Seize The Birthday - Watercolors

Yes, it's time for a new challenge at Seize The Birthday!  As always, anything goes...as long as it's a Birthday theme.  No Toppings option this time.

Oh, the possibilities are endless, right?!  I decided to use a technique that I saw Julie Ebersole use recently in a video.  I've done a few watercolor cards in the past, but this technique was a little different.  HERE is the link, if you're interested.

You can click on any photo to enlarge it.

Wow.  It was fun to play around with distress inks and my aqua painter.  There's just something relaxing and therapeutic about it.  If you've never tried it, you might want to!

I used watercolor paper for my card front, but mounted it onto cardstock.  Instead of putting water in my aqua painter, I just put a bit of water in a plastic lid.   For some reason, I always end up with too much water on my project otherwise.  I swished and swirled on 3 colors, then dried them with my heat tool (instead of waiting for them to dry).  Then I stamped my images and sentiment.

Next, I spattered some Mister Huey's and Color Shine onto the card.  Then, to add a bit more shine, I adhered 3 sequins.  That's it!

I hope you'll play along with me and the rest of the Design Team.  We love to see what you create for each challenge!

Supply List ~
Cardstock: white (PTI), watercolor paper (Canson)
Ink: onyx black, delicata golden glitz (Tsukineko), peacock feathers, mowed lawn, spiced marmalade (distress inks by Ranger)
Stamps: happy trails, beautiful butterflies (PTI)
Other: aqua painter (SU), mister huey's color mist in gold (Studio Calico), heidi swapp color shine in teal (Pink Paislee), sequin mix crystals opaque (C Cartwright), water

CMCC No. 9 - With a Grateful Heart

This is my final post as the February Guest Designer at Colour Me...!  It's been so much fun to be a part of this talented team for 4 weeks.  Thank you Tara and Hayley!!!

Hey, it's time to take a look at the colors for this week's challenge...don't you think?

CMCC No. 9

Don't those berries look delicious?  Reminds me of summer...and warmer weather!

Click on a photo to see a larger view.

I used a technique that I haven't used in a while.  Masking and stamping.  I measured, then masked off that diagonal strip with large post-it notes.  I used the challenge colors + crumb cake to stamp my pattern.  It still needed a little something, so I added some sparkle to a few of the flowers with my Stardust Glitter pen.

Every time I use this technique, it's so much fun to pull of the masking and reveal the finished pattern.  It always makes me smile. :)

The 2 lines were done with a SU black marker, then I added the Hello sentiment.  Done.

Thanks, again...to Hayley and Tara!  It's been an honor to join you for the month of February!

Supply list ~
Card stock: basic black (SU), white (PTI)
Ink: bermuda bay, real red, smoky slate, crumb cake (SU), onyx black (Versafine)
Stamps: birds & blooms (PTI)
Other: stardust clear glitter pen (Sakura)

Colour Me...! CMCC #8 - Let your dreams take flight

This is my third post, Guest Designing at Colour Me...!  I'm still so excited that Tara and Hayley invited me!  You know...these color combos just get better and more fun each week.  I love this week's trio of colors.
Take a look at the CMCC #8 inspiration.

I adore these soft, subtle colors.  Don't you?

Yes.  You're seeing the same feather stamp set that I used last week.  Well...it was still on my craft table and I just love these images.  AND this week's colors were just perfect for feathers.
That's my excuse. Lol!

I inked my feathers with all 3 challenge colors.  After stamping them onto watercolor paper, I misted them with water to blur the images a bit.  Once that had dried, I misted with Mister Huey's Shine color mist.  If you look closely at the first photo (click on it for a larger photo) I think you can see a bit of the droplets of shine.

This technique is so easy and so much fun.  Have you tried it?  Well, you'll want to see what the Design Team at CMCC has created...they're so talented.  Just click HERE!
Thanks for stopping in!

Supply list ~
Card stock: baked brown sugar, soft sky (SU), watercolor paper (Canson)
Ink: baked brown sugar, soft sky, pistachio pudding (SU)
Stamps: feather finery, happy trails (PTI)
Other: mister huey's shine color mist, water mister

A Cozy Quilt

Oh yes, we needs lots of cozy quilts this winter in the Midwest.   Sub-zero temps and mountains of snow are making me wish for an early Spring.  I know it will eventually get here and I'm trying NOT to be impatient.  This harsh winter will make me appreciate the Spring season even more!

So, I got a bit off-track didn't I?  I'm playing along with the Curtain Call Inspiration Challenge: Cozy Quilt.  The inspiration photo is so inviting, that I had to find a bit of time to play along today.

I pulled out my quilt dies and got busy making this.

You should have seen the mess on my craft table with all of those little quilt pieces.  Ack!
It was a little like putting a puzzle together, but worth the effort.  I mounted my quilt pieces onto to black pinking squares to make the colors pop.

Thanks for taking the time to visit my blog.  I hope you'll leave a comment!

Supply List ~
Card stock: naturals ivory, basic black (SU)
Ink: onyx black versafine
Stamps: simple sentiments (PTI)
Patterned paper: sunshine 6 x 6 pad (MME)
Dies: clear cut stackers pinking squares, quilt cuts 2 (WPlus9)

Seize The Birthday - Hearts/Love!

It's time for a new challenge at Seize The Birthday!  The Topping option is Hearts/Love, if you choose to use it.  If not, you can always play along with any Birthday themed card.
It's your choice!

I chose to use our Hearts/Love theme for my card.

This will be a birthday card for my husband.  I hope he doesn't mind the floral patterned paper.  I just love the color combo, so I went with it anyway!

I used 3 hearts, popped up on foam tape.  I left one plain, one with the birthday sentiment and one covered in glossy accents.  Love that shine!

Thanks for spending a few minutes at my blog...I hope you'll play along with us.  Now click HERE to take a look at what my oh-so-talented team mates have created for your inspiration.

Supply list ~
Card stock: pool party, real red, whisper white (SU)
Stamps: with all my heart (PTI)
Ink: onyx black versafine
Patterned paper: fresh prints dsp stack (SU)
Dies: headline alphabet (PTI)
Other: heart to heart punch (SU), corner chomper, glossy accents

Colour Me...! Challenge #7 - Hello!

I'm sharing a card that I created as the February Guest Designer at Colour Me...!  I'm having a lot of fun with these challenges.  The color combinations for the month are wonderful.  You'll want to check them out every week...trust me.  :)

Here's our inspiration for CMCC #7.

I used 2 neutrals along with the Rich Razzleberry and Pool Party challenge colors.

I used gold as one neutral, heat embossing my feather image and the sentiment onto Pool Party card stock.  That was matted onto Rich Razzleberry.  Then I used white as my card base.  The last touch was popping on the little sentiment banner.
Using these 2 colors together was a bit of a challenge for me at first.  You don't want to see my first attempt!  But I'm pleased with this card and had fun playing with this new feather stamp set I just received.
Thanks for stopping by.  Now it's time to go take a look at the inspiration provided by the Design Team at CMCC!  Just click HERE!

Supply list ~
Card stock: white (PTI), rich razzleberry, pool party (SU)
Ink: versamark
Stamps: communique curves, feather finery (PTI)
Other: gold embossing powder (SU)

Guest Designer at Colour Me...!

I've been invited to Guest Design at the new Colour Me...! blog for the month of February!  Yes...I'm just a LITTLE excited.  Colour Me...! is a challenge blog created by my friends (and former DT team mates at Dynamic Duos).   This will be a fun month, for sure!

The first challenge for February is CMCC #6.  We're using Wisteria Wonder and a neutral of your choice.

Gorgeous inspiration photo.  Makes you want to play along, right???

I used white as my neutral and made this Valentine card for my DH.  Not a traditional Valentine Day card, but I love it.

I started by stamping the "love you" sentiment in black ink, before running the card front through my Big Kick with a linen impression plate.  Yes, I DO like texture!  Next, came the time consuming part of this clean and simple card.  I die cut 8 "forever" pieces.  Three of Wisteria Wonder, five of White.  Then...I glued them together.   The Wisteria pieces became the sandwich filling, with white beneath and above.

By the time I was done, I was questioning my sanity.  Ack!  But, it was all worth it.  I'm very happy with the results.  Oh, I also stamped a few hearts in Wisteria...then swirled a dab of Wink of Stella over each of them.

Done!

I hope you'll click over to the Colour Me...! challenge blog and see what the Design Team has created for your inspiration.

Supply list ~
Card stock: white (PTI), wisteria wonder (SU)
Ink: onyx black (Versafine), wisteria wonder (SU)
Stamps: with all my heart (PTI)
Dies: wonderful words, linen impression plate (PTI)
Other: wink of stella brush (Kuretake), tombow mono multi glue