A Rainbow Array of Balloons

Hello friends.  I'm glad you could stop by!

I've used my balloon punches and dies to cut various sizes of balloons
from Mixed Media paper and colored them by swiping my Zigs
around the outer edge and spreading the color with a water brush.

When dry I temporarily adhered them to a scrap of cardstock,
smacked them with a Versamark pad and heat embossed with clear powder.

After laying the balloons on some sparkly paper to check for placement,
I stamped the happy birthday and some swirls from the other
words in this set in coordinating colors for the strings.

I've popped the balloons up for dimension.

I'm taking this to the Seize the Birthday 200th Challenge Celebration.

I have been inspired by the colors and the balloons.

Congratulations to Seize the Birthday!

Thanks for the visit and special thanks for your comments.

Enjoy!

Card Recipe

Stamps:  Curly Sentiments (wish)

Ink:   Encore Gold, DI, VersaMark

Paper:   Mixed Media, Sparkly (?), Soft Sky (SU)

Other:  Balloon Punches (SU & MS), Celebration Time Dies (SSS), Zigs CCRBM (22 Carmine Red, 70 Orange, 50 Yellow, 36 Lt. Blue, 41 Lt. Green), 81 Lt. Violet), Gold EP, Clear EP (SU)

May CAS Challenge Reminder

Hi there.  How are you?

I'm glad you stopped by.
I have a long post today with reminders for the
CAS Challenges.

Changes are coming to the CAS Challenges starting next month.

The new CAS Mix Up Challenge will include a rotation of challenges ...
Mixed Media, Stencil, Watercolour (repeat).

At CAS Mix Up Linda has challenged us to use...

I used some thinner gesso this time and pounced it onto my script stamp with

some Cut & Dry foam, stamped it on some cardstock and let it dry while I 

washed the stamp.

When dry, I  used a make up brush to add Distress ink over the gesso.  

Then I used a baby wipe to get the ink off the gesso.  

BAD idea!

Either I was too heavy handed or the wipe was too juicy because

it caused the paper to pill.  I was able to save the small piece that you see here.

I sponge ink on the stem and leaves of the dandelion. I used some glue on

the flower piece and sprinkled some chunky white embossing powder on top to

get some texture.  I also dabbed the stem and leaves in my embossing pad

and heat set with some clear embossing powder.

Here's a close up.

My mixed media are Gesso Resist, Die Cutting, Sponging, Heat Embossing, Chunky Frantage, Embossing with Die and Stamping

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CAS Christmas is hosted by Loll

A sweet friend enclosed this pretty die cut in a card recently.

Her timing was perfect!

I've colored the greenery by picking up ink from an inkpad and

the berries with re-inker.  When it was all dry, I splattered with white

gouache paint and let it dry again.  To brighten it up, I went over it

with a Specturm Noir Clear Sparkle marker.

I found this embossed wreath in the Christmas box and popped the

bough on top.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

CAS Watercolour where Jenny is asking for

The night sky is a piece of watercolor using Lindy's Magicals and

water done on some coated cardstock.

The die is an all in one.  I cut the tree part a second time from some

Glimmer paper and also the star. 

The starry sky was added with the help of a white gel pen.

This will be the last CAS Watercolour Challenge on this blog.

You can watercolor with us at CAS Mix Up in the future.

Challenges are open until the 24th.


Thanks for the visit and special thanks for your comments.

Enjoy!

Card Recipe (card 1)

Stamps: French Script Background (ret. SU), Happy Snippets (PB),

Ink:  Tumbled Glass, Shabby Shutters, Peeled Paint (DI), Pear Pizzazz (SU), WOW Embossing

Paper:  Neenah, Soft Sky (SU)

Other:  Gesso, Stitched Square Die (SSS), Wildflower Stems #1 (TH/Sizzix), Chunky White Frantage, Clear EP

Card Recipe (card 2)

Stamps:  Tis the Season (Serendipity/IO)

Ink:   Baked Brown Sugar, Garden Green (SU)

Paper:   Crumb Cake (SU), Textured White (?)

Other:  Silverdale Branch Die (MB), Real Red Re-inker (SU), Seasonal Wreath EF (SU), White Gouache Paint, Spectrum Noir Clear Sparkle Brush, Jute Twine

Card Recipe (card 3)

Stamps:  

Ink:   

Paper:   Neenay, Coated, Glimmer (SU)

Other:  Delicate Pine Frame Die (MB), Star of Wonder Die (MB), Lind's Shaker Afternoon Delight Denim

Moonlit Dragonflies

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

I'm back again with a new challenge from

CAS Watercolour.

Our very talented Jenny is our host this month and she's asking for...

I used my mini ink pads to put some ink on my craft mat, spritzed with water
and smooshed some watercolor paper into it.

After it was dry, I splattered on some white gouache paint and
set it aside to dry again.

Finally, I mounted it on a piece of gold foil and die cut some
gold embossed vellum from my stash. Then I carefully ran some ATG glue on the
back of the die cut vellum and adhered it to the night sky

The dragonflies and grasses were die cut
from scraps of gold foil and glued beneath the vellum as well as a
die cut a piece of yellow watercolor smoosh from my stash to act as the moon.

Due to the size and shape of this die, the card is tall and skinny.
Dimensions are 3 1/4" x 6 1/4"

Our Design Team is joined by Tina and there's lots of
inspiration over there.  I hope you'll check it out and join us at
CAS Watercolour.


Thanks for the visit and special thanks for your comments.

Enjoy!

Card Recipe

Stamps:  

Ink:   Black Soot, Chipped Sapphire, Seedless Preserves (DI)

Paper:   Naturals White (ret. SU), Gold Embossed Vellum (ret. SU), Watercolor (Arches cold press), Gold Foil (SU)

Other:  Dancing Dragonfly Collage Die (MB)

Spring Tulips

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

I hope you and your loved ones are well.

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

Susan is hosting this month and she chose...

Susan says: "I am looking for SPRING flowers - not just any flowers.  

So please think snowdrops, daffodils, tulips, crocuses, 

apple and cherry blossom, dogwood, etc."

I've inked this wonderful stamp from Technique Tuesday with Distress

Markers and stamped on Mixed Media paper. You may recognize it as the 

same flowers on my March calendar page.

Using the MISTI makes it possible to ink small sections and blend

with water then stamp again.

If you like your cards brighter, here's another version for you.

Our Design Team along with our Talented Guest Designer, Vicky have

wonderful examples of Spring flowers to inspire you.

I hope you'll check us out and share your watercolor Spring flowers with us at

CAS Watercolour.

Thanks for the visit and special thanks for your comments.

Enjoy!

Card Recipe

Stamps:  Tulips (TT)

Ink:   Festive Berries, Peeled Paint, Candied Apple (DI and DM)

Paper:   Neenah, Mixed Media (Strathmore 400 series), Strawberry Slush (SU-card 2)

Other:  Hemstitch Rectangle Die (Spl), Oxford EF (Cuttlebug)

Azaleas for CAS Watercolour

Hey there.  I'm so glad you dropped by!

I hope you're not too lonely with all this isolation.

I'm so thankful that I can keep in touch with my family and friends

through technology.

It's time for a new challenge at CAS Watercolour.

Susan is hosting this month and she chose...

Susan says: "I am looking for SPRING flowers - not just any flowers.  

So please think snowdrops, daffodils, tulips, crocuses, 

apple and cherry blossom, dogwood, etc."

Our azaleas are blooming right now and they're so pretty.

Almost every yard in our area has at least one azalea bush.

Here's another card using these azaleas.  I got a little carried away

and it isn't as CAS as it needs to be.  But I still like it and want to share it.

For both cards I've used a digital image from Power Poppy

and watercolored with my Zig markers and a waterbrush. 

Our Design Team along with our Talented Guest Designer, Vicky have

wonderful examples of Spring flowers to inspire you.

I hope you'll check us out and share your watercolor Spring flowers with us at

CAS Watercolour.

Thanks for the visit and special thanks for your comments.

Enjoy!

Card Recipe (card 1)

Stamps:  Azaleas Forever (PP), Happy Snippets (PB)

Ink:   Versafine Onyx Black

Paper:   Mixed Media, Neenah

Other:  Zig CCRBM (2 Pale Pink, 26 Lt. Pink, 45 Pale Green, 44 Deep  Green, 901 (Gray Tint, 65 Mid Brown), Caran d'Ache Supracolor Pencils (89 Dk. Carmine, 49 Umber), Stitched Arch STAX (MFT), Subtle EF (SU)

Card Recipe (card 2)

Stamps:  Azaleas Forever (PP), Brushed Calligraphy #2 (Inky Antics)

Ink:   Versafine Onyx Black

Paper:   Mixed Media, Neenah

Other:  Zig CCRBM (2 Pale Pink, 26 Lt. Pink, 45 Pale Green, 44 Deep  Green, 901 (Gray Tint, 65 Mid Brown), Caran d'Ache Supracolor Pencils (89 Dk. Carmine, 49 Umber), Stitched Arch STAX (MFT), Subtle EF (SU)

Blessings

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

Happy St. Patrick's Day.

Life is so crazy right now.  On those days I yearned to be able to stay home
and craft, I never would have thought it wouldn't be an option to go out!

I hope you are staying safe and healthy.

These shamrocks were so easy to stamp with the MISTI.

A little inking and a damp brush to move and blend the ink was all it took.

I added a sentiment and a few splatters and some dew drops too.

I want to thank you for all your love and support with my blog break.

I do miss sharing on my blog and will be back in earnest very soon.

I'm hoping these shamrocks will bring us all luck, good health,

and many blessings!

Julia is hosting CAS Watercolour this month and she chose...

Thanks for the visit and special thanks for your comments.

Enjoy!

Card Recipe

Stamps:  Shaded Clover (IO), Basket of Blessings (PTI)

Ink:   Mowed Lawn (DI), Baked Brown Sugar (SU)

Paper:   Mixed Media, Watercolor (Strathmore)

Other:  Clear Stones (Starlit Studios)

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

CAS Watercolour Challenge.

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)

Red and Black for CAS Watercolour

Hello friends.  I'm so glad you stopped by!

There's a new challenge at CAS Watercolour.

Our talented and so sweet Marcia is hosting the challenge this month.

I bought this stamp over a year ago to do a card for DH.

It seemed perfect for this challenge and for a Valentine or 

anniversary card for him too.

It was tricky coloring the design without turning the swans pink!

I have a love/hate relationship with red!

It turned out fine and I think he'll like it.

I colored the design with Distress Ink smooshed on a palette and picked up
with a damp waterbrush.  The rest of it is just plain stamping.

Check out the awesome inspiration by our Design Team and
special Guest Designer Michele (I Card Everyone).
Then I hope you'll join us at
CAS Watercolour.

Thanks for the visit and special thanks for your comments.

Enjoy!

Card Recipe

Stamps:  Swans H1022 (IO), Happy Snippets (PB)

Ink:   Versafine Smokey Gray, Barn Door (DI)

Paper:   Mixed Media (Strathmore 400 series), Basic Black

Other:  

More Guest Designing for Penny Black Saturday Challenge

Hello.  I'm so glad you could stop by!

There's still time to join in at Penny Black Saturday Challenge.

'ANYTHING GOES/OPTIONAL 'SOMETHING NEW'

For this card, I masked and watercolored with Kuretake Gansai Tambi Watercolour.

When it was completely dry, I stamped my new Fragile Beauty stamp using

gray ink.  I let that dry and rubbed my embossing buddy all over then stamped 

with white pigment ink and heat embossed.

I removed the mask, stamped a sentiment.  The die cut popped over the top

was inspired by my friend Ros.  I love how it adds dimension.

Since I've used cool colors to watercolor, I'll add this to the gallery at

CAS Watercolour.

And do check out the wonderful inspiration from the Design Team

and join in at the Penny Black Saturday Challenge.

Thanks for the visit and special thanks for your comments.

Enjoy!

Card Recipe

Stamps:  Fragile Beauty, Eloquence (PB)

Ink:   Versafine Smokey Gray, Whisper White (SU)

Paper:   Watercolor (TH), Neenah

Other:  Gansai Tambi (64 Blue, 67 Deep Blue, 139 Purple), Airy Die (PB), White EP

CAS Challenges More Inspiration

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

I have a triple post today reminding that there's still time to play
at CAS Mix Up, CAS Watercolour and CAS Christmas.

You might want to grab a cup of coffee.  This is a long post!

CAS Mix Up

Using Partial Die Cutting, Inking with Markers, Stamping, Embossing with Die

and Heat Embossing

The Challenge

I've inked this stamp with markers and stamped, then used a damp waterbrush

to blend the colors.  I've used the die to die cut just the top of the butterfly,

then used the die to emboss the bottom.  Then I went over the butterfly with 

Wink of Stella so it shimmers in the light.

The sentiment has been stamped and heat embossed with Silver.

*******

CAS Watercolour

This month's challenge is

I've done stripes of blue and pink for my cool colors.

When dry, I sprayed with some shimmer spray.

It has a nice shimmer to it.  Brrr!

The snowflake was die cut from a snippet of Neenah smacked with a 

Wow embossing pad and heat embossed twice with a

sparkly teal embossing powder.

*******

CAS Christmas

The challenge

This was super quick.  I trimmed the front of a repurposed Christmas card from last year

and used a tag topper punch for the top and corner rounder punch for the bottom.

I've popped it on top of a piece of embossed Neenah and added a 

sparkly die cut merry.  A little gold twine finished it off.

I hope you'll join us at

CAS Mix Up,  CAS Watercolour and  CAS Christmas

The challenges close on the 24th.

Thanks for the visit and special thanks for your comments.

Enjoy!

Card Recipe (card 1)

Stamps: Soft Wings (PB), Gorgeous Grunge (SU), Deepest Sympathy (HA)

Ink: Twisted Citron, Peacock Feathers, Gaathered Twigs (DM), Encore Silver, Wow Emb. Pad

Paper:  Mixed Media (Strathmore 400 series), Watercolor (Strathmore 300 Series)

Other:  Delicate Wings Die (PB), Pewter EP (SU), WOS

Card Recipe (card 2)

Stamps:  Special Sentiments (PB)

Ink:   Versafine Smokey Gray, Wow Embossing Pad

Paper:   Watercolor (Strathmore 300 series), Neenah

Other:  Gansai Tambi Watercolours, Shimmering Bliss (Technique Junkies), Snowflake Duo (PB), Long Island Teal EP (Wow)

Card Recipe (card 3)

Stamps: None

Ink: None

Paper: Neenah

Other: Repurposed Christmas Caard, Tag Punch, Corner Rounder Punch, Snowflake EF (all retired SU), Holiday Words Script Die (TH)

Cool Colours for CAS Watercolour

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

We have a new challenge at CAS Watercolour

I'm hosting the challenge this month and I chose

Here's a cool color chart

The amazing Chrissie (Simply One of a Kind)

is our Guest Designer this month.

She and our very talented Design Team have some

wonderful inspriation for you.

I hope you'll check them out and join in at

CAS Watercolour.

This is an image stamped and embossed using a friends stamp.

I've used Distress Inks smooshed on a palette and picked up
with my waterbrush to color.

The design and the die cut sentiment are popped up with foam sheet.


Thanks for the visit and special thanks for your comments.

Enjoy!

Card Recipe

Stamps:  Botanical Frames (Hot off the Press)

Ink:   Whisper White (SU), Salty Ocean, Blueprint Sketch, Seedless Preserves (DI)

Paper:   Mixed Media (Strathmore 400 series), Neenah

Other:  White EP, Many  Thanks Die (PB), Subtle EF (SU)

Social Butterfly Blues

Hello friends.  I'm so glad you stopped by!

There's still time to play at CAS Watercolour.

This month Karen is our host and she's chosen...

I pulled out a background piece that had been done with Brushos.

After placing this butterfly stamp in my Misti, I inked it up, spritzed with water

and stamped.  My waterbrush came in handy to move the ink around a bit

before I stamped again.

For a little added interest, I inked a floral stamp with an ink similar

to the background and stamped that a couple times without re-inking.

The butterfly looked too stark to me so I went over the body

with a chalk writer.  That's why the body is a bit lighter.

Unfortunately I was in need of a sympathy card so

I stamped a sympathy sentiment on a piece of the background

that I'd cut off.

Then because I wasn't ready to stop, I added some dots with

a white gel pen.

Sometimes I have to tell myself to quit!

I hope you'll check out the challenge and see what our fabulous Design Team

and our Guest Designer Birgit have done to inspire  you.

Then join us with your monochromatic CAS card at

CAS Watercolour.

Thanks for the visit and special thanks for your comments.

Enjoy!

Card Recipe

Stamps:  Social Butterfly, At Grace (PB), Every Day Sayings (HA)

Ink:   Bashful Blue, Dapper Denim (SU)

Paper:   Watercolor (Arches Cold Press), Neenah

Other:  Subtle EF (SU), Rainstones (PTI), Chalk Writer (SU), White Gel Pen