Altenew Year In Review Challenge

My card today is for the Altenew Year In Review Challenge.  The challenge is to use one of the Inspiration Challenge pix from 2018, shown here:

I chose the one on the upper left, January.  And, here is my card:

I stamped the main image from the Altenew Dearest Friends set onto Arteza watercolor paper.  I used masking paper to mask the image, then added some additional pieces of the image here and there to create my composition.   I used Daniel Smith watercolors to paint the image.  I added some leaves from Altenew's Remember This set, stamping them with distress inks. 

I was inspired by a video by Norine Borys, which I had watched a few days ago.  I wanted to try her technique of 'loose water coloring.'  Here is a link to Norine's YouTube video:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=549vkaWP-VU  It is a look I've always admired, but have not tried.  So, today I took the plunge.   I had fun with it, and think I will try it again.  It's difficult for me to not fill in every part of an image, so I need practice in letting the water 'do it's thing,' and just be loose with my application, leaving white space. 

I used a verse from the Altenew Beautiful Day set, and stamped it with VersaFine Clair Nocturne ink.  
To finish my card, I attached the watercolor panel to an A2 card.  
I sponged distress ink along the edges, and added some splatters of the colors I had used on the flowers.

This Dearest Friend stamp set was a gift from my very dear friend, Karen.  So I thought it only fitting that I make her thank you card from these stamps!  I am not adding that to this post, as I don't want her to see it until she gets it from me.  It's very similar to this one, but the verse is a thank you and friend verse.

I am adding my card to these additional challenges:
Crafty Creations - Anything goes
Simon Says Wednesday Challenge - Anything goes
Watercooler Wednesday - Anything goes

Thanks so much for stopping by.  I appreciate your visits and comments.  May the new year bring you joy, peace, and blessings abundant!

Blessings,

Part Of The Dance

In three days we will ring in the New Year.  I don't make resolutions.   Instead, I select a few quotes that inspire me, and create art with them.   Today's card is one of these pieces....

Sometimes it's a card, others are journaling, or art journal pages; yet others are mini plaques.  I keep these pieces around the house, where I can see them throughout the year.  I have found that just when I need a particular piece of advice or help, the quote I stumble upon that day finds me.

My card uses a Technique Junkies stamp - Part Of The Dance.  I black embossed the stamp onto white card stock.  I brushed on some cracked pistachio distress ink to create a soft background.


It still seemed to need something, so I masked a rectangle around the image, then brushed some hickory smoke distress around the outside of the rectangle mask, then ran a fine pen along the rectangle, creating a frame.
A few Ranger Enamel Accents finish it off.

Use my code - TJ10Lynda - for 10% off your Technique Junkies purchase. 
 
I will work on my quotes for the year over the next few days and weeks.  

We usually stay home on New Year's eve.  We get comfy, graze on hors 'deouvres and watch a movie or two, then watch the ball descend (when we don't fall asleep and miss it) and FaceTime with the kids.  We join friends for fun and games on New Year's day.

What do you do for New Year's?  Do you make resolutions?  Have any customs or traditions? 

I am adding my card to these challenges:
Crafty Creations - Anything goes
Simon Says Wednesday - Anything goes
Tuesday Morning Sketches - Anything goes
Watercooler Wednesday - Anything goes

Thanks so much for visiting.  May your new year be filled with love, joy, prosperity, and peace.

Blessings,
 

Snowflake Butterflies

I'm back with a winter card today.  Snowflakes!  I love making snowflake cards, especially with white embossing powder...and white powder with silver glitter is even more fun.  That's what I used to emboss the snowflakes on this card.

This is my card on the Technique Junkies blog today.  I have all the details on the blog post, just click the link above to go there. 

I hope you are enjoying your holidays.  I love these days after a major holiday.  I feel like I can finally really relax, and get back to doing all the things I love to do.  

In six more days we will start a new year!  Wooooo hoooo!  I'm working on some cards for the Technique Junkies first new stamp release of 2019, which will be posted here and on the Technique Junkies blog on January 1st.  Hope to see you there. 

Blessings,

Holiday Greetings Challenge - Snowy Friends

Today starts a new challenge at the Impression-Obsession blog,    Holiday Greetings - any holiday.  

I just adore this little snowman (girl on my card) holding a heart shaped twig wreath; made me think Valentine's Day.  And I couldn't resist using the cute little bunny with her.
 
Impression-Obsession stamps and die used:
Snowman Wreath E20584
Woodland Bunny Standing C20549
Blessing Brush Words WP863 
DIE343-T Hill Landscape Layers 
DIE134-D Mini Heart Row

I started with bristol card stock, and cut a hill using the Hill Landscape Layers die.   I used a part of the die to create a layer about half way up a white card panel, with blue distress ink and a brush.  I used the cut part of the die on the bottom of the card front. 

I stamped the Snowman Wreath snowman and colored her with Arteza Real Brush Markers.  I also colored the
Woodland Bunny Standing with the same markers.

I stamped the 'love you' with words from the
Blessing Brush Words WP863  set onto a scrap piece, and added it to the card.

I finished it off with some die cut hearts from the DIE134-D Mini Heart Row scattered about, and some glitter 'snowflakes.'

Be sure to stop by the IO blog challenge post for links to the other design team girls' cards.

I hope you are inspired to join our Holiday Greetings Challenge at the Impression-Obsession blog.  You have until January 1st to enter, the winner of a $25 Impression-Obsession gift card will be posted January 2nd.  Visit the Impression-Obsession challenge post here for details and rules.  Good luck! 

Other challenges:
The Card Concept - Elegant holidays
Crafty Creations - Anything goes
Dies R Us - Snowflakes
Double D Challenges - Let it snow
Dragonfly Journeys - Handmade holiday magic
Modsquad Challenge - Use a metal die
Watercooler Challenges - Anything goes  
Thanks for visiting.  

Blessings,

Snowman Wreath E20584
Woodland Bunny Standing C20549
Blessing Brush Words WP863 
DIE343-T Hill Landscape Layers
DIE134-D Mini Heart Row
Arteza Real Brush Markers
  

Floral Zebra and Impression-Obsession Winter Hugs Hop Winner!

The Impression-Obsession Winter Hugs Release Hop 
is over, but there's still lots of activity on the IO Blog and the IO Fan Group on Facebook.  Stop by if you haven't seen the new release and inspiration.
I have another card, because I just love this stamp, FLORAL ZEBRA .  I also used the DIE16-A HUGS.

I stamped the FLORAL ZEBRA onto lavendar card stock, and colored her with Copic markers.  I added highlights with a white Polychromos colored pencil.

I added the DIE16-A HUGS and the strips of decorative paper, which I colored with my Copics.  Some black gems finish off my card.

 









And now, for the winner of the Impression-Obsession $10 gift certificate........
            JOY WILSON 

Congratulations Joy!  I will email you soon with your gift certificate code to the Impession-Obsession store.

Thanks to all who played and hopped along.  I hope you have been inspired by the stamps and designs!

I am adding my card to these challenges:
AAA Cards - Three of something (gems)
Crafty Creations - Anything goes
Craft Stop Make-It-Take-It - Anything goes 
Tuesday Throwdown - Anything goes 

Thanks for visiting.  I appreciate your comments.

Blessings,

Non-Traditional Poinsettia

Just a quick stop to post my card for the Penny Black Saturday Challenge.  It's back to Christmas for this one.  The theme is anything goes, with optional Christmas on the PB challenge.  

I used the PB stamp Scarlet Majesty.  I used Arteza Real Brush Pens and water with my Misti directly onto the stamp, using my Misti so that I could add colors as much as I needed.  I usually start with my lightest, and add darker shades and values as I go.

The verse is an older PB stamp.  I added some distress ink and splattering onto the background, then mounted the panel onto a green card base.  A gold cord with some added beads I strung on and tied on with a knot. 

That's it for today.  Hope you are inspired to play along at the Penny Black Saturday Challenge with us this month.

I am adding my card to these challenges:
Addicted To Stamps - Anything goes
The Card Concept - Elegant holidays
Cards In Envy - Spirit of Christmas
Crafty Creations - Anything goes
Dragonfly Journeys - Handmade holiday magic
The Flower Challenge - Older flower image
Simon Says Wednesday Challenge - Christmas
Watercooler Wednesday - Occasions

Thanks so much for stopping by.  I appreciate your visits, and your comments.

Blessings,

Love Birds

Hello.  I'm back with another card from the Impression-Obsession Winter hugs release. I couldn't resist these Love Birds, so had to make another card after the hop.  The hop is over, but all of our design team blogs are open for you to enter to win a $10 IO gift certificate.  Just comment below, and on any of the other blogs listed HERE, and you will qualify.  The deadline has been extended until this Sunday, December 16th at noon. 

And there's more exciting news!  Impression-Obsession now has a new Facebook Fan Group!  And, to celebrate, a $10 gift certificate will be given away (1) for every 100 people that joins before Sunday, December 16th.  So hurry on over and join, this is your official invitation!  You can find the group HERE.
That's lots of chances to win!

Now, onto my card today....

I used the Love Birds D7995 stamp and the Square Frame DIE519-YY.  The Love word on the tag is from an old archived IO set from my stash. 

I stamped and colored the birds with my Tombow markers, and added some background color with distress inks and a blending brush.

  I fit it into the die cut frame, and onto a yellow panel, which I attached to a square card base.  I hand-made the tag, and added it with foam tape. 

I 'Googled' parrots to get my colors.  You would be surprised by how many varieties there are, and how many different color combos!  They are very colorful birds.

That's my card for today.  I hope you are inspired.  

I am adding my card to these challenges:
Addicted To Stamps - Make your mark
Crafty Creations - Anything goes
Craft Stop Make It Take It - Anything goes
Freshly Made Sketches 
Watercooler Wednesday - All about occasions (Valentines)

Thanks for stopping by.  I will look for you over at the
Facebook Fan Group!  Good luck - I hope you win a prize.

Blessings,

Impression-Obsession Winter Hugs Release, Day 3

Welcome to Day 3, the last day of the Winter Hugs Release Hop!!  Today I have two cards to share with you.

I have a $10 gift certificate to give away to a lucky person who leaves a comment on my blog by Saturday, December 15th!  The winner will be announced here on December 17th.  You can comment on each of the dt member's blogs listed HERE.  That way you have more chances to win!

All of the new stamps are HERE, and available now! 

Now, on to my cards...

My first card uses:
Do Small Things E19895
Cover-A-Card Wooden Plank CC177 
Splatter Heart D20614 
All-In-One Frames Die DIE291-WW
Butterflies Die DIE046-A

I used distress inks to stamp my images, and embossed the verse in gold. 

I die cut the plank with the All-In-One Frames die and placed it over the stamped panel.  
 

INSIDE

The butterflies were die cut then gold embossed.  I added a few more spatters and some distressing around the stamped panel, and cut the center heart so it overlaps the frame.
                 






Card 2

My second card uses:
Baby's Breath Large L20607 
Sympathy Sentiments CL114 
Life Stuff Sentiments CL491

On gray card stock I stamped the Baby's Breath Large with VersaFine Claire Nocturne, then colored it with white colored pencils, and some white gel pen.  

I added some dusty concord distress ink to the background.  
The heartfelt sympathy panel is layered and mounted over the image panel.  A strip of striped dp along the right side, then the whole shebang added to an eggplant A2 card.

Inside:
 




I hope you have been inspired by the cards, projects, and ideas in this blog hop.  

Don't forget to comment below for a chance to win a $10 gift certificate.

Now sit back, relax, and enjoy making your wish list from the new stamps and others at Impression-Obsession.  And if you haven't hopped, be sure to check out the amazing inspiration from my talented dt friends listed on the blog HERE.

Thank you for stopping by, I appreciate you taking your time to visit, and enjoy reading your comments!
Blessings,

Do Small Things E19895

Cover-A-Card Wooden Plank CC177     

Splatter Heart D20614

All-In-One Frames Die DIE291-WW

 Butterflies Die DIE046-A

Baby's Breath Large L20607 

Sympathy Sentiments CL114 

Life Stuff Sentiments CL491