Thank you Nancy

Hi everyone.  Back with another watercolored card.  This one was sent to my very good friend, Nancy.  She has now received the card, so I'm sharing it with you. :)

Used Distress inks again for this card ... the colors are more vibrant that with the Stampin' Up! inks (which I used on some of my watercolored cards to get a subtler look).  This time I used masking so it appears that one leaf is behind the other.  Definitely need practice ... but I'm learning lots. :)

I thought Nancy would appreciate these lovely fall maple leaves from her Canadian friend :)

I'm entering this into the Time Out challenge (#16 - CASE of Heather Telford).  Heather's card is so amazing!  Mine is a very CAS version. :)

And also entering into AAA Cards #23 - Watercolors (second entry); Virginia's View #8 - CAS (second entry) and also CAS-ology #116 (cue card:  Splatter) - again, second entry. :)

Stamps:  Gently Falling (SU!); Lots of Thanks (Simon Says)
Paper:  White card base (Neenah); Watercolor (Arches 140 lb. cold press)
Ink:  Archival Black (Ranger); Distress inks:  Antique Linen, Brushed Corduroy, Vintage Photo, Walnut Stain, Spiced Marmalade, Ripe Persimmon, Fired Brick
Accessories & Tools:  Waterbrushs, water mister, heat tool, paint brush for splattering

Challenges:
Time Out #16
AAA #23
Virginia's View #8
CAS-ology #116

Two Sparkly Trees

Hi everyone.  Today I'm sharing two cards that are exactly the same layout and design, just different shades of blue.  Way back in February, my friend Susan came over to hang out with me in the studio for a day.  She brought a whole bunch of Christmas-themed embossing folders, dies, stencils and stamps.  We spent the day mostly cutting, embossing and stamping images from each other's stash ... it was a lot of fun.  Fast forward six months ... I've only used a couple of things ... the rest have sat patiently waiting for me :)

Today is the day!! :)  I just LOVE this snowy stencil of Susan's ... and inked up two backgrounds (the darker version is below).  I also die-cut several sets of trees used on today's cards.  The first card is sponged with a light blue (Baja Breeze) and I sponged the same color around the tree to tie the two elements together.  I also coated the tree in Dazzling Detail (clear glitter glue from SU!) and added little dots to the background in the center of each snowflake.  A fun and easy card to make with some of Susan's goodies. :)

Here's the darker version ...

I try to make two of all the Christmas cards I make (one for me and one to give away).  I know I've mentioned before that I donate Christmas cards, but the story is worth repeating ...

Susan volunteers at The Southlands Therapeutic Riding Society (STARS) in Vancouver B.C., which provides programs for children and adults with disabilities.  Not only does she donate her time each week to help with the programs, but she makes Christmas cards all year and then holds a sale in November, with all proceeds being donated back to the riding program.  When she told me about it last year, I offered to make some cards as well for her sale.  Through all of Susan's hard work (she makes over 100 Christmas cards to sell every year!), and the support of a few friends that help with making cards and baking, she donated over $1000 to the program ... amazing, right??!! :)

I'm helping again this year with making cards and currently have about three dozen ready to go.  I hope to make a lot more before the sale happens in November.  :)

Thank you Ingrid

Hi everyone.  Sharing another watercoloured card ... this one was sent to my friend Ingrid (Ingrid's Crafts Corner).  I know she likes pink ... I hope she likes bright pink :) She has already received the card, so I'm sharing with you. :)

I LOVE this poppy image from Penny Black ... and have made several watercolored cards with it (in different colors).  Can't get enough of this stamp!!  And I used a large "thank you" from STAMPlorations ... just love the bold size and font of this sentiment.

Stamps:  Blooming Garden (Penny Black); Sentiment Builders Thank You (STAMPlorations)
Paper:  White card base (Neenah); Watercolor (Arches 140 lb. cold press)
Ink:  Archival Black - waterproof (Ranger); Crumb Cake, Old Olive, Always Artichoke, Regal Rose, Melon Mambo (SU!)
Accessories & Tools:  waterbrush, water mister, heat tool, paint brush for splattering

Thank you Lee-Anne

Hi everyone.  Over the next few weeks, I'm going to be sharing several watercolured cards that I've made.  This was made for my good friend, Lee-Anne (Creatively LA).  She has now received the card, so I'm sharing with you. :)

I've had so much fun watercoloring, which is something I never thought I'd say. After taking a watercolouring class and struggling with many of the techniques (a few worked for me, lots didn't) ... I have found my own way of watercolouring and I'm really having fun! :)  As I'm getting more comfortable with this medium, I'm experimenting and learning lots along the way.  This one is done with Distress Inks and I love the vibrant colours.

I'm entering this card into a few challenges that are running right now ... CAS-ology #116 (cue card: Splatter); AAA Cards #23 - Watercolours; and Virginia's View #8 - CAS.

Also adding this to Simon Says - Use Watercolors.

Stamps:  Blooming Garden (Penny Black); Lots of Thanks (Simon Says)
Paper:  White card base (Neenah); Watercolor (Arches 140 lb. cold press)
Ink:  Archival Black - waterproof (Ranger); Distress inks:  Antique Linen, Brushed Corduroy, Crushed Olive, Peeled Paint, Spiced Marmalade, Ripe Persimmon, Fired Brick (Tim Holtz for Ranger)
Accessories & Tools:  waterbrushes, water mister, heat tool, paint brush for splattering

Challenges:
CAS-ology #116
AAA Cards #23
Virginia's View #8
Simon Says