Mother's Day Watercolor Cards

A quick post to tonight so that I can get my Mother's Day cards to my daughter and mother-in-law up. I used a technique I found on Laura Fadora's blog.  The video of how to do it is here.... http://laurafadora.wordpress.com/2014/04/07/virginias-view-challenge-2/

I found some mini stencils I had from Hampton Arts in the Ditto line.  I used Tim Holtz distress inks frayed burlap, worn lipstick, and spiced marmalade.  The die is Spellbinders Garden Weave.  On the daughter card, I sponged through the die cut for the background.  On the orange and pink card, I used a Hero Arts stamp for the background.  I used the mini blending tool to color the dies.

Without further ado....

Close up

...the die is raised on foam tape.

I am entering this card in the Simon Says Stamp spring flower challenge here http://www.simonsaysstampblog.com/wednesdaychallenge/

Close up

I wish all mothers, grandmothers. god mothers. Foster mothers, and mentors a very Happy Mother's Day!

Blessings,

lynda

Hero Arts Soft and Pretty

This card will wrap up my Throwback Stamping Technique series this weekend.  It has been fun playing around with techniques we learned years ago.  Today, I used one of Hero Arts shadow stamps.  I will never let go of these stamps, as I love the effect of the soft shadow to anchor your image

I made my card base from white linen textured card stock.  I used the Tim Holtz blending tool to create a graduated pink to white background.

 I inked the E2054 with Marvy bubble gum pink and stamped off once, then stamped the shadow on linen texture card stock.  I pressed harder on the edges so that they would be more prominent.  Love that dark edge!

Next, I stamped the poppy stamp (sorry, mine is off the wood, so I do not know the stamp number) onto the shadow block I had just stamped, and also on some scrap linen card stock three times  I used some of the ink and a Dove blender to lightly color the poppies on the scrap piece.  Then cut them out and popped them up on the card with foam tape.  Finally, I stamped the phrase C3029.

 

I am entering this card in The Hero Arts Sketch Challenge here http://heroarts.com/blogs/club/2014/04/10/new-sketch-challenge/

I hope you had an opportunity to stamp some this weekend.

Blessings,

lynda

Throwback Stamping Techniques

Lately there has been a lot of "throwback" activity on Facebook.  I haven't gotten into it on FB, but it seems I've gone throwback with stamping techniques this weekend.

In my last two posts, I revisited direct to paper inking.  Scroll down to check those out if you like.  Today's card involves not only direct to paper on the main image, but also distressing a book page, and for the background a technique with grocery paper bags, and finally dying seam binding....see this post for seam binding technique http://www.paperartscafe.blogspot.com/2011/02/technique-tuesday-crinkled-ribbon-for.htmlSome of these techniques only go back a couple of years, while others have been around at least twenty years!

The main background of his card was done on the paper bag.  I just took a paper bag and wadded it up to get it good and wrinkled.  You want lots of creases in it.  Then I flattened it out, and used foam applicators to apply acrylic paints. Just add some colors that go well together to create a pleasing collage of colors.  I like adding some metallic paint as well, like the gold I added to his background.  When it is dry, you have some gorgeous backgrounds to use for cards, journals, boxes, any paper craft project.

Now I'm off to church, then a Cinco de Mayo party!

Blessings friends,

lynda

More Magenta and Direct-to-Paper

I'm having so much fun with my Magenta stamps, and Colorbox cat's eye pigment pads.  Thought I'd try to coax spring into being here in upstate New York.  It's still quite cool, and damp!  I embossed these Magenta images, and applied ink directly from the pads over the images, then softened and blended the inks and removed from the embossing with a tissue.

     I'm using a sketch from the Mojo Monday blog challenge and entered this card here http://mojomonday.blogspot.com/2014/04/mojo-monday-343.html      I am also entering this in the Magenta Anything Goes challenge here  http://lestylemagenta.blogspot.ca/2014/05/defi-magenta-mai-2014-may-2014-magenta.html    .

And here is my card

That's it for today.  Hope to be back at it tomorrow!  Stop in and say howdy!

Blessings,

lynda

Direct to Paper Inking

I have had a renewed interest in my Colorbox pigment inks lately.  I love the blending of colors using the direct to paper technique that we learned years ago.  I still use it quite often.  Today I played with some blues and greens.  I tried it on linen texture card stock.  Here is my card...

As the name of the technique says, I just applied the ink directly to the card stock from my cat's eye shaped pigment ink pads, starting with the lightest to darkest.  I used a spong to soften and blend the colors.  The stamp is a Hero Arts stamp, which I inked with my India Ink black pad.  Since I used pigment inks on the panel, it was still wet enough to take embossing, so I covered the entire panel with clear embossing ink and heated.  Wow...the image jusy popped.  I love this stamp.  

I'm working on some more cards with this technique.  The pieces are finished, just have to assemble.  Stop back to check them out.

Blessings,

lynda

Faux Glass Flowers

I told you I would be back with another post about what I have been up to this weekend.  These glass-like flowers are actually made from recycled plastic.  I used the plastic packaging from my Spellbinders dies.  Feeling really good about my contribution to earth day!

I used the tutorial from Mary Dimercurio Prasad which I found on Splitcoaststampers.  Here is the link to the tutorial and utube tutorial 

http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/resources/tutorials/fauxglassflowers/

I had lots of fun with these.  I wanted to make another project using them for today's post,  but hung out with my hubby for a while today, and the rest of the day I spent trying to if d the top of my stamping table and organizing.  But if you scroll down to the previous post that I did yesterday, you will see a cars I used one on.  I didn't stamp the words or music on the one on the card...I forgot.  But it's still cute!  That post has a link to another great technique by Jennifer McGuire called faux texture inking...much fun.

Well, I'm going to call it a night.  See you tomorrow... Be sure to stop back this week for more stamping fun!

Blessings,

lynda

Textured Effects With Inks

It has been a long week as I have been trying to recoup from bronchitis. I still have a killer cough and aches, but getting better slowly.  Since they didn't want me spreading germs at work, I've been home much of the week.  As a church secretary, there were a few times I had to go in for a few hours to make sure the bulletin was finished and published, and the right things were finished and in the right place for weekend liturgical ministers and priests.  But other than that and the fact that all my body wanted to do was sleep, I actually found some energy to play a little in my craft room.  Surfing the internet during the 'too sick and too tired to do much' time, I found some interesting stamping techniques and more to try.
In this post, I wanted to try a technique I found on Jennifer McGuire's post. It uses.nylon mesh with a stencil to create a faux texture.  Jennifer's post with a link to her utube tutorial is here:  http://www.jennifermcguireink.com/2014/04/video-faux-texture-inking-mini-distress-ink-pad-giveaway.html
Here is the card I made using this technique:

I really enjoyed this technique.  The stencil is one that I won from a MagentaStyle challenge from some of their fabulous new line.  That little glass-like flower I made from plastic I recycled from a piece of plastic from a die packaging!  Come back tomorrow for a post on how I did that...I had so much fun making those.

I checked Home Depot for the nylon screening, but didn't want to purchase the whole huge roll just for this technique.  As luck would have it, a handy-man friend of ours had some in his garage he was going to get rid of....very good timing on my part!
That's it for tonight.  I'm getting sleepy, and this cough is getting to me.  Come back tomorrow!

Blessings,

lynda

MagentaStyle Challenge - Spring Card

Just a quick post to enter my card in the Magenta Spring Card challenge.  Today is the last day.  You can check out the challenge and Magenta's fabulous new lines here at http://lestylemagenta.blogspot.ca/2014/03/defi-magenta-mars-2014-march-2014.html .

Here is my card for the challenge

The stamped panel was stamped on watercolor paper with Magents's C0418.  I warercolored it with Distress Inks in bundled sage and frayed burlap.  The background was a stencil and I sponged the same two inks through the stencil for the pattern.  I dyed the white seam binding with the inks so that it would match perfectly.  The Thank You is a Magenta Peel Off, which I colored with the Peel Off markers before placing it on the card.

I am looking forward to seeing some green leaves on our trees soon.  In the meantime, I will stamp spring!

Blessings,

lynda

Blessing of The Heart Card For a Friend

Just a quick post to get this card up.  Busy Saturday here.  Lots of chores and errands to do, then Mass followed by our St. Pat's party at church.

Hope you are enjoying your weekend.

Blessings,
lynda

Tulip Card

A quick post tonight to get the second card from Sunday's watercolor fest (see previous post).  I entered this card in the Mojo Monday sketch challenge at http://mojomonday.blogspot.com/2014/03/mojo-monday-337.html .

Here's the sketch....

Here is my card....

I still have lots of the watercolor pieces left, so stop back later in the week and I will post the rest of the cards I make from them.

See you soon!

Blessings,

lynda

Watercolor Tiptoe Through The Tulips

I had my blog post all written, and somehow wiped it out, so her I go again.  I played with my Tim Holtz Distress Inks today with watercolor paper and Hero Arts stamps.  I started by spritzing the paper with water until it was wet but not dripping.   On some of these panels, the ones with the yellow and pink colored background, I created that effect by dabbing my ink pads on my craft mat, spritzing the craft mat with water until the ink blotches were very wet, then placed the blank watercolor card panel into the ink on the mat.  Next, I inked up the tulip stamp, spritzed it lightly, and stamped it onto the wet paper.  This created those fuzzy, faded tulips in the background.  I dried the paper with my heat tool, and when dry, I inked up the stamp again, spritzed the stamp this time, lightly, and stamped it over the others on the dry watercolor paper.  I added some ferns, and created splatters by dabbing my ink pads on my craft mat, then adding water and dipping my water brush into the ink and water, then flicking the color onto the card panels. 

And here is my first card:

Stop back tomorrow for more ideas from this watercolor session.

Blessings,

lynda

Sunshine Wishes

I'm getting my purple fix tonight with this card.  Penny Black stamps #3122 Sunshine and #3657 Wishes.....

I used several other PB stamps in the background, as well.  I had removed these from their blocks, so do not know the names and numbers.  

Inks are Tim Holtz Distress inks.  I inked the flower with milled lavender and dusty concord, crushed olive and forest moss, spritzed with water and stamped.  A little background stamping, a little distressing and I'm finished.

How you enjoyed your weekend.  Now I'm off to get things ready for work tomorrow.  Morning starts early.

Blessings, 

lynda

A Friend Inspires The Soul To Blossom Watercolor Card

I promised I would be back today with a card.  This was made for a wonderful friend, and now that she has received it, I can post it.  It is another card from the blue and green warercolored paper I made a few days ago.  Hope you enjoy it.  

Be sure to stop back tomorrow when I will have some finished cards from yesterday and today's stamping times!

Blessings,

lynda

Hope...a card from the heart

My card today sort of evolved as I stamped and colored and tried to make sense of and get control of my feelings.  It has been a difficult couple of weeks, with the devastating news of a dear friend's stage four endometrial cancer.  

I have known our dear Jackie for three years.  She was the cook/housekeeper at our church, where I am the secretary.  Jackie worked every Wednesday, and spent some time between chores in my office.  We joked that she was coming to confession when she sat in the chair in front of my desk.  We laughed together, we cried, we talked about everything and nothing.  She made me smile...she made everyone smile.  Her sassy countenance was a refreshing divergence from the every day frustrations our jobs brought.  I could feel myself perk up just knowing it was Wednesday and Jackie would be in.  

As I worked, Jackie's personality wiggled its way into my composition.  I chose yellow...vibrant, fun, soothing, promising in its playful hues.  Yellow is the color I choose to ascribe to Jackie....her kind smile and playful laugh that drew you in; her pride and joy when she spoke of her grandchildren, her nurturing yet straightforward nature....yes, it must be yellow.   Bright and full of life and joy and energy...and just a hint of irreverence.

When our pastor moved to another parish, it meant we no longer needed a housekeeper, so Jackie moved on to another parish.  But she stopped in now and then, and we kept in touch.  She met some of us for lunch regularly, and we always had the loudest table in the restaurant with all of us laughing at her outlandish stories.  

All too quickly, Jackie's visits became less frequent.  It was difficult to reach her by phone, and she missed a couple of our lunches.   And then the news.  Cruel.  Fragmented.  Cold.  Devastating.  And now the words no one wants to say, or hear, but must be talked about.....metasticized, chemo, surgery, hospice.  

Hence the word that emerged on my artwork....Hope.  Hope, because Jackie is a gift to each of us whose lives she has touched.  Hope, because even in sickness Jackie talks about life, and how good hers has been.   Hope, because hope keeps us going and gives us strength to be there for Jackie in whatever way she needs us to be.

I ask you for a favor today....please whisper a prayer for Jackie.  And every time you see yellow this week, smile and send another prayer on its way....for her, and for those who love her and are walking with her through this valley.   

Thank you.

lynda

Stamping and Zentangles....who knew?

I promised another post today, so here goes.  I'm ahead of schedule wih dinner, as what I thought was chicken that I took from the freezer was a ham bone.  So, I threw that baby into a pot and cooked it to make a yummy stock, and put it into the crock pot with some onions, Garlic, veges, beans, yadda, yadda and it's cooking while I'm happily going about my business.  Gotta say, the smell is making me crazy hungry for ham bone soup.  But it will be great to have dinner ready whenever we want to eat tonight.  I love, love, love my crock pot.

Now, on to two more cards I made yesterday:

Can you tell I was on a quest?  I had warercolored some textures cardstock and thought I would make as many themed cards as I could with it, the same colors, and the same blue and green fiber.   I also wanted to experiment with joining my doodles and Zentangles with my rubber stamps.

On the first card, the background is a Hero Arts stamp, with some Penny Black stamps, and that lovely Printworks verse.  The second card features Hero Arts background Penny black background and border, and the same fibers.  

Both cards are stamped and warercolored with Tim Holtz Distress Inks.  The funky plant is a Zentangle drawn by me, hence why it looks different on both cards.   I love the way it stands out against the warercolored background.  Think I'm onto something here!

Hope you get some time to play this weekend!

Blessings,

lynda

Our Daily Bread Designs Card Challenge

This is my second post today, and is a card for Our Daily Bread Designs "create a shaped card"    http://ourdailybreaddesignsblog.blogspot.com/2014/02/odbdslc192-shaped-card.html .  It could be any shape, but no straight edges.  This cars is for a dear friend who needs some encouragement.  This scripture from Psalm 91:2 seemed to be perfect.

Here is my card:

I used textured card stock.  Stamped and water colored with Tim Holtz Distress Inks in bundled sage, broken china and tumbled glass.

Thank you for visiting.

Blessings, 

lynda

Mojo Monday Challenge Card

I took a vacation day today and stayed home and played in my craft room ALL day!  I had such a wonderful time, just making cards and playing with my stamps, inks and zentangles!  This post is for the Mojo Monday challenge #334 Tall & Skinny  http://mojomonday.blogspot.com/2014/02/mojo-monday-334.html .  

Here is the sketch.  The link above will take you to the MM blog and the rules.  

I needed a sympathy card, so pulled out some of my Penny Black stamps and the MM sketch, and went to work.  Here is my card: 

I used some textured card stock from my stash.  The butterfly and background stamps are Penny Black.  The phrase is from Gina K. designs Fanciful Tags set.  I used Tim Holtz distress inks bundled sage, broken china, and tumbled glass.  The butterfly was stamped, then water colored using distress ink.

Hop on over to check out some of the other submissions for the Mojo Monday challenge.  Better yet, why not join!

Blessings, lynda

Happy Valentine's Day Card

Well, so much for keeping it simple.  When it comes to hearts and soft pink and cream, simple just doesn't work for me.  This card did start out that way, but somewhere along the creative process it started begging for lace.  And pearls.  And flowers.  You get the idea!  I gave in and this became my Valentine card for my favorite guy...now to make one for my hubby!   Just kidding, of course this is for him.

The background stamp is from Stampin Up, hearts are Spellbinders dies embossed with a Cuttlebug embossing folder.  Valentine verse from My Sentiments Exactly.

There you have it.  Have a wonderful weekend!

Blessings,

lynda 

Soft Green and Mauve Cards

I love this color combination.  These Anna Griffin stamps work so well with his combination, don't you think?  The Anna Griffin background paper completes the vintage look I was going for.  

I couldn't  find the right green ribbon, so I made my own from seam binding and ink.  Check out his link to learn how to do this 

http://www.paperartscafe.blogspot.com/2011/02/technique-tuesday-crinkled-ribbon-for.html

I also used Anna Griffin embossing folders for the mauve piece behind the image panels.  I just sponged some ink over the embossing to make it show up a little more.

I hope you are keeping warm and cozy during these fiercely cold winter days and nights.  Spending time in my craft room with my stamps, papers and inks always gets me warmed up!

God bless!

lynda

Stamping Crop Project

Just want to share how much fun we had at our stamping ministry crop Saturday!  We each took turns "teaching" a project.  All of the projects were fun and we all learned some new ideas and techniques.  Here are some cards using my napkin technique:

I promised to put my project directions and card pictures on the blog, so here it is.  This is not a new technique, but I thought it would be fun to revisit it.  You need an iron and ironing board, some pretty napkins, plastic wrap, card stock, and large pieces of scrap paper.  

Just place a large piece of newsprint or scrap paper on the ironing board, then your card panel, then a piece of plastic wrap a little larger than the card panel, then the napkin (be sure to use only the top ply...most napkins have two plys, some have three).  Finally placa another piece of newsprint on top of this sandwich and press with a medium hot iron, no steam, for a few seconds till thelastic wrap melts and the napkin adheres to he card stock.  When cool, trim off excess napkin from the panel, and finish your card.

You will notice from my pictures that I ran some of my finished napkin panels through the cuttlebug with an embossing folder to give it some texture!

It's easy, and fun.  Let me know if you try it!

lynda