Full Bloom - Love & Cuddles

Hi everyone.  Today I'm sharing two cards made from the same stamp and dies (love & cuddles 30-556), and (love and cuddles cut out 51-542). These adorable stamps and dies are part of the new Full Bloom release. I just love this sweet image showing mom and baby cuddling and the super cute bears.  I also used the matching die for cutting out the images on both cards   So easy! :)

I started by pulling out a paper towel transfer background my from stash.  I keep many of my mop-up paper towels and then transfer the colour (and quilted pattern) onto mixed media paper.

I stamped the image in black ink and clear heat embossed.  This is watercoloured with zigs, with a little black soot distress ink used for shading.  I die-cut using the matching die and also cut out the same from a piece of mounting foam.  They were glued together and this is popped up on top of the sentiment banner, which is the negative from a love die-cut (dreams ... cut out 51-529).

Here's a close-up ...

For my second card, I used the same stamp and die set as I mentioned above.  This time it's two sweet bears.

The bears are watercoloured with Distress Inks, then die-cut from the matching die (love & cuddles cut out 51-542).  Mounting foam was also die-cut for each bear and adhered to add thickness.  I wanted something different for the background, so went with embossing folder stamping using the same inks used on the bears (brown, pink, yellow) with a woodgrain embossing folder.

A wonderful birthday sentiment (special sentiments 30-574) was stamped in black ink and then the bears were popped up on top.  Added just a little sparkle with clear wink of stella on the flower and frosting, plus crystal glaze to give shine to the heart decoration on the cupcake.

Here's a close-up ...

Penny Black Products:

love & cuddles stamp set (30-556)

love & cuddles cut out (51-542)

dreams ... cut out (51-529)

special sentiments (30-574)

Card #1 - Love & Cuddles
Stamps:  love & cuddles (Penny Black)
Paper:  Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.); Black (SU!)
Ink:  Black (Memento); Zigs (Kuretake); Black Soot Distress Ink (Tim Holtz)
Accessories & Tools:  Clear embossing powder (Ranger), heat tool, waterbrush, negative from love die (dreams cut out - Penny Black)

Card #2 - Happy Birthday
Stamps:  love & cuddles (Penny Black); special sentiments (Penny Black)
Paper:  Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.)
Ink:  Black (Memento); Distress Inks:  Brushed Corduroy, Gathered Twigs, Picked Raspberry, Festive Berry, Mustard Seed (Tim Holtz)
Accessories & Tools:  Clear embossing powder (Ranger), heat tool, waterbrush, woodgrain embossing folder (Sizzix), Clear Wink of Stella, Crystal Glaze (Nuvo)

CAS Stencil May Challenge

Hi everyone.  Today is the start of the CAS Stencil May Challenge.  This month is being hosted by our wonderful Designer, Sue (Sue's Card Craft). 

We have Michele (I Card Everyone) as our Guest Designer this month.  Please check out the challenge blog to see the stenciled cards from our wonderful Guest Designer, Michele ... and our amazing Designers.  Then come play along!

This card started with a background already done in my stash.  It is smooshed Inka Gold (rose and platinum) with just a little bit of brushed corduroy re-inker.  Pink and brown is a great colour combination.  There's not a lot of brown, but just a little that adds so much to the pink.  Click HERE to see my video tutorial on Smooshing with Inka Gold.

I stenciled over top with a Harlequin (diamonds) stencil using white embossing paste.  While the paste was still wet,  I sprinkled iridescent embossing powder over top.  It sticks to the wet paste really well.  Once the paste was dry, I used my heat tool to melt the powder into the embossing paste.  I love the little bit of sparkle.  If you heat emboss when the embossing paste is still wet, it will puff up a bit.  So you have options depending on the look you want.

A black silhouette branch was added to the popped up main panel, along with a simple black stamped sentiment to finish the card.

Here's a close-up.  It shows the beautiful sheen from the Inka Gold, but not much of the glitter from the embossing powder.  Trust me, it's sparkly!

Stamps:  Happy Messages (Stampendous)
Paper:  Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb. 400 Series); White (Neenah 110 lb.); Black (Stampin' Up!)
Ink:  Brushed Corduroy Distress Re-inker (Tim Holtz); Black (Memento)
Accessories & Tools:  Rose and Platinum Inka Gold (Viva Decor), water mister, White embossing paste (Dreamweaver); Mini Harlequin stencil (The Crafter's Workshop), palette knife, Ice embossing powder (SU!), Heat tool, winter branch die (Penny Black)

Challenges:
CAS Stencil May Challenge - Stenciling over Coloured Background

CAS Christmas May Challenge

Hi everyone.  Today we are starting a new CAS Christmas challenge - Stocking.  This month is hosted by our talented Designer, Trina (Phamtastic Design).

This owl family from Wild Rose is such an adorable image.  I had fun watercolouring in icy colours.  My plan was to have snow gently falling over the scene.  Somehow I got carried away and it's a snow storm. :)

The image was stamped in black ink and heat embossed in clear.  Zigs were used to watercolour the image ... they do have such bright, clean colours.  To finish, little details were added (pink cheeks, sparkle on the fur cuffs and pompoms, and gloss for the owl's noses and heart on the small stocking).  It was then cut to size with a wonky stitched frame and snow was added by heating Frantage Chunky White enamel with my skillet.  A cute sentiment was stamped at the bottom.  Afterwards I thought ... "do owls tweet??!!"  Probably not, oh well.  Hopefully no one notices. :)

Here's a close-up ...

We have Helen (Helen's Craft Haven) joining us at Guest Designer this month.  Welcome Helen!  Check out the challenge blog to see the stocking cards from Helen and our amazing designers!  Then come play along!

Stamps:  Owl Family (Wild Rose); Season's Tweatings (Paper Smooches)
Paper:  Mixed Media paper (Strathmore 140 lb. 400 Series); White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.)
Ink:  Black (Memento); Zigs (Kuretake), Distress Inks:  Broken China, Twisted Citron, Mowed Lawn (Tim Holtz)
Accessories & Tools: Clear embossing powder, heat tool, water brush, clear wink of stella, glossy accents, Chunky White Frantage (Stampendous), Wonky Stitched Frame die (CUTplorations)

Challenges:
CAS Christmas May Challenge - Stocking

CAS Watercolour May Challenge

Hi everyone.  It's the start of the May CAS Watercolour challenge.  This month, Karen (Snippets) is our host and she has picked a fun challenge.

I recently bought this fun stamp from Stampendous.  Nothing says a kid's birthday party like presents, rainbow colours, and dots!

I might have gotten a little carried away with adding pattern, but this was a lot of fun to watercolour.  Used zigs and a water brush, dabbing with paper towel constantly to give a light look to the image.  I fussy-cut and then added some stripes on the presents followed by clear wink of stella on the ribbons for some sparkle.  And added large white dots on the Happy Birthday using a paint pen.  The image was cut in half, with the happy birthday being taped down directly onto my card front.  The presents were popped up for a bit of dimension, over top of a splattered background.

Here's a close-up ...

We are joined by Bobby (bits and pieces) who is our Guest Designer this month after winning March's challenge.  Please check out the challenge blog to see Bobby's awesome card and the fantastic cards from our Designers.

Then come join us!

Stamps:  Chunky Birthday (Stampendous)
Paper:  Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb. 400 Series); White card base (Neenah 110 lb.)
Ink:  Black (Memento); Zigs (Kuretake)
Accessories & Tools:  Clear embossing powder, heat tool, water brush, brush for splattering, permanent black pen, white paint pen

Challenges:
CAS Watercolour May Challenge - For a Child