Get to the Point

 Morning.

Today, I have the pleasure of hosting the TLC Challenge at Splitcoast.

I'm calling my challenge:

Get to the Point

Everyone is so super busy these days so I came up with a simple, fun technique for you to play with.

I began by stamping my open detail flowers from the Penny Black Pretty Petals set with black Memento ink.  You need to use an 'open detail' stamps so the image will pop when you add the background detail. 

Then using a fine-line black marker, I added tiny dots using the tip of my marker around my images to fill in the background. 

I cut the flowers to size to create a panel across my card front then glued them in place.

Using my Scor-bug, I scored a border top and bottom to frame out the flowers and stamped the

 Great Day greeting in the bottom corner.

Adding my card to these challenges:

Simon Says- ANYTHING GOES

CAS on Sunday- FLOWERS 

The Pencil Case- ANYTHING GOES

Simply Papercraft- ANYTHING GOES

I hope you get a chance to try this technique out.  

Thanks again, for coming by and taking a look.

Supplies:  stamps- Penny Black/ ink- Memento/ Scor-bug/ Misti/ fine-line Marker

Christmas Blessings

Welcome to the weekend.

I am playing with some stamps from Penny Black and feeling happy to have another Christmas card done for the holidays.

For this card, my MISTI was a most helpful tool.  I love to color on my stamps and this tool helps me add layers of color to create a watercolored looking design.

I began by using some Painter's Tape to mask the edges of my paper.  I wanted a nice clean white border left around the stamping.  I positioned  the Penny Black  Cones and Berries stamp inside my MISTI, colored with Memento markers, sprayed with water and stamped.  I repeated that process, layering the colors from light to dark.  When that was dry, I used some Antique Linen Distress Stain to watercolor the background.  By using a lot of water with the stain, I was able to create shadows around my branches.  

The pinecones looked a bit washed out so I painted in some details using white acrylic paint and splattered some over the whole piece to look like snow.

I stamped the sentiment from the Festive Cheer set using black Memento ink.

 Adding my card to these challenges:

Simon Says- ANYTHING GOES

Simply Create Too- CHRISTMAS COLORS

Addicted to Stamps and More- MAKE YOUR MARK

A Gem of a Challenge- SNOWFLAKES

Allsorts Challenge- LET'S MAKE A START ON CHRISTMAS

Have a great weekend and thanks so much for visiting.

Supplies:  stamps- Penny Black/ ink- Memento/ Distress stain/ white acrylic paint/ MISTI/ Memento markers/ paintbrush/ painter's tape/ Mini mister

Blue Christmas

Morning.

There is a chill in the air and there was a bit of snow last night.  Brrr...I don't feel ready for this!

Today's card really has an icy, chilly feel to it using a Salted Background Technique.

When I have done this technique in the past, I used heavy cardstock but today I am using a piece of Yupo paper.  I wanted to see what kind of reaction I would get when adding the salt.

I began by watercoloring my paper using Distress inks rubbed on my acrylic block, sprayed with water and added to my paper with a paint brush.  When using Yupo, you never know how the ink will react with the paper, it has a mind of it's own.  

While still wet, I sprinkled on Sea Salt over the whole piece, set aside and let totally dry.

After it was dry, I brushed away the excess salt which had lifted some of the color and revealed a lovely, textured background.  To add even more depth and interest, I randomly stenciled with Rubbing Alcohol and a piece of drywall tape lifting even more of the color and creating a pattern. 

To create the snowflake I used some more Distress inks rubbed on my acrylic block, sprayed with a generous amount of water, pressed my white cardstock into the ink and then cut out the snowflake with a die from Lawn Fawn from that. 

I glued on the snowflake and added some clear gems for some bling.

The sentiment from MFT was stamped using black Stazon ink and my MISTI.

 Adding my card to these challenges:

Simon Says- ANYTHING GOES

Little Red Wagon- STENCIL IT

Addicted to Stamps and More- MAKE YOUR MARK

Stamps and Stencils- ELEMENTS OF NATURE

Crafty Girls Creations- ANYTHING GOES

Stay warm and thanks so much for coming by to take a look.

Supplies:  stamps- MFT/ snowflake die- Lawn Fawn/ Yupo paper/ salt/ drywall tape/ rubbing alcohol/ ink-Distress, Stazon/ MISTI 

Celebration

 The chill is in the air.  We may have flurries tonight.

Time for another Christmas card.

Today, I am playing with some new snowflake dies called Snow Time from Penny Black.  

I wanted to make some silver snowflakes but I didn't have any silver paper so I made my own.  

I rubbed Versamark ink over a piece of white cardstock, added silver embossing powder and heat embossed.  This is a great solution if you need some shiny paper and don't have any on hand.

For the side panel, I stamped the Tall Timbers from Penny Black with Versamark and heat embossed with white embossing powder.  I then rubbed Salty Ocean and Peacock Feathers Distress inks over the panel as a background for my snowflakes.  

I stamped the sentiment from the Yuletide Sentiments set by PB with black Memento ink and added my snowflakes with a blue jewel in the center.

 Adding my card to these challenges:

AAA Cards- MASCULINE

Sunday Stamps- SKETCH 

Christmas Card Throwdown- EMBOSSING

Allsorts Challenge- SPARKLE AND SHINE

Have a great week and thanks for the visit.

Supplies:  stamps- PB/ snowflake die- PB/ ink: Versamark, Distress, Memento/ wh embossing powder/ blue gems

Laughing Flowers

 Morning.

Do you remember your first stamp set?  

Well today, I am showing you one of the first ones I ever bought and still love it to this day.  There is something about those free flowing flower I just love.

I began by masking my card stock with Painter's Tape.  I placed the flower stamp inside my MISTI then coloured it using Memento markers, sprayed with water and stamped.  I started with a light blue and then added darker shades as I repeated that process. I did the same thing for the flower centers.

Next, I stamped in the sentiment with black Memento ink...it's a real old one I bought years ago.

I watercolored around the flowers using Peacock Feathers Distress ink and water and then rubbed on more over my card front with an applicator tool.  

I splattered on water to lift some of the colour and to add some more depth and interest.

Adding my card to these challenges:

Addicted to Stamps and More- ANYTHING GOES

Crafting With Dragonflies- LET'S GO FLORAL

Crafty Friends- ANYTHING GOES

Brown Sugar- ANYTHING GOES

That's Crafty- CLEAN AND SIMPLE

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

Supplies:  stamps- SU Petal Prints, PSX/ ink- Memento, Distress/ Memento markers/ MISTI/ applicator tool/ paint brush

White Christmas

 Meet today's card.

Just a fun one I created using stamps from Penny Black.

I began by masking the edges of my white cardstock with Painter's Tape.  I placed the Brushed Pine stamp into my Misti, coloured with Memento markers, sprayed with water and stamped.  

Next I stamped the Penny Black sentiment from the Yuletide Wishes set with black Memento ink and clear embossed.  Using some Distress Stain, I watercolored in the background and let that dry.

To add extra details to the pinecones, I painted on some white acrylic paint and splattered some over the whole card front.  To add more depth, I also randomly stamped the Script with Versamark ink and white heat embossed.

 Adding my card to these challenges:

Addicted to Stamps and More- ANYTHING GOES

Inspiration Destination- ANYTHING GOES

Stampin Royalty- CELEBRATIONS

Cards and More- WATERCOLORING

Happy Little Stampers- NATURE (mixed media)

Thanks so much for coming by.  Have a great day!

Supplies:  stamps- Penny Black/ ink- Versamark, Memento, Distress/ Distress Stain/ eb powder/ white acrylic paint/ paint brush/ MISTI/ Memento markers

Christmas Monoprinting

 Meet today's clean and simple card.

It is done using a technique called Monoprinting and yes, it is simple and you can easily do this!

I began by cutting a panel to fit the size of my card front.

Next I got out my snowflake stencil from Simon Says and inked the back with Broken China Distress Stain, sprayed with water and pressed onto my cardstock.  You could also use Distress inks or any ink that is waterbased.  Leaving the stencil in place, I inked around the edges with some Broken China Distress ink to help bring more definition to the snowflakes.  

When that was dry, I put the sentiment from Technique Tuesday into my MISTI and stamped it using black Memento ink.  I scored the edges of my panel (hard to see in the photo) and pop dot mounted it over my card base.

I blinged it up a bit too by adding some clear crystals to the snowflake centers.

Adding my card to these challenges:

CAS Mix Up- STAMPING, GHOSTING and CHOICE 

(sponging)

Craftyhazelnuts's Christmas- ANYTHING CHRISTMAS GOES

Alphabet Challenge- 'Q' FOR QUICK AND SIMPLE

Crafting With Friends- ANYTHING GOES

 Thanks so much for taking a look.

Supplies:  stamp- TT/ stencil- SSS/ Distress stain/ ink- Memento, DI/ crystals/ pop dots/ sponge applicator tool

Christmas Inspired

 Good Morning.

I am finally feeling inspired to get working on my Christmas cards.  Easy to do with stamps like this!

Today, I am playing with the Full Bloom stamp from Penny Black.

I began by using some masking fluid and dripped it onto my card front.  I let that dry then placed my stamp into my MISTI.  I coloured the leaves and berries with Memento markers, sprayed with water and stamped.  I repeated that process until I was happy with the colours.

I stamped the sentiment from the Yuletide Wishes with black Memento ink and heat embossed it with clear powder.  I like to do that to darken up the sentiment and make it resist the ink.

Then I took some Peeled Paint Distress ink and rubbed it over my background.  

I rubbed off the masking fluid and then added some more snow by splattering white acrylic paint. 

That's it.

Adding my card to these challenges:

Simon Says- TOTALLY RESISTIBLE 

Just Add Ink- JUST ADD 'G' 

(greenery)

Challenge Up Your Life- NATURAL MATERIALS

Crafting With Dragonflies- LET'S GO FLORAL

Thanks so much for taking a look.

Supplies:  stamps- Penny Black/ ink: Memento, Distress/ applicator tool/ masking fluid/ Memento markers/ MISTI

Simple Stamping

Meet today's card.

 We are half way through the month and it's time for another post at 

The Flower Challenge.

I began by stenciling the background of my card.  I used Salty Ocean and Peacock Feather Distress inks on a applicator to cover the background.

Next, I got out my MISTI and stamped the sentiment from Serendipity using black Memento ink.

I stamped the wildflowers from Tim Holtz using more of the Memento black and added some images from Purple Onion as well.

As a finishing touch, I sponged the edges of my card with more Distress ink.

Adding my card to these challenges:

Crafting By Design- ADD A SENTIMENT

Through the Craft Room Door- ANYTHING GOES

Crafty Girls Creations- ANYTHING GOES

Daring Cardmakers- MONOCHROMATIC

Alphabet Challenge- 'Q' FOR QUICK AND SIMPLE


 Thanks so much for coming by and taking a look.

Supplies:  stamps- Serendipity, Purple Onion, Tim Holtz/ ink- Distress, Memento/ stencil- The Crafter's Workshop/

applicator tool

It's The Season

 Morning and Happy Friday.

I am feeling happy as I have been able to get some Christmas cards done and ready for the holidays.

I love the way this card turned out, done in my favorite color of course.

I began by sponging Salty Ocean, Peacock Feathers and a bit of Tumbled Glass Distress inks over my card front.  Then I took my snowflake stencil from Simon Says, sprayed it with water and laid it over the Distress ink lifting some of the color and creating a 'ghosting' effect.

Next, I stamped the sentiment from My Favorite Things in the bottom corner with black Memento ink and heat embossed it with clear powder.  I die cut the snowflake from Cherry Lynn, glued it in place and added the blue gem to the center.  

To add to the snowy effect, I inked the sides of my card with Versamark ink and white heat embossed the edges and splattered with white acrylic paint.

 Adding my card to these challenges:

CAS Mix Up- STAMPING, GHOSTING AND CHOICE (splattering)

Simon Says- TOTALLY IRRESISTIBLE

Cardz for Galz- ONE DIE CUT 

Southern Girls- PUNCHES and DIES 

Thanks so much for the visit....I appreciate it so much.

Supplies:  stamps- MFT/ die- Cheery Lynn/ ink- Distress, Versamark, Memento/ stencil- SSS/ white eb powder/ heat tool/ inking tool/ blue gem

Perceptions

 Happy Thanksgiving to all my fellow Canadians today.

I cooked a big dinner yesterday so have time to play a bit today.  

There was a fun CAS challenge posted this morning at Splitcoast called It's the One; make a one-layer card using only one stamp and one sentiment.  Well the challenge was on.

I began by masking the center area of my card using Painter's Tape.  I then positioned my stamp inside my MISTI, stamped with black Memento ink and heat embossed with clear powder.  I did that so the image would stay crisp when I sponged the next layers.

Next, I moved the stamp over slightly and stamped again using Rusty Hinge Distress ink then Tumbled Glass.  It helped to create a reflection look to my image.

I then sponged on some Salty Ocean Distress ink and then using a wet paintbrush, I lifted some of the colour to highlight areas of my scene.

I removed the mask and scored a border around using my ScorPal.

I stamped the sentiment from Serendipity under the scene and heat embossed it with clear powder.

 Adding my card to these challenges:

Addicted to CAS- WATERCOLORED

Less is More- ONE LAYER-DREAMS

*this stamp reminds me of NY, somewhere I dream of

going someday*

Addicted to Stamps and More- CLEAN AND SIMPLE

CAS Mix Up- GHOSTING, STAMPING and CHOICE (water lifting)

Artistic Inspirations- JUST FOR FUN

 Hope you have a great week and thanks so much for popping in.

Supplies:  stamps- Technique Junkies, Serendipity/ ink- Distress, Memento/ cl embossing powder/ painter's tape/ MISTI/ applicator tool/ paint brush/ ScorPal

Christmas Flowers

 Good Morning.

Meet today's card...another one done for Christmas.

Penny Black had yet come out with another wonderful poinsettia stamp called Scarlet Majesty that I am having such fun with.  If you like to play with watercoloring techniques, you will love this stamp.

I decided to use it in a very simple, cas way today.

I began by inking my stamp with Versamark ink and stamped the poinsettia in the top corner of my card.  Then using white embossing powder, I heat set the flower.  

I used Candied Apple and Barn Door Distress ink and rubbed it over the whole card front concentrating the darker red over the flower.  

I stamped the sentiment from the PB Yuletide Wishes set and embossed that with clear powder.

I splattered water over the whole piece which lifted the Distress ink giving it a snowy appearance. 

To add to the snowy effect, I rubbed my Versamark pad around the edges and embossed those with more white eb powder.  I added the black gems to the flower center to help balance out the black sentiment.

 Adding my card to these challenges:

Crafting When We Can- CHRISTMAS COMES EARLY

Crafting With Friends- ANYTHING GOES

The Flower Challenge- ANYTHING GOES

A Snowflakes Promise- ANYTHING GOES

Thanks so much for coming by and taking a look.

Supplies:  stamps- PB/ ink- Distress, Memento, Versamark/ applicator tool/ clear and white eb powder/ heat tool/ black gems

Autumn Birthday

Meet today's card.

With many Fall birthdays coming up on my calendar, I wanted to get a few cards made.

I began by using a Spellbinder oval die to cut a frame.  I used that to figure out where I wanted to stamp my images.  Using my MISTI, I stamped the trees by coloring them with Memento markers, sprayed with water and stamped.  I repeated that process a few times adding layers of colors.

Using a scrap piece of paper, I cut a circle to use as a mask for the moon.

I sponged on Squeezed Lemonade, Ripe Persimmon and Barn Door Distress inks over the background and splattered with water for interest.

I removed the mask then pop dotted the frame over the image.

Adding my card to these challenges:

 Seize the Birthday- ANYTHING GOES

Simon Says- HALLOWEEN INSPIRATION

Addicted to Stamps and More- CLEAN AND SIMPLE

CAS Watercolour Card Challenge- AUTUMN

C.R.A.F.T. Challenge- PHOTO INSPIRATION

 Thanks so much for coming by and taking a look.

Supplies:  stamps- STAMPLORATIONS, Gina K/ Memento, Distress ink/ sponge applicator/ MISTI/ Memento markers/ Spellbinder dies

Let's Get Real

 I'm calling today's card 'Let's Get Real' because I have used some real maple leaves from my tree to create this card.  

So you ask...how did I do that?  Super easy!

I began by rubbing Squeezed Lemonade Distress ink onto my non-stick craft sheet.  I sprayed with a good amount of water, then using the back side of the leaf, I dragged it through the wet ink being sure that the whole surface was covered.  I took that and pressed it onto my watercolor paper using a piece of scrap over the top.  I repeated that process using Fired Brick and then Rusty Hinge Distress ink.

I just love the impression it left behind!

 I took a wet paintbrush and used some Antique Linen and then some Peeled Paint Distress Stains to watercolor the background leaving some puddles of ink.

I stamped the sentiment from Inkadinkadoo using my MISTI with Memento black ink then clear embossed it with my heat gun.

I pop-dot mounted that over a brown piece of cardstock.

Do you love challenges?  Do you love watercoloring techniques?  You will love this new challenge!!!

click above

Adding my card to these challenges:

Simon Says:  ANYTHING GOES

 Addicted to CAS- WATERCOLOR

 The Male Room- LEAVES AND OR TREES

Cardz for Guyz- NATURE

Kat Scrappiness World Cardmaking Day- ANYTHING GOES

This will make a good card for our Thanksgiving next weekend here in Canada.

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

Supplies:  stamp- Inkadinkadoo/ real Maple Leaf/ Distress ink/ Distress Stain/ Memento bl ink/ eb powder/ heat tool/ non-stick craft sheet/ MISTI

Rustic Meets Elegance

Today's the day!

Time to introduce you to a new challenge and who doesn't love a challenge?

Meet The Flower Challenge.

What fun we will have playing with our flower stamps, stencils and die-cuts.

This is the card I created for that challenge using a woodgrain background.  It is very easy to do and back in January, I did a tutorial about how to do it.  Find it here:

Woodgrain Tutorial

The flower are from a SU set that I stamped with Versamark, white heat embossed and watercolored using Brushos.  I love the colour variations you can achieve using the Brushos.
When the flowers were dried, I mounted them onto a white panel and stamped the sentiment.
I pop dot mounted that panel over the woodgrain and added some black jewels to my flower centers.

I hope you will check out our new challenge and come play along with us.

Supplies:  stamps:  SU, (sorry I don't remember who made the sentiment)/ ink: Distress, Memento/ Brushos/ Elmer's Glue/ ScorPal/ paint brush/ MISTI

Sweater Weather

 Morning.

The crisp, cool sweater weather has arrived.  I am always reminded of this great stencil from Tim Holtz when I think Winter and hot chocolate.

I began by stenciling the panel using Candied Apple and Fired Brick Distress inks and cut it to fit onto my card front on a slant.  I stamped the sentiment from the new Penny Black set called Yuletide Wishes with black Memento ink then heat embossed it with clear powder.  I like to do that with my sentiments as it helps to darken the colour and makes it stand out a bit more.

I die-cut the snowflake from Lawn Fawn twice and glued them together to add stability and glued them into the corner of my tilted piece. 

The finishing touch was to add a red half pearl into the center of the snowflake.

 Adding my card to these challenges:

Simon Says- ANYTHING GOES

CAS on Sunday- HEAT EMBOSSING

Addicted to Stamps and More- HOLIDAY

The ABC Challenge-'Q' IS FOR QUICK

Feeling happy to have another card for the holidays done.

Thanks so much for coming by and taking a look.

Supplies:  stamps- Penny Black/ stencil- Tim Holtz/ cl eb powder/ ink- Distress, Memento/ red pearl/ pop dots/ snowflake die- Lawn Fawn

Snowy Village

 I am working on getting some cards made for Christmas.  I wanted to make some more woodgrain background pieces so out came the Elmer's Glue.

For those of you that may have missed it, back in January I did a tutorial about how to create this easy, fun woodgrain paper using Elmers's Glue, a scoring tool and some Distress inks.

To see how to do this go here:

Woodgrain Tutorial

 Next, I die-cut the village using a die from Your Next Stamp and stamped the sentiment from the new Penny Black stamp set called Festive Cheer right onto the panel.

I pop dotted that over the woodgrain background and done.

Adding my card to these challenges:

Simon Says- ANYTHING GOES

Addicted to Stamps and More- HOLIDAY

Craftyhazelnut's Christmas- CHRISTMAS

Fab'n'Funky- CHRISTMAS

Sunny Day Crafting- ANYTHING GOES


Thanks so much for coming by to take a look.

Supplies:  stamps- PB/ ink- Memento, Distress/ die- Your Next Stamp/ Elmer's Glue/ Scor-Pal/ pop dots

OLS32- Colour Challenge

Happy World Cardmaking Day!!

Welcome to October.  The air is crisp and the colours are wonderful.

I have the pleasure of hosting the One-Layer Simplicity Challenge this month.  My challenge to you is to create a card using the colours of Fall:

Red, Orange and Yellow.

For my one-layer card, I began by masking off the center area with Painter's Tape.  I sponged Squeezed Lemonade, Ripe Persimmon, then Fired Brick Distress inks over the masked area to create a background.  I then removed the tape on the top and sides but left the bottom piece in place.  Using my MISTI, I stamped the flowers from Tim Holtz along the bottom edge over my background colour. 

I stamped the sentiment and then embossed the frame to add interest.

Simple right?  

Be inspired by the colours of Fall and please come and play along with us this month. 

Also adding my card to these challenges:

Simon Says- ANYTHING GOES

Brown Sugar- ANYTHING GOES

Cardz 4 Galz- FALL/ AUTUMN COLORS

Cute Card Thursday- CAS


Thanks so much for coming by and taking a look.

Supplies: stamps- Tim Holtz, Stamplorations/MFT die/ ink- Memento, Distress/ MISTI/ Painter's Tape