Happy Belated Birthday, Dear Friend!

Hi everyone.  My dear friend Karen (Snippets) celebrated her birthday at the beginning of January.  I was behind getting her card in the mail, so she has just received it. :)

Hope you had a wonderful birthday Karen!

I made this background a while ago, so I'm not 100% sure of what ink I used, but believe it is brushos (turquoise and ultra marine) with some gold Inka Gold wax.  I tend to make up a lot of backgrounds to have on hand for making cards at a later date.  Must remember to write on the back the inks I used. :)

I wanted the gorgeous colours of the icy sky to be the star, so added a simple white embossed image of two trees and some snow drifts.

Thanks for coming by for a visit! :)

Stamps:  Snow Dust (Penny Black); Fun Birthday Sentiments (Happy Little Stampers)

Paper:  Mixed Media (Strathmore)
Ink:  Versamark; Delicata Gold; Brushos
Accessories & Tools:  Inka Gold, water mister, white embossing powder, heat tool, Snow drifts die (My Favorite Things)

You're so very Special

Hi everyone.  Today I'm playing along at CASEplorations on the STAMPlorations blog. This month they have the very talented Laura Bassen as their CASE inspiration.  I LOVE her card and just had to play along.

As you can see, I used the same stencil, sponging with yellow and lime green inks.  I love how bright and cheerful the card is.  I kept everything else to a minimum, with just a simple black stamped sentiment and a few sequins for sparkle.

If you have a chance, check out the amazing cards for the CASEplorations Design team - you'll be glad you did.  And come play along! :)

I'm also entering my card into the STAMPlorations Anything Goes challenge that runs continually. :)

___________________

Changes to Blogger!

Effective January 11, 2016, only Google account holders will be able to follow blogs with Blogger.   In addition, Blogger will also remove any followers without a Google account from the blogs they are following.  For the full announcement from Google, click here.

I hope you'll want to continue to follow my blog.  So if you do not have a Google Account, you have a couple of choices in order to continue to follow.

• You can create a Google Account.  Then you would need to become a Follower again because all previous Followers who did not have an account will be permanently removed from my Follower lists by Google.

• If you choose not to open a Google account, you can still follow my blog via email.

Thank you!

Stamps:  Fond Expressions2 (STAMPlorations)
Paper:  White card stock (Neenah)
Ink:  Squeezed Lemonade, Twisted Citron (Distress Inks by Tim Holtz); Tuxedo Black (Memento)
Accessories & Tools:  Leaf Prints stencil (ARTplorations); sponges, sequins.

Challenges:
January CASEPlorations
STAMPlorations Anything Goes

Five Favourite Cards for 2015 ... and Farewell to HLS

Sponged Hibiscus

Hey There

Happy Birthday Bonnie

Happy Graduation

Colourful Hydrangeas

Hi Everyone.  I'm joining in again over at Debby's Blog. A week ago she posted a challenge to share our five favourite Christmas cards for 2015.  Now it's time to share our five favourite cards of the year.

These are my favourites and you'll see there's a mix of all the different techniques that I love so dearly.  Interesting how that worked out.  There's stenciling, die-cutting and shaping, sponging, Inka Gold, and watercolouring. :)

Hope you enjoy the look back on 2015. :)

___________________

On to other news.  Today I have resigned from the HLS Design Teams.  I have really enjoyed being on the teams during the past year and have made some new friends along the way.  It's time to move on.  Not sure what the future holds, but I know new adventures will come my way.

Thank you!

Smooshing in the New Year

Hi everyone.  Welcome to the New Year!  And welcome to Happy Little Stampers January CAS Challenge.

This challenge is sponsored by

Smooshing is one of my favourite technique right now.  I love the randomness of the design when I drop and drag card stock through diluted ink or paint.  Makes very beautiful backgrounds or die-cuts for cards.

I have three Smooshing videos on YouTube: (I really do love this technique!) :)

Smooshing with Inks

Saturated Watercolouring

(smooshing with re-inkers)

Smooshing with Inka Gold

Inka Gold is such a beautiful product and is awesome for this technique.  The wax paste has a metallic, pearly sheen --- GORGEOUS!  And that's what I used for my smooshed winter sky above.  I simply added two die-cut rows of trees that are coated with clear glitter glue, and a simple stamped sentiment in gold to match the colour of my background. :)

We are so excited to have Joyce (Cards-by-the-Sea) as our Guest Designer for HLS CAS this month.  Welcome Joyce!

Come check out the challenge to see the amazing cards by our Guest Designer and Design Team members.  Then make a Smooshed CAS card and join in the fun.  Hope to see you in the gallery.

I'm entering this card into the Just Us Girls Challenge #324 - Thank you.  Perfect timing! :)

Thanks for coming by for a visit!!

Stamps:  Thinking of You (Happy Little Stampers)

Paper:  White (Neenah)
Ink:  Delicata Gold (Tsuikineko)
Accessories & Tools:  Inka Gold wax pastes (Gold, Turquoise, Greenyellow), water mister, Fir Tree Border die (Impression Obsession), Dazzling Details Glitter Glue (SU!)

Challenges:
HLS January CAS - Smooshing
Just Us Girls #324 - Thank you