Snowy Night

What do you love to do when card making?  Anyone who visits my blog, knows how much I LOVE playing with my Distress inks and the colour blue.  So, when I saw the challenge at Splitcoast; make a card using a favourite technique, colour or theme, I just had to make a card.

I began with a piece of 110 lb. watercolour paper and masked off the edges.  I have adapted a tip I learned from Jennifer McGuire which is to tape your paper to a cutting board to help prevent warping of the wet paper.  I just bought a small cutting board at the dollar store for that.

 I began sponging on shades of blue Distress inks over my paper and then splattered with water for the background.  I love how the water reacts with the Distress inks.  Next, I die-cut the snowflake from Lawn Fawn but used the negative part of the cut...be sure to save the small pieces so you can glue them back into the cut area.  I also added some water with a paint brush around the die-cut area to bring a bit more interest to the snowflake.  I stamped the sentiment from PTI with black Memento ink.

I am happy to be getting a few more Christmas cards done to add to the stash.

Also adding my card to these challenges:

Simon Says- ANYTHING GOES

Addicted to Stamps- CAS

Brown Sugar- ANYTHING GOES

Thanks so very much for coming by and taking a look.

Supplies- stamp- PTI/ die- Lawn Fawn/ Distress inks- Salty Ocean, Peacock Feathers, Faded Jeans/ pearl/

Stamping with Dies

Morning.  I am so excited to show you today's card.  I love how it turned out and I want to show you yet another use for your dies!  Ever thought of using your dies as stamps!!??  Well I did and here is what I came up with.  I was inspired by the challenge at Splitcoast this am. to get started.

I began by rubbing Distress inks onto my white cardstock blending the colours together.  I had the snowflake die from Lawn Fawn sitting on  my desk and thought about using it for a stamp so I adhered it to my acrylic block with a bit of temporary adhesive then sprayed with water and stamped.  Since the water removes some of the Distress ink, I was left with an icy looking background....LOVE!  For an added touch of interest, I took a wet paint brush and went along the edges of my card to add a border.

I then die-cut the snowflake and pop dotted it onto the corner of my card with an enamel dot in the center.   I stamped the sentiment from PTI with black Memento ink once the background was totally dry.

I am adding my card to these challenges:

Simon Says Mondays- ANYTHING GOES

Addicted to Stamps- HOLIDAY

City Crafters- A PIECE OF SKY

Allsorts- CHRISTMAS

52 (Christmas) Card Throwdown- ENAMEL DOTS

Thanks so very much for coming by to take a look.  Hope you get a chance to try this. 

Supplies:  stamp- PTI/ die- Lawn Fawn/ Distress inks- Peacock Feathers, Salty Ocean, Seedless Preserves/ acrylic block/ temporary adhesive/ paint brush/ enamel dot

Sending Cheer

Fun and Festive.  Those are the words that I would use to describe today's card.

I am working away on my Christmas cards.  I love this sweet digital image from Birdie Brown (no longer available but My Favourite Things Stamps has a new set with this Santa in it)

When I saw the Inspiration Challenge at Splitcoast I was off to make a card.  The inspiration site today is Felix Doolittle Designs.  Just delightful note cards and tags. 

I began by printing off the Santa image, coloured it with Copic markers and cut it out.  I had a piece of cardstock that I had embossed so I cut it down and mounted it onto my card front.  I added some scoring lines and then stamped the sentiment and added the enamel dots.

I am adding my card to these challenges:

Simon Says Monday- ANYTHING GOES

Addicted to Stamps- HOLIDAY

Brown Sugar Challenge- ANYTHING GOES

Stampin Royalty- ANYTHING GOES

Have a great weekend and thanks so very much for popping in to take a look.

Supplies:  stamps- Paper Smooches, Digi/ Copic markers/ pop dots/ eb folder-SU

Peace Be With You

It is never easy to make a sympathy card but I like to have some on hand.

Today's challenge at Splitcoast, Emboss it 2 Ways; use heat and dry embossing.  On the main panel, I stamped the grasses from Memory Box and embossed them using clear eb powder.  I then rubbed Distress inks over the image to represent a sunrise and splattered some water to look like dew.  

For the back panel of my card, I did some random embossing by placing my cardstock into an embossing folder and hit it with a rubber mallet.  I mounted the grasses onto white cardstock then mounted that with pop dots over the back panel.

Adding my card to these challenges;

CAS on Sunday- EMBOSS IT

Craft Room Challenge- MAKE YOUR OWN BKG

Simon Says Monday- ANYTHING GOES

Thanks so much for coming by and taking a look.

Supplies:  stamps- Stampin Up, Memory Box/ Distress ink- Squeezed Lemonade, Mowed Lawn, Salty Ocean, Ripe Persimmon, Mustard Seed/ bl Memento ink/ clear eb powder/ Embossing Folder- Sizzix/ rubber mallet

Quick Note

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month and the colour pink. 

 This month there are many challenges at Splitcoast to 'embrace the pink'.  The CAS challenge this week was to use orange and pink together.  Now normally, I would never think to put orange and pink together!  I decided to challenge myself and give it a try and was pleasantly surprised by the results.

I was also inspired by my most talented friend Jill Foster and the fabulous array of watercolour cards she created for Penny Black.  This girl is ubber talented!

I began by using 110lb. watercolour paper and wet it with water.  I pressed my Distress ink pads onto my acrylic block and picked up the colours to add to my paper.  When it was totally dry, I stamped the 

Etched Branches from Penny Black with black Stazon ink.  I mounted that with pop dots over a black frame.  Quite a dramatic card but great for sending a birthday note to a special friend.

Also adding my card to these challenges:

Seize the Birthday- ANYTHING GOES

Simon Says Monday- ANYTHING GOES

Simply Create Too- HALLOWEEN or ORANGE

Addicted to Stamps- MAKE YOUR MARK

Thanks so much for coming by and taking a look.

Supplies:  stamp- Penny Black/ Stazon ink/ Distress ink-Ripe Persimmon, Spiced Marmalade, Picked Raspberry/ pop dots/ paint brushes

Snowy Wishes

Meet today's card.  Isn't that little snowman just the cutest?  

I am playing along with the challenge at Splitcoast this am.  My card is simple with clean lines.  

This little guy is a digi that I won from Bugaboo Digital Stamps.  I printed him off onto heavy white cardstock then coloured him using Copic markers.  For the hill, I cut a curvy line on my cardstock and embossed a thin silver line to represent the snowy horizon.  The sentiment from PTI was stamped with black Memento ink then the snowman was pop dotted on my card front. 

Also adding my card to these challenges:

A Gem of a Challenge- CREATE A SCENE

Christmas Stampin All Year Long- ANYTHING GOES

Chocolate, Coffee and Cards- FOR THE BOYS

Sister Act- ANYTHING GOES

Sisters of Craft- ANYTHING GOES

Many thanks for taking the time to come and take a peek.

Supplies:  stamps- PTI/ digital- Bugaboo/  silver glitter/ Copic markers/ pop dots

Scrollwork Christmas

Welcome to the weekend and meet today's card.  It is the first of more to come Christmas cards as I am working away trying to get some ready for the big day.

This card was inspired by the challenge at Splitcoast today, from the Vietri site and this platter:


I love the scroll design on this plate but changed my scrolls to red for more of a Christmas themed card.  I masked the area that I wanted to stencil then using  Distress inks, I rubbed the ink over the stencil.  I removed the masks then added the sentiment from Kaiser Stamps with black Memento ink.
I die-cut the snowflake and added it with pop dots over the scrollwork stenciled area.  The finishing touch was a red pearl.

Also adding my card to these challenges:

Virginia's View- CLEAN and SIMPLE

Bloggers Challenge- STENCIL

Sisters of Craft- ANYTHING GOES

Sweet Stampin Christmas- SNOWFLAKES


Thanks so much for coming by and taking a look.  I so appreciate when you come to visit.
Have a great weekend.

Supplies:  stamp- Kaiser/ stencil- Gourmet Rubber Stamps/ snowflake die- Lawn Fawn/ bl Memento ink/ Distress inks (Barn Door, Fired Brick)

Crunchy Leaves

Another wet, rainy Fall day here at my house today so good time for a happy, fun card.

The challenge today at Splitcoast is to create a card with a Halloween/ Harvest theme for children.

I have had this digi image for ages so printed it out then coloured it with Copic markers.  I then die cut it with a Spellbinder oval die and pierced around the edge.  

On the card front I did some random embossing by placing my cardstock into my embossing folder and then hitting it with a rubber mallet.  (Also a good way to get rid of your frustrations!! lol)  

I added the strips of white cardstock behind the image to help draw your eye in but still keeping it very clean and simple.

 I am also adding my card to these challenges:

CAS on Sundays- EMBOSS IT

Simply Create Too- HALLOWEEN or ORANGE

Shopping Our Stash- SOMETHING SWEET (my image)

Addicted to Stamps- MAKE YOUR MARK

Use Your Stuff- INSPIRATION PHOTO

Thanks so much for coming by and taking a look.

Supplies:  stamps-Inkadinkadoo, digi-Birdie Brown/ Copic markers/ Bl. Memento ink/ EB folder/ rubber mallet/ paper piercing tool

 

Inspired By.......

Good Morning and thanks for coming by to visit.

Today's post is a little different.  I must apologize to all the other special friends that asked me to play along with this 'Inspired By' post...thanks so much!
At the time, I was unable to play due to a nasty virus that zapped me of my energy and ambition.

 Then, a couple of weeks ago, (and feeling much better) my super talented friend Julie Warner, honored my on her blog as an artist she was inspired by. Wow, what a surprise considering I have admired Julie's cards for year.

I first met Julie when we worked on the design team at Innovative Stamp Creations  I also know Julie from Splitcoast Stampers where she has been since 2007.  Julie hosts the Featured Stampers Challenge on Sundays and is a Member of the 'Dirty Dozen.  Her cards are full of interest and wonderful elements.  I love how she adds layers, amazing colouring and such creative layouts to all of her cards.
Julie presently does design work for Our Daily Bread, Serendipity Stamps, DRS Designs and North Coast Creations.  She is one busy lady and a most kind friend.



Along with this honor, Julie asked me to answer a few questions, then mention a few other wonderful stamping friends that inspire me.

 1.  WHAT ARE YOU WORKING ON RIGHT NOW?

       Right now I am working on getting some Christmas cards done for the big day.  I honestly don't 

       send hand made cards to everyone but like to have some on hand for family and close friends.

       Every year, I try to make a few more then I did the year before.  I am surprised I get anything done

       some days with my busy life and my little daycare people.

 2.    HOW DOES MY WORK DIFFER FROM OTHERS IN MY GENRE?

        That is a really tough question since there are so many wonderful CAS cardmakers out there.  I 

        love creating Clean and Simple cards but I like to add a twist by creating interesting backgrounds

        with Distress inks for my cards.  I love trying new techniques and just playing with stamps and 

        inks. 

        Here are some of my favourite cards that I have created over the years:

(click on the card to go to the original post)

 

 

 



 



 

   3.  WHY DO I CREATE WHAT I DO?  

         I have to say that I need some kind of creative outlet and that stamping and playing with inks is

         just such a wonderful stress reliever.  I love being able to pick up some paper, inks and stamps
         and create a card in a short amount of time.  The joy and happiness I get from giving my cards
         away is such a wonderful feeling, as I try and personalize my cards for the person receiving it.
         That's the great thing about stamping....the world of creativity is all yours!!

  4.  HOW DOES YOUR CREATIVE PROCESS WORK?

          Often times, I go to check out the challenges on Splitcoast stampers for inspiration.  Great
          challenges to get my 'creative juices' flowing.   Other times, I see something on someone else's
          blog that make me say, 'hmmm'.....'I want to try that!'.

And now I get to nominate some really special ladies who are so inspiring and that I am proud to call friends.

Susan Raihala- SIMPLICITY

Ok, Susan had a huge influence on my card style, I think more then anyone else.  She was so instrumental in helping me 'know my style'.  I saw her work and loved the clean crisp lines and layouts.  I loved how the images were the focal point without all the layers and embellishments.  Susan has a most successful blog called Simplicity and a wonderful gallery at SCS to visit as well.  Susan really had such a hand in starting the CAS FAVOURITES at SCS and now I help host the One-Layer Simplicity Challenges with her each month.

Lisa Lara- LISA'S LIFE LINES

Here's my girl Lisa Lara.  She makes the most wonderful CAS cards and if I ever need to feel happy, I just need to go take a peek at her blog, Lisa's Life Lines or her SCS gallery.  You will find much happiness and fun and inspiration.  After a visit there, you will have a smile on your face.  I met Lisa through Splitcoast Stampers and she is a real delight.  Lisa presently does design work for Tiddly Inks and is a member of the Dirty Dozen.

Audrie Magno-Gordon- AUDRIE'S BLOG

 

Audrie is another special friend that I met through SCS.  Her blog, Audrie's Blog and her SCS gallery are full of wonderfully inspiring projects.   She is a most talented, encouraging lady, always working on creating new techniques and wonderfully done watercolour backgrounds.  She has done tutorials for SCS, hosts the Inspiration Challenges and has some great videos on her blog.  I especially have to thank her for showing us how to do the 'Embossing Folder Stamping Technique' which I love and use a lot.  Audrie is a Stampin Up Demonstrator. 

Thanks so very much for stopping by and I hope you enjoyed reading about some of the wonderful and inspiring ladies that I admire.  I hope you get a chance to visit their blogs and find some inspiration too!

Sparkle

Morning.  Another Christmas card to add to the collection that I am working on.  This one was really a quick and simple one to create.  I was inspired to play along with the challenge at Splitcoast.  If you have never been to Splitcoast Stampers before, trust me, you will find so much inspiration and creative ideas your head will feel like it may burst!!
I began by making the background using my Scoring board and my Scorbug (perforated lines).
I die cut the snowflake by Lawn Fawn, then pressed my Versamark pad onto the cut out so I could add the sparkle embossing powder.  I did the same for the small piece under the sentiment as well.  Stamped the sentiment and added a pearl to the center of my snowflake.

I am adding my card to these challenges:

CAS on Sunday- EMBOSSED

Addicted to Stamps- ANYTHING GOES

Virginia's View- CLEAN and SIMPLE

Sweet Stampin Christmas- SNOWFLAKES


 Thanks so much for coming by and taking a look.

Supplies:  stamp- PTI/ die-Lawn Fawn/ Scorbug/ ScorePal/ Bl. Memento ink/ Sparkle eb powder-Inkadinkadoo/ jewel

HAPPY THANKSGIVING

Happy Thanksgiving 

to all my friends here in Canada.

 Hope you have much to be thankful for.

Blessings.

Bounty of the Season

 

Good Morning.  This weekend we will be celebrating our Thanksgiving here in Canada and so many blessings to be thankful for.

 The challenge at Splitcoast this morning is from the Fine Art America site.  So much to be inspired by but considering the season and the fact that I live near an apple farm I spotted this print and made a card.  Who can resist a shiny, delicious apple.

The Fresh Picked Apple Harvest

 I have had this apple stamp from Serendipity for a long time, so got it out.  I stamped it twice, once on my card front being sure to center it then again on another piece of cardstock used for die cutting the tag.  I left the image on my card front plain and coloured the image on the tag using Copic markers.  I covered the apples with Glossy Accents to give them that shiny, apple delicious goodness.

When dry, I mounted the tag with pop dots over the first stamped image then stamped the sentiment from Paper Smooches under that.

 

I am adding my card to these challenges:

Virginia's View- CLEAN and SIMPLE

Little Red Wagon- GIVING THANKS

Addicted to Stamps- ANYTHING GOES

Tag You're It- INSPIRATION

Crafty Catz- AUTUMN

Thanks so much for coming by and taking a look.  I feel blessed with all the wonderful comments and emails I get from you.  They are all truly appreciated!

Supplies:  stamps- Paper Smooches, Serendipity/ Copic Markers/ Glossy Accents/ pop dots/ die- Reverse Confetti/ Memento bl ink

Glowing

The fall colours on the trees are just glowing at this time of year so when I saw this challenge at Splitcoast, it inspired me to make a card.  

I wanted to get some watercolouring in, it has been awhile since I have picked up a paint brush.  

I began by stamping the flower from Stampendous with Antique Linen Distress ink onto watercolour paper.  I used that colour as it is light enough and will fade away under the watercolour.

Next, I took more distress ink (Ripe Persimmon, Mustard Seed, Spiced Marmalade, Squeezed Lemonade) and pressed the pads onto my acrylic block to use as a palette.  I added some water to the ink then started to paint.  I wet the paper with clear water before adding the colour to each petal working one petal at a time.  It helps to paint a petal then skip the next giving the first one time to dry and not run into the one beside it.  When all was dry, I added the pearls to the center and the sentiment.

Adding my card to these challenges:

Keep it Simple- THREES (pearls)

Shopping Our Stash- FALL COLOURS

Addicted to Stamps- INSPIRATION PHOTO

Brown Sugar- AUTUMN or FALL

Thanks so much for looking.  

Supplies:  stamps- Stampendous, Technique Tuesday/  Distress inks/ Memento bl ink/ pearls/ watercolour paper/ paint brush

Touch of Pink

Morning.  The month of October at Splitcoast is Breast Cancer Awareness month and in support of that, we are making a card using a touch of pink. 

This is a very clean and simple card made using a stamp from Rubbernecker.  It is a three part stamp that I coloured with Memento markers then sprayed with water before stamping to help blend the colours.  I also added a few pink splatters for interest.

I am adding my card to these challenges:

Keep it Simple- THREE (pearls)

Virginia's View- CLEAN and SIMPLE

613 Avenue Create- ANYTHING GOES

Totally Gorjuss- SYMPATHY

Thanks so much for coming by and taking a look.

Supplies:  stamps- Rubbernecker, sentiment-Michaels/ Memento markers/ Memento bl ink/ pearls

Peace Wishes

Morning.  Hope all is well in your part of the world.  Saw this challenge at Splitcoast this am so I was off to make another Christmas card for my stash.

I love this basket of pinecones from Serendipity Stamps.  It is so easy to colour as it gives you shading lines and such detail.  I began by stamping the image twice.  Once on my card front then again on another piece of cardstock so I could cut out a tag.  I coloured the cones with Copic markers then added some sparkle with a Stella Wink pen.  I just love how they turned out.  

I stamped the greeting on the card front then added the twine on the top of the tag.  I pop dotted the basket over the first image for interest.

 

 I am also adding my card to these challenges:

 

Virginia's View- CLEAN and SIMPLE

Nutcrafters Challenge- SOMETHING NEW (sentiment)

Craftyhazelnut's Christmas- CHRISTMAS

Dies R Us- GIFT TAGS

 

One Crazy Stamper- HALLOWEEN or CHRISTMAS

 

 

Your visits here are so appreciated.  Enjoy the rest of your wknd.

Supplies:  stamps- Serendipity, PTI/ Stella Wink pen/ Copic Markers/ Memento bl ink/ pearls/ pop dots

Gentle Snowflakes

Happy World Card Making Day!!!

Great day to be stamping out some more Christmas cards and then wouldn't you know it, my camera died.  It has been acting up for awhile so is in the shop for repairs....may be weeks!!  AAHHH!! 

 Hence, the poor photo taken with my phone. 

Well anyways, saw this challenge at Splitcoast and wanted to play along.  Here are the cookies that inspired my card from the Cotton and Crumbs site:

I began creating the background by sponging over a Spellbinders Impression Plate that I have had forever and never used with Distress inks.  When dry, I stamped the sentiment from PTI with Memento black ink.  I die cut the snowflakes (Spellbinders again) and leaving the paper in the die, sponged on some more of the background inks.  I tied it all up with a pretty silver string.


Also adding my card to these challenges:

Addicted to CAS- STENCIL

A Gem of a Challenge- CLEAN and SIMPLE

Christmas Stampin' All Year- LOTS OF SNOWFLAKES

Sister Act Card Challenge- ANYTHING GOES


Thanks so much for coming by and taking a peek.
For all my card making friends out there, I hope you have a wonderfully, creative and inspired day.

Supplies:  stamps- PTI/ Spellbinders snowflake die/ Spellbinders Impression Plate/ Distress ink- Salty Ocean, Peacock Feathers, Shaded Lilac/ Cuttlebug/ Memento bl ink/ silver twine

Inspired by PageMaps

Meet today's card.  Not my usual CAS style but I was asked to play along with the Designers from Penny Black to create a card for PageMaps and Becky Fleck.  For any of you that are not familiar with the Page Maps site, it provides sketches to inspire for creating cards and scrapbooking pages.

 Here is the sketch that Becky sent to me:

 

Isn't it fun!  I began by die cutting the circles on patterned paper, then I cut the partial circles in the white background piece.  Next came the numbers.  I used the die that Becky designed for Penny Black called By the Numbers and cut the numbers apart to use on top of my circles.   

I then stamped the cupcakes and the tiered plate from the Cupcakes set, coloured them with Copic markers and cut them out.  I pop dotted the cupcakes onto the plate to add dimension and interest to my card.  Lastly, I stamped the sentiment and added it to my card front.

If you need to be inspired please go and check out all the wonderful sketches and ideas.

PageMaps

 Also adding my card to these challenges:

Anything Goes with a Twist- ANYTHING GOES

Simply Create Too- SPECIAL OCCASION 

The Crafting Cafe- THINK PINK

Thanks so much for coming by and taking a look.

Supplies:  stamps and die- Penny Black/ Copic Markers/ Distress inks/ Cuttlebug/ pop dots/ button/ twine/ Memento bl ink