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!

12 Kits of Occasions July '17

Hi, and welcome to July's post for 12 Kits of Occasions.

This month's hostess is Kim Heggings, from Cupcakes, Cards and Kim
and she's titled this month's kit:

Christmas in July.
Kim has chosen Ardyth as her guest this month. Ardyth's blog is MASKerade,
and you don't want to miss her creations.

Darling Images and die cuts, wonderful holiday paper, and even some twine and

bling for our cards!

Starting off with the reason for the season!

This Bethlehem Boarder was ready for it's desert night setting.

Hills & Banner: PTI

How cute is this kitty? And it's sentiment!

Gave my 'naughty' kitty glittered poms on her cap.

Sizzix Tim Holtz EF.

This trio screamed for the Ho3 sentiment!

I gave the capped pup some puff paint on his trim.

Candy Canes: PTI

Tags: Poppy Stamps

Neat & Tangled 'Merry & Bright

Thanks to Kim, I've put a dent in my Christmas card stash!

Don't miss the other designers' Christmas in July posts!

For You

Make It Mondays are always a treat at PTI!

This week Laurie shows us 3 ways of color blocking our cards.

I'm working on a series of felt ornaments for the grandkid's Christmas trees,

and had this felt car ornament ready.

Just perfect for a color block card front!

A simple bg was what was needed for my felt car. Lifted it up a bit 

in front to follow the grade.

The car is attached to the card front with a velcro disc.

A while back I bought a roll of these discs so I could attach blending

sponges on the backs of my ink pads. (Thank you Jeanne Jackna!)

So handy when your ink sponging a background.

The car/ornament stays in place until little hands peel it off 

to put on a tree.

Stitched Car & Stitched Car Tree dies

Soft Stone, Aqua Mist, Stormy Sea, Classic Kraft Cardstocks

Sentiment: Wet Paint Holiday Tags

Christmas Faith (tiny snowflakes)

PTI: felt

White embossing powder, Stormy Sea Ink

Make It Monday #292: Color Blocking Three Ways

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

Psalm 91:4

Mondays are the best day of the week, for those of us who

can't do without PTI's Make It Monday.

Today Ashley showed us the coolest technique called

Emboss Resist Shadow Sentiments.

Such a great way to make the sentiment stand out!

A friend is in the hospital, and this card goes to her.

Betsy's Year of the Psalms: March furnished the sentiment I used on

a Mix & Mat: Scallops die.

First stamped with Dark Indigo, then versa mark and clear embossed,

the image is moved down slightly, and clear embossed again for the

shadow effect. 

When the sponge inking is applied, the shadow pops!

My sentiment block is on a die cut and sponge inked 

Cover Plate: Center Stage.

The feathers were fussy cut with a few popped up with foam.

Loved this technique, and can't wait to do it again!

Thanks, Ashley!

Make It Monday #291: Emboss Resist Shadow Sentiments

Sparkle

Hi! I'm so excited to be introducing some new sets from Poppystamps!

If you enjoy coloring your own images, and creating perfect die cuts every time,

then these sets are perfect for you.

All the details are on the Poppystamps blog.

Be sure to check out today's post.

Sparkleby Nancy Penir  

There's also a reminder to play along with this month's challenge,

'Bling It', for a chance to win a gift certificate to the shop!

Hope your week is fabulous!

Psalm 23:2

Every month during release week at PTI, we get to case the design team

and their genius.

As usual, this month's stamps and dies were beautifully showcased,

and it was hard to pick just one.

Dawn McVey hi lighted the soon to be released 

Cover Plate: Mountain Majesty with a

 bright rainbow watercolor.

I loved the frame she featured, with it's die cut mountains.

Trying to come near her color blends, and that space for the sentiment

was a challenge.

Here's what I came up with.

Year of the Psalms: June stamped onto a Made With Love tag 

(Pinefeather ink)

The frame is Sentiment Splits: Curve Verticle

Tree on the left is from Scene It: Mountain View,

and the stars are from Make It Market Mini Holiday Folk.

I absolutely love the way Betsy has designed the Psalms sets, and will 

be sorry to see the year and the psalm releases end.

Proverbs? Just a thought...

Create Along With Us: July 2017

A Birthday Card

This week's MIM, Betsy Veldman shows us how to combine 

Stenciling and Masking, for our one layer cards.

Betsy's video was a simple way to create a card that will 

easily go through the mail.

I have a recipient  in mind for this card. Her birthday is on Thursday.

It just might make it!

Stencil make with a die from Nostalgic Notions.

Ivy & Bloom

Sentiment: Swoosh

Inks: Ranger: Distress Oxide Broken China & Cracked Pistachio

PTI Inks: Pure Poppy, Hibiscus Burst, New Leaf, Green Parakeet, Pinefeather

Play along with Betsy & PTI here, on Nichole's blog:

Make It Monday #290: Combining Stenciling and Masking