A Vintage Journey - June Challenge - Stencil It!

The June challenge has been posted over at A Vintage Journey and Astrid is our glorious hostess this month!   Her challenge for us is to STENCIL IT!

Here is the challenge description in Astrid's words:  Create a project using at least one stencil, in a style that fits our challenge focus - vintage, shabby, mixed media, art journaling; industrial, timeworn or steampunk. There are so many possibilities to be creative with stencils on your cards, journals, layouts, ATCs or 3D projects. Stencils offer endless possibilities, be creative and have fun!

I decided to make a card for this challenge.

First, I colored on my Effulgent stamp from Penny Black with Ranger Distress Markers in Worn Lipstick and Gathered Twigs.  I spritzed the stamp with water and stamped it onto a piece of watercolor paper using my Stamp Platform so I could do one color at a time or add more color if needed on any area.  The more water you spritz on, the more watery the image, so you can practice to see what look you like!

Then I used 3 different stencils on my panel.  

First I sponged Shabby Shutters Distress ink over Tim's Crackle stencil.

Then I rubbed my VersaMark ink over Tim's Harlequin stencil on the right edge, removed the stencil and embossed it with Baked Texture Ancient Amber Embossing Powder.  This is really golden in the light.  I have a close up below where you can see that.

For the third stenciling - I used Tim's Speckles stencil and rubbed the Versmark over it over the flower area, removed the stencil and embossed it with Baked Texture Vintage Beeswax.  It looks rather like droplets of water when the light hits it.

I sponged around the edges of the panel with Gathered Twigs Distress Ink and added an Idea-ology Metallic Sticker/Quotations.  I drew around the sticker with a Black Stabilo Pencil then rubbed it with a damp finger to smudge it.

Here's a close up of the droplets of Vintage Beeswax.

Here you can see the golden shimmer of the Ancient Amber EP.

So we hope you will join us this month and show us how you use one or more stencils in a style that fits our challenge focus - vintage, shabby, mixed media, art journaling; industrial, timeworn or steampunk.

You'll find lots of inspiration from the Creative Guides over at A Vintage Journey!

Stamps:  Effulgent - Penny Black

Paper:  Water color paper - Canson, white card base - PTI

Ink:  Ranger Distress Shabby Shutters and Gathered Twigs, Versamark

Accessories:  Ranger Distress Markers Worn Lipstick and Gathered Twigs, water mister, Stamp Platvorm - Tim Holtz/Tonic,Crackle, Harlequin and Speckles Stencils - Tim Holtz/Stampers Anonymous, Baked Texture Embossing Powders Ancient Amber and Vintage Beeswax - Seth Apter/Emerald Creek, Idea-ology Metallic Stickers/Quotations, Black Stabilo Pencil.

Coffee Lovers Spring and Summer Blog Hop - Now You Get a Discount

Another card for the Coffee Lovers Spring and Summer Blog Hop.  The end of the hop is looming near - Friday 6/1 at 6 pm Pacific time - so I'm trying to get at least one more card in for a chance at all those prizes!!

Today's card is a birthday card for someone approaching my age or older - which a lot of my friends are!  We're finding more and more discounts offered to us 'Senior Citizens'!  One of the many perks of reaching maturity!

I had this cute wooden coffee cup from Hobby Lobby.  I colored it with yellow and purple watered Distress inks (but it really just made brown on the natural wood!).  I filled the heart opening  on the cover with Autumn Red Crystal Nuvo Drops and the openings on the cup area with Golden Sunset Glitter Novo Drops.  The sentiment is from Literary Caffeine-ations from StampLorations.  The die cut frame is from the Mix and Mat Berry Boughs die set from PTI.  I watercolor washed the background with green and blue watercolor paints.  Inside I stamped "Happy Birthday" and a little coffee cup stamp.

I'm also linking my card to:

AAA Cards 

They are celebrating their 4th Birthday with a DT blog hop. 

 Check out their blog to see how you can win prizes!

CAS-ual Fridays

They are celebrating their 9th Birthday!

Stamps:  Literary Caffeine-ations - Stamplorations.
Ink:  Hero Hues Black
Paper:  Watercolor paper - Canson, Vintage Jadeite, white - PTI
Accssories:  wooden coffeecup - Hobby Lobby, Mix and Mat Berry Boughs die set - PTI, Autumn Red Crystal Nuvo Drops, Golden Sunset Glitter Nuvo Drops, Tombow glue,  watercolor paints, brush, water.

Coffee Lovers Bloghop - You Perked Me Up!

With so many prizes offered by so many sponsors - how can I NOT keep entering cards in the Coffee Lovers Spring and Summer Blog Hop?!! 

Here is my third summer coffee card -  I used a pattern paper from St. Tropez Paper Pad by Prima that looks like ocean waves.

The stamps are from Cafe Art by Wendy Vecchi/Stampers Anonymous and I stamped them in Wendy Vecchi Archival Cornflower Blue ink that coordinated quite nicely with my pattern paper.  I added a little Prima flower and 3 Amelia Rose Crystals also from Prima.

We have until June 1 at 6 pm Pacific Time to link up our cards over at The Coffee Lovers Blog.

Stamps:  Cafe Art - Wendy Vecchi/Stampers Anonymous
Paper:  White - PTI, blue Bazzill, DP St Tropez Paper Pad - Prima.
Ink:  Cornflower Blue - Wendy Vecchi Archival.
Accessories:  Prima Flower, Amelia Rose Crystals - Prima

Coffee Lovers Blot Hop - No Sugar Needed

I'm entering a 2nd card in the Spring and Summer Coffee Lovers Blog Hop.  There are SO MANY prizes to be won from SO MANY sponsors -  and we can enter as often as we like!  We have until June 1 at 6 pm Pacific time to link our cards.

Here's my card.  I used bright orange colors and a beautiful sunflower on the mug!

Stamps are Cafe Art from Wendy Vecchi/Stampers Anonymous.  The mug is a Mat Mini Get Mugged also from Wendy Vecchi.  I colored it by smooshing it on my craft mat with Ranger Distress Spiced Marmalade ink and water.  I stenciled the top and bottom with Dots and Stripes Stencil from Wendy Vecchi sponging over it with Spiced Marmalade and a little bit of Hickory Smoke Distress Ink.  I drew a line across the open edge with a brown Micron pen.  I die cut the leaves with a leaf from Stitching Garden from PTI.  The sunflower is two layers of Daisy Doodles from Prima.

I stamped and stenciled on the inside with a sentiment from Think Big Favorites #12 from PTI.

I'm also linking my card to:

Just Us Girls

Seize the Birthday

Use designer paper

You'll find the Coffee Lovers Spring and Summer blog hop here.

Stamps:  Cafe Art - Wendy Vecchi/Stampers Anonymous, Think Big Favorites #12 - PTI.
Paper:  Rustic Cream Orange Zest, Text Style Distressed Dots - PTI
Ink:  Ranger Distress Hickory Smoke and Spiced Marmalade, Hero Hues Black.
Accessories:  Brown Micron Pen, Leaf Die from Stitching Garden - PTI, Mat Minis Get Mugged - Wendy Vecchi/Stampers Anonymous, Daisy Doodles - Prima.

Coffee Lovers Blog Hop - A Summer Espresso of My Thanks

Today I'm joining in on the Spring and Summer Coffee Lovers Blog Hop!  Have you seen all the sponsors and prizes to be one??!!  Not to mention ALL of the super fun coffee/tea inspiration??!

Here's my card.  I used a lovely summer floral paper and a pink lacy trim around my sentiment.

 For my card design I used

CAS(E) this Sketch

You'll find the Coffee Lovers blog hop here.

Stamps:  Coffee Set - Claire Brennan/Gina K. Designs, # stamps from Ali Express/China.

Paper:  Pink Coredinations, DP St. Tropez Paper Pad - Prima, Cocoa Bean, Vintage Cream, Rustic Cream - PTI.

Ink:  Cocoa Bean - PTI

Accessories:  scallop edge die - Ali Express/China 

May Papertrey Ink Blog Hop

Today I'm playing along with the Papertrey Ink May Blog Hop.  This is the photo inspiration for us.

I was inspired by the black/white tablecloth, the flowers on the table and the white/gold of the trailer and lights!  

(the paper on the top half of my card has gold and black dots but I don't think you can see the gold?!)

I used Stitching Garden stamps and dies and a sentiment from Sentiment Staples: Birthday.

I'm off to the Papertrey Ink Blog to see everyone's inspired cards!

I'm also linking my card to:

Seize the Birthday (I actually  got the topping this time - Patterned Paper)

Stamps:  Stitching Garden, Sentiment Staples: Birthday
Paper:  White, Ripe Avocado - PTI, Modern Metallic Paper Pad - DCWV.
Ink:  Pale Peony, Lavender Moon, Plum Pudding, New Leaf, Ripe Avocado - PTI, Hero Hues Black.
Accessories:  Stitching Garden Dies - PTI, Foam dots.

Be Still

Today I have a card to share that features a photo I took in my garden.

The plant is Solomon's Seal and I purchased it many years ago at the Garden in the Woods in Framingham, MA.   It tends to spread so you need to put it in an area that you want it to fill!

This is one area I planted it in our front yard under our beautiful Japanese Maple.  

There are a few other plants here as well - but the Solomon's seal takes up the whole left side! 

I will probably prune some out at the end of this season!

Here's a little info on the history of the Solomon's Seal plant for all you gardeners out there! 

I Googled it and found this info here.

Solomon's Seal is named for King Solomon of Hebrew lore who was granted great wisdom by the Hebrew God and had a special seal that aided him in his magical workings, allowing him to command demons without coming to harm. According to herbal lore, King Solomon himself placed his seal upon this plant when he recognized its great value. Those with imagination can see the seal on the rootstock in the circular scars left by the stem after it dies back.

Solomon's Seal has a rich history that goes back many thousands of years. Herbalists and healers, both in Europe and North America and the Far East, have written about its diverse effects on numerous conditions. In 2010, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (Natural Resources Conservation Service) identified Solomon's Seal as a Culturally Significant Plant, noting its medicinal and restorative value among North American Tribal (Original Nation) peoples. It is our understanding that the National Institutes of Health is presently researching the benefits of Solomon's Seal for heart health.

My card was inspired by the following challenges:

Splitcoaststampers - Ways to Use it Challenge: Picture This

Use a photo

Fusion Challenge

I was inspired by the sketch

Inkspirational

I was inspired by all the natural greenery 

AAA Cards

Stamps: Everyday Blessings - PTI
Paper: Rustic Cream, Cocoa Bean - PTI, Blue Distress Coredinations, Watercolor paper - Canson, Worn Wallpaper - Idea-ology/Tim Holtz
Ink:Hero Hues Black
Accessories:  personal photo, scallop die - Ali Express/China

I Heard the Bells

Yes - another Christmas card -  for this week's Merry Monday challenge!

I used a piece of Luxe Foil DP (PapertreyInk - no longer available) for the background.  

(I thought the swirly circles looked like the reverberations of the bell ringing!) 

  

 I die cut the bell out of gold metalic paper, stamped it using Versamark and gold embossed it.  Stamps and die from Folk Art Christmas (retired by Waltzingmouse)

I added a piece of holly cut from a Layered Accent from K&CO 

(it was an ornament with a sprig of holly on top.) 

 Then I adhered one red rhinestone.

The bell is adhered to the base with thick foam dots in the center so the bell curves.

Here's what I gold embossed on the inside of my card - from Inside and Out Holiday by PTI.

I made a second card with a different background panel from the same paper pack.

Merry Monday

Stamps:  Fold Art Christmas Additions - Waltzingmouse (retired), Inside and Out Holiday - PTI
Paper:  White, Luxe Foil DP - PTI, Kraft Stock Metallic Paper - Tim Holtz/Idea-ology.
Ink:  Versamark
Accessories:  Gold embossing powder, red rhinestone, Folk Art Christmas Die - Waltzingmouse (retired), Tombow Glue, thick foam dots, Ornament Layered Accents - K&Co.

Mid Month May CAS Mix Up Card Challenge Reminder!

Today I'm posting another card for the CAS Mix Up Challenge to remind you that you have until May 24th to get your card linked up!

Here is hostess Bonnie's challenge for us this month:  Use Gelatos or Crayons - but don't worry if you can't think of what you might do with these -  check out all the videos linked to over at the blog!

 This time I used Gelatos

 (you can see my Distress Crayon card here if you missed it!).  

I  mixed Bubble Gum Gelato with Liquitex Light Modeling Paste and spread it over a stencil.  

I watched this video that Bonnie provided us:  Stenciling with Gelatos by Kimberly Crawford

Here are a few photos of how I did it.

First I spread some modeling paste onto my craft mat.  Then I scraped some Bubble Gum Gelato off the stick onto the mat and then mixed it into the paste.

I spread the mix over Tim Holtz Scribbles stencil onto a panel of Bristol Smooth Surface paper being sure it was all covered and scraped over thinly and evenly. 

(wash your stencil and pallet knife immediately after use)

I cut a 2 1/2" x 3 1/4" piece out of the stenciled panel, layered it to a white card panel with foam dots, stamped and die cut the butterfly and layered it over the stenciling with foam dots.  Then I stamped the sentiment and layered the panel to a white card base.

Please join us and show us how you use Gelatos or Crayons!  There are several videos over at the CAS Mix Up Blog to inspire your creativity!  

You have until 5/24 to link up your creation!

I'm also linking my card to:
Just Us Girls

Creative with Stamps

AAA Cards

Stamps:  Butterfly Blooms, Women of Life (retired) - PTI
Ink:  Hero Hues Black
Paper:  Bristol Smooth Surface, White - PTI
Accessories:  Bubble Gum Gelato, Liquitex Light Modeling Paste, Butterfly Bloom Die