Stars for Two

Today I'm participating in Darnell's Twofer Challenge.

I used the same Seeing Stars Die from Neat and Tangled for my stars but I used the negative piece for one and the positive piece for the other.   That is the only thing that is the same on my cards.

I sponged the watercolor paper panel, that I cut the stars out of, with Ranger Distress Wilted Violet, Blueprint Sketch, Broken China and Black Soot.

I stamped tiny stars and cluster stampings around the cut out stars and layered the panel over a piece of Kraft Stack Metallic Silver.   I embossed the sentiment on black using Silver Embossing powder, layered it to a slightly larger metallic silver panel and popped it up on foam dots.

For my Twofer, I cut apart the positive stars from the die cut so I could place them around my sentiment from Impression Obsession.  I layered the stars onto a piece of Bitty Big Lilac Grace patterned paper and added some white and clear sequins.  I stamped a sympathy sentiment on the inside.

We're expecting snow Tuesday night - so glad I'm retired now and don't have to try and get out to work!   But then on Wednesday afternoon it's supposed to get into the 40's and everything will melt.  Crazy weather here in New England this winter!

Birthday Stars
Stamps:  Star Gazer - PTI
Paper:  White, True Black - PTI, Kraft Metallic Silver - Idea-ology/Tim Holtz, Water color paper - Canson.
Ink:  Ranger Distress Wilted Violet, Blueprint Sketch, Broken China, Black Soot; Versamark, True Black - PTI.
Accessories:  Seeing Stars die - Neat and Tangled, silver embossing powder, heat tool.

Gentle Thoughts 
Stamps: With Gentle Thoughts - Impression Obsession.
Paper:  White, Winter Wisteria, DP Bitty Big Lilac Grace - PTI, watercolor paper - Canson
Ink:  Ranger Distress Wilted Violet, Blueprint Sketch, Broken China, Black Soot; Versamark, Hero Hues Black.  
Accessories:  Seeing Stars Die - Neat and Tangled, Winter Blend Sequins - Avery Elle, Tombow Glue.

A Magical Unicorn Birthday

I always see things (dies, stamps, inks) that I want.   And then I purchase them.  They arrive, I put them in a drawer for another day - and often forget to get them out and use them.

Case in point -  the wonderful Lawn Fawn Reveal Wheel dies and stamps and the Neat & Tangled Magical Day stamps and dies which I purchased months ago thinking I'd use them to make a card for my unicorn-loving youngest grand niece.

So yesterday was the day I got them out -  inspired by two challenges.

And here is the fun card I made for Madelyn -  who will be 5 in April 

(shhh - don't tell her about the card!)

I personalized the top of her card using my Brother Label Maker.   

And the birthday sentiment stamp really says "wishing you a wonderful birthday", but I only inked the Wishing You A and the Birthday and then stamped the MAGICAL in the space that happened to be just big enough!

I took 4 pictures to show you the 4 words from the sentiment set that I stamped on the wheel so you see each one as you turn the wheel.    FABULOUS  AMAZING  AWESOME  MAGICAL

I colored the unicorn using Tombow Markers pushing the color around the area with a Clear Glitter Wink of Stella -  below you can hopefully see the wonderful glittery shine!  

Jennifer McGuire has a YouTube Video on this coloring technique here.

My inspiration from the Splitcoaststampers Inspiration Challenge was this unicorn from the web store Accessorize

 Simon Says Wednesday Challenge

Make an interactive card.

Stamps:  Reveal Wheel Sentiments - Lawn Fawn, Neat & Tangled Magical Day.
Paper:  white, Hibiscus Burst, DP Bitty Big Pale Peony - PTI, Strathmore Bristol Smooth Surface.
Ink:  Hero Hues Black
Accessories: Reveal Wheel Die Set - Lawn Fawn, Magical Day Dies - Neat & Tangle, foam dots, Brother Label Maker, Tombow Markers, Clear Glitter Wink of Stella, tiny brad.  

A Love Pillow

Today I'm joining in with the Card Concept Challenge - they have the perfect image for Valentine inspiration!

I'd say my card design is Clean Layered.

I was inspired by the red love pillow, the stripes in the tan pillow and texture  in the sofa.

I used a red rubber stamp (unknown) for the LOVE, embossing it in white on a red panel.  I added a white die cut heart to the center of the O (in my bits bin left over from a die cut).

I die cut a square out of Soft Stone striped paper and layered it over the red panel with lots of foam dots.  

I embossed a piece of Rustic Cream cardstock with a chevron embossing folder, die cut it with a Wonky Rectangle Nestability (sort of like the pillow shape,  and texture on the sofa), trimmed the outside edges  to fit over my card and layered it on with more foam dots.

This could be a Valentine or an Anniversary card depending on what I stamp inside!

I'm also linking my card to:

Cupcake Inspiration

 Time Out Challenges

Stamps:  Love red rubber stamp - unknown

Paper:  White, Pure Poppy, Rustic Cream, DP Bitty Big Softstone - PTI

Ink:  Versamark

Accessories:  Wow Bright White Embossing Powder, heat tool, Stitched Mats Squares die - Lil Inker Designs, Wonkey Rectangles - Nestabilities/Spellbinders, foam dots, Chevron Embossing Folder - Provocraft.

Hello Circles!

Today I'm playing along with the Freshly Made Sketch Challenge.

I started my card by sponging 3 colors of Distress Ink over a panel of watercolor paper - Salty Ocean, Spiced Marmalade and Candied Apple. Then I laid a handmade circles stencil over the panel and wiped over the circles with a slightly damp baby wipe to remove the ink. Sort of like the look of Bokeh?! 

I white embossed the hello sentiment on a black strip and layered it over the panel with foam dots.. 

While I had out all the supplies for this card, I decided to make another one using the same colors but this time using a Retro Circles Stencil from ARTplorations.  

I sponged over the stencil this time - using Hickory Smoke Distress Ink.  I white embossed the sentiment on a black strip and popped it up on foam dots.

I like how the Spiced Marmalade Distress ink blended with both the blue and red inks to create some green and yellow shades in the middle!  I hope these are considered a clean enough design for the challenge even though they are covered with color.

Stamps:  Ways to Say: Hello Mini Stamp Set, Sentiment Staples: Birthday Mini Stamp Set - PTI
Paper:  White, True Black - PTI, Watercolor paper - Canson.
Ink:  Versamark, Ranger Distress Candied Apple, Spiced Marmalade, Salty Ocean, Hickory Smoke.
Accessories:  Wow Bright White Embossing Powder, form dots,  Retro Circles Stencil - ARTplorations, baby wipe, handmade circles stencil (acetate and circle punch).

Heavenly Peace

Yes, I'm starting to make my Christmas cards already!  And today I'm joining in with the CAS Christmas Card Challenge to help me do that!

This month the theme is PEACE.

 So I pulled out this lovely Heavenly Peace sentiment from Impression Obsession and this beautiful tree stamp from Rubbernecker and created this card.

And since it was so easy, I made another one with the same supplies, accept this time I die cut the stamped panel with a Pierced Feature Frame: Rectangle Die from PTI. 

I had to place the sentiment higher on the tree and lost the top of the tree using the frame die but I love them both!

And now I have two more Christmas cards to add to my box!

I'm also linking my card to:

The Holly and Ivy Christmas Challenge - Anything Goes

 

Happy Little Stampers Christmas Challenge

Stamps:  3 Pine Tree Set - Rubbernecker Stamps, Sentiment #C13153 - Impression Obsession.
Paper:  White, Stormy Sea - PTI
Ink:  Stormy Sea - PTI, Hero Hues Black.
Accessories:  Winter Blend Sequins - Avery Elle, Tombow Glue, Pierced Feature Frame: Rectangle die - PTI.

Feb CAS Stencil Card Challenge - Powdered Inks

Hi all - it's Feb 4th and the new CAS Stencil Challenge has been posted over at the blog!  Nancy is our hostess this month and her challenge is to use Powdered Inks with your stencil!

(think Brushos, Bisters, Color Bursts, Infusions, Magicals, etc.)

Since it's February - I wanted to make a Valentine as we have a card/craft sale at our church for Valentine's Day.  I grabbed an older MFT Graduated Hearts Stencil,  Brilliant Red Brushos, Love Notes Die from Reverse Confetti, Perfect Match Stamps and dies and Mix and Mat Hearts die from PTI.

I have a couple of process photos to share -  there are also several links to videos using powdered inks over at CAS Stencil for your inspiration.

Sorry for the yellowed photos - the light in my craft room isn't great for photos!

First I laid my stencil over a panel of watercolor paper.

Then I lightly sprinkled some Brilliant Red Brushos over the area, trying to get some inside the hearts (the color will spread anyway)

Then I spritzed water over the stencil.

I removed the stencil quickly and revealed this lovely stenciling!

There was so much watery Brushos mix on my stencil that I flipped it over onto another panel of watercolor paper , laid a piece of computer paper over it and rubbed over the stencil, leaving this negative watery print of the stencil.

(you can see there is still more watery ink on the stencil if I wanted to make another lighter negative print!)

Here are the two cards I made using the negative print of the stencil.  For these cards I die cut the background panel using Mix and Mat Confetti die from PTI.

And here's my first card again.

So please join us over at CAS Stencil, and link up your card using stencils and powdered inks!  You'll find video links as well as some creative inspiration from the Design Team here.  You have until Feb 24 to link up!

I'm linking my card to:
Paper Players

Just Us Girls

Stamps:  Perfect Match - PTI
Paper:  watercolor paper - Canson, White - PTI
Ink:  True Black, Classic Kraft, Orange Zest, Pure Poppy, Harvest Gold - PTI
Accessories:  Brilliant Red Brushos, Graduated Heart Stencil - My Favorite Things (retired), Love Notes Die - Reverse Confetti, Perfect Match Dies, Mix and Mat Hearts Die, Mix and Mat Confetti Die - PTI, foam dots.

Red and Pink Watercolor Tree

I recently purchased a lovely 3 piece stamp set from Rubbernecker Stamps called Gentle Breeze.  

I hadn't really looked at the stamp when it arrived - just put it in my floral stamp drawer to use later.  On Saturday I participated in the Inspiration Challenge over at Splitcoaststampers where we were to be inspired by the All Posters Website (wow, what a lot of inspiration there!).  

I came upon this poster 

and it made me think of my Rubbernecker stamp. So I got it out and created this card.

The stamp set has 3 stamps in it - the landscape piece, the tree piece and the grasses piece - so it's easy to get different colors on the different pieces.  

I decided to do a watercolor technique where I put one of the stamps in my Tim Holtz Tonic Stamp Platform (these stamps are red rubber but not on wood and you can use red rubber stamps in this platform.) I colored the stamp using Ranger Distress Markers in the colors I wanted, spritzed the stamp with water and then pressed the stamp on a panel of watercolor paper.  I repeated this with the tree stamp and the grasses stamp.  The Distress Markers I used are Walnut Stain, Brushed Corduroy, Spiced Marmalade, Gathered Twigs and Peeled Paint. I die cut the panel with Pierced Feature Frames: Rectangle from PTI.  

I really loved how this came out and was eager to watercolor it again!  

So I happened to check out the February CAS Watercolour Card Challenge and saw that it was to use Reds and Pinks.  I thought I'd try these unusual colors with this stamp set and created a Valentine by adding 3 stamped hearts and a Valentines sentiment after I did the water coloring.   The Distress Markers I used on this card are Fired Brick, Worn Lipstick, Festive Berries, Spun Sugar and Aged Mahogany.

 I'm linking this Valentine card to:

 CAS Watercolor

First Tree Card
Stamps: Gentle Breeze #1027 - Rubbernecker Stamps
Paper:  watercolor paper - Canson, White - PTI
Accessories:  Tim Holtz Stamp Positioning platform, Ranger Distress Markers Walnut Stain, Brushed Corduroy, Spiced Marmalade, Gathered Twigs, Peeled Paint, water mister, Pierced Feature Frames: Rectangle - PTI

Valentine Tree Card
Stamps: Gentle Breeze #1027 - Rubbernecker Stamps, Perfect Match (hearts and sentiment) - PTI 
Paper: watercolor paper - Canson, White - PTI
Ink:  True Black, Pure Poppy - PTI
Accessories: Tim Holtz Stamp Positioning Platform, Ranger Distress Markers Fired Brick, Worn Lipstick, Festive Berries, Spun Sugar and Aged Mahogany, water mister, Pierced Feature Frames: Rectangle - PTI