Taste the Rainbow

Ha!  I'm posting!  I have gone through a dry spell of card making but not for lack of trying.  So glad I finally put something together I didn't want to immediately burn.  I'm sure you've had times like that too.  A Halloween project I'm working on for a party had reinvigorated my mojo.  Yes!

For this card, I diecut the sentiment thrice out of a leftover watercolored panel, taking care to keep the rainbow (can't help but think of "taste the rainbow"--damn you, Skittles ads!) in proper sequence.  I then diecut the thanks from the card front and ran that through a cloud embossing folder before nestling the rainbow thanks in there.  I rounded a corner and sprinkled on a few sequins for good measure.  Ooh, and I added a lot of Glossy Accents to the sentiments to make them fab shiny.

The Details:  Simon Says Thanks die, Paper Studio clouds embossing folder, Recollections white cardstock, Pretty Pink Posh sequins

I'm entering this in Less Is More #191 Mostly Words, Simon Says Anything Goes, and Keep It Simple #49 No Stamps

Indigo Inspired

This one-layer card is inspired by Japanese indigo fabric.  I masked off the card and heavily sponged my NBUS Memory Box stencil with ink.  (NBUS because I thought it was solid with the leaves cut out but it was the other way 'round.)  I next misted it with Shimmer spritz and water.  After it had dried, I flicked large droplets of water by tapping a paintbrush.  Finally I diecut cut some MB birds and placed a few in the foliage with foam tape. 

The Details:  Recollections 110 lb cardstock, Memory Box Garden Leafy Branches stencil and little birds die, painter's tape, Scotch foam tape, Distress Ink Chipped Sapphire

I'm entering this in The Crafting Cafe Monochrome, Daring Cardmakers Stencil Revolution, Keep It Simple #49 No Stamps, Addicted to Stamps & More #114 CAS, Darnell's NBUS #2

I also timed myself to see if I could make the 15 Minute Little Tangles challenge.  Um, no.  It took me like 5 minutes just to mask!  Since I missed the target time, I splattered on larger water drops.

Sunflower au Naturale

So glad I found a moment to take a whack at the latest CASE Study.  I was inspired by the vellum, nature/foliage, creams and kraft.

The Details:   kraft cardstock created from Recollections stencil packaging, Stampendous flower stamp, Stampabilities Card Phrases sentiment, Artist's Loft watercolor paper, Distress Inks, Stampendous detail white embossing powder, Versamark, vellum, hemp twine, PTI hexagon cover plate, MFT stitched square die (I partially diecut it from both ends to create a rectangle of sufficient width), Sakura white pigment pen

You Stink

I've had this skunk-sentiment pairing in my head for a long time.  It's so snarky and so me.

Note:  I have issues with the color of the woodgrain cardstock.   I admit it. It has a pinkish tinge and I just didn't like the contrast of any other white cardstock with it so for the smooth(ish) cardstock of the tag, sentiment and cloud, I used the reverse side of the woodgrain.  Problem solved.

First, I diecut the grass from a sponged background experiment.  Then I cut out a tag and stamped the skunk.  I next colored the clear sequin centers yellow with an alcohol marker and added the flowers to the tag.  I doodled the stems and adhered the grass.  I stamped the sentiment and then diecut it out.  I diecut the cloud border then diecut a cloud to cover up the tag hole.  Yes, I'm a tag hole hater too. LOL.

The Details:  Lil' Inker Read Between the Lines sentiment, Hero Arts C1261 stamp, PTI cloud die and cardstock base, Ellen Hutson woodgrain cardstock, Memento Tuxedo Black, Memory Box cloud border die, Impress sequins, Spectrum Noir CT4, Sakura Pigma Micron 01 pen, Scotch foam tape, Glossy Accents as glue

I'm entering this in CASology #113 Grass, Simon Says Wednesday Tag it, Addicted to CAS #48 Cuddly

Rastafarian Hello

When I saw CASology's latest challenge "Grass" I immediately thought of grass.  Yes, the special kind.  It was last year that marijuana was legalized in Washington state so how could I not, right?  Plus, it'll be a fun card to send to someone as a hello from WA, relax or some such.

I masked off a square on watercolor paper and did a wash of Peerless watercolors in the colors of the Jamaican flag.  I then found marijuana clipart and created a stencil using my Cameo.  This I placed over the watercolor wash and sponged in black.  I then mounted on the lot on an A2 card with a narrow band of black peeking at the bottom to ground it.

The Details:  Peerless Watercolors, Strathmore cold press watercolor paper, Memento Tuxedo Black, painter's tape, Pop Tone Black Licorice cardstock

I'm entering this in CASology #113 Grass, Keep It Simple! #49 No Stamps, Daring Cardmakers Stencil Revolution

Infamous Cat Lady

Let me tell you a story, my friends.  A few years ago, we had a cookie exchange where you make a bunch of cookies to share so that the participants can each have a variety of cookies for the holidays.  Well, the big day had arrived and as I was bringing what was described as the best cookie ever to my lips, I happened to catch it just so in the light and saw there was cat hair.  Not one, not two, but a HALO of cat hair since the hair was part of the cookie.  Eek!  Fortunately, the woman who brought the fateful cookies just dropped them off so didn't have to deal with the embarrassment.  However, those who had already taken bites are still dealing with PTSD.  The horror!  We all joke with each other to this day when we bring something in--does it have that special ingredient?  LOL. Ewww.

I saw this Art Impressions stamp set while I was traveling and had to get it.  How could I not, right?  I did a combination of paper piecing and alcohol markers to work her up then accented the front with cat paw prints and the sentiment.  I thought about adding a few real cat hairs from Frankie but decided that would be too much.  I'll save that for a cookie card at the holidays!

The Details:  Art Impressions stamps, Spectrum Noir markers, My Mind's Eye Miss Caroline Dolled Up 6x6 paper (jacket), CDWV Cafe Mediterranean cardstock (dress), black Enamel Accents, Memento Tuxedo Black, Versafine Onyx Black, PTI red cardstock base

I'm entering this in Virginia's View #7 Designer Paper

Sick but with Flair

A quick card I worked up tonight to send to a sickie person in the hospital.  I love the button, don't you?  That and the sentiment are so darn true!

The Details:  Deep Red Sick Day stamp, Recollections white cardstock base, mystery designer paper, Enamel Accents, Basic Grey Hey Girl flair, Versafine Onyx Black, Memento Tuxedo Black, Spectrum Noirs, Hammermill cardstock, Scotch foam tape

I'm entering this in Sketch Saturday #327 (turned on its side), The Male Room #19 Use Metal (the flair is metal),  Virginia's View #7 Use Designer Paper  

A Little Bird Told Me . . .

I love love love this Stampendous stamp. It was part of a watercoloring with Distress Inks class I took with Jennie Black at The Stamp Addict in San Diego.  I wonder if it comes in a smaller version.  This one would fill a regular A2 card so I went with square 5.25x5.25 for some breathing space. 

Rather unusual card style for me, huh?  Clean and layered?  I'm not particularly comfortable with designer papers but snapped up the OCC Designer Paper class when they had the sale so let's see if I can stretch my repertoire.  Not sure I like the badge--seems old fashioned.

The Details:  Stampendous bird stamp, MFT Contempo Cage sentiment, Memento Lady Bug, Distress Inks, PTI cardstock base, mystery designer papers

I'm entering this in Addicted to Stamps & More #112 Make Your Mark (just under the wire!), Virginia's View #7 Patterned Paper, Just Us Girls #258 Watercolor, Inkspirational #65 Flight, and Curtain Call Wishing Well.

Take a Moment

To me Autumn is the time when I reflect on how the year has gone and what's coming down the pike.  Each year zooms by but Autumn careens down a steep hill dotted with birthdays, Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year's, family visits, volunteering and work.  It's hard sometimes to remember to pause and reflect and just be. When I watercolor I tune out the hectic pace of everyday life and just concentrate on the act of painting itself.  It is truly therapeutic.

I spent probably an hour on coloring the wreath but it felt like just a few moments, a few precious moments.  The rest of the card took maybe 5 minutes.  I embossed the panel and mounted it on cold press watercolor paper (which is a very textured surface). I then masked and stamped the sentiment then made it into a banner which I mounted on foam tape. Dunzo.

The Details:  Artist's Loft watercolor paper, Strathmore cold press watercolor paper for base, PTI sentiment, Rubber Stampede Pomegranate Wreath, Gansai Tambi watercolors, Scotch foam tape, Memento Tuxedo Black and Rich Cocoa

I'm entering this in Addicted to Stamps & More #112 Make Your Mark, Fantasy Stampers #19 Autumn Colors, Just Us Girls #258 Water-Coloring, The Male Room #18 Autumn/Fall, Cardz 4 Guyz #35 CAS, Simply Create Too #70 Fall/Autumn

WC Geisha

I've been visiting with my kid sis down in Californ-i-a but am home now and getting back into the swing of card making.  I've missed it!  Now I did color this geisha while I was there.  I used Gansai Tambi watercolors and am very pleased with the layering.  I even managed to create a sort of indigo blue and white pattern in the fabric.  It amazes how much you can do with just water, brush and paint.

For the background I used an embossing folder on the reverse side (would that be deboss?) so it would appear even more like tile and grout.  I've had this in my stash for ages but have never used it until now--yay!  For finally using it, not so much for having it gather dust.  ;-)

The Details:  unknown geisha rubber stamp, Recollections white 110 lb cardstock, Pop Tone Black Licorice cardstock, Fiskars sentiment, Gansai Tambi watercolors, Cuttlebug Decorative Tile embossing folder, Scotch foam tape

I'm entering this in Addicted to CAS #47 Oriental, Addicted to Stamps & More #112 Make Your Mark, Crafty Cardmakers & More #122 Make an Impression (dry embossing), Fusion (Sketch only this time!), and Darnell's NBUS #2

Every Leaf

Autumn is my absolute favorite season so I'm very much in the mood for Autumn-themed cards.  I love the colors of the inspiration picture for the latest House of Cards challenge (and Curtain Call coincidentally).  And the rough woodgrain.  Love that.  What does the pic make you think of?  Why not show us by joining in the fun?!  Hope to see you there!

Btw, for this card I used a Memory Box leafy border die turned about for the tree branch.  Really getting my money's worth out of the new die!

Fall, Leaves, Fall  

by Emily Brontë

Fall, leaves, fall; die, flowers, away;

Lengthen night and shorten day;

Every leaf speaks bliss to me

Fluttering from the autumn tree.

I shall smile when wreaths of snow

Blossom where the rose should grow;

I shall sing when night’s decay

Ushers in a drearier day. 

The Details:  Memento Elderberry, Dandelion, Bamboo Leaves, Cantaloupe, Potter's Clay and Tangelo, PTI sentiment, Paper Studio embossing folder, Memory Box Leafy Border die, Flavours Gourmet Smoked Sea Salt cardstock, Recollections white coverstock base
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I'm entering this in Curtain Call Lovely Leaves, The Male Room #18 Autumn/Fall, Simply Create Too #69 Something New,  Just Us Girls 257 Leaves,

Happy Thoughts

I made this fun shaker from the leftover frame from the birthday card the other day.  Seriously. Love. It.   My favorite part might be the word background.  FYI that I stamped the pink thoughts first and then the green ones around it so the focal sentiment would be in the correct location for the diecut word.

I used cardstock to build the necessary depth for the sequins which never fail to stick to the foam tape I've used in the past (argh!!).
Pros:  Turned out well, used up cardstock I don't like, no sticking sequins, leftover diecut middles for tags or something later.
Cons:  Took way longer than foam tape would have

The Details:  Tim Holtz watercolor paper, Penny Black Floral Tapestry stamp, Avery Elle Die, Hot Off the Press Simply Susan sentiment, Distress Inks, Versamark,  Hampton Arts clear embossing powder, Memento New Sprout and Rose Bud

I'm entering this in Try it on Tuesday How Does Your Garden Grow,  CASE Study 207,  City Crafter 227 I See Clearly, Create Something Catchy  7 Watercolor, Charisma Cards 19 Acetate

Thank You from Seattle

While my nephew was here a couple of weeks ago I suggested we start his Pacific Northwest sightseeing by going to Impress, a local stamp shop.   Personally that would be the start of my dream vacation!   LOL.   He was a good sport and helped me find a Space Needle stamp (among so many other things!).

Here I stamped the image in a bright yellow.  The shadow was created by stamping off first then stamping the image at an extreme angle.  The sentiment nicely conceals that the posts don't quite line up at the bottom and gives the SN something to rest upon.

The Details:  Impress Merry Christmas from Seattle stamp, Memento Dandelion, Tuxedo Black and London Fog, PTI white cardstock, WPlus9 Fanciful Feathers sentiment

I'm entering this in Daring Cardmakers CAS, CAS on Sunday B/W and one color, CASology #111 Under, Loves Rubberstamps Anything Goes, Stampin' Royalty #244 B/W with a pop of color 

Shine Bright

I had taken the OCC Watercolor class but had been very dissatisfied with my attempt at this type of galaxy background back then.  This time I just painted happily away, finding that I preferred to connect sections while still wet rather than waiting for it to dry--smoother transition.  Then after it dried I went back in and added additional layers of colors.  I love that the many layers of watercolor creates distance and perspective.

The Details:  Mainly Peerless watercolors, Distress Ink Chipped Sapphire and Black Soot, PopTone black licorice coverstock, Lil' Inker sentiment (sans lightbulb), Heidi Swapp stencil (for the stars around the sentiment), Versamark, Stampendous Detail White embossing powder, Colorbox white pigment ink (spattered stars), Sakura white gellyroll pen (larger, brighter objects), foam tape, Memory Box die

I'm entering this in The Male Room Seeing Stars, AAA Cards #18 Watercolor, Create Something Catchy #7 water colors,  Simon Says Wednesday Anything Goes,  Creatilicious #66 Up in the Sky,  Crafter's Cafe #79 Punches & Dies,