My Iove will never stop growing...

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This card was colored with water based markers and a blender pen on regular cardstock.  I just added a bunch of patterned paper (I have been on a bit of a kick with patterned paper) and my card was done.

Supplies:  Gina K Designs Better With You stamp set, Versafine Onyx Black ink, Tombow markers, KI Memories Doilies paper pad

I would love to participate in this challenge:

SimonSaysStamp Wednesday Challenge - Anything Goes!

Christmas in July

Hi, how are you doing today?  I have still been working on Christmas cards this month.  So much fun when there is no time pressure.  These cards fit a couple challenges, too!

These were so easy, I just stamped and colored in the background.  The partridge was heat embossed with Sparkle embossing powder.  I filled in the colored parts on this card with Gelly Roll stardust gel pen.  

To illustrate (further) how I cannot just make a multiple of a card, here is a variation.  I didn't add as much sparkle to this card, either, but I like the variation of putting the panel on the dark grey cardstock.  

Supplies: Gina K Designs Stately Flowers 5, Holiday Cheer, and the banner is from an unknown set, Versafine Ink, Memento Ink, various markers, Gelly Roll stardust pen, black self adhesive dots.

I would love to participate in the following challenge:

Gina K Designs Release Challenge

ModSquad Challenge - Christmas in July

CAS(E) This Sketch #183

Art Impressions Watercolor - Summer Scene

ETA: I was so pleased that this card won the Top Spot in the Art Impressions Sweet Summertime Challenge! Thank you!

I am not sure if you saw it, but Art Impressions put out a couple troubleshooting videos on their blog the other day regarding their watercolor technique.  I have long admired the look of this technique and the calm demeanor of Bonnie in the videos, and really enjoy the tutorials!  I have a small collection of the stamps but never was 100% happy with my results.  But after seeing the troubleshooting videos, I decided to give it another try!

Caption: Wish I was There...

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I don't usually copy a tutorial, but I decided just to arrange my stamps pretty much the same way Bonnie does in this video, using slightly different colors.  I was really pretty happy with my second try, and made it into this card.  

I stamped the sentiment and it was just a little off, so I decided to go over it with a marker.  My mistake actually turned out really well, I think, because it really sortof blends in with the overall watercolor look better now!

Supplies: Art Impressions Cottage by the Beach, flowers and foliage sets, Hero Arts sentiment, Asssorted water-based markers, KI Memories Doilies paper pad, watercolor paper

I would love to participate in the following challenges:

Art Impressions Sweet Summertime

One-Layer Stamped Floral card

Welcome and thanks for stopping by.

Today I am sharing this easy one-layer card!  It really came together quickly - about 10 minutes.  

First, I stamped the sentiment.  Then I used my ruler to draw a line on either side.  Post-it notes were used to mask off the sentiment strip, and then I just used some pretty flower stamps from Gina K to fill in most of the card.  

I did use the rock-n-roll stamping technique on the leaves and the blue flowers.

I did make a second card, too, but it refused to play along with the photographing process. I liked the colors in it, though.

Supplies: Gina K Designs Made with Love and Massive Messages stamp sets, Gina K Wild Lilac ink, Hero Arts Shadow ink Butter Bar, Orange Soda, Pool, Cornflower, Green Hills, Field Greens, Versafine Onyx Black ink, black marker, Stickles

I would love to participate in the following challenges: 

SimonSaysStamp Wednesday - Anything Goes!
Tuesday Throwdown #304 - Happy Birthday

Christmas in July - Rudolph Days

I have two cards to share today, both using peg stamps and the same sketch I found that is dated 2013.  I have been doing a lot of muted colors and that is the card that I completed first.

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This card uses just 2 peg stamps plus a sentiment.  It was really fun to make and I thought it looked really traditional with the sponging all over the card.

Then I decided to try something brighter.

This card also uses peg stamps, but I chose a white card base, brighter colors and only sponged right next to the stamping.  That sponging is a great way to fill the the gaps and ground those tiny images in place.  

This would be a really easy card to make multiples.  I used my circle punch instead of dies, because it is simply so much faster.  The sentiment circle is popped up to draw attention to it.

Supplies: Rubber Stamp Tapestry Pine Branch Border and Holiday Stockings sets, Sentiment from October Afternooon Silent Night, Avery Elle inks in Celery, Mermaid, Truffle, Strawberry,  Distress inks in Peeled Paint and Tea Dye, Tim Holtz by Sizzix Embossing folder

I would love to participate in the following challenge:

Rudolph Days - July
SimonSaysStamp Monday - Add some texture

Easy One Layer Masculine card

Just stopping in to share an easy card that fits a few challenges.  

First, I stamped the large stamp with dark blue ink.  I then stamped the small one around it in a pattern with watermark ink.  I didn't bother with positioners, I just stamped it out in a pattern and did not worry about perfect.  I inked the edges of my sentiment layer right into the blue ink pad to make it stand out and then popped it up with foam adhesive.

Supplies:  Technique Tuesday Irony stamp set, Hero Arts sentiment, Versafine Majestic Blue ink, Versamark ink, Kraft cardstock from Michaels

I would love to participate in the following challenges:

ModSquad Challenge - Get Krafty

A Blog Named Hero - Masculine

CASe this Sketch 182

Sunshine and Coffee

I have a fun, summery card to share today!  Right now, where I live, it is really a heat wave.  So this morning, the sun is streaming through the windows as I am sitting here drinking my coffee.

I used my favorite embossing powder on this card -- Sparkle!  This bold image can be overpowering in a card, but with the translucent powder, it really makes a statement without taking away from my focal image, the coffee cup.  

The coffee cup was sponged on both sides just to keep it from being too flat.  I added just a touch of color and stickles to the little flower and finished off the card with some black pearls.

I have used this stamp set recently on this card.  

Supplies:  Webster's Pages Alison Kreft Starburst stamp set, Versamark ink, Recollections Sparkle embossing powder, Lil Inkers Design Coffee Cozies stamp set, Versafine Smokey Grey ink, GKD Wild Dandelion cardstock, other supplies from my stash.

Thanks so much for stopping by! I hope you will stay cool and caffeinated today!

Mistletoe - Christmas In July

Hello! I am continuing to focus on Christmas in July this month.  Although the temperatures are soaring, I feel like I am getting ready for the winter season.

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This mistletoe image was fun and pretty easy to color with alcohol markers.  I added glossy accents to the berries.  

I did double up my vellum layer to make less transparent.  I also sponged green around the edges of the tag to make it stand out more.  The card base and sentiment tag are a pretty color of dark grey.  I have been enjoying that lately as an alternative to black.

I think it is pretty clear that one of my favorite embellishments are the self adhesive gems and enamel dots.  Nothing easier than that, and they fill in those spaces that just need a little something.

Supplies: Gina K Stately Flowers 5, Memento Jet Black ink, Versamark ink, Recollections White detail powder, Heidi Swapp patterned paper, Tim Holtz tag die, Spellbinders circle die, cardstock, vellum and embellishments from my stash

I would love to participate in the following challenge:

Freshly Made Sketches #246
Tuesday Throwdown - Favorite Embellishments

B is for Budgie

Hello!

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This cute image was stamped on watercolor paper and colored with watercolor pencils.  I added a little sparkle from a Stardust glitter pen.  I colored my Budgie grey, which is not as interesting as many of the ones I recently saw at the pet store.  (I would love to get a bird, but I looked it up and it seems you really REALLY can't have one if you have a cat...)

The teacups really remind me of the ones in my Grandma's collection, so I went further and found some patterned paper that looked like wallpaper she might have had in her house back in the day...   I think it turned out very pretty and quaint.

Supplies:  Power Poppy Short Stacks stamp set, Versafine Onyx Black ink, Derwent Watercolor pencils, Spellbinders Ovals and Scalloped Ovals dies, KI Memories Doilies paper pad by Hampton Arts, Gina K Applemint cardstock.

I would love to participate in the following challenges:

Power Poppy B Happy

Christmas In July - Partridge

Hello!  Here is another entry for Christmas in July.  I am so happy to be getting a head start on my Christmas cards this month.

I stamped the image and then colored with pencils and odorless mineral spirits.  This was a really fun image to color, especially the pears.  I sponged over the coloring with light blue distress ink and used a gel pen to add sparkle to the pears and all the leaves.

I used a lot of patterned paper -- I have been trying to use more of my stash.  

Supplies:  Just for Fun Rubber Stamps Partridge in a Pear Tree, Versafine Onyx Black ink, Sentiment is from Purple Onion Designs, Derwent Coloursoft pencils, American Crafts Candy dots, Crate Paper Peppermint paper pad, Distress Ink Tumbled Glass, Gelly Roll Stardust pen

I would love to participate in the following challenges:

Just for Fun Rubber stamps Christmas In July

SimonSaysStamp Monday Challenge - Flora and Fauna

I really appreciate your visit today!   Thank you!

Vintage Rose Card

Hello!  Today I have another vintage-y card to share.  I did not finish my Rose series in June, as I had intended -- life just got too busy -- so I decided to just keep on until I was done using all the rose stamps I could find in my stash.  (All my Rose themed cards can be found at this link.)

And I need your help!  I got this Rose image as a RAK and I do not know the maker.  Do you?  It was clearly unmounted at some point from a woodmount stamp.  

I used a lot of product in this card, I sortof threw the kitchen sink at it.  It was fun to make!  The seed packet stamp is so much fun and I know I will be using it a lot in the future with all my flower stamps.

I paper pieced the rose, and then added details with a rose pencil and then pink distress ink.  

Supplies:  Our Daily Bread Stamps Seed Packet, Rose Unknown, Hero Arts Italian Poetry background stamp, Avery Elle Kraft and Truffle pigment inks, Echo Park Victorian Garden paper pad, Derwent Coloursoft pencils, Distress ink Tattered Rose.

I would love to participate in the following challenges:

Our Daily Bread Designs Anything that Grows

SimonSaysStamp Monday Challenge Flora and Fauna

Recycled Tickets on a Vintage Style Card

Hello and I hope you are doing well today.  

I have been holding onto a few basket raffle tickets in order to use them on a card.  At least one of them was lucky, since I won a basket. :)  The tickets were getting a little wrinkled, and they are blue, so I thought of this blue vintage card.

There were quite a few steps on this card, but no one part was difficult.  For the flowers, I stamped them and fussy cut them out.  I then used cream chalks to color them, afterwards distressing with brown.  

The rectangle stamped on ivory is a frame stamp.  I stamped the same flower in a light colored ink inside, and then distressed it.  

I didn't want to tickets to be plain, and I know that in order to have harmony on a busy card, one can use the same image over and over.  So, I did stamp the leaves from that same flower on to the tickets and distressed them with brown too.

All that was left was the distressing of the background papers, and assembling the card.

Supplies:  Gina K Designs Frame and Filler, Heart Blooms stamp sets, Gina K Dark Chocolate Ink, Hero Arts Soft Sand ink, Pebbles Metallic Cream chalks, Hampton Art Doilies paper pad, Distress ink Tea Dye, Gina K Ocean Mist Cardstock,  Ivory cardstock, WeRMemoryKeepers Corner Chomper

I would love to participate in the following challenge:
SimonSaysStamp Monday Challenge - Flora and Fauna

I really want to thank you for stopping by today!  

Christmas in July - Easy Stamped Ribbon Card

Hello!  Today I am participating in a Christmas in July challenge.  It gives me an extra push to get more Christmas cards done early.  The following card was easy to make and fun since I got to stamp a lot.

I decided to make two cards while I had the supplies out, just slightly different.

You should have seen how many versions of the little sentiment I did.  I embossed, added glitter, etc., etc.  But in the end I just used a red marker to accent it.  

Supplies: Just for Fun Rubber Stamps Ribbons and Rick Rack, Hero Arts Sentiment, Colorbox Fluid Chalk ink  in Olive Pastel, Lipstick and Yellow Ochre, Versafine Onyx Black ink, cardstock from my stash, Tombow marker

I would love to participate in the following challenge:

Just for Fun Rubber Stamps Christmas in July

Masculine card with Polished Stone technique

Hello and thank you for stopping by.  Today I have a masculine card to share!  I really like how it turned out.  

I am sending this off to my son who is at sleep away camp this week.  I wrote a joke inside, so hopefully it does bring sunshine and laughter.

The stamped image was done over top of a piece that I had done the Polished Stone technique with green, blue and brown alcohol inks on glossy cardstock.  I have noticed that many people are using alcohol inks in new and different ways, but I am such a fan of this old standby technique!

(Click for a larger photo.)

Then I used my absolute favorite background stamp in my favorite combination -- woodgrain with Colorbox Fluid Chalk ink Chestnut Roan over Kraft card.  

Supplies:  Rubber Stampede Fern Frand, Archival Ink Jet Black, Hero Arts Woodgrain Background stamp, Colorbox Fluid Chalk ink Chestnut Roan, Hero Arts CL342 stamp set, Alcohol inks, Glossy cardstock, Kraft cardstock, Distress ink Tea day for sponging edges.

I would love to participate in the following challenges:

A Blog Named Hero -  Masculine

SimonSaysStamp Monday Challenge - Flora and Fauna

Tea Time Thank You card

Hello! Thanks for stopping by today.  I am continuing to add thank you cards to my stash.   This one was easy and fun to make.

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The process was simple.  I first stamped the large teacup with black ink onto my card, and to a post-it note. I cut out the post-it note to make a mask.

I then stamped with my peg stamps all over the panel to create patterned paper.  I did use distress ink to color around the edges of the panel.  I tried to choose my colors to be analogous, meaning that they are side by side on the color wheel.  This creates a harmonious color scheme.

Supplies:  Mama Elephant Cup of Wishes, Rubber Stamp Tapestry A Spot of Tea peg stamp set, Technique Tuesday Tiny Sentiments, Versafine Onyx Black ink, Avery Elle Pigment inks in Sapphire, Mermaid, Sugar Plum and Celery, Distress Ink Tumbled Glass, cardstock from my stash.

Thanks for your visit and for the kind comments!  

Artsy Flowers Thank You card with Gina K stamps

Hello!  Hope you are doing well today. I have a quick thank you card to share today as I am rebuilding my stash.

Supplies: Gina K Art from the Heart Stamps set, Gina K sentiment from Made with Love stamp set, Versafine Onyx black, Derwent Colorsoft pencils, grey cardstock from my stash.

Thanks for stopping by!  I hope to see you again real soon!

Cool Penguin Birthday Card

Hello and welcome!  Today, I decided to combine some challenges to make a card type that I sometimes struggle with -- Kid Birthdays!  I think this one turned out really cute!

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I colored the penguin dude with colored pencils.  As a beginner colorist, I enjoy doing the small images -- they aren't nearly as daunting for shading!

Supplies:  Imaginisce Penguin Dude, Mama Elephant Modern Borders, Gina K Happy Birthday to You, Versafine Onyx Black, Hero Arts Shadow ink Mint and Charcoal, Enamel dots, Derwent Coloursoft pencils

I would love to participate in the following challenges:

Case This Sketch #180

CASology - Chevrons

CAS384 - Sweet Treats

Thanks so much for stopping by!   I hope you will come back soon!

Christmas in July - English Robin

Hello, I hope you are doing well today.   I had a busy week last week with family events and celebrating the 4th of July.  I didn't touch my stamps for quite a while, but have been able to get back to crafting the last couple days.

I plan on participating in a lot of Christmas in July themed challenges, and I have two very similar cards to share with you today.  I also took the chance to color with some Derwent Coloursoft pencils that are new to me and I am really just learning to work with them.

I colored the English Robins in this stamp before I looked up what they really look like.  I think most Americans won't notice!  I will try to color one more realistically sometime in the future.

On the first card, I used a border embossing folder first and then scored around it.  To bring out the embossing, I sponged the edges with distress ink.  It was light blue ink, but I think my sponge tool must have been used for green before, because I got this pretty color of green.

The second card I wanted to use the same design, but slightly different, so I just added a strip of patterned paper and skipped most of the ink sponging.

Supplies:  Cardmaking and Papercraft Magazine 2015 Christmas stamp and embossing folder set, Recollections sentiment, Versafine Onyx Black ink, Derwwent Coloursoft pencils, Distress Ink Tumbled Glass, My Mind's Eye paper, Score Board

I would love to participate in the following challenge:

Daily Marker - 30 Day coloring challenge