Lineweaving/Zentangle Journal Page

The challenge this week at the Lineweaving forum is to use four Zentangle/weaving patterns; inverse square law, convention, prestwood, and iffy.  Here is my Zentangle journal page for this challenge....

After I drew and arranged the patterns in my journal, I added color by watercoloring the images with my Tim Holtz distress inks.  

I am enjoying expanding my horizons by adding lineweaving to my zentangles.  They play together well, and it lots of fun.  Stop by the forum and check it out if you can.

Hope you are having a great week.

Blessings,

lynda

Happiness Shared Art Journal Page

Today I was in the mood to play in my art journal.  I decided to use watercolor, markers, and my Micron pens....

I created the watercolor background with Tim Holtz distress inks.  I wet watercolor paper, then applied inks with a wet brush and manipulated them until I achieved the look I wanted.  When the watercolor background was dry, I stamped the flower, which is a Stampendous stamp.  I used worn lipstick distress ink to ink it, then watercolored it with distress inks in spun sugar, picked raspberry, abandoned coral, and worn lipstick.  I added some white here and there for highlight.  The leaves and ferns are Stampendous, as are the background texture stamps.    I hand-lettered the saying, using Micron pens.

Blessings,

lynda

 

Sending You Prayers and Hugs Card

What a lovely day to be alive!  The sun is shining, and the birds are singing their little hearts out!  I love this time of year, when all of creation yearns to spring forth with it's new life.  The buds on the trees and the flowers with their shoots popping out of the ground just make me so happy.

So, I promised in yesterday's post that I would be back with another card from the sheet of tulips I created with my distress inks and old Hero Arts stamps.  So, here it is...

I used My Favorite Things dynamics dies for the stitched tag, and the prayers saying and verses are from a set at Simon Says Stamp, created by Hero Arts for SSS exclusively.

Check my last post HERE to see details on how I created the panel and details and information on the Prayers stamp set.

The tulips on the card base are from a Darice embossing folder.  Aren't they just so happy!

For the yellow sequins, I used a Copic marker to color my white sequins.

Challenges for this card are:

Allsorts - The challenge is Spring Is In The Air

Addicted To Stamps Challenge - The challenge is a photo challenge 

Hope you can stop by these challenges for some inspiration.  And I hope you can get outdoors for a few minutes to enjoy this lovely sunshine!

Blessings,

lynda

Spring Is In The Air Card

The challenge over at Allsorts this week is Spring Is In The Air.  And boy, am I ever glad to see that.   Although it hasn't been a very bitter winter, I'm so ready for my garden and warm breezes.

Here's my card for the Allsorts challenge:

I used an old Hero Arts tulip stamp and ferns.  I inked them with distress inks, spritzed with water, then stamped onto watercolor paper.  I added more water here and there to create a painterly look.  The dies for the panel are Spellbinders, and the prayers die is Hero Arts for Simon Says Stamp - Prayers SSS101562.  I love this set, it includes the prayers die, and a stamp set with a large word prayers in script, with lots of printed words to go along with it.  

I cut the prayers die from a sheet of fun foam.  I love the dimension when you use foam for your word dies, and it cuts through like butter!  I picked that little tip up on Jennifer McGuire's blog through one of her videos.

The panel is raised with fun foam behind it (also learned that one from Jennifer).  The panel underneath is pink vellum.  It looks so delicate in person.

I am sending this card to the Lasting Hearts Card drive over at Jennifer McGuire's blog.  You can read about it HERE.  It's such a wonderful cause, and I am glad to contribute.

While I was stamping, I filled a large sheet of the watercolor paper with these tulips, so I have another card in the works for tomorrow's post.  Please stop back and check it out.  

Thank you for stopping by.  Have a great evening.

Blessings,

lynda

Thanks card

Today was a gym and cleaning day, but I did manage to pop into my craft room for a few minutes to knock off a card.  It is a simple card, with barely any of my usual design elements....but some times, when I'm busy, that's just the way I roll.

It started with a kraft colored panel, onto which I used a stencil and some distress inks with the ink blending tool.  I used a My Favorite Things stitched die to cut the panel.  I layered it onto the blue, then the green with a kraft panel down the left to carry the kraft color back in.  The thanks die is from Lawn Fawn.  I really like the way it looks on the Bazzil textured card stock.  Some simple green pearls finish it off.

I had a difficult time stopping there, but I'm tired, and fighting a headache.  Time for a little knitting and mindless tv for a while before retiring for the evening.

Blessings,

lynda

Distress Ink With Stencil

Today was a busy day.  I had my prayer shawl group in the morning, then lunch with a friend to celebrate my birthday this afternoon.  I made scalloped potatoes and ham when I got home. 

Then it was up to my craft room where I created this card....

This was created with a home decor stencil I found at one of the big box stores.....I don't remember which, it was a while ago.  I am always on the lookout for stencils that would make interesting or pretty cards.  I love flowers, and leaves, and bought this stencil.  It is quite long, probably at least 18 inches long.  I used only a small portion of the stencil.  

I actually made another panel using the stencil in the normal way (inking through the openings of the stencil) first.  I used Tim Holtz distress inks.  

I then put that aside, and while the stencil still had the ink on it, I grabbed another piece of watercolor paper, spritzed the stencil to activate the ink, and pressed the stencil, ink side down, onto the watercolor paper.  And Viola!, this panel was created!  The image became the negative, and the stencil itself is the positive.

I like the way the water pooled in the center, and the kind of dried look as it moved out.  So I grabbed some card stock, stamped Wishing you joy from Jillibean Soup stamp set jb0198, added a sequin, and called it finished.  Clean and simple.  Not usually my style, but I was playing and having fun.

We are supposed to have another glorious day tomorrow....70 degrees!  Unheard of in March in upstate New York!  Looking forward to it....and to seeing my granddaughter in her first musical production.  Gooooooo Keeley!   

Blessings,

lynda  

Mojo Monday Sketch Challenge

Today I spent much of the day in my craft room.  This happened.....

I coordinate our church card ministry.  We are a small group of stampers who meet once a month in the parish center of our church, and we make cards.  Some of the cards we make (about 115-120 every six weeks) get sent to our parishioners who are shut-in, or in nursing homes, with a little note letting them know their fellow-parishioners are thinking of them and praying for them.  

We also have two card racks in the church, and we keep them stocked with greeting cards for birthdays, get well, sympathy, thank you, and thinking of you.  People can take a card any time.  We do not ask for a specific amount, but we put envelopes out labeled Card Donation. Any monies received are put into the church account, and used to pay postage, and occasionally envelopes or other supplies when we have surplus money.  People have been generous, and they really like being able to stop before or after church, and get the greeting cards they need.  This is especially helpful for the elderly, who may not get out often.  Of course, I make sure to keep it stocked and fresh, and seasonal.

Starting this month, we will also be sending cards to people who have had funerals at our church for a loved one.  We will send out a card, like the ones above, at three to four months after the funeral, and then again at the one year anniversary of their loved-one's passing.  

So, I decided to start with a dozen cards for this project.  Here is one of the cards I made today, from the bunch above.  They are all the same, with the patterned papers changed up on some.

The stamps are from Verve Stamps, set vs-0180 Wonderfully Made. I love this clear stamp set.  It has seven different stamps, all just perfect, especially for our ministry.  I embossed the flower and leaves, and fussy-cut and layered them, and used foam tape on them for dimension.  

The dies I used are Die-namics from My Favorite Things.  These Die-namics sets of dies come chock-full of several dies to make a complete card.  This particular set has the three dies I used on these cards (circle, domed rectangle, and scalloped edge), as well as ten others, ranging from a large square for a card panel, to flowers, bows, and border pieces.  They are wonderful.

I am not affiliated with these companies, I just love these particular products.

This card was inspired by Mojo Monday Sketch # 437 Challenge .  Here is the sketch...

That's it for today.  Thank you for stopping by.

Blessings,

lynda

Art Journal Page - Dylusions

Here it is.....day 30....the last day of the 30 day color challenge at The Daily Marker.  It has been fun, though sometimes a little difficult, to create something every day.  I really enjoyed myself, though, and stretched myself a little.  Many thanks to Kathy for hosting this challenge on her fabulous blog!

I started this as an art journal page a while ago, and kind of just left it.  I stamped the girl (Dylusions clear stamp) onto 110 pound watercolor paper.   I decided to create a neutral background, so I masked her, then used my paint brush and distress inks to brush color around her.  Then I did a little spattering with a large brush. 

I want to give this to my daughter, so when I rescued this from my art journal today, I decided to attach it to a canvas, so she can hang it or use it on an easel.   During the time this project was "brewing," I was thinking of what quote I would use.  I decided on this one, and did my best printing (I really need to take some classes on hand lettering).  It is the perfect quote for my daughter, who loves life and embraces it with passion.  She also happens to be a hair stylist and makeup artist at the salon she manages.   

I watercolored the image with distress inks, and the rose on her hat separately, and attached it with foam tape to make it dimensional.  I added a few more details and touch-ups, and sponged distress ink along the edges to soften the canvas.

I am glad I rescued this from my journal and finally finished it.  I hope she likes it!

I am entering this in Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - Anything Goes .

Thank you for stopping in today.  

Blessings,

lynda