Distress Oxide Hollyhocks

Hollyhocks...such magnificent flowers.  They stand proud, hailing their beauty for all to see.  I remember them standing taller than the other flowers in my dad's garden, and how I loved them.  Birds, bees and butterflies enjoy their nectar.  They add an elegant touch to any garden.  Hollyhocks are the focal point of my card today.  I'm sneaking a little spring into February here.

On a panel of natural cardstock, I ran the Impression-Obsession DIE152-N along the side, and attached it to a textured green A-2 card.  I stamped IO's Silhouette 18 leaves with bundled sage distress ink, and fussy-cut it.  

For the flowers, I made a background with distress oxide inks on a panel of cardstock.  When dry, I die cut the IO  DIE169-R hollyhocks, and added them, along with the leaves, to the card front.  I added a piece of the background paper I had created with the distress oxides to the right side of the panel.  The verse is from the IO clear set WP128 Square Frames.

CLOSE-UP OF THE FLOWERS CREATED WITH DISTRESS OXIDE

I used Enamel Accents in the flower centers, and Nuvo crystal drops for accents.

I am adding my card to these challenges:

Impression-Obsession Challenge - Birthday wishes

Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge  - In my garden

Splitcoaststamper Featured Stamper Challenge

Thank you for stopping in today.  Your kind comments and your encouragement mean so much to me.

Blessings,

Penny Black Saturday Challenge Mid-Month Inspiration

It's time for more inspiration to get our creative juices flowing for the Penny Black Saturday Challenge.  

Stamps:  Penny Black 'Aspire' 3381K, Happy birthday from the 'critter party' 30-013 clear set, 'Corner Piece 2859H', 'Deco Border' 2653F. 
Other:  Tim Holtz distress ink, Spellbinder's Labels Twenty Five dies, pp, Ranger white embossing powder.

I sponged distress ink onto the die cut panel, and used my Misti to stamp and color the image.  Added the scrolls and other bits to the background.  Distressed pp pieces and layered.  The torn right edge and curled corner add to the distressed look.

I hope you have had a chance to play along with the February challenge.   The theme is 'Anything Goes' with optional 'Use Some Scraps.'  We all have those little bits of pp, ribbons, string, card stock bits and pieces.  Now's your chance to give them some love and maybe even win a prize for your efforts. 

The challenge is sponsored by 1,2,3 Stitch, who is generously giving a $20 voucher to the challenge winner!   We look forward to seeing your creations!  If you would like to be considered for a guest designer spot for a future challenge, please add 'GTD' after your name on the link-up.  Be sure to stop back to see if you have been chosen.

Thanks for visiting my blog.  I love reading your comments, and really appreciate you taking the time to read my posts.  Stay well, and be blessed!

One More Valentine Card

I just couldn't stop...had to make one more Valentine card!  

I love these little hedge hogs from Penny Black.  I used the PB stamp hearts allover, an oldie-but-goodie! I watercolored him, then added colored pencil touches for shading, and fussy-cut him.  I created the background with Spellbinders Card Creator Curved Borders Two dies and various card stocks.  The Love You is Spellbinder's die, and the hearts are ones I borrowed from a friend.  

Some black Enamel Accents spattered around, and some Glossy Accents on the hedgehog's hearts, and clear shimmer from At You Spica pen on the letters.  A little brush of distress ink with Clarity stencil brushes on the hills.

I am adding my card to these challenges:
 Allsorts Challenge - Love is in the air
Penny Black At Allsorts - Love, hearts, and flowers
Simon Says Wednesday Challenge - It must be love
The Daily Marker 30 Day Color Challenge 

Thank you for your visit today.  Hope your week is going well.  It's always good to hear from you.  I appreciate your thoughtful comments.

Blessings,

Love Birds

Today I pulled out my Winnie & Walter 'So Tweet' stamp set.  I wanted to make some Valentine cards, but I didn't want the traditional red and white and pink.  So...here is my non-traditional Valentine....

For the hearts, I punched some different size hearts from card stock, then sponged white ColorBox pigment ink through them onto kraft card stock, moving them around until I had what I wanted.  When dry, I colored the tops of the hearts in ombre fashion with colored pencils.

I stamped the love from the same set onto the bottom of the card, then the branch, and the birdy much sentiment.  I colored the love in with white acrylic paint, and went over the outline again with black permanent pen.  I attached the panel to a black A2 card.  Added a strip of black and white pp along the left edge.

For the birds, I watercolored them with Derwent Inktense pencils.  I added some white dots with a gel pen, fussy-cut the birds, and attached them with foam tape.  

All-in-all, an easy card, but a really fun one to make.

I am adding my card to these challenges:

Allsorts Challenge - Love is in the air

Cards In Envy - Love you so much

Modsquad Challenge  - Have a heart

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - It must be love

I am so glad you stopped by today.  Thank you for your lovely comments.  I love hearing your thoughts.  I hope you are enjoying your weekend.

Blessings,

Elegant Sympathy Card

Sympathy cards...nobody wants to have to make them.  But, sadly, there are times when we need to send them.  I believe that when a person gets a home-made sympathy card, they feel your love and concern in a special way.  They know you took the time and cared enough to make them a special card in their time of grief.  It's like an extra hug for a friend, and something they can look at any time they want.

 

For my focal piece on this card, I chose this flower stamp from Impression-Obsession, F8739.  I inked the stamp with antique linen distress ink, and stamped it onto Strathmore mixed media paper.  

I used Tombow markers to watercolor the flower using the no-line method.  When dry, I fussy-cut the flower and put it aside.

For the card, I used Tim Holtz distress inks in shabby shutters and peeled paint, and sponged them on with my ink blending tool.  I stamped some background images with clear stamps from the Impression-Obsession CL124 Solid Florals set.  

The sympathy verse is from I-O's clear set CL114 Sympathy Sentiments, and I embossed it in gold.  

I added some gold fibers to the flower, and some tiny gold beads to the center, and adhered it to the card with foam tape.  Some sparkling crystals from Studio Katia finish off my card today.

I am entering my card in the Impression-Obsession challenge (friendship flowers).  I am also adding it to the The Daily Marker 30 Day Color Challenge.

Thank you for stopping in today.  I do appreciate you taking time from your day to visit.  Your comments always warm my heart.  

Blessings,

Van Gogh Kitty

Good morning!  Just stopping in for a moment to share my Technique Junkies blog post.  
Today's project is actually a set of three cards from the stamp Van Gogh Kitty , from the Technique Junkies February Release.

Full details on how I created these cards, supplies, and other information, can be found on my Technique Junkies blogpost HERE.

Don't forget to use the code TJ10Lynda to get 10% off any regularly priced stamp at Techique Junkies!

I will return later today with more inspiration on this snow-laden day.  For now, grab a cuppa, and head on over to Technique Junkies blog, and see more new inspiration from my design team friends there. 
Thanks for stopping in.  I always enjoy your visits and appreciate your encouraging comments.

Be blessed,

Penny Black Saturday Challenge

I'm thrilled and excited to post my first card as a Penny Black Saturday Challenge Design Team member.  The challenge theme each month is Anything Goes.  There is an optional twist, which this month is Use Some Scraps.

For my card, I used flowers from the Penny Black clear set Flower Gallery 30-031, and the verse from the set Special Thoughts 30-338.  

I added dp to the bottom of a white A2 card, and sponged lightly with Tim Holtz distress ink around the edges for some distressing.  On a piece of white linen, I used my Clarity stencil brush to create an ombre panel with the TH ink.  I gold embossed the birthday verse and added it to the card front.  

I embossed the flowers, colored with Tombow markers, fussy-cut, and added them with foam tape.  I added an embossed scrap card stock strip, and some scrap pieces I had colored with blending tools.  A few scraps of gold paper, and snippets of gold ribbon and cording are also thrown in the mix, just for good measure, and because I could.  

A spattering of Nuvo Jewel Drops just for good measure give it that final touch.

For more fabulous inspiration from my new design team friends, please check out the Penny Black Saturday Challenge.  And if you are so inclined, join the fun by entering one of your cards.  You just might win a $20 voucher to our generous sponsor this month, 1,2,3 Stitch! 

Be sure to stop back mid-month for more inspiration! 

I am adding my card to these challenges:

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - Anything goes

The Daily Marker 30 Day Color Challenge

Thank you for visiting today.  I always love hearing from you, and really your comments and encouragement always add a special glow to my day.

Blessings,

Classy & Fabulous Vogue Kitty

Greetings, lovely peeps!  Today's card is in honor of Technique Junkies February Release Blog Hop.
If you haven't seen the new release, run, don't walk, to the above link and check it out.  Fabulous stamps!  Great design team cards!  A fun challenge!  Lots of inspiration!

Stamps:  Vogue Kitty
              Classy & Fabulous 
NOTE:  All new release stamps are 15% off until Feb. 8th.  For 10% off non-release stamps use discount code TJ10Lynda.

First, I created the background of the image panel using the Spattered Ombre technique, shown HERE. The challenge is open until February 12th.  Anyone can enter with a card using the technique.  If you use a TJ stamp,you will be eligible to win a $25 Gift Certificate.  Hope to see your entry HERE.

I stamped and embossed the Vogue Kitty stamp with black embossing powder onto the dried spattered ombre panel I created, then colored her with a gray colored pencil, and added a pink gem for her necklace.  

Some patterned paper and layering with foam tape help her to stand out, along with the Classy & Fabulous verse stamped onto a scrap, and punched with an old EK Sucess punch from my stash.  Dies are from Die-namics Blueprint 5.

Do check out the TJ February release hop for lots of inspiration.  And be sure to enter your card in the spattered ombre technique challenge.

I am adding my card to these challenges:

Allsorts Challenge - spots and/or stripes

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - Anything goes

Addicted To Stamps - Make your mark

Technique Junkies  - Spattered Ombre technique
 
Thanks for stopping by.  Remember to always be classy and fabulous!

Blessings,

Birthday Carnations

I have been desperate for signs of spring.  I miss my garden!!  I miss sunlight.  I miss sipping wine coffee on the deck, and long walks along the river trail behind our house.  
So, my flower stamps are getting a workout.  If I can't have my garden, I can at least stamp and color flowers, and dream of warmer days and plants sprouting from the ground. 

For my card today, I used Stampendous stamps.  The carnation is Cling Carnation Blooms, and the verse is from the Cling Fresh Peony set.  

I stamped onto Strathmore vellum bristol paper, and colored with Polychromos colored pencils.  I used a flicking technique, where I applied color with small flicks of the pencil to create texture.  I was striving to create the textured petals that carnations have.  Here is a close-up to show the flicking texture details...

The die along the right edge is from Altenew.  I used a Die-namics die to cut the flower panel.  I brushed some broken china distress ink along the edges.  It is layered onto a panel of mulberry card stock.  I created the script panel with a stencil The Crafter's Workshop Mini Believe Script.

I embossed the happy birthday, and used an EK Success punch for it, and layered it onto the front.  Some Ranger black enamel accents for embellishment.  

Thank you for visiting.  I think I will go water my house plants now.  Maybe I can get my Christmas cactus to flower again!  Sometimes it does around this time.  

I am adding my card to the The Daily Marker 30 Day Color Challenge.

Blessings,
 

Earth Laughs In Flowers

Just popping in with a quick card for the Viva La Verve Sketch Challenge.      

 Stamps:  Verve Stamps 'Happy Place Set of 9'

I stamped the flowers and the verse onto white card stock pieces, and cut with Die-namics dies.  I used Tim Holtz distress inks to watercolor the images, and to distress the panels using Clarity stencil brushes.  The leaf embellishment pieces were stamped from the Verve Be Blessed set, and fussy-cut, then added under the circle verse piece.

Some ink spatters and black Ranger Enamel Accents and some bakers string was added.

I am also adding my card to these challenges:

Allsorts Challenge - Old favorites (stamp set)

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - Anything goes

The Daily Marker 30 Day Challenge 

Thanks for stopping by.  I hope you are enjoying your week.

Blessings,