Blossom Branch

Hi everyone.  Today I've used a NBUS (never-before-used-schtuff) stamp. :)  I've had this beautiful Penny Black image just waiting to be inked up.  I used distress markers to ink the stamp and then spritzed with a little water before stamping onto mixed media paper.  I did the leaves and the flowers separately hoping not to have too much cross-over of colours.  I lucked out.

I didn't want to add a black sentiment, but wanted something softer ... I may have gone a little too soft. :) 

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I'm entering into the Penny Black Saturday challenge - Something New.

Thanks for visiting!

Stamps:  Blossom Branch (Penny Black); Gratitude (Penny Black)
Paper:  Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.)
Ink: Distress Markers:  Shabby Shutters, Peeled Paint, Ripe Persimmon, Abandoned Coral (TH); Smoky Slate (SU!)
Accessories & Tools:  water mister, water brush, coloured pencils

Challenges:
Penny Black Saturday Challenge - Something New

January Rudolph Days

Hi everyone.  Today is the start of Rudolph Days.  The challenge runs from the 25th to end of month and it's anything goes - Christmas.

Today's card uses one of my favourite poinsettia images.  I LOVE this spray from Avery Elle.  There are a few different stamps in the set and there's matching dies too!

Watercoloured the poinsettia spray with Stampin' Up! inks and Distress Inks on mixed media paper; then splattered with diluted white acrylic paint.  Cut out with the die and popped it over top of a dry embossed snowflake background that I received AGES ago from my dear friend Susan.  Finished the card with the white heat embossed black banner.

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Thanks for coming by for a visit!

Stamps:  Holiday Bouquet (Avery Elle); Snowglobe Sentiments (My Favorite Thngs)
Paper:  Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.); White Card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Black card stock (SU!)
Ink:  Versafine Black; Real Red (SU!); Distress Inks:  Mowed Lawn, Salty Ocean, Mustard Seed (Tim Holtz); Versamark
Accessories & Tools:  Paint brush, diluted white acrylic paint, matching die for Holiday Bouquet (Avery Elle), white embossing powder, heat tool, snowflake embossing folder (unknown)

Challenges:
Rudolph Days - January

Twofer and Puppy Videos

Hi everyone.  Playing along with Twofer Card Challenge #23 - Hearts.  Twofer is also celebrating it's 2nd Blogaversary and there's lots of prizes to be won.  Congrats to Darnell and my wonderful teammates for two years of amazing challenges!

  

I used a stencil to create my two heart cards above.  The first card I used magicals through the open hearts.  Love the shimmer in real life.  I then did a light pink wash for the background and added a die-cut sentiment - Love.  The main panel is popped up.

For the second card.  I again used magicals to create a colourful background.  I used the stencil to outline three hearts (different sizes) using a black marker.  I fussy-cut the hearts and added them to the card front, popping up the top (smallest) heart balloon.  I stamped and watercoloured the sweet bear and also fussy-cut, popping it up and drew in the strings of the balloons to wrap around the wrist.  A sentiment was stamped in black to create a fun birthday card.

There's still lots of time to play along.  Challenge closes midnight Jan. 24 (PST).  We'd love to see your cards in the gallery!

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Four videos (taken by Alejandro) of Jessie playing with Violeta in the snow ...

Challenges:
Twofer Card Challenge #23 - Hearts

Dahlia Collage

Hi everyone.  I am wanting to try playing with more mixed media products this year, so I bought this new-to-me stamp, Dahlia Collage as an incentive ... isn't it beautiful??!!

The image was stamped with versamark and heat embossed with white.  I used Liquid Watercolour Concentrate to watercolour.  First I made up sprays with Violet and Turquoise, using lots of water to dilute.  Spray over the heat embossing and quickly blotted with paper towel to create a soft background.  Then used Violet and Turqoise, along with Green, watercolouring with full strength concentrate the dahlias and leaves.

To finish I stamped a large sentiment in black and then heat embossed in black so it would stand out over the busy background.  It didn't look great, so I lined the stamp up again and stamped a second time, heat embossing in black embossing powder as well.  This really helped to give the sentiment some umph! :)

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I'm entering this card into the Craft Stampers - Take it Make it challenge for January.

Stamps:  Dahlia Collage (Stampendous); Happy Messages (Stampendous)
Paper:  Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.)
Ink:  Liquid Watercolour Concentrate:  Violet, Turquoise, Green (Blick Art Materials); Obsidian Black (Altenew)
Accessories & Tools:  white embossing powder, heat tool, paint brush, black embossing powder

Challenges:
Craft Stamper - Take It Make It Challenge for January