Butterfly on Peachy Background

It's all peachy here today.  I love peach, and paired with gray it makes a really elegant card combo.  

For details on my card today, just visit the the Technique Junkies blog for my post with all the details you need to know.
If you haven't seen the Technique Junkies May Release blog hop  yet, be sure to check out all the amazing new stamps and tons of inspiration by my fellow design team members. 

AND... You're going to love this month's Technique Junkies Challenge.  This month's theme is floral ATC's.  You might just win a lovely little $25 gift certificate to use in the Technique Junkies store!  Details are on the TJ blog HERE.  

If you would like to know a little more about what an ATC is, read my post HERE.

Remember, to get 10% off your purchases, use my code, TJ10Lynda at checkout. 

I am adding my card to these challenges:

Allsorts Challenge - Bugs, bees, butterflies

Simon Says Wednesday Challenge  - Anything goes

Word Art Wednesday - Anything goes

Thanks for stopping by.  I appreciate your visits, and enjoy reading your comments.

Blessings,

 

A Couple of Flower Themed ATC's

I made a couple of ATC's to share for the Technique Junkies Challenge this month.  The challenge is to make a flower themed Artist Trading Card.  You can enter as often as you like, and you have until June 10th.  The prize is a $25 gift certificate to Technique Junkies.  You must use Technique Junkies to be eligible for a prize, but can use any stamps to play.  So, come on over and join us HERE for the challenge. 

These are my two inspiration cards to get you started....(details of each below)

Several people have inquired about ATC's...what are they, what do you do with them, what are the dimensions, rules, etc?  So, I thought I would answer these questions.

-ATC's are Artist Trading Cards.  They are tiny little works of art.  
-They are created on card stock, watercolor paper, bristol, just about anything that can be stamped on, painted, or drawn on.  
-The dimensions of an ATC are 2 1/2" x 3 1/2".  
-You can use any medium you desire on an ATC.  There are really no rules, except the size.
- There are ATC challenges online and at many stamp stores.  Also swaps and even Facebook groups.  
-Some people and groups trade their ATC's.  Others just collect them, and organize them in photo albums, journals, etc.  They can also be incorporated into cards.  I have needed a card on occasion, quickly, because that's how I roll, and have attached one of my finished ATC's to a card front, added some script and/or background, and Voila!  Five minute card! 

Now...onto how I made my two ATC's....

Stamps:  Technique Junkies Calendula
              Technique Junkies Van Gogh's Letter

I stamped a portion of the Calendula stamp onto a white card stock ATC with Memento black ink.  I colored it with Copic markers.  For the background, I used Copics for the blue, and distress ink to stamp parts of the VanGogh's Letter stamp intermittently.  
I added a narrow strip of black card stock, and a strip of black and white striped patterned paper over it.
In the centers of the flower, I added some tiny black beads with Ranger multi-medium glue.

CLOSE UP OF DETAIL & BEADS

 Card two....

STAMPS:  Technique Junkies VanGogh's Letter
              Technique Junkies Growing Wild

On white bristol ATC-sized card stock, I used Distress Oxide inks to create my background.  When dry, I black-embossed a portion of the Growing Wild stamp.  Then I stamped portions of the VanGogh's letter in blue intermittently on the background.  A few dots of purple Stickles add some dimension and glitter, and a shimmery bit of purple metallic embroidery floss make a pretty shiny bow to tie it up!

That's it.  Hope you will join us in this fun challenge this month.  If you do some shopping in the Technique Junkies store, be sure to use my code TJ10Lynda to get 10% off your entire purchase!

Thanks for stopping by!
 

Nature Is The Art Of God

Today I have a challenge card for the Impression-Obsession Challenge.  The theme of the challenge was to use a background stamp, so I pulled my very favorite IO background beauty, Fancy Leaves!

I 'inked' the stamp in my Misti, using Arteza real brush pens on the leaves.  I used a Ranger Archival Ink pad for the verse - IO Art of God.

I usually use this stamp with fall colors, so I thought it would be fun to bring some spring colors to it for a change. 

Thanks for visiting!

Blessings,
 

Fairy And Flowers

Hello, sunshine!  It started out rainy this morning, but the day is winding down sunny and warm.  Lots of birds singing, no wind, just a lovely evening for sitting on the deck and watching the hummingbirds in my garden with my hubs and some fruit of the vine.

But first, a quick post to inspire you with a couple of cards.  I used the new Rita Barakat stamps Floral Border and   Relaxed Fairy from the Technique Junkies New Illustrator release this past Tuesday.

 Relaxed Fairy, Sweet Fairy Tale Verses, Swirly Ironwork Stencil
I used Tim Holtz distress inks for the background with the stencil, and for the verse.  For the fairy, I used Arteza real brush pens.  I added glitter to the wings, and curled them up slightly for dimension.  

Floral Border, You Are Special
I white embossed the floral border and colored with Arteza Real Brush Pens.  I sponged Tim Holtz distress inks for the background.  Verse is stamped with Ranger Archival ink.  Mini sequins added for texture.

If you haven't seen my cards from the hop post, you can check them out HERE.

Have you seen the hop yet?  You have a few hours left to win a Technique Junkies Gift Certificate!!
Run on over and get those comments in for your chance!

Don't forget, use my code TJ10Lynda to get 10% off your entire order.

 

Magnolia Rhapsody

Today was a perfect garden day.  It was cool - around 65 degrees, and breezy.  I like it cooler when I do the heavy garden work, so I don't get too hot.  I put in some new perennials, and added more annuals to my flower beds.  I also planted some cherry tomatoes and cucumbers, and some herbs.  I do love my time in the garden!

For my card, I decided to keep it in the garden....

I used Penny Black stamps Magnolia Rhapsody 40-535, and  Special Thoughts 30-338.  I also used a Penny Black script stamp and swirl stamp for my background.

I used Arteza real brush pens to color my magnolia.  Using my Misti, I added color to one blossom at at time, stamping it, then moved to the next.  When dry, I went back with darker shades, adding them individually to each flower.  Then I repeated this technique with the leaves and the branches.  I added the lightest color, then went back in with the shading colors.  

Cloe-up

Next, I masked the edges of the card to create a panel around the image.  I used Tim Holtz distress inks, and sponged them on.  Then I added the script and swirl stamps to the background.  I love peeling off the mask to reveal the finished panel.  It always feels like a little bit of magic!

For the 'Friend,' I inked only the one word from the verse in the special thoughts set.  I stamped it onto the same watercolor paper, using my Misti so that I could stamp it numerous times to get a clear image on the textured base.  I fussy-cut it, then added it to my card with foam tape.  

Some twine and Pretty Pink Posh clear droplets finish my card tonight. 

I hope you will join us in the Penny Black Saturday Challenge.  The theme is Anything Goes (optional - your favorite Penny Black stamp).  You have until June 1st to enter your card.  Who knows, you just may win a $20 gift certificate to our generous sponsor, 

Be sure to check out my fellow design team members' cards.  I look forward to seeing you on the Penny Black Saturday Challenge blog.

I am adding my card to these challenges:

The Color Throwdown - Blue and green

 
Penny Black At Allsorts - Anything goes 

Thanks so much for stopping by!  I appreciate you spending time on my blog, and your lovely comments.

Blessings,

Easy One Stamp Background

Today's colors are purple and green!  Surprise?  Probably not for those who know me.  I thought these would be the perfect colors for this awesome background stamp for my card today....

I love the large, one-card stamps like this one from Technique Junkies.  It's called sketched flowers.  I used Tim Holtz distress markers to get the colors where I wanted them, with the help of my trusty Misti, of course.

The verse is also from Technique Junkies.  It's called Proverbs, and is one in a set of verses from Proverbs in the bible.

CLOSE-UP VIEW

You can see my DT post of this card on the Technique Junkies blog HERE.  There are also links to the stamps there if you are interested in adding this beauty to your stash.

I am adding my card to these challenges....

Modsquad Challenge - Encouragement card with purple ribbon

Word Art Wednesday - Anything goes

Addicted To Stamps - Make your mark

Thanks so much for stopping by.  I look forward to your comments, and read each one.

Blessings,

 

Technique Junkies New Rita Barakat Stamps Blog Hop

Welcome to our mid-month blog hop to celebrate the new Technique Junkies illustrator!  Rita Barakat has some fabulous new designs which have been added to the TJ line.  You will love the new Rita Barakat Collection, it is fabulous!

If you're here from Stephanie Eaton's blog, you're in the right place.  If not, jump back to Technique Junkies Rita Barakat Release blog post.
And be sure to comment on all the stops along the hop. One lucky person who comments will receive a $25 Technique Junkies Gift Certificate! Comments will be open until Saturday May 19th and the winner will be announced May 20th on the Technique Junkies Blog. 

I have a couple of cards to share with you.  First, remember, if you shop at the Technique Junkies store, be sure to use my code, TJ10Lynda for 10% off the new release stamps, and all stamps and products.

Card # 1:

 Stamps:  Relaxed Fairy
               Floral Border
               Delight

I stamped the floral border on the top of the card panel, then watercolored it with Arteza real brush pens.  Then I stamped the fairy on the bottom, created a mask and masked her, then stamped the floral border on the bottom.  I love when you remove a mask and the image is on top!  It feels like magic, doesn't it!  I colored the fairy and bottom border the same as above.  I stamped the border image onto a scrap piece of the same paper, and colored a few of the flowers, fussy-cut them, and added in front of the fairy.

To create a little dimension and interest, I stamped the fairy wings on a scrap of vellum, colored them from the back, then fussy-cut them and added them to the fairy.  I created a slit along her back and inserted the wings into the slit a little to hold them down.  I left the actual wing part unattached so they look like they are fluttering.

It's hard to tell from the picture, but I added some glimmer and shimmer with my Spectrum Noir shimmer pen to her wings.

I sponged in some distress ink for the background, then stamped the verse (Delight) with Ranger black archival ink.
Some sequins finish off the card.

Card # 2:

  Stamps:  Beautiful Minds
                Floral Border 

I stamped a portion of the Floral Border onto a panel of Strathmore smooth bristol, using antique linen distress ink.  I wanted the lines to fade for the no-line coloring technique, and find this ink works beautifully for that.  I colored the image with Arteza real brush pens.  I added some touches of Polychromos colored pencils to create deeper shadows and some highlights. 

I cut the panel with a square stitched die, and layered it.
Some brushes of color of distress ink for the background, and some clear droplet embellishments finish the card.

From here, hop on over to Pat Huntoon's blog for more inspiration!

Be sure to check out all the designer's fabulous cards from this release.  And don't forget to check back on the TJ blog  and the TJ Facebook Page  for more inspiration all through the month.  And if you get your Technique Junkies stamps inky, we would love to see your projects.  Please share them on the Facebook page.

Happy Hopping, and Happy Shopping...

I am adding my second card, Beautiful Minds, to these challenges:

AAA Cards Challenge - Inspired by nature 

Time Out Challenges - Inspired by words

Blessings,

Froggy Friends Smiles

I was in the mood for 'cute' today, and decided to play with these adorable frogs from Whimsy Stamps.  I have a 'thing' for frogs, and these two are just so dang adorable!  

The challenge at Whimsy Stamps Inspiration Challenge is Anything Goes.  So, frogs it is....

I stamped Whimsy Stamps 'Froggie Friends' onto Strathmore bristol smooth paper, and watercolored them with Arteza real brush pens.  

I layered the panel, using the Lawn Fawn Scripty Smile die, and Die-namics scalloped border from Blueprints 6 die set.  Some yellow Enamel Accents finish off my card.

I am also adding my card to these other challenges:

Time Out Challenges - Inspired by words
 
Addicted To Stamps - Anything goes

I'm so happy you stopped by today.  Thank you for visiting, and for your lovely comments.  

If you like, you can read about why I have a 'thing' for frogs in my article on Hub Pages HERE.

Blessings,