With Love on our Anniversary

Hi everyone.  Here's my anniversary card for my hubby that I made a while ago.  I wanted to experiment with more mixed media, and went opposite to my usual white CAS cards.  :)  I'm really happy how this turned out.

A script background is stamped randomly with silver ink, then stenciled over top with a quatrafoil design in black pearl paint mixed with heavy matte gel.  Again, the gel is randomly spread across the card front.  XOXO border was die-cut from red card stock four times, glued together to create a thick die-cut, then coated with glossy accents for some shine.  The sentiment banner is stamped in silver and popped up for added dimension.  I'm heading over to join the fun at Mixed Media Card Challenge where the challenge this month is red.  I'm squeaking in just under the wire. :)

Today is our 37th wedding anniversary so I gave the card to hubby this morning.  He really like it. :)

It's a beautiful day here on the West Coast of B.C., so we are heading out to Crescent Beach for a walk along the water and then picking up groceries on the way home.  We used to always go out for dinner on our anniversary, but started having them at home a couple of years ago because of health issues.  We found it so much more relaxing being at home to celebrate, that we're doing it again this year.  Hubby will be making his famous BBQ Cedar Plank Salmon --- yummy!  I'm one lucky girl! :)

Thanks for coming by for a visit.

Stamps:  En Francais (SU!); Thinking of You (Happy Little Stampers)
Paper:  Black,  Real Red (SU!)
Ink:  Silver Delicata (Tsukineko)
Accessories & Tools:  Quatrefoil stencil made with my Silhouette Cameo, heavy matte gel (Golden), Black Pearl Paint (Tsukineko), XOXO Border die (Simon Says), glossy accents

Challenges:
Mixed Media Card Challenge - Feb. 2016 - Red

With Heavy Heart

Christopher

May 14, 1962 - Feb. 22, 2016

With heavy heart I announce that Christopher, brother to my crafty friend Bozena (Art Card Box), lost his battle with lung cancer yesterday.  He fought hard and tried experimental therapies in order to survive, but it would not be so.

I first wrote about Christopher in this blog post, and then gave an update at the end of December in this post, when Christopher's health seemed to improve.

My deepest sympathies go to my dear friend Bozena and her family.  Thanks to all that supported Christopher through prayer and to those who provided financial support for the experimental treatments.  Our crafting community is very giving and generous.  Christopher was genuinely touched by the outpouring of love from so many people that didn't even know him.    Thank you.

Have a Lovely Day

Hi everyone.  Today I've made a card for the Just Us Girls Challenge #331 - Color Week (Teal, Aqua, Navy).  LOVE these colours!

I used teal and turquoise watercolour sprays on watercolour paper to create a panel to cut out my butterfly.  The body is cut from navy card stock.  The background is Inka Gold wax (jade green, turquoise, and platinum), spread onto a mat, spritzed with lots of water and then smooshed.

Click HERE to see my video tutorial on Inka Gold Smooshing.

I ended up with three backgrounds from just a tiny bit of each of the colours of Inka Gold.  Just kept adding more water in-between soaking up the colours with plain white card stock.  This wax paste goes a LONG way.  This is the second of my three smooshed backgrounds.  Inka Gold has a lovely shimmer that you can just see a little of above the butterfly.  It's really hard to capture how gorgeous this wax is in a photo.  I stamped the sentiment in navy ink and heat embossed in clear.  It looks almost black, but trust me, it's done with navy ink. :)

Another example of a CAS Mix Up card. :)  I used watercolour sprays, inka gold, along with smooshing, die-cutting and stamping to create this fun, easy and quick CAS mixed media card. :)

Also heading to the Playground.  I used snippets for my butterfly and butterfly body. :)

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In other news, I'm excited to be featured in another article in the Weekly Scrapper "Sunday with Lorraine" article.  Drop by and check out the article if you have a few minutes.  :)

And my tag Christmas card with berries got an Honourable mention at Merry Monday. :)  Great start to the day! :)

Stamps:  Be Happy (Amy R)
Paper:  White card base and front (Neenah); Watercolour paper butterfly (Arches 140 lb. cold press)
Ink:  Night of Navy (SU!)
Accessories & Tools:  Watercolour sprays made from liquid watercolour concentrate (Dick Blick), Moonlight Butterfly die (Memory Box), Inka Gold waxes (jade green, turquoise, platinum), water mister, clear embossing powder, heat tool

Challenges:
Just Us Girls #331 - Color Week
Snippets Playground - Week 217

Christmas Berries

Hi everyone.  Today I'm playing along with the Merry Monday Challenge #192 - Berries.  My good friend Bonnie (Stamping with Klass) is hosting this fun challenge. Great job picking the theme, Bonnie!! :)

I used my Twigs & Berries die from Memory box to make the card above.  The sand colour tag was heat embossed with white, using a Christmas word background.  The twig, leaves and berries were die-cut and sponged with the coordinating colour of ink to add depth.  The leaves where shaped with a stylus and mat, and the berries were coated in glossy accents.  Once everything was dry, snow texture was added all along the branch, leaves and berries.

While I was waiting for things to dry, I decided to make a second card with the same die-cuts. :)

The second card has an embossing folder stamped background and then the same twigs and berries over top.

Tip:  When I stamp with early espresso (dark brown ink) onto Neenah card stock, it ends up looking black.  So by accident, I found a great way to get brown.  Using complementary colours (opposites on the colour wheel), you can make your own brown ink.  I first stamped the sentiment below in red ink, then again in green and I ended up with a reddish brown sentiment.  A couple more stampings on top with green, and I ended up with this lovely shade of brown. :)  You need to use a Misti to get the stampings to be lined up perfectly, but I was really surprised that the inks would blend so nicely. :)

These two cards are both examples of  CAS Mix Up cards (stamping, heat embossing, die-cutting, embossing folder stamping).   First challenge starts on March 1st!

I'm also going to enter this into the Snippets Playground.  I used a lot of snippets for my branch, leaves and berries. :)

Thanks for coming by for a visit!  I always appreciate you stopping by. :)

Stamps: Tag card:  Christmas Story (Penny Black); Woodgrain card: Beautiful Season (SU!)
Paper:  White (Neenah)
Ink:  Versamark; Early Espresso, Real Red, Olive Green (SU!)
Accessories & Tools:  Stitched Tag Die (Lil' Inkers), white embossing powder, heat tool, Twigs & Berries Die (Memory Box), glossy accents, Sparkle Texture Effects (Martha Stewart), white-stitched red ribbon, thin red satin ribbon, Woodgrain embossing folder (Sizzix)

Challenges:
Merry Monday #192 - Berries
Snippets Playground - Week 216