Blog Archives
Cards in Envy Challenge – Bug Me!
For this Cards in Envy Challenge, we are bugging out with a “Bug Me” theme. Choose any insect or bug on your card to enter. Our challenge runs through Sunday, August 20th and the design team will be picking their favorites. As a quick reminder, Cards in Envy asks that you make your card fit into a standard A2 card, which is 4 1/4 x 5 1/2 inches.
My card today features an old Close to My Heart stamp set called “Beetle Bug”. I stamped him using tombow (443 & 173) markers on watercolor paper. Once the image was stamped, I went back with an aqua brush and dropped it additional color. I then highlighted the bug with a Fabercastell pen and added back ground with Daniel Smith watercolors in Hematite. Last, I stamped a club scrap foliage stamp and cut out the design using a My Favorite Things stitched flag die. My paper pad is “We Are Family” by Echo Park and the sentiment Lawn Fawn “On the Mend”.
I hope you will join us at Cards in Envy this week and show us your “Bug Me” cards.
From The Heart Stamps March Blog Hop!
Welcome to our From the Heart Stamps blog hop. This month the theme is “Spring”.
As you hop along, please leave a comment on each blog. One random commenter will be selected on each blog to win an image of choice from the FTHS store.
If you have arrived from Kathy Curry’s website, you are in the right place, if not why don’t you start on the From the Heart Stamps blog, so you don’t miss anything.
My Spring card today features “Hamlet Pigwit in the Planter”, which I colored using a few new colors of Daniel Smith watercolors. When I watercolor digital images, I used lightweight watercolor paper at 90 lbs and let your ink dry completely before you start. You may get some bleeding, but that is okay to use for shading.
Now head over to Kelly Schelske’s and see what she has created.
Thanks for hopping with us today and may your spring days be thoroughly enjoyed. Our hop will end on Sunday March 12th 2017 at 6 am, and the winners will be posted on Wednesday March 15th at the From the Heart Stamps Blog. Please also visit us at the From the Heart Stamps Facebook group to share you cards and projects.
Technique Junkies March Blog Hop!
It’s the first of the month and that means it’s time for a Technique Junkies Blog Hop showcasing the new March release! The fabulous Technique Junkie Design Team will provide an amazing selection of inspiration for your enjoyment.
Pat is again offering 15% off all March Release Stamps for one week! If you haven’t been over to the Technique Junkies store recently, there are a lot of great new stencils as well as other great art supplies for your creative journey.
My first card today showcases my favorite stamp of the bunch simply called, “Queen SD787”. Using my Misti, I stamped her several times with Versafine Black Onyx ink and clear heat embossed her. I then brought out some watercolors, specifically, the new Daniel Smith color called ” Purpurite Genuite – STUNNING. I also used some Hematite for shading. The background started with the new Jane Davenport papers that you can purchase from Michael’s put together using the “Tie it Together” technique from TJ December 2014 subscriber pages.
My next card features the new stamp, “We Pour #SD755” using a version of “Distressed Stained Dip Technique in the Artistic Effects CD.” Instead of Distress Stains, I used traditional Distress Inks from the standard size pads and applied them to my craft mat. This was actually the second generation, hence the lighter application. The colors are Faded Jeans and Gathered Twigs.
My next card uses the “Sweet Baby Set of 4 #SS072” stamped with the background called, Gessstencil Crayons, also from the December 2014 TJ Subscriber pages. My watercolor crayons are Neocolor II’s in a Yellow Green and Turquoise and stencil is a Tim Holtz design. For the focal image, I did a some stitching around the sweet baby shoes because something about stitching and baby goes together for me. I chose one of the three sentiments in this new set and added rub-on stitching to the edge of the card as well. Perhaps this will bring my boys some inspiration to make me a grandmother!!
My final card showcases “Big Bunny #S685” using “Antique Glimmers” technique from December 2009 Subscriber Pages. It’s hard to pick up but he’s so shimmery. My sentiment “Kindness Matters #SDx026” is perfect for this sweet bunny and so important to remember as we go through our day.
Now, that I’ve shown you what I have to offer, I don’t want you to miss any of the other design teams creativity so I encourage you to start hopping at the Technique Junkies Design Team Blog.
If you are arriving from Cheri’s Blog, you in the right place! Gorgeous cards my friend!
The next stop is the wildly creative Ro Donner.
Here is a list of the Design Team lineup:
Kathy Stacy – That’s Me!
I sure hope you enjoy the Technique Junkies Hop! Don’t forget – 15% off March Stamps for the next week only!
A Blog Named Hero – Rays of Hope
Hello! The Crafty Nurse here with a project using Ellen Hutson’s Essential’s By Ellen’s stamps and dies for the “Texture” challenge at A Blog Named Hero. A very special thank you to Ellen for allowing us to play with their great product this month. Her generous spirit is known to many who frequent her store.
I was so excited to use the “Stay Salty” Essentials By Ellen stamp and die set to play with this month. I started by applying table salt to a wet watercolor wash to create texture and play off the “stay salty” theme. I cut up that panel and stacked it for even more interest. The sky was created with watercolors, distress inks, and a layering stencil.
I hope you’ll join us at A Blog Named Hero for our September “Texture” Card Challenge! See you there!
A Blog Named Hero – “Pop of Color”
Hello fellow Hero Art’s Friends!
Kathy, The Crafty Nurse here today sharing some inspiration for our “Pop of Color” challenge in collaboration with The Ton. You have until the end of the day to enter this month over at A Blog Named Hero.
Both cards were made using The Ton’s “Fall Foliage” set. This stunning stamp layering set is so great, I made two cards! The first card is in line with our “pop of color” challenge and features the stamp layering technique from The Ton’s You-Tube video. I personally used a Misti tool to make sure my layers aligned. For background leaves, I stamped only the final layer in the leaf set so my focal leaf “Popped” and added a Darice embossing folder over a diffuser for more “pop”.
My second card features negative watercoloring taught by Dawn Woleslagle of WPlus 9 in Online Card Classes Intermediate course. I am quite the novice in watercolor, but I really enjoyed using this gorgeous stamp with this technique.
We can’t want to see what you’ve created for your “Pop of Color” over at A Blog Named Hero. Have fun!
Repeat Impressions: Color Challenge
It’s the first Wednesday of the month and that means it’s time for a color challenge at The House that Stamps Built. With Valentines looming around the corner, this weeks challenge will help you get your cards made for those you love. The Challenge is open through Tuesday, February 10th and there is a $25.00 prize for our random winner. You don’t have to use Repeat Impressions stamps, but if you do, an extra entry is waiting for you.
Now let’s get started with the colors we choose this week:
For some inspiration I broke out my Kuretake watercolor paints, which I applied liberally after I white heat embossed the Hugs & Kisses Stencil 1215-H. I added some black splats and finished it off with some sequins. I can’t wait to see what you come up with in your color challenge for What If Wednesday at The House that Stamps Built
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Creative Jumpstart Week 3
Here is another Journaling page inspired by the classes at Creative Jump Start 2015. It began with the extra paint left over from my week 2 page. I was in the mood for some stars so I used all kinds, die cuts, cork, fabric, metallic, watercolor, and design paper. I also used stencils, toilet paper tubes, acrylic paint, spray paint, and what ever else I could grab.
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A Day For Daisies
One of the challenges I personally love participating in is the A Day For Daisies. One of the reasons I enjoy participating is that Tammy, the owner and artist is kind enough to provide freebies for each and every participant. Thanks Tammy! Today I colored Doll Face Beauty #5 with copics for this weeks challenge that calls for use of ombre. I took my favorite Kuretake Watercolors and used the golds, copper and pearl to create a ombre background. The sentiment is Clearly Besotted. I kept the rest of the card very clean and simple.
Crazy 4 Challenges: Clean & Simple
Crafty Sentiment’s Design: Girly
Sentimental Sunday’s – New Beginnings
Cards in Envy Christmas Carol Challenge!
Oh my, how did it get to be the middle of December already? It’s time for another Cards in Envy Challenge and we are singing this challenge by making a card that reflects Christmas Carols! How fun, huh? Simply make a card that fits into a standard A2 envelope by Sunday, December 28th and you will have a chance to be featured on the Cards in Envy Blog.
For some inspiration I’ve chosen a Our Daily Bread stamp called “O Christmas Tree”. The background is a watercolor wash over white heat embossing. Really easy technique. The “town” edge die is from Memory Box and the tree with bow is from the November’s Simon Says Stamp card kit. I finished off with a silver foil frame using a Lawn Fawn Stitched Die and a sentiment from Clearly Besotted’s “Ornamental Style”. Hope we see what you are singing about this week!
Cards in Envy Challenge: Santa is Coming to Town
It’s Monday and time for another Cards in Envy Challenge! Woohoo, I’m really excited about this challenge because “Santa is Coming to Town”! YEAH! With Thanksgiving over and our bellies full, it’s time to breakout our Santa Claus stamps. You can use any image that has to do with Santa as long as it’s fits into a A2 standard card.
For my inspiration I’ve chosen to use a stamp by Stampendous called “Jolly Santa”. I colored him with my Kuretake Watercolors, which I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE as well as some distress inks. The twinkle sentiment is from “Holiday Words” by Tim Holtz/Alterations, which has 17 wonderful messages in one die set. I placed the sentiment on vellum and finished it with a bit of Wink of Stella. I finished the card by splashing water over the background for texture. Hope you like him!