From Within

Good Morning.

Meet my card of the day.  

I just love this sentiment from Daisy Bucket and wish the company was still around.  They had so many wonderful sentiments and sayings.

  (Sometimes you can still find them on Ebay.)

 I had the flower from my Stampin Up set called Blooming with Kindness out so thought I would play with it again using some Brushos.
I began by painting the Brushos onto my stamps.  I find it best to use the stamps in my MISTI. That way, I can paint, stamp and paint again if needed.  Also, by using my MISTI, I was able to create 2 panels that were the same as I had planned to add one on top of the other.
TIP:  when painting with the Brushos I use as little water as possible.  If too much
water is added, the paint solution gets too runny and the stamped image will blur.

So...less is more in this case.

 When the panels was dry, I mounted one to my card front and pop dotted the over directly over top.
Lastly, I stamped the sentiment in the bottom corner.


Adding my card to these challenges:

Simon Says- ANYTHING GOES

Sisterhood of Snarky Stampers-'T' IS FOR TECHNIQUE

Brown Sugar- ANYTHING GOES

Simply Papercraft- ANYTHING GOES


Thanks so much for coming by and taking a look.

Supplies:  stamps- SU, Daisy Bucket/ Brushos/ paint brush/ Memento bl ink/ pop dots/ MISTI

Woodland Scenery

Happy Saturday!

This morning I am playing along with the Inspiration Challenge at Splitcoast where we are being inspired by the China Online Museum.

Here is the lovely painting that I used as inspiration:

lin-fengmian- Mountain Forest

I began with a piece of heavy watercolor paper I got from a friend so not sure what the weight is.

Using my MISTI, I inked the trees stamp from Mark's Finest by coloring it with Memento and Crayola markers.  After spraying with a generous amount of water, I stamped, added more colour, sprayed with water and stamped again.  The rest is a watercolor wash.

I cut the piece into panels and pop-dot mounted it to my card front.

I stamped the sentiment from Paper Smooches under one of the panels.

Adding my card to these challenges:

Simon Says- ANYTHING GOES

Little Red Wagon- THEY SAY IT'S YOUR BIRTHDAY

Just Add Ink- JUST ADD NATURE 

Crafty Girls- ANYTHING GOES

Addicted to CAS- HOLIDAY

 

Thanks so much for coming by and taking a look

Supplies:  stamps- Mark's Finest, Paper Smooches/ watercolor paints/ Memento and Crayola markers/ pop dots/ watercolour paper/ Mini Mister

Life's Moments

Morning.  

Plaid is the theme of this card today.  So cozy and warm for this time of year.

If you missed it the other day, I did a Mini-Tutorial using stencils, Distress inks and water.

 I used that technique to create this plaid background with a stencil from Simon Says Stamp.

I love the way it turned out!

 Here is a link to the card and tutorial:  

DISCOVER- MINI TUTORIAL 

So I began by creating the plaid.  I inked the paper first with Cracked Pistachio Distress ink, placed my stencil over my inked paper, sprayed with water and then while still wet, rubbed on Salty Ocean Distress ink.  I love how the underlying colour comes through but still has a mottled look.

The flower is from a Stampin Up set called Blooming with Kindness.  I painted it with my Brushos and stamped.  I then took a wet paint brush and pulled some of the colour into the flower petals.

Stamped the sentiment from Technique Tuesday and mounted the panel over the plaid.

Adding my card to these challenges:   

Simon Says- ANYTHING GOES

Shopping Our Stash- INSPIRED BY A BOOK

(my Big Book of Flowers and Plants- love planning flowers to plant in my garden)

Happy Little Stampers- STENCIL

Crafting By Design- ADD A FLOWER 

Tuesday Throwdown- ANYTHING GOES

Thanks for much for coming by and taking a look.

Supplies:  stamps- SU, TT/ Brushos/ stencil-SSS/ ink- Distress, Memento/ paint brush/ Mini Mister

Grunged Valentine

Hi there.

I like the look of grunge and I find it easy to create masculine cards using it.

Today's card should be called, 'Grunge meets Brushos'.  

I had a piece of leftover paper made using Brushos that didn't work out for a background so I used it to die-cut the heart using a die from Hero Art.  I sprinkled the Brushos over my paper, sprayed with water to activate the colour crystals and sprinkled bleach over that to remove some of the colour for interest.  That created the little white spots you see on the heart.
Next, I had to figure out what kind of a background I could add the heart onto so I got out my WPlus 9 grunge set.  I inked the stamp by painting on diluted Brushos and kept stamping repeatedly until I had a big enough area covered.  I then pop-dotted the heart over that and added the button and twine to the heart for interest.
I think this will make a great masculine Valentine card.


I am adding my card to these challenges:

 Addicted to Stamps- MAKE YOUR MARK

Love to Create- ANYTHING GOES

Simply Papercraft- ANYTHING GOES

Crafting with Friends- ANYTHING GOES


Thanks so much for coming by and taking a look.

Supplies:  stamps-WPlus9/ Brushos/ paint brush/ die-Hero Arts/ twine/ button/ pop dots

Discover... Mini-Tutorial

I'm calling this card 'DISCOVER'.  

As I was playing with my Distress inks, I discovered a way to make some fantastic background papers that have a distressed look without all the work of distressing.

See how the underlying colour is just peeking out behind the blue?  Love the look!!

So, as many of you saw the other day, Jennifer McGuire made a wonderful set of cards using inked paper, a stencil and water.  She inked the paper, laid the stencil over and then sprayed with water.  Since the Distress inks react with water, she was able to get the stencil impression to show on the ink leaving a wonderful design behind.

Well, I tried the technique but when it was drying I disliked the look so in my effort to save the piece, I rubbed another colour of Distress ink right over the top and loved what happened next. 

So here you go....have fun and enjoy.

Here is what I did.

Step #1

 Here are the supplies you need to get started.

Step #2

Ink your white cardstock by pressing the ink pad and rubbing it all over your paper.

You will be left with a inked piece of paper.

Easy, right?

Step #3

Lay your stencil directly over the inked paper from above and generously spray

with water making sure to cover the whole surface.

 Step #4

This is what it will look like after you spray it with water and remove the stencil.

The impression of the stencil will show through and your paper will look discoloured.

At this point, I wasn't happy with the look so...................

Step #5

 ....in an effort to save my piece of cardstock, while still wet, I grabbed my blue ink 

pad that was sitting on my desk and just pressed it all over the paper like I had

done with the Pistachio green above.

Step # 6

Voila!!  Look what happened next. and as it dried it got even more of a distressed look.

 love it!!

 Thanks so much for coming for a look.

Hope you get as much fun creating as I do.

Supplies:   stamp- STAMPlorations/ ink- Distress, Memento/ stencil- Gourmet Stamps/ Mini Mister/ die cut- Memory Box/ MISTI

Elegant Woodgrain

Morning.

Meet today's card inspired by the challenge at Splitcoast today and the website called Uncommon Goods.  

I posted a tutorial this week about how to create woodgrain paper and was thrilled that so many of you had a chance to try it out.  For those of you that may have missed it here is the link:

Woodgrain Tutorial

 In the tutorial, I used Distress inks to colour the faux barnboard but I have been trying different types of inks to get a different woodgrain look.  I was pleasantly surprised to see the great look I got by using Colour Box Cookie Dough Die ink, Versafine Vintage Sepia Pigment ink and just a touch of Antique Linen Distress ink.  It reminded me of a beachy, summery scene so I decided it needed to have some flowers added which gave the card some elegance.

The flowers from Stampin Up are stamped with black Memento ink, then sponged with Antique Linen Distress ink.  The sentiment is from the same set and I added a black rhinestone to the flower centers.

I am adding my card to these challenges:

The Card Concept- FLORAL ELEGANCE

Addicted to Stamps and More- MAKE YOUR MARK

Sisterhood of Crafters- SOMETHING OLD, SOMETHING NEW

(old stamp set, new to me technique)

Thanks so much for coming by and taking a look.

Have a great weekend.

Supplies:  stamps- SU/ Elmer's Glue/ inks-Distress, Verafine, Colour Box/ ScorPal/ Mini Mister/ sponge dauber/ rhinestones

Snow and Ice

Snow and Ice.  

That's what I have got at my house.

I am playing with a simple technique and my favourite stencil from Simon Says.

I began by laying my stencil over my paper and pressed my Versamark pad directly over the stencil.  I then heat embossed that with clear embossing powder.  

Next, I sprinkled Brushos over the top and sprayed with water to activate the colour crystals.

I then cut the panel using a curved die from SSS and mounted to the front of my card.  I stamped the sentiment from Stampin Up and punched it out.  I pop dotted that over a snowflake I cut using a die also from SSS and added a blue rhinestone.

Adding my card to these challenges:

CAS on Sunday- WINTER

Just Us Girls- COLOUR CHALLENGE

Card and Scrap- BLUE AND WHITE

Happy Little Stampers- MIXED MEDIA/STENCIL


Hope you are keeping warm.
Thanks again, for taking the time to come by for a visit.

Supplies:  stamp-SU/ circle punch/ Memento bl ink/ curved and snowflake die-SSS/ Brushos/ stencil-SSS/ Versamark/ Mini Mister/ Cuttlebug

Lots of Love

Morning.

Today, I am showing you a card I made the other day using a new stamp set from Penny Black called 

All ABloom.  It was a really fun set to play with and this is what I did.

I began by stamping the flowers with Memento black ink then got out my Brushos to watercolour the leaves.  I love that the Brushos give you colour variations easily.  

I stamped the sentiment and then using some watered down Brushos left on my palette, I splattered some ink on the background.  I cut a frame and mounted it over the image with pop dots.

Lots of great new releases from Penny Black for Valentine's Day.  Hope you get a chance to check them all out.  

Penny Black Store

Adding my card to these challenges:

Simon Says Stamp- OMBRE
(on the leaves)

Daring Cardmakers- LEAF IT ALONE

Simply Papercraft- ANYTHING GOES

Seize the Birthday- CLEAN and SIMPLE

Thanks so much for coming by and taking a look.

Supplies:  stamps- Penny Black/ Brushos/ paint brush/ Memento Black ink/ pop dots

For My Heart

Morning.

Thanks so much to everyone who left me a comment yesterday about the woodgrain tutorial.  A big thanks and welcome to my new followers as well....very appreciated!

I'm so happy that some of you have already tried it!!  That makes me happy.

Today, I have another card I made using the woodgrain/ barnboard background for my card front.  

(If you missed how to create this simple, easy background see yesterday's post.) 

With Valentine's Day approaching, I got out some of the new products from Penny Black to make a fun little tag for the front of my card keeping it very clean and simple.

I began by die-cutting that heart and arrow from the set called Sweet Heart.  

I didn't have a small enough tag die, so I hand cut one, glued on the heart and stamped the sentiment from the new set called Happy Hearts underneath.  

 I am adding my card to these challenges:

 The Male Room- ANYTHING GOES

 The Card Concpt- WARM HEART

cas

Addicted to Stamps- ANYTHING GOES

Tag You're It- INSPIRATION TAG

My Time to Craft- TAG IT

Thanks so much for coming by and taking a look.

Supplies:  stamps and die- Penny Black/ Elmer's glue/ ScorPal/ Cuttlebug

Woodgrain Tutorial

Morning.

Today, I am sharing a tutorial that so many of you asked me for about creating a woodgrain background.

It is super easy and fun to create.

(the heart and 'love' die on the above card are from my sweet friend Loll Thompson....thanks Loll!)

Step #1

 Spread Elmer's glue in lines over heavy cardstock.  I like to do it in lines
so that when I go back to score it, the lines mimic the woodgrain.
 I haven't tried other kinds of glues but I am sure they would work too.
I used an old paint brush to spread as my glue wouldn't squirt out of the bottle.

Let the glue dry completely and don't worry if it there are blobs of glue on
your cardstock.


Step #2

Turn the cardstock over so the glue side is down.  I used my ScorPal
and scored my cardstock at every 1/4 inch.  You could change the
score line measurements to give a different look but for a card front I find
this works the best.
I start at the middle and score outwards.


Step #3

Turn the cardstock back over onto the right side, then rub Antique Linen
Distress ink pad over the whole piece spraying with a bit of water to help blend.

I found it best to apply the ink in the same direction as the scoring.

Step #4

Next, rub Weathered Wood and Rusty Hinge randomly over the top, spraying
again with a bit of water to blend the colours.

Finally:  I like to re-score my lines to add more definition.


I hope you enjoyed this mini tutorial and that you will give it a try.  If you have any questions or want any more information, please email me.
If you get a chance to use this tutorial, let me know.  Would love to see what you create!

To see other cards I have made using this technique, check out these links:

Snowflakes on Woodgrain

Peacefilled Christmas

Woodsy Christmas
 
Country Christmas


Thanks for the visit.
Have a great weekend.

Snowflakes on Woodgrain

Morning.

Here is a card that I made using a glue and scoring technique to create the woodgain background paper.  I went with a grey colour palette using Weathered Wood and Black Soot Distress ink.

I will be posting a tutorial about how to create the woodgrain paper tomorrow so stay tuned!

The snowflake panel is from the Peddler's Pack that I just got the other day.  Isn't it so gorgeous against the woodgrain?  I stamped the image with Versamark, embossed the snowflakes with white and then rubbed on the same colours I used on the background.  I also splattered on a bit of water to add some depth to the snowflake panels (the water removes some of the ink). 

I glued on some pearls then pop dot mounted that piece onto the woodgrain.

Adding my card to these challenges:

Seize the Birthday- ANYTHING GOES

Craft Stamper-TAKE A STAMP

Addicted to Stamps- ANYTHING GOES

Crafting With Attitude- ANYTHING GOES

Thanks so much for coming by and taking a look and hope you will come back tomorrow to
check out the tutorial.

Supplies:  stamp- Peddler's Pack/ Versamark/ wh eb powder/ Distress ink/ glue/ ScorPal/ rhinestones

Keep Warm

Hi there.

Playing along with the sketch challenge at Splitcoast.

Here is the sketch we are casing:

I began by stamping the background with Black Soot and Weathered Wood Distress ink.  

I then stamped the sentiment with Versamark and embossed with white.  I also cut the snowflake using a die from SSS and pop dot mounted the sentiment over that.
For a little pop of colour, I added the red rhinestones.

Adding my card to these challenges:

Simon Says- OMBRE

CAS on Sunday- WINTER

Shopping Our Stash- SOMETHING NEW
(bkg snowflake stamp)

Inspiration Challenge- ANYTHING GOES


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

Supplies:  stamps- MFT, Peddler's Pack/ Versamark/ wh eb powder/ Distress ink/ red rhinestones/ SSS snowflake die/pop dots

City Scene

Morning.  

Hope you week is going well.

A very simple card just using one stamp from Technique Junkies.

I stamped the image twice with black Memento ink, then cut the center of one of the stamped panels using a stitched die from MFT.  I backed it with a piece of black cardstock and then pop dotted it over the main stamped image.  I coloured just the car image with a red Copic marker.  I think it helps pull your eye in and gives the scene some depth.

Adding my card to these challenges:

CASology- OPEN

(let the shopping begin!)

The Male Room- ANYTHING GOES

 Addicted to Stamps- ANYTHING GOES

Our Crafty Corner- ANYTHING GOES

Paperminutes- ANYTHING GOES

Thanks so much for coming by and taking a look.

Supplies:  stamp-Technique Junkies/ Memento bl ink/ Copic marker/ pop dots/ bl cs/

To the Stars

Morning.

Here is a quick card I made using a fun new stamp set I got by The Cat's Pajamas. 

I wanted to get a chance to play along with the One Layer Simplicity Challenge called 

The Sky's the Limit

I began by inking the rocket with black Memento ink and stamped it in the corner of my card front.  I cut a mask and covered it up.  Next, I masked the center area as well and sponged on Peacock Feathers and Salty Ocean Distress inks.  I splattered water on that area to resemble the glow of stars.  I removed the mask and coloured the rocket using Copic markers.  

To pull the whole design together, I doodled a border around the edge and stamped the sentiment.

Adding my card to these challenges:

CASology- SIMPLE

Seize the Birthday- ANYTHING GOES

Simon Says- SOMETHING NEW

The Male Room- ANYTHING GOES

Thanks so much for coming by and taking a look.

Supplies:  stamps- The Cat's Pajamas, STAMPlorations/ Distress ink/ Memento ink/ Fine line bl marker/ applicator tool/ Copic markers

Snowy Thanks

Morning.

I have been making a few thank-you cards for all the most wonderful Christmas and birthday gifts I received.  Here is one I did with a snow theme.

I have had a snowflake stencil I bought at the Dollar Store in my stash for years and decided to use it for the base of my card.  

I laid the stencil on my card and pressed my Versamark pad directly over the stencil, removed it then heat embossed with white powder.  I then sprinkled purple and blue Brushos over and sprayed with water to activate.  While that dried, I stamped the thanks for a set by SSS on a white panel and added it to the bottom using pop dots.

Adding my card to these challenges:

Little Red Wagon- THANK YOU CARDS

CASology- SIMPLE

Moving Along with the Times- SPOTS and DOTS

Happy Little Stampers- STENCIL

Double D Challenges- FORGET ME NOT

Enjoy the rest of your weekend and thanks so very much for popping in.

Supplies:  stamps- SSS/ stencil-Dollar Store/ Brushos/ Versamark/ wh EB powder/ pop dots/ Memento bl ink

Happy New Year

Happy New Year 2016!

This is the first card I have had a chance to post this year.  

I was back to work this week and the time just flew by.  I wanted to send out a few Happy New Year cards and the challenge at Splitcoast this morning was just the inspiration I needed.

We are being inspired by another wonderfully done Pinterest board called Winter White.  

Here is the photo my card is based on:

I changed the colour of the berries to blue as I felt the red still looked too Christmasy.

Using my trusty MISTI, I inked up the berries stamp from Memory Box using Memento markers, sprayed with water and stamped.  I repeated the process, adding colour variations to the berries.

When that was all dry, I sponged the edges with Tumbled Glass Distress ink and stamped the sentiment from Technique Tuesday with black Memento using my MISTI again.

Adding my card to these challenges:

CASology- SIMPLE

Simon Says- NEW

(all stamps are new to me)

Brown Sugar- ANYTHING GOES

Craft for the Craic- JANUARY BLUES

Cardz 4 Galz- SOMETHING NEW

(all stamps)

Double D Challenge- FORGET ME NOT

Thanks so much for coming by and taking a look.
Thanks also for all the most kind Birthday Wishes too!

Supplies:  stamps- TT, Memory Box/ Distress ink/ Memento ink and markers/ MISTI/ mini-mister