Friday, May 31, 2019

Turning the Page June 2019

Time to turn the page on our calendars to a new month.

I make calendars each year for my desk and my family.

I thought I'd set up a regular post on the last day of each month to share them.

I hope you enjoy my “Turning the Page” posts.

Here's our June 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.

If you would like a word document with the calendar, email me
and I will be glad to send it to you so you can design your own.
Email link is on the sidebar.

Thanks for the visit and special thanks for your comments.

Enjoy!



Pearl Ex Poinsettias

Ho, ho, ho.

It's time for another Christmas card.


While at the retreat, Loll showed us ways to use those shimmery Pearl Ex powders.

One way to use them is with a stencil and that's what I did here.

I taped the stencil down to my mat and pressed a Versamark pad all over the stencil.
Then I removed the stencil and sprinkled heat and stick powder over it
and heated it up with the heat tool.  This left a sticky image.

Then I used a soft brush to pick up some Pearl Ex powder and brushed it over the image.
 It was tricky getting the different colors.

I cut the piece down and added three layers of the die cut sentiment that I stacked
for added dimension.

Some gold Dazzling Details in the center of the flowers and
Wink of Stella on the words added even more shimmer.

I'm taking this over to Rudolph Days where Scrappy Mo has an
Anything Goes Christmas challenge each month from the 25th to the end of the month.
We were thrilled to get to meet her at the retreat!  She is as lovely in person as she is on her blog!
She's the one in the middle, peeking out from behind Darnell and Trina.


Maureen and Dolly (Darnell)


I'm also going to enter at Jingle Belles where the challenge is TEXT ME.
I hope the die cut sentiment is enough to qualify.


Thanks for the visit and special thanks for your comments.

Enjoy!
Card Recipe
Paper:   Neenah (Natural 110 lb. Classic Crest), Shaded Spruce (SU)
Other:  Floral Trio Stencil (Magenta), Pearl Ex, Heat and Stick Powder, Dazzling Details (SU), WOS, Holiday Words Script Dies (TH)


Thursday, May 30, 2019

Eat, Sleep, Craft, Repeat 2019

Hello crafty peeps!




I'm excited to say that I was able to join in at the
Eat, Sleep, Craft, Repeat 2019 Retreat this year.

My heart was in my throat as I flew by myself across the country,
but it was so worth it to spend a week with these dear people!

Loll's SIL Alex came to take pictures on Sunday.
What a treat to meet him and get pointers on photographing our cards.
He was an excellent teacher and took some awesome pictures that I'll treasure!
You can see some of the pictures by clicking the Retreat 2109 tab at the top.

We all took turns leading the group in techniques.


I came home with a lot of backgrounds, images to put on cards and images to color.
I've been home a week and still haven't got everything sorted.

It was a tearful goodbye after a memorable week.
We were all hoarse from the talking and laughing!

If  you'd like to see some of what the other gals did, hop along to join in the fun.



Thanks for the visit and special thanks for your comments.

Enjoy!


Card Recipe
Stamps:  Pure Iris (PB)
Ink:   DOX inks
Paper:   HP Advanced Photo, Neenah
Other:  Baby Wipe, Timeless Square Frames Die (PB)


Tuesday, May 28, 2019

Blue Footed Fun

Hello crafty friends.

I hope this brings a smile to your face and maybe even a giggle.


I've stamped this fun guy with Versafine ink and watercolored him using
Distress Markers swiped on a palette and picking up the ink with a waterbrush.

He'll go to my grandson for his birthday.

I'm going to take this to Seize the Birthday.  No toppings.


Thanks for the visit and special thanks for your comments.

Enjoy!


Card Recipe
Stamps:  Blue Footed (IO), Fun Birthday Sentiments (HLS)
Ink:   Smokey Gray Versafine, DM (Peacock Feathers, Mermaid Lagoon, Gathered Twigs, Pumice Stone, Black Soot)
Paper:   Neenah, Mixed Media, Snippets of Foil and Glitter Paper
Other:  Tumbled Glass re-inker, Triangle Punch, Confetti Die


Monday, May 27, 2019

Thank You for Your Service

Today is Memorial Day; a day to remember those who fought and died
for our freedom.


I'm thankful that these brave souls fought for us.

I'm also thankful for the loved ones who shared these men and women with us.

I'm thankful too for those who came home when their comrades didn't.

They are the bravest of all.

Thanks for the visit and special thanks for your comments.

Enjoy!


Card Recipe
Stamps:  Painted Poppy (Alt.), Oh, Happy Day (Av. Elle)
Ink:   Abandoned Coral, Peeled Paint, Gathered Twigs (DI and DM), Early Espresso (SU)
Paper:   Watercolor (Strathmore), Basic Black (SU), Neenah
Other:  


Thursday, May 23, 2019

Tilth Floral Wipe Swipe

Hi there.  I'm so glad you stopped by.

I'm home again after enjoying a week with sweet, funny, talented friends.


I've been playing with those Baby Wipes again.  There's so many things we can do with them!

This time I followed Jennifer McGuire's lead and used Distress Re-inkers
on a baby wipe to make stripes of color.

I folded a baby wipe to fit on the edge of an acrylic block and
fastened it with a rubber band.  I added a few drops of  Spun Sugar re-inker to
one side of the wipe, a few drops of Worn Lipstick and a few drops of
Picked Raspberry.  Then I swiped it across some paper.

I found that Mixed Media paper works best, but I did some swipes on Neenah
and it worked okay.  I got several pulls of color with my wipe and by
spritzing with water, I got lighter colors.

My friend Heather Telford is helping to launch a new challenge at
I've used the three shades of pink. (I hope it's okay to use three shades of one color.)

and

At The Flower Challenge this month they're asking for
Embossing the colored panel helped with any warping ;-)

and

and
My mixed media are Baby Wipe Swiping, Stamping, Dry Embossing and Die Cutting


Thanks for the visit and special thanks for your comments.

Enjoy!

Card Recipe
Stamps:  Many Everyday Messages (HA)
Ink:   Picked Raspberry (DI)
Paper:   Neenah
Other:  Baby Wipe, Acrylic Block, Distress Re-inkers (Spun Sugar, Worn Lipstick, Picked Raspberry), Tilth Floral Die (MB), Square Lattice EF (ret. SU)


Saturday, May 18, 2019

Double Wiped with Butterfly

Hello from beautiful Vancouver.


I've used baby wipes two ways on this card.

We're doing this technique at our retreat today. 
What a fun time together.  It was totally worth the trip!

 I swiped a baby wipe full of ink on a piece of mixed media paper for the background,
then stamped the flower using Distress ink and the MISTI.

I Die cut the butterfly from baby wiped DOX inked photo paper and 
raised up on black foam.

CAS Mix Up challenge is open until the 24th.



Thanks for the visit and special thanks for your comments.

Enjoy!

Card Recipe
Stamps:  Dancing Daisies (PB)
Ink:  Mustard Seed, Mowed Lawn, Spiced Marmalade (DOX), Picked Raspberry, Peeled Paint, Gathered Twigs (DI)
Paper:   Neenah, Mixed Media, Photo Paper (HP Advanced)
Other:  Magical Butterfly Die (AR), Baby Wipe, Black Sharpie, Double Pierced Rectangle Die (Avery Elle), Foam


Friday, May 17, 2019

Tis the Season for CAS Christmas

Hello again.  Ready for the weekend?

There's still time to join in at CAS Christmas
and get a head start on those Christmas cards.


Trina is hosting this month and she chose...


I've used this adorable stamp from Penny Black, colored
with Copic markers and fussy cut the image out.

The brick background is dry embossed and the mantel
is a snippet of textured cardstock.

I'm going to take my snippet over to
Pixie's Snippet Playground
I hope you're feeling better, Di.

I have a twofer too.


Just a bit different but using the same techniques.

Our Guest Designer, Helen, has joined our Design Team
to astound  you with some inspiration pieces.
I hope you'll check them out and join in at


Thanks for the visit and special thanks for your comments.

Enjoy!


Card Recipe (card 1)
Stamps:  Jolly Friends (PB), Tis the Season (Stampendous)
Ink:   Memento Tuxedo Black
Paper:   Neenah
Other:  Copic Markers (W2, W3, W4, G14, YG17, YG67, R29), Brick EF (TH), Stitched Rectangle Die (SSS)


Card Recipe (card 2)
Stamps:  Jolly Friends (PB), Tis the Season (Stampendous)
Ink:   Memento Tuxedo Black
Paper:   Neenah
Other:   Copic Markers (E23, E33, G14, YG17, YG67, R24, R29, R37, E13), Brick EF (TH), Stitched Arch Stax (MFT)

Thursday, May 16, 2019

Birthday Pup for CAS Watercolour Reminder

Hello friends.

There's still time to join in at CAS Watercolour.


Karen is hosting our challenge this month and she chose...

I've stamped this adorable pup with waterproof ink and
colored with watercolor pencils then blended with a slightly damp waterbrush.
A little embossing and die cutting and he's ready to go!

Our talented Design Team and Guest Designer, Bobby have
some adorable cards to share with you.  I hope you'll check us out at


Thanks for the visit and special thanks for your comments.

Enjoy!


Card Recipe
Stamps: Critter Party (PB), Handwritten Borders (SSS) 
Ink:   Versafine Onyx Black
Paper:   Neenah, Real Red (SU)
Other:  Infinity Circles (HA), EF (ret. SU), Watercolor Pencils (assorted), Waterbrush


Wednesday, May 15, 2019

Baby Wipe Magic for CAS Mix Up

Hello friends.

There's still time to join in at
CAS Mix Up!


I'm hosting the challenge this month and this is what I chose....

There are a lot of ways to use baby wipes on cards.
We keep discovering new ones.
I used this technique from Kia's video tutorial.

I LOVE this technique.  It's like magic when you wipe it down.

I did learn that some photo paper doesn't work well,
but this HP worked like a dream!

I smooshed Distress Oxide on my craft sheet, spritzed with water and
dipped the glossy photo paper into the ink.

I used several colors, drying between each color, until I was 
happy with the coverage.

When the paper was colored and dry, I stamped the image, 
using the MISTI so I could stamp more than once if needed.

I let that dry REAL good and wiped it down with a baby wipe
and watched the magic happen.

I've used a die to emboss the edge and put the design image on foam.

My mixed media are Baby Wipe Technique, Stamping and  Dry Embossing with a Die.

I hope you'll try this or another of the baby wipe techniques.
There are video tutorials at CAS Mix Up.

I'm also linking up to the
ANYTHING GOES: OPTION CREATE YOUR OWN BACKGROUND


Thanks for the visit and special thanks for your comments.

Enjoy!

Card Recipe
Stamps:  First Waltz, Birthday Love (PB)
Ink:  Distress Oxide Ink (Fossilized Amber, Picked Raspberry, Peeled Paint, Wilted Violet), Jet Black StazOn
Paper: HP Glossy Photo Paper, Neenah (110 lb. Solar White)   
Other:  Baby Wipe (Kirkland), Double Pierced Rectangle Die (AE)


Tuesday, May 14, 2019

First Waltz Tulips

Hello, friends.  Today I have a card using a Penny Black Brushstroke Stamp.


After placing the stamp in the MISTI, I used Distress markers to ink the design and stamped.

Using a damp waterbrush, I moved the ink a bit and added color to the stamp,
  re-stamping as needed.

When finished with the flowers, I wet the background bringing
the water in to the flowers and just touching to get the color to run.

One last stamping without re-inking the stamp, adds the definition back in.

I used vellum to add the heat embossed sentiment.

I'll enter this at this month's
Craft Stamper Magazine Take It Make It Challenge
ANYTHING GOES

and


My talented friend Heather Telford is hosting a new challenge at
The Foiled Fox Blog
She asks for cards using three main colors
(a little black or white in addition is okay)
I've used Tattered Rose, Abandoned Coral and Peeled Paint
along with a little black and white.

and

Penny Black Saturday Challenge
ANYTHING GOES/OPTIONAL CREATE YOUR OWN BACKGROUND.
My favorite way of creating a background is to do a color wash.

and

ANYTHING GOES with Option of
ANYTHING FEMININE


Thanks for the visit and special thanks for your comments.

Enjoy!


Card Recipe
Stamps:  First Waltz, Special Wishes (PB)
Ink:   Peeled Paint, Tattered Rose, Abandoned Coral, (DM), Whisper White (SU)
Paper:   Mixed Media (Strathmore 400 series), Neenah (110 lb. Solar White), Light Weight Vellum
Other:  Stitched Rectangles (SSS), White EP (SU)


Monday, May 13, 2019

Wheelie It's Twofer Time

Hello friends. I hope you had a great weekend!




 First up is a birthday card for my grandson.

Looks like the motorcycle is starting to pop a wheelie.
I'm glad he isn't on it!

And for my Twofer
a crazy bird to lift someone's spirits.

These wheelie eyes make this bird look even crazier.
It makes me laugh. 

I've actually winked those eyes, but the camera doesn't see that.

I used watercolor pencils to color the first card and
Distress Markers and a water brush to color the second.

It's going to be fun to see how wheels are used this month over at

Thanks for the visit and special thanks for your comments.

Enjoy!

Card Recipe (card 1)
Stamps: Americana (LDRS Creative), Fun Birthday Sentiments (HLS) 
Ink:   Memento Tuxedo Black
Paper:   Neenah, Basic Gray (SU)
Other:  Watercolor Pencils (Caran d'Ache Supracolor Soft), Waterbrush, Simply Scored, Silver Gel Pen

Card Recipe
Stamps: Bird Crazy (TH), Blue Footed (IO) 
Ink:   VersaFine Onyx Black
Paper:   Mixed Media (Strathmore 400 series), Basic Black (SU)
Other:  Distress Markers, Waterbrush, Ultra Fine Black Sharpie, 1/2" Circle Punch, WOS

Friday, May 10, 2019

Daisy Fresh for CAS Stencil

Hello and happy TGIF!  I hope you have a fun weekend in your plans!


Today I'm playing with my good friend Loll's CAS Stencil Challenge.

I pulled a background from my stash.  I think it was just a mop up piece
or it could have been done with smooshing.  I laid my mesh stencil on top
and randomly sponged Distress ink over the top, die cut it and sponged
a little extra color around the edges.

We were doing a card with this layout and flower at this month's class,so I made 
an extra flower and popped it on top.  I love the freshness of the green, white and yellow.


Thanks for the visit and special thanks for your comments.

Enjoy!


Card Recipe
Stamps:  Friendship Messages (SSS)
Ink:   Garden Green (SU), Mowed Lawn (DI)
Paper:   Neenah
Other:  Texture Mesh Stencil (MB), X-Stitch Dome Die, Daisy Die, Leaves Dies (AE), Punches for flower center