Rose Bouquet Thank You Card

It has been a full day today, so I made a card between activities.  I am just getting home tonight to get a picture of it to post, and here I am, finally getting it on the blog.  This is for The Daily Marker day 27 of the 30 day color challenge.

 I used one of the stamps from an old Hero Arts four stamp set for the rose bouquet panel, and watercolored it very simply with Tim Holtz distress inks.  Then I used my Clarity stencil brush to get the soft background on the rose panel.

For the card, I created the green background with a stencil and a Clarity stencil brush, using TH distress ink.  Before lifting the stencil, I stamped a script background stamp lightly, then removed the stencil.  

A double ribbon with a bow, then the rose panel mounted with foam tape for dimension, finishes off this card.

Thank you for visiting.  See you tomorrow!

Blessings,

lynda

Poppies Love Anniversary Card

I needed a special anniversary card, so I decided to pull out some of my lacy, frilly dies.  I love this one by Spellbinders - A2 Filigree Delight.
 
I stamped the poppy stamp from Just Rite CL-04380 onto textured card stock and colored it with Copics.  I die cut it into an oval so I could use it with my filigree die.  I die-cut some extra pieces of the filigree set and fit them in around the image.  Then I used craft foam and foam tape to layer and give the pieces dimension as I laid them out on the red panel.  Then I adhered the red panel to a gray top-fold card.  The Love epoxy sticker and pearls for accents, and some black micro beads for the centers of the poppies finished off my card.  I had fun with this one!

CLOSE-UP OF MICRO BEADS IN FLOWER CENTERS

 I am adding my card to these challenges:

The Daily Marker - Day 26 of 30 day color challenge!!
Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - Anything Goes
Love To Scrap  - Anything Goes

Thanks for stopping by today.  I appreciate your visiting and comments.

Blessings,

lynda

Delightful!

We all see differently.  This is so true when it comes to card-making and stamping, also.  It amazes me how differently people 'see' sketches in challenges.  And how many times I've seen the same stamp used in entirely different ways, giving it a completely different look and feel!

I looked at the Penny Black stamp, 'Delightful,' which is a vine with leaves and flowers, and I saw clumps of leaves.  So, I inked it up and watercolored it in the no-line watercolor fashion, using TH distress inks in shades of green.

 I was going to leave it as it was, but, well, it is me, and you know I have to push the envelope just a little.  So, I pawed through my Penny Black inventory, and tried a few different stamps to use with it, but couldn't find anything that rocked my boat.  Just as I was going to close the drawer, I saw it.  The tiny little clump of itty-bitty flowers, Penny Black's stamps 'Vignette' 3671C.  I knew that would be the one.

So, I inked it up with TH distress markers in shades of purples, and dotted them here and there along the vine of the 'leaves.'  I then touched them with a water brush to bring out the color and give them a more painterly look.  A little water and some watered-down lavender and violet for a haze around the vine, and that was that.

I added the Penny Black verse 'on your special day' from the clear set Gratitude 30-105, using gold embossing.  A few sequins, then layered onto a plum colored panel, then onto a white card base.  Here is a close-up of the detail, and the lovely gold embossing....

I am adding my card to these challenges.....
The Daily Marker - 30 day color challenge, day 25!
Simon Says Wednesday Challenge - Anything Goes
Penny Black at Allsorts - Anything Goes with a stamp

So, it's been another hot day, with many more on the horizon.  It's been a great summer for sun-worshipers and heat lovers.  I am neither.  Heat and humidity make me miserable, and I find myself hibernating.  Give me good ol' autumn.  The crisp fall air, when I can go out of the house and not have my hair frizz out into  bushy, stringy wild-woman-like hair.  And not feel like I need another shower minutes after taking one!

But, I shall wait.  My time will come.  For now, I'm happy to stay holed-up in my craft room, with my two fans happily buzzing around me as I create.  I must say, however, that I have been enjoying my garden, in the early morning and late evening.

Thanks for stopping in.  Hope you find some time to do whatever it is you love to do in the summer. Isn't it marvelous how God made us all so different.  As I started out saying in this post...we all see...and feel... things differently.  How wonderful!

Blessings,

lynda 

 

Simple Pleasures Card

Today I had fun coloring and designing this card using stamps from Impression Obsession from their Refreshments WP270 clear set.  The challenge on the IO blog is Hello Sunshine/Use warm colors.  So I immediately thought of this fun set.

 I stamped the design onto bristol card stock with my India Ink black stamp pad.  I used Tombow markers to watercolor the design.  I started with the darkest color on each object, directly onto the object, then blended the color out.  Then I rubbed lighter colors onto a palette, and added them.  I stayed mostly with warm colors of orange, yellow, lime, peach, hot pink for the challenge.

For the edge of the panel, I used ripe persimmon distress ink and a Clarity stencil brush to get the soft effect.  I stamped and colored, then fussy-cut some items out and added them to the design using foam tape for dimension.

Of course, I had to add some spatters, and some shimmer with my crystal clear sparkle Spectrum Noir pen.  It really shimmers in real-life.  Here is a close-up in hopes you can see the shimmer and detail better....

I added a strip of designer paper along the left edge, and mounted the panel onto an A2 card.  Inside I stamped two of the drink glasses and the verse Enjoy the sweet things in life.

I love this set, and will definitely be using it more.  This card is going to my friend, Linda, who makes the BEST margaritas!  And she always uses fancy glasses and all the embellishments.  

As I mentioned, this card is for the Impression-Obsession's Hello Sunshine/Warm colors challenge. 

I am also adding my card to:
Simon Says Wednesday - Anything Goes challenge 
House of Cards Challenge - Fruit, drink, or colors 
www.thedailymarker.blogspot.com - 30 day color challenge day 24!

Thanks for visiting today.  Hope you get a chance to stop by these blogs and check out the challenges and entries.

Blessings,

lynda


 

 

You Inspire Me Card

As I was looking through my stamps for a project I was working on, I came across my Altenew 'Painted Butterflies' clear stamp set.  I pulled it out and placed it on my desk, thinking it would be a great set to use for today's card for the 30 day color challenge at The Daily Marker  .  

On a piece of watercolor paper, I used one of the solid butterfly shapes.  I spritzed the paper liberally with clear water, inked my stamp with TH lucky clover distress ink, spritzed it as well, then stamped it onto the wet watercolor paper.  As anticipated, the image blurred into a pool of color.  I dried this with my heat tool, then inked the same stamp again, with the same ink, and spritzed it (lightly this time), then stamped it over the pool of color on the paper.  Then I inked the outline of the same image, when dry, and stamped it over the solid image.  

I repeated this process with five more butterflies, changing between lucky clover and salty ocean distress inks between butterflies.  In a couple of them, I combined both colors on the same butterfly image.  When dry, I spattered ink onto the stamped panel.  

The verse is from the same stamp set, and I embossed it with gold embossing.  To carry the gold through, I created a gold border using my Krylon gold leafing pen.  Then I went back in and added some spatters around the images using the gold pen.

I mounted the panel onto another watercolor panel, slightly larger, tore the right edge, and adhered it to a white card base.  I am proud of myself for keeping it clean and simple (well, for me it is).

I am also adding my card to these challenges:

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - Anything Goes

Addicted To Stamps  - Clean and Simple 
AAA Cards - One Stash Favorite (Butterfly stamp set)

I hope you are staying cool in the heat, if you are in one of the areas affected.  This is one of the hottest summer's we have had in a long time.  I am really (don't hate me) looking forward to fall!

Thanks so much for stopping by today.  Think positive, kind thoughts, and enjoy your day.

Blessings,

lynda

Hello Daisies Card

Daisies are my favorite flower.  They're cheerful and perky, and fresh.  They brighten my garden, and in a little vase in the house they bring cheer to my decor.

 I decided to try the no-line watercolor technique with this lovely bunch of daisies by Stampendous!  I do not know the name/number of the stamp, as I stamped it at my friend's house the other day, and brought it home to color it.  I neglected to get the info...so sorry.  The hello is from Stampendous' clear set SSC039, and is an oldie but goodie set.

I stamped my daisies with antique linen in the TH distress inks, and proceeded to watercolor using various shades of distress inks.  As daisies are white, it was a challenge to get them to look dimensional.  I think it came out ok, but I need to work on this making white petals look like petals thing.  I think I went a little too dark with the background, so thought I'd brighten it up with the blue and white gingham ribbon.  Also, I used my Signo white gel pen to make some highlight dots on the background, and that perked it up a tad.

I am adding my card to the The Daily Marker - Day 22 of the 30 Day Coloring Challenge.  Eight days to go!  Wow...it's going by quickly!

Thanks for stopping by today.  Hope you are enjoying you summer.

Blessings,

lynda
 

Travels by Sea

I was very happy to see Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge is 'By The Sea," as it challenged me to do something with the Tim Holtz sea shell stamps....well, at least one of them.  I chose the star fish, and my Polychromos colored pencils.  I colored the image, shaded, and added some other stamps from my stash (script, compass, patterns), to carry the distress/collage/sea theme throughout.  

 I layered it onto some blue mulberry paper, tied some twine, and added some accents from my treasures....charms, trinkets, paper clips, and a little piece of a fiber sheet.  See, I used some for yesterday's post, then had it in my mind for today.  Love using my stash!  I added some highlights with my white Signo pen.

As I mentioned, this card is for the Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge  and also for The Daily Marker 30 Day Color Challenge  Day 21!

Thank you for visiting today.  I appreciate your comments.

Blessings,

lynda

Count Your Blessings Card

 

I love pears!  I like them very, very, hard and tart.  I like them soft and sweet.  I like them in desserts.  I just plain like them...a lot!  So, when I saw a couple of challenges involving food, I decided to get out my pear stamps, and have a play!

For the pear panel, I 'inked' my Stamp In The Hand pear (three pears on one stamp) with Twinkling H20's.  I simply added water to the pots of twinklers (like that name?) rubbed my paint brush around in the colors to form watercolor, and painted different shades right onto the stamp.  I then spritzed the stamp with water to reactivate the paints, and stamped them onto some linen card stock.  I die cut the panel using My Favorite Things die-namics stitched tag die set, and stamped 'love' using Printworks Q045 PW Borders clear set.

To offset the shimmer, I mounted the tag onto some antique gold shimmer card stock, and used my Perfect Layers tool to create a 1/8 inch border.

For the card, I used the same antique gold card stock.  I layered a piece of the linen card stock onto that, leaving a 1/8 inch border.  Almost forgot....I had stamped and embossed 'count your blessings' verse with gold embossing (Printworks  Q040 Happy Spring clear stamp set).  Pawing through my 'stash,' I found some woven fiber sheets, and just happen to have had one with gold threads in it!  How pear-fect was that!  So, of course, I had to add that.  

I popped the pear panel onto the card using craft foam to give it dimension and interest, created a little thread nest with gold thread, and tucked that into the corner, securing with a little squeeze of Ranger Matte Medium.  Finally, out came my Swarovski crystals in colors of the pears.  Love my crystals for embellishing! 

Here are a couple of close-ups.  I tried to capture the shimmer, but alas, it does not show up in the photos.  In real life, it's soooooo shimmery and glisteny....I think I just invented a word.

Love this fiber sheet!

 Today is day 20 of the 30 Day Color Challenge at The Daily Marker .  Ten more days to go.  I've really been having fun with this challenge.  It's not too late, if you want to join in.  You do not have to 'catch up.'  You can jump in at any time, and post on the days that you can.  Come on over and check it out!  

I am also adding my card to these challenges:

Simply Less Is More - Use something tactile (fiber sheet, crystals, thread).  Note on this one.... My card may be too busy to be considered CAS, so to the moderators of that blog, I totally understand if you cannot use it.  Please let me know.  Thanks.

Little Red Wagon   Challenge 351 - I'm Hungry! 

House of Cards   Food, Drink, or colors

Tuesday Throwdown - Favorite Embellishments

That's it for today.  Hubby is anxiously waiting for me to play Farkel, so off I go.  Thank you so much for stopping and visiting today.  Hope to see you back soon.

Blessings,

lynda

 

Thanks! Challenge Card

Getting it in under the wire for day 19 of the 30 Day Color Challenge at The Daily Marker  . ...

I really enjoyed creating this card today.  I had three....yes, three....fans going in my craft room, so my biggest challenge was keeping papers and embellishments, etc. on my desk!  The joys of no air conditioning!

But, I digress.  For my card today, I started with a soft pink card base.  I thought it would be fun to use vellum today, so I took a couple of Hero Arts stamps, (off the wood mount so I do not know the item numbers) and stamped them all over a piece of vellum using TH distress inks.  I let that dry, then cut it into four A-2 size pieces for four cards!  Clever me, huh?

I secured one piece of the stamped vellum to my pink card, then cut a narrow piece of the same pink card stock for the top (I taped the vellum under this piece so the tape from my tape applicator would not show under the vellum).  I stamped the 'you are awesome' sentiment (Altenew - from the Painted Butterflies clear set) in pink.

I die cut the curved thanks die from a darker pink card stock, using the Thanks Scallop Border SSD111508 die from Simon Says Stamps.  I love, love, love this die!  I secured the die under the pink strip on top of my card front, then tied gold twine around it and tied a bow.  I cut the die out again, out of the lighter pink, and used the letters from that cut to put over the darker letters, for interest.  

To finish, I punched some gold circles from gold mirror card stock (I keep scraps of this awesome stuff for this purpose), used a large ball embossing tool to 'dome' them by pressing them with the tool onto foam, then adhered them to my card from with Ranger matte medium, to balance the gold from the twine.

I am also adding this card to the Love to Scrap Challenge Blog - Anything Goes!

Thank you for visiting.  Enjoy the rest of your weekend!

Blessings,

lynda

Passionate Flower Card

I have three fans going in my craft room today, just so I can work!
So, here I am with my second post today.... Day 18 of The Daily Marker  30 day color challenge card. 

I purchased this Penny Black stamp, 40-453 Passionate, a while ago, and have been very intimidated by it.  So, it sat in my drawer, neatly lined up with all my other Penny Black lovelies.  It really wanted to come out and play, but I kept picking it out, then putting it back.  I finally said to myself, "self....get over it, put on your big girl panties, and do something with that stamp!"  So I did......

I inked up the stamp with my TH distress mini's in worn lipstick, abandoned coral, and ripe persimmon, and forest moss and bundled sage.   My image panel is on bristol card stock.   I used my Misti, and applied one color at a time, adding touches of others with subsequent stampings, spritzing lightly with water each time.  Have I said I love my Misti yet today?  

Next, I used my Clarity brush to brush on a haze of bundled sage.  Penny Black accent stamps finish off the composition, and the happy birthday from PB's Critter Party set 30-013.

Finally, I flicked some spatters, just for fun.  Layered onto salmon card stock, then onto a white card.  Clear opalescent sequins are the finishing touch.

I am also adding my card to these challenges:

Penny Black at Allsorts - Anything Goes!
Love To Scrap Challenge - Anything Goes!
Tuesday Throwdown - Favorite Embellishment (sequins)

Thanks for visiting.  Please stop by tomorrow for more!

Blessings,

lynda

Condolence Cards

Our card ministry at church makes and sends cards to shut-ins and hospitalized folks every six-eight weeks.  It is a ministry I started about five years ago, and it is still going strong.  We also have a card rack in church, where we put birthday, thinking of you, sympathy, get well, and thank you cards.  People can take as many as they like, and we have coin envelopes there for them to make a monetary donation.  The money collected goes to purchase postage for the shut-in mailings, and for envelopes occasionally.

About two months ago, we also started making cards and sending them to people who have lost a loved one during the last year.  We send a card at the three month anniversary, and the one year anniversary of the death of a loved-one who has had a funeral from our church.   Usually, around three months is the time when visitors and callers slow down, and the loss is felt more strongly. 
The cards are usually thinking of you, or we're praying for you, or similar.  We write an appropriate sentiment on the inside, and sign it from our church's parishioners.  

Feedback on all the cards has been encouraging and positive.  I really enjoy being part of this ministry.  If you have any questions about our ministry, drop me a note and I will answer your questions.  If you think you might like to start a ministry like this, I will fill you in on how I got started.

We have a set amount of cards we each make each month, however, a couple of the girls in the group make extra cards for the ministry quite often.  Arlene, who worked with me to help get this ministry started way back when,  just finished making 100 Christmas cards for the shut ins for December, and another 100 for this month's shut-in mailing!  Yesterday, my friend Karen and I made cards to send to the people who have had losses, for the ministry.  Here is a sampling of what we made.....

Karen's cards...

My cards....

 We each made several of each color of our cards.  Now I just have to sign them and get them out in the mail!

So, I chose one of my cards for Day 17 of The Daily Marker 30 Day Color Challenge. ....

 I started with a white card base with a top fold.  I spattered it with distress ink, stamped the Remembering verse (Flourishes), used my Clarity brushed to add a bit of color around the verse.  Then I stamped some matching card stock (Penny Black) and adhered it along the left side.  I stamped the flower and leaves (Impression-Obsession) with distress inks, added some Penny Black stamps lightly, spattered it, brushed it with ink, and attached it to the card.  The die cut is Spellbinders, and I used the negative area, raising it up with foam tape to draw interest to the main image.

I kept it simple, with no embellishments.  I felt it had enough going on.

I was hoping to get another card done today, to catch up with the challenge.  But, it is so very hot here today, and my room is extremely uncomfortable.  Perhaps I will make one later, if it cools down at all tonight. 

Thank you for stopping in today.  I hope you are keeping cool, and have a comfortable place to play.  

Blessings,

lynda

Birthday Joy Card

July is winding down, and it's hotter than, well, you know.  I found some reprieve from the heat today at a friend's house, where we stamped and played with our card-making 'toys' all afternoon.  I will share what I made on tomorrow's post.  I still have to put some finishing touches on my creations.

For today, I decided to try one of my new dies......

 The colorful panel was created with Twinkling H20's.  Remember those?  If you do not know what they are, they are a wonderful watercolor paint, and they have a very shimmery luster to them.  You can't tell from the picture, but in real life, this background has such a vibrant shimmer and twinkle.  I simply dipped my wet paint brush into the H20's, and swiped them onto the card, using the warmer colors of the color wheel.  I adhered the panel to a white card base when it was dry.

I used the Impression-Obsession DIE200-I die to cut the bird from white card stock, then used a circle die to cut it out.  I stamped happy birthday on the die with Marvy Matchable inks using the Impression-Obsession Happy Birthday square frame from the WP40 Fun Frames set.  I simply inked only one side of the square frame and stamped it.
The JOY stamp is also Impression-Obsession, C5471, and I embossed it with VersaMark ink and white embossing powder.
I adhered the die to the panel, added some Swarovski crystals, and Viola!  It was finished!
 
There are several blogs with really interesting and fun challenges today, so I made this card for the 30 day color challenge at www.thedailymarker.blogspot.com , as well as the following challenges:
Impression-Obsession  - Hello Sunshine - Use Warm Colors
Simon Says Wednesday Challenge - Things With Wings
Love To Scrap Challenge  - Anything Goes
Seize The Birthday Challenge  - Bold and Bright Birthday

Thanks for visiting today.  See you tomorrow, when I will catch up with my 30 day color challenge (I'm a day behind, so I will post two).  I have some that I started today at Karen's house, so I will finish those up and post tomorrow.  Hope to see you then.

Blessings,

lynda


 

Color Challenge Day 15 - Magenta Card

Today is Day 15....half way through the 30 day color challenge at The Daily Marker .    For my card today, I decided to emboss this gorgeous image from MagentaStyle stamps....

I used colored pencils to 'color' the image.  I actually stamped the image with black dye ink, and colored the image first, then overstamped (stamped over the image after coloring) with Versamark ink, then embossed it with black ink.  It was easy to do this, using my Misti tool.
It is difficult to use colored pencil on embossed images, as the lead from the pencil will not get up to the edge, and can chip the embossing off.  That is why I colored first, then embossed!

I fussy-cut the image, then layered it onto my card, added some ribbon (one of my favorite embellishments), and a Get Well Soon verse.  I do not know the vendor for the saying.  The stamp was in my stash.

That's it today....easy-peasy.  I think colored pencil is my favorite, or at least way up high on the list of my favorite, coloring mediums.  It is very relaxing and soothing, and no-stress.  And I can take my time and enjoy it.

What is your favorite coloring medium?  

It has been a busy day.  Hubs and I took a long walk on the trail from the park behind our house, down to the river, and walked the river on the boardwalk.  It was an exquisite day, and it felt so good to feel the somewhat cooler air, and lovely breeze today.  Then I did some cleaning, worked on paperwork, made my card, did laundry, and made white chili and home-made biscuits.  Now I'm updating my blog with today's card, and then I will relax with some Zentangle, or a book, before joining hubby for some mindless tv.   I love, love, love retirement!  I've worked since I was 16, and just retired a year and a half ago, when our church, where I was the secretary, closed, and I lost my job, of course.  I loved my job, and really miss it at times.  But, now that I have gotten a taste of retirement, I love the freedom.   More time for doing what I love, and seeing my grand-girls and daughter and son-in-law!  I do have to say, I really don't know how I had time to work!

I am also adding my card to the Tuesday Throwdown Challenge  - Use your favorite embellishment.

Thank you for stopping by.  Hope to see you back here soon.

Blessings,

lynda

 

Be Yourself - Challenge Card

I used some Magenta Stamp dragonfly stamps today for my card.  I love dragonflies.  A couple of weeks ago, one landed on our kitchen window screen.  He stayed there all morning, keeping us company.  He flew away when the sun came around to that side of the house.  They look so very big close-up!

For my card, I used just two of Magenta's dragonfly stamps....

On the textured card stock, for the stamped panel, I masked off the rectangle with painter's tape, then sponged in Tim Holtz distress inks in shades of green and blue, then spattered it by dipping a paint brush into some ink on my craft mat mixed with water, then flicking it onto the taped and sponged section.  I then stamped the large and small dragonflies a few times with the same inks.  When dry, I carefully lifted the tape.

I stamped a few more dragonflies, colored them with a Dove blender and distress ink, and fussy-cut them out.  I played around with the placement until I was happy, then attached them to the panel with mat adhesive.

The Be yourself is hand written by me.  I didn't have a stamp that had a sentiment I liked for this card.  I intentionally kept the one dragonfly white, and used the clear Spectrum Noir glitter brush on it.  Since it is different from the rest, I thought this sentiment would be perfect.
Here is a close-up which I had hoped would show the sparkle...in real life it really sparkles!!

 

The panel is layered onto another panel with craft foam, then onto a card.

This card is for day 14 of the 30 day color challenge at The Daily Marker.

Thank you for stopping by today!  

Blessings,

lynda


 

Within your heart.....

"Within your heart keep one, still, secret spot where dreams may go...."  I love this quote by Louise Driscoll.  I thought it would be a perfect quote addition for my friend's quote easel.

 As I looked through my stamps, my eye went right to the Magenta tree and fence stamp for the main image to go with this quote.  I inked it with TH distress inks, lightly spritzed it, and stamped it onto a panel of watercolor paper.  The script background is from my stash, but unfortunately I do not know the manufacturer, as I had removed the rubber from the block! A quick swish around the stamped panel with my violet Clarity brush, and a stitched die cut finished the panel.  I layered it onto green card stock, trimmed it to 1/16 inch, then onto blue/violet card stock, trimmed to 3/8 inch.  I adhered it onto a white panel, which I had swished with the Clarity brush, then onto a green backing.

The quote stamp is from Penny Black (2711F).  I stamped it onto a watercolor panel which I had die cut with the stitched die, brushed the edges, and stamped the verse.  I secured it to the base with craft foam for dimension and interest.  

The swirl die cuts are from a Spellbinder's die.  Finally, I added some opalescent sequins, just because I couldn't help myself.  Chuckle.

I believe it is day12, or is it 13, of the The Daily Marker 30 day color challenge, so this card is for that.  I am also adding it to these challenges:

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - Create A Scene
Addicted To Stamps Challenge - # 202 Make Your Mark
Little Red Wagon - It's Summertime

Now we are off to spend a relaxing afternoon with friends.  Hope you have a simply lovely day!

Blessings,

lynda

Our Daily Bread Designs Birthday Card

A few weeks ago, I purchased some new dies from Our Daily Bread.  Today I finally used them....oh, do I love these dies!  Can't wait to use the rest of them!

 I started with white card stock, and stamped Our Daily Bread Designs Corner Floral Image with India Ink stamp pad.  I colored the image with Copics in various shades, and used a Spellbinder's die to die cut the image.  I sponged a little wilted violet distress ink around the edges.  

Next, I die cut ODBD's die CSBD84 from purple card stock, using the outside portion, and one of the inside portions (this die set has several possibilities with five pieces to it).  I layered the inside portion onto some hot pink card stock and trimmed it to 1/16 inch, then adhered it to the first die cut with craft foam for dimension.  I also die cut two additional corners from this die, and added them to the flower panel on the right and left side. 

Close-up of detail

 Since I happily found my mulberry paper, I thought it would really look nice with this image and dies, so I tore a piece and added it to a white card base, which I had used my Clarity brushes on to add some of the distress ink to soften the white a little.

I added the die cut panels to the card with craft foam, then added the image to the top of the dies with more craft foam.  Clear opalescent sequins finish off the card.

I really had fun creating this one!  I am adding it to the Our Daily Bread Designs challenge, which is 'Anything that grows.'  I am also adding it to day 12 of The Daily Marker 30 day color challenge; and finally to Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge - Flora and/of Fauna.

Thanks so much for visiting today.  Hope to see you back here tomorrow!!

Blessings,

lynda

Gentle Whisper

I reached back a ways for the technique I used on today's card.  I do not know if this technique actually has a name.  Here is my card....

I used Colorbox white pigment ink to stamp the Penny Black 'Gentle Whisper' 40-331 cling stamp onto a kraft color card stock panel.  I dried the ink with my heat tool.  Then, because I think hubby has been feeling neglected with me spending so much time in my craft room, I brought my colored pencils downstairs and colored the flower while we watched Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives together.  I know...we live on the wild side, don't we!!   I used my Berol prismacolor pencils to add the purple hues to the flowers, and the greens to the leaves.  

I white embossed 'a day to celebrate' from Penny Black's Gratitude 30-105 clear stamps set, onto a scrap of vellum, and sponged some TH wilted violet distress ink on the back side of the vellum under the words, so that they were more legible over the stamped image on the card.  I wanted to emboss it in white to balance the white on the image.  

To get the white spatters, I put a bit of white acrylic paint onto my craft mat, mixed a little water with it, and used my paint brush to pick it up and tapped it against my finger to spatter the card.  Finally, I added some white pearly sequins.  They seem to be reflecting the purples from the card!

Today is day 11 of The Daily Marker 30 day color challenge, so this card is being entered.  I am also adding my card to these challenges:
Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge  - Floral and/or Fauna
Penny Black at Allsorts   -  Anything Goes with a stamp

That's it for today, folks.  Since today is National Ice Cream Day (yes, it IS), my wonderful hubby went to the grocers and got my favorite (well, one of my favorites) ice cream, Turkey Hill all natural salted caramel!  I think I hear it calling me from the freezer.  So, now it is time to cozy up to the hubs and enjoy our ice cream! 

Thanks for stopping in.  Hope to see you tomorrow.

Blessings,

 lynda


 
 

Sunshine

I thought today's post title was appropriate.  No only has the sun been shining all week, but the name of the stamp I used is Sunshine (Penny Black 3122K)....

I inked the flower stamp (sunshine) with TH distress inks using the mini pads in tattered rose, victorian velvet, and aged mahogany, peeled paint and forest moss, and spritzed it with water, then stamped it onto a watercolor paper panel.  Next, I embossed the Penny Black stamp Corner Piece 2859H with antique white embossing powder in the bottom left corner, and partially in the upper right.  Next, I distressed the panel with antique linen and brushed corduroy inks by blending ink on the panel with my round ink blenders. 

At this point, I felt it needed a little something, so, using my inks as paint, I added some shading to the flowers and leaves, and added a light watercolor wash of victorian velvet and brushed corduroy to the background.  Finally, I stamped part of the Deco Border 2653F here and there, and spattered it just a little with my paint brush.

I colored a piece of scrap card stock with the aged mahogany ink pad along the edges, then added my stamped panel to it, and trimmed it 1/16" all around, and set it aside.

For the layering panel, I stamped portions of the Letter Background 1999L with antique linen onto the panel, then sponged the edges, then added some distress marks with a wadded up tissue dipped into the ink, then onto the card.  I added the stamped panel onto this, and then mounted it all to a card.  

The Blessed die is Spellbinders.  Of course, I had to add just a couple of pearl accents.  

I am sooooo happy when I create in my own style!  

I am adding this card to The Daily Marker 30 day color challenge, and also to the following challenges:

 Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge - Flower and/or Fauna

Penny Black At Allsorts - Anything Goes with a stamp 


Thanks so much for stopping by today.  Please come on back tomorrow!

Blessings,

lynda

Rainbow Butterfly Card

With all that's going on in the world, I wanted my art to make a statement.  When I thought about what to make for The Daily Marker Color Challenge , I knew I wanted to use this awesome butterfly from Stampin' Up (called Swallowtail).  As far as colors, I thought about yellows and oranges, then blues and greens.  But as I thought about my desire for my art to be a vehicle for showing love and caring to the hurting people in the world, I knew exactly what I was going to do.

I used distress markers to 'paint' the butterfly, after I taped off a square so that only part of the butterfly would show.  I used my Clarity brush to add the soft blue background.  As I looked through my stash for a verse, I came across this oldie but goodie Mahatma Gandhi quote.  I'm sorry, I do not know the company, as I had removed the stamp from the wood, and neglected to write it down.  Urrrrgh.

I decided to let the art speak for itself, and kept it clean and simple.  I know.....twice in ONE week.  Not a small feat for me, who likes to embellish!  I just layered the panel onto a card using craft foam to give it some dimension.  That's it.

I hope you are staying cool today.  I stayed in most of the day. This morning hubby and I went to the gym, then he had to pick up some items from Walmart to fix the toilet, so I wandered in with him.  Surprise.....they have back to school stuff out already!!!  Wow!  I have to admit, though, when I see all those notebooks, markers and pens, journals, organizers, I salivate just a little.  I used to love getting all new things for my daughter when she was little....especially new crayons.  There's something about opening that new box of crayons and smelling that glorious color-fest of wax!  Over the edge.
But, I digress.  

I am also adding this card to the following challenges:

Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge  - Flora and Fauna
Addicted To Stamps - Challenge 202 Make Your Mark
Virginia's View Challenge  - All About Colors

I'm so glad you stopped in today for a little visit.  I hope you have a chance to do something you love today.  

Blessings,

lynda


 

Live Life In Full Bloom

Today's card is definitely not clean and simple!  I'm baaaaaack!!  I had so much fun making this.....

 It is actually not a card.  For part of her Christmas gift, I gave my bestie a display stand (just like the one I have and use for my pictures I post), along with a quote with stamped art.  Then, throughout the year, I make card fronts, panels, or collages with inspirational and uplifting quotes.  Then every time she gets a new one from me, she changes the display.  She keeps it on the island in her kitchen, where she sees it every day.  I try to make one per month, but sometimes time gets away from me; but eventually I do catch up, so then she gets two or three very close to each other!  
So, for this one, I used watercolor paper, cut to about 6.5 x 5".  I stamped and embossed with gold flowers and leaves from Impression-Obsession's clear set CL109 Damask Floral.  Kathy at The Daily Marker made some cards using doodle stamps, and watercolored them.  Since I am adding this the the 30 day color challenge there, I decided to use these doodle-like stamps for my project. 
 I watercolored the images using TH distress inks in shades of purples and greens/blues.  I stamped a few extra leaves and flowers, and layered them onto the composition, using foam tape on some of them for added dimension and interest.  
For the verse, I used IO's stamp D19119 Oval Word-Full Bloom.  I wanted it to be in gold, to carry the gold out from the composition.  So I stamped it very lightly with antique linen ink (second generation), then I painted over it with my Fine Tec gold paints, with a fine watercolor brush.  
A few sprinkles of gold and purple, and some Swarovski crystals were the finishing touches. 
I mounted the panel onto a shimmery blue card stock.  

Here are some close-ups of details:

 

Can't wait to give this to her!

I am also adding this to the following challenges:

Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge - Flora and/or Fauna
Addicted To Stamps - Anything Goes
Virginia's View Challenge - All About Colors
Art Impressions Challenge - Anything Goes

Thanks for stopping by today.  Enjoy your week, and try to stay cool!

Blessings,
lynda 

One For The Boys - Masculine Card

Today is Day seven of the 30 day color challenge at The Daily Marker blog.   For my card today, I decided to go monochromatic, using grays.  Since I need some masculine cards, I decided to make one today....

 The stamps are Art Impressions, an oldie but goodie (clear stamp masculine set).  I inked the fish and sign with hickory smoke and black soot distress inks onto various shades of gray card stock.  I also stamped a word background onto a panel of card stock, and cut it and another panel into banners.  I embossed the vertical gray strip, added it to a light gray card, then added the banners.  I used foam tape to give the fish dimension, and the same with the Celebrate Life sign.  I sponged some ink along the edges.

There are a couple of fishermen in my life, so this card will be used very shortly.  

I am adding this to these other challenges:

Art Impressions - Anything Goes
Allsorts Challenge - One For The Boys
Little Red Wagon - It's Summertime

Thanks for visiting today.  I'll be back tomorrow with day eight!  
Hope you are staying cool!

Blessings,

lynda

Day Six - 30 Day Color Challenge

Just a really quick post today, so I can get my card up for the 30 Day Color Challenge at The Daily Marker .  

 I do not remember what this technique is called.  I started out with a black card stock panel, and stamped a Magenta stamp (sorry...I don't know the number) onto the panel using white Colorbox pigment ink.  I let the ink dry overnight (or you can use a heat tool to dry it more quickly).  

Then I used Prismacolor colored pencils to color all of the white areas.  That's it!  Easy-Peasy, but it really has a great colorful look, I think.

I did use my gold pen to color the dots in the design.  I think the gold really adds highlights to the piece.  Then I layered, added the sentiment (Hero Arts), and called it finished!

Thanks for visiting.  See you tomorrow.

Blessings,

lynda

Single Layer Watercolor Card

I am stepping way outside my comfort zone with this card.  I decided to really challenge myself and do a clean and simple, one layer card.  No sequins.  No pearls.  No ribbon, layers, or embellishments.  It feels unfinished to me....I am dying to add something.  Even three little pearls.  But, I did it.  It's finished, and I am going to let it go.....

 I used Impression-Obsession stamps.  The bird is E7716 cling stamp, and the verse is an oldie, but one of my faves, a Kahlil Gibran quote.  Sorry, I do not have the item number from that one, as I unmounted the stamp and neglected to write it down.  

I inked the bird with pumice stone distress ink and spritzed it onto watercolor paper.  I used the misti, as I knew I would be layering colors, and couldn't have done it without this awesome tool!  While the ink was still wet, I added some other shades, weathered wood, iced spruce, and frayed burlap, gathered twigs, and ground espresso with my watercolor brush.  When that dried, I carefully inked the stamp in sections, using my distress minis to put color where I wanted it on the stamp.  Then I stamped over the  image, and all the lovely detail came back.  Love. My. Misti.

I cut a mask of the bird, then used my other favorite tool, my Clarity stencil brushes, to brush some tumbled glass, salty ocean, shabby shutters, and pine needles around the image.  Finally, I finished with the verse, which I stamped with rich cocoa Memento ink.

I mounted the panel onto a card base, and called it finished.  I had to walk away, as the urge to do more was almost irresistible!

So, I am adding my card to these challenges:
The Daily Marker - Day five of 30 day color challenge
Addicted To Stamps - # 201 Anything Goes 
Less Is More - One Layer challenge - theme is Time
Little Red Wagon  - 349 It's Summertime!

How many of you think that now that I took the picture I went back and added something?  Well, I'm proud to say I did not.  The more I look at it, I kind of like the simplicity of it.  It's growing on me.

But, now I need to make another card so I can play with my embellishments.

Thank you for visiting today.  I'll be back tomorrow with day six of the color challenge.  Enjoy your weekend!

Blessings,

lynda