Happy Little Stampers Watercolor Challenge

Happy Little Stampers is adding a new challenge to their challenge site.  Watercolor will be the new challenge.  I am very excited to be the guest designer for this new challenge.

One of my new favorite past times is watching U Tube videos.  I went out and watched many Jennifer McGuire videos on watercoloring and decided I wanted to try using embossing paste and watercolors.

I wanted to use my Twinkling H2O's.   I have not used them in ages and they have such a beautiful color.  I live bright colors and these watercolors give you that.

I cut a piece of watercolor paper and then added embossing paste through a stencil.  After the paste had dried I chose three shades of blue to make a gradient color on my card front.  I just kept adding color until I got the shades I wanted.

I did want this card to be a New Year's card.  None of my sentiments worked right with the front.  I tried cutting with my Silhouette but I did not like anything I did.  I finally die cut some silver stars and also some watercolor paper stars.  I layered them on the front of the card.  I added a die cut Hello to finish off the front of the card along with some gems.  I struggled with this card but in the end I did like it.

Here are some close ups of parts of the card.  It was really hard to pick up the shine that the Twinkling H2O's give to your project.

Please come join us at Happy Little Stampers and try our the new watercolor challenge.

Happy Little Stampers - Anything Goes With Dies Monthly Challenge

December - time for another challenge at Happy Little Stampers with Anything Goes With Dies.

The die I chose to use is from Spellbinders.  This card could have actually been used on the Mixed Media Challenge because I used all kinds of things of this card.

I used a card base from Canvas Corp which has a burlap panel on it.  I stenciled gold gesso on the burlap.  I also sprayed the card front with gold mist.  The holly sprig was cut from book pages.  I believe I adhered three layers of pages together before I die cut it.  It was then painted with different Tattered Angels Paints and Sprays.  The berries were die cut from a small circle die and painted, added Stickles and Glossy Accents and glued them onto the Holly Sprig.  After it was dried it was sprayed with a gold spray.

The ribbon was colored with paint so it matched perfectly.  The sentiment was stamped on kraft in black.  The leaves and sentiment were pop dotted to give them some dimension.

I do sometimes get a little carried away with my sprays.  I love the look of gold.

Here are a couple close ups of different parts of the card.

Please come join us with our monthly challenge.

Happy Little Stampers Mixed Media December Challenge

December is upon us and we are all running around trying to get ready for the holidays.  I used the Happy Little Stamper's December Mixed Media challenge to make another Christmas card.

The challenge this month is Anything Goes.  I always love this challenge.

As I surf the net I see all kind of ideas.  I had read somewhere how you can put embossing paste through a stencil and then add embossing powder to it while it is still wet.

 This is a Hero Arts stencil.  I die cut the circle out of water color paper.  I laid down the stencil and added my embossing paste and added gold embossing powder over the top.  I heated the embossing powder until it melt.  At this point I did let it sit for awhile to make sure the paste was completely dry also.  It actually has a fuzzy feel to it.  I colored paper and punched out little circles and added red Stickles on top and then a layer of Glossy Accents.  They were added to the wreath with glue dots to represent berries.  At this point I lightly spritzed it with a gold mist.  The circle was matted with red card stock.

The Joy was cut from red card stock on my Silhouette.  Love that I am able to size my die cuts to fit perfectly in a space.  I cut three layers and glued them together and adhered to the center of the wreath.

I made a card base out of a shade of green card stock.  I put a layer of kraft paper and embossed it in an embossing folder.  It was too large to fit in a folder so I did two halves.  Of course, the ribbon hides the seam.  I sprayed the kraft paper with gold mist also.

The circle was added to the card front with foam for some dimension.  A simple bow was tied and added to the side of the card.

Here are a couple of close ups of several parts of the card.

Please join us for our December challenge, Anything Goes.

Mixed Media Mojo December Challenge

Oh boy, it is December 1 and it is time to share a new challenge at the Mixed Media Mojo blog

The theme this month is Winter Holidays with the added twist of Sparkle.

As I was looking in an area, I found three finished canvases and an unfinished winter holiday themed canvas.  All the elements were already done.  I finished the project and it is my December project.  All I had to do is fussy cut the mittens and stamp the sentiment and then make a canvas.  The canvas already had the base coat of paint on it.  

.The paper came with the embossed snowflakes already on it.  I adhered the snowman and his hat and scarf.  I added some snowflake stickers around the canvas and on Mr. Snowman.  I drew his twig arms on.  Of course, then the mittens did not work on his twig arms so I tossed them into the snow bank.  I added a layer of sparkly embossing paste around on different areas of the canvas and snowman.  I made it look like he was standing in a snow bank.  I then dabbed on some white gesso to add some depth to the snow bank.  The sentiment was stamped and then embossing paste and gesso were put around the edge.  I am so happy I found this project.  I now have another gift finished for the holidays.

Please come join us at Mixed Media Mojo December challenge.  Remember art is good for the soul and you do need to de - stress a little.

Oldie Moldie Monday on Tuesday

It was a dark gloomy day on Monday and I did not get good pictures of the cards I had made.

I am participating in the 30 day coloring challenge and these are all images are colored for that challenge.  They will be sent to the Collins Home in Seneca, SC.

This is a digi image colored with Copics.

This image is from a Bo Bunny stamp set.  It has several bigger monsters on it also.

This is one of Tim Holtz's dog stamps.  They are so fun to use.

Remember to show some love for your older, well aged supplies.  They still make wonderful cards.

Oldie Moldie Monday

It is Monday, time to show some love for your old supplies.

I recently saw a sketch on one of the sketch challenge sites and it inspired me to make a card with a stamp I had never used.  It comes with a coordinating die also.  The paper was a piece of blue patterned paper that I knew would work perfectly to highlight the stamp and sentiment.

The snowflake was stamped in a shimmery embossing powder and the sentiment was done in white embossing powder.

I made two of these so in those BRR months, I will have a couple cards to send out to people.

Remember to show some love for your old supplies and thanks for stopping by.

Oldie Moldie Monday and Day 7 of the 30 Day Coloring Challenge

It is Monday time to show some love to your old supplies.  I really don't know who bought all this paper.  OMG - do I have lots of paper.

This paper is so well aged - it could be considered cheddar.

The stamp is from Happy Stampers Journey.  His glass lenses have glossy accents on them.  The card will go to the Collins Home in South Carolina.

Show some love to your old supplies.

Thirty Day coloring Challenge Day 4, 5 and 6

I really am not very good at posting every day anymore.  I usually do create every day but some things can not be shown.  They are design team work.  I also had a couple of design team posts this week for challenge blogs.

I am attempting to take part in the the 30 Day Coloring Challenge.  I started late but am trying to do something every day.,  I am not the best colorer unfortunately.  The shading is pretty impossible for me especially in very small spaces which many of my stamps are.

I am working ahead on some of my birthdays also plus making cards for the Collins Home in South Carolina.

Day 4

This is a Penny Black stamp.  It is pretty large stamp so I try to think of different ways of stamping and using the images.  This is a watercolor card.  After I had colored the image with distress inks, distress paints, and watercolor pencils I cut it out with a die.  I took a coordinating die and cut out the center of the image.  I made a card base to match the total image and adhered the outside portion of the colored stamp to the front of the card.  I then took the center and pop dotted it so it adds some dimension to the card.  I left it without a sentiment so I can add one when I need the card.

Day 5

This is the card I made for Day 5.  I need a masculine birthday card for the end of December.  I know the birthday person loves sports.  The stamp is from Whipper Stamper Designs.  It was colored with Copics.  I lightly chalked the image so the background was not so stark white.  The sentiment is from Paper Smooches.

I had stamped two images so I made a second card with the same image.  This card will go to the Collins Home in South Carolina.

Day 6

This is a Penny Black stamp that I have had forever.  The image was colored with Copics and the white background lightly chalked with a light blue.  Some Stickles were added to the ornaments.

All these cards could quality for Oldie Moldie Monday because I am using 6 x 6 pads for making the cards.

I am accomplishing some card making by doing this challenge.  I probably am not improving my coloring but I am at least participating.

Happy Little Stampers November Anything Goes With Dies Challenge

It is time for a new challenge at Happy Little Stampers in Anything Goes with Dies.

I have been playing with alcohol inks for the mixed media challenge this month and I made many backgrounds.  I had just recently gotten a new die from Fun Stampers Journey.

I believe (and it is a guess) that I used orange and gold alcohol inks with blender to make this background.  I die cut it.  It is matted with dark brown on a green card base.  The sentiment was heat embossed with dark brown embossing powder and cut out with circle dies along with the green mat.

Please come join us at Happy Little Stampers Anything Goes with Dies November challenge.  I am excited to see all your wonderful creations this month.

November Happy Little Stampers Mixed Media Challenge

Once again it is the beginning of the month and a new mixed media challenge at Happy Little Stampers.  

The challenge for the month of October is Alcohol Ink.

I had to go out and buy alcohol inks.  I have not worked with them very much.  What playing I have done has probably been done in classes.  I was scared but I started to play.  Once you make a background, it is one of a kind so you know you will never be able to recreate it and what if you goof up in your creative process.  This particular card has been setting on the design desk for over two weeks but today I decided to be brave.

When I made my background on Yupo paper with three colors of alcohol ink and I was done dropping those slats of alcohol ink I looked at my paper, and I saw the face of a monster.  Thus this card started to evolve.  I cut the face out of the paper and then also cut strands of hair from the leftover paper.

It took me almost a week of shopping to find the perfect black to be the front of the card and complement the monster.  I had to have wiggle eyes and I wanted the ones with eyelashes.  Did you see my monster has three eyes.  There was that extra small dot on the right side that called out to have a small eye ball on it.

I die cut the letters for Happy out of Yupo paper and used alcohol ink on them.  I also colored a strip of paper with purple to stamp a sentiment on.  The purple is pretty dark and hard to photograph and I apologize for that.

I decided I needed more dimension for the hair so curled some wire around a pencil for additional fronds of hair.  It does give some extra fun to the card.

The letters were adhered to the card base with glossy accents.  The happy birthday sentiment is pop dotted.  The monster face has a double layer of foam tape on it.  The paper hair strands are adhered with glossy accents and the curled wire fronds are stuck into big thick glue dots.

This is going to be a birthday card for my daughter - I do hope she appreciates it.

Here is a close up of the eyes.

So please come and play with us at Happy Little Stampers during the month of November.  You will have lots of fun.

30 Day Coloring Challenge Day 1, Day 2 and Day 3

I have decided to join in on the 30 day coloring challenge that Kathy is sponsoring on her blog The Daily Marker.    Her coloring is outstanding.

I have always wanted to join in on this challenge in the past but it never worked out for me.  I am trying this time - I did start late - so I think I will only have 28 days of coloring.  I am starting out with pretty simple coloring.

I recently got some new stamps from the Fun Stampers Journey and I am trying to use them on my cards.  Many of these cards will go to the Collins Home in Seneca, SC.  They use the cards for rewards and encouragement for the children they foster at the home.  I am using different 6 x 6 pads for the patterned paper.

Day 1

Day 2

Glossy accents used on the balloons and eyes.

Day 3

Oops I forgot to color the background on the card.  I use chalk to add some light color as you can see in the two cards above.  Glossy accents were used on the eyes.  

I do promise to do some more detailed coloring in the month.

Mixed Media Mojo November Challenge

Where did October go - here it is November 1 and time for a new challenge at Mixed Media Mojo.

The challenge is to make a mixed media piece with an Autumn theme and the twist is to use Metallics.

I made a card for the challenge.  This time of the year I need to make some Thanksgiving cards.

In September while I was at Bella Crafts Connection I was introduced to gold gesso.  OH - it is wonderful.  The background is gold gesso.  I used metallic washi tape that I bought somewhere.  It is such yummy washi tape.  The bow is made from fabric.  I cut the Thankful with my Silhouette.  It is three layers glued together to give it a little dimension.  The tree was embossed with brown embossing powder.  I also added some embossing paste on the card front.

Please come join us this month at Mixed Media Mojo.

Oldie Moldie Monday

I was watching a video at my desk so I was cleaning my desk at the same time and came up with 4 coordinating sheets of 4 x 6 Christmas paper.  They became the main part of the two cards I made for Oldie Moldie Monday (two more Christmas cards made).

I do apologize  -  I am trying to work with a different camera to see if I can get better photos.  I don't like the way the color came out on these.  I don't think the sentiment/image are that red.

Distressed the edges of all the paper.  Picked up the green with a twine bow.  The sentiment is a stamp I have not used but thought it fit the look of the old fashioned paper.

Here is the second card with the scraps.

When I had finished both cards, I sprayed them with a gold mist so the cards sparkle.  You can see the sparkle in this close up of one card.

See look, you can still make great cards with your older supplies.  Dig them out and use them.

Craft Banner

In September I attended the second annual Bella Crafts Connection in the Twin Cities.  I had a lovely time with my friends Annie and Ivanka.  It is so wonderful to spend crafty time with your crafty friends.

One of the classes I took was making a Banner.  So much fun.  I did not finish my banner in class because we were doing some of the fun techniques our instructor Chantal Johnson showed us.  I learned how to make Resin Paper - you can see a piece in the middle of the banner - this piece has an antique typewriter on the page.  We also colored some metal embellishments and did some beading.

Here is a close up of the bow and the beading I added to that area.  We had stamped sentiments on muslin strips which are from waxing kits.  I love the pinked edges - I am thinking I need to visit a beauty supply store and get some.  You can also see the resin paper in this picture.  The flower and kraft doily are from my supplies.

The pink tag was from another class I took and I thought the colors went beautifully with this banner.  You can also see more of the resin paper in this photo.

This was a fun class.  Thanks to Chantal for showing me how easy resin paper is to make.

Happy Halloween

I made some simple Halloween cards I will be sharing over the next few days.  I just let the paper do all the talking for me.

Check out the added google eyes.  

Happy Halloween

I made some simple Halloween cards I will be sharing over the next few days.  I just let the paper do all the talking for me.

Happy Halloween

I made some simple Halloween cards I will be sharing over the next few days.  I just let the paper do all the talking for me.

Oldie Moldie Monday

Monday, time to show some love for your old supplies.  A friend needed a birthday card for a gentleman turning 90 years young.

I got out my favorite masculine stamp and some old papers and made a couple cards.

Remember to show some love to your old supplies - they still make great cards.

Happy Halloween

I made some simple Halloween cards I will be sharing over the next few days.  I just let the paper do all the talking for me.

Happy Halloween

I made some simple Halloween cards I will be sharing over the next few days.  I just let the paper do all the talking for me.

Oldie Moldie Monday on Tuesday

Overcast day yesterday and I was on the road so did not get a chance to post my Oldie Moldie Monday cards.

I am making some New Home cards for my daughter to have on hand.  She is living in a new neighborhood and it looks like there is lots of movement and new homes being built so nice to have some cards on hand.

I did a cut with my Silhouette so the card was very easy to make.  The sentiment was computer generated.  Easy Peasy.

Oldie Moldie Monday

It is Monday - time to show some love for your old supplies.  I am into using pieces of paper that can stand alone for a card front.  It is easy to make a group of cards then.  I am trying to make some card sets for Christmas gifts and also some groups of cards for charity functions to help the charity raise money.

I creatively painted a more flowers on each card front if I thought they needed another flower or two with color.  The sentiments were then pop dotted in areas with no colored flowers.

Some simple cards, easy to go through the mail, to just say hello and happy thoughts.  Remember to show some love for your old supplies.