One of a Kind

Hello friends and welcome back!  This is my final post as a guest designer for Just Us
Girls.  It's been such a fun ride and I so appreciate the amazing and supportive Design Team, they are the best!  This is Wild Card week and the theme is Clean And Simple.  I hope you'll be able to join us this week!

Just Us Girls

 
I'm also joining two other challenges, the wonderful sketch challenge at CAS Colours and Sketches, and the Anything Goes challenge at Simon Says Stamps Wednesday Challenge.

CAS Colours and Sketches #265

SSS Wednesday Challenge-Anything Goes

The latest card kit from Simon Says Stamp has a beautiful stamp set with all sorts of butterflies and wonderful sentiments, so I really wanted to use one of those butterflies for my card today.  I used Copic markers to color it, then fussy cut it out since the companion dies are not yet available.  My caveat about the coloring is that I am just learning how to use Copic markers so there is very limited and basic (aka learner LOL!) color blending; the rest is simply colored in with colors that complement the patterned papers.  I love the rainbow designs of the Lawn Fawn patterned papers that were included in the kit and used one of the designs for the banner.

While this card is CAS, I still wanted to add some interest on the card base, so I used a die to emboss a scallop design onto the front panel.  Next, the scallop square die cut was adhered with foam tape, then the heat embossed sentiment and the butterfly were also added with foam tape.  A bit hard to see in the photos but I added a layer of sparkle with an Aqua Shimmer pen on the butterfly and the sentiment strip.

Thanks so much for visiting, it's always so appreciated.  I've added links to all the challenges above, so please be sure to head over there and check out all the amazing inspiration!


Stef




Product details
Stamps:  Beautiful Day, Kind Flowers (both SSS)
Paper:  Neenah Solar White, Surf Blue (SSS), Black, Lawn Fawn Really Rainbow 6x6 paper pack
Ink:  Hero Arts Intense Black, Versamark
Other:  Copics, Layering Squares Scallop framelit (SU), Scallop Stitched Rectangle die (MFT), Wow Super Fine White Embossing Powder, Tonic Nuvo Aqua Shimmer pen

Beautiful Day

It's time for a new Color Challenge at Splitcoaststampers!  Robin is hosting this week and she chose the very Spring like colors of Daffodil Delight, Pink Pirouette and Old Olive, with a dessert option of flowers.


I'm also joining the current challenge at The Paper Players, where Claire has given us this wonderful sketch to work with:

PP 386

I started by creating my own background with a Gingham stamp, inked with Pink Pirouette and stamped on a panel of the same color.  That and a strip of green from a paper pack were added to the base as was the sentiment circle that was die cut and trimmed off on the one side.  One of the banners was also created from a piece of the patterned paper and the white card stock banner was embossed with the Layered Leaves embossing folder.

The leaves and butterfly were stamped on watercolor paper, colored with Distress inks and fussy cut, then added to the sentiment circle.  I added a bit of Aqua Shimmer to both for some pretty sparkle.

The final touches were to wrap the entire card front with a Daffodil Delight ribbon and add three Nuvo drops in a bright yellow.

Thanks so much for visiting it's always so appreciated!  I've added links to both challenges, so be sure to head over there and check out all the wonderful inspiration!


Stef




Product details
Stamps:  Beautiful Day, Choose Joy (both Simon Says Stamp)
Paper:  Neenah Solar White, Pink Pirouette, Spring Market 6x6 paper pad (Carta Bella), Ranger watercolor
Ink:  Versafine Onyx Black, Pink Pirouette; Distress Inks:  Worn Lipstick, Picked Raspberry, Squeezed Lemonade, Peeled Paint, Forest Moss
Other:  Layering Scallop Circle framelit, Layered Leaves ef, Daffodil Delight 1/8" grosgrain ribbon, Tonic Nuvo Dandelion Yellow Crystal Drops and Aqua Shimmer pen

Get Well Wishes

Hello and welcome back!  It's time for a new challenge at Just Us Girls, where I've been thrilled to be a guest designer for the month of March!  This week it's a beautiful photo challenge that offers so many spring time possibilities.  Check it out!

Just Us Girls #433 

I'm also joining the Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge, because this week the theme is Floral Frenzy and I'm all about florals this week!

SSS Wed Challenge - Floral Frenzy

I just received the lovely Even More Spring Flowers stamp set and knew I wanted to us it for this week's Just Us Girls challenge, based on the pretty Primroses in the top right picture of the inspiration piece.  I stamped the images on Arches 140 lb cold press watercolor paper with Antique Linen so I could do some no-line water coloring.  I primarily used Daniel Smith watercolor paints, which I have only used a couple times and found that I had to due multiple layers to intensify the colors.  While I didn't achieve the intensity in color that I was hoping for, I realize I'm still experiencing a learning curve with this medium and I still like how it turned out.

After the watercolored images were dry, they were die cut with the companion dies and set aside while I prepped the card base.  A panel of Sea Glass card stock was die cut with the striped cover die then adhered to the white card base.  The leaves and one of the flower images were adhered to the base, then the remaining flowers and leaves were layered with foam tape.  The sentiment from WPlus9 was added in two parts, both popped up with foam tape.

A shimmer pen was used on the flowers and the word "wishes", which can be seen better in the photo above (yah, I was finally able to get one that actually showed the shimmer that looks amazing IRL!).  Clear sequins and gold drops were then added to finish things off.

Thanks so much for visiting, it's always so appreciated!  I've added links above to both challenges so I hope you'll be sure to check them both out!


Stef




Product details
Stamps:  Even More Spring Flowers (SSS), That is All (WPlus9)
Paper:  Ivory, Sea Glass, Black, Arches 40 lb Cold Press watercolor paper
Ink:  Antique Linen Distress Ink, Versamark, Hero Arts Intense Black
Other:  Bold Stripes Cover Up die (MFT), SSS and WPlus9 companion dies, Altenew Antique Gold embossing powder, #4 round Silver Black Velvet paint brush, Daniel Smith watercolor paints, Pretty Pink Posh Sparkling Clear sequins, Tonic Nuvo Bright Gold Crystal Drops

CAS Tulip Queue

It's time for a new Color Challenge at Splitcoaststampers!  This week Pam is hosting and she has chosen the lovely combination of So Saffron, Pear Pizzazz and Marina Mist, with a dessert option of an Easter or Spring theme.  I hope you'll be able to join us this week!


I'm also entering my card into a couple of other challenges.  For CAS473 "Oh, Happy Day" at SCS, the challenge is to show something that makes you happy, and tulips definitely make me happy!


And for the CAS Watercolour Challenge, the theme this month is "Garden".

CAS Watercolour - Garden

I stamped my tulip garden on watercolor paper with Antique Linen Distress Ink in order to do no-line water coloring.  In hind site, because I have only done no-line one other time, I should have used a less detailed stamp, because I did end up not being able to capture all the detail on a few of the tulips.  But you don't grow if you don't try new things, so I certainly learned some things in attempting this!

I used a mix of watercolors from my Sakura Koi pocket sketch box and Daniel Smith watercolor palettes, first painting the flowers, stems and leaves with a #4 round paintbrush, then changing to a #8 round for the background and the garden "dirt".  I had the panel taped down to minimize warping and let it completely dry before removing the painter's tape.

After stamping the sentiment and die cutting the panel, it was added to a Marina Mist card base.  As final touches, shimmer was painted on the flowers with an aqua shimmer pen and three small Nuvo Morning Dew drops were added around the sentiment.

Thanks so much for visiting, it's always so appreciated!  I hope you'll use all the links above to check out these wonderful challenges and hopefully join in!


Stef




Product details
Stamps:  Tulip Queue (Penny Black), Happy Birthday Gorgeous (sentiment) (SU)
Paper:  Canson XL, Marina Mist
Ink:  Antique Linen Distress Ink, Archival Basic Gray (SU)
Other:  Sakura Koi Pocket Field Sketch Box, Daniel Smith Watercolor Palettes (Simon Says Stamp), A2 Stitched Rectangle Stax Set 1 die (MFT), #4 and #8 round Silver Black Velvet paint brushes, Tonic Nuvo Morning Dew Crystal drops and Aqua Shimmer pen.

Hoppy Easter

Hello friends!  I hope you've had a good weekend!  I finally was able to get the Flowers and Showers stamp set inky and came up with an Easter card, complete with a bunny!

I started by stamping then masking the bunny so I could stamp that cute boot image behind.  I used my Prismacolor colored pencils to color both images and the dirt, then masked off everything so I could use a cloud stencil for the sky and then do some simple sponging to create the green hills.

I used gray and black pencils to create shadows on the bunny.  I was a bit concerned that I had gotten the shading a bit too dark when I used Gamsol to blend the two colors, so I wiped off the stump tool used to blend, added a bit more Gamsol and was able to blend it out a bit better.  With the coloring and sponging complete, the panel was added to the card base over the vertical strip of patterned paper then the sentiment was popped up with foam tape.  Clear droplets and a pompom for the bunny tail finished things off. 

I used the current sketch challenge at Stamp Ink Paper for my design inspiration (and I'm joining the challenge just under the wire!).  I've added a link below so do be sure to head over there and enjoy all the beautiful inspiration!

SIP 141

Thanks for visiting!


Stef




Product details
Stamps:  Showers and Flowers (Simon Says Stamp), Teeny Tiny Wishes (SU)
Paper:  Neenah Solar White, Surf Blue (SSS), LiveMore patterned paper (Pinkfresh Studio)
Ink:  Versamark Onyx Black; Hero Arts Intense Black ink (used for the sentiment); Twisted Citron DOX ink; Tumbled Glass and Shabby Shutters Distress ink
Other:  Prismacolor Colored Pencils, Cloud Stencil (MFT), Clear Droplets (PPP), Darice Pompoms, Glossy Accents, Sakura White Jelly Pen, Gamsol

Spread Your Wings

Hello again!  It's time for a new challenge at Just Us Girls, where I am guest designing for the month of March.  This is Color Week with the gorgeous palate of Turquoise, Brown and Khaki.

Just Us Girls

My first attempt was to make a masculine card with lots of brown and kraft, but somehow it just didn't have that somethin'-somethin' I was looking for, so I started over, this time doing an ink blended background in turquoise hues of Distress Oxide Inks.  After blending the colors, going from a green blue to turquoise to a blue green, I splattered the panel with water drops and diluted white gouache, then sprayed it with shimmer spray.  That give it that "somethin'" I was looking for!  After that dried, I heat embossed images from the Come Fly With Me stamp set on the panel. 

Using a Misti, I first stamped the images in Early Espresso Ink, then stamped over the top of that with Versamark, then heat set it with clear embossing powder.  This worked really well on plain card stock, but the shimmer spray and gouache cannot be fully covered so it softens the look of the embossing, which I was fine with.

The panel was die cut with a stitched rectangle die, wrapped with some Baker's Twine and adhered to a slightly larger piece of white card stock.  The whole thing was added to an Early Espresso card base with foam tape, then I added a few white Nuvo drops.


Thanks for visiting, it's always so appreciated!  I've added a link above to the Just Us Girls blog, so I hope you head over there to check it out and hopefully join us this week!


Stef




Product details
Stamps:  Come Fly With Me (Hero Arts)
Paper:  Early Espresso (SU), Neenah Desert Storm and Solar White, Bristol
Ink:  Early Espresso, Versamark; Distress Oxide:  Cracked Pistachio, Peacock Feathers, Mermaid Lagoon
Other:  Hero Arts Ultra Fine Clear Embossing Powder, Stitched Rectangle die (SSS), Tsukineko Sparkle Shimmer Spray, White Gouache, Early Espresso Baker's Twine, Tonic Nuvo Simply White Crystal Drops

Sweet Pea

Hi there!  I hope your week is going well so far!  I wanted to watercolor a spring image and found just the right one in my stash of Suzy's Watercolor Prints.  This lovely image of Sweet Peas just made me smile.

I used Distress inks in Spun Sugar, Worn Lipstick and Picked Raspberry to water color the flowers, and Shabby Shutters and Peeled Paint for the leaves and stems.  When those images were dried I took a large round paintbrush and covered the background with very diluted Peacock Feathers.

After the panel was completely dry it was die cut with a stitched rectangle die, then the strip of vellum with the heat embossed sentiment was wrapped around and the panel mounted to the bright pink card base with foam tape.  I love this sentiment, it's from such a special set from Hero Arts with wonderfully inclusive and uplifting messages!


Next I used an Aqua Shimmer pen to paint some shimmer on the edges of the sweet peas, then added Nuvo drops and sequins as a finishing touch.

Thanks so much for visiting, it's always so appreciated!  I'm joining three challenges with this card.  I've included links below, so be sure to head over all three challenges and enjoy all the amazing inspiration!

PPA 384

TFC #18

SSS Wed Challenge - Girl Power

Stef




Product details
Stamps:  You Are Love Messages (Hero Arts)
Paper:  Doll Pink (Simon Says Stamp), Vellum, Suzy's In Full Bloom Watercolor Prints (SSS)
Ink:  Versamark; Distress Inks:  Spun Sugar, Worn Lipstick, Picked Raspberry, Shabby Shutters, Peeled Paint, Peacock Feathers
Other:  A2 Stitched Rectangle Stax Set 1 (MFT), Wow Super Fine Opaque Bright White embossing powder, Simply White Tonic Nuvo Crystal Drops, Spring Meadow Mix sequins (Pretty Pink Posh), Tonic Nuvo Aqua Shimmer pen

Dahlia Thank You

Hello friends and welcome back!  It's time for a new Color Challenge at Splitcoaststampers!  Barbara is hosting this week and she chose the bold and bright combination of Melon Mambo, Tangerine Tango and Night of Navy, with a dessert option to use "bling".  I have to admit I struggled with this color combo a bit because I wanted to do something different than water coloring flowers, and finally landed on doing something a bit more graphic, using the fun Dahlia Turnabout stamp to create a thank you card and used gold ink, cord and sequins for dessert.

The stamp creates the flower by rotating a quarter turn every time you stamp (so using a stamp positioner is really essential IMHO), so each time I made a turn I inked up the stamp with a different color.

After the stamping was done, the panel was trimmed down and added to a slightly larger Orange Peel square panel, wrapped with Gold Cord and popped up on the Doll Pink card base, which measures 4.5" square.  After  stamping and die cutting the sentiment, it was adhered to the center of the flower with foam tape, then the sequins were adhered.

Thanks so much for visiting, it's so appreciated!  I've added a link above to Splitcoaststampers, so I hope you'll head over and check out the , and hopefully join in the challenge!


Stef




Product details
Stamps:  Dahlia Turnabout (Concord & 9th), Scripty Greetings (Simon Says Stamp)
Paper:  Neenah Solar White, Orange Peel and Doll Pink (SSS)
Ink:  Delicatta Golden Glitz; Altenew:  Sapphire, Coral Berry, Orange Cream
Other:  Glitz Collection sequins (SSS), Gold Cord and Stitched Shapes Circle framelit (SU)

Magical Hello Spring

Hello friends and welcome back!  It's my second week as Guest Designer at Just Us Girls and this week it's Trend Week, where the challenge is to include something mythical or magical on our card.

Just Us Girls

I was looking through my ridiculously large stash of older patterned paper and found some beautiful vintage style papers with fairy images from Graphic 45's Once Upon A Springtime collection.  Then...I found 3-4 post card sized pieces with beautiful fairy scenes and decided I had to use this one darling scene for my card.

To start building my card, I trimmed down a tone on tone pink piece of the G45 patterned paper, layered it on a Desert Dune card stock and added it to the Ivory card base.  Next I layered a couple of doilies in the corner, then added a strip of green patterned paper along with a piece of lace.  The sweet scene with the fairies and new born baby chick was trimmed down to fit a slightly larger piece of Old Olive card stock, then added to the base with foam tape.

The sentiment was added to the corner with foam tape, then clear droplets adhered around the image and I thought I was done.  Then I decided to add one more vintage element by adhering some paper flowers in the lower left corner.  Lastly, a shimmer pen was used to add sparkle to the fairy's wings and the flowers.

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


Stef




Product details
Stamps:  Circle of Spring (SU)
Paper:  Ivory (SSS), Desert Dune Textured card stock, Old Olive (SU), Once Upon A Springtime Collection (G45)
Ink:  Basic Gray (SU,sentiment)
Other:  Doilies, 1" circle punch, Layering Circles Framelit (SU), Clear Droplets (PPP), Tonic Nuvo Aqua Shimmer pen, Lace (SU), Prima and Maya Road flowers

Floral Frame

It's time for a new Color Challenge at Splitcoaststampers!  I'm hosting tonight and have chosen Calypso Coral, Peekaboo Peach and Emerald Envy as the colors this week.  The dessert option is to add your favorite embellishment.  I hope you'll find time to join us this week!

CC677

I'm also joining The Flower Challenge, where this month Anything Goes! 

TFC #18

For my card, I stamped and water colored a few flowers and leaves from Adore You in the challenge colors, then fussy cut them.  I do have matching dies but I was a bit messy with my water coloring so I decided to just cut them out.  I used Stampin' Up inks for the water coloring.  I usually like to substitute Distress Inks because the inks move better, but there really isn't any DI ink like the SU peach, and it blends so beautifully with the coral.

Before fussy cutting the images I used a fine point black Sharpie to trace over all the lines, then added white dots with a gelly roll pen on the end of the flower stamen.  For the base, I used an A2 sized piece of Desert Storm card stock, then added a panel of the same paper that was stenciled with Versamark to get a tone on tone design.  The stitched frame was die cut from white corrugated paper, then added to the base with foam tape. 

The card ended up with a lot of dimension, as the flowers were also layered on with foam tape.  The sentiment from Verve Small Phrases was stamped on white card stock, trimmed down then I hand cut the fish tail end.  A scattering of clear sequins were added (one of my favorite embellishments), then the final touch was to use a Nuvo Aqua Shimmer pen to add sparkle to the flowers and the butterfly.


Thanks so much for visiting, it's so appreciated!  I've added a link above to both challenges, so I hope check them out and enjoy all the beautiful inspiration!


Stef




Product details
Stamps:  Small Phrases (Verve), Adore You (flowers, Altenew), Bamboo Rose (butterfly, Altenew)
Paper:  Neenah Desert Storm, White Corrugated, Arches Cold Press watercolor
Ink:  Versamark, Versafine Onyx Black, Calypso Coral, Peekaboo Peach, Emerald Envy
Other:  Star Grid Stencil (MFT), Tonic Nuvo Aqua Shimmer Pen, Pretty Pink Posh Sparkling Clear sequins, Sakura White Gelly Roll pen, fine point black Sharpie

Balloon Birthday

Hello and welcome back!  Some fun news - I am the guest designer at Just Us Girls for the month of March!  Woot woot!  Can you tell I'm a bit excited?  I hope you'll be sure to join us for the challenges each Saturday!


This week at Just Us Girls it's Trend Week highlighting balloons.  Lots of fun options with this challenge! 

Just Us Girls #430

I'm also entering my card in the current challenge at Stamp Ink Paper to add ribbon to your creation.

SIP 139

I only have a couple of stamp sets with balloons and I kept messing around with them but wasn't really happy with any of the designs I came up with.  Then I realized I had some retired patterned paper with a balloon design and then the card design fell together.

The card is pretty simple, with the patterned paper layered on the base then on a Pool Party panel, which was added to the base with foam tape.  The sentiment was cut twice, covered with Tonic Nuvo Aqua Pen for some sparkle and adhered together, slightly offset for a shadow layer look.  The balloons were stamped, cut with a matching punch, then covered with Tonic Nuvo Crystal Glaze.  Once completely dry, White Baker's Twine was wrapped around the bottom, secured on the back with tape, then both were adhered to the panel with foam tape, leaving the twine ends free until the sentiment was added.  When all that was complete, I added a bow made from some pretty Pool Party satin ribbon (long retired).

And that's it for this card!  Thanks so much for visiting, it's always so appreciated!  Be sure to check out both challenges!


Stef 




Product details
Stamps:  Balloon Celebration (SU)
Paper:  Neenah Solar White, Pool Party, Watermelon Wonder, Birthday Bouquet designer series paper
Ink:  Pool party
Other:  Happy Birthday Thinlit and Balloon Bouquet (both SU), White Baker's Twine, retired Satin Pool Party ribbon, Tonic Nuvo Aqua Shimmer Pen, Tonic Nuvo Crystal Glaze

Cosmos Inspiration

Hello again and welcome back!  Today I'm sharing a card made for the current photo challenge at Just Us Girls.  I'm running up against the deadline (so many cards to make, so little time lol!) so it'll be a pretty quick post.

Just Us Girls 429

Flowers?  Pretty spring colors?  I'm in!  So, the photo is of crocus but I only have one crocus stamp and I wanted a large number just like the photo, so I decided to pull out the beautiful Cosmos background stamp to use.  Now, Cosmos come in many colors but probably not similar to these crocus, however I claim creative license and colored the Cosmos as similar to the photo as I could get it.

After stamping on watercolor paper with Versafine Onyx Black, I used Distress Inks (listed below) to color the flowers and the background.  I did kind of goof up the background color at first (too bright, too olive made the yellow flowers look green), so I went back over it with a more blue green ink and thank goodness it resulted in a better color.  After it dried, I went over all the black lines with a fine point Sharpie to really make the stamped images pop, then sprayed the panel with shimmer spray.  The sentiment on vellum was unused from another project, so I wrapped it around the water colored panel, popped it up with foam tape on a black card base, then added a few sequins.

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


Stef




Product details
Stamps:  Cosmos Background (Simon Says Stamp), Adore You (Altenew)
Paper:  SSS Black, Canson XL, Vellum
Ink:  Versamark, Versafine Onyx Black; Distress:  Shaded Lilac, Wilted Violet, Squeezed Lemonade, Scattered Straw, Mustard Seed, Picket Fence, Carved Pumpkin, Spiced Marmalade, Mowed Lawn, Crushed Olive, Pineneedles
Other:  Hero Arts White Embossing Powder, Sparkling Clear Sequins (PPP), Sparkle Sheer Shimmer Spray