Last Week Case-ing Wida!

I'm having an itchy/ouchy day (with the Shingles), so I thought I'd distract myself by making a card.

Sadly it is Wida's last week as the Muse at Case Study Challenge, so I'm thinking I might do more than one take on this.

Here is how my thought process went ... I looked through my stamps for a solid image to stamp in gold. I found the balloons from Hampton Art and thought they'd be perfect and I could have the arrows going up.  I thought a little bit about the colour scheme, because I love it, but it's just not something I would normally use. However,  it's good to challenge yourself and actually I like how it turned out and I think you could use this for either gender .

On the Road to Recovery/ Runway Inspired Challenge

I'm so excited I had an idea for a card and managed to complete it! For those of you who are not Facebook friends with me, you won't have heard that I've been laid up with Shingles. It started off with 4 days of excruciating back pain, before the rash appeared. I thought I could distract myself with card making, but it was not to be. However today I think I may have turned a corner. Yippee!!!

This card is for the Runway Inspired challenge. I had to stop myself from using a butterfly, because you know I'm addicted! I didn't really have any little animal, so I thought of a bird (I think birds are one of my other weaknesses!).

I'm still on a water colour kick, so I did a soft wash on the  the tag and splattered a bit of the yellow and peacock Feathers  colour to tie it in. The Bird is from Penny Black - it's a christmas stamp called Nature's Best.

Ok, I think I might go now and curl up with my dogs and a good book!

Fun, Fun, Fun!!! Casing Wida Week 4

Have you seen the inspiration card at Case Study challenge this week? It's one of those cards that cries out for you to have some fun, just like Wida herself  and their are so many possibilites!

The filmstrip and 'smile' stamps are from Amy Tangerine and I used Die-namics Cute Cameras dies. This is the first time I've used them and I was so excited when I thought of using the sequins for the lens and flash. I'm sure someone else has done this before, but I haven't seen it. I used washi tape for the die cuts and the Happy Birthday is plastic tape.  

Fluttering by with last OCC Watercolour Homework

This morning was the deadline for the OCC Watercolour Class prizes, so I scurried to finish a few cards and wouldn't you know it - the internet went down! This was the last one I managed to get linked up before the the deadline.

I have used my favourite Hero Arts butterfly . I stamped it with Tea Dye Distress Ink
and then used more distress inks and lots of water to colour it. The sky background was achieved by swooshing distress ink on an acrylic block, spritzing and then 'stamping' on watercolour paper.
I have based this on the 3rd Hero Arts sketch, but I used a Lil Inkers die-cut instead of a tag.
I am also entering this in the current challenge at A Blog Named Hero, where the theme is Embossing (wet or  dry).

Catching up on Homework

Today I want to share a card I made for the OCC Watercolour Class inspired by Aga's card and method of making the background with watercolour pencils.

I have used Inktense pencils and the sentiment and label dies are from Papertrey Ink. The tiny banners were cut with a Penny Black die.  This was take 2 for the background, because I tried to splatter some black on the background like Aga and made a complete mess of it! So I resorted to sequins, but you have no idea how much trouble I have with the 'random' placement! 

I'm entering this in the Papertrey Ink Make it Monday where the theme is Artsy Watercolour backgrounds - it sort of fits the theme!

Case Study Challenge take 2

Good grief Charlie Brown!!! Don't you hate it when you have an idea that doesn't quite work out, but it keeps nagging at you! This is what happened with this card. I knew I wanted to use the leaves, but wasn't 100% happy with any arrangement.  Well this is what I ended up with - I hope you like it. It's my second card for the Case Study Challenge.

I used Penny Black Floral Applique to stamp in gold on the SSS die-cut  leaves (like Wida did on the butterflies).
The die cut/embossed edge on the right is made with a Memory Box die. The sentiment is the die-cut from a PTI label stamp. The butterflies were coloured with gelatos and cut with a PB die. Then a few splatters and it was all done - thank goodness!
I can also enter this in the SSS  Wednesday challenge which is Die Crazy and the SSS Monday challenge which has a Botanical theme.

Casing Wida Week 3

Hello, hello, hello!  I hope you all had a great weekend. I'm back today with a card for Case Study Challenge.

I had something else in mind for a case of Wida's card, but it just isn't working out - yet! So I went in a more literal direction and this is the result...

I have used stamps from Clearly Besotted Happy Everything, except for the diamond sparkles which is a stamp from Mama Elephant.  I used watercolour on the backside of the vellum as shown by Kathy in the OCC Watercolour class.

I'm also entering this in the Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge which has a Botanical theme.

Oh no - Not Another Iris!!!

It may seem like I've been creating lots today, but most of it is finishing off. Does anyone else do that? I often half make things and then put them in the reject pile and then come back and think - it's not so bad. I must admit this is new for me - I used to throw everything away if I didn't like it, because it would make me feel irritable! The other thing I do is die-cut a lot of my rejects - that usually makes everything look better!

This card inspired by Laura Bassen's idea of using a die to make a stencil and then watercolour. Actually I have done this before, you can see my card here.  I clearly haven't mastered this technique, so I can see lots of practice ahead. The embossing folder is one of several bargains I found at my LSS yesterday. The Iris dioe is from Penny Black and the sentiment is from Taylored Expressions.

I'm also entering this in the SSS Wednesday challenge where the challenge is Die Crazy - I've used the negative as a stencil - hope that counts!

You are Sew Lovely!

Yesterday,  I came across a Docrafts magazine which had a fun, free stamp, which was perfect for another card for Virginia's View challenge. The theme this month is to stitching.

I'm sorry, I can't remember the paper manufacturer, but I've been hoarding it for a few years. The rose was made with the Memory box rolled rose die. I used a pin to prick holes around the stamped stitch line to make it look more realistic. 

Feather Fancy

A couple of weeks ago. I had the good fortune to have a crafting day with my blog friend Lyndal and play with her stamps.  I have been dithering over which feather stamp set to buy, so I was excited to try out Lyndal's set from Clearly Besotted stamps.

I will add this card to the OCC Homework, because I have just finished it off.

I used distress markers to colour the stamps and blended them before spritzing and stamping.
The background panel was coloured with matching ink 

Another runway Inspired Card

I decided to take a break from homework for the watercolour class and make anothewr card for the Runway Inspired challenge.

This time I have focused on the black lines and diagonals on the dress. This is a one layer card. I stamped the flourish, lines and sentiment in black and clear embossed. The green is distress (Bundled sage) sponged on and then embossed with a folder. To finish it off, I splattered a bit of the green

OCC Watercolour Homework Day 4

Just a quick post with another homework card for the Watercolour class.

I have used a Penny Black Brushstrokes stamp and distress markers, blended with pearlised water to get the Iris image and lots of splatter.  the green panel was coloured with distress markers.

I am adding  this to Virginia's View challenge #3 which is all about sewing on cards.
The theme at SSS Wednesday Challenge is Spring Flowers
, so I can enter there as well.

Hint: If you can't sew straight - then make it obviously freehand and go around 2 or 3 times!

Casing Wida week 2

I've been playing around with some ideas for this week's Case Study Challenge and finally made 2 cards. I couldn't decide which card to enter, so it's a twofer!  See how much you inspire me Wida!
I'm also entering this card in the Fusion Card Challenge and Simon Says Wednesday challenge - Spring flowers.

For this card I went with the the yellow flower, because I love this colour combo. I chose a flower die from Memory box and an oval die and used the in-laid die-cutting method, which I learnt in the last Online Card Class. I used my favourite sentiment tape, which is a bit like washi, but plastic. I layered it on yellow card to make the word yellow.  

In the next card I used the same , gorgeous Penny Black die as Wida, but changed it to pink.

Instead of a window, I used a tag. It's a very simple card, but I love black and white with a pop of colour and I wanted it to be very CAS.

By the way, I have recently made a couple of other cards using this Iris die.

OCC Watercolour Class Day 4 Homework

Hi! It's the start of another week - this year is racing by!

I want to share a couple of homework cards I made for the Watercolour class. This time I have used gelatos, like Shari Carol, colouring directly on to the stamps, spritzing with water, a little blending with my finger and then stamping.

Happy Mother's Day

Today I made a card for my Mum and since I am doing the OCC Watercolour Class, I thought I would do a water-coloured image.

The beautiful rose image and sentiment are from Clearly Besotted 'Happy Everything' set.

I stamped the image with Versafine Black Onyx ink and clear embossed and used distress markers to colour it. I have used some Wink of Stella for a touch of shimmer.

Wishing all the Mums and Caring Ladies out there,  a very wonderful day!

Catching up on Homework

Hello weekend! It's Saturday in Australia, but because of the time difference it's day 5 of the Online Card Class, which means I have time to relax and watch the videos and make cards! Yay!

This card is a catch up from Day 2, using Jennifer McGuire's technique of using frisket to mask off the image.

Her cardstock seems to be whiter and the colours more vibrant than mine and I really think you need the right image to make this work, but here is my card anyway.

Online Card Card - Watercolour Day 1 Homework

Hi there! I've been having a ball playing with all my watercolour paints - the first 2 days of the class have concentrated on backgrounds. We're up to day 3 so  it may look like I'm behind in my homework, but I have a few projects on the go.

I have a couple of cards to share today - the first one was influenced by Jen Rasza and Aga and I am entering this card in the Runway Inspired Challenge.

I used a green watercolour paint and  green and dark blue inktense pencils for the wash. The butterfly image is from Darkroom Door stamped on acetate and then fussy cut.  I decided to use pearls instead of sequins - one of them is hidden by the wing (might have to move it!). This is the first time I've used the tangled floss - I hope it looks ok. I was interested to see how Aga took so long to make it look just right. Do you think there should be a Butterflies Annonymous? I am definitely addicted to butterflies!

I am also entering this in the Keep it Simple Challenge which is a watercolour theme.

In my second card I used Kristina's method. I clear embossed the Hero Arts key background and then painted over it with watercolour paints. When it was dry, I wiped the embossed areas carefully with a baby wipe.

What I like about this,  is how the keys were 'textured' and so the colour got in to the crevices making it more arty. ETA : The sentiment is from Winnie & Walter

so I am linking it to their Join to Win.

More Watercolour Goodness

I think you might see lots of posts on my blog this week because I am in Watercolour Heaven. Here are 2 more cards for Day 1 based on Jen's video.

I used a zigzag stencil over the watercolour and the Iris is made with a Penny Black die.

I think I will chance the blue enamel dot to pink when I can get one. I sometimes use Copics to change the colour, but it doesn't always give me the right colour.

I have used Creative Workshop Deco Leaves stencil over the watercolour. The sentiment is from Winnie and Walter Big Bold You (squeal!). ETA: I am linking this to W & W Join to Win.

I am entering these cards in the SSS Wednesday Anything Goes challenge and the Keep it Simple Watercolour Challenge.

Watercolour Homework Day 1

Yesterday was the first day of the  Watercolour Online Card Class and you you know what that means don't you?!!! Yep, lots of paint and inky mess and fun to be had!

This card was made using the wash method demonstrated by Jennifer Rasza, but instead of using the panel, I decided to use my *NEW* SSS Clustered Leaf die! I'm so excited to get this die - I debated which company to get a leaf die from and I'm so glad I chose this one!

I am entering this card in the SSS Wednesday Challenge - Anything Goes and the Keep it Simple Watercolour Challenge.

Purple Power!

Once upon a time (actually not so long ago) purple was my favourite colour!  A few years ago I probably had a touch of purple in most of my cards. Now I am much more in to blues, greens, yellows, orange and red. Hey, that almost sounds like a rainbow without the purple! Of course, if I go back and browse through my cards, I probably will see purple, but maybe I've just learnt how to use colours in a more aesthetic way. I hope so.

Anyway, this time I am being challenged by The Card Concept to make a Monochromatic Purple card. Now the first things I think of when I think of purple, are the beautiful Irises in our garden. So this is the inspiration for my card. My card is to go in the CAS category.

I have chosen a classical style card, because my 88yo Mum needs more birthday cards and she likes flowers and CAS cards. The Iris die is from Penny Black and the background was made using a Memory Box die. I used gelatos to colour the Iris and the seam binding.

Not so Mellow Yellow

While I had the  Scribbly Bird stamp out, I decided to make another card for the Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge, where the theme is 'Not so Mellow Yellow'.

I decided to add a touch of stitching so I can add this to Virginia's View Stitching challenge. By the way I gave myself a pat on the back for being brave enough to leave a loose thread! It doesn't come naturally to me!

I thought I was too late, but just scraping in for the City Crafter Challenge where the theme is Speech Bubbles.

Are you getting tired of me using this bird yet? I thought I'd try some paper piecing to make it different.
This definitely isn't my favourite colour combination - it reminds me of Australia's sports colours!
Maybe I should have used a kraft card base - mmm!

Inspired by Julie Ebesole

Yesterday I made another card for the A Blog Named Hero challenge, which is to make a card inspired by a Hero Artist. My first card was inspired by Lisa and this time I have chosen cards by Julie Ebersole.
Julie also made a video which you can see at Ellen Hutson The CLASSroom.

These are Julie's cards ....

And this is my take ...

Like most people in the card making world, I am really enjoying playing with watercolour at the moment and I'm looking forward to the Online Card class which begins this week. I love the Hero Arts bird stamp that Julie used, so I may have to add that to my wishlist! I used a Dina Wakely Scribbly Bird stamp and coloured the image with distress inks. The base card is from Hero Arts.
I'm also entering this in the Keep it Simple challenge which is a Watercolour theme and SSS Wednesday Challenge which is Anything Goes.