The Flower Challenge #55

Hi everyone.  It's the start of a new challenge at The Flower Challenge #55 - Pretty Pastels.  We are thrilled to have a sponsor this month, Varda Sharma.  I used one of their free images for my card today.  You can find this FREE image HERE.

We also have an amazing Guest Designer with us this month.  Welcome to Keia (Confessions of a Paperholic)!

I started by printing off the image twice.  One for my background, which I sponged lightly with three colours of Distress Inks (Mustard Seed, Spiced Marmalade, Picked Raspberry).  For the second image, I fussy-cut the flowers and leaves, watercoloured, added dimension using a stylus and foam mat, and then paper pieced on top of the background.  I used Mustard Seed and Picked Raspberry distress inks on my flowers, Mowed Lawn distress ink on the leaves.

To finish, I stamped in black ink, one of the sentiments from Stampendous Spring Sentiment stamp set. I also added just a few drops of Black Liquid Pearl to the flower centers.

Close-up ...

I hope you'll check out the challenge blog to see the Pretty Pastel cards from our Designers and wonderful Guest Designer, Keia.

Come join us.  The challenge is open until April 25th!

Product Links

Flower Cluster1 (Varda Sharma)

Spring Sentiments (Stampendous)

Stamps:  Flower Cluster 1 (Varda Sharma digital stamps); Spring Sentiments (Stampendous)

Paper:   Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.)
Ink:   Distress Inks:  Mustard Seed, Spiced Marmalade, Picked Raspberry, Mowed Lawn (Tim Holtz); Black (Memento)
Accessories:   blending brushes, watercolour brush, Black Liquid Pearl

Challenges:

The Flower Challenge #55 - Pretty Pastels

CAS Christmas April Challenge

Hi everyone.  Today is the start of the April CAS Christmas challenge.  This month is hosted by the wonderful Trina (Phamtastic Design)!

I used a sweet snow scene die-cut from white and then die-cut a full circle to place behind, which was watercoloured with a rainbow sky.  Added white splatters of diluted acrylic paint for the snow, and heat embossed Frantage Chunky White for the snow along the hills and on the trees.  Stamped the sentiment in soft gray (Christmas Sentiments - Penny Black).  Popped up the circle to add some dimension to the card.  Used an falling snow embossed background, which was a gift from a friend.

We are so excited to have Izzy (Izzy Scrap) as our Guest Designer this month.  Check out the challenge blog to see Izzy's amazing Rainbow Christmas card, along with the fabulous cards from our Designers.  Hope you'll join us!

Stamps:  Christmas Sentiments (Penny Black)

Paper:   Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.); White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.)
Ink:   Distress Inks:  Candied Apple, Carved Pumpkin, Mustard Seed, Mowed Lawn, Peacock Feathers, Wilted Violet (Tim Holtz)
Accessories:   Circle Snow Scene die (AliExpress), Circle Nestability die (Spellbinders), water brush, Frantage Chunky White Embossing powder (Stampendous), heat tool, Falling Snow embossed background (gift from a friend), White acrylic paint for splattering

Challenges:
CAS Christmas April Challenge - Rainbow

CAS Mix Up April Challenge

Hi everyone.  Today is the start of the CAS Mix Media April Challenge.  Our host this month is the talented Linda (Life in the Craft Lane) and she'd like us to play with an older technique ...

Adding paper piecing to a mixed media design updates this technique and gives it new life.  For my card above, I started by stamping  Sending Flowers (Avery Elle)  twice in black ink.  Once on regular white card stock, and a second stamping on Bo Bunny patterned paper.

I fussy-cut the flowers and leaves from the patterned papers and glued them over top of my image on white card stock.  Tip:  Before gluing on your pieces, take a coloured marker (same as the ink you are using) and go around the cut outside edges of the fussy-cut pieces to they blend into the stamped image.  Once all the pieces were glued together, I die-cut the image using the matching die.

I wanted to add something behind my die-cut spray, so used a fun stencil that mimics the leaves and berries.  I sponged using a blending brush and Crushed Olive Distress ink.  "Hello" (Hero Arts - Many Everyday Messages) was stamped at the bottom of the stenciling on the right hand side before I popped up the flower spray over top.  The panel was then popped up more onto a card base.

Close-up ...

We are excited to have Bonnie (Paper Crafter at Large) as our Guest Designer this month.  Welcome Bonnie!!

Please check out the challenge blog to see the rest of the CAS Mix Up Designer's paper pieced cards, along with the beautiful card made by Bonnie.

Product Links

Sending Flowers - Avery Elle

Many Everyday Messages - Hero Arts

Stamps:  Sending Flowers (Avery Elle); Many Everyday Messages (Hero Arts)

Paper:   Mixed Media paper (Strathmore 140 lb.); White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Patterned paper (Bo Bunny)
Ink:   Black (Memento); Crushed Olive Distress Ink; Light Blue marker (Zig)
Accessories:  Crystal Glaze (Nuvo), Wander & Find stencil (Carta Bella), blending brush

Challenges:
CAS Mix Up April Challenge - Paper Piecing

March Christmas Challenges

Hi everyone.  Today I'm sharing another card using a recent technique I learned, which I call sponge bleeding.  I used small blender brushes through the Poinsettia stencil (Tim Holtz).  Once finished, I removed the stencil and used the same colour to add a light haze over each element.  It gives a blurry, dreamy effect and also fills in most of the white space. I added a black sentiment border using Christmas sentiments (Penny Black), heat embossed in my NBUS silver pearl embossing powder.  Love it!

Simple and easy techique that gives great results.

Close-up ...

I'm sending this card over to three different Christmas challenges for March.  Playing along helps me to build my Christmas card stash so I'm not pressured in the fall.  Works for me!

Rudolph Days March Challenge

Merry Little Christmas Challenge #32

Christmas Craft Creations Challenge - March - Christmas Flowers

Product Links

Poinsettia Stencil (Tim Holtz)

Christmas Sentiments (Penny Black)

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Jessie sharing ice cream cone with Violeta

This picture was taken yesterday in our back yard.

Jessie and Vi rarely share anything, but neither was going to miss

out on the delicious ice cream cone. :)

Thanks for stopping by!

Stamps:  Christmas Sentiments (Penny Black)

Paper:   Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.); White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Black card stock (Stampin' Up!)
Ink:   Disress Inks:  Worn Lipstick, Picked Raspberry, Peeled Paint (Tim Holtz); Versamark
Accessories:   Poinsettia Layering Stencil (Tim Holtz); Oval nestability (Spellbinders), blending brushes, Silver Pearl embossing powder (Ranger), heat tool

Challenges:

Rudolph Days March Challenge - Anything Christmas Goes

Merry Little Christmas Challenge #32 - Anything Christmas Goes

Christmas Craft Creations Challenge - March - Christmas Flowers