Turning the Page March 2018

Tomorrow we turn the page on our calendars to a new month.

I make calendars each year and I've been sporadic about sharing them with you so

I thought I'd set up a regular post on the last day of each month "Turning the Page".

I hope you enjoy these posts.

Here's our March page.

By the way, the calendars are clipped together and can be displayed on an easel

or hung on a push pin or magnetic hook.  We all have a different way to display them.

Happy March!

Thanks for the visit and special thanks for your comments.

Enjoy!

Card Recipe

Stamps:  Happy Bliss (PB)

Ink:   Versafine (Smokey Gray)

Paper:   Neena 110 lb.

Other:  Watercolor Pencils, Slightly damp water brush

February Flower Violet

Hello, my friends,

You may remember (or not) that I'm trying to use my
Flower of the Month Collection.

February's flower is the violet.

I stamped the violet using Encore Silver ink and heat embossed with
silver embossing powder.  This process makes it so easy to watercolor!

I swiped Distress ink on my palette and picked up the color with
a waterbrush adding more color here and there.

Using the wet on wet technique, I did a light wash in the background.

When it was dry, I die cut the image, added an embossed sentiment
and popped it on an dry embossed background.

This card was inked and heat embossed in white, using the same technique

except on colored cardstock.

I found watercoloring on colored cardstock quite easy as long as

I kept the brush damp, not wet.

We did this card in my class this month.


Thanks for the visit and special thanks for your comments.

Enjoy!

Card Recipe (card 1)

Stamps:  Year of Flowers Collection (PTI), Birthday Wishes (Verve)

Ink:   Encore Silver, Seedless Preserves, Tumbled Glass, Peeled Paint (DI)

Paper:   Solar White 110 lb. (Neena), Mixed Media (ST), Orchid Opullence (SU)

Other:  Mat Stack 3, Layered Mat Stack dies (PTI), Silver EP, Water Brush, 

Card Recipe (card 2)

Stamps:Year of Flowers Collection (PTI), Birthday Wishes (Verve)

Ink:  Whisper White, Wilted Violet Peeled Paint (DI)

Paper:  Solar White 110 lb. (Neena), Wisteria Wonder (SU)

Other: White EP (SU), Square Lattice EF (ret. SU), Mat Stack 3, Layered Mat Stack dies (PTI), Water Brush
 

Oh Christmas Tree

Hello dear friends.

I'm running in just under the wire for Merry Monday again.

But I'm at the start of Rudolph Days.

I did a second card while I was at it.

I used a set that Maureen (Scraps of Life by Scrappymo) sent me as a prize
for entering her Rudolph Days Challenge.

I thought it only appropriate that I use those sets for her challenge.

I stamped the pretty Christmas tree on snippets of cardstock
and decorated the trees with Nuvo Crystal Drops and a little WOS covering
the tinsel wrapping. (It's really hard to see!)

I had a background already scored and it looked like a good fit so I scored another
going the other direction for a little change.

These were super quick and easy!

The Merry Monday Challenge is hosted this week by Debbie.
It's an inspiration photo.  Lots of things to be inspired by in this photo.
I was inspired by that gorgeous Christmas tree.

A reminder that our new

CAS Christmas Card Challenge

starts on Saturday, March 3rd.

We should be able to get lots of Christmas cards in our stashes!

Thanks for the visit and special thanks for your comments.

Enjoy!

Card Recipe

Stamps:  Christmas Wishes (Kaisercraft), Christmas Joy, Christmas Treasures (wish)

Ink:   Old Olive, Cherry Cobbler

Paper:   Neena, Cherry Cobbler, Textured White

Other:  Stitched Square Die (SSS), Nuvo Chrystal Drops (Autumn Red, Bright Gold), Wink of Stella, Simply Scored

Butterfly Hearts for Twofer

Hello my friends.

I have another Twofer

I designed this card for my last class.

I removed the stamp from the wood block so we could use the MISTI.

I inked the hearts and stems then spritzed with a little water.

Usually I get too much water and it doesn't work well, but surprisingly,
I got it just right this time!

For the class I had the ladies ink, stamp and use a waterbrush to
eliminate possible frustration.

My splatters even worked well.  Whew!

I thought the hearts looked a little like butterfly wings from the side.
So my Twofer was born.

I inked party of the top heart and stamped then drew the body and antennae.

Since all butterflies need flowers, I stamped these little gems from a

Penny Black set and stamped them using Distress Markers.

A little smooshed ink on a palette and my water brush colored them in.

Darnell's Twofer Challenge

CAS Watercolour Challenge

Both challenges end on the 24th.

Thanks for the visit and special thanks for your comments.

Enjoy!

Card Recipe (card 1)

Stamps:  Pash, Banner Sentiments (PB)

Ink: Festive Berries, Peeled Paint Mini Cubes & Markers (DI), Early Espresso (SU)

Paper:  Mixed Media (Strathmore), Neena, Old Olive (SU)

Other:  Simply Scored, Mister Bottle, Water Brush

Card Recipe (card 2)

Stamps:  Pash, Enamor (PB), Thinking of You (Alt)

Ink:   Cracked Pistachio, Abandoned Coral, Peeled Paint (DM), Onyx Black (Versafine)

Paper:   Crisp Cantaloupe, Vanilla Textured, Basic Black (SU)

Other:  Simply Scored (SU), Tiny Gems

For the Birds

Hello friends.

I've been playing with that cork again.

That cork die cuts so easily!

I thought it would make a nice birdhouse.

By cutting it twice and stacking it, I got wonderful dimension.

You can see it better here.

I used 2 layers of the birdhouse and one of the roof.

When I decided to cut the second one, I cut the wrong birdhouse.

So I ended up with another card.

I popped them on some of that watercolor piece that I used here.

We're playing with cork, canvas and/or felt at

CAS Mix Up

and having lots of fun.

Challenge ends on the 24th.

also adding to Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge

ADD A DIE CUT

Hope you'll join us.

Thanks for the visit and special thanks for your comments.

Enjoy!

Card Recipe

Stamps:  Wondrous, Snippets (PB), Holiday Home (SU)

Ink:   Greens, Chocolate Chip

Paper:   Solar White (Neena), Naturals White (ret. SU), Old Olive (SU), Watercolor (Strathmore 140 lb. cold press)

Other:  Cork, Stitche Rectangle Die (SSS), Bird House Die (Paper Smooches)

House Mouse for Merry Monday

Hello.

I'm coming in at the last minute for Merry Monday again.
I didn't think I'd make it at all.

The Merry Monday Challenge this week is hosted by Deanne

This stencil was a NBUS.  So glad to use those NBUS!

I used a Clarity Brush to stencil with Crumb Cake ink.

The House Mouse was stamped on watercolor paper waiting to be colored.

This little mouse stamp was in my NBUS box also.  I colored him up

with Copics and added some Flower Soft to his cap.

I stenciled a row of chevrons and popped him on top.

Whew!  Didn't think I was going to get them done this week.

Is it me or are the weeks going by faster?

Thanks for the visit and special thanks for your comments.

Enjoy!

Card Recipe (card 1)

Stamps:  Amanda Writes (HS MS), Festive Snippets (PB)

Ink:   Real Red, Markers: Real Red (SU), Spun Sugar, Crushed Corduroy, Vintage Photo (D), Black Ultra Fine Sharpie

Paper:   Solar White 110 lb. (Neena), Real Red, Watercolour (?)

Other:  Manuscript Text Stencil (Carabelle Studio), Clarity Brush, Stitched Square Die (SSS), Glossy Accents

Card Recipe (card 2)

Stamps:  Santa Mouse (HS MS), Holiday Snippets (PB)

Ink:  Tuxedo Black (Mem), Gumball Green (SU)

Paper:  Solar White 110 lb. (Neena), Real Red (SU)

Other:  Copic Markers (R29, R37, E12, E25, RV10, E00, Boarders Stencil (HA), Clarity Brush,

Stitched Square Die (SSS), 

Happy Hearts Day

Hi!  I'm still in heart mode.

I have a Twofer

They are similar but different.
(Hopefully not too similar)

Twofer Challenge #2

I used a NBUS heart die from Concord and 9th

This first card uses Loll's Splash Watercolour Background 

with a white die cut heart to make an encouragement card that I think

would be especially good for someone fighting cancer.

This one is cut from a piece of watercolor background on popped on a textured card base.

I inlaid all those little pieces in.  It was like doing a jigsaw puzzle.

Perfect to send to someone I love.

It's also perfect for our 

CAS Watercolour Challenge

Thanks for the visit and special thanks for your comments.

Enjoy!

Card Recipe

Stamps:  Heartprints (PTI), Happy Snippets (PB)

Ink:   Whisper White (ret.), Onyx Black (VF)

Paper:   Mixed Media (ST), Solar White (Neena), Textured Ivory (Core'dinations )

Other:  Gansai Tambi Watercolor (#43 Mid yellow, #34 Dk. pink), Heartstrings Die (C9)

Watercolor Hearts

Hello and welcome.

There's still time to join in at
CAS Watercolour

This was our Emmy's birthday card.

She was more interested in what was inside though :>)

I used some Gansai Tambi Watercolors on wet mixed media paper

for the hearts and put some around the edge of a piece for a mat.

I inset one heart and popped up another for added dimension.

For this card, I had stenciled with pearlescent stencil paste and let it dry.

I cut the heart out of it and a piece of fun foam and adhered them together.

A little snippet of Brusho spritzed with water was adhered to the card base

and spruced up with a tiny heart punched from the leftovers of the stenciled piece.

I was able to punch it with a stenciled heart centered.

The die cut sentiment is 3 layers, smooshed into a VersaMark pad

and clear embossed.  The shine mimics the pearlescent hearts.

The CAS Challenges have an exciting announcement!

Check it out here!

Thanks for the visit and special thanks for your comments.

Enjoy!

Card Recipe 

Stamps:  Special Wishes (PB)

Ink:   Seedless Preserves (DI)

Paper:   Solar White (Neena), Mixed Media (Strath)

Other:   Sweet and Sassy Framelits (SU), Gansai Tambi WC (#37 Deep Pink, #139 Purple)

Smiling Carnations on Canvas

Hi there.  I hope you are having a creative day!

At the end of this post you'll see why I'm smiling!

Just a quick reminder that there's still time to join in at

CAS Mix Up

Where Joanna is our hostess this month.

I've chosen to use canvas for this card and my other choices of mixed media are

Stamping, Watercolor and Die Cuts

I stamped using Archival ink on a NBUS stamp that I found on a clearance shelf.

I stamped the circles that were in the set to fill in the flowers

but thought they weren't bright enough.

Some Real Red re-inker in my palette and a water brush took care of that.

The canvas took the watercolor beautifully.

This canvas was meant to use with an inkjet printer and has 

a light backing on it.  That may help to control the watercolor.

The domed die worked well for cutting the image.

Since the piece was shorter than the die, I cut the top than

lined up the bottom of the die with the bottom of the canvas and cut again.

I die cut the sentiment 3 times and stacked them for dimension

and added some tiny gems and a linen thread bow.

There are lots of videos for using canvas, cork and felt at

the CAS Mix Up Challenge site.  And the Design Team, as well as

our fabulous Guest Designer, Marianne (Marianne's Cards 'n Stuff),

have done some wonderful inspiration pieces over there!

I hope you'll join us with your fantastic creations.

The CAS Challenges have an exciting announcement!

Check it out here!

Thanks for the visit and special thanks for your comments.

Enjoy!

Card Recipe

Stamps:  Carnations (Rubbernecker)

Ink:   Jet Black Archival (Ranger)

Paper:   Crumb Cake, Crumb Cake Texture, Basic Black (SU)

Other:  Canvas, Real Red Re-inker, Anytime Tags Die (LI), Heartfelt Die (PB), Linen Thread (SU)

Valentine's Day

Hello and a Happy Valentine's Day to you.

For this card, I had stenciled with pearlescent stencil paste and let it dry.

I cut the heart out of it and a piece of fun foam and adhered them together.

A little snippet of Brusho spritzed with water was adhered to the card base

and spruced up with a tiny heart punched from the leftovers of the stenciled piece.

I was able to punch it with a stenciled heart centered :-)

The die cut fun foam makes the heart retreat to the background.

The die cut sentiment is 3 layers, smooshed into a VersaMark pad

and clear embossed.  The shine mimics the pearlescent hearts.

Adding the second card to AAA Cards Game #108

and

Inkspirational

and my little Brusho heart fits our challenge at

CAS Watercolour

Thanks for the visit and special thanks for your comments.

Enjoy!

Card Recipe 

Ink:  VersaMark

Paper:  Solar White (Neena), Cold Press WC (Arches)

Other: Falling Hearts Stencil (SSS), Pearlescent EP (Dreamweaver), Sweet and Sassy Framelits (SU), Heartfelt Die (PB), Clear EP (SU), Brushos

Sweet Valentine

Hello.  I'm glad you could stop by.

Today I'm back to sharing a Valentine.

 

Little Monica is on her way to wish my aunt a happy Valentine's Day.

I remember a visit to this aunt when I was a little girl.  She had a shoebox

with a nest of baby mice in it.  My mother was not impressed, but I was.

I wonder if Aunt Marian remembers that nest of baby mice?

I found the design in my Valentine box and decided it was

high time to put it on a card.

I believe it was colored with Copics. I really can't remember.

I popped her in a peek-a-boo frame, stamped and sentiment

and winked the heart!

I'm going to take her over to 

House Mouse and Friends

where the challenge is

***ANYTHING GOES***

with the option of Sweets or Hearts.

I can't find this stamp online so I'm thinking it might be discontinued.

I hope it's OK to enter it anyway.

A quick question???
Do you hate it when I use stuff that's not available to buy anymore?

I'm going to enter too at
Inkspirational

Thanks for the visit and special thanks for your comments.

Enjoy!

Card Recipe

Stamps:  Monica Romances (ret. House Mouse), Botanical Silhouettes (PTI)

Ink:   Real Red, Whisper White

Paper:  Tuxedo Black (Memento), Onyx Black (Versafine)

Other:  Copic Markers, Peek-a-boo Window Die (MFT)

Candle Glow for Merry Monday

Hi.

I'm coming in just under the wire with my Christmas cards for this week.

Actually they're for last week since today is Sunday.


Here's the first.

Colleen gave us a beautiful inspiration picture this week at

Merry Monday

I zeroed in on the candles (I've had this NBUS candle stamp for ages), domed shape (which I turned upside down or right side up ATCMB), the dark background and snowfall.

I would have played with the birds if I'd had time.

I used a card base of Midnight Muse, sponged some Whisper White pigment ink 

around the edges and splattered with White Distress Paint.

I'd stamped the candles on a piece of mixed media paper and watercolored

using Distress Markers swiped on a palette and picked up with a waterbrush.

When I tried to paint the dark background with the glow around the candles,

it was a DISASTER! Ugh!

So I fussy cut the candles, found a background piece of watercolor that

would work, die cut it and a "window frame", and added it to the dark card base.

Not what I intended but kind of what I was hoping for.

The second card was simpler.

I stamped on an already cut out stitched rectangle of mixed media paper,

watercolored it using the same technique and didn't try for the dark background.

Both pieces are backed with foam for dimension.

I'd better hurry and get this in before they shut down.

Thanks for the visit and special thanks for your comments.

Enjoy!

Card Recipe

Stamps:  Holiday Candles (Deep Red), Christmas Sentiments (Kaisercraft), Mixed Christmas Sentiments (HLS)

Ink:   Shabby Shutters, Pine Needles, Festive Berries, Barn Door, Mustard Seed, Vintage Photo (DM), Whisper White (SU)

Paper:   Mixed Media (Strathmore), Midnight Muse (SU), Neena

Other:  Anytime Tags (Little Inker), Stitched Rectangles (SSS), White EP (SU)