Jump for Joy- Add a Pinch of Salt

Good Morning.

Today, I have the pleasure of hosting the TLC (Technique Lovers Challenge) over at Splitcoast Stampers.

Today, I am challenging you to  

Add a Pinch of Salt

I just won some new stamps from Technique Junkies and wanted to play with them.

I began by taking my regular Distress ink pads and just rubbing them directly onto my heavy white cardstock being sure to overlap the colours a bit.
(you can achieve a more dramatic effect by using glossy cs which I didn't have)

<<Any water-based ink will work for this challenge and the results are more visible and vibrant the heavier you apply the ink to your paper.>>

Next, I sprinkled on some coarse sea salt and sprayed with some water.  The salt absorbed the ink and left behind a wonderful effect that reminded me of rain.  You can also try regular table salt for a more subtle effect.

Be sure and let your paper with the salt on it dry completely before removing the salt.  

Helpful Hint: If the salt is a bit stuck, rub over it with the flat side of a credit card to remove it.

 Now you are ready to stamp your images.

I placed the piece inside my Misti, inked with black Archival ink and stamped.

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

Hope you get a chance to try it out.

Adding my card to these challenges:

Simon Says Wed.- ANYTHING GOES
 City Crafter- SOMETHING THAT STARTS WITH 'S'
(splash) 
Crazy 4 Challenges- ORANGE, WHITE AND BLACK
Brown Sugar- ANYTHING GOES
'Just Us Girls'- SOMETHING OLD/SOMETHING NEW
(old Distress ink/ new stamps)

Supplies

Stamps- Rain Dance, Day by Day (Technique Junkies)

Ink- Archival black (Ranger); Distress inks: Squeezed Lemonade, Ripe Persimmon, Fired Brick (TH)

Paper- heavy white cs (local store)

Accessories- MISTI; coarse sea salt; mister (TH)

CAS Collage

Happy Saturday.

Time to get inky and play with some stamps.

I wanted to create a collage style card using this lovely butterfly stamp from Penny Black and the Mixed Media stamp set from STAMPlorations.

I began by stamping my butterfly first and used my Zigs to colour it in.  I stamped the butterfly again onto a thin piece of white paper, cut it out and used it for a mask.

Next, I just played with the Mixed Media stamps, stamping over and around the masked butterfly image then also used some drywall tape, added some stenciling to help pull it all together. 

I removed the mask and covered the butterfly in Glossy Accents to help it pop and make it the focal point of my card.  When it was dry, it actually looked like a sticker.

I chose a long sentiment stamp from Daisy Bucket to help balance out the bottom of the card.

Have a great weekend and thanks so very much for the visit.

Adding my card to these challenges:

Little Red Wagon- SING, SING A SONG

(Happy by Pharrell Williams)

 Simon Says Wed.- ANYTHING GOES

CAS on Friday- EXOTIC

Addicted To Stamp and More- MAKE YOUR MARK 

STAMPlorations CAS- SUMMER 

Supplies

Stamps- Social Butterfly (PB); Mixed Media (STAMPlorations); Smile (Daisy Bucket)

Ink- DOX: Peeled Paint, Broken China (TH)

Paper- heavy white (local store)

Accessories and Tools- MISTI; Glossy Accents (Ranger); Zig markers; drywall tape

Beautiful Day

Good Morning.

I have my trusty drywall tape out again as my starting point for this card.  I like it as you can add small, subtle details using it for creating your backgrounds.

I began with a piece of heavy white cardstock and a piece of drywall tape.  I randomly laid the tape onto my card front and pressed over the tape with my Versamark pad.  I sprinkle on some clear embossing powder, then heat embossed creating a resist.  

Next, I dragged my mini Distress ink pads directly over the paper revealing the resist and the drywall patterns emerged.  I sprayed with just a bit of water to help the colors blend.

I placed the inked piece into my Misti and stamped the flowers, then added the sentiment using Archival black ink.  Love the look of the silhouettes.  I also clear heat embossed the sentiment and the flowers.

** helpful tip- When stamping over an embossed bkg., it is a good idea to clear heat emboss the images as it helps make them pop over the embossing. **

I mounted the piece onto a plain white card front to keep it looking fresh.

Thanks for taking the time to come and visit.  

Adding my card to these challenges:

Simon Says- ANYTHING GOES

City Crafter- SOMETHING BEGINNING WITH 'S'

(silhouette)

CRAFT- SUMMER

Southern Girls- FLOWER POWER

Craftaholics R Us- ANYTHING GOES

Supplies

Stamps- Clover Silhouette (Magenta); Wildflowers (TH); sentiment-Blue Bay (Kaisercraft)

Ink- Versamark; Archival bl; Distress inks-Peacock Feathers, Shaded Lilac, Stormy Skies (TH)

Paper- Heavy white cs (local store)

Accessories and Tools- MISTI, clear eb powder, heat tool, drywall tape

Thoughts of You

Meet today's card.

Every time I see a black and white card, I think it looks so dramatic and beautiful and there is something about a monochromatic card that gets my attention.

I did have to throw in a tiny bit of blue too of course.

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

I began by placing the SU flower from the Blooming with Kindness set into my Misti and stamped it onto a piece of white cardstock with black ink.  I clear embossed it to help it pop.  

Next, using a black Copic marker, I filled in the background, carefully colouring around the flower petals.  The black background brought such attention to the beautiful details in that flower.

When it was all coloured in, I used the die from Avery Elle to die cut the panel.  The stitching added such a great element and design.  I also added some white acrylic paint splatter to add further interest.

I mounted that onto a piece of white then onto the blue.

I stamped the sentiment then pop dotted my piece over that.

Hope you are having a great weekend and thanks again for taking time to come and visit!

Adding my card to these challenges:

Addicted to Stamps and More- ANYTHING GOES

Stamping Sensations- ANYTHING WITH FLOWERS

The Corrosive Challenge- ANYTHING GOES

Crafting With Friends- ANYTHING GOES

The Flower Challenge- EMBOSSED 

Supplies

Stamps- Blooming With Kindness (SU), By the Sea 2 (Gina K)

Ink- Tuxedo Black Memento

Paper- heavy white (local store)

Accessories and Tools- MISTI; white acrylic paint; paintbrush; black Copic marker; 

clear eb powder; heat tool; Wonky Stitches (Avery Elle)

Flower Collage

Happy Saturday and time to play.

Meet today's card.  Just a fun combination of stencilling and stamping.

I like the look of a nice crisp, white border so I began by masking off my card front with painter's tape.  I laid down the lattice mini stencil and using some Peeled Paint Distress Oxide ink, I covered my card front.  I removed that stencil then laid down the flower mini stencil from the same set over that and using some Broken China Distress Oxide ink, I stencilled again.  

(I did a TLC Challenge a few weeks ago over at Splitcoast stampers about stencilling over a stencil.

You can check out my other card here.)

Next, I inked up the Clover Silhouette inside my Misti with black ink then clear heat embossed it to help make it pop.  I did the same thing with the sentiment.

To help further define my card front, I stamped some mixed media element on the edges and inked around the edges with Distress ink.

I removed the painter's tape and mounted my piece onto a blue cardstock front.

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

Adding my card to these challenges:

STAMPlorations- ANYTHING GOES

Addicted to Stamps and More- ANYTHING GOES 

Craft Stamper Magazine- ANYTHING STAMPED GOES

Mod Squad- LAYERED FLORALS

International Art and Soul- ELEMENTS OF NATURE

Supplies

Stamps- Clover Silhouette (Magenta); Enjoy the Moment (Daisy Bucket); 

Mixed Media Elements (STAMPlorations)

Inks- Tuxedo Black Memento; Peeled Paint and Broken China Distress Oxides (TH)

Paper- heavy white cs (local store)

Accessories and Tools- MISTI; painter's tape; applicator tool (TH); 

Tim Holtz Mini Stencils Set 4; clear eb powder; heat tool

Warmest Wishes

Morning.

Meet today's card.

A pretty simple card made using Tombow markers and a lovely flower.

So here's what I did.

I began by placing the flower stamp inside my Misti, coloured directly onto my stamp with Tombow markers then gave it just 2 sprays of water to help blend the colours and pressed onto my paper.   If you add too much water,  you lose the details of your stamped image.

I stamped the flower in the bottom left hand corner first, then repeated that process stamping the other flowers on either side of the first one.  

Next, using some diluted Distress ink and a paintbrush, I edged the flowers in blue.

I stamped the sentiment from the same flower set, then pierced a border around the whole thing for interest.  I think the piercing is a subtle way to help add interest and pulls the whole design together.

Thanks again for all you sweet comments and for coming by and taking a look...so appreciated!

Adding my card to these challenges:

Addicted to CAS- SUMMER

Creative With Stamps- CELEBRATE

Daisy Chain- FLORAL

Happy Little Stamper- BIRTHDAY

Supplies

Stamps- Blooming With Kindness (Stampin Up)

Ink- Tuxedo Black Memento; Salty Ocean Distress (TH)

Paper- heavy white cs (local store)

Accessories and Tools- MISTI; Tombow markers; piercing tool (TH); paintbrush

Acrylic Block Watercolouring

Good Morning.

Playing with inks and paper again.

One of my favourite techniques is the Acrylic Block Watercoloring.  It is so fun and super easy too!

So here's what I did.

I pressed different colours of Distress inks directly onto my acrylic block, sprayed with water and then pressed onto my heavy weight cardstock.  When I lifted the block there was some puddling so I just soaked up the excess with a paper towel...my background was born.

When the piece was dry, I placed it inside my Misti, then inked the flowers with black and stamped them onto my card front. To add further interest to the bkg. I used the Mixed Media Elements and stamped along the edges to help balance the card out. Stamped the sentiment then mounted the whole piece onto my embossed card front.

Thanks so much for coming by and taking a look.

Adding my card to these challenges:

Shopping Our Stash- CAS FOR SIMPLICITY DAY
STAMPlorations- STAMPS AND WARM COLOURS
Craft Stamper Magazine- ANYTHING GOES STAMPING
Dare2B Artzy- BRIGHT COLOURS


Supplies
Stamps- Wildflowers Umbells (Magenta); Fond Expressions 2 (STAMPlorations);
Mixed Media Elements (STAMPlorations)
Inks- Tuxedo Black Memento; Distress Inks (Picked Raspberry, Fired Brick, Squeezed Lemonade,
Peacock Feathers, Salty Ocean, Faded Jeans)
Paper- heavy white cs (local store)
Accessories and Tools- MISTI; die-Inside Out diagonal (MFT); Cuttlebug; acrylic block; mister (TH)

Painted Butterfly- CAS Watercolour Challenge

Meet my painted butterfly.

It's time for another card for the
CAS Watercolour Challenge.

Such a good theme for summer so come play along with us.
So onto my card.

It's been quite awhile since I had a chance to play with my Brushos, so I decided to pull them out and use them on my card.  For those of you that are unfamiliar with Brushos, they are a concentrated paint pigment that is activated when water is added.
(I did a tutorial about Painting Your Stamps last year if you want to check it out!)

So, I placed the Soft Wings butterfly from Penny Black into my Misti then painted on some Brushos I diluted with water using a paintbrush.  I find the trick is not to add too much water or you will end up with a muddy mess.  I started with the green on the bottom first, then cleaned my brush thoroughly and went on to paint the top with the blue.  I love the handpainted look the brushos gave to the butterfly.
To bring attention to the butterfly, I pierced a border around it.  This is a great way to add interest to an otherwise clean and simple card with adding embellishments.
I stamped the birthday sentiment using the PB Friendship set then drew in a black line using a fine tip blackliner marker.  I found that helped to ground the sentiment so it didn't look like it was floating.

Thanks again so very much for coming by and taking a look!


Adding my card to these challenges:

Addicted to CAS- SUMMER
CAS on Sunday- PRIMARY COLORS
Penny Black and More- FOR THE BOYS
Alphabet Challenge- 'I" FOR INSECT
Watercooler Wed.- ALL ABOUT BIRTHDAYS

Supplies
Stamps- Soft Wings Butterfly (PB); Friendship (PB)
Inks- Tuxedo Black Memento; Brushos- Turquoise, Emerald Green
Paper- heavy white cs (local store)
Accessories and Tools- MISTI; piercing tool; paintbrush; fineline black marker

Good Friends- The Flower Challenge

Good Morning.

Time for another card for 

The Flower Challenge.

I decided to use heat embossing on my card.

I am having a blast playing with my Distress Oxide inks.  

I did a tutorial you can check out called

Swipe Your Credit Card

Basically, you dip an old credit card into Distress Oxide ink that has been sprayed with water and drag it down your card front.  The Oxides layer so uniquely and I just love that you get a different look every time.

So onto my card.
I began with a piece of heavy weight cardstock.  I get mine from a local store and tend not to buy it online as the shipping is so expensive to Canada.
Using the above technique, I pulled the Oxide inks over my card front, layering the colours as I went along.  I rubbed my card front with an anti-static pad then I stamped the flowers from Magenta using my Misti with Versamark ink then white heat embossed them.  The white embossing just helped the flowers pop against that colourful bkg.
I stamped the Hero Arts sentiment, then using the edge of my credit card, I added the black lines using ink from my Memento ink pad.  Using some drywall tape, I added extra interest by stenciling a bit in the background.

Thanks so much for coming by and taking a look.
Hope you will come and play along with us.

Adding my card to these challenges:

Simon Says Wed.- PLAID
Addicted to Stamps and More- PHOTO INSPIRATION
Pause, Dream, Enjoy- EMBOSSED WET or DRY
Crafting With An Attitude- ANYTHING GOES
Craft Stamper Magazine- ANYTHING STAMPED GOES


Supplies
Stamps- Wildflowers-Umbells (Magenta); Good Friend Message (Hero Arts)
Inks- Tuxedo black Memento; Wilted Violet, Fossilized Amber, Cracked Pistachio and 
Iced Spruce Distress Oxide inks (TH), Versamark
Paper- heavy weight cs (local store)
Accessories and Tools- MISTI; credit card, white eb powder; heat tool, anti-static pad, drywall tape

Words to Live By

Happy Friday!

Meet today's card.

 Playing around with some new-to-me stamps from STAMPlorations and Distress Oxide inks.

 I went sort of mixed media with my card today.  I began by lightly painting the Mini Circles stamp with white acrylic paint, pressed onto my heavy weight cardstock and let dry.  

(Be sure to wash your stamp right after so the paint doesn't get all stuck to your stamp)

When that was dry, I inked over the whole piece with Broken China Distress Oxide ink.

Next, I lightly sanded over the circles to help reveal them a bit better then stamped in the background using Faded Jeans Distress Oxides.  Love how the Oxides layer and leave a chalky appearance.

I stamped the sentiment which I have had for years, then added the single die-cut flower.

Have a great weekend and thanks so much for coming by and taking a look.

Adding my card to these challenges:

Craft Stamper Magazine- ANYTHING STAMPED GOES 

STAMPlorations- NEVER ENDING 

4 Crafty Chicks- STAMPING, NO DIGIS

Moving Along with the Times- ENGAGEMENT, WEDDING

 (I made this card for friends of mine that just got engaged)

Crafty Girls- ANYTHING GOES

Supplies

Stamps- Live Well (Inkadinkadoo); Mini Circles (Kaisercraft); 

Mixed Media Elements (STAMPlorations)

Inks- Faded Jeans, Broken China Distress Oxides (TH); Tuxedo Black Memento

Paper- heavy white (local store)

Accessories and Tools- white acrylic paint; die- TH; sandpaper; Cuttlebug

Simple Sympathy

Hello and Welcome!

Today, I am restocking my stash of sympathy cards.

I like to have them on hand so I can sent them out as soon as possible if needed.

I like a simple, clean design for this kind of a card.

Very simple card but can be a bit messy...truth be told, I don't mind getting a bit messy!

The technique I used on my card is called

Shaving Cream Stenciling

So, I sprayed some inexpensive shaving cream into a shallow dish and dropped on some Distress re-inkers over the top.  I pulled the colour into the shaving cream with the wooden end of a paintbrush, then picked up the shaving cream with a credit card and spread it over the top of my stencil. I lifted the stencil carefully, then removed the excess shaving cream with the clean edge of the credit card to reveal a lovely bkg.

When it was all dry, I stamped the sentiment and then splattered with some watered down ink.

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


Adding my card to these challenges:

Addicted to Stamps and More- CAS
Mixed Media World- ANYTHING GOES
Love to Create- MIXED MEDIA
Brown Sugar- ANYTHING GOES

Supplies

Stamps-Deepest Sympathy (MFT)
Ink- Tuxedo Black Memento; Cracked Pistachio, Peacock Feathers; 
Salty Ocean Distress re-inkers (TH)
Paper- heavy white cardstock (local store)
Accessories and Tools- Misti; shaving cream; credit card; black gems; stencil- frond (Stencil Girl)

Beautiful Moments- The Flower Challenge

Morning.

I have to say that I am having a blast playing with the new Distress Oxide inks.  They layer so nicely and I honestly just love to play around and see what I can come up with.

It's also time for another challenge at 

The Flower Challenge.

Easy right?

So onto the card I created for the challenge.

Some of you may have seen this technique I came up with called Swipe Your Credit card. 

That was my starting point for this card.

So I rubbed my Oxide ink pad directly onto my non-stick craft sheet, sprayed with a bit of water and dipped in my credit card edge, then I pulled the ink down my card front.  I started with the yellow first, moved onto the green on the outside edge then the red in the center.

* I use a heavy weight cardstock that I get from a local store.  I find the ink will sit on the surface 

instead of soaking into the paper and is easier to pull over the surface * 

Next, I rubbed the surface with a non-stick pad, stamped the wildflowers with Versamark ink then white heat embossed.  I stamped the sentiment with black Memento and clear heat embossed to help it pop against the colourful bkg.

I randomly stamped the graffiti to add more interest to my background.

To finish off my card, I used the edge of my credit card dipped in white paint to make the little detail lines. I repeated that process with the black ink as well.

Please come and play along with us.
Thanks so very much for coming by and taking a look.

Also adding my card to these challenges:

Simon Says Wed.- ANYTHING GOES
Make My Monday- SUMMER BRIGHTS
Crafty Cardmakers- TIC TAC TOE
(I did summer, stamp, embossing)
A Bit More Time To Craft- ANYTHING GOES
Yes Virginia- SHARE YOUR SUMMER CREATIONS

Supplies

Stamps- Insightful Meadows (Unity); Graffiti (Kaisercraft); sentiment-Blue Bay (Kaisercraft)

Inks- Tuxedo Black Memento; Versamark; Cracked Pistachio, Fossilized Amber,
Fired Brick Distress Oxides

Paper- heavy weight cs (local store)

Accessories and Tools- Misti; credit card; white and clear eb powder; heat tool; non-stick pad; 

white acrylic paint

Thank-You Roses

Morning.

Today I am playing with some lovely stamps from Penny Black, my Zigs and of course some drywall tape.

I really like the whimsical look of these roses from the PB Flower Medley set.  They are very fun to watercolour and there are a few different flower varieties in that set with the same qualities.

So onto my card.

I began by stamping the roses around the edges of my watercolour paper using my Misti and black Memento ink.  I added some colour at the flower centers with my Zigs, then using a wet paintbrush I pulled the color into the flowers.  While that dried, I die cut an oval using a die from Spellbinders and stamped the sentiment from the  Happy Wishes sentiment set onto it.

Keeping with my pink theme, I pulled out some Spun Sugar Distress ink and using some drywall tape, stenciled onto my card front.

I continued the stenciling onto my oval die-cut then pierced the edges for interest.

The last thing I did was add some Nuvo clear drops.

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

Adding my card to these challenges:

Simon Says Wed.- ANYTHING GOES
CAS on Friday- FLOWERS
Love to Craft- ANYTHING GOES

Supplies

Stamps- Happy Wishes, Flower Medley (PB)

Ink- Tuxedo Black Memento

Paper- Canson Watercolour paper 140lb

Accessories and Tools-  MISTI; Zig Realbrush Markers; die- Spellbinders; piercing tool;

 drywall tape; Nuvo clear drops; paintbrush

Spread Your Wings- CAS Watercolour Challenge

Meet today's card.

Time for another fun Cas Watercolour Challenge.

Got a good one this month, butterfly.

Summer is upon us and the butterflies are beginning to emerge.

I began making my card by creating the background.  I did that by rubbing Distress inks onto my long acrylic block, sprayed with water and dragged it down the front of my cardstock.  I used heavy white cardstock instead of watercolor paper so the ink will sit just on the surface and not soak in and you will be able to drag the ink.

*The trick is to drag and not press in one place*

I repeated that using a few different shades of blue, leaving some white space showing and then set it aside to dry.

I die-cut the butterfly using the Tim Holtz Detailed Butterfly die onto heavy white cardstock.  

To add more interest to my background, I used a piece of drywall tape and stenciled on some more Distress ink.

I glued the butterfly over the bkg., added the black gems to create the body of the butterfly, then used a fine line black marker to draw in the details .

Thanks so much for coming by and taking a look.

Hope you will come and play along with us.

Adding my card to these challenges:
Simon Says Wed.- ANYTHING GOES
CASology- FLY
Scrap and Craft- SUMMERTIME AND BUTTERFLIES
Crafting With Friends- ANYTHING GOES


Supplies
Stamps- Favorite Memories (Technique Tues.)
Inks- Tuxedo Black Memento; Stormy Sky, Peacock Feathers; Salty Ocean,
Blueprint Sketch Distress (TH)
Paper- heavy white cs (local store)
Accessories and Tools- Misti; drywall tape; long acrylic block; die- Detailed Butterfly (TH);
black gems, fine line black marker

Happy Birthday- Repeated Pattern

Playing with inks always makes for a fun time.

I wanted to try and create my own background paper and this is what I came up with.

I began by choosing a flower stamp that I thought would look alright as a repeated pattern.

The stamp I chose is called Happy Harmony from Stampin Up that I have had for years.

This technique is called 'Smack Down' and is really fun to do.

You can see this technique done on this card I made a few wks ago. 

I began with a piece of heavy white cardstock and inked my stamp with Fired Brick Distress ink and stamped.  I stamped again right beside my first impression then again without re-inking, each time the stamped impression getting lighter and looking like you were stamping off.

I repeated that whole process all over my card front changing colours to Carved Pumpkin then Fossilized Amber Distress inks, filling in my card front but leaving some white space showing through.

Next, I ran the piece through my Cuttlebug using the Penny Black Birthday die.

I cut it again 2 more times just using heavy white cardstock and glued all three layers together.  When that was dry, I glued them into the cut away area on my card front to create an embedded sentiment.

The last step was to add some red gems around the die cut to help bring attention to it.

Thanks so much for coming by and taking a look.

Adding my card to these challenges:

Seize the Birthday- ANYTHING GOES

Simon Says Wed.- ANYTHING GOES

CAS on Sunday- FLOWERS

A Gem of a Challenge- SUMMER COLOURS

Fussy and Fancy- PUNCHES AND DIES

Supplies

Stamp- Happy Harmony (SU)

Inks- Fired Brick, Carved Pumpkin, Fossilized Amber Distress (TH)

Paper- heavy white cs (local store)

Accessories and Tools- Cuttlebug; Birthday die (Penny Black); red gems

Happy Canada Day 150

Happy Birthday Canada!! 

To all my fellow Canadians... have a wonderful, safe Canada Day and let's celebrate this great country we live in.