Lineweaving/Zentangle Journal Page

The challenge this week at the Lineweaving forum is to use four Zentangle/weaving patterns; inverse square law, convention, prestwood, and iffy.  Here is my Zentangle journal page for this challenge....

After I drew and arranged the patterns in my journal, I added color by watercoloring the images with my Tim Holtz distress inks.  

I am enjoying expanding my horizons by adding lineweaving to my zentangles.  They play together well, and it lots of fun.  Stop by the forum and check it out if you can.

Hope you are having a great week.

Blessings,

lynda

Happiness Shared Art Journal Page

Today I was in the mood to play in my art journal.  I decided to use watercolor, markers, and my Micron pens....

I created the watercolor background with Tim Holtz distress inks.  I wet watercolor paper, then applied inks with a wet brush and manipulated them until I achieved the look I wanted.  When the watercolor background was dry, I stamped the flower, which is a Stampendous stamp.  I used worn lipstick distress ink to ink it, then watercolored it with distress inks in spun sugar, picked raspberry, abandoned coral, and worn lipstick.  I added some white here and there for highlight.  The leaves and ferns are Stampendous, as are the background texture stamps.    I hand-lettered the saying, using Micron pens.

Blessings,

lynda

 

Sending You Prayers and Hugs Card

What a lovely day to be alive!  The sun is shining, and the birds are singing their little hearts out!  I love this time of year, when all of creation yearns to spring forth with it's new life.  The buds on the trees and the flowers with their shoots popping out of the ground just make me so happy.

So, I promised in yesterday's post that I would be back with another card from the sheet of tulips I created with my distress inks and old Hero Arts stamps.  So, here it is...

I used My Favorite Things dynamics dies for the stitched tag, and the prayers saying and verses are from a set at Simon Says Stamp, created by Hero Arts for SSS exclusively.

Check my last post HERE to see details on how I created the panel and details and information on the Prayers stamp set.

The tulips on the card base are from a Darice embossing folder.  Aren't they just so happy!

For the yellow sequins, I used a Copic marker to color my white sequins.

Challenges for this card are:

Allsorts - The challenge is Spring Is In The Air

Addicted To Stamps Challenge - The challenge is a photo challenge 

Hope you can stop by these challenges for some inspiration.  And I hope you can get outdoors for a few minutes to enjoy this lovely sunshine!

Blessings,

lynda

Spring Is In The Air Card

The challenge over at Allsorts this week is Spring Is In The Air.  And boy, am I ever glad to see that.   Although it hasn't been a very bitter winter, I'm so ready for my garden and warm breezes.

Here's my card for the Allsorts challenge:

I used an old Hero Arts tulip stamp and ferns.  I inked them with distress inks, spritzed with water, then stamped onto watercolor paper.  I added more water here and there to create a painterly look.  The dies for the panel are Spellbinders, and the prayers die is Hero Arts for Simon Says Stamp - Prayers SSS101562.  I love this set, it includes the prayers die, and a stamp set with a large word prayers in script, with lots of printed words to go along with it.  

I cut the prayers die from a sheet of fun foam.  I love the dimension when you use foam for your word dies, and it cuts through like butter!  I picked that little tip up on Jennifer McGuire's blog through one of her videos.

The panel is raised with fun foam behind it (also learned that one from Jennifer).  The panel underneath is pink vellum.  It looks so delicate in person.

I am sending this card to the Lasting Hearts Card drive over at Jennifer McGuire's blog.  You can read about it HERE.  It's such a wonderful cause, and I am glad to contribute.

While I was stamping, I filled a large sheet of the watercolor paper with these tulips, so I have another card in the works for tomorrow's post.  Please stop back and check it out.  

Thank you for stopping by.  Have a great evening.

Blessings,

lynda

Thanks card

Today was a gym and cleaning day, but I did manage to pop into my craft room for a few minutes to knock off a card.  It is a simple card, with barely any of my usual design elements....but some times, when I'm busy, that's just the way I roll.

It started with a kraft colored panel, onto which I used a stencil and some distress inks with the ink blending tool.  I used a My Favorite Things stitched die to cut the panel.  I layered it onto the blue, then the green with a kraft panel down the left to carry the kraft color back in.  The thanks die is from Lawn Fawn.  I really like the way it looks on the Bazzil textured card stock.  Some simple green pearls finish it off.

I had a difficult time stopping there, but I'm tired, and fighting a headache.  Time for a little knitting and mindless tv for a while before retiring for the evening.

Blessings,

lynda

Distress Ink With Stencil

Today was a busy day.  I had my prayer shawl group in the morning, then lunch with a friend to celebrate my birthday this afternoon.  I made scalloped potatoes and ham when I got home. 

Then it was up to my craft room where I created this card....

This was created with a home decor stencil I found at one of the big box stores.....I don't remember which, it was a while ago.  I am always on the lookout for stencils that would make interesting or pretty cards.  I love flowers, and leaves, and bought this stencil.  It is quite long, probably at least 18 inches long.  I used only a small portion of the stencil.  

I actually made another panel using the stencil in the normal way (inking through the openings of the stencil) first.  I used Tim Holtz distress inks.  

I then put that aside, and while the stencil still had the ink on it, I grabbed another piece of watercolor paper, spritzed the stencil to activate the ink, and pressed the stencil, ink side down, onto the watercolor paper.  And Viola!, this panel was created!  The image became the negative, and the stencil itself is the positive.

I like the way the water pooled in the center, and the kind of dried look as it moved out.  So I grabbed some card stock, stamped Wishing you joy from Jillibean Soup stamp set jb0198, added a sequin, and called it finished.  Clean and simple.  Not usually my style, but I was playing and having fun.

We are supposed to have another glorious day tomorrow....70 degrees!  Unheard of in March in upstate New York!  Looking forward to it....and to seeing my granddaughter in her first musical production.  Gooooooo Keeley!   

Blessings,

lynda  

Mojo Monday Sketch Challenge

Today I spent much of the day in my craft room.  This happened.....

I coordinate our church card ministry.  We are a small group of stampers who meet once a month in the parish center of our church, and we make cards.  Some of the cards we make (about 115-120 every six weeks) get sent to our parishioners who are shut-in, or in nursing homes, with a little note letting them know their fellow-parishioners are thinking of them and praying for them.  

We also have two card racks in the church, and we keep them stocked with greeting cards for birthdays, get well, sympathy, thank you, and thinking of you.  People can take a card any time.  We do not ask for a specific amount, but we put envelopes out labeled Card Donation. Any monies received are put into the church account, and used to pay postage, and occasionally envelopes or other supplies when we have surplus money.  People have been generous, and they really like being able to stop before or after church, and get the greeting cards they need.  This is especially helpful for the elderly, who may not get out often.  Of course, I make sure to keep it stocked and fresh, and seasonal.

Starting this month, we will also be sending cards to people who have had funerals at our church for a loved one.  We will send out a card, like the ones above, at three to four months after the funeral, and then again at the one year anniversary of their loved-one's passing.  

So, I decided to start with a dozen cards for this project.  Here is one of the cards I made today, from the bunch above.  They are all the same, with the patterned papers changed up on some.

The stamps are from Verve Stamps, set vs-0180 Wonderfully Made. I love this clear stamp set.  It has seven different stamps, all just perfect, especially for our ministry.  I embossed the flower and leaves, and fussy-cut and layered them, and used foam tape on them for dimension.  

The dies I used are Die-namics from My Favorite Things.  These Die-namics sets of dies come chock-full of several dies to make a complete card.  This particular set has the three dies I used on these cards (circle, domed rectangle, and scalloped edge), as well as ten others, ranging from a large square for a card panel, to flowers, bows, and border pieces.  They are wonderful.

I am not affiliated with these companies, I just love these particular products.

This card was inspired by Mojo Monday Sketch # 437 Challenge .  Here is the sketch...

That's it for today.  Thank you for stopping by.

Blessings,

lynda

Art Journal Page - Dylusions

Here it is.....day 30....the last day of the 30 day color challenge at The Daily Marker.  It has been fun, though sometimes a little difficult, to create something every day.  I really enjoyed myself, though, and stretched myself a little.  Many thanks to Kathy for hosting this challenge on her fabulous blog!

I started this as an art journal page a while ago, and kind of just left it.  I stamped the girl (Dylusions clear stamp) onto 110 pound watercolor paper.   I decided to create a neutral background, so I masked her, then used my paint brush and distress inks to brush color around her.  Then I did a little spattering with a large brush. 

I want to give this to my daughter, so when I rescued this from my art journal today, I decided to attach it to a canvas, so she can hang it or use it on an easel.   During the time this project was "brewing," I was thinking of what quote I would use.  I decided on this one, and did my best printing (I really need to take some classes on hand lettering).  It is the perfect quote for my daughter, who loves life and embraces it with passion.  She also happens to be a hair stylist and makeup artist at the salon she manages.   

I watercolored the image with distress inks, and the rose on her hat separately, and attached it with foam tape to make it dimensional.  I added a few more details and touch-ups, and sponged distress ink along the edges to soften the canvas.

I am glad I rescued this from my journal and finally finished it.  I hope she likes it!

I am entering this in Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - Anything Goes .

Thank you for stopping in today.  

Blessings,

lynda

Simon Says.....Happy Birthday!

Here it is, the final card for the 30 day color challenge at The Daily Marker.  

I used Simon Says Stamp clear stamp set Artful Flowers SSS101488, and their Happy Birthday die.  The little birthday word is from W Plus 9 set Hand Lettered Hello.  The die is Spellbinders Curved Borders Two.

On white card stock, I stamped the flowers multiple times, masking as needed, with distress antique linen ink so I could do no-line coloring.  I used Copic markers to color the flowers. 

I layered the panel onto orange card stock.  I decided it needed something more, so I opened the card, and cut the front under the grouping with the dies.  Then I added a panel of vellum, attaching it to the front panel underneath.  I like the look that the vellum bottom gives the card.  It is difficult to photograph how it looks opened with just the vellum on the bottom.

I double cut and layered the Happy slight off so some of the orange shows under the white, then stamped birthday on another piece of vellum and attached that to a scrap of white card stock, and attached under the Happy.  A scattering of clear iridescent sequins finishes off the card.

Thank you for stopping by today.  I do hope you will check out the other entries and all the fun over at Kathy's blog at the link above.

This card is also for the 

Allsorts Challenge Blog - Sentiments In Focus 

and 

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - Anything Goes 

Thank you for stopping by today.  

Blessings,

lynda

Canvasette Card For Day 28 Color Challenge

A quick post to get day 28 uploaded to the website, as I finish up day 29 for the February 30 day color challenge at The Daily Marker. 

I created this card on canvasette paper, using Tombow markers.  I stamped the image in a light color (sorry, I can't remember the company, as it has been removed from the wood block and I did not label it).  I used the Tombow markers to color in the sections.  I thought it resembled oil painting, and kind of liked the look.  

It's a quick and easy card.  I added a strip of the canvasette paper along the side which I had run a stamp pad down, and a sticker for the verse.  Easy-peasy!

This is the pad of canvasette paper..... 

I will be back in a bit with day 29....the last card of the challenge.  I'm almost finished with it.

Blessings,

lynda

Peaceful Robin Card

It was a simply lovely, warm day here today, so hubby and I went to lunch this afternoon and then to the beach and walked along the pier.  So many people were out, walking and enjoying the oddly spring-like weather at the end of February.  

Today's card was inspired by our outing.  The birds were chirping so loudly, the warm breeze felt so good, the sunlight was invigorating.  Ahhh, early hints of spring.  But, alas, we have March to get through.  So, in anticipation, here is my card for today.....

The stamps are Stampendous CRR158 Cling Nested Bird and SSC134 Sympathy clear stamps (I don't have the packaging so do not know the name of this one).  

I created a light watercolored background using the smoosh technique, then stamped the image and watercolored it.  After watercoloring, I went over the outlines with a dark brown fine point marker.  I stamped some Penny Black curlique stamps faintly along the borders.  The tag stitched die cut is from My Favorite Things.

This is for day 27 of The Daily Marker 30 day color challenge.  Also for the Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge - Inspired by a song (Rockin' Robin by Bobby Day), and Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - Anything Goes .

Thank you for stopping in today.  I hope you got to enjoy some time with a loved one today.  

Be blessed,

lynda

The Dog Did It - Tim Holtz Crazy Cats

What do you get when you have a friend over to stamp with you?  You get to use her new stamps, of course!  A true friend lets you use her stamps...even when she has not used them yet!  Thanks, Arlene!  

I stamped the cat on card stock, then used distress inks to paint him, using very little water so as not to pill the card stock.  I stamped and colored the milk bottle and yarn balls on a scrap piece of card stock, and cut them out.  It really does not show vey well in the pic, but the yarn and milk bottle are dimensional.  I used DAP Kwid Seal adhesive caulk instead of foam tape.  The caulk is easy to squeeze out of the tube, and stays dimensional when dry.  It is easier than cutting tiny pieces of foam tape for small objects.

I used white acrylic paint with Glossy Accents for the spilled milk and on the bottle.  The background is a Tim Holtz stencil, with distress ink sponged through.  For the floor, I just dragged the sponge tool across the card.  

The verse is done using letters form the Hero Arts Sparkle Clear:  Cute Letters.

We had so much fun playing with these stamps today!  I am sending this off to The Daily Marker Color Challenge Day 26.  I am a day behing.  I will post Day 27 and 28 tomorrow.  Hope you get to have some fun this weekend.

Blessings,

lynda

Set of Three Cards - Day 25 Color Challenge

I had so much fun making today's card, that I decided to go ahead, since the dies and stamps were out, to make a couple more.  I like to do that, as it only takes a little more time to make more while everything is there and available.

This card is for The Daily Marker 30 Day Challenge Day 25! 

It is also for Penny Black At Allsorts - Anything goes with a stamp and a die , 
and Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - Anything Goes .

And 

this one didn't photograph well...the colors are really more intense

And

This last one is a shaker card.  I put the die on top of the acetate window.  

I added watercolor to a sheet of watercolor paper using Tim Holtz distress inks.  I used pieces of it on all three cards.  The die is from Penny Black, as are the stamps, from various sets of Penny Black clear stamps.  

And here are all three together....

Hope you enjoyed!  

Thank you for stopping in today.  

Blessings, 

lynda

Sending Love Card - Spring Leaves

It has been raining all day today, and the snow is melting.  Hooray!  I am thinking green, green, green.  I want to see leaves.  So I pulled out a couple of my favorite Hero Arts leaves for today's card....

I sponged Adirondack inks in lettuce and latte onto a textured card stock.  I wish I could remember where I had gotten the card stock, because I really like the way it looks and the way it takes ink.  I think I got it at either Michaels or Joanne Fabrics a while back.  The package says premium cardstock - canvas texture - pure white.  It contained 40 sheets.  The back says Nicole.

So...back to the card.  I stamped a script background (I believe that is also Hero Arts - I removed it from the wood block and neglected to write who it is) and some small leaves over the sponged background.  Then I taped the panel to my art board...aka cutting board... and sponged the same inks onto the panel, then stamped the leaves and background script stamp.  I love the white border created by the tape when I remove it.  I stamped a couple of extra leaves onto the same card stock, and fussy cut them, and also the verse Sending Love (by Penny Black).  

A fiber strip along the bottom, and some pearls and I called it finished.  

This is for The Daily Marker 30 day challenge day 24 , and also for Simon Says Stamp blog challenge - Inspired by a Song.  I was inspired the the song The Last Leaf by The Cascades.

Thanks for stopping by today.  

Blessings,

lynda

Our Daily Bread Designs Roses

With all the talk going on in the Stamping Enablers group on Facebook about Copics, Spectrum Noir, and the other brands of alcohol based markers, I was inspired to use my Copics today. 

I used Our Daily Bread Design stamp set H634 Fragrance, and Copic markers.  I used my Misti to stamp the flowers first in worn lipstick distress ink.  I colored the image with Copics R20, R24, R32, G21, G99, YG63, E33, E35, E37.  

After I colored the entire image, I placed my card back on the Misti and stamped over it again with the worn lipstick and peeled paint distress markers on the stamp.

This is for the Our Daily Bread Designs blog sketch challenge and The Daily Marker 30 day color challenge day 23 .

Thanks for stopping by today.  

Blessings,

lynda

A Birthday Hello

This was one of those watercolor stampings that I came very close to, and almost pulled it off the board and threw it out.  It started out pretty, then took a turn I did not like.  I remember watching a video (can't remember who it was) where the artist was really not liking what was happening on her card panel, but decided to stick with it anyways, and in the end it turned out gorgeous and she was glad she had powered through.  

Well, that encouraged me to go ahead and finish mine, anyways, in spite of not liking where mine was going.  Can't say I am in love with it, but it turned out ok, and certainly much better than what I had originally thought.  Here's what I did....

I taped watercolor paper onto an acrylic cutting board I purchased just for watercoloring.  I like the art boards, but thought I would be resourceful and see what I could use instead of going to an art store or online.  I found a white acrylic cutting board 11 x 13 1/2 inches. It

is big enough for any projects I will be doing, and I love that it has a handle.  And, it is white, so I could rub my inks directly on it to use for water coloring.  I taped the card to the board using frog tape.

watercolor paper taped to my board

frog tape - someone once asked me what it was.  It is a low tack tape used for painting

I tape the watercolor paper down to keep it from warping when I use a lot of water.  I sprayed water on the card, and used a paint brush to add more water, making the card quite wet.  I had my palette on the side with ink (I smooshed TH inks onto my palette).  I used my brush to pick up colors and drop them onto the prepared paper.  The colors blended beautifully, and created a beautiful background.  I wanted the background to be faint, so I used a paper towel to pick up much of the paint.  This resulted in a very soft base for my stamping.

I used a Stampin Up set (Watercolor Garden) and another stamp set.  I do not know who makes the other set, as I only had the rubber without the wood.  The only information on the bag was SM1275 Warmest Wishes.  If anyone knows who this is, please let me know.

I used Tim Holtz distress inks in dusty concord, seedless preserves, wilted violet, milled lavender, twisted citron, lucky clover, blueprint sketch, faded jeans, frayed burlap, and scattered straw.  As I inked and stamped the flowers, I did not like, at all, what was happening.  The colors were too dark and did not look good on the soft background.  But, I kept inking and stamping anyways.  I used a paint brush to soften the petals and leaves, and change the images a little.  Then, I took a paper towel and blotted the entire card, and Viola!  That was the look I was going for, much softer.  It was salvageable, and I was glad I had not acted on my first impulse!

When the panel was dry (I hurried the process with my heat tool), I carefully peeled off the frog tape, which reveals a border the color of the watercolor paper.  I love the look of the painted area contained within that border.

The die and coordinating birthday verse is from W Plus 9.  I cut the die three times from eggplant card stock, and layered them on top of each other to give it dimension.

Now, it's time for dinner, and then perhaps some Zentangle.  I have to go to the dentist tomorrow for a crown, and am definitely not looking forward to that.  Gotta do something to keep my mind occupied.

This card is for The Daily Marker day 22 of the 30 day color challenge , and also for the Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge - Inspired by a song.  I chose Wildflower by The JaneDear Girls.

May you find joy this week.

Blessings,

lynda

Card and Gift Box Set

I had so much fun today.  After church I got into my 'house clothes' and after checking FB and emails, went right up to my craft room to work on some challenges.  Then the girls FaceTimed us from Buffalo, and Dan's brother came for the afternoon/evening.  I took a break to make meatballs and sausage balls and home made sauce, which is simmering and the smell is divine!!  Then it was back up to craft room to finish my project.

Today's project is for
Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge - Recycle/Upscale Style , 
Hero Arts Challenge - Flowers,
Allsorts Challenge Week 351 - Birthday Wishes
The Daily Marker - 30 Day Color Challenge Day 21 .

Here is my gift set of card and gift box.....

I recycled/upcycled the box from a Kate Spade mug my daughter had given me as part of my Christmas gift.  Here is what it looked like before I altered it....

I really loved the box, and was going to save it.  But when I saw the Simon Says recycle challenge, I decided to sacrifice it.  I wanted to use all the colors in the box, including the yummy orange on the inside, and the gold on the lettering, and, of course, the in-your-face awesome pink in my altering components. 

I thought I would use flowers of some sort, so looked through my dies and stamps, and Voila!  I saw my Hero Arts stamp and die set E 657776.  I love this set, and have certainly gotten my money's worth of use from it.  It fit the bill perfectly, and I also could use it for the Hero Arts challenge.

The background on the card was stamped with Hero Arts CL106 Clear Design Fantastic Flourishes with Versamark ink. 

I stamped a bunch of the flowers in picked raspberry and ripe persimmon distress inks, and used the dies to cut them out.  I spread them out on my table, and used my low temp glue gun to attach them to the box.  I brought in the gold with some thin gold cording.  Sequins and beads finished off the sides and front, and I had just enough of that scrumptious orange satin ribbon, which I fashioned into a bow and secured to the top of the box with the glue gun.  I left the box top free so I could put a birthday gift inside.  

Corner view - sides and back not as embellished

Close-up of box

Close-up of card

Dinner is finished....it was YUMMY!!!  I finally have my blog post done, now downstairs for some time with my favorite brother-in-law and hubby.  All in all, it was a perfect Sunday.

Bless you,

     lynda