Hi everyone.  This month at CAS Watercolour we are celebrating all things Irish!  This fun challenge is being hosted by our wonderful, Julia (Create with Me).

We are excited to have Hannelie (Desert Diva) as our Guest Designer this month.  Welcome Hannelie!

I couldn't resist buying this adorable Irish bear image.  He is stamped in permanent black ink, watercoloured with inks, and fussy-cut.  The image was stamped a second time on the card front, along with the sentiment banner.  The fussy-cut bear was adhered on top of the image (sort of paper pieced).  So this is really a one layer card. :)

Close-up ...

Come join in the fun!  Create a CAS card with watercolouring as the main focal point and make sure it is something that ties into "Luck of the Irish".

Stamps: Irish Luck (Penny Black)
Paper:  Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.); White card base (Neenah 110 lb.)
Ink:  Permanent Black ink (Versafine); Distress Inks:  Mowed Lawn, Forest Moss, Brushed Corduroy, Rusty Hinge (Tim Holtz); Garden Green ink (SU!); Green zig
Accessories & Tools:  Water brush

Challenges:
CAS Watercolour March Challenge - Luck of the Irish

CAS Christmas November Challenge

Hi everyone.  Today is the start of the LAST CAS Christmas challenge for 2019.  The CAS teams will be taking a break for the month of December.

This month, Trina is our host and she has chosen ...

What says warm and cozy to you??  Is it being bundled up with a warm scarf when it's cold outside?  Maybe a hot chocolate or coffee by the fire?  Whatever makes you think of warm and cozy, that's what we'd like to see for this month's challenge.

The above card was an experiment.  I took a watercolouring image but only watercoloured the hat the nose.  The rest is paper pieced, which took a bit of work since this is a silhouette stamp (not outline).  I think Frosty's lovely rainbow plaid scarf looks super warm and cozy. :)

Close-up ...

We are thrilled to have Bobby (bits and pieces) as our Guest Designer this month.  Please check out the challenge blog to see the amazing "warm and cozy" cards by Bobby and our Designers.  Then come play along.

Hope to see you in the gallery!

Stamps:  Bundled Up (Penny Black); Merry Up (Penny Black)
Paper:  Mixed media (Strathmore 140 lb.); Preppy Prints (Sunny Studio); Real Red (SU!)
Ink:  Distress Inks: (Black Soot; Carved Pumpkin, Fired Brick (Tim Holtz); Smoky Slate (SU!)
Accessories & Tools:  water brush, fine black marker, hole punch, white gel pen

Challenges:
CAS Christmas November Challenge - Warm and Cozy

Smiles for Patti

Hi everyone.  Today I'm sharing a card for my sweet blogging friend, Patti (Stationery Styles).  Patti and her hubby have been working hard to find a new place to live in New Mexico.  They finally found the perfect place, only to have the owner's circumstances change and it is no longer available. :(

Patti has asked her blogging friends to send her some much needed smiles.  My card is hopefully going to provide a smile for Patti today. :)  She set up a Linky party on her blog for friends to play along.

I used the Penny Black ... so loved set.  This dog is totally adorable, I was smiling the whole time I was colouring.  Not only smiles for Patti, but for me too! :)

Stamped in black and then watercoloured using zigs.  Simple, right!  Not quite, a little glitch when I was adding the wash for the sky ... touched the heart and red everywhere.  Not to fear, fussy-cut the dog (which I was happy with), stamped the image again and just coloured the background.  Paper pieced the fussy-cut dog on top, popping up his ears.  Added clear wink of stella and glossy accents to give the heart some umph!  And then framed all with a simple white frame.  I was even able to get the zig to work on my sentiment stamp.  First time trying that.

Here's a close-up ...

Dear Patti ... sending smiles, hugs and lots of love your way!

Stamps: ... so loved (Penny Black); happy snippets (Penny Black)
Paper:  Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb. 400 series); White (Neenah 110 lb. card stock)
Ink:  Black (Versafine); Zigs (Kuretake)
Accessories & Tools:  water brush, clear wink of stella, glossy accents, Rectangle Nestabilities (Spellbinder)

Challenge:
Patti's Linky Party - bring smiles!

Perfect Blend

Hi everyone.  I'm having fun playing with the CAS Mix Up February Challenge - Corrugated Cardboard. :)  There's so many ways to use this product.

I kept the coffee sleeve from a Canadian coffee outlet called Tim Hortons, after recently enjoying a delicious French Vanilla Coffee - yummy! :)  I used it to create the sleeve for the coffee cup on my card. :)  I stamped and paper pieced this fun coffee cup from SU!  I've had this set for YEARS, and I'm embarrassed to say this is the first time inking it up. :)

I added some texture to the background with embossing paste and a stencil, just randomly over the right side of the card front.  A strip of black card stock was added to anchor the cup.  I stamped a simple, little sentiment on the coffee sleeve.  :)

There was still something missing, so masked the bottom and cup, then splattered with just a little black.  Those little splatters made a big difference. :)

I used lots of snippets on this card (corrugated sleeve, coffee cup and lid, and black strip at the bottom), so I'm linking up to the Snippets Playground.

Stamps:  Perfect Blend (Stampin' Up!); Word Salad (Paper Smooches)
Paper:  White card base (Neenah 110 lb.); Black (SU!), Patterned Paper (Ambrosia from Bazzill)
Ink:  Black (Memento); Crumb Cake and Baked Brown Sugar (SU!)
Accessories & Tools:  Coffee sleeve from Tim Hortons, Burlap Stencil (Tim Holtz), White Embossing Paste (Dreamweaver), sponges

Challenges:
CAS Mix Up February Challenge - Corrugated Cardboard
Snippets Playground - Week 267 & 268

STAMPlorations June CAS Challenge Guest Designer

Hi everyone.  Today I'm excited to be a Guest Designer for STAMPloration's June CAS Challenge.  I have really enjoyed joining in their new CAS challenge which just started at the beginning of 2016.  I love that it is an anything goes, with an optional twist of colour.  Here's June's challenge ...

I have a lot of STAMPlorations stamps.  This is another freebie that I got with an order (yes, Shery is very generous!).  When I saw the optional twist was blue, I thought about ocean and blue sky, and immediately thought of this stamp that I've had for a while, but haven't inked up yet.  There's a lot of those in my studio. :)

I used a sprayed background from my background stash, masking the bottom and adding more blue watercolour paint to deepen the colour.  The bucket and shovel were watercoloured, fussy-cut and popped up on top of a torn piece of cork.  More cork was used to paper piece the piles of sand and sand in the bucket.

The sentiment (from the same freebie stamp set) is stamped in black.  A die-cut and popped up watercoloured sun finishes this fun, summery card.

Thanks so much to Shery and the girls for giving me this honour of being a Guest Designer this month for the CAS Challenge.  I hope you'll come play along. Anything goes, so as long as your card is CAS.

This is also perfect for the CAS Mix Up June Challenge - Die-cuts.  My CAS Mix Up card above uses a die-cut, stamping, sprays, watercolouring, masking, fussy-cutting, paper piecing, torn edge, and cork.

Thanks for stopping by!

Stamps:  Beach Life (STAMPlorations)
Paper:  White (Neenah); Mixed Media (Strathmore 400 series); Watercolour Paper (gift from Shirl)
Ink:  Black Archival (Ranger); Black (Memento); Zigs (Kuretake)
Accessories & Tools:  Blue watercolour spray from Liquid Concentrate Watercolour (Dick Blick), masking tape, white gel pen, cork, Sunshine small die (Lil' Inkers)

Challenges:
STAMPlorations June CAS Challenge
CAS Mix Up June Challenge - Die-cuts