2019 Happy Holidays Card Series | Day 1 | Warmest Wishes

Hi everyone, thank you for stopping by, I hope you're having a great day.

Welcome to the 2019 Happy Holiday Card series! While this may be shocking for a few of you, I am certain that most of you will not be surprised to learn that the vast majority of these cards will be featuring Lawn Fawn. Not all of them. There are a couple that feature other brands, but lets all be real here, I'm a Lawn Fawn kinda gal. I'm not affiliated, I just love them.

So lets dive right in!

This card was the result of playing around with some new paints. I recently picked up the 48 pan set of Meeden watercolours (there will be more about these in a later post, I haven't decided where I stand on them yet).

I used a snowflake background stamp on a piece of Canson XL 140lb cold press watercolour paper and heat embossed with pearl embossing powder.

As always, the images are stamped with Simon Says Stamp Intense Black ink on 110lb Copic-friendly paper then coloured with Copic markers.

I wanted to convey the warmth of a peppermint hot chocolate on a cold wintery day.

I hope you like today's card and are inspired to create something of your own. If you haven't already, please follow me on the right side bar, over on Facebook and on YouTube! Drop me a line in the comments section below and let me know what you think.

Happy Holidays Series | Scripty Wishes ft. Lawn Fawn and Distress Oxide Ink

Hi everyone, thank you for stopping by. I hope you're having a great day.

Welcome to the sixth day in this year's Happy Holidays Series. Today I wanted to go a little less cute and a bit more classic. Once again this card features mainly Lawn Fawn - I honestly cannot get enough of their products (quite literally).

This design is excellent for the those on the list who aren't into the cutesy scenes. With the MISTI a design like this can easily be reproduced to get a stack of cards that are ready to go.

To begin, I trimmed down a piece of Strathmore Bristol Smooth cardstock to slightly smaller than a standard A2 sized card base. I then prepped it with my powder tool and put it in my MISTI. I lined up a bunch of the scripty greetings from Lawn Fawn's "Winter Scripty Sayings" and stamped them with VersaMark ink.

I heat embossed them with clear embossing powder, then used Salty Ocean and Broken China Distress Oxide inks to create an ombre background. I then used clean water to create a splatter and patted it dry with paper towel.

Finally, I adhered the panel to the front of my card base and then added some glittering silver snowflakes that I cut using the "Mini Snowflake" dies by Lawn Fawn.

I hope you like today's card and are inspired to create something of your own. If you haven't already, please follow me on the right side bar or over on Facebook, so you don't miss any future posts. Drop me a line in the comments section below and let me know what you think.

Growing Up Up Up | ft. MFT's "Up in the Air"

Hi everyone, thank you for stopping by. I hope you're having a great day.

Every year for my niece and nephew I make a card that coordinates with the theme for their birthday party. My sweet little niece turned three this year, and when I was talking to her mom it turns out that she never received her card for her second birthday.

Totally weird, because I have the sketch in my art journal from last year and I distinctly remember making the card but I couldn't find it any where! So I had to make a new card for her.

To begin, I prepped a piece of Strathmore 140lb cold press watercolour paper with my powder tool and stamped the hot air balloon images from MFT's "Up in the Air" set with VersaMark ink and then heat embossed them with clear.

Now if I were to remake this card, I would probably heat emboss in gold or silver - while it looks great in real life, the clear embossing does not pick up well on camera at all.

I then coloured the images with my Zig Clean Color Real Brush Markers and used my Prisma water brush to pull the colour out.

I heat embossed the greeting with the same clear powder and then used pinks over top of it to create an emboss resist. I die cut that with the banner die from the Blueprints die-namics, and popped it up on some foam tape.

I used some super strong two-way tape to adhere the watercolour piece to the scalloped panel die from MFT's Blueprint die-namics #27. Then I popped the whole piece up on some foam tape and then mounted that to the front of a standard A2 sized card base.

I hope you like today's card and are inspired to create something of your own. If you haven't already, please follow me on the right side bar or over on Facebook, so you don't miss any future posts. Drop me a line in the comments section below and let me know what you think.

Dance and Twirl | ft. Darcie's Heart & Home

Hi everyone, thank you for stopping by. I hope you're having a great day.

My super sweet little niece is turning 3 today! I can't even believe how fast that time has gone by. I thought my babies were growing up fast. Last week she had her very first dance class, and she has to be the cutest little thing in a tutu I have ever seen!

In celebration I made this card for her.

To begin, I stamped the little mouse from Darcie's Heart & Home (JCS275) using Memento Tuxedo Black ink on 110lb Copic-friendly card stock. Then coloured her with Copics.

I prepped the bottom of that little panel with my powder tool and stamped the greeting using Worn Lipstick Distress ink and moved fast to heat emboss it with clear embossing powder.

For the larger panel, I prepped the entire thing with the powder tool again, and stamped the ballet slippers along the edge using VersaMark ink and clear embossed them. I then sponged on Worn Lipstick to create a pink emboss resist background and adhered that to the front of my standard A2 sized card base.

I used super strong Skor tape to mount the smaller panel - I find that regular tape runner won't always stick over distress ink and I didn't want to run the risk of it not staying stuck.

To finish it off, I used Glossy Accents by Ranger on her slippers, her belt and headband; then placed a little diamond from CTMH Bitty Sparkles in the centre of the flower; then because I just don't know when to stop I added some enamel dots from CTMH around the little mouse.

I hope you like today's card and are inspired to create something of your own. If you haven't already, please follow me on the right side bar. You can also follow me over on Facebook. Toss me a line in the comments section below and let me know what you think.

This card is for:

Crafting with an Attitude

Challenge #31

2 Crafty Critter Crazies
Challenge #6

Hello Coffee! | ft. Newton's Nook "Newton Loves Coffee"

Hi everyone, thank you for stopping by. I hope you're having a great day.

I think that coffee is a vital part of any morning. It's pretty much the first thing I do when I get up. I'm not even sure why. I can drink coffee right before bed and it doesn't keep me awake, but there's just something about that first cup of the day that is just wonderful.

Now that my kids are back in school, my first cup is on the go but it is no less amazing than having one and just being able to sit and enjoy it.

I love this shifty-eyed Newton, because that's exactly how I feel. Either "That better be for me", or "I'm taking this as soon as no one is looking".

To begin, I stamped the travel mug from "Newton Loves Coffee" randomly in CTMH Chocolate ink on 65lb Kraft cardstock.

I prepped a smaller piece of Kraft with my powder tool and stamped the two solid coffee cups and the beans from the same set in VersaMark ink and heat embossed them with clear embossing powder. I then sponged some Walnut Stain Distress ink around the edges just go give it a bit of interest.

I sponged the long piece with Ground Espresso Distress Ink to work as my accent piece. For the greeting strip, I prepped a narrow piece of white with my powder tool and stamped the greeting with VersaMark and heat embossed with clear powder, then sponged Ground Espresso Distress ink over it for an emboss resist.

For the main focus, I stamped the Newton image with Memento Tuxedo Black ink on 110lb Copic-friendly cardstock and die cut it using one of my Spellbinder oval dies; then coloured the image with Copic markers. I used a black glaze pen over his eyes so that he'd look really shifty.

To finish it off, I popped the greeting banner and the oval up on foam tape and put the card together. Then, because I just can't help myself, I used Glossy Accents by Ranger over the coffee mug to make it really shine. Like a beacon of hope in the early morning.

I hope you like today's card and are inspired to create something of your own. If you haven't already, please follow me on the right side bar. You can also follow me over on Facebook. Toss me a line in the comments section below and let me know what you think.

This card is for:

Inky Paws Challenge

Sketch #55

Sunset Meadow Birthday Card | ft. Distress Ink Blending

Hi everyone, thank you for stopping by. I hope you are having a great day.

I've said it before and I'll say it again; masculine cards are hard. And not just a little bit hard -- but like friggin' ridiculously difficult. Maybe it's just me, maybe it's because all the stamp sets I really like are very clearly for kids or for the ladies, I don't know. But having to do a masculine card is something I need to approach when I have zero distractions.

Maybe I'm wrong and guys actually do like the cute little critters and flowers and sparkles. Who knows?

Today I have a card that could work for both masculine and feminine recipients. The process behind this one is very easy, and can be duplicated with nearly any palette you have in mind.

To begin, I prepped a piece of Strathmore Bristol Smooth cardstock with my powder tool. You could also use an old make up brush and some kitchen flour.

I used a solid floral stamp from Inkadinkado "Meadow" stamp set with VersaMark ink along the bottom of the panel. It wasn't quite wide enough, so I reinked and moved the stamp over to get the best coverage along the bottom.

I then heat embossed that with ultra-fine black embossing powder to create what will be the silhouette.

I then cut a round mask for where I wanted my sun to be, and then used Distress Inks to create a sunset sky. I started with Scattered Straw around the sun, then with Dried Marigold, Worn Lipstick, Seedless Preserves, Faded Jeans and then Chipped Sapphire. To get a seamless blend but still retain each colour's definition I recommend working back and forth between the colours with an incredibly light hand.

I then removed the mask and filled in the sun with Antique Linen and faded out with the Scattered Straw.

I popped the greeting up on foam tape to give some dimension and adhered the whole thing on a standard A2 sized card base.

When working with Bristol cardstock a little bit of ink goes a long way, so if this is a cardstock you are unfamiliar with, give yourself some time to practice before starting on your actual piece.

I hope you like today's card and are inspired to create something of your own. Don't forget to follow me over on the right sidebar so you don't miss out on any future posts. Toss me a line in the comments section below and let me know what you think.

DIY Patterned Paper | ft. Lawn Fawn "Blissful Botanicals" Emboss Resist

Hi everyone, thank you for stopping by. I hope you're having a great day.

Sometimes the right patterned paper isn't one that happens to be in your stash, so today I'm going to share with you how to do your own using heat embossing and Distress inks.

To begin, I prepped a piece of Strathmore Bristol Smooth cardstock with my powder tool. Mine is from EK Success, but you could use an old makeup brush and some kitchen flour. The idea is to prep the surface with the powder so that when you stamp using VersaMark, the embossing powder will only stick where you want the stamp to be.

I then used one of the frond stamps from Lawn Fawn's "Blissful Botanicals" stamp set to stamp a pattern over the paper. To fill in some of the larger blank spaces I used the small open flower. After stamping with the VersaMark I used ultra-fine white embossing powder and heat set it with my heat tool.

I then took my Distress Inks (Twisted Citron, Mowed Lawn and Peacock Feathers) to create by background. Then I used some clean clear water to add splashes and create the distressed look.

For the greeting I used the same process and white embossing powder on black cardstock and popped that up on some foam tape for just a bit of dimension.

I then adhered the entire lot to a standard A2 sized card base.

I hope you like today's card and are inspired to create something of your own. Don't forget to follow me over on the right sidebar so you don't miss any future posts. Toss me a line in the comments section below and let me know what you think.

Emboss Resist Watercolour

Hi everyone, thank you for stopping by. I hope you are having a great day.

I have had this stamp for ages. I saw it on Pinterest and I had to get it as soon as possible. Which ended up not being all that soon because it was sold out. A lot. Ever notice that? When you really want something you can't find it anywhere, and you have to wait and wait. Then when it finally comes in, you can't remember what you wanted to create with it.

That's what happened. I have had this stamp for over six months, and it wasn't until today that I finally cracked it open.

I began this card, by stamping the image with VersaMark ink on 140lb coldpress watercolour paper and heat embossing it with white.

I then used Distress inks to watercolour the flowers. The greeting is heat embossed in gold on a strip of vellum. To create the diagonal strips, I cut down a scrap of paper to 1/4" and used CTMH Sunset ink to get a close match to the flower colour.

I used the same ink to do very light sponging along the edges of the card base, just to break up the white space. I may end up adding a couple enamel dots to the card, but I'm not sure yet.

I hope you like today's card and are inspired to create something of your own.

This card is for:

LawnScaping Challenge: #128 Sketch Challenge

Valentine's Day 2016 Series - Card 9

Hi everyone, thank you for stopping by, I hope you are having a great day.

For today's card, I wanted to step away from the way I usually make my cards. Since I got into stamping and colouring I generally use them on everything I do. Why wouldn't I? It really is the best way to practice; and the more you practice something the better you get.

But sometimes it's really nice to step away from your current comfort zone and do something you have done in a while. So when I saw Jenni's card over at the Muse Challenge, I knew exactly what I wanted to do. I had been looking for an opportunity to use this stamp and up until now, I didn't have one.

So thank you Jenni, for inspiring me!

For this card, I began by heat embossing the Definition of Love stamp in black. I then trimmed the panel and matted with a deep red cardstock.

For the bottom white panel I used a swirly stamp with clear heat embossing and used a light pink distress ink for a resist technique. I also matted that with the same red cardstock.

The flower is die cut from the same red as well, I die cut two extra blossoms and stacked the petals for more dimension. I used micro pearls for a cluster in the centre.

I finished this card off with three small pearls just to add a bit of shine (since there really was nowhere to put any glitter).

I'd like to submit this card to the following challenges:

1. Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge - Love is in the Air, (using red)

2. Muse Challenge 150 - where Jenni's beautiful card is the muse of the week

3. Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge - Anything Goes

I hope you all liked my card for today and are inspired to create something of your own.

Don't forget to follow this blog by using the blue button in the right sidebar. 

Valentine's Day 2016 Series - Card 8

Hi everyone, thank you for stopping by today!

Today I have another card for my 2016 Valentine's Day Series. 

This card was created with distress ink watercolouring on 140lb watercolour paper. To begin, I wet the background panel generously with clean water and then dropped in worn lipstick and picked raspberry.

The raised circle was created the same way after I clear embossed the swirly love stamp. This was then put onto a scalloped circle and raised with foam tape.

While I could have been done at that point, I thought the card needed just a little bit more, so I added three strips of ribbon to add interest.

Distress ink watercolour on 140lb cold press watercolour paper.

Valentine's Day 2016 Series - Card 7

Hi everyone, thank you so much for stopping by today!

Today's card was so much fun to make. I love the emboss resist technique, especially thick lined stamps, such as the one below. 

This technique will work with stamps that have thinner ridges so long as you use a fine detail embossing powder. A thicker powder may unclean lines. 

Emboss resist technique on 140lb watercolour paper. After the panel dried I cut it in angles with my paper trimmer to create a sunburst effect, and raised alternating beams on foam tape to add dimension.

The heart is watercoloured with pinks, sprinkled with glitter and covered with glossy accents. I used sparkling red thread between the heart and the panel for extra interest and shine.