Sunday, August 19, 2018

Trust Yourself

During these last couple of weeks of August, the signs of autumn are creeping into our days here in upstate New York.  The air is a little crisper in the evenings, and the trees are beginning to fade in color, with some actually having yellowish leaves already.  The days are shorter, and the hummingbirds and orioles in our yard are having a feeding frenzy.  And the cicadas are screeching.
I am finding myself reaching for my fall colors that I love so much.  So, for my first fall-like card.....
I used Technique Junkies stamps:
Single Sunflower 
Things I Want To Do - verse
French Text - background

I embossed the sunflower with copper embossing powder, and painted it with watercolor.  Then I added Technique Junkies Shimmering Bliss in the color Dazzle, which adds shimmer without color, so the color of the paint shows through, but with amazing shimmer.  Unfortunately it really does not show in this picture.  But in real life, it's fabulous.

I spritzed the French Text background stamp with Shimmering Bliss in Wine Stain, then stamped it onto some maize colored card stock.  I lined the panel with a copper leafing pen.  

I added the fussy-cut flower with foam tape, and die-cut the circle with the verse from the Things I Want To Do set and added it.  Some pearl accents and a copper strip of card stock finish off the card.

Use my code TJ10 Lynda to save 10% at the checkout on your Technique Junkies stamps and/or Shimmering Bliss sprays.
 

I am adding my card to these challenges:

Cards In Envy Challenge - Something new (stamps and Shimmering Bliss sprays)
CAS Watercolor Challenge - Sunflower

Thanks so much for visiting.  I look forward to your comments.
Blessings,
 

Saturday, August 18, 2018

Jumping For Joy Birthday Frogs!

The Penny Black Saturday Challenge theme this month is Anything Goes, with the optional theme of 'On the move.'  I thought these adorable Penny Black frogs (toadily # 30-022) would work well for this, as they are certainly moving.  And I just adore these little fellas!
I also used the birthday phrase stamp and dragonflies from the salutations # 30-014 set.

I created the water with TH distress ink in Tumbled Glass.  For the sky, I used chalk pastels, which I applied with a makeup cotton square.

I watercolored the images with Arteza watercolor pencils.

Won't you join us at the Penny Black Saturday Challenge?  Who knows, your card just may win the $20 gift voucher from 1,2,3 Stitch!  You have until August 30th to play.
 
I am adding my card to these other challenges: 

Cards In Envy Challenge - Something new (Arteza watercolor pencils)

Little Red Wagon - Wild animals

Penny Black At Allsorts - I spy something beginning with 'B'

Seize The Birthday Challenge - Anything Goes

Thanks so much for stopping by.  I appreciate your comments.

Blessings,

 

Sunday, August 5, 2018

More Artist Trading Coins With New Release Stamps

I've been having so much fun making these Artist Trading Coins, I just couldn't stop!  This first one uses Technique Junkies Stamps from the August new stamp release. If you haven't seen all the new stamps, or been to the August release blog hop, you can see them HERE.

To get 15% off the new release stamps, order by August 8th.  Also get 10% off the other stamps and products you order by using my code TJ10Lynda at the checkout. 

Here are my Artist Trading Coins today....
I used the Technique Junkies Never Stop Making Wishes stamp and the Messy Marble stamp.

and
 Stamps:  Technique Junkies Hibiscus Panel,
French Text, and Big Swirls,  and Things I Want To Do set.

And here are cards that I made using these Artist Trading Coins as the focal point....
For my card base, I stamped the Messy Marble stamp onto light green card stock with green ink, cut a panel, and added it to a black A2 card front.  I added a strip of gold glitter paper.

I stamped the Never Stop Making Wishes stamp onto the black with a white pigment ink pad, then colored it green with colored pencils.  I stamped the same stamp onto green card stock, using black ink, then just the seeds with a green pad, then cut it 2 12 round for an Artist Trading Coin.  

I added the ATC to the card front with foam tape, so that the image underneath matched up.  I punched some circles from the gold glitter paper and added them for accent. 

and
For this card, stamped the French Text, and Big Swirls stamps onto a white A2 card front, using green and blue distress inks.  I brushed on some blue distress ink , then brushed more through a piece of nylon screening.  

I stamped and watercolored the Hibiscus Panel stamp onto a white scrap, and added the same blue brushed ink and screening technique, and cut a 2 1/2 inch circle for an Artist Trading Card.  
I added the ATC to the card front, over the same image I had stamped onto the card front.  I added the Choose Joy stamped circle over that.  Some Ranger Enamel Dots finish this card.

Want to win some Technique Junkies stamps or new Shimmering Bliss sprays?  Make an Artist Trading Coin, or a few,and enter this month's challenge.  Details and inspiration for this challenge are at THIS POST. 

Thanks for visiting today.  I appreciate your comments.

Blessings,

Saturday, August 4, 2018

Live It Up Birthday Ride

I had fun making this card today for the Penny Black Saturday Challenge.    The theme is always Anything Goes, and the optional addition this month is On The Move.  Here's my card....
I used Penny Black stamp set live it up!  

Close-up
I stamped the hot-air balloons with distress ink in antique linen, masking as necessary.   I created the rainbow with watercolor pencils, and the sky with a hand made stencil for the clouds and some distress ink in tumbled glass.  I used Arteza watercolor pencils and a waterbrush to paint the hot-air balloons with the no-line technique.  


INSIDE

For the inside, I created more sky and clouds in the same method as on front, and added a small hot-air balloon.  I stamped the verse with Ranger Archival ink in manganese blue.

I made a matching envelope by stamping/masking two hot-air balloons and adding the sky and clouds with stencil work. 




And...the matching set....
I hope you will join us at Penny Black Saturday Challenge and play along.  You just might win some free product.  Check out the other design team members' inspiration, and enter your card!

I am adding my card to these challenges:

AAA Cards Challenge - Somewhere over the rainbow
Craft Stop Make It and Take It  - Anything goes
Tuesday Throwdown - Stenciling (clouds)
Make My Monday Challenge - Colored image Thanks for taking the time to visit my blog.  Your comments are appreciated and enjoyed.

Blessings,

Friday, August 3, 2018

He Cares For You

Hello, and welcome.  For my post today, I decided to try making Artist Trading Coins.  I had not heard of them before, until I saw the challenge at Technique Junkies.  Details of the challenge are on the Technique Junkies blog HERE.  
As you can see, Artist Trading Coins are small pieces of art work, like Artist Trading Cards, only round.  They are 2 1/2" circles punched or die cut from card stock, on which you create your art.  For my ATC above, I used the Technique Junkies stamp Watercolor Hummingbird one of my favorite TJ stamps.  I applied color to the stamp with my Arteza real brush markers, spritzed the stamp with water, and stamped it onto Strathmore smooth bristol paper.  I brushed some color onto the background, and when dry, embossed the verse from TJ's Proverbs stamp set.
I created a card, using my Artist Trading Coin as the focal point.  I love having my Artist Trading Cards and Coins around for when I need a quick card.  Create a quick background, add the ATC, and Voila!  A card!
I used the TJ stamps Growing Wild and French Text for the stamping on the green card stock panel, which I attached to an orchid A2 card, added the vertical strips as accent, and with foam tape added the ATC.  A few drops of Enamel Accents helped balance out the shine of the black embossing.

As many of you may know, this Wednesday was the Technique Junkies August release and Blog Hop.  If you haven't already checked it out, be sure to click on the link and have a peek.  There are some fabulous new stamps, and lots of dt inspiration to get those creative juices flowing. 

Want a discount?  Use my code, TJ10Lynda, for a 10% discount at the Technique Junkies store.  

 Want to play along in the Technique Junkies Artist Trading Coins challenge?  Join in the fun HERE.  You have until August 12th to enter your challenge coin.  You need not make a card, just the ATC.  I made the card as a suggestion of a way to use them.  Hope to see your creative little art coins at the challenge.  You just might win yourself a $25 Technique Junkies gift certificate!!!!  You can't win if you don't play, so come on over and have some fun with us.  Full rules are on the link above.
I am adding my card to these challenges:

Make My Monday Challenge  - Colored Image
Simon Says Monday Challenge - Wild things
Word Art Wednesday - Anything goes

Thanks so much for stopping by today.  I appreciate your comments.

Blessings,

Wednesday, August 1, 2018

Technique Junkies August New Stamps Release And Blog Hop

Welcome!  Take a break from the heat, and hop on over to the Technique Junkies August Release Blog Hop!  If you are here from Beth Norman's blog you are in the right place.   If not, head on over to the Technique Junkies blog to start at the beginning.
We have 18 new stamps in the August line, and the brand new Shimmering Bliss, a magical, shimmering spray paint, exclusive to Technique Junkies!  There are 25 colors of shimmering dye-based ink sprays, including 20 intense colors, and five 'topper colors,' designed to be used along for a touch of shimmer, or over the other colors.  These new sprays are the perfect complement for many of the TJ stamps and stencils.  

Remember, all new release stamps are 15% off until August 8th.  And, you can get 10% off additional stamps and supplies - including the new Shimmering Bliss, by using my code, TJ10Lynda at the checkout in the Technique Junkies Store.

I have three cards for your inspiration today, with more to follow during this month....
For this card, I used the new stamp Cocktails and Facebook.  I created the background on Strathmore bristol paper by spraying the Harvest Sunset and Ocean Depth Shimmering Bliss sprays directly onto the card panel.  This is really shimmery and sparkly in real life.  I dried this with my heat tool, cut it with a die, then ran my Krylon gold leafing pen around the edges.  I black embossed the stamp, and colored it with the same Shimmering Bliss sprays.  I just sprayed some onto my mat, and used a paint brush to paint the images with the sprays. Again, the shimmer really does not show up in the pictures.  I used Harvest Sunset, Dolphin Cove, and Thulian Pink sprays as paint.
For the card base, I covered it with paper that I had created using the Shimmering Bliss sprays.  I used text weight computer paper, and sprayed it with various colors of paints, randomly placing colors onto the paper.  I crumpled the wet paper, then opened it and sprayed again.  I repeated crumpling and spraying until I had the desired look.  I put this aside to dry.  I love how it shimmers and shines in real life!  
I attached a small portion of my hand-made designer paper to an A2 card front, using my tape runner.  A little gold string, and some foam tape added to the stamped panel, finish off this card.

Card 2 -
For this card, I used two TJ stamps, Light Remains and Messy Marble.  

I sprayed Thulian Pink and Dazzle Shimmering Bliss sprays onto a piece of Strathmore Bristol card stock.  I used part to cover the front of an A2 card, and on the remaining piece I stamped the Messy Marble stamp.  I used the Misti for this, so I could repeat stamping with my black India Ink pad until it was nice and dark black.  I love the way the sprays make this shimmer and sparkle in real life. 
I stamped the verse, Light Remains, onto a scrap piece of card stock, layered, added some fun yarn, and added that to my card.  Easy-peasy.

Card 3
I used the new African Beauty stamp, and the Stand Tall (previous release) stamp, as well as a TJ stencil.
I created the background with Shimmering Bliss sprays, and then black embossed the image, and colored her with Shimmering Bliss sprays, using them as paint by spraying them onto a mat, and picking up the color with a paint brush.  I prepared the background piece by spraying the Shimmering Bliss through a stencil.  I layered all the pieces into an A2 size card.

For more inspiration, from here take a look at the amazing projects  Pat Huntoon has for you on her hop post today!

Thanks so much for visiting my blog.  I hope you have been inspired by my cards, and the fabulous new August Release stamps and Shimmering Bliss sprays.  Now, head on over to the Technique Junkies store and have fun shopping for your favorite stamps and spray colors!
Blessings,