NBUS Large Solid Flower

The other day I posted a NBUS card  using my latest addition to the NBUS pile.

I was determined to use the oldest addition to my NBUS box.

It had been in that box for 3 years!

It took about 10 minutes to get the card  made.

What was I waiting for?

The sentiment is from a NBUS set too.

Not quite as old, but nearly.

Thanks, Darnell, for inspiring me to use these NBUS stamps.

I really should stop buying things and use all I have.

I hate to see what that would do to the economy!

Anyway, here's a link to Darnell's NBUS challenge


How old is your oldest NBUS?


Thanks for the visit and special thanks for your comments.

Enjoy!

Card Recipe

Stamps:  Large Solid Flower, Fancy Basics (HA)

Ink:   Tangerine Tango, Real Red (SU), Memento Tuxedo Black

Paper:   Solar White (Neena 110 lb.)

Flamingo Colors For Altenew

Altenew's August Challenge
is almost over.
I finally got to sit down and make a card for it.

Since Altenew has the most beautiful flowers, and I had a new set sitting on my table,

I had no problem deciding what to do.  There are so many flowers in this set, that I had a 

bit of a hard time deciding which one to use. Once I decided on a layout, this one seemed best.

It was fun getting the Zigs out and doing some watercoloring.

I used a technique posted by Dina Kowal on Splitcoaststampers last week.

You can find her written tutorial here.

And a video tutorial here.

I used a piece of cardstock laminated with some clear Contact Paper as a palette.

I can see the colors better on it than on a clear block.

Our Darnell is having her NBUS Challenge #7

This is one of my newest NBUS sets.

My plan to to also do something with one of the NBUS sets that have been

sitting in that box the longest.

(Now to decide which one!)

Thanks for the visit and special thanks for your comments.

Enjoy!

Card Recipe

Stamps:  Botanical Garden, Thinking of You (Altenew)

Ink:   VersaMark, Basic Gray (SU)

Paper: Solar White (Neena 110 lb.), Watercolor (TH Distress, smooth side), Basic Gray (SU)  

Other:  Pewter EP (retired SU), Zig Clean Color Real Brush Markers (Carmine Red, Wine Red, Deep Red, Light Gray, Gray Brown), Corner Rounder Punch (Fiskars)

Meadow Clover Shaker

I hadn't done a shaker card in a while and was delighted to see that's what 

Poppystamps was looking for this month.

I was kind of up in the air about what to use though.

I don't have nearly enough Poppystamps dies.

That oversight is about to be remedied!

Then I saw Karen's (Snippets) card making beautiful use of this

Meadow Clover die and an idea was born.

Thanks for the wonderful inspiration, Karen!

That Fuse Tool really comes in handy to make the shaker bag.

 And some sequins and beads that

came with a dress on of my girls bought when she was in 

high school went inside.

I smooshed some Distress Inks on a craft mat, spritzed with water,

and smooshed a snippet of mixed media paper in it

to make a background for the shaker.

The flowers were colored with Distress Markers and blended with water.

I tried to make them look like violets.  

Or irises.

Or whatever purple flowers you want to call them.

And since I die cut and embossed a square for my shaker, I can take this to

Simon Says Wednesday Challenge

Where IT'S HIP TO BE SQUARE

Thanks for the visit and special thanks for your comments.

Enjoy!

Card Recipe

Stamps: Fun Birthday Sentiments (HLS) 

Ink:   Concord Crush (retired SU), Distress Inks (Wilted Violet, Victorian Velvet, Stormy Sky), Distress Markers (Milled Lavender, Dusty Concord, Peeled Paint, Shabby Shutters)

Paper: Solar White (Neena 110 lb.), Mixed Media (Strathmore)

Other:  Meadow Clover Die (PS), Fuse Tool (WRMK), Stitched Square Dies (LI)

Golden Butterfly

Some snippets found their way onto a card.

Snippets of Brusho were die cut with into a stitched square.

Another snippet, gold this time, used for this sweet butterfly.

So quick and easy!

I'll take this over to
Pixie's Snippet Playground
for a round of play.


Although I don't have any succulents on this card,
I'm hoping the pink and metallic will get me into this (fairly) new challenge.
The Heart Desires #3


Thanks for the visit and special thanks for your comments.

Enjoy!

Card Recipe

Stamps:  Enjoy (PB)

Ink:  Encore Gold

Paper:  Solar White (Neena 110 lb.), Arches (140 lb. cold press), Gold Foil (SU)

Other:  Stitched Square Die (Lil' Inker), Floral and Flutter Die (Concord and 9th), Gold EP (SU)

New Blog Header

I am so excited!

Loll (Stamping With Loll) has redesigned my blog.

Didn't she do a fantastic job?

She took this card...

deconstructed it, and somehow made it into my new blog header!

Isn't she amazing?

I couldn't be more excited!

She made me a matching signature too.

Thanks, dear friend.

The CAS Mix Up Challenge is open until the 24th.

I used Stamping, Brusho Crystals Sprayed with Water, Stenciling and Vellum

Thanks for the visit and special thanks for your comments.

Enjoy!

Card Recipe

Stamps:  Birthday Blooms (SU)

Ink:   Chocolate Chip

Paper:   Mixed Media (Strathmore), Core'dinations,Chocolate Chip, Very Vanilla, Paper Vellum (SU)

Other:  Brusho Crystals, Spray Bottle, Joyful Sunflower Stencil (Crafter's Workshop)

Sprinkles and Smiles with Sprays

There's a few days left to join in the challenge at

CAS Mix Up

We've been having so much fun using sprays this month.

I love trying new things and becoming a bit more comfortable 

with techniques I'm not sure of.

We've had some amazing entries in the gallery.
So much inspiration!

To make this card, I used a technique that Joanna (Jo-Jo's Spot) shared with us.
Thanks, Joanna!

I used embossing paste through a stencil then sprayed with the stencil in place.
I used a homemade spray of diluted Daffodil Delight re-inker and
another of diluted Calypso Coral. When it was dry, I went over it with Wink of Stella.
It really sparkles!

I taped over the stem before adding the paste and spraying.  After the
paste was dry, I replaced the stencil and sponged the stem.
While the ink was still wet, I brushed on some Spring Green Pearl Ex Powder.

So I used Stamping, Stenciling, Spraying, and Sponging.

I think this is my favorite card that I've made.

Amazing considering that at the beginning of the month I was
not enjoying using sprays.

Now I'm so glad I gave them a good chance.

And I found that the homemade work very well.  No need to buy.



Thanks for the visit and special thanks for your comments.

Enjoy!

Card Recipe

Stamps:  Sprinkles and Smiles (PB)

Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, Shabby Shutters

Paper:  Solar White (Neena 110 lb.)

Other:  Lovely Large Flower Stencil (Stampers Anonymous), Embossing Paste (Wendy Vecchi), Water Spritzers (SU), Daffodil Delight, Calypso Coral Re-inkers (SU), Spring Green Pearl Ex Powder, Wink of Stella, Glass beads (SSS) 

More Spraying for CAS Mix Up

When we went to the stamp show last month, we did a make and take 

at the Technique Junkies booth.

We fell in love with this stamp, which is a background stamp and 

pooled our money to buy it.  I got first custody and this is what I did with it.

I used StazOn ink and the MISTI to stamp. You can see that the second stamping was a

little off as it's ghosted.  I went with it anyway.

I sprayed with some Art Anthology spray that I'd bought that day and

mixed a bit of Bermuda Bay re-inker in water for a 3rd color.

I wanted a little extra dimension and found a butterfly in my stamp collection 

that was an almost perfect fit.  I stamped it with Archival ink and colored it with a marker.

For a little added shine to the butterfly and another texture, I smacked it with 

VersaMark ink and heat set with some clear embossing powder.

I die cut a section with the butterfly for the first card then cut the rest 

highlighting the dragonfly for 2 more cards.

The dragonfly wings are die cut from a piece of Faux Mother of Pearl.

You can see Loll's video of this technique here.

I pounced the Frost White Paint on white cardstock and didn't do any sponging over it.

I love the iridescent sheen!

The placement of the panels was not my original plan.

I recently got some of the Irresistible Pico Embellisher. 

I got a little trigger happy with it and ended up with some pretty big dots.

I found out it doesn't splatter well!

There's still time to enter at 

CAS Mix Up

I used Stamping, Sprays, Die Cuts, Heat Embossing, Stenciling with Paste, and Dry Embossing

If you don't have any sprays, it's so easy to mix some re-inker or paint in a misting bottle and spray away.

Thanks for the visit and special thanks for your comments.

Enjoy!

Card Recipe (card 1)

Stamps: Dragonfly Collage (Technique Junkies), Backyard Basics (retired SU)

Ink:  Jet Black StazOn, VersaMark

Paper:  Heavy Weight Whisper White, Bermuda Bay, Snippet of Whisper White and Basic Black (SU)

Other: MISTI, Spray Ink (Timeless, Salmon-Art Anthology), Bermuda Bay Re-inker, Mister Bottle, (SU), Clear EP (SU), Backyard Basics Framelits (retired SU), Texture Mesh Stencil (MB), Embossing Paste (Wendy Vecchi)

Card 2 and 3 also

Meadow Dragonfly Die (MB), Frost White Paint (Tsukineko), Tuxedo Black Iresistible Pico Embellisher (Imagine Crafts)

Out to Sea with Penny Black

 

The Penny Black Saturday Challenge for August is
YOUR FAVORITE TECHNIQUE

Mine is watercolor.

And I had a play with a new die from Penny Black.
(Die cutting is also a favorite technique.)

I did another watercolor piece and when I was finished and looked at it,
it appeared to be upside down.  

So I cut it down to look right side up.

Then it was too small for the die.

So I cut that too.


I used some Glad Press and Seal when I cut the die because I wanted the pieces to stay intact until I was ready to use them.  The Press and Seal won't budge from the die cuts now.  
And it was on the front.  So the images have a nice little shine.

I probably couldn't do that again if I tried!

Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge

SUMMER FUN

I think it's fun to watch sail boats and to be anywhere where I can look out over the water.

AAA Cards: Game #71

I've blended the watercolors into each other.

Thanks for the visit and special thanks for your comments.

Enjoy!

Card Recipe (1st card)

No Stamps

No Ink

Paper:  Neena Solar White (110 lb.), Dapper Denim, Whisper White (SU), Mixed Media (Strathmore)

Other: Out to Sea Die (PB), Re-inkers, Aqua Painter (SU)

Card Recipe (2nd card)

No Stamps

No Ink

Paper:  Out to Sea Die (PB), Watercolor (Strathmore 140 lb. cold press), Mixed Media (Strathmore), Whisper White (SU)

So Kind

A little while back (or it could be a long while since I seem to have lost all concept of time), 

I made a well deserved comment on Sue's blog during a Penny Black Blog Hop and

won this delightful stamp.  Thanks so much, Sue!

I haven't colored it as well as she did.  I was afraid to add color to the background.

But I certainly did enjoy coloring the image.

Penny Black and More August Challenge

ANYTHING GOES WITH A STAMP

Although they look pretty tame, I'm thinking these little fellas are wild critters.

So I'm going to take them to 

Simon Says Wednesday Challenge

Thanks for the visit and special thanks for your comments.

Enjoy!

Card Recipe

Stamps:  So Kind, Happy Snippets (both PB)

Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black

Paper:  Solar White (Neena 110 lb.), Basic Black, Whisper White (SU)

Other:  Copic Markers

Spraying Brushos for CAS Mix Up

We're halfway though the month already.

Is it just me or are they going faster?

We're still doing sprays at
CAS Mix Up

Here's a little inspiration in case you need some.

Using Brushos sprayed with water on stencil (this is the monoprint piece), Dry Embossing, Stamping, Heat Embossing, Loll's Heated Copper.

The vine background was done when I laid this Climbing Vine stencil (a birthday gift)

over mixed media paper, sprinkled with Brusho crystals and sprayed with water.

I immediately lifted the stencil and blotted with a paper towel.

You can see Loll's tutorial of how to do this here.

I pressed the inked up stencil on a clean piece of mixed media paper

and this card shows the result of that action.

I liked it better than the actual stenciling.  That's why I'm showing it first.

The beautiful butterfly is made from copper that's been heated.  

It's from my sweet friend Loll among other beautiful copper die cuts.

You'll be seeing more or those in the future.

The next card uses a piece that was sprinkled and sprayed over the stencil.

I actually did this one first.

Using Stamping, Brusho sprayed with water, Stencil, Dry Embossing, Shaped Die Cuts

I think I do better spraying with water!

Check over at CAS Mix Up for some more

awesome designs from the Design Team,

our Guest Designer, Joanna and all

the fantastic gallery entrants.

Thanks for the visit and special thanks for your comments.

Enjoy!

Card Recipe

1st Card

Stamps:  Script Sentiments #1 (Inky Antics)

Ink:  VersaMark

Paper:  Solar White (Neena 110 lb.), Whisper White (SU), Taken with Teal (retired SU), Mixed Media (Strathmore)

Other: Mini Climbing Vine Stencil (The Crafters Workshop), Brushos (Olive), Moonlight Butterfly (MB), Linen Impression Plate (PTI)

2nd card

Stamps:  Beautiful Butterflies Sentiment (PTI)

Ink:  Taken with Teal, Handsome Hunter stamped one over the other (retired SU), Fresh Foliage Die (MB), Linen Impression Plate (PTI)

Glorious Yellow Gerbera Daisies

This card turned out a little brighter than my usual endeavors.

In hindsight, maybe I should have cut it out of white cardstock for less of a contrast.

I die cut the flowers from black and white cardstock and 
popped the black outline part back in. Then I layered ir over the Brusho background.

It's too late now. So here it is in all it's brightness!

The Memory Box Out of the Box Challenge this month is

Got it!

The background is a piece done with Brusho Crystals

sprayed with water.

CAS Mix Up

Using Stamping, Embedded Die Cuts, Brusho Crystals Sprayed with Water, Dry Embossing

If you haven't joined us yet, we hope you will.

Thanks for the visit and special thanks for your comments.

Enjoy!

Card Recipe

Stamps: Budding Poppies (Technique Tuesday)

Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black

Paper:  Solar White ( Neena 110 lb.), Watercolor (Arches 140 lb. cold press), Basic Black (SU)

Other: Glorious Gerber Daisies (MB), Brusho Crystals, Water Spritzer

Fruit of the Spirit

This is one of my favorite Bible verses.

You see I have a terrible time memorizing things.

When I need to keep from giving in to a bad habit,
I try to remember this in perfect order.
By the time I have to look it up, I've forgotten about that bad habit.
For the time being.....

I like to keep the verse handy so I can find it quickly and easily.

When I quit smoking, I carried it in my pocket for months.

I'll share this card at One Layer Simplicity where I haven't played in ages.
The challenge this month is art.
I used watercolor as my art medium.

I painted another and matted this one.

Just Us Girls Challenge

Love those watercolor challenges!

I stamped both with Antique Linen Distress ink
and colored with Kuretake Gansai Tambi watercolors.


Thanks for the visit and special thanks for your comments.

Enjoy!

Card Recipe

Stamps: Holy Spirit Fruits (Inky Antics)

Ink: Antique Linen Distress (Ranger), Chocolate Chip (SU)

Paper: Watercolor (Arches 140 lb. cold press for card 1), (Arches 140 lb. hot press for card 2), Chocolate Chip (SU)

Other: Kuretake Gansai Tambi Watercolors, Aqua Painter, Simply Scored (card 1)

Cicada

If you don't like bugs, don't look!

Sometimes I like to share some nature we discover in our yard.

Here's what we saw on the front tire of my car one morning this week.

 I think they usually shed their shells on trees.

This guy took a detour.

Don't his wings look like they're embossed vellum?

We hear them buzzing a lot around the house.  

It's a sound that I always associate with hot weather.

Thanks for the visit and special thanks for your comments.

Enjoy!