Winter Woodland Wonder

Woodland Wonder is another gorgeous stamp from the new Penny Black release. It is lovely to use in a winter scene but, like ‘Etched Branches‘ in my last post, I will be using all year I’m sure.

I used sponging and embossing for this scene, stamping the image first in versamark then again in versafine onyx black ink before embossing in clear powder. I used a paintbrush to paint some masking fluid on a few branches and splattered a few spots here and there before moving on to the sponging. I started with the sky, sponging it in Memento Summer Sky ink then masked over both the sky and the foreground to sponge Memento Nautical blue mountains. I sponged over the edge of a curved mask a couple of times in the foreground to create the appearance of snow banks. To finish I removed the masking fluid and matted in both black and white cardstock. The little silver snowflake is a charm my friend Lorraine gave me last year when I was ‘shopping her stash’ in Washington. It is held in place by some silver cord.

Happy Thanksgiving to all my Canadian readers; we are enjoying some lovely sunny skies and beautiful autumn colours in Ottawa this weekend. Later today we will be enjoying some roast turkey. I have so much to be thankful for, not the least of which are my generous and faithful blog readers.

Supplies:
Stamps: Woodland Wonder, Amazing (PB)
Inks: Memento Nautical Blue, Summer Sky, Versamark, Versafine onyx black (Imagine Craft/Tsukineko)
Cardstock: Neenah Solar White 110lb cardstock, Neenah black 100lb cardstock
Also: clear embossing powder, silver cord, silver snowflake charm

Moon on the rise

Posted: October 10, 2014 | Author: Heather | Filed under: Etched Branches | Tags: Fabriano Watercolour Paper, Penny Black creative dies, Penny Black stamps, Ranger Distress stains | 18 Comments

‘Etched Branches’ is a beautiful new stamp from Penny Black`s latest release ‘Winter Wonderland’. I used it to make a ‘moonrise’ scene but I can see myself placing it in a snowy scene very soon.

I used frisket film to mask the moon on watercolour paper. The film is new to me but I will be using it when I’m watercolouring and getting the paper quite wet. Post-it notes and masking paper can get too soggy if I apply a lot of water to the edges. After positioning the moon mask I painted the sky in stripes of pink and purple using the distress stains listed below. I let them dry a bit then painted more water and stain over the colours this created the watermarked edges which look a bit like clouds. I removed the mask and painted a few wisps of cloud over the moon area. I stamped ‘Etched Branches’ in Versafine Onyx black ink then sponged the land below the coloured sky in purple grey and black. To complete the card I matted in white and added branches in purple and black cut with the ‘Natures Song’ die.

I was up a bit earlier than usual this morning to start on a birthday breakfast for my 14 year old and the sky was very pretty in pink and orange. The view from my kitchen is obscured by branches like those in the scene above but also by power lines which are not quite so picturesque.

Stamps: Etched Branches (PB)
Creative Dies: Nature’s Song (PB)
Inks: Victorian Velvet, Spiced Marmalade, Dusty Concord distress stains & Dusty Concord distress ink (Ranger) Memento London Fog, Tuxedo Black (Tsukineko)
Cardstock: Neenah Black 100lb, Neenah Avon Brilliant White, Fabriano 100% cotton hot pressed watercolour paper

Time Out Challenge

Posted: October 9, 2014 | Author: Heather | Filed under: Wishes, Wondrous | Tags: Penny Black creative dies, Penny Black stamps, Ranger Distress stains | 28 Comments

I am honoured to be a guest at Time Out Challenges today. The card above is the inspiration for their current challenge. When I designed this card over a month ago I was not seeing such lovely colours in the local leaves, but now they are looking beautiful. To created the blended mass of leaves above I stamped with distress stains and distress inks on watercolour paper. I used yellow, orange and green and each time I stamped repeatedly without reinking the stamp. Once I had a tangle of leaves stamped I then spritzed the paper and watched the clean edges of the image blur and blend. I used a waterbrush to fill in some of the leaves with the stain they were stamped in. When all was dry I sponged orange and yellow around the edges leaving a white area to look like the light shining through. My sentiment is three die cuts glued together, a process I find fiddly but I like the 3D result.

I hope you do take time out to visit the Time Out Challenge Blog to see what their design team came up with and to get inspired to participate yourself. I am looking forward to visiting through out the next two weeks while the challenge lasts.

Stamps: Wondrous (PB)
Creative Dies: Wishes (PB)
Inks: Mustard Seed, Spiced Marmalade, Peeled Paint distress stains & Spiced Marmalade distress ink (Ranger) Memento Dandelion ink (Tsukineko)
Cardstock: Neenah Avon Brilliant White 110lb, Fabriano 100% cotton hot pressed watercolour paper

Square snowscape

Posted: October 6, 2014 | Author: Heather | Filed under: Prancers, Stamped Landscapes | Tags: Penny Black stamps, Tsukineko Memento inks | 15 Comments

I don’t create many square cards but the symmetry can be very pleasing. I made this little snow scape on a scrap of cardstock which I had previously splattered with masking fluid. The panel was Neenah solar white cardstock not watercolour paper so I refrained from watercolouring and created my night sky and snowy hills and gullies by sponging instead.

I cut a post-it mask for the horizon and punched a little circle mask for the moon then sponged both summer sky and nautical blue memento inks across the sky. Before removing the horizon mask I stamped a row of trees on the left hand side. I cut and positioned a different mask, stamped a couple more trees and then sponged over the edge of the mask. For the last two trees I just used part of a mask to create a few dips in the snow. (I have a tutorial here showing now I create snowscapes with sponging and masking fluid)

To finish I ran the nautical blue sponge around the edge to frame the panel, added some highlights to the edges of a few snow banks and trees with a clear wink of stella pen and stamped my sentiment in nautical blue. When the ink was dry I rubbed the masking fluid off to reveal little white snowflakes.

Thanks for your encouragement to keep on stamping with the Prancers set. You know I will!

Supplies:
Stamps: Prancers, Joy Filled (PB)
Inks: Memento Nautical Blue, Summer Sky (Imagine Craft/Tsukineko)
Cardstock: Neenah Solar White 110lb cardstock
Also: Winsor & Newton masking fluid, Clear wink of stella pen

CAS(E) this sketch #95

Posted: October 3, 2014 | Author: Heather | Filed under: CAS, Prancers | Tags: Fabriano Watercolour Paper, Penny Black stamps | 22 Comments

I have been creating snowy scenes with dye inks on a large watercolour block this week. When I saw sketch#95 at CAS(E) this sketch and still had a corner left on the block already flecked with masking fluid I thought I could put the two together. Sometimes when I look at a sketch I can’t see past the shapes and images in the sketch, arrows for instance in the current sketch.

With this sketch I was able to see past the arrows and visualize a snowscape with a stand of trees on the right hand side. I did deviate from the sketch and add a few more trees on the left. Whether I play along or not I am always impressed by the imagination and creativity of the design team members in their interpretations of each week’s sketch.

To create the scene I punched a little circle mask for the moon and painted the sky in two blue distress stains. I added two dips with the same stains then stamped trees in memento ink. When all was dry I rubbed off the masking fluid. I hope you are not getting sick of these trees from the Prancers set, ‘cos I just can’t leave them alone!

Supplies

Stamps: City Lights, Prancers (PB),
Inks: Tumbled Glass, Chipped Sapphire (Ranger) Memento Northern Pine (Imagine Crafts/Tsukineko)
Cardstock: Fabriano 100% & 25% cotton hot pressed watercolour paper
Also: Winsor & Newton masking fluid

Emboss resist wreath

Posted: September 30, 2014 | Author: Heather | Filed under: Autumn Jewels, Dancing Leaves, Decadence | Tags: Fabriano Watercolour Paper, Penny Black creative dies, Penny Black stamps, Ranger Distress stains | 6 Comments

After making numerous emboss resist panels for my September classes I had leftover pieces big enough to punch leaves from. I used a rounded leaf from the new Autumn Jewels set of dies to cut as many leaves as possible then arranged them into a wreath. The arranging took me quite a while as I tried various methods and orientations for the leaves. Having them all turn in the same way and overlap the same way seemed to be the best option in the end. I bent some of the leaves to curl down towards the card and others to curl up, then attached some with 3D adhesive squares and others with flat adhesive. I poked a few twigs of “dancing leaves” in amongst the leaves, added a small bow before matting then stamped a sentiment.

The colours around here are not at their most vibrant yet but on the way to Lake Placid a week ago I enjoyed a gorgeous display of reds, yellows and oranges across the hill sides.

Supplies

Stamps: Decadence, Special Wishes (PB)
Creative Dies: Autumn Jewels, Dancing Leaves (PB)
Inks: Mustard Seed, Barn Door, Spiced Marmalade, Vintage Photo distress stains & , Fired Brick distress inks(Ranger)
Cardstock: Neenah Natural White 110lb, Fabriano 100% cotton hot pressed watercolour paper
Also: 3D adhesive squares(Scrapbook Adhesives). clear embossing powder, red grosgrain ribbon

Walking Home 2

Posted: September 28, 2014 | Author: Heather | Filed under: On the Town, Stamped Landscapes | Tags: Penny Black stamps, Tsukineko Memento inks | 12 Comments

I have had some more fun with the “On the Town” set, this time with Memento inks and sponges instead of the watercolour approach I took in my last attempt. I did start with by flicking masking fluid onto my panel which is Neenah Solar White cardstock. I cut a hill mask and punched a small moon mask out of post-it notes and positioned them before sponging with two blue inks and a little yellow where the lamp would be. When the sponging was complete I stamped the trees along the hill then removed the mask. It is not very obvious but I sponged little bits of blue all over the snowy ground moving one wavy mask around to do so. I added the girls’ silhouettes next, then the seat, but before stamping the seat I positioned two small masks where the legs would be so they all appear to be in little snowdrifts. Next was the lamp and finally some shadows by turning the silhouette stamps upside down and stamping them in memento summer sky ink. When I rubbed the masking fluid off there were very few spots on the girls so I add a few here and there with white gesso and a toothpick.

I still haven’t used every stamp in this set so there may well be another ‘walking home’. On the town is a transparent set which made it easy to lay the scene out first to work out where all the pieces would fit.

Thanks for dropping by today. There will be more autumn tones later in the week.

Supplies:
Stamps: On the Town (PB)
Inks: Memento London Fog, Summer Sky, Bahama Blue, Dandelion ink & Versafine Onyx Black (Imagine Craft/Tsukineko)
Cardstock: Neenah Solar White 110lb cardstock, Black cardstock
Also: Winsor & Newton masking fluid, Gesso

Adorned with love

Posted: September 26, 2014 | Author: Heather | Filed under: Adorned with love | Tags: Penny Black stamps | 9 Comments

I am back with a little more Christmas decoration today but I’m sorry I don’t remember all the colours and techniques I used to paint this one. I did it a few weeks back and it stayed in the watercolour block until I had time to put the whole card together. I did splatter the watercolour block with masking fluid first to create a few flecks of white here and there on the finished panel. I realised the other day that I could take a quick pic on my phone of the inks I use after creating a panel that way I will have a record just in case I don’t write them down or remember.

I know I stamped the “Adorned with love” stamp in Memento London Fog ink first. London fog is a pale grey I knew I could paint over and blend in with the other colours I chose. I think the rest of the colours were distress stains, perhaps pine needle and festive berries. I did add a little shimmer to the baubles with something and coloured the star gold with a wink of stella pen. The fine gold thread on the left of the panel is scanfil metallic thread which is used for machine embroidery. I wrapped it around the mat several times, arranged it and used scotch tape to hold it down on the back.

Well that is all for now. I can hear a sweet baby crying. I currently look after a 9 month old little girl so my creating and blogging is squeezed in during nap time!

Supplies:

Stamps: Adorned with love, Joy filled (PB)
Inks: Memento London fog (Imagine Craft/Tsukineko) Distress stains by Ranger, Gold Wink of Stella Pen
Cardstock: Fabriano 100% cotton hot pressed watercolour paper, Sea Breeze paper (PB)
Also: Gold Embroidery Thread

Blog Hop with Scrapbook Adhesives

Posted: September 23, 2014 | Author: Heather | Filed under: A Pocket Full, Background Stamps | Tags: Penny Black creative dies, Penny Black stamps, Ranger Distress stains | 11 Comments

Yes, that is glitter you see on my blog! The PB design team is blog hopping with the Scrapbook Adhesives design team this week so I stepped a little outside my comfort zone and opened up the glitter. I had to go and find the glitter first; it used to live in my craft stash but it had migrated to my daughter’s nail polish stash where it definitely gets more attention.

I created my backgrounds first by taping some watercolour paper to a firm surface and blending distress stains onto the panels. The blue one was spritzed with pearl-ex powder spray to create a pretty sheen and the purple one was sprinkled with salt for some texture.

To create the glittery elements I used both 3D Foam Stars and 3D Foam Christmas Shapes. I peeled the shapes, which have adhesive on both sides, off the backing sheets and dipped one side in glitter then pressed the other side onto the watercolour panels. To create the sparkly “Noel” I cut the word from white paper using an adhesive sheet on top of the paper instead of underneath. I removed the top sheet and dipped the sticky side of the word in glitter.

Both banners were cut using a banner die from “A pocket full”. As the die has one “V” end I die cut only half way then flipped the die around and cut the other end with the “V” also. To finish the tags I matted with PB mix & match papers then twisted some embroidery floss to thread through the punched hole at the top.

Both Penny Black and Scrapboook Adhesives are hosting giveaways on their blogs this week so visit everyday for inspiration and a chance to win.

Supplies:
Stamps: Letter Background (PB)
Creative Dies: Exultations, A Pocket Full (PB)
Inks: Evergreen Bough, Pine Needles, Chipped Sapphire, Milled lavender, Dusty Concord, Worn Lipstick distress stains, Peacock Feather distress ink (Ranger)
Scrapbook Adhesives: Adhesive Sheet, Thin dimensional adhesive squares, 3D Foam Stars, 3D Foam Christmas Shapes, EZ runner adhesive
Cardstock: Fabriano 100% cotton hot pressed watercolour paper, #14 Rose Garden, #13 Periwinkle, #06 Spring Meadows paper (PB)
Also: Embroidery Floss

Blessings

Posted: September 18, 2014 | Author: Heather | Filed under: Autumn Jewels, Lush & Lavish, Words of Gratitude | Tags: Fabriano Watercolour Paper, Penny Black creative dies, Penny Black stamps, Ranger Distress inks, Ranger Distress stains | 10 Comments

The new leaf stamps and co-ordinating dies from Penny Black are such a treat to use. To create this card of cascading leaves I started by spritzing a 5″x 7″ watercolour block with water. I then inked several of the leaf stamps from the “Lush & Lavish” set with the autumn toned distress stains listed below. I stamped each stamp repeatedly working from one end of the paper to the other so all the intense coloured leaves were at one end and the paler ones at the other. I let the paper dry completely before die cutting three whole leaves and two partial leaves from the intensely coloured end of the paper. I trimmed the other end to be a background for the card. Using the distress inks I sponged the edges of the die-cut leaves to darken them. I arranged and attached the leaves on the background panel, some popped up and others just glued.

To finish the card I cut the word “Blessed” and a border strip from Penny Black fall festival paper. The leaves are just beginning to turn here in Ottawa, there is nothing as intense as the colours in this card but I am looking forward to seeing the gorgeous colours. We have several very large trees in our backyard so once the leaves start turning and falling it goes on for weeks and weeks and weeks.

Supplies

Stamps: Lush & Lavish (PB)
Creative Dies: Autumn Jewels, Words of Gratitude (PB)
Inks: Mustard Seed, Barn Door, Spiced Marmalade, Vintage Photo distress stains & Wild Honey, Spiced Marmalade, Fired Brick, Vintage Photo distress inks(Ranger)
Cardstock: Neenah Natural White 110lb, Fabriano 100% cotton hot pressed watercolour paper, PB Mix & Match Fall Festival paper
Also: Adhesive Sheet & Thin dimensional adhesive squares(Scrapbook Adhesives)