Happy Birthday Balloons
Posted: August 9, 2014 Filed under: CAS, Uplifting | Tags: CAS, Penny Black creative dies, Penny Black stamps, Tsukineko Radiant Neon inks 6 Comments
I am enjoying the Stretching Your Stamps 2 class and found a little time to try another technique this morning. I was inspired by another class participant who used sentiments inside speech bubbles to make a very cool card. I put mine inside balloons instead.
I cut balloons out of masking paper and kept both the positive and the negative. I was then able to stamp the words and sponge the balloon shape through the negative and mask the balloons after completing them with the positive. I used Radiant Neon inks which are so easy to sponge onto to a card. They blend and cover the area quickly and smoothly. The littlest balloon is stamped in gold but it looks more like a sad brown I’m afraid. I performed more stamp surgery to make this card by cutting the happy birthday stamp from “Edge to Edge” into three sections. I can always stamp them together another time if I want to.
Enjoy your weekend.
Supplies:
Stamps: Edge to Edge (PB)
Creative Dies: Uplifting (PB)
Inks: Versafine Onyx Black, Radiant Neon Electric Coral, Electric Green, Electric Blue & Encore Gold (Imagine Craft/Tsukineko)
Cardstock: Neenah Solar White 110lb
Also: Black Pitt Artist Pen (Faber Castell)
The Cool One
Posted: August 8, 2014 Filed under: CAS, Uplifting | Tags: CAS, Fabriano Watercolour Paper, Penny Black creative dies, Penny Black stamps, Ranger Distress stains 16 Comments
You wouldn’t believe how long this “simple” card took me! It all started because I had a piece of watercoloured paper all sparkly and blue which wasn’t working in the way I needed it to for a project I no longer remember. I couldn’t let that pretty sparkly blue panel go to waste so I stamped something on it in black, again can’t remember what. That didn’t work either but I wasn’t prepared to throw the sparkly blue away so I die cut as many balloons as I could without getting black stamping on them. Most that I cut ended up with a little stamping so I tried 3021 different arrangements where one balloon would overlap another to cover little bits of black ink. Finally I realized I was going round in circles so instead I cut balloons out of plain but co-ordinating colours and decided on the design above. It took me three attempts to get the above card made without inky fingerprints and failed inlaid diecuts. Even this one is a little unbalanced; the balloons should be higher.
I like the sentiment and of course the sparkly blue that started it all.
Supplies:
Stamps: Amazing (PB)
Creative Dies: Uplifting (PB)
Inks: Versafine Onyx Black (Tsukineko) Chipped Sapphire, Tumbled Glass, Broken China Distress Stains (Ranger)
Cardstock: Fabriano 100% cotton hot pressed watercolour paper, Periwinkle & Clear Skies Mix & Match Papers (PB)
Also: Pearl Ex
Patterned Poppies
Posted: August 4, 2014 Filed under: Bashful, CAS, Field of Dreams, Indian Wheel, Wishes | Tags: Penny Black creative dies, Penny Black stamps, Ranger Distress stains 17 Comments
It seems to be nothing but poppies on the blog at present. I can assure you that changes tomorrow as something quite unseasonal will appear!
Today I have a card inspired by one of the techniques in the Stretch Your Stamps 2 online card class. I have created watercolour patterned paper for die cutting before but I don’t think I have die-cut any embossed designs. I embossed the background stamp, Indian Wheel, watercoloured with distress stains then cut out several poppies with the “Field of Dreams” die. I also cut the sentiment from the patterned panel but it was a bit much so I decided to a cut a plain orange sentiment.
When I was photographing the top card and getting ready to post it I saw the pretty patterned sentiment and another die cut flower and decided a second card was possible. I had cut the daisy first from the patterned panel using the “Bashful” die but decided there was not enough patterned showing so switched to the poppies. It’s great when one design turns into two. The layout below is an adaption of the current Case Study Challenge #202 layout, one big flower and a sentiment strip stretching right across the card.
Supplies:
Stamps: Indian Wheel (Penny Black)
Inks: Vintage Photo, Peeled Paint, Mustard Seed, Spiced Marmalade, Barn Door, Crushed Olive, Bundled Sage distress stains (Ranger)
Creative Dies: Field of Dreams, Wishes, Bashful (PB)
Cardstock: Fabriano 100% cotton hot pressed watercolour paper, Fall Festival mix & match paper (Penny Black), Neenah Solar White 110lb card stock.
One Layer Simplicity: Shades of Summer
Posted: August 1, 2014 Filed under: CAS, Coloured pencil, One-Layer Simplicity challenge, Poppy Time | Tags: CAS, Faber-Castell Polychromos Colour Pencil, Penny Black stamps, Tsukineko Memento inks 14 Comments
Susan is hosting the new One Layer Simplicity Challenge and she has chosen six gorgeous summer colour palettes to inspire us. I chose the one below which was a challenge as I don’t often combine pinks and yellows.
I just did a big clean up and reorganization of my craft area and in doing so found the card base above with the square already masked and the green sponging started. I sponged more of the square in memento peanut brittle. I then removed the mask and stamped the poppy in versafine onyx black. I decided to use my coloured pencils for the poppy because I had the colours in the photo. I blended one colour pencil over another rather than using a blending fluid or blender pencil.
Also entered in Inkspirational Challenge to use markers or pencils
Supplies:
Stamps: Poppy Time, Amazing (Penny Black)
Inks: Versafine Onyx Black, Memento New Sprout, Peanut Brittle (Tsukineko)
Also: Faber-Castell Artist Polychromos Colour Pencils
Stenciled with text
Posted: July 28, 2014 Filed under: CAS, Footnotes, Verdant | Tags: CAS, Faber-Castell Albrecht Durer Watercolour pencils, Fabriano Watercolour Paper, Penny Black stamps, Penny Black stencils 14 Comments
I have been experimenting with my stencils trying different techniques and one thing I wanted to do was stamp a pattern through the stencil onto the card underneath. I ended up using some modeling paste first to give me a slightly raised image. I taped the stencil to some watercolour paper first then spread modelling paste over it with a palette knife. I removed the stencil to let the paste dry thoroughly then replaced it before stamping. I used the text stamp from “Footnotes” and did not stick it to an acrylic block first, instead I kept it flexible and pressed it onto each leaf and flower space in the stencil. As I had stamped it with Versafine Majestic Blue I lightly sponged the same ink over the stencil to captures the stems and define the design a little more. The panel was taped to my work surface so I used the edge of the tape as a border adding blue with a watercolour pencil and blending the colour into the panel. I finished it off with just a few little splatters and a small sentiment. The panel is popped up over a grosgrain ribbon.
You can’t see the modeling paste in my photo but the effect on the card is a subtle raised image. I have more experimenting with stencils to share in the days to come. Thanks for dropping by.
Supplies:
Stamps: Footnotes, Treemendous (PB)
Stencil: Verdant (PB)
Inks: Versafine Majestic Blue (Tsukineko)
Pencils: Albrecht Durer Indianthrene Watercolour pencil 247 (Faber Castell)
Paper: Fabriano 100% cotton hot pressed watercolour paper, Neenah Classic Crest Natural White 110lb smooth
Texture: Modelling paste
Three Trees
Posted: July 8, 2014 Filed under: CAS, Splendor | Tags: CAS, Fabriano Watercolour Paper, Penny Black stamps, Ranger Distress stains, Tsukineko Memento inks 14 Comments
When I was strolling past a homewares store in a trendy part of town the other night I saw lampshades featuring tree silhouettes with branches connecting around the cylindrical shade. I don’t have a picture but I did translate the idea into two different cards. The one above features a brayered background which I did in Memento Dandelion and Tangelo first and black trees stamped in Versafine Onyx Black over the top. I drew the borders with a black marker then trimmed the panel.
In the version below I inked the stamp with peeled paint, mustard seed and vintage photo distress stains, spritzed it with water then stamped on watercolour paper. I ran the distress stain along the top and bottom of the panel to create the border and pulled some colour from the trees and border with a waterbrush into the blank spaces to make them less stark.
It was fun to use the same basic layout and concept but change a few things for a different mood and message. The top one seems formal and the one below a little more relaxed.
Supplies:
Stamps: Splendor, Amazing!, Friendship (PB)
Inks: Versafine Onyx Black & Vintage Sepia, Memento Dandelion, Tangelo & Tuxedo Black (Tsukineko) Peeled Paint, Mustard Seed & Vintage Photo Distress Stains (Ranger)
Cardstock: Fabriano 100% cotton hot pressed watercolour paper, Neenah Natural White 110lb cardstock
One-Layer Simplicity Challenge #7: Wave the Flag
Posted: July 1, 2014 Filed under: CAS, Maple Leaf, One-Layer Simplicity challenge | Tags: Fabriano Watercolour Paper, Penny Black stamps, Ranger Distress stains 6 Comments
I am hosting the July challenge at One Layer Simplicity. In honour of Canada Day (July 1st) and American Independence Day (July 4th) I decided to make the challenge about flags. I want you to take a look at your country’s flag and find some inspiration there. It could be the colours, the layout, the patterns or the images. I created two cards because I have lived my life in two countries. I was born and raised in Australia and lived there for the first 35 years of my life. I married my Australian husband and both my daughters were born there. When they were 4 & 6 our family moved to Canada and seven weeks after we arrived my son was born. We have lived here ever since which will be 14 years next month. The card above is inspired by the Southern Cross on the Australian flag. I miss seeing the Southern Cross when I look up into the sky at night.
I cut a card base from watercolour paper as I planned to make it quite wet with distress stains and water. To frame the stars I tore the edge off some masking tape and taped the card base to a cutting mat. Once taped I stamped stars of different sizes and the sentiment in versamark then embossed with clear powder. I swiped three blue distress stains across the watercolour paper filling the whole space with colour. To blend it I spritzed a generous amount of water mixed with pearl-ex powder. You can see the sparkle of the pearl-ex powder below. After the panel had dried a little I stamped some more stars, this time in blue inks. When dry I removed the tape and ironed the panel embossed side down onto computer paper to melt and remove the embossing.
My second card is inspired by both the colour and the image on the Canadian flag. The beauty of the maple trees in autumn is something I look forward to every year. To create my second card I used the torn off bits of masking tape to make a narrow torn frame around the square front below. I then sponged red ink around the borders and stamped a maple leaf several times over the sponging. I can’t wait to check out your flag inspired cards and see how many countries end up being represented in our challenge
Supplies:
Stamps: Hello Winter , Sweet Wishes, To You, Foliage Fancy, Maple Leaf (PB)
Inks: Versamark (Tsukineko) Chipped Sapphire, Tumbled Glass, Broken China Distress Stains and Chipped Sapphire, Salty Ocean and Fired Brick distress inks (Ranger)
Cardstock: Fabriano 100% cotton hot pressed watercolour paper
Also: clear embossing powder, Pearl Ex
Tweet Wishes
Posted: June 30, 2014 Filed under: CAS, Tweet Wishes, Watercolour | Tags: Faber-Castell Albrecht Durer Watercolour pencils, Fabriano Watercolour Paper, Penny Black stamps 8 Comments
It has been a while since I pulled out my watercolour pencils so it was fun to colour a simple outline image today. I stamped the branch from ‘Tweet Wishes’ in Versafine Onyx Black ink then painted the image using a waterbrush to pick up colour from my watercolour pencils. I splattered a little colour around and painted a rough border of blue. To finish it off I added some natural cotton lace and a narrow blue ribbon.
Thank you very much for your kind comments about my daughter and her prom dress. We were both very pleased with how it turned out and very touched by your lovely words. It has now turned rather hot here so it was wonderful to spend yesterday relaxing with friends by a lake where there was a breeze and of course the water to keep us cool. I’ll be back tomorrow with a brand new One Layer Simplicity Challenge.
Supplies:
Stamps: Tweet Wishes (PB)
Pencils: Albrecht Durer Watercolour pencils Apple Green 170, Pine Green 267, Rose Carmine 124, Prussian Blue 151, Gold Ochre 183, Blue Violet 137, Lemon 107, Light Carmine 127, Light Blue 147 (Faber-Castell)
Inks: Versafine Onyx Black (Tsukineko)
Cardstock: Fabriano 25% cotton hot pressed watercolour paper, Neenah Classic Crest Natural White 110lb smooth
Also: narrow grosgrain ribbon, natural cotton lace
Flourished Twirls
Posted: May 23, 2014 Filed under: CAS, Celebrations, Twirls 8 Comments
I think navy and white can be very elegant. I was aiming for simple but elegant when I created this card. The flourish pattern from the Penny Black “Twirls” set is stamped in Chipped Sapphire distress stain (I stamped off on scrap paper first so the imprint wasn’t too wet). To finish I flicked a little stain over the pattern after stamping, added a navy strip of card stock and the die cut sentiment. This design might work as a wedding card especially if you knew the colour scheme to follow.
Using navy and white reminds me of a polka dot dress when I was nine; I loved it. I wouldn’t mind having a navy and white polka dot dress again. Perhaps something like this one I pinned recently:
Supplies:
Stamps: Twirls (PB)
Dies: Celebrations (PB)
Inks: Chipped Sapphire Distress stains (Ranger)
Cardstock: Neenah Classic Crest Solar White 110lb smooth, Navy cardstock
Four Tulips
Posted: May 14, 2014 Filed under: Blooming Garden, CAS, Watercolour | Tags: CAS, Faber-Castell Albrecht Durer Watercolour pencils, Fabriano Watercolour Paper, Penny Black stamps, Tsukineko Memento inks 4 Comments
The tulip festival continues in Ottawa and here on my blog. I pulled out all my PB tulip stamps and have them on my desk waiting for inspiration. I can’t promise I will use them all during the festival but I will have a few more for you.
To create this little scene I stamped the tulips from the transparent set Blooming Garden twice in Memento Angel Pink. I then painted the petals with colour from a couple of watercolour pencils (listed below). I inked some of the detail lines on the stamp with a Memento Rose Bud marker and stamped over the painted petals to finish off the flower heads before painting the stems in green. I used the same green to fill in the lower background and a blue watercolour pencil for the sky. I then dabbed some pink watercolour ‘paint’ into both the green and the blue to suggest more tulips in the background.
The taped edge of the panel framed the picture which I popped up on dimensional tape over a strip of ribbon.
Supplies:
Stamps: Blooming Garden, Special Wishes (PB)
Inks: Memento Angel Pink, Northern Pine , Rose Bud marker (Tsukineko)
Cardstock: Fabriano 100% cotton hot pressed watercolour paper, Neenah Classic Crest Natural White 110lb smooth
Also: Albrecht Durer watercolour pencils True Blue 148, Pink Madder Lake, 129, Pine Green 267 (Faber-Castell)
Heather Telford 