Gardenia Birthday

Hello, friends!  It's time for a new Color Challenge at Splitcoaststampers.  Karen is hosting this week and she has chosen the soft combination of Blushing Bride, Mint Macaron and Very Vanilla, with a dessert option of vintage. Be sure to use the link above to check out the challenge and hopefully play along with us this week!

I'm also joining the current Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge, where this week's theme is "Frame It". 

SSS Wed Challenge "Frame It"

I like using frames, most of the time as a way to ground my image and sentiment rather than actually frame anything, because it still acts to bring the eye to the center of the card.

The Gardenia is a layering stamp from Altenew and since I was only using Blushing Bride for the flower, I had to make sure I had enough contrast between layers.  So I skipped the solid base layer and stamped the first shading layer but using 2nd generation stamping so I had a very light color for the petals.  Then, when I added the next shading layer, I stamped it 2-3 times full strength.  I then stamped the outline stamp to pull it all together.  I used a similar process to stamp the leaves.  I do know that I'm stretching my artistic license with this flower since most Gardenias are white, and those few that are a very light pink are not this same shade.  But hey, it's card making not fine art, right?

With the soft challenge colors I knew I needed more contrast to the base, so I chose a neutral, using Desert Storm card stock, then layered on a piece of vanilla card stock die cut with the Marilyn cover die.  I dithered between Mint and Blushing Bride for the frame, but in the end the pink looked so much better with the craft card base.  After adhering the frame, flower and leaves, and sentiment, I added some clear sequins and iridescent jewels for a bit of bling.  I also used a shimmer pen on the flower but my photos don't pick up how sparkly it is IRL.

Thanks so much for visiting, it's always so appreciated!  I hope you'll use the links above and head over to both challenges!

Stef


Product details
Stamps:  Build-A-Flower: Gardenia (Altenew), Watercolor Trio (ret. SU)
Paper:  Very Vanilla, Blushing Bride, Desert Storm
Ink:  Blushing Bride, Mint Macaron, Soft Suede
Other:  Marilyn Cover Die (SSS), Stitched Rectangle Scallop Edge Frame (MFT), Stitched Shapes Oval Framelit (SU), Gardenia companion dies, Lucy's Little Things Iridescent Jewels, Sparkling Clear Sequins (PPP), Tonic Nuvo Aqua Shimmer pen
 

Flower Cluster

Hi there friends!  Today I'm pleased to share with you a card made for reminder post for The Flower Challenge, where I am honored to be a guest designer this month! Be sure to use the link below to check out all the beautiful inspiration by the Design Team.

The Flower Challenge #21

This month the challenge is to use any previous challenge, so for my reminder card I chose to use Challenge #14, which was to create a CAS card.  Over the years I have found myself creating more CAS type cards, without too many design elements.  For my card today, I used the Flower Cluster die, and inlaid leaf and petal pieces colored with Zig markers.

 
I die cut the image 3 times, once from white card stock and twice from Bristol paper, which I find works best for blending Zigs.  I adhered the white card die cut onto a white panel, colored the flower center pieces with a yellow marker, and then, after the Bristol colored pieces were dry, I transferred them into the main panel.  The remainder of the card construction is pretty self-explanatory, and the finishing touch was to add some iridescent jewels.

Thanks so much for visiting, it's always so appreciated!  I hope you'll be able to join The Flower Challenge this month, it's fun to be able to choose your own challenge.

Stef


Product details
Stamps:  Watercolor Trio (long retired SU)
Paper:  Neenah Solar White, Black, Strathmore Bristol
Ink:  Versafine Onyx Black
Other:  Flower Cluster die (Simon Says Stamp), Stitched Shapes Oval Framelit (SU), Zig Clean Color Real Brush markers, Lucy's Cards Clear Iridescent Mix jewels, score board
 

Just For You

Hi there friends!  Today I'm pleased to share with you a card made for The Flower Challenge, where I am honored to be a guest designer for the month of June!  We will be posting again mid-month, so I hope you'll check in to catch the latest inspiration from the wonderful design team.

The Flower Challenge

This month the challenge is to use any previous challenge, so I decided on Challenge #13, which was to use your favorite flower.  My current favorite flower stamp set is Beautiful Day from Altenew.  I love all the images and they are wonderful to color regardless of medium.  I am learning to use Copic markers after years of mainly using watercolor with paints or inks, so I'm not an expert by any means.  But I'm learning as I go, and enjoyed coloring these images with them.

Using Neenah Solar White, the images were initially stamped with Copic friendly Memento Tuxedo Black, then restamped with Versafine Onyx Black after the coloring was complete to enhance the black outlines.  When dry, I used the companion dies to cut the images.  I put together the card, adding a layer of white card stock die cut the beautiful Marilyn cover die before adhering the flowers, leaves and sentiments.  Ebony Black Nuvo drops were added to the flower centers and Crystal Glaze to the ends of the stamen.  In retrospect, I wish I would have done the center a different way, it just makes the images more stylized than realistic.

Thanks so much for visiting, it's always so appreciated!  I've added a link the The Flower Challenge above, so I hope you'll head over there and join us this month!

Stef


Product details
Stamps:  Beautiful Day, Label Love (both Altenew)
Paper:  Neenah Solar White
Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black, Versafine Onyx Black
Other:  Marilyn Full Card Cover die (Simon Says Stamp), Beautiful Day Coordinating dies, Sparkling Clear Sequins (PPP), Tonic Nuvo Ebony Black Crystal Drops and Crystal Glaze, Copics:  R24, 37, 46, 59, 81, 85; YG01, 03, 07, 17; G14,17,28
 

Hi Kitty

Hello friends!  It's time for a new Color Challenge at Splitcoaststampers! Barbara is hosting this week and she has chosen the bright and beautiful color combination of Tempting Turquoise, Cucumber Crush, Daffodil Delight and Berry Burst, with a dessert option to add flowers. 

For my card I decided to use an image of a kitty walking through the flowers from Waffle Flower.  I used this same stamp a couple of weeks ago, but thought the charming image would work perfectly with the challenge colors.  I also used Copic Markers to color the scene.  I am just learning to use these markers so my blending still needs some work on larger images, but I am enjoying the process of getting acquainted with a new media.

Isn't she cute?  I started by stamping the image on Bristol paper with Copic friendly ink, created a mask to cover the cat and large flowers, then used Distress Inks to create the grass and use with a cloud stencil for the sky.  Using Bristol paper with Copics is not optimum because they are harder to blend and the paper absorbs more ink, but I chose to use it because Distress Inks blend so much better on it, and most of the images were small, requiring minimal ink.

Once that was done, the masks were removed and I used Copic Markers to color kitty and the flowers.  I left the stamp in my Misti so prior to die cutting the panel, I put it back in the Misti and inked up the stamp in Versafine Onyx Black ink to get a nice crisp line.  A wonky rectangle die was used to trim down the panel, which was then adhered to a slightly larger panel of Tempting Turquoise.

The sentiment was die cut 3 times, layered and adhered to the panel, then an aqua shimmer pen was used to add some glitter to it as well as the flowers.  Lastly a few white Nuvo drops were added to the panel.

Thanks for visiting, it's always so appreciated!  I've added a link to Splitcoaststampers above so I hope you'll check out the Color Challenge and join us this week!

Stef


Product details
Stamps:  Smiling (Waffle Flower)
Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black, Versafine Onyx Black, Mermaid Lagoon and Mowed Lawn Distress Inks
Paper:  Thick Whisper White, Tempting Turquoise, Strathmore Bristol
Other:  Copics, Hello There die set (MFT), Wonky Rectangle die (SSS), Tonic Nuvo Simply White Crystal Drops and Aqua Shimmer pen, Clouds for Days stencil (SSS)
 

Watermelon Birthday

It's time for a new Color Challenge at Splitcoaststampers!  It's my turn to host this week and I've chosen the colors Watermelon Wonder, Old Olive and Smoky Slate, with the dessert option to use a die cut sentiment/shape/image.  A link has been added above, I hope you'll be able to join us this week!

Recently, Altenew sent a beautiful floral stamp to customers as a free gift for shopping with them, so I decided to use it for my color challenge card.  It was stamped on Ranger watercolor paper then watercolored with Distress Inks, Stampin' Up ink and colored pencils. 

I initially covered the petals with Abandoned Coral, then used Barn Door for the shadows, which are clearly detailed on this pretty stamp.  Finally, I deepened the shadow more with a Crimson Prismacolor pencil.  Old Olive was used for the petals and a light bit of Smoky Slate painted around the edge of the image.  Once dry, a white gelly roll pen was used to color the stamen, a shimmer pen was painted on the flower petals and then I fussy cut the image so it could be popped up on foam tape over the die cut border.

The sentiment was die cut once each from Watercolor Wonder and Basic Black, then layered just offset with the black acting as a shadow, then covered with crystal glaze.  Simply White and Ebony Black Crystal Drops were added as final embellishments.

I've used the current sketch challenge at Fab Friday as inspiration for my card design.  I've added a link below, so be sure to head over there and check it out!

Fab Friday 137

Thanks for visiting, it's always so appreciated!

Stef


Product details
Stamps:  Altenew free gift
Paper:  Neenah Solar White, Watermelon Wonder, Basic Black, Ranger watercolor, A Little Foxy paper pack
Ink:  Versafine Onyx Black; Old Olive; Distress Inks:  Abandoned Coral, Barn Door
Other:  Prismacolor Premier colored pencil; Flourish Thinlit border die; Brushstroke Birthday sentiment die (MFT); white Sakura Gelly Roll pen; Tonic Nuvo:  Aqua Shimmer pen, Simply White and Ebony Black Crystal Drops, and Crystal Glaze
 

Spring Kitty

Hello, friends and welcome back!  Today I've got a quick post with a card I made for the current challenge at Freshly Made Sketches.  It seems like forever since I've had a chance to join this challenge, however the timing worked out this week and here we are!

FMS 337

To accommodate the stamp I wanted to use today, I flipped the sketch 90 degrees so that the smaller panel was on the bottom of the card.  I stamped one of the darling kitties from the Waffle Flower Smiling stamp set on a panel of Bristol paper and colored with various Zig Markers.

Ms. Kitty looks very smart in her hat and bows, strolling amongst the flowers and a couple of snails, so I thought the sentiment worked perfectly.  I stamped two extra flower images, die cut them and added them to the panel with Dimensionals  Grass was added to ground the images, then a light blue was scribbled on the sky portion and spread around with a waterbrush.  The Bermuda Bay panel was embossed with a retired SU clouds embossing folder to complete the "scene".  The flowers were painted with an aqua shimmer pen but I didn't have the right light to capture it when I took my photos (it looks sparkly and pretty IRL!).  I didn't have the right color of paper to go under the sentiment circle, so I use the Purple Zig marker, scribbled it on a scrap of Bristol and blended it with a waterbrush.  It's turned out a bit florescent but adds a fun pop of color.

Thanks so much for visiting, it's always so appreciated.  I've added a link to the challenge above, so be sure to head over there and enjoy all the beautiful inspiration!

Stef


Product details
Stamps:  Smiling (Waffle Flower), Circle of Spring (SU)
Paper:  Thick Whisper White, Bermuda Bay, Strathmore Bristol
Ink:  Versafine Onyx Black, Memento Tuxedo Black
Other:  Zig Clean Color Real Brush markers, Cloud ef, Layering Circle and Stitched Shapes Circle dies, Nuvo Aqua Shimmer pne, Pretty Pink Posh Sparkling Clear sequins
 

Swinging By at Sunset

It's time for a new Color Challenge at Splitcoaststampers.  Karen is hosting this week and she has chosen the lovely combination of Calypso Coral, Peekaboo Peach, Crushed Curry and Pear Pizzazz, with a dessert option to include a pocket.  I wasn't quite sure how I was going to add a pocket but finally came up with a plan to create a pocket for tag with the sentiment.

I started with a panel of Bristol paper, stamping the silhouette images from the latest My Monthly Hero card kit, then used ink blending tools to create the sunset and hills in the background.  When done, the angled top was die cut and the remainder of the panel trimmed down to fit on the card front.  The card base was layered with a panel die cut from Peekaboo Peach card stock, then the ink blended panel was added with foam tape, making sure to leave room for the tag.

 
The sentiment on the tag was stamped along with a couple branches, then peach ink was blended around the edges.  Peach ribbon and Baker's Twine was added to the top and a few sparkling sequins finished things off.

Thanks so much for looking!  I hope you'll use the link above to check out the Color Challenge and join us this week!

Stef


Product details
Stamps:  Tree of Life (My Monthly Hero Kit 5/18)
Paper:  Neenah Solar White, Peekaboo Peach, Strathmore Bristol
Ink:  Crushed Curry, Calypso Coral, Peekaboo Peach, Pear Pizzazz, Versafine Onyx Black
Other:  Ranger Mini Ink Blending tools, shipping tag from my stash, Peekaboo Peach Ruched Ribbon and Baker's Twine, Papel Picado Confetti Cover die (HA), Card Front Element Builder die (SugarPea), Sparkling Clear sequins (PPP)
 

Mambo Hugs

Hello friends!  It's time for a new Color Challenge at Splitcoaststampers!  Mary is hosting this week and she has chosen Melon Mambo, Lemon Time Twist and Black, with a dessert option to make a last minute Mother's Day card.  I opted for no dessert this week.

My card ended up being so different from what I originally planned to make, which was to watercolor a floral image (no surprise there to anyone that follows my blog!) but just wasn't  inspired and wanted to try something different.  I decided to use the SugarPea Card Front Element Builder dies for my card design.

I started by die cutting both the white panel and Melon Mambo designer paper with the scallop border die, then used the angled border die to cut the dsp a second time.  After adhering to the white panel, the sentiment was stamped and heat set with clear embossing powder.  I added the hearts with Melon Mambo ink and later covered the hearts with shimmer and Glossy Accents.  I let the glaze dry overnight then layered the die cut panel on slightly larger pieces of Lemon Lime Twist and Black card stock.

The embellishments take me back a few years when I always added ribbon and buttons to my card.  I have a good sized stash of SU buttons and while I rarely use them anymore, I have not yet been able to relinquish ownership (maybe at my next Garage Sale).  So I thought it would be fun to give my card this bit of retro embellishment.

Thanks for visiting today, it's always so appreciated!  I hope you'll use the link above to check and the Color Challenge and hopefully join us this week!

Stef


Product details
Stamps:  That Is All (WPlus9)
Paper:  Neenah Solar White, Black, Lemon Lime Twist, Brights dsp stack
Ink:  Versafine Onyx Black, Melon Mambo
Other:  Hero Arts Ultra Fine Clear Embossing Powder, Tonic Nuvo Aqua Shimmer pen, Glossy Accents, Black Baker's Twine, Neutrals button, SugarPea Card Front Element Builder dies
 

Pink Butterflies Birthday

Hello friends!  It's time for a new Color Challenge at Splitcoaststampers!  Pam is hosting tonight and she has chosen Pink Pirouette, Basic Black and White for this weeks colors. The dessert option is to use vellum, which I completely forgot about, so no dessert for me this week!

I'm also entering my card in the "Anything Goes" challenges at Seize the Birthday and Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge.

STB Anything Goes

SSS Wed Challenge

I kept debating about what I wanted to create with the Color Challenge colors and finally decided to make something fun by using a Butterflies stencil to create some pink butterflies with embossing paste.  I added several drops of Pink Pirouette ink from a reinker and then dumped a large amount of Dazzling Diamonds glitter in the mix before spreading over the stencil.  I love how the butterflies turned out, with lots of sparkle!

I let the embossing paste dry over night, trimmed down the panel and layered it on a slightly larger piece of Pink Pirouette card stock, then added the sentiment.  A strip of patterned paper was adhered to the card base, then the butterfly panel was popped up with foam tape.  Of course a few sequins were added to complete the look!

Thanks so much for visiting, it's always so appreciated!  I've added links to all the challenges so be sure to head over and check them out.  I hope you'll be able to join us at the SCS Color Challenge this week!

Stef


Product details
Stamps:  Spoken Bird (My Monthly Hero Card Kit Feb 2017)
Paper:  Whisper White, Thick Whisper White (base), Pink Pirouette, MFT Black and White Basics 6x6 paper pack
Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne
Other:  Dreamweaver White Embossing Paste, Pink Pirouette reinker, Dazzling Diamonds Glitter (SU), Butterflies stencil (SSS), Sparkling Clear sequins (PPP)
 

Mondo Hydrangea

Hello friends!  It's time for a new Color Challenge at Splitcoaststampers.  Barbara is hosting this week and she has chosen Rich Razzleberry, Sweet Sugarplum, and Tranquil Tide, with the dessert option to make a one layer card.  Well that dessert option was a little tricky.  I did get it done in a fashion but technically it's not a one layer card.

 

I started by heat embossing the large, lovely Mondo Hydrangea bloom in white embossing powder on a panel of watercolor paper.  I squeezed the top of the lids of the Rich Razzleberry and Sweet Sugarplum ink pads for coloring the flower petals.  I colored all the petals with the lighter color, Sugarplum, then went in with Rich Razzleberry at the base of each petal, added a bit of water and let the ink spread.  I was not concerned about getting the hard edges as the ink dried as it was the look I was going for.  Caveat:  I know that hydrangeas do not come in this shade of purple, but I thought the image lent itself so well to a one layer card, that I decided to claim a bit of artistic license to color it in these shades.  ; - ) 

After the petals dried I took a #12 round watercolor brush and spread clear water around the edges of the bloom, then dropped in Tranquil Tide ink, making sure to get it into the areas between the petals on the interior of the bloom.  I used Soft Suede as my neutral to color the woody stems.  Originally I wanted to add white to the flower centers but ultimately ended up using metallic gold watercolor paint, which looks much richer.

 
After stamping the sentiment, a Corner Rounder punch was used on the upper left corner of the panel and the card base, then the panel was directly adhered to the card base.  I wrapped a bit of Rich Razzleberry Cotton ribbon around the top and embellished with a few sequins, and that finished off my card.

Thanks for visiting and I hope you'll use the link above to check out the challenge and join us this week!

Stef


Product details
Stamps:  Mondo Hydrangea (Ellen Hutson)
Paper:  Canson XL watercolor
Ink:  Versamark, VersaFine Clair Nocturne, Sweet Sugarplum, Rich Razzleberry, Tranquil Tide, Soft Suede
Other:  Gansai Tambi Starry Colors Metallic watercolor paints, Rich Razzleberry Cotton ribbon, sequins, Corner Rounder punch

Flowers in the Round

Hello friends!  I hope you're having a wonderful weekend.  I had some fun making the card I'm sharing with you tonight.  I don't typically make shaped cards, I'm not very practiced or skilled like some that make fantastic 3D or shaped cards.  In fact, it's been years since I made a round card but decided to give it a go for this card.

I dusted off, figuratively speaking, my old Stampin' Up Circle Collections framelits because the largest die has scallops.  I cut the card front with that scallop framelit from white card stock, then used the partial die cut technique with the same die to cut the card base.  Once cut the scallop piece was adhered, along with the bright green patterned paper.

Next I worked on the main image, stamping the jar and flowers on a piece of watercolor paper, heat setting with clear embossing powder, then watercolored with Distress Ink.  The funny thing is the last time I watercolored Sweet Peas (different image) I used the light pink mix as well.  After the flowers and water was colored, I added the light yellow background and a "wood" table for the vase to sit on.  I used a Misti to stamp the sentiment so I could get a good impression, then heat set it with clear embossing powder. 

The watercolored circle was adhered to a slightly larger circle of white card stock with strong adhesive then added to the card base with foam tape.  I used a little aqua shimmer pen along the edges of the flowers, then added some Nuvo Simply White Crystal drops and a small linen thread bow on the jar.

I've created this card for the current challenge at The Flower Challenge, where the theme this month is - you guessed it - to make a shaped card.  I've added a link below so be sure to take a moment to check it out, there's some amazing inspiration by the DT!

The Flower Challenge #19

Thanks for visiting, it's always so appreciated!

Stef


Product details
Stamps:  Summer Flowers, Creative Vases (both Hero Arts)
Paper:  Neenah Solar White, both #80 and #100, Canson XL, patterned paper from my stash
Ink:  Versafine Onyx Black; Distress Ink:  Spun Sugar, Picked Raspberry, Squeezed Lemonade, Mowed Lawn, Tumbled Glass, Frayed Burlap
Other:  Circles Collection framelits (SU), Nested Circle Infinity dies (HA), Linen Thread, Tonic Nuvo Simply White Crystal Drops and Aqua Shimmer pen
 

Beautiful Birthday

Hello and welcome back!  I've had a bit more fun playing with the new Beautiful Day stamp set, using it to create a birthday card with lots of vibrant colors.

The butterfly and leaves were stamped on Neenah Solar White card stock, colored with Copic Markers and fussy cut (naturally, I bought the dies separately and they arrived the day after I made this card LOL!).  After adhering to the die cut circle, the piece was set aside as I made the card base. 

The bright pink card stock was trimmed into two pieces, embossed, layered on the white card base, then the black and white striped patterned paper was added down the right side.  I used my Misti to make sure I stamped my sentiment straight, then the butterfly piece was added.  Shimmer was added to the butterfly, and finally sequins and Nuvo crystal drops in both white and bright pink.

I'm entering my card into the 4 challenges below linked below.  Be sure to head over there and enjoy all the beautiful inspiration!

Just Us Girls #436

 SSC #176

 

 STB - Vibrant Colors

SSS Wed Challenge - Sparkle and Shine 

As always, thanks for visiting!

Stef


Product details
Stamps:  Beautiful Day (Simon Says Stamp), Happy Birthday Gorgeous (Stampin' Up)
Paper:  Neenah Solar White, Doll Pink (SSS), Black & White Basics paper pad (MFT)
Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black, Versafine Onyx Black
Other:  Copic markers, Spring Flowers embossing folder (ret. SU), Layering Circle Framelit (SU), Hero Arts Ultrafine Clear Embossing Powder, Pretty Pink Posh Sparkling Clear sequins, Tonic Nuvo Simply White and Shocking Pink Crystal Drops, and Aqua Shimmer pen
 

Florals and Butterflies

Hi there!  It's time for a new Color Challenge at Splitcoaststampers and I am hosting this week.  We're going to watch Blackberries Growing in the Meadow Under a Soft Sky using the colors Blackberry Bliss, Mossy Meadow and Soft Sky.  The dessert option is to add butterflies to your card.  I've made two cards this week since this is one of my favorite color combinations.

I'm also excited to finally reveal that I have the honor of becoming one of the newest members of the Dirty Dozen Design team at Splitcoaststampers!  Whoo hoo!  Each month for the next 6, we twelve "dirty girls" will create projects for monthly themes, as a thank you to all the Fan Club members at SCS.  If you've never been to SCS, use the link above to check it out.  It is an amazing, supportive community of paper crafters with daily challenges, tutorials and so many resources.

Now on to the two cards made for the Color Challenge this week!

For this first card I started with a watercolor paper panel, heat embossed the two solid butterflies, spread clear water on it, then dropped in the Soft Sky and Blackberry inks to create the soft background.  When dry I flicked Soft Sky and Blackberry inks, plus Ranger Pearl Metallic Acrylic paint and gold from the Gansai Tambi Starry Colors paints.  I still had gold on my paintbrush, so I decided to go all around the edges of the panel to really help it stand out.  When the paint dried, the sentiment was heat embossed with gold ep.

The flower and leaves are layered stamps, and I purposely omitted the solid base image, instead just stamping the outline and "shadow" stamps.  Then, using a damp (not wet) paint brush, I gently pulled color down into the highlighted areas from the inked shadows.  Kind of a fake water colored look if you will!  The rest of the process to put the card together is pretty self explanatory.

For this card, I started with a watercolor paper panel, spread clear water then dropped in a bunch of Soft Sky ink.  I let the water move it around then helped by tilting the panel, then drying with a heat tool when I was happy with it.  Next the fern was inked up in Mossy Meadow, spray with a mister then stamped repeatedly on the panel.  Pearl acrylic paint was splattered on the panel, then once everything was dry the sentiment was added using my Misti.

Next I cut the sold butterfly image from vellum, then used a Blackberry marker and a waterbrush to paint the backside of the vellum.  I've never tried that before and was shocked to watch the vellum curl up as the fluids dried, but I flattened it out by placing it under a huge pile of heavy magazines.  The top layer was die cut from white glitter paper, adhered it to the flattened solid layer, then added to the watercolor panel adhered to the base, along with some sequins.







As always, your visit is so appreciated!  I hope you'll join us for the Color Challenge this week!

Stef


Product details
Card 1
Stamps: Beautiful Day-flower  and sentiment (Altenew) and Beautiful Day-butterflies (Simon Says Stamp)
Paper:    Neenah Solar White, Soft Sky, Ranger watercolor
Ink:  Blackberry Bliss, Mossy Meadow, Soft Sky, Versamark
Other:  Beautiful Day companion dies, Hero Arts White and Altenew Antique Gold embossing powders, Gansai Tambi Starry Colors metallic watercolor paints, Ranger Pearl Metallic Acrylic paint, sequins

Card 2
Stamps:  Butterfly Basics (SU)
Paper:  Blackberry Bliss, Canson XL, Vellum, White Glitter (SSS)
Ink:  Blackberry Bliss, Soft Sky, Mossy Meadow, Versamark
Other:  Bold Butterfly Framelit and Butterfly Thinlit (both SU), Stitched Rectangle die (SSS), Pretty Pink Posh Sparkling Clear and Spring Meadow Mix sequins, Ranger Pearl Metallic Acrylic Paint

Gull Friend

Hello friends!  Today I am sharing my second sample for April's CAS Watercolour challenge, where I have had the great honor of being a Guest Designer.  This month the theme is Bird.  I've added a link to the challenge below, so do be sure to check it out and hopefully join in the challenge!

CAS Watercolour April 2018

I don't have many bird images but the February 2018 My Monthly Hero card kit featured the delightful Spoken Bird stamp and die set, so I decided it would work perfectly for this challenge.  I actually ended up using the dies to create silhouettes from card stock rather than the stamping the images.

I chose a panel I had previously created with Distress Oxide Inks, where the ink was applied to watercolor paper, sprayed with water, dried with a heat tool then repeat to get fabulous designs and color mixes.  I liked this panel because of the variety of green colors.

My husband kindly pointed out that the bird on my card is not a Gull but I informed him that she was simply saying hey to her friend, which happened to be a Seagull.  At least that's the story I had in my mind when I made the card!  For the first half of the sentiment, I stamped it on a piece of white card stock, then partially die cut with a circle die.  Since I wanted this to be a word bubble but don't own any dies like that, I hand cut the rest of it to create my own.

Thanks so much for visiting, it's always so appreciated!  And thanks to CAS Watercolour for asking me to be a Guest Designer this month, it was such a treat!


Stef




Product details
Stamps:  Spoken Bird (Hero Arts)
Paper:  Neenah Solar White, Black, Canson XL watercolor
Ink:  Versafine Onyx Black; Distress Oxide inks:  Twisted Citron, Cracked Pistachio, Peacock Feathers
Other:  Spoken Bird matching dies, Wonky Rectangle die (SSS), Layered Circle framelit (SU)

Flourish Birthday

It's time for a new Color Challenge at Splitcoaststampers!  Karen is hosting tonight and she has chosen the lovely color combination of Powder Pink, Wild Wasabi, Crumb Cake and Chocolate Chip, with a dessert option to watercolor.  Now, if  you follow my blog, you know I love to watercolor but for some reason my water coloring mojo left me as I tried to create a card for this challenge.  So I passed on dessert and instead went with a long neglected die set to create my card.

The Flourish Thinlits from Stampin' Up were used to cut the vines and flowers from Wild Wasabi and Powder Pink.  I used a Wonky Rectangle die to cut the white card base, worked out my layout with the Flourish die cuts, then adhered them to the panel.  An aqua shimmer pen was used on the flowers, then large pearls added to the centers.

The sentiment was stamped in Chocolate Chip ink, then trimmed down and mounted on slightly larger Powder Pink rectangles.  I added a few more pearls as a final bit of bling.

Thanks so much for visiting, it's always so appreciated!  I've added a link to SCS above, so be sure to head over there and check out the Color Challenge, and hopefully join us this week!


Stef




Product details
Stamps:  Happy Birthday Gorgeous (SU)
Paper:  Neenah Solar White and Desert Storm, Chocolate Chip, Wild Wasabi, Powder Pink
Ink:  Chocolate Chip
Other:  Wonky Rectangle die (SSS), Flourish Thinlits (SU), Basic Pearls, Tonic Nuvo Aqua Shimmer pen, Sizzix Precision Base plate