Gardening Bunnies Easter Cards

Hello stamping friends! I hope you have been well.  We have been fighting off this nasty cold. I know so many people have had awful illnesses this year and are ready for some spring!  How about some gardening bunnies?

Last week, I made these fun cards with my Hero Arts kit and a few other HA stamps from my stash.  I adored these bunnies and had gobs of fun creating these scenes.  

In real life, I would probably try to chase the bunnies out of my yard, but Easter is a special day...

(This one is my favorite.  This bunny is allowed to stay.)

Supplies: March My Monthly Hero kit, Hero Arts black ink, Hero Arts Berries background stamp, HA Celebrate Everyday and ClearDesigns April stamp set, My Mind's Eye Quite Contrary paper pad

I would love to play along with the following challenge:

SimonSaysStamp Wednesday Challenge - Anything Goes

Daily Marker 30 Day Coloring Challenge

Thank you for stopping by!

Distress Oxide Technique - Stamping with Water

Hello and hope you are well today.  I would like to share some cards and a quick tutorial for a technique that I used with Distress Oxide inks.  I know that these inks are great for blending - I am seeing that all over the crafting world - they really do blend like a dream!  And they are also great for reacting with water, so I combined those two strengths here.

This background used Broken China, Faded Jeans and Peeled Paint Distress Oxides sponged and blended on plain white cardstock.  The tree line was stamped on the back.

If you aren't familiar with this technique, let me show you how easy it is.

(Click on the photos to enlarge.)

First, sponge the Distress Oxides on your cardstock with a heavy hand to get good coverage.

Second, ink up your stamp (solid ones work well) with Versamark ink.  (This step is optional, but I think it helps.)

Spritz the stamp with water a couple of times and stamp over your background.

The ink reacts with the water by oxidizing and turning white as well as the watermark that would happen with regular distress inks.  The result is really quite pretty and easy to do!

Here is the card I made with this background.

(If you missed it, check out my other Distress Oxide tutorial for faux bleaching.)

Supplies:  Just for Fun Rubber Stamps Flora and Fauna Unmounted Sheet, Tree Line Background stamp, Sentiment sheet 3, Distress Oxide inks, Versamark, Embossing folders by Darice and Elizabeth Crafts, Versafine Majestic Blue ink.

Thanks for stopping by!  I would love it if you left a comment so I know you were here! 

I am playing in the following challenges:
ModSquad Challenge - Plant Kindness (both cards qualify)
CASology Melt (tree card)

The Flower Challenge - Anything Goes (Floral card)

Gardening Bunny Easter Card

I wanted to play along with the Mojo Monday sketch this week.  I made a bright Easter card with a cute bunny who I imagine is "helping" with someone's gardening.

Supplies: Hero Art My Monthly Hero March kit, Hero Arts Everyday Sentiments stamp set, Spectrum Noir Alcohol markers, My Mind's Eye Quite Contrary paper pad

Thanks for stopping by today!  I hope you have a great week!

Clean & Simple Bunny card set

Hello and thanks for coming by today! I have a very easy card set to share today where I used an old stamp set with a new one.  

I stamped and colored a bunch of these sweet bunnies. I thought they looked very elegant sitting on the plush pillow, drinking tea.  That made me think of these formal frame stamps that I've had for a while, so I decided to pair them up.

I knew I would need some thank you cards soon, so I made a bunch in different colors.

I used my workhorse frame dies again (I am going to be looking into the suggestions for similar dies that several of you made! Feel free to comment with your favorite frame type dies.)

Supplies:  Hero Arts Welcome Home stamp set, Recollections Cameo Frames stamp set, Hero Arts intense black ink, Versafine Onyx black ink, DCWV Citrus paper, Gina K Jelly Bean Green, Ocean Mist and Turquoise Sea cardstocks, Avery Elle Wonky Stitched Rectangle dies, Spectrum Noir alcohol markers, white gel pen

I would love to participate in the following challenges

SimonSaysStamp Wednesday Challenge - Bit o' Green

DiesRUs - Borders and/or Edges

Daily Marker 30 Day Coloring Challenge

Happy Easter

I was not sure if I would do Easter cards this year, but it turns out there is lots of time, so here is one of my first ones.  Very CAS!

I used water based markers to color the eggs.  This Wonky Stitched die is really getting a workout.  I seem to use it all the time. I am currently looking to see what other similar dies I could get, so if you have any favorites, let me know!

Supplies: I Brake for Stamps Happy Eater Eggs (the eggs and sentiment are actually one piece, but I cut mine apart), Versafine Onyx Black ink, Tombow markers, Avery Elle Wonky Stitched Rectangles, KI Doilies 6x6 paper pad

I would love to participate in the following challenges:

Great Impressions Spring or Easter
Daily Marker 30 Day Coloring Challenge

Watercolor Window

Hello and thank you for visiting!  I have been working on watercoloring with Art Impressions stamps today.  I definitely need more practice, but it doesn't take long so it is fun!

I used my Tombow markers and the Marvy LePlume sepia marker.  I love that particular sepia marker because when you add water to it, it separates out into several lovely, earthy colors.  I wanted to use the brown polka dot paper to accent those same colors that are in the window box that I panted to be terracotta, BUT I then needed to add the purple/periwinkle stripe to brighten things up.

Supplies: Art Impressions WC Series 5 set 1 (Window, Tiny vine, hummingbird), Flower set (daisy bunch), Tombow and Marvy water based markers, watercolor paper, MFT Pierced Square dies, Crate Paper Party Day paper, other papers from my stash, Hero Arts CL342 sentiment, Versafine Vintage Sepia ink.

I would love to participate in the following challenges:

Art Impressions Let's Watercolor

Dies R Us - Borders and/or Edges

SimonSaysStamp Wednesday Challenge- Bit O Green

Double D Challenges - Things that Fly

Green Card

Hello! Thanks for stopping by my blog today to see the card I have to share.  I am so happy that you are taking the time to be here.

This card is very straightforward with the stamping. I stamped the white panel with green ink.  Then I die cut it into two pieces and popped the first one up with a thin piece of fun foam.  I was hesitant to try this, but I have found that it is a touch thinner than dimensional tape and is still easily mailed with one stamp.

"Take Good Care" is a sentiment I have can use for several types of notes I need to send, like the 50's song, "Take Good Care of my Baby," to Get well or Sympathy.  I find myself reaching for this sentiment often. (Plus I like the mix of type and script.)

Supplies: Power Poppy Simply Camellias, Gina K Applemint ink and cardstock, Versafine Black ink, Avery Elle Wonky Stitched dies, American Crafts Ribbon, Spellbinders Foliage dies.

I would love to play along in these challenges:

ModSquad challenge - Song Inspiration

Power Poppy Let's Go Green

Cards in Envy - Simple

Pencil Coloring on Kraft

Hello and hope you are having a great weekend!  It is chilly and we have snow on the ground this late winter, and we may get hit by a major snowstorm next week.  We shall see!

It is always fun to color up flowers when it is cold outside.  This was done with my Coloursoft pencils, which work really easily on darker cardstock. I really like that I do not have to push down hard when I use them, it helps my hands not feel fatigued.

Supplies: Gina K Heart Blooms stamp set, Colorbox Fluid Chalk ink Chestnut Roan, Versafine Smokey Grey ink, Derwent Coloursoft pencils, My Mind's Eye Brambly Rose paper pad, Spellbinders Oval and Scalloped Ovals, EK Succuss banner punch

I would love to participate in these challenges:

The Flower Challenge -  Anything Goes

StampTV MIUM - Color Me Krafty

SimonSaysStamp Wednesday Challenge - For a Special Girl
Daily Marker 30 Day Coloring Challenge

Fast Floral Card

Hello!  I used a sketch today to make this card up quickly.  I thought the angle in the sketch was interesting.

I colored the image with alcohol markers.  The little bee was stamped on the light yellow card and just a bit of color and glitter was added.  

Supplies:  Our Daily Bread Designs Don't Worry, Bugs and Butterflies, Memento and Versafine black inks, Spectrum Noir markers, Cuttlebug Swiss Dots Embossing folder, Sakura glitter gel pen.

I would love to play in these challenges:

Our Daily Bread Stamps - Anything Goes with ODBD

Word Art Wednesday - Anything Goes

Cards in Envy - Keep it Simple
Daily Marker 30 Day Coloring Challenge

Thanks for stopping by!  I hope you have a great day and find some time to craft!

Star Ornament Card

I have a Christmas card to share today.  The background was easy and fast, I just did direct to paper - swiping three inkpads across the debossed side of cardstock that I embossed.

Since there was a lot of interest in the background, I did some simple heat embossing on colored cardstock.  Although you have to fussy cut these out, this card did not take very long and would be suitable for making multiples.

Supplies: Just for Fun Rubber Stamps Stamptangle Star, large and small, Sentiment Sheet 3, Versamark ink, Recollections Detail White embossing powder, Darice Ornamental Star Embossing Folder,  Distress inks Peacock Feathers, Tumbled Glass and Blueprint Sketch, cardstocks and gems from my stash

I would love to participate in these challenges:

SimonSaysStamp Monday Challenge - Make Your Own background

A Blog Named Hero - Bling it Up

I want to sincerely thank you for stopping by!  Please let me know you were here by leaving a comment!  Have a great day!

Spring Daisy - Stamping with Watercolors

Hello! I have a couple springy cards that I stamped with watercolor paint.  In fact, I only stamped the image once, and then cut it up into two pieces so I could get two cards.  I plan to try to get these cards sent out in today's mail, if I hurry!

(Lilac experiment update at the end.)

I have done this before, here is a post where I describe it better, but basically you paint the pan watercolor to your rubber stamp and then stamp onto regular or watercolor cardstock.  The nice thing is that you can use more than one color.  Here I used a couple shades of yellow.  

Supplies:  USA Stamp Quest Daisy Stamp, Hero Arts Sentiment, Koi Pan watercolors, Versafine Smokey Grey ink, MFT Pierced Square dies, GKD Wild Dandelion and Turquoise Sea cardstock, Cuttlebug Swiss Dots embossing folder.

I would love to participate in the following challenges:

Cute Card Thursday Anything Goes

Double D Challenges Think Spring

Word Art Wednesday Anything Goes 272-273

CAS Watercolor Spring

I also want to give an update of the Lilac branch experiment I am doing to force them to bloom early indoors.  I first posted this 8 days ago with bare branches and look at it now!  It has been amazing to watch the leaves and flowers unfold from their insanely complicated origami buds.

Look at the blooms, so many of them!  I was concerned that I might not have many since I couldn't tell between a leaf bud and a flower bud, but I have so many!  I just hope I can keep it healthy enough till it blooms.

Thanks for stopping by oday!  Have a great one!

Sweet Birthday

This month, Just for Fun is having a Birthday Challenge!  Who doesn't need a birthday card?  I hope you will hop on over to the JFF Blog to participate and be in the running for a prize!

Here is the card I made with some cute ice cream parlor stamps.

I colored my images with alcohol markers and added a little bit of glitter accents.

Supplies: Just for Fun Rubber Stamps Hot Fudge Sundae, Vanilla Shake, Stawberry Cone, Sweet Birthday Wishes, Memento ink, American Crafts Cardstock, Martha Stewart Heart Punch, Wink of Stella marker

Thanks for stopping by, I enjoy your visits and comments!

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Just for Fun Rubber Stamps will be in Rockford Illinois on March 4-5 and Wilmington Delaware on March 18-19.  Check out the Show Schedule here.