Stamps, Paper, and Ink

Be Merry

Hello there, friends, hope you are having a good day!  

I almost wanted to title this post Be Merry and Flirty but I'm not feeling quite that daring today, tra la! I do love the color combo of Primrose Petals (retired), Peekaboo Peach and Flirty Flamingo. Aren't they great color names for a Christmas card? 

I could not wait to get the Be Merry set from W plus9 inked up and the sketch from CAS(E) This Sketch provided the perfect opportunity.

I stamped the outlines in Primrose Petals and then carefully added color with ink pads and a Blender pen. Paper piecing provides the pop of peach. I added a coat of Wink of Stella on the banner, inside the Merry letters, and on the blossom. Maybe enlarging the pic will help you see it better. 

The enamel dots were DIY using these fun new drops from Tonic. I have a few colors and love them! 

Thank you for visiting today. I can't wait to hear from you! What do your think of my CAS card?

 Be yourself.

     Find delight in your craft.

          Make something beautiful!

 

 

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 Hello everyone! Hard to believe that Friday is here already. It's the wrap up to a really pleasant week for me. How about you?

It's also time for a new Fab Friday Challenge! It's a color combo this week to use Emerald Envy, Very Vanilla and Delightful Dijon. 

I have to say that I struggled with these colors. Rich jewel tones are not what I gravitate to, and I had trouble imagining using just the two colors plus a neutral. But once I put my mind to it, I came up with a card that I like very much.  

 I like it BECAUSE it's out of my comfort zone color-wise. That's why they call it a challenge (hello!) What's really funny is that I made another card with these colors using the scraps on my desk. Come back tomorrow to see it!

I hope you'll give it a try too. You can find the challenge HERE. If you click the links below, you will surely be inspired by the blogs of my Design team-mates.

Mindy Backes
Heather Heroldt
Amy Koenders
Brian King
Justin Krieger
Amanda Mertz
Brenda Myers
Janine Tinklenberg
Wendy Weixler

Thanks so much for visiting, have a great weekend! 

Be yourself.

     Find delight in your craft.

          Make something beautiful!

 

Stamps: Wplus9 - Grateful Greetings, Autumn Leaves and dies

Ink: SU - Emerald Envy, black, Ranger Distress Ink - Wild Honey

Accessories: SU - Lots of Labels Thinlets Dies

 

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Hello to everyone! Are you happy that it's Friday? 

I just realized it's been a week since I posted. A week without stamping?  Yep, must be summer!

I got another large box of peaches yesterday. I've made my jam, but I may just eat these delicious Flame Prince variety fruits up as they ripen and relish the last juicy sweetness of the season. One of the perks of our spring move is having a huge peach orchards just a few miles away. Bet you wish you could be eating with me.  

I did get in some crafting while watching last night's Olympic gymnastics. I stamped the leaves and flowers from the Altenew Wild Hibiscus set onto watercolor paper in black ink. I began coloring with the Zig Clean Color markers and used Copics for the yellow centers of each flower.  Then I cut them out. 

The sentiment is from W plus 9 Doodlebuds stamps. I love the pretty scalloped die cut frames from My Favorite Things that I used for the oval and the die cut panel.

I'm playing along with the fun challenge at Color Throwdown!

The design team samples for this week's colors are amazing! I was inspired by the gorgeous sample card by Wanda Guess (I love everything she makes!) to feature a bold yellow and bright shades. 

Hope you have a wonderful day. I so appreciate you coming by to see what I'm creating. Thanks! 

Be yourself.

     Find delight in your craft.

          Make something beautiful!

 

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Nautical Birthday

 I've been busy with these last days of summer and loving times with friends and family, making freezer jam with the yummy peaches that grow nearby, and being outside when it's not too hot. We haven't been on the water in a couple of weeks due to the temps, but I've hopes that it will cool off soon. 

With a last name of Beach, a water scene is always a good bet for a birthday! I'm using my new Wave Border Die and Dockside stamps from W Plus 9 today. 

 When I saw the challenge at the Color Throwdown today and this adorable inspiration photo, my creative direction was set. 

Many of you may remember my frequent posts when our puppy Josie was new (they are HERE), and this reminds me so much of her. Its the ears! Blowin' in the wind!

I began with Watercolor paper and used a wet on wet wash using Altenew inks in shades of aqua and blue. After die cutting two borders of waves, I adhered them to the front of my card, popping up the second layer. I just love the way these inks work together! I also added some tiny spatters of black ink to the waves and sky. 

After adding my focal point, I still thought my card needed something, so I added the enamel dots. Here it is before the dots - I"m still not sure which one I like better. Thoughts? 

Thanks so much for stopping by my blog. 

I will be entering this to Tabitha's and Julie's challenges that are going on right now at Splitcoaststampers as part of the Dare to Get Dirty event. It's a fun chance to stamp along with a wonderful group of people! You can find out about it HERE.  

Be yourself.

     Find delight in your craft.

          Make something beautiful!

 

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Simply Thanks

Good morning! I'm having a bit of a slow time getting started today but I'm happy to have another card to share. I loved the challenge at CAS(E) This Sketch and after thinking about it for awhile, I got this idea. 

I used Strawberry Slush card stock from Stampin' Up! and the stamps and dies are from W plus 9.

Also adding this to the Wednesday Challenge at Simon Says, "Anything Goes!"

Keeping this post short so I can get moving before it gets too too hot. Have a great day! 

Be yourself.

     Find delight in your craft.

          Make something beautiful!

 

Artist's Palette

   Hello! 

Awhile back when several sets came out highlighting color and rainbows I didn't buy any -- for awhile. Then I bought a few. no that's not right, I bought them ALL! When have you ever known me to really like something and buy all of it, lol!

Today is my first time pulling things out to play with and how I loved getting to make this card.

 

Great designs this week at CAS(E) This Sketch so I am playing along. 

I thought the artist's palette was perfect for this sketch and the paint spatters while not typically "clean" fit right in too. 

I created the COLOR sentiment by watercoloring with distress inks, then die cutting the word. I also used the same colors on white card stock to make the color swatches on the palette as inlaid die cuts.

Adding some shading to the paintbrush and a coat of Crystal Effects  to the brush tip gave the finishing touches. 

Thanks so much for visiting today. You are what makes sharing worthwhile! 

Be yourself.

     Find delight in your craft.

          Make something beautiful!

 

Stamps: SU - Gorgeous Grunge, W plus 9 - Color My World

Paper: Neenah white, SU - Baked Brown Sugar

Ink: Black, Distress Ink and markers

Accessories: MFT Die - Color the Rainbow, W plus 9 dies - Artist Palette

 

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Hello, how are you doing today? Getting in any stamp time?

I didn't but for a good reason. My husband and I got out on the lake for the first time today since our move. A beautiful late morning troll on the large lake in our community was fabulous! 

I do have a card share for today. I'm on a roll to try to use more of the never-been-used sets in my stash. It's no surprise that it's another card with flowers. 

I  love the possibilities with the Watercolored Anemones stamps from W plus 9. And I'm trying out some new inks too, to try and find the shade of purple that I like best. I did some generational stamping on the flowers to create contrast on the layers, and die cut them.

Keeping it clean and simple. These days, I just can't seem to settle on what is "my" style. I guess that keeps things interesting! I am playing along with the challenge at CAS(E) This Sketch and I love this crisp bold layout. 

Hope you have a wonderful afternoon! 

 Be yourself.

     Find delight in your craft.

          Make something beautiful!

 

Stamps: W Plus 9 - Watercolored Anemones and coordinating dies

Paper: Heavy White, Whisper White, Elegant Eggplant,  Gold foil - SU

Ink: SSS Wisteria, Black

Accessories: Hello die - I think is from SSS, but I can't find it's name; MFT Blueprints 27 - I could use this die for every card I make lately - love it!; and MFT Stitched Mini-Scallop Rectangle Frames Stax, sequins

 

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A Splash of Color and Bubbly

Hi everyone! You might think I've fallen out of blogland, but I'm still hanging on. Only 15 days left until the move, and I'm so excited. Looking forward to a new place so that life can begin again after the month of preparations.

Should I get to the card now?

I had made quite a few watercolored backgrounds a couple months ago, and the one that I was most pleased with was hanging around my desk. So when I began thinking of what to use for this week's sketch, this colorful bubbly inked background became the focus for today's card. 

You see, it's time for a new sketch at the Fab Friday Challenge blog! 

I began with white card stock and watercolor paper. I dabbed a few colors of Distress Inks on my craft mat, spritzed on some water, and squished the watercolor in it to make the background. Then I flicked on more water to make the dots that look like bubbles.

It was easy to add Ellie from the Bubble Talk stamp set. She was colored with Copics and die cut. The die cut at the bottom of the scene was spritzed and die cut. The other elements from the Bubble Talk set completed the details. What I love best about this card is the card stock is all white, the ink used is black, and the rest of the color is from inks and markers. I used scraps left over from the watercolored and spritzed pieces for the little banners. The row of hearts is stamped and then colored over with marker.

That's it for me today. 

Won't you check out the blogs of my DT friends and consider playing along with us too!

We'd love to see your work!

Mindy Backes
Heather Heroldt
Amy Koenders
Brian King
Justin Krieger
Amanda Mertz
Brenda Myers
Janine Tinklenberg
Wendy Weixler

Be yourself.

     Find delight in your craft.

          Make something beautiful!

 

Stamps: W plus 9 - Bubble Talk and matching dies

Paper: Whisper White, Ranger Watercolor Paper

Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, Distress Inks

Accessories: Mama Elephant Dies - Landscape Trio, SU - Bitty Banners Dies, Tattered Angels Glimmer Mist, Bakers' twine

 

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 Hello! Happy Thursday!

How on earth has this week flown by by? I made this card a couple of days ago for someone dear. She loves purple! 

 Hope this will be a hit for her winter birthday. I was happy to use this wise owl and die cuts from W plus 9's Winter Pals set, and the stamped sentiment.

I absolutely love the sketch and I'm happy to be playing again with Mojo Monday.

Can you believe this is sketch #429?

I almost forgot to post this one!

Entering this in the Something New Challenge at Simon Says. The snowflakes are new to my crafty stash and it's the right time to let them shine on this card. 

Hope you're enjoying all things crafty. Thanks for stopping by!

Be yourself.

     Find delight in your craft.

          Make something beautiful!

 

Stamps: wplus9 - Winter Pals and dies, Copic markers

Paper: DSP from last year's SSS card kit

Accessories: Dies are MFT - Stitched Circles, SSS - snowflakes,Tim Holz - Wishes

 

stamps, handmade, cards, stamping techniques, design, cards, handmade, DIY, paper-crafts,

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Hello to my stamping friends! 

I was a bit MIA for the last few days because I got to visit with my sweet grand baby and her family over the weekend. It was so much fun getting to know her better, playing on the floor with her, and helping to feed her her first solid foods. Sweet potatoes were not the biggest hit.

No photos or names on my blog, as you can understand, but I hope you can picture my big smile! 

While I was there I sent off ten cards to friends and family. I needed to send one more, so I made this one today. 

I used the WPlus9 Autumn Leaves stamp set and dies for the focal point. I stamped them with Hero Arts inks. Dawn Wholeslagle had a great video HERE and showed how to add details to images inked with Wplus9 or Hero Arts inks with Copic markers. 

You can see how I used my Copics to add details to the leaf images after they were stamped. I was really pleased with the result of this technique.

I'm playing along again with the great sketch at Sweet Sunday. 

My heart is grateful for you! Thanks for coming by to visit my blog today.  

Be yourself.

     Find delight in your craft.

          Make something beautiful!

 

Stamps: W plus 9 - Autumn Leaves set and dies, SU - Happy Scenes (sentiment)

Paper: Whisper White, DSP - Doodlebug Kraft pad, MFT - Chevrons

Ink: from Hero Arts 

Accessories: SSS - Stitched Circles, SU - Banner dies, Button, Cotton tiwne

 

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