Bokeh Thanks

I love the look of bokeh and the cards I have seen that were made to mimic this effect.

For those of you that are unfamiliar with this term here is the explanation:

 DEFINITION:  Bokeh is the blurred quality or effect seen in the out-of-focus portion of a photograph taken with a narrow depth of field

Here's what I did to create the background.

I got out my Distress inks and applied the darkest red to a lighter shade of pink.

(top to bottom- Fired Brick, Candied Apple, Barn Door, Worn Lipstick, Spun Sugar)

I let that dry, then using a circle stencil I cut from acetate, I sponged on white Color Box ink randomly over the sponged red background.  I also splattered on some white acrylic paint for interest.

When all was dry, I stamped the sentiment from Penny Black called Beautiful Ways

using Memento black ink and added the pearls.

Adding my card to these challenges:

CAS on Sunday- STENCIL

The Card Concept- NATURALLY PINK

(mixed media)

Addicted to Stamps and More- ANYTHING GOES

Thanks so very much for your most kind comments and for coming by to visit.

Supplies:  stamp- Penny Black/ ink- Distress, Memento, Color Box/ applicator tool/ pearls/ stencil

Happy Easter

Wishing you a very Happy Easter filled with many blessings.

Whimsical Bluebonnet

Good Morning.

Hope you are enjoying a relaxing Easter weekend.  

I have flowers on the brain right now even though we had some snow and an ice storm the other night.  So many tree branches and power lines down and my poor tulips that were just beginning to emerge are buried under a blanket of ice.  

So meet today's card. 

I am playing along with the Inspiration Challenge at Splitcoast today where we are being inspired by the talents of Kathleen McElwaine.  I was inspired by a painting of Bluebonnet flowers she watercolored.

I just love this new stamp from Penny Black called Bejeweled so thought it needed to see some ink today.

I grabbed my MISTI, mounted my stamp inside then coloured it using Memento markers.  I sprayed with water and pressed onto my paper.  I then scribbled some darker shades of the first colours, sprayed with more water and stamped again right over the first pressing.

When that was dry, I inked the edges with Salty Ocean Distress ink and did a light splattering of ink in the background for interest.  The panel was then trimmed out and pop dot mounted onto my card front.

Lastly, I stamped this sentiment from a new PB set called Sentiment Collection.  

Adding my card to these challenges:

 Addicted to CAS- DELICATE

Addicted to Stamps and More- ANYTHING GOES

Crafting with Friends- ANYTHING GOES

Daring Cardmakers- CELEBRATING SPRING

 

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

Supplies:  stamps- Penny Black/ Memento and Distress ink/ MISTI/ pop dots/ Memento markers/ mini mister/ paint brush/ applicator tool

Looking Rosy

Morning.

Although they are calling for snow flurries today where I live and we are still wearing our winter coats, I just can't stop thinking about Spring and seeing the flowers and being out in the garden in the sunshine.

 So, here's my card and what I did to create it.

I began by masking the edges then inked up this 'new to me' stamp from Impression Obsession with Versamark ink and stamped.  I then heat embossed with white powder and painted the flowers with diluted Brushos and a paint brush.  It is so easy to get the variations of colour using the Brushos and they apply so easily.  

I fussy cut one of the roses out so I could apply it to my card front with pop dots.  

The sentiment is from STAMPlorations.

 I am adding my card to these challenges:

Addicted to CAS- DELICATE

My Time to Craft- FLOWERS

Crazy 4 Challenges- SPRING

 Thanks so much for coming by and taking a look.

Supplies:  stamps- Impression Obsession, STAMPlorations/ Versamark ink/ Memento bl ink/ pop dots/ white eb powder/ heat tool/ Brushos/ paint brush

Step Away from the Blue

Good Morning.

Has Spring arrived where you live?  I can see a few signs of Spring emerging in my garden, so exciting.

As most of you already know, I love creating with blue.  This week, I am making a real effort to 'Step Away from the Blue'....don't know how long it will last but here you go.

I am playing with this wonderful new stamp from Penny Black called The Unfolding.  Isn't that a wonderful name representing all that is to come with the arrival of Spring! 

I began making my card by masking a panel using Painter's tape.  I placed my stamp inside my MISTI, then coloured it using Memento markers, sprayed with water and stamped.  I repeated that process until I was happy with the flower and it had the watercoloured look to it that I wanted.

When the panel was dry, I sponged Spun Sugar Distress Ink around the edges, then scored a border using my ScorPal to better define the that area.  Lastly, I stamped this great sentiment from the set called Special Thoughts.  It is filled with great sentiments for a variety of occasions.

Adding my card to these challenges:

The Card Concept- NATURALLY PINK (clean and simple)

Use Your Stuff- FLOWERS AND MORE FLOWERS

Time Out- CASE 

(I used the feel of Spring her card gave me)

CAS Mix Up- STAMPING, WATERCOLOURING, SPONGING

Hope you have a great day and thanks so much for coming by to take a look.

Supplies:  stamps- Penny Black/ Memento bl/ Memento markers/ ScorPal/ Distress ink/ MISTI/ applicator tool/ Mini Mister 

Sending Caring Thoughts

Meet today's card.

I am playing with my Staedtler Watercolor Crayons again and this is what I came up with.

A couple of weeks ago, I did a tutorial for Splitcoast Stampers and here are the instructions on how to use the crayons to Paint Your Stamps for a wonderful watercolour look.

Watercolor Crayons

l.  Wet the stamp slightly with water using a wide bristle paintbrush.

2.  Scribble directly onto your stamp with the crayons.

3.  Stamp directly onto your cardstock or watercolor paper.  If the image is too blurred, try using less water.

4.  To add another layer of color, scribble onto the stamp without adding more water this time and stamp over the first impression.

To see the whole tutorial about painting your stamps, go here:

Painting Your Stamps

The flower image I used to create my delphinium garden is an old one I have had in my stash from Rubber Stampede.  After my flowers had dried, I rubbed Mermaid Lagoon Distress ink around the edges and stamped the sentiment from Hero Arts in the upper corner.

Adding my card to these challenges:

CAS Mix Up Card Challenge- STAMP/ WATERCOLOUR/YOUR CHOICE-crayons

Allsorts Challenge- SPRING IS IN THE AIR

My Time to Craft- FLOWERS

Thanks so much for coming by and taking a look.

Supplies:  stamps- Rubber Stampede, Hero Arts/ Distress and Memento ink/ sponge applicator/ Staedtler Watercolour Crayons/ Mini Mister/ paint brush

Feeling Happy

Morning.

Playing with some new stamps from Penny Black today.  Isn't that sentiment just the best!  

I feel so very blessed to say that I have many people in my life that make me feel so happy!!

I love this new flower stamp called The Unfolding.  So many possibilities using this wonderful stamp.

So, I got out my MISTI because I knew I wanted to add layers of color onto the stamps and it is so easy to do that using this invaluable tool.  If you don't own a MISTI, you could also use a stamp positioner or just add all the colors at once and spray with water to get a blended look.

I inked the stamps by coloring onto them using Memento and Crayola markers, sprayed with water and stamped.  I went back and used a darker color to stamp over the first pressing to help add more detail.

When that was dry, I sponged the edges using Mermaid Lagoon Distress ink then splattered some more of the diluted Distress Ink with a paint brush onto the bkg. leaving a white area for the sentiment.

The sentiment is from a Penny Black set called Sentiment Collection.

For the finishing touch, I added some black rhinstones to the flower centers.

Adding my card to these challenges:

CASology- LAUGH

A Gem of a Challenge- SPRING

Time Out- SPRING

HLS, Mixed Media- WATER

Thanks so much for your continued support and all your most appreciated comments.

Hope you enjoy the rest of your weekend.

Supplies:  stamps- Penny Black/ Distress and Memento ink/ sponge applicator/ rhinestones/ watercolor crayons/ MISTI/ Mini Mister/ paint brush

Blissful Day

Morning.

Calling this card 'Blissful Day' because any day I have time to play with my stamps and inks is a good day.

So here I am playing with some newly released stamps from Penny Black and if you love flower stamps like I do, you need to go and check out their new ones...WOW!  Gorgeous.

This one is called Passionate.  Isn't it so beautiful and so easy to colour as well.

To begin making my card, I taped off a border using tape.  I like the look of a crisp, white border when I am done stamping. Then I placed my stamp inside my MISTI.  I coloured my stamp using Memento markers, sprayed with water and pressed onto my heavy-weight cardstock.  I then went back to my stamp and colored over again but this time used darker shades of the first colours and pressed onto my paper.  I didn't have to add more water as my paper was a bit wet from the first stamping.

When that was dry, I stamped the sentiment from the fantastic new set from PB called 

Special Thoughts.  Love the script fonts on this set.

To finish off my card, I sponged the edges with Salty Ocean Distress inks leaving some white areas showing.

The blue background behind the main panel was done using a stencil and this technique with Distress inks and water.  Simple technique with fun results.

Adding my card to these challenges:

NEW CHALLENGE: *CAS Mix Up Card*-STAMPING, WATERCOLOURING, YOUR CHOICE

(my choice was stencil on bkg piece)

Addicted to CAS- GIFT

(these stamps were a gift from PB)

 

A Gem of a Challenge- SPRING

 Allsorts- FEMININE

Crafty Friends- FLORAL

Thanks again for coming by and taking a look.

Supplies:  stamps-Penny Black/ inks- Distress, Memento/ painter's tape/ Memento markers/ stencil

Seaside

Happy Saturday!

Meet today's card inspired by the challenge at Splitcoast Stampers this morning and the wonderfully done miniature paintings by Lorraine Loots.  There is also a video to watch of her being inspired while painting these miniatures.  I chose a seaside painting as my inspiration.

I began by creating the woodgrain paper which is so easy to make using glue and a scoring tool.  This time, I used Tumbled Glass, Peacock Feathers and Weathered Wood Distress inks to colour the paper.  Using those colors gave my woodgrain such a 'beachy' feel which was perfect for the images I wanted to use.  For those of you that may have missed how to create your own woodgrain, go here:

Woodgrain Tutorial

Next, I stamped the panel using my MISTI and stamps from Gina K and Flonz Stamps with Memento black ink.  Then, I sponged on Mermaid Lagoon, Peacock feathers and Seedless Preserves Distress inks giving the panel a feel of a sunset.  

Adding my card to these challenges:

Seize the Birthday- ANYTHING GOES 

Simon Says- TOUCHY, FEELY

Craft Stamper- ANYTHING GOES

 Thanks so much for coming to visit.

Hope you have a great weekend!

Supplies:  stamps- Gina K, Flonz/ inks- Memento, Distress/ Elmer's Glue/ ScorPal/ MISTI/ sponge applicator tool

OLS#25 - Let Green 'March' In

Good Morning.

This month, I am hosting the challenge at One-Layer Simplicity where the theme is:

Let Green 'March' In

Create a card using shades of green and one other neutral on your white card.

For my card, I masked a panel across the front of my cardstock, inked up my stamp by Fred B. Mullett using 2 shades of green Brushos diluted with water and stamped.  Love the effortless shading the Brushos give the image.

(to see my tutorial about how to do this, please go here) 

 When that was dry, I rubbed green Distress ink along the edges to define the panel.  I removed the masks, added scored lines on either side and stamped my sentiment from Daisy Bucket.

Very simple, one-layer card to create.

Also adding my card to these challenges:

Simon Says- ANYTHING GOES 

The Male Room- MONOCHROMATIC 

CAS on Sunday- ONE-LAYER WONDER

My Time to Craft- ONE-LAYER

Thanks so much for coming by and taking a look.

Hope you get a chance to play along with us this month.

Supplies:  stamps- Daisy Bucket, Fred Mullett/ ink- Distress, Memento/ Brushos/ paintbrush/ ScorPal/ applicator tool