Easter Garden

Hello and welcome to another Spring card.  These fun flowers are also part of the flower set I stamped with yesterday from SU.  My card was inspired by this challenge at Splitcoast.  

I started by colouring my flowers with Memento markers, sprayed with water, then stamped for a water colour look.  For the card front, I pierced a rectangle shape then scored a line under that and added my sentiment.  I love the font on that hand written Happy Easter stamp.  I got it in the dollar bin at Michaels.  I mounted the flowers onto red and black cardstock then added it to my card front with pop dots.  

It is a beautiful sunny day here today....hope that is a sign that Spring is trying to move it.  

Adding my card to these challenges:
Less is More- ROUND and ROUND
CAS on Sunday- STITCHED
Simple Create Too- #58 EASTER
Addicted to Stamps- #88 HOLIDAYS

Thanks so much for coming by and taking a look.

Supplies:  stamps-SU, Studio G/ Memento markers/ piercing tool/ ScorPal/ pop dots

Spring's Arrival

I have Spring on the brain....want it...need it!  We still have snow where I live and very cold temps.  This feels like the longest winter ever.  

I was so happy to be inspired this am by the challenge at Splitcoast and the photo below from the blog called Damask Love.  Such a great blog to be inspired by.  Love Amber's photos.  

I just bought the Spring Garden set from Stampin Up and wanted to play with it.  I inked my tulips....love tulips, such a majestic flower.....by colouring them with Mememto markers and sprayed with water before stamping for a watercoloured effect.  I added some paint splatters in the background for interest too.  The panel is pop dot mounted onto the card front about the sentiment. 

 I think this will make a great Easter card.

Adding my card to these challenges:

Simply Create Too- #58 EASTER

Addicted to Stamps- #88 HOLIDAY

A Creative Romance- SPRING FLOWERS

Stampin for the Weekend- SPRING COLOURS

Totally Paper Crafts- #212 THINK PINK

Sending BLESSINGS your way.  Thanks so much for coming by and taking a look.

Supplies:  stamps- SU, Studio G (Michaels)/ Mememto markers/ mini mister/ toothbrush for splatters/ pop dots


My card was chosen as 

photo from Damask Love

Round We Go

Happy Friday!  I am here with a fun card today...just playing with inks and stamps again.  I was inspired by the challenge at Splitcoast- use circles.  I just bought the new Scribble Circles from PTI and it is such a fun set to play with.  

I began my card by masking a strip then rubbing Distress inks in yellow, red and orange on my card front.  I grabbed my circle stamp set and stamped away using Black Memento ink.  Leaving the mask in place, I splattered my card with water then with white acrylic paint.  I then removed the mask and scored the edges of the masked area and added the sentiment.

Really easy to mail too, as it is only one layer.

Adding my card to these challenges:

CAS on Sunday- ONE LAYER

Paper Crafting Journey- ANYTHING GOES

Supplies:  stamps- PTI, Avery Elle/ Distress inks/ Memento ink/ ScorPal/ twine

Colour Blocking- Hello

Yesterday at Splitcoast, our CAS challenge was to create a card using colour blocking and then adding a die cut.  I thought about how to add the colour blocking....ink an acrylic block, watercolour, paint chips?  I finally settled on using a flower and stamping it in 3 shades of blues as my colour blocking down the side.  I then added the banner with pop dots.  Super quick and easy card with lots of white space, just the way I like it.

Thanks so much for coming by and taking a look.

Supplies:  stamps-Avery Elle, Hero Arts/ banner die SSS/ Memento inks/ pop dots

Happy 65th Anniversary!!

Happy 65th Anniversary to my in-laws.  Wow...such a great accomplishment. 

I am addicted to the look of watercolouring achieved with rubber stamps.  So simple, yet so effective.

I wanted a watery looking flower so I inked up my stamp by colouring on it with Memento markers in pinks and some purple, then sprayed with a generous amount of water.  I did that twice so I could cut a smaller panel to mount on the top of the larger one.  Stamped the sentiment on the smallest panel then pop dotted the whole thing to my card front. 

I am adding my card to these challenges:

CASology- #87 BLUSH

Addicted to Stamps- MAKE YOUR MARK

Thanks so much for coming by and taking a look.  Hope you have a great week.

Supplies:  stamps- Hero Arts, Studio G/ Memento markers/ mini mister/ bl. Memento ink, pop dots

Blue Sunburst

Happy Saturday!  I haven't been feeling A-1 and it seems to have taken my 'mojo' with it so I was happy to see the Inspiration Challenge at Splitcoast today from a Flickr account of Ruth Bleakley who makes the most wonderful art journals.  The journal that inspired me is pictured below.

I began making my card by laying a stencil on my card front and stamping with various sizes of circle stamps in different colours of blue Distress inks.  As you may remember, one of my favourite ways to stamp circles is to use the eraser on the end of a pencil.  I then went back in and sponged on more blue in the negative space in a light blue so the circles could still be seen.  I stamped the sentiment then added it to my card by creating a faux banner .

Adding my card to these challenges:
 Stampin for the Weekend- ANYTHING GOES
Brown Sugar- ANYTHING GOES
Get Inky- CIRCLES
Stencils: Moxie Fab World- USE A STENCIL

Have a great weekend and thanks so much for stopping by and taking a peek.

Supplies:  stamps- Hero Arts/ stencil-Tim Holtz/ Distress inks/ Memento black ink

Photo by Ruth Bleakley Flickr

Sunny Days Ahead

I think we can all agree that this has been an unusually long winter and we will all welcome the arrival of Spring and sunny days ahead of us.  I am playing along with the Clean and Simple challenge at Splitcoast this am.  

I began making my card by using a stencil for the bkg.  I applied gesso over my stencil that looks like a brick wall.  It gives a subtle backdrop for my flower panel.  

The flower panel is created by colouring the flowers with Memento markers and spraying with water before stamping.  I then sponged my bkg. for a nice, warm and sunny feeling.

Adding my card to these challenges:

Less is More- STENCILED or MASKED

Simon Says Stamp- MOTHER'S DAY

Sending you sunny days and thanks so much for coming by and taking a peek.

Supplies:  stamps-Unity/ Gesso/ stencil/ Memento markers/ mini sprayer/ twine/ pop dots/ pearl/ sponges

Fun with Circles

Circles are a fun shape to play with and add colour to.  I saw this set from PTI called Scribble Circles and just knew I had to have it.  Aren't they fun!  

I started by stamping different sizes of the circles onto my cardstock using black Memento ink.  Then, using a sponge, I rubbed Distress inks in Salty Ocean and Peacock Feathers over the circles freely and not worrying about staying inside the lines.  To give it a watercolour look, I took a water pen and added water to remove some of the ink and reveal lighter areas and to help blend the ink.  

I added the sentiment from Unity and doodled in the border to pull it all together.

I am adding my card to these challenges:

Addicted to Stamps- #86 ANYTHING GOES

Virginia's View- WATERCOLOURING

Enjoy the rest of your weekend and thanks so much for coming by.

Supplies:  stamps-PTI, Unity/ Distress ink/ Memento black/ pearls/ Blackline pen/ sponge/ waterpen

Birthday Roses

Welcome to the weekend and I am playing along again with the Inspiration Challenge at Splitcoast. (photo below)  Such a great challenge to get your creative juices flowing!  

I haven't done rolled roses for so long so got out some pink papers and cut then rolled and glued a black pearl in the center.  I wanted to vary the leaves behind the roses so I did that by colouring the large ones with Copic markers and the smaller ones were done by using the LEAVES die cut then dragged them through wet green Distress inks on a non-stick craft sheet.  The banner was done by inking up my FLOWER FLOURISH background stamp with pink Distress inks, spraying with water then stamped off before going onto my cardstock to give a watercolour effect.  I then cut it into the shape of a banner and added the sentiment .

I am also adding my card to these challenges:
Little Red Wagon- DIMENSIONAL
Simon Says Stamp- SPECIAL GIRL
Addicted to Stamps- ANYTHING GOES
Virginia's View #1- WATERCOLOURING
check it out:

Thanks so much for coming by and taking a look.

Supplies:  stamps- Penny Black/ Distress inks-Mowed Lawn, Peeled Paint, Worn Lipstick, Fired Brick/ craft sheet/ bl Memento/ black pearls

photo from Packaging of the World

Eraser Rainbow

Sometimes, playing is good for the soul and rainbows too.  That is what this card is about.  Playing along with the challenge at Splitcoast; rainbow.  

To create my card I looked through my inks and pulled out colours that I liked for a rainbow.  I grabbed my pencil with the eraser on the end.  Yes, this was stamped with a pencil eraser!  I pressed the eraser into the ink and happily stamped away.  Super simple and fun.  Added the sentiment for Hero Arts and done.

I am also adding my card to these challenges:

Keep it Simple- #35-STRIPES

Addicted to Stamps- #86-ANYTHING GOES
Hero Arts Birthday Challenge- RAINBOW

Thanks so much for coming by and taking a look.

Supplies:  stamps- pencil eraser, Hero Arts/ inks-various/ Bl Memento ink/ pop dots

Water Me

Time for a quick card this morning.  Playing along with the colour challenge at Splitcoast.  These colours were right up my alley.

I began by creating the background for my panel by inking the Circular Design from Penny Black with shades of green Distress inks.  I sprayed with water to blend, then stamped off onto scrap paper before going on to my panel to give a more muted look.  Then, I coloured the flower stamps with Memento markers, sprayed with water and stamped over the background.  This Rubbernecker flower is a two-part stamp.  I mounted the panel on a piece of blue cardstock the pop dotted it onto my card front after adding the sentiment.

Adding my card to these challenges:

The Crafty Bloggers Network- NATURE

Love to Create- ANYTHING GOES

Thanks so much for dropping by to take a look....very appreciated!

Supplies; stamps- Rubbernecker, Penny Black, Impression Obsession/ Distress inks/ Memento markers/ mini spray bottle/ black Memento ink/ pop dots

Wonderful You

The weekend goes by so fast and I need more time to play!  I am glad that I had time to make a card today.  I love playing with my inks and just having fun.  That's how this card came about and I was inspired by the challenge at Splitcoast.  

I started off by using a stencil and watercolouring over it with Salty Ocean Distress ink.  I then finished the sides and the bottom with more stamps, water and Distress ink sprayed with water.  The skateboarder from Flonz is stamped with Memento Black ink.  To get a really dark image, I stamped the image twice.  To get it in the perfect position, I used my Stamp-a-ma Jig.  The sentiment from Hero Arts was added to the side.  

Also adding my card to these challenges:

Seize the Birthday- ANYTHING GOES

Hero Arts Birthday Challenge- ANYTHING GOES

Virginia's View Challenge- WATERCOLOURING

Thanks so much for coming by and taking a look.

Supplies:  Stamps- Flonz, Hero Arts, Impression Obsession/ Memento bl ink/ Distress ink, Salty Ocean, Broken China/ twine

Rain Inspired

Saturday morning and I am playing along with the Inspiration Challenge at Splitcoast that is from a Pinterest board inspired by rain.  (photo below)  Rain would be such a welcome site considering all the snow we still have.

I thought of the Brush set from Hero Arts that includes many images like splatters and splats that look like puddles so, I got that set out and stamped the images then embossed them with white embossing powder on my card front.  I rubbed Peeled Paint, Shabby Shutters, Broken China and Salty Ocean Distress inks over the piece then stamped the large Tweed Hero Arts Bkg. stamp that I dipped into water over that.  Love the depth you can achieve by stamping with water.  I also flicked and splattered water onto the ink for the effect of raindrops.  I then cut my piece into pieces for interest and added the Penny Black sentiment.  The inside says, "Thanks so very much for the birthday gift!"

I am adding my card to the HERO ARTS Birthday Challenge- Anything Goes

I so appreciate you dropping in and taking a look.

Supplies:  stamps- Penny Black, Hero Arts/ Distress inks/ white embossing powder/ Bl. Memento ink

Inspirtation Photo from Pinterest

Spring Blessings

Happy Friday.  I think many of us are longing for Spring to arrive so when I saw the challenge at Splitcoast this am (use blue and yellow), I wanted to make a card for Spring.  

I began my card by getting out my April Showers stamp set from Penny Black.  Next, I masked  the strip on my card front and sponged on Salty Ocean Distress ink.  I stamped the raindrops from the set with water which left a great wet, rainy impression.  

The polaroid frame was cut using Spellbinders dies then I backed it with some gingham paper...nice and Springy feeling.  The umbrella was stamped, coloured with Copic markers and pop dotted onto the handle.

Adding my card to the Simply Create Too Challenge- SHOP YOUR STASH

Thanks so much for coming by and taking a look and have a great weekend.

Supplies:  stamps- Penny Black/ Distress inks/ Spellbinder dies/ Copic markers/ pop dots/ twine

Green Goodness

With St. Patty's Day quickly approaching, seems like we will be seeing lots of green in the next week.  Today, the challenge at Splitcoast is just that, GO GREEN.

I began by inking my Flower Flourish with shades green Distress inks (Peeled Paint, Mowed Lawn) and sprayed with water.  Before stamping onto my cardstock, I stamped off onto a piece of scrap paper then onto my panel.  By stamping off, you add colour but with a lovely muted tone.

I die-cut the tag and then the leaf to use as a stencil for the front of the tag.  

I am also adding my card to these challenges:

Seize the Birthday- ANYTHING GOES BIRTHDAY

Simon Says- TAG IT

Miriam's Crafting Blog- SHADES of GREEN

Thanks so much for coming by to take a look.

Supplies:  stamps-Penny Black/ Distress inks/ tag die/ pearls/ black Memento ink/ twine

Hooray!

Here is a super simple card I made using a digital image and a die-cut.  The robot digi is from Birdie Brown.... I sure wish she was still creating the wonderful digis that she used to make.   He is coloured with Copic markers, cut out and pop dotted over the polka dot border.  

The border was cut and the negative from the cut was glued over the fun polka dot paper.  I then doodled a line along the edge to define the border and added the sentiment.

I am adding my card to these challenges:

Seize the Birthday- ANYTHING GOES

CAS on Sunday- COLOUR ME PRETTY

Thanks so much for coming by and taking a look.

Supplies:  stamps- Digi, Penny Black/ Copic markers/ die- Die-namics/ pop dots

Down By the Garden Gate

Here is a card I made for the contest that was going on at Splitcoast for the last few weeks and when I saw this trellis (pictured below) I knew what I wanted to do. 

The gate stamp of mine is so old and I have had it for years.  I inked it up with Memento Grey ink and stamped it as the backdrop for the flowers.  Then I inked up the flowers by colouring them with Memento markers and sprayed with water before stamping onto my card front.  Isn't that sentiment wonderful, love that font.

Thanks so much for coming by and taking a look. 

Adding my card to these challenges:

CAS-ual Fridays- SHADES OF GREY

Little Red Wagon- YEARNING for SPRING
Come and Get It- FLOWERS

Sister Act Card Challenge- ANYTHING GOES

Supplies:  stamps-Rubbernecker, Unity, Stampers Anonymous/ Memento markers/ Memento ink

Photo from Restoration Hardware

Teacup Friend

Inspiration is found in so many places and in so many ways.  Today's card was inspired by a sweet pair of socks (BELOW) I saw when playing along with the Inspiration Challenge at Splitcoast.  

I wanted to create a muted looking background so I inked up my Flower Flourish with Worn Lipstick, Barn Door and Picked Raspberry Distress inks, sprayed with water to blend the colours then stamped onto a piece of scrap paper before stamping onto my card front.  Next, I stamped the bunny from Garden Critters with Memento black ink, coloured with Copic markers and pop dotted it onto my card front.  I thought the Softer and Kinder sentiment worked so great with the image.

I am adding my card to these challenges:

CAS on Sunday- COLOUR ME PRETTY

Simply Create Too- SHOP YOUR STASH

Thanks so much for coming by to take a look.

Supplies:  stamps- Penny Black/ Copic markers/ Memento Bl/ Distress ink/ pop dots

photo from Polyvore 

Faux Barnboard

Good Morning.  Faux finishes have always intrigued me so the chance to play with inks and create a faux barnboard was right up my alley.  It all started when I saw this wonderfully done CARD.  Thanks Shirley-Bee for inspiring me!!!   Then Inspiration Challenge at Splitcoast forced me, I just had to make a card based on the photo below!

So, here is what I did to make the faux barnboard.  

I masked off the center area of my card front then scored around the edges with my ScorPal.  I like the way it framed out the area to be stamped.  Next, I scored the horizontal lines to represent the boards.  Then, I simply swiped my Weathered Wood and Anique Linen Distress ink pads over the scored area until I was happy with the look.  Then I inked up the branch with Memento markers, sprayed with water then stamped over the scored area.  Lastly, I added the sentiment from Daisy Bucket.  

Love how this turned out and will certainly be giving this another go.

I am adding my card to these challenges:

CAS-ual Fridays- SHADES of GRAY

Little Red Wagon- YEARNING for SPRING

Thanks so much for stopping by to take a look.

Supplies:  stamps- Rubbernecker, Daisy Bucket/ Distress ink/ Memento markers/ Scor-Pal

Inspiration Photo from Polyvore

One-Layer Simplicity#3: Just Add Water

Welcome to March and a new challenge at One-Layer Simplicity that I am hosting this month.  The theme I have chosen is: 

JUST ADD WATER

I love combining inks with water; the effects are wonderful and look like watercolouring.  The edges are softer and the colours blended.  My favourite inks for this technique are of course, Distress inks.  They are waterbased and blend so well.

So, onto my card.  I am longing for Spring, so I got out my Pretty Peony flower set from Stampin Up  that I have had forever and inked the flowers with Distress ink.  This set is a 2-step set so by stamping the lighter colour first, the flower becomes very defined when the darker colour is stamped over that.  I use a Stamp-a-ma-jig to get the images into the right position and sprayed with water before stamping.  I did the same thing to create the leaves too.  When dry, I added the sentiment and then drew in the black line to pull the images all together.

Also adding my card to these challenges:

Little Red Wagon- YEARNING for SPRING

Seize the Birthday- ANYTHING GOES

Simon Says- ADD PEARLS

Simply Create Too- SHOP IN YOUR STASH

Hope you get time to play along this month and give it a try.

Thanks for stopping by.

Supplies:  Stamps-SU, Rubbernecker/ Distress ink/ Memento black/ pearls/ Stamp-a-ma-jig