A Stamp, A Stencil, And Zentangle!

 

Heart Without Dreams SD1028 

Live In Color SD929 (inside)

Half Sun Stencil 

Flower Explosion Stencil 

 

Inside

Greetings!   

 

I love this Heart Without Dreams  stamp image from the Technique September stamp release, and it goes so well with that fabulous stencil background. 

Stamp image

 

 

 

 

 

 

How I made my card: 

• I used Tattered Rose distress ink with the stencil to create the background on front of the card, and on the inside.  I also stamped the feather portion of the Live In Color image inside the card.
  

• I stamped the Heart Without Dreams image onto bristol card stock, inking it with Tattered Rose and Victorian Velvet distress inks.  I stamped it in my Misti, so that I could add more color as needed.

• I outlined the feather image with a micron fine point black pen. 

• I stamped the verse portion of the stamp with black ink by masking off the feather portion.
  

• I added some Zentangle patterns to the feather portion, and drew dots and circles around.

Sometimes it's fun to combine Zentangle with my stamps.  This stamp lends itself to this technique.

 

I hope you are enjoying this amazing September release, and the team's
inspiration.  You can take an additional 10% off your TJ orders with my code, TJ10Lynda.  And the new release stamps are already 15% off through 9/8!

I am adding my card to these challenges:

Dare To Get Dirty Challenge at Splitcoaststampers - Gracie's challenge

Simon Says Challenge - Oodles of Doodles

Tuesday Throwdown - Anything goes

 

Thanks for stopping by.

 

Blessings,

 

Impression Obsession Die Cut Obsession

It's Impression Obsession's Die Cut Obsession time.    There are so many fabulous dies in the IO line, and today we are featuring some of them on our blogs.

I have a 'thing' for leaves, branch, and trees.  And I really love this Leafy Branch die.  I use it often when I make cards or on other projects.

IO Die/Stamp links:

Leafy Branch DIE055-N

Warm Fuzzies Sentiments CL492

I created a swatch of color diagonally on my card front with distress ink and a brush applicator.  I used the Leafy Branch die cut as a stencil.  

I brushed ink through the negative part of the stencil, after removing the die cut. 
I repeated this, using different portions of the hand made die cut 'stencil.

I stamped the Sending a hug verse from the Warm Fuzzies Sentiments set with archival purple ink. 

I layered two die cuts of the Leafy Branch, and attached it to the card front.

Inside, I brushed more color, and used a small portion of the die cut stencil to add more branches.

That's it.  A quick and easy card, and so much fun to make.

You can find ideas and inspiration from the other designers on the IO blog HERE. 

I am adding my card to these challenges:

AAA Cards - Up to 1/3 and repeated image

Allsorts Challenge - Anything goes

Simon Say Wednesday Challenge - Dies/punches

Seize The Birthday - Monochromatic

Thank you for stopping by. 

Blessings,

                                      Warm Fuzzies Sentiments CL492

                                                     

                                                     Leafy Branch DIE055-N

Stand Tall And Be Strong

I have an encouragement card for my #WWDB challenge card at Technique Junkies today.  The theme this week is 'Thinking of you.'  I figure thinking of you and encouraging you are similar, so I'm going with it! 

I just adore this stamp!  I have had it for years, and use it often.  I had separated the verse from the image, so that it is it's own stamp.  That way I can use the giraffe portion of it wherever I want, or not use the verse at all (or use it on the inside).

Technique Junkies stamp link:
Stand Tall 

I black embossed the Stand Tall image onto a white A2 card front, keeping it a little in from the left side and bottom of the card.  I used my frog tape to create a frame from the card by taping the card about 1/2 inch or so from the edge all the way around.  

I placed a crackle layering stencil from my stash over the card, and used distress inks in scattered straw, faded jeans, and peeled paint to add color through the stencil with my ink blending brush applicators (available from Technique Junkies).

When I was satisfied with the intensity, I used the brushes to very lightly go over the entire area.  
Then I removed the tape, and Voila!  A framed area for my giraffes to live!

I stamped the verse with VersaFine Clair nocturne ink.  Some black enamel dots finish the front.

I used the stencil lightly on the envelope, and stamped three of the giraffes, then spattered with watered down black acrylic paint.

Inside, I masked off an area and lightly brushed faint yellow along the edges, then inked the image with the three colors I used on the front, and stamped it in the corner.

That's it.  Easy-peasy.  This was one of these really fun cards to create.  And I feel it is pretty timely right now.  I need a few more cards for my church card ministry to send to shut-ins, and I think I will use this.  It should bring a smile to a few lonely people!

I hope you have had a chance to check out the What We Do Best challenge at TJ, and that you have, or will join us.  Who know, you just might win a $50 gift certificate to the TJ store in the random drawing each week!

Don't forget to use my code, TJ10Lynda, for 10% off your entire order.  
AND, until Friday, May 8th, you get 15% off new May release stamps.   This stamp is not a new release, but you definitely want to check those out while you are on the TJ site!  

Thank you for visiting today.  I appreciate you taking time to stop by and leave comments.

Blessings,

Spring Card With Distress Oxides Background, Stencil, and Die

Happy Friday!  Today I have a card for the Penny Black Saturday Challenge.  This month we are celebrating spring, with a Think Spring optional theme.  If you do not have any spring-like Penny Black stamps, don't worry.  The theme every month is Anything Goes.  The Think Spring theme is optional, and since I cannot stop thinking about and hoping for spring soon, here is my very 'springy' card....

INSIDE

I used Penny Black stamps, die, and stencil to create my card today.  Many of these are older, and I do not have links to them, for which I apologize.  But, the idea is here, and you can use what stamps/dies etc. you have to create a similar effect.  I do have a link for the stamp used on the inside of the card.  It is from the Penny Black Gifts From Above set.  This is one of my all-time favorite PB stamp sets.

For the background, I rubbed distress oxide inks onto a piece of card stock, and spritzed with water.  I used a sponge applicator to create the streaks on the background.  I repeated adding color and running the sponge diagonally across the card stock panel, until I achieved my desired look.  When this was dry, I placed the floral stencil over the panel, and brushed pink distress ink through the stencil onto the background.

For the smaller background panel, I used an acrylic stamp block.  I added some distress inks from the ink pads onto the block, spritzed it, and tapped it onto a piece of watercolor paper.  I repeated until it looked finished.  

I added both panels to a white A2 card front.  I cut the butterfly die from pink card stock, then traced it and fussy cut the shape, and placed it under the die cut.  I rubbed some pink distress ink onto the die cut butterfly to give it more definition.  I added this element to the card front over the background pieces.
I added the verse panel and three little pearls to finish the card front.

Be sure to check out the other designer's cards on the Penny Black Saturday Challenge blog.  We have had some very talented new designers join us, so please do stop by and say hello!

I am adding my card to these other challenges:
Make My Monday - In the pink
Penny Black At Allsorts - Spring flowers (on the background)
Simon Says Stamp Wed. Challenge - Something feminine 
The Daily Marker 30 Day Color Challenge

I hope you like my card, and I hope you are inspired to enter our challenge this month.  You just might win a gift certificate to our sponsor, 1,2,3 Stitch!  Hope to see your entry soon!

Thanks so much for stopping by my blog today.  Enjoy your weekend!

Blessings,
 

Distress Ink Watercolor With Penny Black Stamps

Happy Saturday!  I hope your weekend is off to a good start!  I have a card to share with you today using Penny Black stamps.  This card is for the Penny Black Saturday Challenge mid-way inspiration post. 
The theme this month is Anything Goes, with optional 'Love Is In The Air' twist.

Penny Black Stamps:
Faith clear stamp set
Others are older stamps from Penny Black 

I added distress inks with mini ink cubes to the heart flowers, spritzed them, and stamped them onto watercolor paper.  I immediately spritzed lots of water on the paper, so the images would run and spread. In my Misti, I stamped the flowers again, this time adding the color full strength. 

I added the background stamps lightly, stamping them intermittently around the card.  A little distressing with the brush applicator adds more touched of red to the outer borders.

I embossed the verse from the Faith clear stamp set with black embossing.  I attached the panel to an A2 sized black card front.

If you haven't seen the DT inspiration at the Penny Black Saturday Challenge post today, be sure to hop on over there to see the amazing talent of the team.  And, I hope you will join us and play along.  You just might win a prize!  And if you would like to be featured as a guest designer on a future post, just add GDT after your name on your entry.

Thanks for stopping by my blog today.  Hope you have a great weekend.

Blessings,
 

Impression Obsession Old Is New - Watercolor Poinsettia Card

Welcome to Old Is New at Impression Obsession!  It's time for our design team to share some new projects using Impression Obsession older stamps.   I have one of my winter favorites for you today, with non-traditional poinsettia colors....

IO Stamps/Die links:
Watercolor Poinsettia F13173
Layered Pinecone WP883 (verse inside)
Merry Christmas DIE330-R

NOTE:  Would you like me to send you this card?  I will draw a name from my comments, and will mail this card to the winner.  Full details are below, so be sure to stay with me (or skip to the bottom of this post).

Now...on to my 'how I made this card' portion...   

I started with a panel of Canson XL Bristol Recycled paper.  I ran some blue and green distress pads from top to bottom, repeating until I achieved the desired effect.  I misted this with water so the colors would blend slightly, not too much.  I let that dry (OK, I 'coaxed' it dry with a heat tool because I am not all that patient).

When the background was dry, I used a white pigment ink pad to stamp the Watercolor Poinsettia randomly along the top and side of the panel. 

Again, the heat tool to dry the pigment ink flowers, then I used my favorite colored pencils - Polychromos, of course - to add some greens and blues for shading, and white for highlights.  The flowers seemed a bit overwhelmed by the background, so I ran along of some of the edges with a really dark teal blue to bring them out a bit more.  I feel that did the trick.  

I added extra white with a white gel pen.  I did have a difficult time getting the white gel ink to glide onto the surface.  I guess it just didn't like all that pencil and ink!  But, some of it took, so I went with it.  Finally, I sponged some of the white ink along the edges of the card to soften.

I adhered this onto a white A2 card front, then added a layered Merry Christmas die cut.  It's not evident in the photo, but the top layer is from white glitter paper.  I love the extra pizzazz that gave the card.  

Inside

Inside:  I stamped the Watercolor Poinsettia image, then stamped it again in second generation.  The verse is from the Layered Pinecone clear set (another of my older favorites).

After the photo shoot, I decided the card needed a bit more sparkle to carry over the sparkle from the die verse, so I added some Stickles to the flower centers.  Here's a photo with the Stickles centers.  What do you think?  Better before, or better after I added the Stickles?  

Close-up

 
















Now for a chance to win this card:
Let me know your thoughts about the Stickles addition in the comments.  I will draw one name randomly from the comments, and send the finished card to the winner!  Only one comment per person, please.  Name a friend with whom you shared this blog post for another chance to win, and your friend will also be entered!  I will send your friend a different card from a previous post.
You have until noon EST, on Sunday, December 15th to comment for a chance to win. 
I will publish the winner's name on Monday, Dec. 16th, so be sure to check back then to see if you have won.  


Thanks so much for visiting my blog today.  For more inspiration, visit the Impression Obsession blog HERE for links to the other DT member's posts.

Blessings,

Flower Field

It's Saturday, and time for my Penny Black Saturday Challenge card for our mid-way reminder.  

Penny Black stamps:  
Flower Fields
Gifts From Above

This month's challenge is Anything goes with optional theme of partial stamping.  I used a small portion of the Penny Black Flower Fields stamp for my main image on my card.  

 
I inked the flowers in my Misti, using mini distress ink pads to ink them.


I used various older PB stamps on the background, after brushing on some distress ink to soften the white.  The verse is from the Gifts From Above set 30-429.
 


And here is the inside:



I hope you will join us at the Penny Black Saturday Challenge.  You have until July 5th to enter.  
Who knows, you just might win a $20 gift voucher to our sponsor, 1,2,3 Stitch!  

If you wish to be considered for a Guest Designer, just add GDT after your name in your entry. 

I am entering my card in these challenges:
Make My Monday - Lots of flowers
Penny Black At Allsorts - Blooms, butterflies, or bugs
Time Out Challenge - Nature

I hope you have a very enjoyable, relaxing, and refreshing weekend.  Thanks for stopping by, and for your comments.

Blessings,

Sunflower Blessings!

Popping in with a quick card from my design team cards from Splitcoaststampers.

On an A2 card base, I adhered patterned paper, and distressed the edges.   I embossed the sunflower (Stampendous) on smooth bristol paper and water colored with distress inks.  For the background panel piece, I sponged distress inks and added background stamps (Penny Black).  

I fussy-cut the flower along the right edge, and added the panel with foam tape to the card.

I added two coats of Ranger Glossy Accents to the ladybug, and embossed the Our Daily Bread Designs verse and adhered with foam tape.  Some twine and a ladybug charm finish off my card. 

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

I am adding this to The Daily Marker 30 Day Challenge.

Blessings,