Happy Easter

I've had my Greetery order on my desk for days, and finally had time this past 

weekend to play with Betsy's Botanicuts: Lily. If you're not familiar with the

I've had my Greetery order on my desk for days, and finally had time this past 

weekend to play with Betsy's Botanicuts: Lily. If you're not familiar with the Botanicuts, it's a series of assembly dies that create a bloom. Welcome, Lily!

My husband blessed me with a Valentine bouquet that had lilies and roses, and the 

colors on the lilies were spectacular.

I wanted to try to capture the watercolor effect plus the amazing colors on each petal.

Mimicing God's creation is impossible, but we can come close with the right tools.

The pieces were 1st cut with Poppystamps' Open Studio new watercolor paper. 

It boasts a delicate finish, useful for mixed media, paper arts and card making, 

and comes in a package of 10 4.5 x 5.75" cards. Die cutting is a breeze 

with this thickness of paper.

I used my Windsor Newton tubes for this project, the colors are intense and 

transparent like no other I've found.

These are 2 of my favorite blooms for an afternoon of painting. (LOL, the first petals were 

heavy with paint, and didn't define. But I kept going until something pleased.)

I do send out Easter cards, mostly to family, and plan to more of this magical lily.

Betsy has a youtube video to help with coloring and assembly,

New Die Intro + How-to: BotaniCuts Lily

Since my palm fronds are considered leaves, I'm adding my card to 

the Flower Challenge

The Flower Challenge #41 Reminder

Did you get this die? I'm afraid to say I'm hooked on all things Greetery,

especially these Botanicuts! 

Have a blessed week!

Best Wishes

Hello! 

I'm posting on the Poppystamps blog today. Come by and see how I created 

this watercolor card.

So easy with the Sylvan Frame die!

Hope your week is full of crafty goodness!

Card Concept Challenge: Sunflower Serenade

Hello! It's time for a new challenge at the Card Concept, and we have 

this gorgeous inspiration photo for you!

Sunflower Serenade!

The huge sunflowers definitely inspired my card. This time I combined

watercolors, ink stenciling, and some layers with die cuts and fussy cutting.

I call it, 'Layered Mixed Media'.

Did you know you can mix the styles? A list of them is on 

the Card Concept challenge blog.

My sunflower comes from Deep Red, and is called: Large Sunflower.

PTI: Window Works Die, Hexagon Stencil, and Forest Floor Autumn.

The Card Concept is a 2 week challenge. I can't wait to see how you're inspired!

As an affiliate for PapertreyInk, my links give you access to their store.

Papertrey Ink - Window Works Die

Stencil Basics: Hexagon Stencil Collection (set of 2)

Papertrey Ink - Forest Floor: Autumn Die

Forest Floor: Autumn Stamp Set

PTI SAF '18 Watering Our Flowers

It's Stamp-A-Faire time at PapertreyInk, and I've set aside the day to

watch live videos and play along at home.

1st card done, is with Betsy Veldman, and Watering my Flowers.

Of course that's a nod to watercoloring, and Betsy  is a master at 

technique. Watch her video on PTI's blog for insight and instruction.

Playing with PTI stamps I already have. This one's the poppy from Stemmed

Statements. Single flower was first stamped, then masked, and stamped 

twice again. I've used my own pan watercolors, purchased years ago, most are

Windsor Newton. 

Sentiment: You Made My Day

One down, several to go! Check back often if you'd like to see more.

SAF is throughout the day, and you have until the 30th to complete projects.

Happy Crafting!

Grateful

Hi! Glad you stopped by for a visit today. I recently ordered a new set by C9,

called, Grateful For Everything. Couldn't wait to play with it!

I'm playing along with Just Us Girls, where the challenge is Fast Watercolors.

I love all things watercolor, but this was a new one for me. We were directed on

the JUGs challenge to watch Jennifer McGuire's video on youtube. She made 

making your watercolor card quick and easy.

Lots of quick inking, spritzing, fussy cutting and some Lindy's Starburst: 

Marigold Yellow Orange spray.

Check out Jennifer's video here:  Jennifer McGuire's Fast Watercolors

Have a great day, hope it's full of crafting!

The Card Concept Challenge: Floral Centerpiece

Welcome to a new challenge at the Card Concept.

Every 2 weeks, on Wednesday, there's a new photo inspiration.

This week it's this lovely spring vase of flowers.

I celebrated a birthday a few weeks ago, and my friend, Jeanne Jackna sent

me a Memory Box die called: 'Florina Corner'.

Layering dies became the floral centerpiece of my Classy Elegant card.

With a watercolored background, I die cut the Florina Corner and copic colored the 

flowers and leaves and stems.

The banner is a PTI stamp and die set, with an ombred sentiment.

My links will take you to the PTI stamps and dies.

Thank you for using my affiliate links!

PapertreyInk:

Banner Style Stamp Set

Papertrey Ink - Banner Style Die

Play along using The Card Concept's styles listed on their blog, or combine 

them for a style of your own. Can't wait to see how you're inspired!

https://thecardconcept.blogspot.com/2018/05/the-card-concept-93-floral-centerpiece.html

PTI October '17 Blog Hop: Capture the Wonder

It's the 25th of the month, and that means, Blog Hop Time at PapertreyInk.

 Nichole has challenged us with images from this photo, featuring artist, Adolfo Serra.

I always like to learn about artists I'm not familiar with, so I googled Adolfo Serra, 

and found some more of his art.

Among them, this scarlett and grey bird.

The colors inspired this watercolor card,

Holiday Greens Borders Vintage Ornaments, 

Sentiment from: Wonderland Kit

Windsor Newton Watercolors

Play along all day on Nichole's Blog.

Happy crafting and Happy Hopping!

HLS August Watercolor Challenge

Happy August 1st, everybody!

It's time for a new watercolor challenge at Happy Little Stampers

It's an 'Anything Goes' challenge, and this time the twist is: Bloom!

Want some inspiration?

Going with the 'twist' this month, and die cut my blooms from 

Poppy Stamps just released die, Chinese Lanterns.

I let my colors blend on the die cut watercolor paper,

then adhered it to a die cut and loosely watercolored PTI: Mix & Mat Postal Die.

Popped it all up with foam, and watercolored bottom layer, for my birthday card

sentiment: HLS: Especially For You

Can't wait to see what you do with this challenge!

Feel Better

It's Blog Hop time at Papertrey Ink, and Nichole's challenge

is this dreamy photo

Inspiration? Well, there's the color, robin's egg blue.

And a beautifully staged wedding invitation.

The setting is positively dreamy.

I stamped a floral from Stemmed Statements onto watercolor paper,

and loosely colored the blooms, letting the water pull the color outside the lines.

Then die cut with PTI's Mix & Mat: Postal.

At the top I added a die cut banner embossed in white, with a sentiment 

from Stemmed Statements. Love that cute little banner with the 2 holes!

Also did an envelope, stamped with Spring Rain, and colored with copics.

Because of the ring box in the photo, I added a few iridescent sequins to finish.

Think I'll do a set of cards with the other florals from this set. 

Will post them as they're done!

Come play along all day on Nichole's Blog.

Finished a few more cards for my set.

This is such a full and versatile set. With many words and sentiments it's easy to find

and add just the right greeting. And the florals, so many that lend to coloring

with any medium. 

Hope you're enjoying the hop. Always get such fabulous inspiration!

July 2017 Blog Hop

Let the Bliss Begin

Playing along with Inspired by All the Little Things,

and this photo:

It was the perfect opportunity to compose a wedding card

with SSS's June card kit.

The stamp set is called Floral Bliss.

The dp, from Echo Park: Wedding Bliss

I clear embossed the image on PTI's True Black card stock, 

and watercolored with Finetec Mica Pearls.

Honestly, LOVE how the colors come alive on dark card stock.

Added a strip of glitter paper, popped the panel up with foam,

stamped the sentiments and buds on a branch, then painted them.

Lastly covered my stamped image before splattering the mica paint.

A wedding card just begs for bling, so rhinestones it is!

I blew up this photo so you can see the mica shinning through the colors,

and the coverage is fantastic!

The colors also blend beautifully on either dark or light surfaces.

As you can see, I'm a fan!

Inspired By All The Little Things #60 featuring Jen Wills

A Lovely Birthday

What do you do with a crazy busy week, getting ready for

a ladies tea party in your backyard? 

You find a way fit in a card for 

PTI's MIM with Betsy Veldman!

Make It Monday #282: Stenciled Watercolor Backgrounds

I think it's safe to say, 99% of what I've learned to do with 

a card, has come from enjoying the Make It Monday posts.

And so, with Betsy showing us how to use our stencils to 

create watercolor backgrounds, I made this card

Besides, my recent order arrived, with 

Betsy's Make It Market Mini Kit: Lovely Lace,

complete with a fabulous lattice stencil, and wonderfully lacy die,

perfect for framing Dawn's Gran's Garden Florals.

Well, dear friends, it's back to picking up every stray leaf and twig that's

found it's way to my patio, and wash tea cups and saucers

for about 30 ladies.

At least my MIM card is done!

I pretty much used Betsy's colors and stamps that she used.

Just loved her colors and couldn't wait to ink up Gran's Garden!

PTI's 10th Anniversary: 2008

We're celebrating 2008 with PTI, and 5 sets from the year's 

originals.

My inspiration came from Melissa's floral card celebrating Flower Garden.

She white embossed the edge stamp, then stamped it again a bit offset,

then used her watercolors to fill in the petals.

Loved the look!

I used the stamps from Oopsie Daisey, and the sentiment and little

flower from Happiness In Bloom.

Plaid paper from Beautiful Beads Pink & Orange Mix.

Celebrating the Past, Present and Future: 2008