Saturday, February 29, 2020

Turning the Page March 2020

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 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.

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!




Tuesday, February 25, 2020

Irish Blessing

Hi there.  I'm glad you stopped by.


I've used a NBUS Irish Blessing stamp and heat embossed in gold on a piece
of Brusho background.

It's my wish to you.

I'm going to be taking a break from blogging for awhile,
except for posts I already have scheduled.
XOXO

Thanks for the visit and special thanks for your comments.

Enjoy!




Card Recipe
Stamps:  Irish Blessing (Verses Rubber Stamps)
Ink:   Encore Gold
Paper:   Mixed Media (Strathmore 400 series), Textured, Gold Foil, Neenah
Other:  Brusho, Gold EP, Tall Classic Rectangle Die (Spl), Stitched Butterfly Trio (PS)

Friday, February 21, 2020

Amaryllis

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


This amaryllis is one of my favorites from Technique Tuesday.

I put the stamp in MISTI and inked it up with
Archival Shadow Gray.

My Arteza Twimarkers worked beautifully to add color
 and my trusty waterbrush helped to move the color around.

I find that this image colors beautifully with
very little effort!

But, in trying to save paper, I stamped it too close to the edge.

I found that if I cut a smaller circle as a little frame, it fit perfectly.

Whew!

Challenges:
Christmas Kickstart: Use the Colour Red
Jingle Bellesfeature PREDOMINANTLY the color RED (not just a bit, but a lot of RED).
Krafty Chicks: Clean and Simple Week

 


Thanks for the visit and special thanks for your comments.

Enjoy!

Card Recipe
Stamps:  Amaryllis (TT), Scripty Holiday (GKD)
Ink:   Early Espresso overstamped with Cherry Cobbler
Paper:   Neenah, Mixed Media (Strathmore 400 series)
Other:  Double Stitched Circle Die (LI), Infinity  Circle Die (HA), Subtle EF (SU), Arteza Twimarkers (239 Ballerina Pink, 114 Ruby Red, 247 Wine Red, 192 Sage Green, 221 Moss Green, 305 Biscotti Brown)


Thursday, February 20, 2020

La Rue Heart in Aqua

Hi there.  I'm so glad you popped in!


This is my favorite heart die!  I've used it to die cut from Neenah Solar White cardstock.

The background piece was smooshed into Lindy's Magical powders and
spritzed with water.  When I die cut this piece, I left the little pieces intact
and taped them in place on the back.

I've popped it on top of a piece that's been embossed with paste
through a retired Memory Box stencil.
(I think this is my all time favorite stencil!)

A little heart die cut from a Poppy Stamps die has been dry embossed
with a little silver bow added on top.

There was just enough room under the stenciled embossing to
stamp the sentiment that's been heat embossed.

An anniversary card for my stash.

Challenges:




Thanks for the visit and special thanks for your comments.

Enjoy!


Card Recipe
Stamps:  Amaryllis (TT)
Ink:   WOW emb. pad
Paper:   Neenah
Other:  La Rue Heart Die (MB), Lindy's Magicals, Stitched Hearts Die (PS), Texuter Scraped Paint Stencil (ret. MB), Embossing Paste (WV), Silver EP, Subtle EF (SU), Silver Cord (ret. SU)


Tuesday, February 18, 2020

Berries for Twofer

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


Today I'm joining in at the Twofer Challenge.
 

I hope these designs are different enough. 

Firstly are the blackberries.
They are mounted on a piece of Bruso smoosh and the card base is a
deep Purple that's been subtly embossed.

I've inked the stamp with Distress Markers and
 stamped on Mixed Media paper.  Using my waterbrush, I moved
the colors around.  Looks like I moved the color in the sentiment
a bit too much! 

My Twofer....

This time they are raspberries, one of my favorite fruits.

I've stamped with Archival ink onto Neenah cardstock and used Distress Ink 
smooshed on my palette to pick up the color.

This started out as a full card front but somehow, it picked up some
turquoise paint that was on my work space.

By the time I figured out where it was coming from and cleaned it up,
I'd "infected" a card base and several places on the design.

Fortunately I could salvage the strip with the berries.

I've used that Subtle Embossing Folder to add texture to the design piece
but the camera refuses to see it.

Thanks to the gals at the Twofer challenge that chose my 
cards as co-winners last month.


Thanks for the visit and special thanks for your comments.

Enjoy!

Card Recipe (card 1)
Stamps:  Blackberries (Serendipity/IO), Bouquet of Thanks (SSS)
Ink:   Concord Crush (SU), Chipped Sapphire, Black Soot, Bundled Sage, Peeled Paint, Brushed Corduroy, Mustard Seed (DM)
Paper:   Mixed Media (Strathmore 400 series), Concord Crush (SU)
Other:  Brusho (Orange), Double Pierced Rectangle Die (SSS), Subtle EF (SU)

Card Recipe (card 2)
Stamps:  Blackberries (Serendipity/IO), Tiny Sayings (AE)
Ink:  Jet Black Archival, Whisper White (SU), Picked Raspberry, Wilted Violet, Peeled Paint (DI)
Paper:  Neeenah, Rich Razzleberry
Other:  Subtle EF (SU), White EP, Waterbrush 


Saturday, February 15, 2020

Snowman Joy for CAS Christmas

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


There's still time to join in with Linda's challenge at

I found a watercolor background in my stash and added some twinkling stars
with silver sparkle paste through a stencil.

My joyful snowman is cut from Glimmer Paper so he sparkles with a
crusty, snowy look.

I added a tiny bit of watercolor to his stick arms and nose.

Check out the fantastic cards our Design Team has done for your inspiration
and I hope you'll join us with your JOY-ful Christmas cards.


Thanks for the visit and special thanks for your comments.

Enjoy!


Card Recipe
Stamps:  Christmas Sentiments (PB)
Ink:   Dapper Denim
Paper:   Watercolor (TH), Dazzling Glimmer, Neenah
Other:  Snowman Joy Die (PB), Stars Shimmer Stencil (MB), Silver Chrome, Ultra Fine Sparkle Paste, Gansai Tambi Watercolors (64 Blue, 67 Deep Blue, 139 Purple)


More Red and Black for CAS Mix Up Reminder

Hello there.  I'm glad you popped in today.


There's still time to join in with Marcia's challenge at

I treated myself to the Hero Arts Monthly Kit last month and
used some of those gorgeous flower dies for this card.

I wanted intense color so I cut the blooms from watercolor paper, wet the
flowers heads and dropped some liquid watercolor on them.

I used a Distress Marker on the stems and added some water.

When the flowers were dry, I added some sparkle to them.
Boy do they shimmer in the light!

Be sure to check out the fantastic cards our Design Team has done
for your inspiration.

I hope you'll have some fun with red and black watercolor and join us at


Thanks for the visit and special thanks for your comments.

Enjoy!



Card Recipe
Stamps: Many Everyday Messages (HA)
Ink:   Whisper White, Brushed Corduroy (DM)
Paper:   Neenah, Watercolor (Strathmore 400 Series), Basic Black
Other:  Monthly Hero January Dies (HA), Liquid Watercolor (Pinkfresh), White EP, Spectrum Noir Crystal Clear Sparkle


Gardenias with Love

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


There's still time to join in with Joanna's challenge at

I used a retired but beloved die from Memory Box to cut my stencil

Then I used small make up brushes to add Distress Ink through that stencil
adding highlights with watercolor pencils.

A stamped sentiment, a little dry embossed border and some splatters
finished the design.

The Design Team and our Guest Designer, Ina, have
some gorgeous inspiration for you.  I hope you'll check it out and
join us at CAS Mix Up.

Other Challenges:


 



Thanks for the visit and special thanks for your comments.

Enjoy!

Card Recipe
Stamps:  Special Wishes (PB)
Ink:   Smokey Gray (VF), Spun Sugar, Shabby Shutters (DI) for sponging
Paper:   Neenah
Other:  Gorgeous Gardenia Die (ret. MB), Caran d'ache Supracolor II Pencils (89 Dark Carmine, 249 Olive, 49 Umber), EF (ret. SU)


More Guest Designing for Penny Black Saturday Challenge

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


I've had such fun Guest Designing for the
Thanks so much to Helen and the team for such a warm welcome!
This month's challenge is ANYTHING GOES...Optional LOVE IS IN THE AIR

For some reason, that made me think of balloons.

I'll take this little guy over to
where the challenge is to use 
ANIMALS, BIRDS and BUTTERFLIES

I can add this little cutie to the gallery at




Thanks for the visit and special thanks for your comments.

Enjoy!


Card Recipe
Stamps:  Just For You (PB)
Ink:   Archival Jet Black
Paper: Mixed Media (Strathmore 400 series), Basic Black
Other:  Zig CCRBM (29 Geranium Red, 26 Deep Red, 94 Gray Brown, 10 Black, 220 Tea Rose, 64 Oatmeal), Caran d'ache Supracolor II Pencils, Wonky Stitched Rectangles Dies (MFT), Balloon Dies (SSS, Ali), Nuvo Crystal Glaze


Friday, February 14, 2020

Glitter Heart

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

Happy Valentine's Day.


This ended up being hubby's Valentine.

First I die cut this heart (thank you, dear friend) out of mixed media paper colored
with Brushos sprayed with water.

When it was dry, I smacked it with VersaMark and heat embossed
it with clear embossing powder....several times.

The last time I heat embossed it, I sprinkled on some chunky glitter
and smooshed it into the soft embossing.

The sentiment was cut from some clear embossed black cardstock and
the arrow has some gold embossing on the point.

Since I used Brushos and water, red and black, I'll put this in
the CAS Watercolour gallery.


Thanks for the visit and special thanks for your comments.

Enjoy!


Card Recipe
Stamps:  
Ink:   
Paper:   Basic Black, Neenah, Mixed Media
Other:  Brushos (Scarlet, Black), Heart and Arrow (MFT), Love You Die (SSS), Love Spun EF (American Crafts), Clear EP, Chunky Glitter


Tuesday, February 11, 2020

Foiled Dragonflies

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


I did some foiling through a stencil for CAS Stencil.

I don't have laminator so I watched the video at the challenge site
7 Ways to add Foil Without a Machine - Janie (26:18) - stencil part is at 15:35 of the video

Loll suggested using Pixie Spray.  

I had that.

So I laid the stencil on some black cardstock and sprayed.

Then I laid the foil down and used a bone folder to try to transfer the foil.

It wasn't working on those little dragonflies.  

So I used a stylus and rubbed some more.

I finally had enough foil to show the dragonflies.

And my stencil is now covered in foil.

I think I should have removed it after I sprayed.

Oh, well.  It's a really pretty stencil now!

Here's a different angle because it really hard to photograph that foil!


I love the shimmer of those dragonflies!


Thanks for the visit and special thanks for your comments.

Enjoy!


Card Recipe
Stamps:  
Ink:   
Paper:   Basic Black, Gold Foil (SU)
Other:  Dragonfly Stencil (Magenta), Foil (Ranger), Pixie Spray


Saturday, February 8, 2020

Visible Image Red and Black

Hi there.  I'm so glad you stopped in!


I'm so enjoying using red and black this month for the

This time I added a drop of Pinkfresh Studio liquid watercolor onto
a small piece of acetate and spritzed with water before 
pressing it down onto a piece of watercolor paper.

I used a waterbrush to add a bit more water and move the
color around a bit more.

When it was completely dry, I stamped the flower, mounted it
on a black card base and added the sentiment. 


Thanks for the visit and special thanks for your comments.

Enjoy!


Card Recipe
Stamps:  Creative Chaos (VI), Many Everyday Messages (HA)
Ink:   Onyx Black (VF)
Paper:   Watercolour (Strathmore 400 series), Basic Black
Other:  Candied Apple Liquid Watercolor (Pinkfresh), White EP, Stately EF (ret. CC)


Thursday, February 6, 2020

Clipping Heart Die Cut Stencil

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

It's a rainy day here and I'm looking forward to a day in the studio.



I used the SSS Clipping Heart Die to cut a stencil from a piece of stamping
that was pulled from the trash can.  It's Neenah paper.

You can see that I sponged the pink through the stencil onto my card front 
and also stamped the script in the same color I sponged with.



I die cut again from a clean piece of Neenah, and placed it on the sponged area,
matching up the hearts.

Then I inked up my French Script stamp  with white ink
and stamped it on the overlay and sponged area and heat embossed.
(It's important to make sure the sponging is dry before you do this step.)

There's an outline that I'd die cut with the hearts.  You can see it on the picture above.

I used the white outline over the sponged hearts and the sponged outline
with some patterned paper.

I hope you an follow all this.  It's confusing me as I read it back! LOL!
It doesn't take much to confuse me these days!



Krafty Chicks Challenge: Must have Stamping
CAS Mix Up: Make Stencils from Dies

  
 


Thanks for the visit and special thanks for your comments.

Enjoy!


Card Recipe
Stamps:  French Script (Darkroom Door)
Ink:   Whisper White, Worn Lipstick (DI and DOX)
Paper:   Neenah
Other:  Clipping Heart Die (SSS), White EP, Stitched Rectangle Die (SSS)