Blue Orchid

Hi there, I'm catching up from all the days I've missed posting on the blog! This is my 4th post in 2 days!

When I saw the inspiration photo for the Altenew Challenge, I immediately thought of the vibrant Orchids you can get in Singapore. I stamped the 'Oriental Orchids' on watercolour paper using Zig markers and lots of water. Then I stamped the outlines with Delicata Gold Ink. I cut a panel for the sentiment, and painted a light wash of green and then stamped over it in the gold ink.  To finish, I added a strip of glitter gold paper, some sequins and mounted on a gold card base. 

I'm entering the following challenges:-

Just Because

I finally got around to playing with this gorgeous collection from Concord and 9th called 'Just Because'.

I stamped the leaves and fussy cut, arranging them with die cuts which had been coloured with water and distress inks.  I hope you like my simple CAS design.

I'm entering the following challenges:-

Another Stencil Monoprint

Here is another card I made using a stencil to make a monoprint.

I used the rose stencil from Stamplorations and inked it with Distress Inks. When it was dry, I put the stencil back in place and sprayed white Colorshine to give lots of shimmer to the card. 

I'm entering this card in the following challenges:-

A Circle Twofer

I decided to make another card for the CAS Mix Up challenge because I really like the theme this month, which is to use a stencil to make a monoprint. Once I'd finished theat card, I decided to use the stencil in the traditional way and make a second card so I could play in the Twofer Card Challenge.

 I inked up the stencil with Distress Inks and spritzed liberally with water and placed on top of a piece of watercolour paper, blotting any leaks with paper towel. The sentiment is from Altenew and the butterfly dies are from Simon says Stamp. The stencil is called 'Bubbles' and is from Stamplorations.

 This time I sponged Distress Oxide Inks through the stencil and the spritzed to activate the colour. When dry, I stamped and gold embossed the sentiment, which is from CASual Friday.

I'm entering the following challenges:-

CAS Watercolour Reminder

Wow! Where did the first half of August go?!!!  I'm just popping in to remind you that you only have until August 24th to enter this month's CAS Watercolour challenge. The challenge is 'SUNFLOWER' and here is some more inspiration from me:)

This amazing sunflower stamp is from Penny Black and is called Sunglow.  The image was stamped with Versa Fine Clair Pine Cones and clear embossed.  To colour, I used my trusty Zig markers again - this time using a palette and picking up the colour with a damp brush. In the darker areas I added the marker direct to the image and then a wet brush to move the pigment. I fussy cut the image and mounted it over the gold stamped text. It's nice to have some cards without a sentiment and this image really doesn't need one.

You still have until 24 August to play along. We can't wait to see what you create using a SUNFLOWER stamp, die, or stencil and water!!  Make sure you check out the FABULOUS  cards from the DT and our Special Guest Designer Izzy Scrap for more inspiration, and then play along with us right HERE. 

Hop on over the the CAS Watercolour Blog for more inspiration and you can enter your cards right HERE.  We'd love to see creations in the gallery!!

On the Move Congratutlations

It's half way through the month already, so I have another card to remind you about this month's Penny Black Saturday Challenge.

I almost feel like I'm cheating with this card! I found this Penny Black Stickeroo in my stash, it was a gift from Jill Foster from years ago, when she was kind enough to do a collaboration with me! 

I was planning to do a stamped and sponged background, but then I found this paper in my stash and thought it was the perfect match. The sentiment is from Penny Black Snippets. 

So just to remind you, the theme is either Anything Goes or you can play along with the optional twist 'On the Move (transport)'. You must use a Penny Black stamp, Die or Stickeroo as your focal point. You can see more inspiration and enter your cards here. If you would like to be considered for a Guest Design gig, then enter GDT after your name. There is also a $20 prize from our sponsor, 1-2- 3 Stitch! The challenge closes on 31 August. Good Luck!

Enjoy a Champers!

Here is another card I made a couple of weeks ago...

I sponged a piece of white card stock with distress Inks and spritzed for vibrancy. The window die and glass stamp are from MFT Stamps and the sentiment stamp is from Papertrey Ink.

I'm entering the following challenges:-

(Distress It)

CAS Thinking of You

Since I'm going to be so busy this week, I'm getting a few more cards posted today.

This card I made the last time I was at our beach house. The stamps are from Concord and 9th and I know I'm going to be using them frequently!

The stamp set is Concord & 9th's 'Beautiful Branches' and I used Altenew Inks! So quick and easy

to make this CAS card! 

                                    I'm adding my card to the following challenges:-

(From Boys to Men)

A wish for Peace

Hi there friends. It's been very busy here in our household. My daughter is heading over to Scotland for 6 months exchange in a weeks time, so we have been running around getting last minute things organised for her.

The day after she leaves, we are starting repairs (underpinning), new floors, bathrooms and more to our house, so I have been frantically packing everything away from the front half of the house. On top of that I'm still feeling the effects of sinusitis and asthma! The good news is, that once the work is under way, I will have to retreat to our beach house with the dogs for most of the duration!  I will definitely enjoy some crafty time whilst I'm there!

The card I'm sharing today, I made a few weeks ago.

I stamped Penny Black's 'Snowy Grove' using Distress Inks  and then added more detail with Zig Markers. I then stamped over this with Versamark Ink and clear embossed. I painted the wash with Distress Inks and Stain. I then added the snow with white gel pen. The deer is made with a Impression Obsession die and coloured with Distress Inks and zig Markers. To finish, I stamped the Penny Black sentiment, die cut the panel and mounted on Kraft card.

I'm adding my card to the following challenges:-

Distress It

(From boys to Men)

Stencil Monoprint

Hi there friends! I'm finally starting to feel a bit better, although I'm still going slow. I was feeling a bit inspired this afternoon, so I decided to make a card for the CAS Mix Up Challenge.

I watched the reference videos listed on the CAS Mix Up blog and then used their collective ideas. 

I swiped various distress inks on the reverse side of the stencil (so the words would be the right way around) and also sprinkled a bit of Brushos and Color Burst and then sprayed liberally with water. I carefully flipped the stencil on to some watercolour paper and pressed with paper towel. When dry, I placed the stencil over the monoprint and sponged with silver Delicata Ink. I then stamped the sentiment from Penny black and die cut a panel with a die from Stamplorations. To finish I mounted the panels with dimensional tape and added some sequins.   The stencil is from The Crafters Workshop. I hope this is CAS enough - I nearly didn't add the silver, but it has added more depth.

                                                I'm entering the following challenges:-

Penny Black Saturday Challenge - On the Move

It's the first Saturday of the month, which means it's time for another Penny Black Saturday Challenge.

As always, the the theme is Anything Goes or if you like, the optional theme is 'On the Move'(transport). I went through my PB stamps and the only stamp with some form of transport was an old stamp called 'London'.

This is a rushed post, and photo because I'm sick and can hardly get my head of the pillow! I coloured the image with Zig Markers and wet brush.

If you would like the chance to be a guest designer for the challenge, don't forget to add the 'GDT' to your entry. Hop on over to the Penny Black Saturday Challenge blog and see what the rest of the DT have created and we'd love you to play along.

Exciting News and Sunflower Power!

I'm so excited to announce that I’m joining the design team of the CAS Watercolour Challenge and this is my first card! It was such a lovely surprise when Loll asked me if I'd be interested and of course I jumped at it! I love watercolour and making CAS cards and it's one of my fave challenges!

This month, the very talented Marcia (Marcia's Stampin Pad) is our host and the theme is 'SUNFLOWER'.

I have used a sunflower stamp from STAMPlorations and Zig markers to create this bright bloom.

It took me several attempts to be happy with the colours and I'm am so grateful for the MISTI stamping tool for making  it easy to add layers.  The sentiment is from Kaisercraft.  The die is from CUTplorations. 

Please check out the challenge blog to see the cards by the rest of our amazing designers.  I know you'll be inspired to play along!