Monday, December 31, 2018

It's the First Challenge of the Year -- in Australia!

Happy New Year's Eve to all my Northern Hemisphere friends! In Australia, it's already 2019, and the first challenge for Happy Little Stampers is up and running! I am joining the Watercolour team (I love that spelling) for the next six months.

Today I am sharing a card using images from the Picket Fence Studios December release called Forgot To Say Thank You. It features a beautiful jar of flowers with three sentiments.
I stamped my image on watercolor paper, and then used an aqua brush and my Kuretake Gansai Tambi paints to color. Once it was dry, I painted the entire bouquet with the Nuvo Aqua Shimmer Glitter pen for lots of sparkle and added texture! While the photo doesn't pick that up, it's so sparkly IRL!

Our {challenge on HLS} is all about watercolour - Anything Goes - and for an added twist (optional), add texture! Come play!
Have a safe and happy New Year's Eve! And to my Australian friends - HAPPY NEW YEAR!



Saturday, December 22, 2018

Snow Snuggable

Well this is just a perfect sentiment for this coming week, as my two grandkids and their parents are coming Christmas Day -- and I am going to snuggle them all!

This adorable little bunny is from Whimsy Stamps' Bundled Up - a super cute set with a lot of fun mix and match sentiments and some cute as can be creatures and girl.
I made a tag, sponged on some Island Indigo ink (Stampin' Up!), and then cut a snow bank using the Wavy Edgers Die Set. I added some Diamond Stickles to the top of each scallop for a sparkling snow. I colored my bunny with Copics, and then fussy cut him and popped him up on the snow bank once the Stickles were dry.
Isn't he precious?


Friday, December 14, 2018

It's Release Day at Picket Fence Studios!

Today is Release Day at Picket Fence Studios!!
I am super excited about this release - there is such a variety of images! Today I am sharing a sweet little greeting using Have A Cheerful Day, and her matching die!
Such a cute image, with so many possibilities! I stamped with VersaFine Clair Nocturne ink, and then embossed with Clear Embossing Powder. I colored her with alcohol markers, and then cut her out, and popped her up on the card base.
Her little face will surely bring a smile!

Be sure to check out the entire release today - AND head to the Picket Fence Studios Instagram account, where you might win the entire release. BUT HURRY!

Thursday, December 13, 2018

You Make Me Smile

A quick post for you today - because I know YOU are busy with holiday preparations -- or kids' chauffeuring -- or cooking! Or reading! Or working. This morning I had the opportunity to wake up a little earlier, and decided to get out some of my stencils. Out of sight, out of mind. I haven't used them in awhile and I have a whole BOATLOAD of new ones from A Colorful Life Designs.

Today's card uses City Windows stencil and images from Rustic Floral by Picket Fence Studios.

I am also using the sketch from Freshly Made Sketches. I flipped it over and had my "star" image on the right instead of the left, and making mine a one layer card. The frame is the base of the card.

I used my Life Changing Blender Brushes to color in my stencil, and then stamped my images using VersaFine Clair Nocturne ink. LOVE that ink! So crisp and clean the first time!
Thanks for stopping by today! We've got a new release coming tomorrow!


Wednesday, December 5, 2018

Unicorns and Snowflakes

Hello stamping friends!
I have a three year old granddaughter who has recently discovered how amazing unicorns and rainbows are. And I love that! She is coming to visit me over Christmas (with her parents and brother!), but I made this for her and sent it along with her felt ice cream ornament for her tree at home. I think she will have fun shaking it up!
My images are from Favorite Flake by Whimsy Stamps. SUPER cute set with snowflakes, bunnies and fun sentiments too!
I stamped with VersaFine Clair Nocturne ink, and then colored with Copic markers. My shaker elements are from Trinity Stamps: Expecto Patronum and Frosty Snowflakes
I stamped my sentiment, and then ran it through my Big Shot with a Cuttlebug snowflake embossing folder that I have had forever! The other embellishments: white sequins, sparkly snowflake chipboard, and button, were all in my stash. 
I want to catch snowflakes with a unicorn friend!

Friday, November 30, 2018

Coffee Lovers Blog Hop!

It's definitely coffee time, as we close November and head to December. I just got back from the grocery store, where you would have thought it was the end of the world. No eggs. No SALAD or LETTUCE. Never saw that before. The forecast is 4-9 inches on top of freezing rain through Sunday. So it's time for COFFEE and lots of it!

Today I am sharing an image from Picket Fence Studios called Need More Caffeine. LOTS of coffee to get through this first December weekend!
I stamped the image on Kraft with VersaMark ink. Isn't it fun? I added some coppery-blue sparkly thread around the middle and then adhered it to my base of Ivory. The copper colored die is from Reverse Confetti, and the little corner sentiment is from Picket Fence Studios' Coffee Understands.
I stamped the sentiment with VersaFine Sepia. I love the CAS look! Stay warm and cozy!



Tuesday, November 27, 2018

White Christmas with Whimsy Stamps

Hello Everyone!
Today I have a pretty CAS (Clean and Simple) card to show you using a sentiment and die from Whimsy Stamps!
I started with white and red mirror cardstock (the hardest to photograph!), along with some basic die cut shapes, and one of the trees from the Evergreen Trees Die Set. I stamped my sentiment from Bundled Up in VersaFine Clair Nocturne ink.
I stamped one of the snowflakes from Bundled Up in VersaMark, and then embossed with Clear powder
I then assembled the card, popping up the circle with 3D Foam Circles, and adding a few Snow White pearls for bling.
Super elegant and super easy! Plus - it's flat enough to mail without extra postage, and that's always a plus!
Hope your November was full of blessings!


Monday, November 26, 2018

Poor Ginger!

One of the fun, humorous new November releases from Whimsy Stamps is GingerSnaps! There are several sentiments and gingerbread cookies that have just had enough. :)
Take a look:
I made a little shaker card with a fun candy background for poor little Ginger! I know several friends that would get a kick out of this!
Off to bake some cookies!



Tuesday, November 20, 2018

Monoprint Background with Trinity Stamps


I love this new silhouette stamp set from Trinity Stamps! I like to make monoprint backgrounds with acrylic paints, and this was a perfect opportunity to use Seasons Greetings.

I started with one of my monoprints, made with a Gel Press plate for my background, and figured out where I wanted the "snow" and where I wanted the "trees". I moved my stamps around the print for awhile, before I decided which direction to make "up." Up is actually turned 90 degrees to the right from this photo.
I stamped my images using my MISTI and VersaFine Onyx Black ink. The MISTI helps the ink adhere to the painted background. I then cut a frame for my little scene, using a Sizzix circle die, and stamped my sentiment below. I added texture to the frame with an embossing folder after the sentiment was dry. I added some sequins and snowflakes from the new Blizzard Shaker Embellishment Mix for some added bling.
Kind of a fun look!
Challenges: 
Path of Positivity - ANYTHING POSITIVE WITH Optional Theme: SHADES OF GREEN
Dragonfly Dreams - (November) Anything Goes


Wednesday, November 14, 2018

It's Picket Fence Studios Release Day!

You are going to love, love, love this release from Picket Fence Studios! There is so much goodness to see that it will take more than one day from the whole team! So be sure to check back here, and on all my teamies' blogs, as well as the PFS blog for all of the fun!

My card for Release Day was fun to make -- and incredibly easy! That's the best, right? I used two stamps from the release: Rough Around the Edges and Oh So Many Birthday Wishes. 
Rough Around the Edges is FUN! It's a large 6x6 background stamp that can have MANY looks. I decided to make my background a fun pink and green plaid.
I chose Worn Lipstick and Twisted Citron (my favorites) for my plaid colors, and used my MISTI and Life Changing Blender Brushes to apply and blend the ink on the stamp. Stamped on my cardstock. I turned it 90 degrees, stamped again, and voila! Plaid!
I stamped the sentiment with VersaFine Onyx Black, again using my MISTI, to get good coverage over the Oxide ink. I thought I might add sequins, but ended up with a funky paper flower (Prima) I've had in my stash for my only embellishment on this one layer card.
I love the bold and big look! What do you think?

Check out the entire new release at Picket Fence Studios!
Challenges:
Through The Craft Room Door - Always Anything Goes  
Crafting from the Heart - #228 ANYTHING GOES



Tuesday, November 13, 2018

Tiny Elegance from Whimsy Stamps

Today I have a tiny little Christmas card to show you - that will probably turn into a Christmas tag for a special gift. 

I am using the new Cozy Blanket Background Stamp, along with October's Evergreen Tree Dies from Whimsy Stamps.
I stamped my background with a ColorBox three-color pigment ink pad, and then embossed with Clear Embossing Powder. It has a silver, light blue, and dark blue ink. My tree and background panel are cut out of silver cardstock. I added pearls, some flowers from my stash, and there it is! Perfect to tie on a bottle of sparkling wine, or on a sweet, special gift!
Challenges:
Crafty Sentiment Designs - Christmas 
The Holly and Ivy Christmas Challenge - Anything Christmas Goes
Double Trouble Challenges - Christmas Holiday
Make My Monday - Winter Foliage

Thursday, November 8, 2018

Artsy Isabella

One of the things that I love about all of the Beautiful Girls images at Picket Fence Studios is that many (if not all) are named after family members, family pets, and friends. I think that is so cool! I am using the Beautiful Girls - Isabella image today on my card. She is named after Nicole's niece. And she reminds me of my daughter.
She just looks so carefree and thoughtful, with her own fashion sense.


So I gave her an artsy background made with Distress Oxides, and used one of the new October releases, Happiness Belongs to You (three sentiment set).


I stamped both images with VersaFine Onyx Black ink, using my MISTI. I love the large size of these sentiments, and the versatility of how/when they can be used!



Challenges:

Wednesday, November 7, 2018

Make Your Mark Challenge!

Hello everyone! Today I am sharing a card for the Addicted to Stamps and More Challenge #317: Make Your Mark! Use your pencils, markers, inks, paints, watercolours, etc., and make "a mark" on your card!
For this challenge I am using Trinity Stamps' Hopeful Flowers, a little mini 3x4 set that packs a punch. I had decided to do a black and white card, and then when I was ready to stamp the sentiment (from Caffeinated Sentiments), I knew a pop of color would make all the difference!
I stamped my flower spray with VersaFine Onyx Black, and my sentiment with Stephanie Barnard's Strawberry Red. I thought that might be the only red, but then kept going with one of the floral sprays in Copic Lipstick Red.
Finally, I tied a bow of red taffeta, and mounted everything on a black cardstock base. One of my favorite color combinations!

Come play along with the Make Your Mark Challenge!
Other Challenges:
Christmas at Sweet Stampin' - Anything Goes Christmas 
Ellibelle's Crafty Wednesday - Christmas and Seasonal Holidays 
Sisterhood of Crafters - Humour
The Holly and Ivy Christmas Challenge - Anything Christmas Goes