Pink Poppy Time
Posted: January 23, 2016 Filed under: Fresh, Poppy Time | Tags: Fabriano Watercolour Paper, Penny Black stamps, Ranger Distress stains 13 Comments
I don’t often add more than one mat or layer to a stamped panel but it was fun co-ordinating a patterned panel with the focal image. By working on two panels at once I was able to create one very controlled image panel along with a loose background one.
The single poppy I stamped in black soot ink then drew over a few of the outlines with the ‘elegant writer’ pen. When I started filling the poppy with pink stain the black ink bled into the pink giving it the watermarked grungy look. To create the patterned paper behind the panel I stamped the ‘Fresh’ poppy stamp in pink stain, added some detail with the elegant writer pen again and then flooded the panel with a spritzer. The pink spread and the black bled into black, pink and green.
I doubt you will start seeing oodles of layers on my cards; there are talented card makers who do that so well. From time to time however it is fun to get fancy with a few extra layers. Speaking of layers (or lack of)there is one day left to enter the One Layer Simplicity challenge for January. Even if you can’t squeak in with a card, check out the cool’sky inspired’ cards linked up there.
Supplies
Stamps: Poppy Time, Fresh (Penny Black)
Inks: Elegant Writer pen (Speedball) Black soot distress ink, Worn Lipstick distress stain (Ranger)
Cardstock: Fabriano cold pressed watercolour paper, Black cardstock
Very Merry
Posted: December 21, 2015 Filed under: Peace & Harmony, Stamped Landscapes | Tags: Brusho, Fabriano Watercolour Paper, Penny Black creative dies, Penny Black stamps 9 Comments
As we approach Christmas Day I will share the last of the cards I created to give away this year. I don’t plan to go into detail about techniques this week but will link to cards created in a similar way so you can read those instructions if you are interested. I will list below the supplies used I used to create each card. The technique for today’s feathered and blended tree scene is explained here.
We hosted a cello recital at our home yesterday for a friend so that gave me a deadline to have our tree decorated and the window hung with lights and greenery. My daughter and I did some baking but there is more to come. I always make gingerbread so that is one of the next tasks on my list. I like making it but you can probably guess that it’s the decorating I enjoy most. For years we made gingerbread houses or structures but I think it will just be cookies this year. (you can see what my children and their friends have built in past years on my other blog)
Santa is dropping off a guest from Australia on his way through Ottawa very early Christmas morning so there is still some cleaning and organizing to get her room ready.
Supplies:
Stamps: Peace & Harmony (PB)
Dies: A Very Merry (PB)
Paint: Brusho
Inks: memento Olive Grove, Cottage Ivy (Tsukineko)
Cardstock: Fabriano 100% cotton hot pressed watercolour paper, green cardstock
Also: masking fluid
Snowy Birches
Posted: December 17, 2015 Filed under: Stamped Landscapes, Winter Song | Tags: Brusho, Fabriano Watercolour Paper, Hand lettering, Kuretake Gansai Tambi watercolour paints, Penny Black stamps 13 Comments
Do you recognise these trees? They are part of a larger stamp, ‘Winter Song’ and even though the whole stamp is beautiful I often just want to use that stand of trees on one side. I began by painting a sky over a moon mask using brusho blues. Once it was dry I decided to add these trees and the snow banks. Because the sky was already painted I had to paint the trees in white paint to block out the blue on the trunks. I used the Gansai Tambi white paint and kept it quite thick and opaque. Once I had white trunks to work with I painted some grey shadows on the trunks and added some black spots and twigs with a marker. I used the ‘to the world’ from Holiday Snippets and then hand lettered some joy.
I have lights and greenery around the window now and one ornament on the tree! Little by little…
Supplies:
Stamps: Winter Song, Holiday Snippets (PB)
Paints: Brusho, Gansai Tambi
Inks: Tuxedo Black (Imagine Craft/Tsukineko) Micron fine tip black marker
Cardstock: Fabriano 100% cotton hot pressed watercolour paper, Strathmore cold pressed watercolour paper, burgandy cardstock
Holly heartfelt
Posted: December 16, 2015 Filed under: Holly Tweet | Tags: Fabriano Watercolour Paper, Penny Black stamps, Ranger Distress inks, Ranger Distress stains 4 Comments
“Holly Heartfelt” sounds like a cartoon character to me! I have paired a Christmas image with a thank you sentiment for today’s card. The PB design team are creating thank you cards this week and next on the PB blog.
I began by splattering some masking fluid on watercolour paper then stamped the ‘holly tweet’ stamp with a combination of distress stain and markers (the leaves were inked with stain). While the ink was still wet I blended it with a brush to fill the outlines and blend the colours. I used tumbled glass distress stain to paint a soft background around the image. Once it was totally dry I removed the masking fluid dots and added some gold splatter and a sentiment. I thought the gold mat and red card base tied in with the berries, bird and gold dots.
Our tree is lit now awaiting some adornment…it’s beginning to look a little more like Christmas.
Supplies:
Stamps: Holly Tweet, Heartfelt (PB)
Inks: festive berries distress marker, distress gathered twigs marker, mowed lawn stain, tumbled glass distress stain, (Ranger) Versafine onyx black ink, memento tuxedo black marker,london fog marker(Tsukineko)
Cardstock: Fabriano 100% cotton hot pressed watercolour paper, gold and red cardstock
Also: masking fluid, gold wink of luna pen
Snowscape 2 ways
Posted: December 15, 2015 Filed under: Periscope, Spread Cheer, Stamped Landscapes | Tags: Brusho, Fabriano Watercolour Paper, Penny Black stamps, Periscope, Tsukineko Memento inks, Tsukineko Versafine inks 14 Comments
Even though we have absolutely no snow outside I felt inspired to create some snowscape cards today. I used two methods, the first sponging over a mask and the second painting the snow bank edge with watercolour paint and softening with it on one side with water.
The first card was sponged with Memento Bahama Blue and Nautical blue over masks cut from post-it notes. I added trees then stamped the boy and his dog in the foreground. I had not planned the card when I started so there was no masking fluid splattered on the sky for snow or stars. Instead I added it at the end by flicking it off the brush of a white wink of luna pen. The moon was not in my sky but I decided it must have been off to the left so stamped shadows behind the boy and the trees then sponged some little footprints too.
The painted scene was done on watercolour paper that had been splattered with masking fluid so snow appeared when I rubbed off the mask at the end. I painted the sky first with two different brusho blues then each of the snow banks. Once the painting was dry I stamped the trees and painted over them immediately to blend the ink into a more solid image. I stamped the boy in pigment ink then painted some shadows. I filmed the part where I created the sky and snow banks for each panel on periscope so it is available to watch here. I turned each panel into a scene later off camera.
Thanks for dropping in today.
Supplies:
Stamps: Spread Cheer (PB)
Inks: Memento Nautical Blue & Bahama Blue, Versafine Onyx Black (ImagineCraft/Tsukineko)
Paint: Brusho powders
Cardstock: Neenah solar white cardstock, Hotpressed Fabriano watercolour paper
Blossom in December
Posted: December 9, 2015 Filed under: Delicate Blossoms | Tags: Fabriano Watercolour Paper, Penny Black stamps, Ranger Distress stains, Tsukineko Memento inks 17 Comments
I made this card back in spring when there was blossom on the trees here; now they are bare and everything is looking a bit drab outside. I worked wet into wet with distress stains to ink the stamp. Once the stain was dry I added definition to the flower centres with a marker. I added a bit of loose background colour and some splatter then finished it off with a brown sentiment and narrow mat.
Despite posting a very unChristmassy card I have progressed in my seasonal decorating. Not only do I have a wreath up but the sideboard and mantle now feature red berry garlands and candles instead of thanksgiving cards and my son’s October birthday cards! I don’t usually have a tree up before Dec 15 because I love to keep it up for a while after Christmas. I should go outside and snip some greenery considering the temperatures are way above zero. Are you decorating?
I am still receiving lovely feedback about my ‘stamping the stories‘ series including a few requests for more. I really did enjoy making those cards and definitely have more favourites to inspire me so perhaps I will continue in 2016. I wouldn’t necessarily need to restrict the books to fantasy next time; that way ‘Anne’ could be featured. Way back in my childhood I would never have thought I would one day be living in Canada just like Anne with an ‘e’.
Supplies:
Stamps: Heartfelt, Delicate Blossoms (PB)
Inks: Worn Lipstick, Spun Sugar, Vintage Photo, Tumbled Glass Distress Stains (Ranger) Espresso Truffle, Rich Cocoa, Cantaloupe Memento markers (Tsukineko)
Cardstock: Fabriano 100% cotton hot pressed watercolour paper, Neenah Natural White, Dark brown
Reach for the stars
Posted: December 8, 2015 Filed under: Prancers, Stamped Landscapes | Tags: Fabriano Watercolour Paper, Kuretake Gansai Tambi watercolour paints, Penny Black stamps 11 Comments
Today’s card reminds me of photos I have seen taken with a fish eye lense so the world all leans into the photograph. I could have added the colours of northern lights as I sometimes would but I stuck to the more common blues of a night sky. It was a fairly simple card to make. I positioned a circle mask then splattered masking fluid on a piece of watercolour paper, once the masking dried I painted blue gansai tambi paint in circles around the moon to fill the panel. To finish the card I stamped black trees and a sentiment, matted and added the panel to a black card base.
We have had some beautiful sunset skies lately; I haven’t taken many photos but I have tried to imprint them on my mind to recreate with paint and ink at a later time. It is weird to be into December and not have snow or even the need to wear gloves yet. No-one in our house is complaining about the lack of shoveling but my son is wanting to start on the outdoor rink and my husband is keen to ski. What does it look like where you are? White Christmas or green?
Supplies:
Stamps: Prancers, Eloquence (PB)
Inks: Black Soot ink (Ranger) Versafine Onyx Black (ImagineCraft/Tsukineko)
Cardstock: Fabriano 100% cotton hot pressed watercolour paper, Neenah Classic Crest Solar White, Neenah Epic Black cardstock
Also: Winsor & Newton masking fluid, Kuretake Gansai Tambi watercolour paints
Stamped wreath & swag
Posted: December 6, 2015 Filed under: Nature's Gifts, Winter moments | Tags: Fabriano Watercolour Paper, Penny Black stamps, Sakura Koi watercolour paints 15 Comments 
Last Sunday afternoon while sitting at the walk-in clinic waiting for my son to be seen I sketched a wreath and practised some lettering in a sketchbook. (He is fine, the doctor got him sorted and he was well enough to play basketball on Monday which of course was the real concern!) Once I returned home I was inspired to stamp a wreath and a swag using stamps from a couple of sets. I do own wreath stamps but wanted to see what I could come up with myself. For the wreath all the stamps came from the Nature’s Gifts set. To stamp the swag below I substituted smaller pinecones from the Winter Moments set.
I began by splattering masking fluid on one large panel still in my cold pressed watercolour block. Next I painted the background blue for both designs (plus 2 more) using the Sakura Koi watercolor travel set. I just wanted soft edges on the blue so I added plenty of water and also removed some colour with a brush or paper towel. While the background was still wet I stamped some pine needles and let them bleed into the damp paper to create a very soft look. Then I walked away while it dried. Once it was almost dry I stamped the rest of the elements adding a little water here and there with a paintbrush to blend colours and soften the images. I added little red dots on the swag as berries then let it all dry before rubbing off the masking fluid. I decided against any sentiment but added red ribbon and mats to bring out the colour of the berries.
After finishing these two stamped panels I created another swag and wreath which I will share tomorrow. My method was similar but I painted them instead of stamping.
Thank you so much for your kind and enthusiastic response to my ‘Stamping the Stories’ collection. I really enjoyed creating each card and was thrilled to see you enjoyed them too.
Supplies:
Stamps: Nature’s Gifts, Winter Moments (PB)
Inks: Memento Espresso Truffle, Love letter, Rhubarb Stalk, Lady Bug, Northern Pine, Potter’s Clay, Northern Pine, Tuxedo Black ink pads and markers (Tsukineko)
Cardstock: Fabriano 100% cotton cold pressed watercolour paper,
Also: Sakura Koi watercolours, Winsor & Newton masking fluid, red ribbon
Stamping the stories: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe
Posted: December 5, 2015 Filed under: Prancers, Stamped Landscapes, Uptown | Tags: Fabriano Watercolour Paper, Penny Black stamps, Ranger Distress stains 25 Comments
This scene is from a book, a whole series in fact, that is well loved by our family. I read the books to the children; they read them once they were able. We listened to the radio theatre series from Focus on the Family and when the movies came out we watched them. We knew the books so well that we were quite nitpicky about the movies but we enjoyed them despite the deviations from the original. If there is someone who does not recognize this little vignette, the series is the Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis. For those who recognised it straight away, which is your favourite Narnia story? My son’s favourite is ‘The Horse and his Boy, my older daughter’s ‘The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, my younger daughter’s, ‘The Magician’s Nephew’ and for me ‘The Dawn Treader’ but ‘Last Battle’ is a close second. You see there is something for everyone. If you haven’t read them, get on it!
When the story begins it is ‘always winter but never Christmas’ in the magical land of Narnia. The white witch has made it so. Lucy meets Mr Tumnus the faun under the lamp post you see in the scene above. I painted it with distress stains over a generous splatter of masking fluid and used the ‘oh so useful’ trees from the ‘Prancers’ set in the foreground. I followed this card up with an art journal page because it was so much fun to paint.
This is the last of my stamping the stories cards; it has been fun to share them. Thank you so much for visiting and joining in the conversations.
Stamping the stories cards: Mary Poppins, Wind in the Willows, Peter Pan, Lord of the Rings
Supplies:
Stamps: Prancers, On the town (PB)
Inks: Chipped Sapphire, Mahogany, Scattered Straw, Salty Ocean, Iced Spruce distress stains (Ranger), Northern Pine, Versafine Onyx Black (ImagineCrafts/Tsukineko)
Cardstock: Fabriano 100% cotton hot pressed watercolour paper, Neenah patriot blue
Also: Winsor & Newton masking fluid
Stamping the stories: Wind in the Willows
Posted: December 3, 2015 Filed under: Sprigs, Stamped Landscapes | Tags: Fabriano Watercolour Paper, Penny Black stamps, Ranger Distress stains, Tsukineko Versafine inks 12 Comments
I was surprised how much I enjoyed this book. I don’t think I read it as a child; it was later when training to be a primary school teacher, reading all the classics and designing lessons and such. I am not that keen on animal books but this one is a delight; Ratty and Mole are such appealing characters. I read it to my children from a beautifully illustrated edition (Michael Hague once again) given to me by my Nanna on my 21st birthday. Some of the double page illustrations are incredible watercolours which surprise you with their intricate details.
I initially had the boat moored by the river bank with no Ratty and Mole in it but my daughter said I had to put them in. I did not have any suitable stamps so I had to paint them myself. Unlike the talented Sandy Allnock I do not find animals easy to paint or colour, let alone draw! I found an E. H. Sheppard illustration to assist me and did my best. I’m glad the moon is behind them; they are legitimately dark and shadowed. I realise the boat is backwards; I was so caught up in adding Ratty and Mole I put the oars in the wrong hands, ahem, paws!
Anyway, back to the beginning, I started by painting the river then positioned a large circle mask cut from frisket film before painting the sky. I removed the mask and stamped the foliage and spritzed it so it would bleed a little into the surrounding area. I let everything dry before I painted the boat and its inhabitants. I think the sentiment was just the right one for Ratty and Mole.
What are your favourite fantasy books? Do you even enjoy fantasy? Books about other worlds and magic lands have always intrigued me. I know Wind in the Willows isn’t another world or a magical tale but the animals do talk and go messing about in boats so you do have to use your imagination a little bit.
Supplies:
Stamps: Sprigs, Friendship (PB)
Inks: Forest Moss, Crushed Olive, Peeled Paint distress (Ranger), Versafine Spanish Moss (ImagineCrafts/Tsukineko)
Cardstock: Fabriano 100% cotton hot pressed watercolour paper, Neenah Classic Crest Natural White 110lb smooth
Also: Gansai Tambi paints, Grafix extra tack frisket film
Heather Telford 