We Love Stamping August Reminder

Today is the 18th so time for a reminder about the current challenge over at We Love Stamping. The challenge where you can showcase your stamps and your skill at using them.

This month our theme is:

** In My Garden **

I recently bought some A4 sheets of post it type removable adhesive paper and wanted to try masking with it. I cut a piece to A6 and used an oval die to cut out the centre. With the oval in place I used a stencil to create the background, I then removed the oval and placed the other piece on my card leaving the oval centre clear. I then proceeded to ink blend the background and then stamped the plants in black versafine Clair. I used a paint pen to put a few fine splatters in the sky and to draw in a moon. I used coloured pencils to add interest to the stencilled flowers.

The sentiment is die cut and backed with white paper.

Although  the masking worked, I wasn't happy with the edge of the ink blending so I cut an oval frame from black card. I think it worked. What do you think?

Don't forget there is always a prize to be won and this month is very special if you are an AALL & Create fan, as the prize includes an A5 stamp set and a stencil. Why don't you head over to the challenge blog to check it out? The prize winner is selected randomly and in addition the DT will choose one entry to join us as a guest designer for a future challenge.

I hope I have inspired you to join us this month, all you have to do is follow the prompt and ensure stamping is the main focus on your card. The challenge will close at noon on Wednesday the 31st.  August.

I am looking forward to seeing you in the gallery.

Supplies:

Cardstock: Bristol Board; White stamping card; black card

Ink: VersaFine Clair nocturn

Stamps: Pink Fresh Studio wild flower sketches

Dies: Waffle Flower nested ovals; Altenew essential sentiment strips

Stencil: Stamperia KSDD072

Thank you for taking the time to visit my blog today, I really appreciate it. 

August CAS Mix Up Reminder

Today is the 15th Aug so time for a reminder about our current challenge over at CAS Mix Up. This month we are using mixed media and Nancy is our host. She wants us to use emboss resist on our cards.

I have used stamping, heat embossing and watercolouring on my card.

I watched all the videos that are linked on the challenge page and decided to go with this techniques showcased by Jennifer McGuire.

I stamped the flower with 3 colours and then heat embossed it before painting over the top with black watercolour. Once that was dry I cleaned up the embossing and used a white paint pen to add a few splatters. The black watercolour did decide it wasn't going to stay where I put it, so things got a bit messy for a while.

The vase was stamped, heat embossed and fussy cut. I added the sentiment and matted the panel on 2 different coloured cards. The bottom one is a very bright yellow in real life.

I am not that happy with this one, but I can't quite put my finger on why. I think perhaps the black is overpowering and the flower is too small. Anyway, I decided to go with it. What do you think?

You have until 24th to join us and don't forget to visit the blog to get more inspiration and some links to technique videos to help.

Before I go I have a card for this months CAS Christmas Challenge where Trina is asking for pine on our cards. I have made another card using one of my little Khadi papers. There were 100 in the pack and so far I have used 2!

I taped down my paper with masking tape and did a watercolour wash with 2 colours over the paper. Once dry I stamped the trees and Santa sleigh and finished with some white gouache splatters. The edge of the watercolour was a bit ragged so I drew a line around it with a fine liner pen. The black circle round the moon is part of the stamp. I used a circle punch to create a mask from post it paper before watercolouring but it wasn't quite big enough. I decided it didn't matter as I quite like the look.

The sentiment is white heat embossed. This is my first Christmas card this year and as it was really very quick and easy to do I think I might make a few more and use up some of those tiny bits of cotton paper.

As the Santa sleigh and pine trees are from a new stamp set I am also sharing this at NBUS #41

Thank you for taking the time to visit my blog today, I really appreciate it. 

Special Backgrounds

Today I two cards to share.

Card 1

This card is for Addicted to Stamps and More #435 which is die cuts and or stencils. I have only used stencils and dies, no stamping in sight.

This background was created with a concord & 9th turnabout stencil. I actually made it some weeks ago and now I can't remember what ink and colours I used, but looking at it now, I feel quite pleased with it as it looks quite well lined up. That's my usual problem with turnabouts and why I often sit on (not literally!) the panels I have made until I have stopped seeing the little imperfections.

The central green shape was finished with some transparent glossy paste so there is a nice shine in real life.

A die cut thank you and a few sequins finished it off.

Card 2

My second card was inspired by the lovely Michele and her DT card for this months Flower Challenge.

The theme is circles and she used the spellbinders hemstitched circles. As I happened to have this coloured and fussy cut rose sitting on my desk as a left over from another project, I thought they would be the perfect combination.

I made the background with stencils and a gelli plate. One of the layers on my gelli plate was a translucent gold paint that has glitter in it so there is some sparkle in real life.

To keep my single rose company I stamped, fussy cut and coloured some leaves from the same stamp set by Uniko. They are coloured with polychromos pencils.

To expand a bit on the circles theme I decided to add a square mat under the circle and used a stencil made from a die cut to add some more circles. I used DI saltwater taffy for that one and inked the edges with picked raspberries. The sentiment is a die cut from mat gold card, which I also used to back the hemstitch dies. A square card is unusual for me so I hope you like it.

I am also sharing this one at Allsorts week 688/9, make your own background. Actually both my cards fit that but the challenge only accepts one card from the same post, so I choose this one.

Very hot again here this weekend, so I am staying inside. 

Thank you for taking the time to visit my blog today, I really appreciate it. 

Watercolour Sunset

Hello

Today I have a card for Time Out Challenge 219, it is a photo prompt this time and it just happens that I have been practicing my watercolouring by painting sunsets. A few weeks ago, while I was on holiday, I bought a pack of Khadi papers that are made from recycled cotton rag. They are tiny pieces measuring 7.5 x 5cm. I thought I would use them to make tiny watercolour pictures and so far I have made 2. I love the look of the torn edges and think they make wonderful CAS cards.

I looked on pinterest for some inspiration but unfortunately I didn't pin the picture and I can't find it again, so apologies for not giving credit to the artist that inspired this. I used my Gansai Tambi paints by Kuretake.

It is mounted on some craft foam and attached to a dark blue/grey cardbase. The sentiment is by Taylored Expressions and is stamped in white pigment ink. I am quite pleased with it, I hope you like it too.

I hope that one day I will be able to do these without having to find inspiration from someone else.

It is ages since I last joined everyone at time out, so I am happy to be putting that right now.

Thank you for taking the time to visit my blog today, I really appreciate it. 

We love Stamping August Challenge

Today is the first Sunday of the month so time for a new challenge over at We Love Stamping. The challenge where you can showcase your stamps and your skill at using them.

This month our theme is:

** In my garden   **

I do love lilac and this year I bought my first lilac stamp, but didn't realise quite how large it was going to be. The panel on this card is 14x10cm and still I had to cut off the edges of the stamp, but never mind.

I coloured the image with polychromos pencils and added detail to the flowers with metallic pens and watercolour pens. This took me ages, I never seem to know when it is finished when I am colouring.

The sentiment is from the lilac stamp set and the lovely flower frame is from a really versatile and large die set by Tonic Studios. My only issue was that the frame is not a standard size, which meant I had to make my own envelope for it. It is 14x17.5cm or 51/2 x 7inches. It is very unusual for me to make such a large card, but I had to find a way to use that wonderful frame. It is from the same set that I used to make the Happy Days card you can find here.

Don't forget there is always a prize to be won and this is a very special month if you are an AALL & Create fan as the prize includes and A5stamp set and a stencil. Why don't you head over to the challenge blog to check it out? The prize winner is selected randomly and in addition the DT will choose one entry to join us as a guest designer for a future challenge.

I hope I have inspired you to join us this month, all you have to do is follow the prompt and ensure stamping is the main focus on your card. The challenge will close at noon (UK time) on Wednesday 31st August.

I am looking forward to seeing you in the gallery.

I am also sharing this at:

NBUS #41 - The lilac stamp and the frame are NBUS

Supplies:

Cardstock: White Stamping card; lilac 160gsm card

Ink: Versafine onyx black

Stamps: Pink Ink Designs, Luscious Lilac

Dies: Tonic Studios Verso, Happy Days Summer Frames

Other: Polychromos pencils

Thank you for taking the time to visit my blog today, I really appreciate it. 

July Card Chain Challenge Reveal

Today is 2nd of the month so time for the Card Chain Challenge big reveal. This month 26 card makers took part and I sent my card to Kati in Germany. 

From the options I have used the sketch, the colours of red, white and blue, although I have made them pastel, the theme of friendship and the technique of stitches.

I started by cutting my panel with the frame die and then used the stitched deboss cover die before adding holes to enable me to do the cross stitching. The panel and card base are both made with pearlescent card.

I made the tiny flowers with dies and attached a tiny gem in the centre of each one.

I was very lucky to receive this gorgeous card from Dee in Kenya:

It is a real beauty, I love it, thanks Dee. She enclosed a selection of die cuts too. That is so generous.

If you would like to take part in the next card chain challenge, you have until 6th to sign up here

Supplies:

Cardstock: Crafters Companion centura pearl; white stamping card 

Dies: Lisa Horton tatty layers lazy daisy panel; Concord & 9th stitched stripe card front die; creative Expressions just for you

Thank you for taking the time to visit my blog today, I really appreciate it. 

CAS Mix Up August Challenge

It is the first of the month so time for a new challenge at CAS Mix Up, I do hope you will be able to join us. This month we are using mixed media and Nancy is our host. She wants us to use emboss resist with our on our mixed media CAS cards. Our guest designer this month is the fabulous Brenda why not pop over and pay her a visit?

I have used stamping, embossing, watercolouring and die cutting on this card.

I started with a panel of watercolour paper and stamped a background stamp with versamark and clear heat embossed it. I then took 2 colours of brusho paints, scarlet and lime green and spritzed the panel with water. I then walked away and left it to dry. I do love the effect. Brusho paints are just perfect for this technique because you get so many different colours. The little grains that might be different to the stated colour get trapped in the embossing and so you get this fabulous multicolour effect. I love it.

You have until 24th to join us and don't forget to visit the challenge blog to get more inspiration and some links to technique videos to help inspire you.

I am looking forward to seeing you in the gallery.

Supplies:

Cardstock: watercolour card; red 160gsm card; cream 350gsm base card

Ink: Versamark; Brusho paints, scarlet and lime green

Stamps: My Favourite Things, bundle of blossoms background stamp; sentiment Concord & 9th

Dies: Lisa Horton, tatty layers pretty tickseed panel

Thank you for taking the time to visit my blog today, I really appreciate it.