Colouring with Zig Markers

Hi everyone.  It's the start of the Happy Little Stampers September CAS Challenge. I think you're going to love this month's challenge!! :)

This challenge is sponsored by

I have to admit that I rarely make cards that involve masking, but after last month's Masking challenge at Happy Little Stampers, I have a whole new appreciation for this technique.  I used it on today's card, stamping my first flower on my card front, masking it with a post-it-note, and then stamping my second flower higher and to the left.  I removed my mask and voila!  It's magical. :)

I coloured my hydrangeas in two different shades of purple, adding a few layers of ink to shade and darken the centers of the flowers.  I used two shades of green for the leaves and then finished off the image by adding some dots with my white gel pen.  A simple stamped sentiment and rounded top right corner finished the card.  I always forget about my corner round.  I've had it for probably a year and used it once. :)  I remembered to pulled it out ... it adds just a little difference to my card today.

I hope you'll join us for this fun challenge.  We have a wonderfully talented Guest Designer, Riti (A Lil Piece of Heaven) joining us this month.  Stop by the challenge blog and see her beautiful coloured card along with the amazing cards from the Design Team.  I know you'll be inspired to play along.

Hope to see you in the gallery!

Thanks for coming by for a visit!

Stamps:  Best Thoughts (SU!); Butterfly Birthday sentiment (Happy Little Stampers)

Paper:  Mixed Media (Strathmore)
Ink:  Archival Black (Ranger); Zig Clean Colour Real Brush Watercolour markers; Black (Memento)
Accessories & Tools:  water brush, white gel pen, 1/2" corner rounder (We R Memory Keepers), post-it note for masking

Challenges:

HLS Sept. CAS Challenge - Colouring

Graphic Birthday

Hi everyone.  Time for the September Sketch Challenge ...

This challenge is sponsored by

Plus

I've had this grid background stamp for several months but don't think it's been inked up until now.  I have a lot of NBUS in my stash, all nicely filed away (and usually forgotten!).  I've now pulled out all I could find and keep them in a separate basket ... hopefully they'll get used now. :)  I think it's a sign I may need to slow down with my buying. :)  You'll notice I didn't say stop buying ... just slow down. Baby steps! :)

I inked up the grid with versamark and heat embossed in white.  Then I used my new distress inks, Twisted Citron and Mermain Lagoon (LOVE this colour combo), to add in some colour using a water brush.  After I did a few squares, I spritzed with a little water and then tilted my card front so the diluted ink would run.  Happy with how this turned out.

I used this bold sentiment from Happy Little Stampers to finish off my card.  I stamped over top of the white embossed grid, and of course, the ink didn't stick where there was white embossing, so I just used a permanent black marker to fill in any blank spots.

I hope you'll join us for this fun sketch challenge.  Come check out the challenge HERE and see the amazing cards from the Design Team.


I'm entering this into a couple of challenges:  Less is More is looking for cards using sprays / mists;  Addicted to Stamp & More is looking for CAS cards (3rd entry); and Simon Says Stamp Wednesday is Anything Goes (3rd entry). :)

Thanks for stopping by for a visit!!

Stamps:  Grid Background (Simon Says Stamp); Bold Birthday Sentiments (Happy Little Stampers)

Paper:  White card base (Neenah); Mixed Media (Strathmore)
Ink:  Versamark; Twisted Citron, Mermain Lagoon (Distress inks by Tim Holtz); Black (Memento)
Accessories & Tools:  White embossing powder (Hero Arts), heat tool, water brush, black sharpie

Challenges:

HLS September Sketch Challenge
Less Is More #239 - Sprays / Mists
ATS&M #159 - CAS
SSS Wednesday - Anything Goes

Blue Blooms

Hi everyone.  It's the start of a new challenge at Addicted to CAS.

This challenge is being hosted by the super talented Joanna (Harty by Heart) ... and she'll have us all feeling "BLUE" this week. :)

This challenge is sponsored by

I'm still having fun experimenting with both my watercolour sprays and my Zig watercolour pens. :)

This time I made the background using the Faux Mother-of-Pearl technique (click link to see video).  But instead of sponging with waterbased inks after sponging on the frost resist paint, I used my watercolour sprays to add colour.  I sprayed several times, blotting in-between with paper towel until I got the depth of colour I was happy with.  By that time, the card stock was really wet, so I let it dry overnight.  It did warp, but I find if I run it through my Big Shot between two new plates and add a shim, it flattens out really well.  I love the shimmer and shine of the background. Here's a close-up photo so you can see it ...

I stamped my flowers onto mixed media paper in waterproof black (I love working on mixed media paper with the zigs ... or any kind of watercolouring for that matter). The watercolours blend and move so easily as they don't absorb into the paper as fast as w/c paper.  I coloured them with just one shade of turquoise, adding layers to create depth.  Used green for the stems and a little yellow for the flower centers.  I then fussy-cut them and popped them up over my main panel, which was framed with black.  A simple black stamped sentiment and the card was done.

I hope you'll come join us at ATCAS for this fun challenge.  We have Linda (PaperCutting Kind of Day) guest designing for us this month.  Come check out the challenge HERE to see Linda's beautiful "blue" card and the cards from the rest of our wonderfully talented Design Team.  I know you'll be inspired to join in.

I'm going to enter this card into a couple of other challenges:  ATS&M #159 - CAS (second entry) and Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - Anything Goes (also second entry). :)

Thanks for dropping by for a visit!

Stamps:  Efflorescence (Penny Black); Where Your Heart Is (Simon Says)

Paper:  White card base and main panel (Neenah); Mixed Media (Strathmore); Black (SU!)
Ink:  Black Archival (Ranger)
Accessories & Tools:  Frost Paint (Tsukineko), saran wrap, Green and Turquoise Watercolour Sprays made from w/c concentrate (Dick Blick)

Challenges:

ATCAS #71 - Blue
ATS&M #159 - CAS
SSS Wednesday - Anything Goes

We need your help

We need your help.

Our dear friend Bozena (friend and fellow design team member at Happy Little Stampers), needs our help in saving her brother’s life.

Her brother, Christopher (46) has been diagnosed with inoperable lung cancer. He has gone through two courses of chemotherapy and is not strong enough to continue with more treatments.

The only option for him now is to try alternative medical treatments, which are available in Germany, but have a very high financial cost ($220,000 Euros --- approximately $246,000 US).

We have been blessed with many friends made through this wonderful craft of card making. And we know that crafters are very generous of heart.

We ask that you help Christopher fund his medical treatments.  An account has been set up for donations and you can get all the information on Bozena's blog.  Click on the donation box in the right hand column at the top (you'll see a picture of Christopher there). Please consider donating to help save Christopher’s life. Any amount … even a few dollars, when donated by many, grows quickly.

Whether you are able to help financially or not, please consider adding Christopher to your prayers.

Thank you so much.

Another way to support Christopher.

Our crafting community is known for pulling together in support of those in need. If you have time, a positive message card would be greatly appreciated to boost Christopher’s spirits. Thanks to Marti for this wonderful suggestion.

Cards may be send to:

Christopher Szendzielorz

ul. Piwarskiego 3/80

00-770 Warsaw

Poland