Sending Caring Thoughts Card - TJ Week 2 WWDB Challenge

Today I would like to share my card for Week 2, Day 7, of the Technique Junkies What We Do Best, #WWDB Challenge.  The theme this week is Get Well.

I know this is a Christmas cactus, and it's the end of April.  However, my 'Christmas cactus' did not bloom at Christmas.  It bloomed at Easter!  So, that begs the question, 'Is it a Christmas cactus, or an Easter cactus.'  More on my cactus later in the post if you care to read my story.

TJ stamps links:
Christmas Cactus 
French Text 
Difficult Time, Set of 2 

I started with watercolor paper, and stamped the Christmas Cactus onto the panel, using VersaFine Clair nocturne ink. 

I used Arteza Real Brush markers to watercolor the image.  I cannot say enough about these markers.  I use them for many of my projects.  They are bold, intense, and loaded with color.  The real brush nib is a bit longer than most, which comes in very handy when you have a large area to color.  On watercolor paper, or bristol, they blend exquisitely.  There are many ways to use these markers.

For this card, I used them directly from the pen, and also in some areas, with a waterbrush.  I really let myself go with this one, as I wanted to push my limits a bit.  I LOVE color, and usually tend to keep my cards a bit tame, but I went a bit outside the box color-wise with this one.

When the watercoloring was dry, I used blending brush applicators, available at Technique Junkies, with distress inks to make a soft, haze around the image.  I did this by creating a mask for the cactus, then brushing on the color lightly. 

I stamped the French Text  stamp with shabby shutters distress ink, and stamped it very lightly to create a subtle script background.


Some touching up with white colored pencil and some spatters finish off the front.  I added it to an ivory A2 card front.

Inside:  I stamped the cactus image with distress ink, and the verse from the Difficult Time, Set of 2  stamp set.  Another must have set for so many types of cards.  It works really well when you want to send a get well card to someone who has a terminal or chronic illness or disease.

I hope you are inspired to join us in this challenge.  Week 3 starts tomorrow, with the theme ' Thinking of You.'  Details of the challenge, along with info on how your participation can win you a $50 TJ gift certificate, can be found on Pat's post HERE. 

As always, if you use my code, TJ10Lynda, at the TJ checkout, you will get 10% off your entire purchase.

Thank you for stopping by my blog today.  If you like my work, please check out my YouTube Channel.  I'm fairly new at videos, but am committed to teaching some of my most asked about techniques there.  I would appreciate your support by liking, subscribing, and ringing the bell on my YouTube site.

And if you're still with me, I will share how my 'Christmas cactus' has blessed me through the years.  My dad gave me a small one that he had started from clippings from his huge cactus.  He and my mom both died when I was barely 30.  Suffice to say, that was a good many years ago!   I loved that cactus, and nurtured it.  It matured through the years, and became a huge addition to my indoor plants.  

I have started many other cc plants from clippings from mine, and also from my dad's, which I had inherited.  I have given away several plants, and started a few more for myself.  The original stays on our sunporch, the rest reside in the garden in pots.  In late fall, they come into our basement, where I prune and care for them through the winter months, until they debut again in spring.

My heart smiles when I look at my cactus, and when it blooms (sometimes around Christmas, and sometimes in the spring), it brings me much joy and brings back loving memories.

I am adding my card to these challenges:
Addicted To Stamps - Anything goes
Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - Flower power
Watercooler Wednesday - Anything goes
The Paper Funday Challenge - Anything goes optional Easter

So, there you have it.  Have a fabulous, colorful day!

Blessings,

Get Well Card Week Two, Day Six WWDB Challenge

Hello again!  I'm back with a quick card for day six of week two of the #WWDB What We Do Best Challenge at Technique Junkies.

You can find details of the challenge on Pat's post HERE.  It's not too late.  We have two more weeks to go.  Just make your card, and envelope to match, and post it on the TJ Facebook page.

TJ Stamps Links:
Berries Panel 
Get Well Soon 

I love this stamp.  It can be used for any season, just by changing up the colors!

I stamped the Berries Panel onto bristol card.  I used Ranger Archival Ink in cobalt blue to stamp the image.  

I used Polychromos colored pencils to add shades of blue, and some white for highlights.  I stamped the Get Well Soon verse with the same cobalt blue.

I used my brush applicators to add some Faber Castell soft pastels around the image.  I felt this sort of 'grounds' it, and adds a softness to the card.

Some layering onto lavender, then onto an A2 blue card, finishes it.  

For the inside, I stamped with white pigment ink.

That's it.  Grab my code, TJ10Lynda, if you will be doing some shopping today, and save 10% off your total order. 

Thanks for stopping by.  Hope you'll join us in this fun challenge, maybe even win a $50 gift certificate to the TJ store!

Blessings,

Stencil Monopring With Distress Inks

Hello, again.  Today I have a card for Week two, Day five of the #WWDB What We Do Best Challenge at Technique Junkies.  You can find full details of this challenge on Pat's post HERE.

Link to my YouTube video on this card:
https://youtu.be/cPRTE07-DqI 

I absolutely love this Skeleton Leaf Stencil.  It's great for a full-card background, or to use portions of it on a smaller card.  Add a verse, or a stamped image and a verse, and you've got an easy card.

Technique Junkies stamps/stencil:
Skeleton Leaf Stencil 
Butterfly 3 
Get Well Soon 

I made a video on the techniques I used on this card, with full details on each step.  You can watch the video HERE.
I would love it if you would 'Like' my video, Subscribe to my YouTube channel, and Ring the bell for future updates.  Thanks so much in advance!

For details on how I made this card, please see the video.  It's a lot to write down as directions.  Basically, I used the stencil on watercolor paper.  I inked the stencil with distress inks, flipped it over onto watercolor paper, and pressed it down with a towel. 

INSIDE

For the inside, I used the stencil in the normal way, by brushing ink through the stencil.  The butterfly was done in my Misti, with Arteza Real Brush Pens, and distress inks.

I hope you will join our challenge.  It's been so fun to see so many ideas from all of the TJ fans!  
 
Don't forget to use my code, TJ10Lynda, when shopping at the Technique Junkies store, for a 10% discount! 

Thanks for stopping by!

Blessings,
 

Hugs Card With Watercolor Background

Happy Monday!  I'm popping in with a card for Day 4, Week 2, of the Technique Junkies WWDB Challenge.  

 I used distress inks to color my image.

Technique Junkies Stamp Link:
Poppies And Roses Background S813 

I stamped the Poppies And Roses Background image onto watercolor paper with distress inks, and painted it with a water brush and distress inks. 

I used some dies from my stash to cut the background, and the 'hugs.'  I layered the card.  I also colored some of the roses from the image and added them with foam tape with some metallic string.

Inside, I stamped the image lightly, and added a strip of the leftover front piece.  A soft image and some distress on the envelope finish the ensemble.  
 
I will send this to a friend who is recovering from surgery.

 
Thanks for stopping by.  As usual, if you are shopping at TJ store, use my code, TJ10Lynda, for an extra 10% off your entire purchase.  


I hope to see you in the challenge on the Technique Junkies Group on FaceBook.  You can find all the details on Pat's post HERE.

Blessings,

Get Well Card With Stencil and Distress Ink

Happy Sunday!  Today is Day 3 of Week 2 of the WWDB Challenge at Technique Junkies.  We are honoring those who are working hard to keep us all safe and healthy during this pandemic for the four weeks of this challenge.  Hope you will join us with a card, or as many cards as you like.  You just might win one of the four $50 gift certificates we are giving away!  Details are HERE.

Technique Junkies Stamps Links:
Ornate Medallion SD395 
Proverbs S403 
In My Prayers SDX083

This week the theme is Get Well Wishes.  
 
Technique Junkies Stamps Links:
Ornate Medallion SD395 
Proverbs S403 
In My Prayers SDX083
This was a fun card to make.  I used a stencil, one of those with tons of graduating size circles on it.  I used sticky notes to mask off the circles around the one I was creating, then used my brush applicator with distress ink to make circles.  I used the colors abandoned coral and vintage photo.

I stamped the Ornate Medallion images, then the verse from the Proverbs set. 

I repeated inside, and added the In My Prayers verse.  I added some circles and images to my envelope, as well.


If you are shopping in the Techbnique Junkies store today, feel free to use my code, TJ10Lynda, for 10% off your entire purchase.

I hope you are enjoying the inspiration from the design team for this challenge.  Come on over and join the fun.  We would all love to see your creations.  And then, you will have a card to send out!
 
Thanks so much for visiting.  

Blessings,
  

Week Two, Day Two of WWDB Challenge

I'm back with a get well card for week two of the Technique Junkies #WWDB What We Do Best Challenge, to encourage and thank all of those who are working hard to keep us all safe and healthy, physically and emotionally.  You can find information about this challenge on Pat's post HERE.

This week's emphasis is on get well cards. 

Normally, I use this branch stamp for fall cards, but since spring is taking it's sweet time getting here this year, I thought I'd prime the pump, so to speak, by using it with greens.  We are finally starting to get some buds on our trees, but it's still pretty gray and brown around here, tree-wise.  

Technique Junkies stamps:
Leaf Twig SD377 
Difficult Time Set of 2 SDX156 
Greetings Set SS010 

On white card stock, in my Misti, I stamped the Leaf Twig image, inking with Tombow markers. I used a Dove blending pen to paint in the leaves, then stamped the details back in.  I did this three or so times to get the depth of colors I wanted.

I used my blender brushes to create the background, with distress inks.

I stamped the verse from the Difficult Time Set  with Memento rich cocoa ink.

Inside:  I used the get well soon from the
Greetings Set.

I hope you have had a chance to check out this challenge, and perhaps even to play along.  You could just win a $50 TJ gift certificate!  


Use my code, TJ10Lynda, for 10% off your purchases at the Technique Junkies store. 

Thanks so much for visiting today.

Blessings,
  
 Leaf Twig SD377

Difficult Time Set of 2 SDX156 

Greetings Set SS010 

Stamp With Pen & Ink Technique

It's week two of the Technique Junkies #WWDB What We Do Best Challenge.  Each week is a different theme, all having to do with supporting each other in the Corona virus pandemic.  Last week we thanked the front line workers.  This week we are focusing on get well wishes. 

I decided to try a pen and ink look with my stamps for this card.  I love the look of it when I draw my Zentangle designs on kraft card stock, so I thought I'd try it with my stamps.

Technique Junkies stamp links:
Poppy SD293 
Get Well Soon SDX126 

I stamped the Poppy image onto kraft card stock with VersaFine Clair ink, my go-to black stamp pad for crisp, clean images every time.  
 
I 'colored' the Poppy image with a #4B graphite pencil.  The 'B' series Faber Castell Goldfaber sketch pencils have a softer lead, and lend themselves to blending better than the 'H' pencils.  I use a tortillon (rolled paper blending stump) for blending the pencil for shading. 

For the white highlights, I use Faber Castell Pitt Pastel pencil.  I use a designated tortillon to blend the white chalk, as I don't want to contaminate it with the graphite pencil.  I stamped the Get Well Soon verse with the same black ink pad. I cut the stamp with scissors between the Well and Soon so that I have two stamps.  This way, I can stack them instead of having a long strip.  Also, I can use just the Get Well portion.  I can always stamp it all together if I need the length.

I drew the lines with a black Micron pen.

Inside:

I hope you like my card.  And I hope you will join us in this challenge to make and send cards to others during this time.  We all need to know we are needed, and cared for.  A hand-made card means so much to someone.

For details of this challenge, how to join, and how you can qualify to win a $50 gift certificate to the Technique Junkies store, see Pat's post HERE.  

And for a 10% discount on your Technique Junkies store purchases, use my code, TJ10Lynda at checkout.  

Thanks for stopping by today.  

Blessings,