Totally Flexible

Some stamps just make me smile....

This is a card from my Splitcoaststampers Dirty Dozen design team for January.  Six months is up, so I can post it on my blog now.  

The bird is Tim Holtz...one of the crazy birds in the set.  I added eyelids, eyelashes, and an iris.  I colored the bird with soft pastels and added white spots with a gel pen, then fussy-cut her and raised her up on the background with foam tape.  

The background was painted with distress inks and the smoosh technique.  The verse is from a Diane Ravely set.  I stamped it at a friend's house when I was there, so I don't know the name of the set.

Hope you have a great weekend!

Blessings,

Life Begins After Coffee

It's a dreary, rainy, soggy day today.  Definitely a coffee-drinking day for me!  I'm on my third cup, and have yet to get up to my craft room.  I am enjoying the peaceful quiet, as hubby is out and about.  I love rainy mornings, actually.  The forecast for next week is sunshine and warmer, MUCH warmer, temperatures!  Hooray.  I'll take some rain if that is what follows!

So, since I have yet to enter the creative realm of my 'studio,' I am sharing a card that first made it's debut for the October, 2017 Dirty Dozen Design Team central theme cards.  It was my first month on the DD team at Splitcoaststampers, and we had to make six cards each month to fit the theme.  These cards were available only for SCS fan club members to view.  I could not publish them elsewhere for six months.  So, it's April, and now I will share some of these cards with you as they meet the six month rule.  First up.....

 

The theme was Creepy/Crawly.  I made this coffee themed card to represent how I creep ever-so-slowly out of bed and crawl to the coffee pot.  A stretch on the theme, for sure, but then, you haven't seen me 'bc' - before coffee!  NOT a pretty sight.  

I began by sponging the A2 white card front with distress oxide inks abandoned coral and worn lipstick, then spattering with water droplets.  One of my very favorite techniques!  I stamped the verse (Verve coffee set) with black, then added the coffee die, which I had distressed with vintage photo ink and layered onto a piece of fun foam for dimension.

I die-cut the curved border (Spellbinders), stamped the coffee steam, and sponged with vintage photo ink, then layered atop my background with foam tape.

For the cup, I water colored the Verve mug and fussy-cut, adding it to the curved panel with foam tape.  Glossy Accents add some shine and texture, and some flowers from my stash, pearls, and some clear sequins. 

Inside.....

Thanks so much for stopping by today.  I cannot add this card to any challenges, as it had been previously published.  I will return later with, hopefully, some fresh inspiration from my 'she-den', aka 'studio,' 'craft room,' and my hubbie's favorite 'your hole!'

Blessings,

Easter Joy!

I wanted to use Easter colors today, because they make me feel joyful.  So that is what inspired this card....

I started by creating my background.  I used Tim Holtz distress inks with glossy card stock.  I swiped the mini stamp pads across the paper, then turned it 90 degrees and swiped them again, alternating colors as I swiped.  These dried super quick.  

On black card stock, I cut the Impression-Obsession Die 152-N along the left edge.  I lined the back with some of the background I had created.  

I black-embossed the lilies, cross, and Rejoice from the Impression-Obsession MC73 Easter Lily clear set onto the background paper, then cut it into the shape of an Easter egg.  I mounted it to the card with craft foam, and added a pretty purple ribbon.

Easy-peasy, but I like the way it came out.  

I am entering my card in these challenges:

Impression-Obsession - Pick A Holiday

Make My Monday - Easter Fun

Sunday Stamps - Easter palette

I hope you are making time to be creative and have fun.  Thanks so much for stopping by.  I appreciate you taking the time to visit and love your comments.

Blessings,

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,

Technique Junkies New Year's January Release Blog Hop!

Welcome, Technique Junkies fans and friends!  We are starting off the new year with some fabulous stamp images in our January Release Hop.  If you have arrived here from the creative and talented BETH NORMAN, you are in the right place.  If not, head on back to the beginning at Technique Junkies Design Team Blog for the start of the hop.

Save 15% on any of the new stamps until January 8. No code is needed, just put them in your shopping cart.  The discount will be automatically applied at check-out.


If you would like to SAVE 10% on your non-release stamp shopping, just use my code TJ10Lynda at the checkout.

I'm excited to share a couple of cards I've made with you, showcasing the Technique Junkies new release stamps . 

For my first card, I've used Happy Winter Wishes Set of 3

I used Ranger Archival inks for the stamping, and Tombow Dual Brush markers for the watercoloring.  Note:  I added eyelashes to this adorable little bunny girl with my Micron pen.  I fussy-cut her, and mounted her onto the card with foam tape.  The snow banks are torn card stock, with sparkle pen highlights. 

For my next card, I used the sweet  Kitty Duo  and 
Love Harlequin Background

I used my Tombow markers for the coloring on the background, and my Misti so that I could add the color in increments.  For the sunset, I watercolored with Tim Holtz distress inks.  I inked the darling little kitties with Ranger archival ink, and fussy cut them.  These are my favorite stamps from this new release!  Love those kitties!

I hope you are enjoying the hop, and finding lots of inspiration.  From here, head on over to see what the super-talented PAT HUNTOON has created with the stamps from this fabulous release.

  
Be sure to come back and check out the Technique Junkies blog during the month to see more cards from the TJ Design Team.  We have lots of great ideas and inspiration for you.

Thanks for stopping by, and have yourself a very HAPPY NEW YEAR.  May you be blessed with good health, much love, and peace.

Blessings,

 

Believe Poinsettia Card

I am finally getting around to posting my card for the Penny Black at Allsorts challenge this month.  

The theme is Flower Power, so I went with this beautiful stamp from one of my PB oldies but goodies (Winter Glow 2808L).  

I inked the stamp with Tim Holtz distress inks, placed a piece of Strathmore vellum bristol in my Misti, and stamped the flower.  I started with a light shade, and gradually added darker shades to build up the color.  The Misti is great for this technique. 

When the image was dry (ok...so I hurried it along with a heat tool), I used a VersaMark embossing pen to add some gold embossing to areas of the image, then embossed it.  I also embossed the 'believe' (from a Fiskars small Christmas set).  

I am also adding my card to:  Happy Little Stampers Watercolor Challenge and Addicted To Stamps Challenge (Make your mark).

I added some extra shading and details to the poinsettia petals and leaves with my Prismacolor colored pencils.  With my Clarity brush, I added a light purple haze around the flower, then stamped some Penny Black background stamps (Letter Background, swirl, and swirl border) for interest.  Some spatters, a few crystals, and some gold cording finish it off.

My design team duties have been keeping me busy, so I haven't been as active here on my blog.  I was honored to be asked by SCS moderator, Lydia, to join the Dirty Dozen Design Team at Splitcoaststampers last month.  Can't believe I'm in my second month as a 'Dirty Girl!'  I love the community there, and have been enjoying getting to know everyone.  If you haven't been to the SCS site, do pop in and say hello.  Check out the amazing galleries, and the fun forums.  There are also lots of challenges available to join.  If you are not a SCS member, it only takes a minute to join.  It's a wonderful resource for inspiration and ideas.  And there are tons of free tutorials on the site!  Here is a link to my gallery.  The cards I've been making for the Dirty Dozen Design Team are in the Fan Club section.  You can find information about the Splitcoaststampers Fan Club HERE.  The rest of my cards are in my gallery.  My SCS identification is JustCallMeNana.  The 'my gallery' link above will take you there.

I also received an invitation to join the Technique Junkies design team a couple of weeks ago.  I have been busy, busy, busy getting my cards ready for my first post on that site in late November.  I hope you will stop by to check out the TJ blog and say hello!  You will love the stamp designs.  You can see a card I made a while ago, using TJ's stamps on my blog HERE.  And another one HERE.

Now that I have worked out all the techie stuff (I hope), I will be around here more often.  I miss my little Cafe!  I will be back to my normal posting schedule very soon. 

I appreciate you taking the time to stop by.  If you feel inclined, let me know in the comments if you prefer traditional Christmas colors or tend to go for the non-traditional, as in this poinsettia.  I love both, just depends on my mood!

Blessings,

lynda

Distress Oxide Background Card

Today I played some more with my distress oxide inks. 

To create the panel, I used bristol smooth paper and Tim Holtz distress oxide inks.  I rubbed the inks onto my craft mat, spritzed water to them, and smooshed my card into the inks.  I repeated, heating between each addition of color, and added some water droplets to get the oxidation process going.  I used a scrap piece that I had left over from cutting larger pieces.

I black embossed a stamp from Simon Says Stamp Handwritten Floral Greetings set and a verse from their Blessed set.  I added the panel to an A2 lavender card, and added black lines above and below the panel with a black micron pen.  Some Studio Katia sparkling crystals finish off my card.

Challenges:

Simon Says Stamp Flickr Challenge - Just stamp it

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - Stamp it

Simon Says Stamp Work It Wednesday - What you're working on

CAS Watercolor Challenge - Silhouette

The Daily Marker 30 Day Color Challenge

Hope you had a lovely weekend.  Thanks for visiting.

Blessings,

lynda

Friend Card For My Favorite Things Challenge

Today's card is for a very special friend.  Since she is a fellow gardening enthusiast, I decided to use this Delicate Pretty Poppies LJD-53 set from My Favorite Things.

I had some of this flower names card stock in my stash, and stamped the flowers and leaves on it, colored them by sponging on distress inks, and fussy-cut them.  On another piece of the word card stock, I used a My Favorite Things Die-namics die to cut the circle, then layered it onto an A2 card. (I dyed the edges and center of the card to match the ink I used on the flowers).  I stamped the stems onto the panel, created a verse piece from some scrap, and added that.

I added the flowers to the card front, using foam tape for dimension, and also placed the leaves.  Of course, I had to add some spatters.  I know, I am obsessed with spatters!

I added some tiny black micro-beads with matte adhesive to the flower centers.

Challenges:

My Favorite Things Sketch Challenge  

 










The Daily Marker 30 Day Color Challenge

Thank you for visiting.  Hope to see you back soon.

Blessings,

lynda

Simon Says Stamp Challenge Card # 2

This sketch ranunculus clear stamp set from Simon Says Stamp is sure getting a lot of use in my art room. I really like and use it a lot.  It's great for cards, and tags, and even journal pages.  I thought I would use it to make another card for a couple of the Simon Says Stamp challenges today.

To start, I stamped the pieces-parts of the set with India Ink black onto a watercolor panel, and watercolored them using Derwent Inktense water pencils.  I love, love, love how vibrant and intense these pencils are when you add water, and they are easy to use. 

Because the pigments in these pencils dries permanently, it does not run when water touches it when it is dry.  So, it was easy to create a watercolor background by dropping some distress inks colors onto the paper, and manipulating them with my brush.

I added some spatters, and some flat sequins from Pretty Pink Posh.   The verse is from SSS It's Your Birthday set.

I am adding my card to the The Daily Marker 30 Day Color Challenge.  I am also adding it to these challenges:

Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge - Stamp it!

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge  - Anything goes

Simon Says Stamp Flickr Challenge - Just stamp it!

Happy Little Stampers Watercolor Challenge - Anything goes with spritz

I just got a phone call from my granddaughters, who are very excited about starting school tomorrow morning.  They had to tell me what they were wearing, what they packed for lunch, and how excited they were.  I wish I was able to be there in the morning, but they live in Buffalo, and I would have to leave here at 5 AM to get there on time to see the 7th grader off.  We will Face-Time them in the morning.  I'm so happy for FT!

Now, it's off to do some knitting for while before retiring for the evening.  Extra prayers tonight for the victims of hurricane Harvey, and for the folks in Florida as hurricane Iris heads their way.  

Thanks for stopping by.

Blessings,

lynda

 

Happiest Birthday Wishes Simon Says Stamp Challenge Card

Today I had a play with my Polychromos colored pencils, and some Tim Holtz distress inks.  I used stamps from Simon Says Stamp! Birthday Celebration set.  

This little elephant is just so adorable, and I needed a birthday card for a little one whose birthday is coming up soon.  

I stamped the images with a very light gray distress ink, then colored it in the no-line coloring fashion with colored pencils.  I used distress inks for the phrase, and also for the brushed color along the edges.  Top-fold A2 size card, with some ink spatters, and a few Nuvo Jewel Drops.

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

Other challenges:

Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge  - Stamp it!

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - Anything goes

Simon Says Stamp Flickr Challenge - Just stamp it!

Less Is More - Lime & royal blue

AAA Cards Challenge - Creatures great and small

So glad you stopped by today.  See you tomorrow for the 30 day color challenge!

Blessings,

lynda

Magenta Card With Distress Oxide Inks

I had so much fun playing with my new distress oxide inks today!  I kept putting off purchasing them, but finally did it...and I am so glad I did.  I love, love, love them!  I churned out several background panels today during my play time.  Here is the first finished project.....

I used a Magenta stamp 040327-N, and embossed it onto one of my distress oxide background panels, then cut it out.  I layered it onto a blue card stock panel, on which I had stamped some script.

On a blue A2 card, I used gel medium to attach white tissue paper with tiny silver speckles in it.  To attach, I first wadded up the tissue, then opened it up and used gel medium to attach the tissue to the card front.  This created crevices and texture.  I used my Clarity brushes and distress inks to add colors to the tissue paper card front.  
Here is a close-up of the tissue paper and also the distress oxide stamped panel....

I colored the butterflies with Caran D'Ache neocolor II crayons.

I am adding my card to the Happy Little Stampers mixed media challenge, which is to use tissue paper on your creation.  

I hope you are enjoying these last couple of days of August.  Thanks for stopping by.

Blessings,

lynda

Inpsirational Scripture Card

I love this scripture verse from Romans 8:28.  It's the perfect inspiration to send to a friend or loved one who needs a little encouragement.

For the verse, I used a stamp from Our Daily Bread Designs from their Scripture Collection 1 set.  I embossed it onto some vellum and attached it to the background.  

I created the background with the Anna Griffin Poppy embossing folder by Cuttlebug.  It's one of my favorites.  I inked the folder with Tim Holtz distress inks in pinks, oranges, and yellows/greens, then spritzed it ever so lightly, and pressed it together onto watercolor paper.  I have to admit, I did a little happy dance when I opened the folder!

I decided that the background really needed to show, so I chose to do the verse on vellum.  I refreined from embellishing any further, as the background is quite busy, and I didn't want to take away from it or the verse.  

I am adding my card to these challenges:

Word Art Wednesday  - Use scripture verse

The Flower Challenge - Background

Simon Says Stamp Work-It-Wednesday - What you're working on

Sunday Stamps Challenge  - Use colors

Thanks so much for stopping by.

Blessings,

lynda
 

A Day For Stamping

Hello.  Welcome to my little corner of the blogosphere.  Today I made a card for a couple of challenges. 

I started with a gray A2 card.  I cut a slightly smaller light pink panel, and stamped the flowers from Cas-ual Fridays 'Truth Is' set.  I used Inkadinkado masking tape to mask the flowers, and Frog tape to mask and create the gray and pink stripes along the right side under the flowers.  For the stripes, I used my Clarity stencil brushes with Tim Holtz distress inks.  

For the phrase and words along the right side, I used the same stamp set, and TH distress inks, as well.  I used a marker to create the tiny dots around the flowers. 

Since I had stamped on card stock, I decided to use colored pencil to color the flower petals.

I am adding my card to these challenges:

AAA Cards Challenge - Masking


CAS-ual Fridays Challenge - Friendship
   

Happy Little Stampers CAS Challenge  - Flower

Thanks for stopping by!

Blessings,

lynda