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.