Purple Watercolor Sympathy

I had such a busy week last week -  I spent Wed and Thurs at my nieces' house babysitting for my grandnephew and grandniece, Landon 3 1/2 yrs and Mila 1 3/4 yrs.  Mum and Dad drove to Washington, DC and Baltimore, MD to celebrate their 5th year anniversary - so I volunteered to help for 2 of the 4 days they were away.  I had a marvelous time but was dead exhausted and I took Friday off from work as well to recuperate!  I also missed out on several days of stamping! 

So here I am -  catching up with a card for three challenges.

I watercolored my background by coloring over an acrylic block with 3 shades of purple Ranger Distress Markers - spritzed the block with water - then pressed it against a die cut panel of watercolor cardstock.  After drying it with my heat gun,  I used the darkest Distress Marker to color the leaf stem stamp - spritzed it with water and stamped it on the panel over the watercolored background.  I dried it again with my heat gun and then stamped the sentiment along the bottom.  I used a stitched mat rectangle die from Lil' Inker Designs to cut the panel and layered it to a white cardstock base.  The stamps are from the Casual Comfort Set by Cas-ual Fridays Stamps - I won the set with my card submitted to last months Cas-ual Friday's challenge!

I'm entering this into the following challenges:

The Card Concept 9 -  Monochromatic Purple - I used clean and simple style

Keep It Simple - Watercolor

 Virginia's View Challenge #3 -  Use something stitched (or faux) on your card (the stitched mat die)

and here are a few pictures of my little darlings

drawing in the dirt with a stick

in the playhouse in the backyard

Having a snack after a busy day outside

Playing with their flashlights in the blanket and kitchen chair tent!

Just look at this face!

Stamps: Casual Comfort - Casual Fridays Stamps
Paper:  White - PTI,  Watercolor Cardstock - Ranger
Ink:  Ranger Distress Dusty Concord
Accessories:  Acrylic Block, Mini Mister - Ranger, water, Ranger Distress Markers Dusty Concord, Victorian Velvet and Spun Sugar.  Stitched Mat Rectangle Die - Lil' Inker Designs.

Fusion Card Challenge - May 8th

It's Thursday and time for another great FUSION card Challenge!  Look at this wonderful floral photo we have this week -  AND the lovely sketch too!  As always - we can use the photo and/or the sketch for inspiration.

This week I was inspired by the wonderful contrasts of the bright yellow and black blooms - and the twigs in the bouquet. 

I wound some brown twine around the blooms to suggest the look of the twigs. The flowers and leaves are cut from felt using Funky Flowers Dies from Waltzingmouse.   I put home made enamel dots in the centers made by melting Perler Beads. (see tutorial here)

The background panel die cut with a stitched mat rectangle die from Lil' Inker Designs, is stamped with Pinstripe backgrounder stamp and the lovely sentiment is from Vintage Garden Seed Packet - both from Waltzingmouse.  I adhered a piece of Washi tape behind the sentiment strip.

I love the dimension that the looped twine gives to the card - while still being flat for mailing!

So what inspires you from this week's Fusion Challenge??  I can't wait to see your creation linked up over at the Fusion Card Challenge Blog!  You have just about two weeks to link up!

PROCEDURES:
1. Play with just the sketch challenge.
2. Play with just the inspiration photo challenge.
3. Or you can create FUSION by combining BOTH challenges into one card.
4. Use the challenge graphic and link back to Fusion in your post.
5. Please read the other considerations on the Our Rules Page before playing along.

Please check out the rest of the Design Team linked below for some wonderful inspiration!

Betty J
Cathy Weber 
Dannielle Robeson
Deepti
Jeanne Jachna
Julia Aston - me!
Katie Brooks
Kelly Griglione
Kimberly Wiener 

Lyndal Higgins

Lynn Mangan 

Michelle Williams

Michelle Lupton

Sindhu
Stephanie Severin

I'm also entering this in this week's Seize the Birthday challenge (use flowers)

Stamps:   Pinstripe Background, Vintage Garden Seed Packet - Waltzingmouse

Paper:  White - PTI

Ink:  Archival Garden Gate

Accessories:  Stitched Mat Rectangle Die - Lil' Inker Designs, Funky Flower Dies - Waltzingmouse, Die-namic Sentiment Strips - MFT, enamel dies - home made from Perler beads, washi tape - Darice, Glue N Seal - Ranger, brown twine, Orange, Black and Sandstone Felt - Michaels.

CC3 Challenge One - Paint Marbeling Technique

I recently discovered a blog that is running challenges based on Tim Holtz's A Compendium of Curiosities Volume III.  Since  I have recently jumped into the world of Mixed Media with both feet - I was inspired to join in so I can develop my skills in this genre of artistic endeavor (!?!)  You'll find Linda's blog and the first challenge  here.

 I already had Tim's first two books and I even had him sign them (and my apron!) when I was lucky enough to get into a class he taught at a local craft shop - Absolutely Everything in Topsfield, MA.

So - each challenge is based on one of the techniques Tim demonstrates in his new book - and we are asked not to divulge how to do the technique - we are to work from our own copies of the book and encourage people who wish to learn these techniques to also purchase Tim's book.  Fair enough!  I bought the book so I could join in!

The first challenge is to use the Paint Marbeling Technique.  I decided that I will make tags for these challenges so I can put them together in a Tag Book that will be lovely to look at - as well as a book of techniques!  

Here is my tag that I used this technique on and it became the base for my creation.  I'm showing it to you so you can see what the technique looks like -  since my stampings and other additions covered up a lot of it!

and a close up - cool huh?

and here is my finished project

I stenciled Tim's Layering Stencil Measured on the left here - using Archival Tree Branch Ink.  Then I stamped the window frame from Tim's Classic #16 set using Archival Watering Can ink on the right.  Then I rubbed on several Remnant Rubs from the Botanical set. and adhered a couple of words from Chit Chat Stickers.   I sponged over the tag first with Tea Dye Distress Ink and then again with Vintage Photo Distress Ink.  

To finish off my tag -  I added a couple of Tim's Mini Sprocket Gears (the numbered center is an old thumb tack from my father's work bench), I tied one of Tim's Word Bands from the Observations set around the tag using Tim's black Paper String.   I added some color to the Word Band and the Sprockets by first rubbing my Archival Orange Blossom ink pad over them - drying them with my heat gun - and then rubbing them with my Archival Leaf Green ink pad and drying it again (let it cool before touching as they get HOT!)

I added the two lines of dots with a Black Sakura Glaze Pen, layered the tag to a slightly larger piece of black card stock and slipped a Tim Holtz Swivel Clasp through the hole - I'll remove that when I put this in my Tag Book - but it looked cool for now with it!

You have until May 9th to link up your Technique project - then Linda will be posting Challenge #2 on May 10th!
and one lucky linker will win this from Inspiration Emporium!

 

Stamps:  Tim Holtz Stampers Anonymous Classics #16
Paper:  Inkssentials Craft Tag 6 1/4" x 3 1/4",  True Black - Papertrey Ink
Ink:  Archival Orange Blossom, Leaf Green and Watering Can, Ranger Distress Tea Dye and Vintage Photo.
Accessories:  Stampers Anonymous Tim Holtz Layered Stencil Measured, Sprocket Gears, Word Bands/Observations, Black Paper String, Remnant Rubs/Botanicals and Chit Chat Stickers - Ideology Tim Holtz, Ranger Distress Paint Mustard Seed, Rusty Hinge and Bundled Sage, water spritzer, heat gun, nonstick craft mat - Inkssentials, numbered thumb tack from stash,  Black Glaze Pen - Sakura.

Waltzingmouse May Release Day!

Wow - we've finally arrived to the Waltzingmouse May Release Day!  Today you will finally be able to purchase all of Claire's new releases -  Tag Collection 1, Stitched Tags and Folding Tags!  As well as the Simple Sprig Dies!

And to celebrate the release - the Design Team is having it's traditional Blog Hop using whatever they wish from the new release to give you one final inspiration before you trot off to the WMS shop to purchase what's inspired you most to be creative!

You should start the hop at Claire's WMS blog.  If you arrived here from Lynn's Blog - then you are in the right place!

 Today I used a tag stamp from the Tag Collection set - this one has a lovely distressed edge on it and subtle swirls around the ENJOY sentiment.  I decorated a small white with pink dots bag for this creation.   Don't you just love the shadow font used on the for YOU sentiment in this set?!

I filled my bags with some fun flavor straws and tied the "Hope You Like It" sentiment from the set around them with brown and pink bakers twine to match the chocolate and strawberry flavors of the straws.

Have you seen these flavored straws?  I found them by the milk at the supermarket.  Apparently you just put the plastic straw in the milk and suck the milk up the straw and it flavors the milk as it passes by the flavor beads into your mouth!?

I gifted a couple of these packages to some kidlettes on Easter.  No report back yet on how they tasted!

You can win a coupon with the money value of a large stamp set that you can use to purchase anything in the WMS shop -  one lucky commenter will be chosen from all the comments left on the Design Team Blogs.  You have until Monday, May 5th at midnight to leave comments. The winner will be announced on Claire's blog on Tuesday May 6th.

Next on the hop is Sandie - let's see what items from the WMS May release she has used today!  And don't forget to go shopping!

Stamps:  Tag Collection 1 - Waltzingmouse
Paper: Hibiscus Burst, white - PTI
Ink:  Archival  Jet Black
Accessories:   white pink dots bag - Impress, Modern Label punch and tag punch- SU,  Bakers Twine - the Twinery

Waltzingmouse May Release - Sneak Peek Day #3 Folding Tags

Welcome to Day 3 of the Waltzingmouse May Release Sneak Peeks!  Today the Design Team is using Claire's wonderful Folding Tags die which has a long tag base that folds up like a pocket and a smaller tag to use as an overlay. I also used yesterday's Stitched Tag die as a base for my tag - just to show you that it's slightly larger than the Folding Tag and so works very well with it if you wanted to combine them!

 Here are the layers all folded up.  I used a Tim Holtz Swivel Clasp to hold my 3 tags together (and to use to attach the tag to a gift!).  I die cut my tags out of one of Claire's Digital papers - Folk Art Clean Collection (I just LOVE this design) - I sponged all the edges with Ranger Distress Vintage Photo.  The 'For You' sentiment is from the new Tag Collection 1 set we showed you on Tuesday.

Below,  I've moved the top tag over a bit so you can see my sweet little Gingerbread family from Oven Fresh Gingerbread Joy that are adhered to the Folding tag part.  I used the Gingerbread Family Die Set to cut them all out. I just love these guys!!

On the next pic below,  the top tag is flipped up so you can see the full folded tag - see how the folded up piece fits under the little half circle slot holding it closed?   The Merry Christmas is from the same set as the Gingerbread people - Oven Fresh Gingerbread Joy.   See the sweet heart above and the star below framing the hole on the tags? - the Folding Tags Dies include a circle, a square, a star and a heart to use on the holes - it's so fun to have design choices for this little detail!

And here is the Folding tag part 'unfolded' with another sentiment from Tag Collection 1 stamped inside!  How fun and different is this tag design?!

This photo shows both of the Folding Tag die pieces flipped up revealing the Stitched Tag base I attached.  Isn't this Digital Paper beautiful!?!  And I used the square die cut to adhere over the hole on this tag below.

I'm linking my gingerbread folding tag to the Merry Monday Challenge - to use a Gingerbread Man/Woman on your card.   I used a whole family!
I'm also linking this to Addicted to Stamps Challenge -  Holiday

So tomorrow is release day when you will be able to purchase all of the new dies and the Tag Collection 1 stamp set -  the Design Team will be having a Blog Hop and you'll have a chance to win some WMS goodies by leaving comments!   The hop starts at 2 pm EST 

Meanwhile -  please visit the ladies below to see how they used this versatile Folding Tag Die set!

Anya Schrier
Edna Morrisedie
Jeanne Jachna
Jen Cuthbertson 
Julia Aston
Karin Åkesdotter
Kelly Schirmer
Laurie Schmidlin
Lynn Mercurio
Renee Lynch
Sandie Dunne
Teresa Kline
Tosha Leyendekker
Claire Brennan

Stamps: Oven Fresh Gingerbread Joy, Tag Collection 1 (available 5/3) -  Waltzingmouse

Paper:  Rustic cream and Enchanted Evening - PTI, Digital Designer Paper/Folk Art Clean Collection - Waltzingmouse.

Ink:  Adirondack Butterscotch, Archival Tree Branch, Ranger Distress Vintage Photo.

Accessories:  Folding Tag dies, Stitched Tag Die, Gingerbread Family Die Set - Waltzingmouse, black rhinestones - Kaiser, Swivel Clasp - Tim Holtz Ideology, word window punch - SU, foam dots.  

ePlay Challenge - Stencils

If you are looking for my Waltzingmouse post -  click here - or scroll down

I'm playing along with the ePlay challenge over on the eclectic Paperie blog today -  Erin's challenge for us this month is to use STENCILS

I created this nature wall hanging

 

starting with this Tim Holtz Burlap Panel Panel 4" x 6".  First I brushed on some Gesso and let it dry.

 then I added Wendy Vecchi White Crackle Embossing Paste

After the crackle paste dried - I added some stenciling -  using Archival Orange Blossom and Corn Flower Blue ink with the TCW Mini Chicken Wire Reversed stencil - and then Studio 490 Metalic Gold Embossing Paste with the TCW Mini Well Rounded Stencil. After everything dried - I lightly dabbed some Bundled Sage Distress Paint over the crackled area.

 Next I added some Remnent Rubs/Botanical (can I just say I LOVE these Remnent rubs - they are very sturdy and stick firmly even over this crackled embossing paste!)  I also inked the JOY from Wendy Vecchi Artful Words Stencil (my pic shows a stenciled FLY on the bird  - but then I didn't like that so I restamped the bird and kept her plain).

I felt like the edges needed to be more defined -  so I stenciled the stripes from Wendy Vecchi's Dots and Stripes Stencil using Wendy Vecchi's black Embossing Paste using my finger to spread the paste.

I stenciled some dots from the same stencil on the left also with the black embossing paste. After everything dried - I sponged all around the edges and sides with Ranger Distress Vintage Photo Ink.

I stamped the bird from Tim Holtz SA Bird Feather on white cardstock using Archival Tree Branch ink.  I cut out the bird and then sponged her with Ranger Distress Vintage Photo Ink.  I got a small piece of branch from my back yard and perched the bird on it.  I adhered the branch to the canvas and the feet to the branch with Glue N Seal.

I stuck Tim Holtz Memo Pins into the canvas on the sides through the loops of Tim Holtz Swivel Clasps.  The panel is light enough that I didn't have to push the Memo pins into the wood just under the fold on the burlap.  I used another stick from my yard to loop the clasps through.

 Here you can see the Memo Pins and Swivel Clasps

I clipped the clasps together so they wouldn't slip off the stick. (I've hung this on a push pin stuck in the door!)

I put 2 thick foam dots behind the bird to keep her popped up - I drew her black eye with a Black Sakura Glaze pen. and I added a piece of twine in her beak for her to take to the nest she is building for her babies (!).

I'm really  happy with how this came out - I feel like I'm getting a little more comfortable using Mixed Media!

I'm new to the eclectic Paperie DT - so I clipped this notice from Toni's blog regarding the ePlay challenges!

"If you would like to 'Get Stenciled' we would love to see your creations. There is a generous $25 gift certificate for Kim's fabulous eclectic Paperie Shop, for one lucky winner. Hop over to the blog by following this link, where you'll find all the challenge details and some wonderfully inspiring projects from the eTeam. you've got a whole month .....so there can be no excuses......get those stencils out!"

Now I'm going to check out how other people have used stencils over at the ePlay Challenge - I hope you'll make something using stencils and link it up there as well!

Stamps:  Bird Feather - Stampers Anonymous Tim Holtz

Paper:  White - PTI

Ink:  Archival Orange Blossom, Corn Flower, Tree Branch, Ranger Distress Vintage Photo

Accessories:  Tim Holtz Burlap Panel 4"x6", Gesso, Wendy Vecchi Metallic Gold and Black Embossing Pastes, Wendy Vecchi White Crackle Embossing Paste, Mini Chicken Wire and Mini Well Rounded Stencils - TCW, Artful Words and Dots and Stripes Stencils - Studio 490 Wendy Vecchi, Swivel Clasps and Memo Pins - Ideology/Tim Holtz, Sakura Black Glaze Pen, Bundled Sage Distress Paint - Ranger, Twine, Glue N Seal - Ranger,  Remnant Rubs Botanical - Ideology, small branches from tree.

Waltzingmouse May Release - Sneak Peek Day #2 Stitched Tags

If you are looking for my ePlay post - please click here.

Welcome to Day 2 of the WMS May Release Sneak Peeks - today the Design Team is using Claire's wonderful new Stitched Tags dies - which is a set of 3 sizes of tags with a lovely stitched edge on each one! They will be available to purchase on May 3rd.  I made Christmas tags today - layering all three together with a piece of black/kraft twine to attach them to the Christmas gift they will adorn!

I used lots of Waltzingmouse stamp sets for the sentiments and other stampings on each layer.  Some you can see - and others you have to move the tags over to reveal.  On the top white layer the stars are from Yonder Star and the 'for You' is from Around Christmas Time.

On the 2nd green layer - the 'Been Good" and peppermint candy are from Candy Jar Christmas - the 'No Peeking' is from Around Christmas Time.

and on the bottom red layer - the "Merry Christmas" and Open on the 25th are from Ornate Ornaments, the branch and holly berries are from Around Christmas Time.  I also added a scattering of green sequins for a little sparkle to each layer.

And here's what I stamped on the back of the tag so people would know who gave them this marvelous tag!

The TO and FROM are from Yonder Star, the 'Hope You Like It' is from the new set seen yesterday - Tag Collection 1 and the little decorative stamp in the top right corner is from Ornate Ornaments.

While I was at it -  I cut each tag in all three colors so I could make 3 tags - here are the other two with rotating colors!

I hope you will check out the other Design Teams Stitched Tag Creations -  we are all using different holidays on our tags so there will be a lot of fun inspiration!

I'm also linking this to the Addicted to Stamps Challenge - Holidays

I'll be back tomorrow with a sneak peek at another fun tag die - wait till you see it!

Anya Schrier
Edna Morrisedie
Jeanne Jachna
Jen Cuthbertson 
Julia Aston - Me!
Karin Åkesdotter
Kelly Schirmer
Laurie Schmidlin
Lynn Mercurio
Renee Lynch
Sandie Dunne
Teresa Kline
Tosha Leyendekker
Claire Brennan

Stamps:  Candy Jar Christmas, Around Christmastime, Ornate Ornaments, Tag Collection 1 (available 5/3), Yonder Star - Waltzingmouse.

Paper:  White, New Leaf, Pure Poppy - PTI

Ink:  Archival Jet Black

Accessories:  Stitched Tags Dies - Waltzingmouse (available 5/3), Lucky Blend Sequins - Avery Elle, Black/Kraft Twine - Timeless Twine, Glue N Seal - Ranger.