Color Hues : Sage & Coral

I am happy to be a guest designer at the Color Hues Challenge this week.

Here is this week's challenge 

I have so many new supplies I think my brain might fry! I should not be allowed any new products for a year.  So I had so use my NBUS supplies : SSS Etched Magnolia dies and the leaves from Etched Meadow flower. Love the dimension you get with this flower.

The background was created using the Altenew Kind Confetti which I only inked once, but stamped twice. 

We're looking forward to seeing your creations.

I will also enter this to ...

... NBUS #47

... Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge : Anything Goes

... Just Us Girls : CAS Week - Birthday

 

SSS Flickr Challenge "Let's Color" 1 & 2

I thought I'd share the first 2 cards I did for the Simon Says Stamp Flickr Challenge.  Both of these use the Sketch Flowers set but with such different results.

Firstly, I went with white embossing powder and coloured with Distress inks as watercolour. I cut out the one side so I could have an embossed background peeking through.

For the second one, I used Platinum embossing powder. Coloured with Copics - only 3 colours W1, W2 and W3. 

Come over and join in the fun.  Plus you can also join in Kathy Racoosin's 30-day colouring challenge at The Daily Marker.

Watercolouring

Been back from my trip for a week now ... how time flies.

First the graduation of my daughter, Annabelle, from Exeter University. 

So proud of her!

A couple of days enjoying English towns ... sweet Wells Village, Bath and Chagford. Then off to Portugal for a celebratory holiday. Loved the blue skies (EVERY SINGLE DAY !), the blue tiles (especially in Porto), fairytale Sintra, amazing Douro Valley .... and special time with the family.

Getting back into things .... what with a lot going on in the house on our return ... painting the entire inside of house, water pipes blocking and flooding the laundry (more than a couple of time), plumbers, ... so time for some ink and paper again!

I could not resist the CAS-ology water-colour challenge, paired with Addicted to Stamps challenge and Inspiration photo.

Shimmery Hearts

I'm still trying to focus on more masculine cards, and I think this is the one I will give my husband.

I added Perfect Pearls to Distress Inks so it has a lovely shimmer. To make the match, II picked a metallic blue paper to use for the die-cutting.

Here is the straight-on photo, but you don't get an idea of the shimmer.

 So I angled the card, so I could catch the shimmer  ...

And a close-up.

I'll be entering this to ...

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge : Have a Heart

Pinterest Inspired Challenge : February

Die Cut Diva's : Love, Marriage and Anniversaries Challenge

Just Us Girls : Valentine Challenge

Song Inspiration

Michele made the inspiration card inspired by a song for the Muse Chalenge this week.  I would guess that it is "I have joy, joy, joy, joy, down in my heart".

I am inspired by the song "Clouds" by Zach Sobiech.

This is my entry to this week's Muse Challenge #151 : Song Inspiration.

[PS. Having linked this card, I'm not sure it fits with the challenge rules. I'm a bit confused this month. Is the challenge to do a card both inspired by a song, and by Michele's card? If so, I'll take my card off. and do another.]

Gift Idea ... Message Blocks

I decided to use up some of the large stash of 6x6 patterned paper to cover some message blocks. Then it was fun finding stamps to match to stamp on the sides. It was a late night, but I finished 13 of them.

These Wplus9 stamps went so well with this paper. Sentiment from Papertrey Ink.

Complete different WPlus9 set. I know there is a Hero Arts stamp with almost the same flowers, but I don't have it. You work with what you have.

How I love the mix of this paper with the Lawn Fawn Hello Sunshine set.

I've had quite a few queries on how I made these, so here's the quick version :

• Choose your patterned paper and cut to size.
• Find matching stamps and ink colours.I didn't really care what make or type - I was more concerned that the colour matched, so it was a mix of Hero Arts, Memento and Simon Says Stamp, Versacolor.
• Turn the block vertical, so the side you want to stamp is on top. Hold firmly against the table top and squeeze the pages together with your one hand, and stamp with the other. It's important to try and hold it so the pages make a "straight" surface with no dips.
• Turn the block to repeat for the other 2 sides.
• Glue on the patterned paper and add a sentiment and embellishments if you wish.

Thank you

While I was testing my new Simon Says Stamps inks and stamp set, I found I loved the colour combination. I can see myself making quite a few of these. Added some Glossy Accents to one heart.

Entering to One-Layer Simplicity Challenge : A Multitude of Gratitude, and Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge : Thanks/Thanksgiving.

The Wonder, Peace and Miracle

My starting point was inspired by the colouring of a die on Muse Christmas Challenge. As I missed the deadline, I decided to go with a different layout and feel to the card. I just love this delicate die from Simon Says Stamp but I couldn't find the right light feel in amongst my sentiments, so I typed up my own.

I hope this Diamond Stickles counts as texture, as I'll enter this to Virginia's View Challenge : Texture.

Merry Christmas

What a wonderful inspiration picture over at Addicted to Stamps, and amazing cards by the DT team.

Sneaking in with my card in the 11th hour! Light is not good at this time of night, so I may take another tomorrow morning.

Using my new Hero Arts "Merry" die, and Simon Says Stamp Ornament. So delicate and light.  I used Copics to colour the red dots and some grey shading, and Wink of Stella to add a light sparkle.

Also entering this to Virginia's View Challenge : Texture.

Muse Challenge #141

Managed to get a card out amongst the mess of sorting my studio.

I was inspired by Michele's card at the Muse Challenge #141 ...

... the embossed, tilted frame panel

... the overlapping circle flowers

... sentiment on a tab

Hello ... missing you

A quick card for the Retro Sketches Challenge :

I did a mirror image of the sketch as my bird was facing that way ...

I will also enter this to Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge : Anything Goes! and to The Daily Marker 30 Day Colouring Challenge

Hello ...

I've been wanting to use these birds for a while now. I coloured them a few weeks back, but just knew how I wanted to use them when I saw the sketch at CAS(E) This Sketch #146.

I will also enter this into The Daily Marker's 30 Day Colouring Challenge.

September CCC

So happy to send a September CCC card .

I went with the colour combination and sketch. 

I stamped the Simon Says Stamp Artful Flowers and embossed in white, then painted in with Distress Markers and Inks. I didn't have olive green sequins, so stamped up with the WPlus9 set. Added Wink of Stella to add sparkle.

Spray, Stencil, Star - 2

Using the sprayed stencil from the previous card, I made another. I think I actually prefer this one as the sentiment stands out more. Even though I had let the spray on the stencil dry too much, I like the effect as it reminds me of the red stripes of candy canes.

Another card for the ...

... Less is More : Lucky Dip Spray Challenge 

... and the CAS(E) This Sketch Challenge.

Spray, Stencil & Star - 1

It's a spray/mist challenge over at Less is More : Lucky Dip Challenge.

Using the Simon Says Stamp Ornament on a String stencil. 

Colourful!

Watercolouring with Distress Inks, stencils and stamps!

I really didn't think this would work out so well. I painted water through the stencil lines, then added Distress inks. I thought the water and paint would leak under the stencil and just make a big mess. But, lo and behold, not too bad. I think I will be trying this again.

I'll enter it for ... 

... Simon Says Stamp Challenge : Make it Colourful

... CAS(E) This Sketch Challenge

Line

Whew! I haven't had time to play in any challenges in weeks.

Busy, busy, busy.

So a quick post for the CAS-ology Challenge : Line

June CCC

Cards have winged their way across the globe for the June Card Chain Challenge .

I went with the colours, sketch and product : Bling!