Mother’s Day Peony

Hello and happy Mother’s Day to all the moms, grandmas and mother figures.  One of my many favourite flowers is the peony, and after years of it collecting dust in my drawer, I finally pulled out the Peony Duo stamp set by The Ton Stamps to create my mom’s Mother’s Day card.  No surprise blue is my favourite colour... BUT it turns out, it’s my mom’s favourite colour, too!  Bonus! 😂

So the peony and leaves were stamped with VersaMark ink onto hot press watercolor paper and heat embossed with Wow! Silver Pearl embossing powder.  Watercoloured them with Karin PRO Brushmarkers, then fussy cut them out (there are coordinating dies, which I don’t have). 

Next, a piece of Bristol paper was dry embossed with a new 3D embossing folder from Altenew called Rows of Squares.  White heat embossed the sentiment from the same stamp set on black cardstock, then assembled the card onto a white card base.  Added clear shimmer to the peony and a few jewel rhinestones for some sparkle to finish.  

With my dad’s recent passing two weeks ago, I really wish I could be there in person today to spoil my mom.  I may be bias, but my mom’s pretty amazing!  Hope she is enjoying her day.  Thank you for dropping by.  Enjoy your day.

Challenges:

The Flower Challenge - #56 Use Your Favourite Flower 

Global Design Project - #290 Sketch 

Watercooler Wednesday - #315 Marsha’s Challenge All Things Feminine 

Stamping Sensations - May Beautiful Blooms 

Inspired By - #173 Celebrate Her 

Cupcake Inspirations - #518 Mother’s Day 

Guest Designer for Uniko Challenge #57

Happy Fri-yay everyone.  I’m excited to be guest designing for Uniko challenge #57 where it’s Anything Goes optional twist Cool Winter Colours.

The holiday may be over, but it’s still winter here as we got our first {and second and third} blast of snow this past week.  So with the optional twist of cool winter colours and a couple of new unused Uniko winter products, I created this clean and simple (CAS) card.

Stamped merry from Uniko Big and Bold - Merry with Archival black ink on a hot press watercolor panel.  Taped the panel to a hardboard to prevent warping when watercolouring.  Masked off the bottom of the panel using the sentiment as a guide.  Placed Uniko Let It Snow stencil on top and applied VersaMark ink with a sponge dauber.  Heat embossed the snowflakes with clear embossing powder.

Next, watercoloured the stripes using a flat brush in cool shades of green and blue distress inks (Cracked Pistachio, Mowed Lawn, Salty Ocean, Blueprint Sketch and Chipped Sapphire).  Repeated the process, drying in between each application with a heat tool, until the colours were more intense.  Wiped away any excess ink with a paper towel and added splatters using white gouache paint.  Removed tape and mask and re-stamped merry in VersaMark ink and heat embossed with white embossing powder.  It was offset for a shadow effect.  Stamped the ampersand and bright with black Archival ink.  Die cut the panel with a stitched rectangle.  Popped it onto a white card base with fun foam then spritz the entire card with a sparkle spray to finish.

For full details on the challenge, including prises, and to find more inspiration from the design team, click HERE.  Thank you for stopping by.  Have a wonderful weekend.

Challenges:
Merry Little Christmas - #18 January Anything Christmas Goes
CAS Watercolour - January 2020 Cool Colours
CAS Stencil - January 2020 Use a New Stencil
Cardz 4 Guyz - #236 Clean and Simple
SSS Wednesday - Use a Stencil

CAS Christmas January Challenge - Tag

Happy new year everyone!  We are kicking off this new decade at CAS Christmas with Tag as our theme this month.  It’s still a card challenge, so make sure to include a tag somewhere on your card entry.

Here’s my card.

Took a stitched rectangle panel from my stash and embossed it with a falling snow embossing folder (retired).  Next, stamped the Avery Elle snowman with alcohol friendly black ink on a scrap of alcohol friendly cardstock.  Coloured in with Copics then die cut out with the matching die.

Then on a scrap of Bristol paper, the sentiment was heat embossed with white embossing powder, then die cut out with STAMPlorations Luggage Tag.  Ombre ink blended Peacock Feathers distress ink with a blender brush then wiped off excess ink with a paper towel.  To make it stand out better, used a dark gray Polychromos pencil to add shading.  Looped a red baker’s twine to the tag then added snow with a white gel pen to finish.

We have Jane (Onions and Paper) as our guest this month.  To see what she and my team have created to inspire you, check out the challenge post HERE.  Looking forward to seeing what you create.  Thank you for dropping by.

Challenges:
Merry Little Christmas - #18 January Anything Christmas Goes
Watercooler Wednesday - #252 Marsha’s Special 3-Week Anything Goes
Papercraft - #53 Anything Goes
Christmas Crafts All Year Round - January Anything Christmas or Holiday Related
Sparkles Christmas - #108 For a Child
ABC Christmas - A for Anything Christmas Goes B for Bingo   (both A & B: bottom row - die cut | clean & simple | embossing and middle column - coloured image | Christmas sentiment | clean & simple)

Birthday Blast

Hi there!  My youngest nephew turns 4 in a couple of days, but his party was today.   I made this card for him and his eyes opened wide as he exclaimed, "It's an ASTRONAUT!"  He sure knows how to put a big smile on his auntie's face! 😊

I used just the Space Explorer stamp set for this card.  Started by stamping the rocket with black Copic friendly ink on Copic friendly cardstock, then masked it.  I swapped out the balloons so he can go on a little rocket ride.  Did this by masking the balloons directly on the stamp itself before inking the astronaut image, then stamped him.  Masked him before starting on the background.  Ink blended Salty Ocean, Chipped Sapphire and Black Soot distress inks (di) with blending brushes for a glowing trail effect.  

White heat embossed the sentiment within the trail and added Salty Ocean to make it pop and to give it that glow as well.  Splattered with white gouache paints then added some shining stars also along the trail with a white gel pen.  Normally, I don't use glitter on masculine cards, but this background was calling for it, so it was spritz with a Sparkle spray.  Removed the masks and coloured in the images with Copics.  Adhered the panel to a white card base to finish.

Thank you for stopping by.  Have a. wonderful week.

Challenges:
Watercooler Wednesday - #235 Marsha's Masculine Anything Goes
The Male Room - #118 Flight
AAA Birthday - #4 For the Boys
My Favorite Things - Color Challenge 124
Penny Black and More - August For Boys and Men

Christmas Tree Twofers

Hello there.  Currently away, I wasn’t sure if I would complete my Christmas tree twofers for several challenges, but here they are!

I used Hero Arts (HA) Snowy Tree color layering set for my featured tree.  First up is a CAS monochromatic card. I was going for a serene scene.

A reverse circle mask was die cut with HA Infinity Circle from masking paper and placed off the edge.  Stamped the solid tree image first with Chalkboard ink.  Next inked the second layering image with VersaMark and heat embossed with white embossing powder (ep).  Then went back to the first image which was left in the MISTI, and re-stamped with VersaMark and heat embossed with clear ep.  This will protect it from the ink blending.  

Tore a couple of hill masks from labelling tape then added Soft Granite ink with a blending brush to create the scene.  The Holy Star from Simon Says Stamp and Peace sentiment from HA Peace Stamp & Cut were each die cut from white cardstock twice and once from silver foil paper then stacked for dimension.  Added some falling snow with a white gelly roll pen to finish.

In contrast to the first card, I went for a colourful Northern Lights scene for my second.  Masked off the bottom, then stamped each tree as described in the first card, but used black ink for the first solid image.  Created the Northern Lights with Twisted Citron, Mermaid Lagoon, Wilted Violet, Blueprint Sketch and Black Soot distress inks.  Added falling snow again with a white gelly roll pen.  Will spritz it with a Sparkle spray for some shimmer when I get home. The sentiment from Here We Come A-Caroling by Catherine Pooler was black heat embossed to finish.

Thank you for dropping by. Enjoy your weekend!

Challenges:
Christmas Kickstart - #16 Christmas Tree Twofers
Merry Little Christmas - #13 August Anything Christmas Goes
Christmas Crafts All Year Round - August challenge Add a Tree
A Blog Named Hero - Christmas in July   (HA products: Snowy Tree stamp, Peace S&C, Infinity Circle die, Blackboard ink cubes]

CAS Christmas August Challenge - Glitter

Hi there.  The August challenge at CAS Christmas starts today and the theme is Glitter.

My card ended up being part of a twofer.  Here's my CAS version.

This lovely dove die was gifted to me (thanks, Bonnie) and I couldn't think of a better time to use it.  Started by die cutting from masking paper to get the negative silhouette.  Placed the mask onto a Bristol stitched rectangle from my stash and sponged VersaMark ink with a sponge dauber.  Removed the mask then heat embossed with clear glitter embossing powder.

Applied Shaded Lilac distress ink with a blending brush around it and then over a Twisted Sunburst stencil.  Wiped off excess ink with a paper towel.  I had a white peace die-cut in my stash, so I die cut another one from silver foil paper and stacked them for dimension.  Assembled on a white card base to finish.

For more inspirations from my wonderful team and our guest Michelle (Seashell Creations), head on over to the challenge post HERE.  The challenge runs until August 24... hope you will join us with your CAS creations.  Thank you for dropping by and have a lovely day.

Challenges:
Merry Little Christmas - August Anything Christmas Goes
Love to Craft - #37 August Anything Goes
SSS Wednesday - Anything Goes

CAS Christmas July Reminder - Snowflake

Hi everyone.  This is the reminder post for the July Snowflake challenge at CAS Christmas.

And this is my CAS card.

I purchased a laminator in February to do some foiling and am finally trying it now.  My husband beat me to it and used it once to laminate a sheet.  The snowflake was heat embossed with clear embossing powder on Whisper White cardstock then foiled with Iridescent Deco Art foil.  I tried to capture the shine in the photo below.

I was planning to negative foil the sentiment to match, but my laminator quit working!  Very frustrating since this is my first time using it.  So instead, the sentiment was white heat embossed then ombre coloured with Faded Jeans, Salty Ocean and Tumbled Glass distress inks.  Added a Crystal Clear confetti circle to the centre of the snowflake to finish.

There is one week left to enter the challenge.  If you need more inspiration, check out what our guest Jane (Onions and Paper) and my team have created over on the challenge blog HERE.  Thank you for visiting.

Challenges:
Sugar Pea Designs - Mix It Up #57 
Merry Little Christmas - #12 July Anything Christmas Goes
The Cat's Pajamas - #359 Christmas in July
AAA Cards - #144 Maxi White Space optional twist Christmas in July
Mod Squad - Christmas in July

Winnie & Walter More November 2018 New Release

Hello everyone!  I am delighted to be back on the Winnie and Walter blog today sharing more creations using the new products from their November Release!


HEARTFELT THANKS

I wanted to start off by thanking Shay for having me join in the release, so I created a CAS thank you card using In a Word: Thanks (the stamp set).

Stamped the outline thanks with Copic friendly black ink on an A2 size X-press It piece of cardstock and coloured in with red Copic markers.

The hearts from Scenery: Seeing Hearts were heat embossed with clear embossing powder.  Abandoned Coral and Candied Apple distress inks were then blended over top for an ombré look.  Wiped off excess ink with a tissue.  Heartfelt from Sentimental: Thanks was white heat embossed on a black strip.  This set was free with qualifying orders during Black Friday/Cyber Monday sale, and will be available for purchase in the future.  For added dimension, Crystal Glaze was added as the finishing touch.

Since there are coordinating In a Word: Thanks cutaways, I created a second CAS thank you card with it.

Thanks was die cut twice: one from black and the other from pearlescent white cardstock.  They were offset for a shadow effect which helps to make it stand out.  Once again, the sentiment from Sentimental: Thanks was white heat embossed on a black strip.

Next a reverse heart mask was die cut from masking paper using True Dotty Heart cutaways.  Placed the mask off the edge of a regular white A2 panel, then blended Picked Raspberry, Wilted Violet and Salty Ocean distress inks.  For some sparkle, spritz with a DIY shimmer spray of Perfect Pearls and water.  Removed the mask and added a few clear sparkly sequins to finish.

JOLLY SANTA

When I saw In a Word; Jolly cutaway, I thought of Santa!  I know, it's a bit of a stretch. 😂

Instead of having Santa replace the "o", I thought it would be fun to have him stepping out of the Jolly cut out.  Started by stamping Santa from Snowy Holidays with Evelin T Designs with Copic friendly black ink.  Coloured him with Copics, then die cut out with the matching cutaway.

A scallop panel was then die cut from Bristol paper using Essentials: Audrey Cutaways.  Jolly was die cut from that then popped up with foam adhesive over some silver glitter paper on a white card base.  Holidays from In a Word: Happy (the stamp set) was white heat embossed on black.  Some silver splatters finished off the card.

BOKEH WONDER

In keeping with the magic and wonder of the season, I thought a bokeh background would be suitable.  Rooted in photography, bokeh is the blurred or out-of-focus areas of an image.  I've done this background before using circle stencils and white pigment ink, but I thought I would try achieving the effect with the VersaMark Resist/ghosting technique.  Not sure I succeeded, but it was easy and fun to do.

Paper that does not absorb ink easily is best for this technique.  Glossy cardstock works, but I had some coated cardstcok given to me from my freind Christine and that was what I used.  I started by randomly stamping the images from Secenery: Dotty in several sizes with VersaMark ink.  Allowed it to dry before applying distress inks (di) in rainbow colours with a mini blending tool.  The VersaMark ink resisted the colours, leaving varied light areas.  I may have gotten a little carried away with the amount of images I stamped. 😂   Excess ink was wiped off with a tissue.

Season's from Winter Woodland was heat embossed with white embossing powder on a vellum strip.  In a Word: Wonder cutaway was die cut from white glitter paper and adhered to the vellum.  Instead of die cutting a shadow piece, a grey Copic marker was used to add the shadow on the vellum from the backside.  Stamped, Copic coloured and die cut the ballerina from Nutcracker Kisses with Evelin T Designs to finish.

The background was not only easy, but effective, so I created two more cards.  I used the sentiments from In a Word: Grand Merry.  On this first card, I tried it without the vellum.

I think it looks better with vellum.  So on this final card, I added the vellum back.  I also changed up the design, and took the smaller rectangle from Essentials: Katharine Cutaways and die cut form the panel then matted it to white cardstock, leaving a 1/8" white border.  Stamped, Copic coloured and die cut the yetis from Yetitide Greetings with Evelin T Designs to finish.

This post was a bit longer than I had intended, but good news is you've reached the end!  Thank you for taking the time to visit, especially during this busy time of year and with Christmas only four days away!  Wishing you all a safe and joyous holiday season!

Challenges:

Thanks Cards
That's Crafty - Anything Goes
Love to Craft - #29 December Anything Goes

Santa Card
Creative with Stamps - #33 Santa or Gfft

Bokeh Cards
Watercooler Wednesday - #201 Marsha's Special Two Week Year-End Anything Goes
Merry Little Christmas - #5 December Anything Christmas Goes
Addicted to Stamps - #169 Christmas Non Traditional Colours
Christmas Crafts All Year Round - December Anything Goes