Birdies on a Swing -- for Great Impressions Stamps

Do you like to swing?  Did you enjoy it as a child?  Sometimes I watch birds and squirrels sitting on branches, swinging in the breeze and it looks like FUN!  Great Impressions Stamps has a great rubber stamp, Two Birdies on a Swing (G486) that is so, so cute!  I just had to color it up!

I stamped G486 Two Birdies on a Swing onto watercolor paper, then used watercolor pencils and a paint brush to color the Two Birdies.  The Hello sentiment (A138) is also from Great Impressions Stamps.  It's one of my favorite sentiments as it's a great size, it can be used for many occasions, and it stamps so cleanly! 

The frames were created with Lawn Fawn dies using Lawn Fawn plaid papers.  The flower was cut out on my Silhouette Cameo.  The label for the sentiment is a die from Paper Wishes. 

Have you entered this month's challenge at Great Impressions Stamps yet?  It's nearly over for May, but a new one starts on Sunday, June 4.  Join us!

Botanical Thank You Sneak Peek -- for Pickled Potpourri

Greetings, fellow stamp lovers.  I'm on the Pickled Potpourri blog today with a beautiful botanical thank you card.  I'm giving you a sneak peek here, hoping you'll jump over to the Pickled potpourri blog to see the rest of the card.  I'll be back here on Friday with the full post.

Thanks for stopping by!  See you Friday!

Miss You -- for Crafty Sentiments Designs

Hello, and happy Tuesday, fellow crafters!  I am the hostess this week at Crafty Sentiments Challenge Blog.  Challenges are weekly, and this week's theme is always a favorite -- Anything Goes!  Join in on the fun!

I used the adorable rubber stamp, "Patsy and Gizmo Hiding" to create this:

I colored Patsy & Gizmo Hiding with Copic markers, then used dies by Lawn Fawn (scalloped rectangle) and Top Dog dies to create the card base.  The flowers were from my stash. 

I hope you join us this week for our 'Anything Goes' challenge at Crafty Sentiments Challenge Blog.  There's also a challenge each month in our Crafty Sentiments Facebook group. 

Thinking of You with Roses -- for Imagine That! Digistamps

Woohoo!  It's the weekend!  I made it through my first week back to work with flying colors.  I've been off for 5 months fighting cancer and undergoing chemo treatments.  I knew my heart was ready to return to my job at the nursing home, but I wasn't sure about my body.  It seems my body is ready, too.  I'm feeling great!

It's also time for some mid-month inspiration at the Imagine That! Digistamp's Creative Playground.  This month's freebie is the "Pretty Petunias" set, and it lives up to it's name!  You'll want to play along, just for a chance to win it!

I used another gorgeous flower digital stamp set from the Imagine That! Digistamp store,  the Rose Blessings set, and the Sentimental Thoughts digital set, to create this: 

I printed the Rose Blessings image onto watercolor paper, then used Lyra Rembrandt watercolor pencils to color the rose.  The designer papers backing the Rose Blessings image are digital.  They are also by Imagine That! Digistamps -- the Romance set 1 digital papers.  I used a couple die sets from Spellbinders Paper Arts to create the shaped card.  The crinkle ribbon is from 3 Girl JAM.

Imagine That! Digistamp products used on this card:

 Rose Blessings

Romance set 1

Sentimental Thoughts

I hope you join us this month the Imagine That! Digistamp Creative Playground challenge.  You have until June 2 to link up.  Use an Imagine That! Digistamp image to win the great Pretty Petunias set for free! 

A Watercolor Thank You -- for Pickled Potpourri

Happy Friday, everyone!  I'm posting today for Pickled Potpourri.  I discovered their digital stamps when using them for a challenge blog and loved them (and their reasonable price!) so begged to be on the team!  Here I am today with my first official card and a tutorial.
First, a view of the finished card:

I used Pickled Potpourri's Dahlia digital stamp for this card.  The 'thank you' sentiment is part of the Rose Sentiments set.

Here's how I colored the Dahlia digital stamp:

I started by adding the colors I wanted to use on a palette.  I used watercolor crayons. These are the colors I used on the flower petals.  I used a fairly dry brush. I tend to dip my brush, then pinch it with my fingers before using it. 

Here's those 3 colors blended on one flower...

all three flowers completed:

I worked on shading each of them a bit differently.

Last, I needed to finish the stems and leaves.  I used the same technique:

Here's one more view of the finished card:

There you have it!  This Dahlia digital stamp was perfect to practice my watercoloring technique with.  It's pretty no fail, and very fun!  Check it out for yourself!

The card was cut out on my Silhouette Cameo, with a file I found in the Silhouette Design Store.  The flowers are from my stash.  They started out white and I inked them with a couple colors of Tim Holtz distress inks. 

I'll be back later in the month with another Pickled Potpourri post.  Yeehaw! 

Pop Up Flowers for You -- and The Cutting Cafe

Hello, and happy spring!  The daffodils are blooming here where I live, the trilliums are beginning to open up, and it won't be long until we have lilacs.  This is my favorite time of year!

This week, at The Cutting Cafe, we're featuring pop up cards.  Since I've been so moved by all the daffodils I've been seeing, I decided to feature them on a pop up card:

I used 2 different sets from The Cutting Cafe.  The pop up card was created with the Assorted Pop Up Cards Templates and Cutting Files.  Then, I printed the daffodil from the Beautiful Flowers Printable Stamp Set multiple times in various sizes and fussy cut them.  The designer paper background is part of the Beautiful Flowers Printable Stamp Set. 

Pop up cards are so fun when the recipient open them up, and voila!  The vase and flowers literally pop out at them!  So fun!

I hope you check out the other pop up cards that The Cutting Cafe design team makes this week.  You can see them in the Cutting Cafe Be inspired Facebook group, and on The Cutting Cafe blog.  Leave a comment and you could win 3 sets of your choice. They'll be on the blog May 21. 

A Watercolor Sneak Peek -- for Pickled Potpourri

Happy Tuesday, everyone!  Are we more than half-way through this month already?  

I am on the Pickled Potpourri blog today.  This is a new design team for me.  I discovered their digital stamps and papers when working with them for a challenge blog.  I liked them so much, and the prices are so reasonable, I begged to be on the design team! 

I'm going to give you a sneak of what's on the Pickled Potpourri blog today so you'll head over there to see the tutorial and full card.  I've been playing with watercolor crayons and having fun!  Please leave a comment there so I know you visited.  Thanks!

Dahlia Digital Stamp

You Touch My Heart -- for Path of Positivity

Greetings, and happy Monday!  It is a very happy Monday for me as I return to work.  I've been off for 5 months, battling cancer and recovering from chemotherapy.  I'm so happy I'm feeling good enough to return to the job I love and to the people I love at the nursing home!

It's time for a little mid-month inspiration at the Path of Positivity Challenge Blog. The theme this month is "Present, not Perfect".  We want you to step out of your comfort zone a bit and try something you wouldn't normally try.  For me this month, I've been experimenting with different types of watercolors.  

One of our sponsors this month is Pickled Potpourri Designs.  I used one of the 4 images in the Botanical Minis set and watercolor crayons to create this:

I only had 12 watercolor crayons.  They were Neocolor II, from Caran D'ache.  I really liked how easily they blended and dissolved with water.  I put them on a palette, then used a fairly dry paint brush to paint the image.   The sentiment is also from Pickled Potpourri. 

I'm really enjoying the theme, 'Present, not Perfect' this month.  It has given me license to try new things and not worry if they don't turn out as great as I'd like them to.  How else to we grow, if we don't challenge ourselves to new adventures?  I hope you'll join us at Path of Positivity Challenge Blog, and try something new, too.  You have until June 4. 

Hold Fast to Dreams! for MHKDesigns

Hello, my friends.  Today is a very big day for me!  Not only am I on the MHKDesigns blog, which is always a treat, but I'm also heading back to work after being away for 5 months.  I had 4 months of chemo and a month to recover.  Now, it's time to return to the people and the job that I love.  My heart is ready, and I hope my body is, too.

Langston Hughes said, "Hold fast to dreams, for if dreams die, life is a broken-winged bird that cannot fly."  It has taken much courage to keep my dreams alive some days this winter, and it has taken support from many incredible friends and family.  I thought of those people when I made this card, using MHKDesigns Birdcage Silhouettes.

Both the printed birdcage and the Langston Hughes quote are part of the Birdcage Silhouettes digital stamp set.  I found the birdcage charm in my stash, and just had to use it!  Designer papers on this card are also from MHKDesigns.  They are the Get Well Flowers digital papers. 

MHKDesigns products used:

Birdcage Silhouettes

Get Well Flowers Digital Papers

Have you entered this month's MHKDesigns challenge yet?  There's still plenty of time.  It's Anything Goes, if you use an MHKDesigns image, or there's an inspiration picture board if you choose to use something else (or need a little inspiration).  Please join in!  I'd love to see what you make, and you have a chance to win some great MHKDesigns digis!  Yea!  Please join in on the MHKDesigners & Friends Facebook Group, too, for more inspiration,  fun, and news. 

Springtime Bright -- for Crafty Sentiments Designs

Happy Tuesday, fellow crafters!  It's time for another challenge at Crafty Sentiments Challenge Blog and this week, we're thinking "Bright Colors".  That's a fun theme!

I used the adorable rubber stamp "Patsy & Gizmo - Cuddles" to create this for the Bright Colors challenge:

I colored Patsy and Gizmo - Cuddles with Copic markers, then used Spellbinders dies to create the card base.  The crinkle ribbon is from 3 Girl JAM.  I left the card without a sentiment as I thought it spoke for itself.

I hope you join us this week for our 'Bright Colors' challenge at Crafty Sentiments Challenge Blog.  There's also a challenge each month in our Crafty Sentiments Facebook group. 

Shoes Changed My Life -- for Great Impressions Stamps

Hello, fellow crafters and stamp lovers!  Today starts a new month-long challenge at Great Impressions Stamps.  This month's theme is: Feminine.  

I have 2 very fun, coordinating stamps from Great Impressions Stamps that I used for this month's challenge.  They are Butterfly Shoe rubber stamp (F523) & Changed My Life rubber stamp (D441).  Here's what I created:

Isn't that fun?!?  I heat embossed the Butterfly Shoe stamp (F523), then stamped the oh-so-fun sentiment (Changed my Life - D441) on a heart-shaped die cut.  

I found the heart paper in my stash.  The scalloped die cut behind the shoe is from Lawn Fawn. 

I hope you can join us this month at Great Impressions Stamps for our 'Feminine' challenge.   Use Great Impressions Stamps if you have them, and double your chance of winning a prize! 

Play Everyday! for The Cutting Cafe

Hello, fellow crafters, and happy weekend!  After having to take a break for a few months during my chemo treatments, I'm happily back with The Cutting Cafe, using Regina's wonderful files! 

This week, the design team is featuring pinwheels.  You'll see pinwheels galore when you visit The Cutting Cafe Blog on or after May 7.  Leave a comment and you could win 3 sets of your choice! 

Here's my idea of a pinwheel project:

I used several Cutting Cafe files to create this happy card.  The Pinwheel Sentiment & Cutting File Set were used to create the pinwheel and the 'Play Everyday' sentiment.  The flower in the middle of the pinwheel came from the Card in a Box embellishment set. 

Papers on this card are from Echo Park.  The frame dies are by Lawn Fawn.  The washi tape is from my stash. 

I hope you check out all the wonderful creations by the super talented Cutting Cafe design team.  You won't be disappointed.  It is so great to be back on this team!  They have supported me so much through my cancer journey. 

Sympathy and Ink -- for Great Impressions Stamps

Greetings, fellow stampers!  I'm happy to be back on the Great Impressions Stamps design team after having to take a break during my chemo treatments.  I absolutely LOVE their stamps, so it's so fun to be creating with them again!

I don't often heat emboss, but that's the joy of working with real stamps like Great Impressions Stamps instead of digital ones.  So, I got out the embossing inks and created a couple of cards that I needed using Great Impressions Stamps Wildflower Silhouette (H184) and With Sympathy (B206):

I created both cards by heat embossing the Wildflower Silhouette (H184) image with black embossing powder.  I then sponged on Tim Holtz Distress Oxide inks in the background, using various shaped cutting dies to back them. I can never seem to have enough Sympathy cards, so I'm pleased to have these to add to the stash. 

If you haven't joined the challenge yet at Great Impressions stamps, there's still a few more days.  A new challenge will start on May 7. 

You're the Cat's Meow -- for Imagine That! Digistamp

Hello, and happy Tuesday, fellow crafters.  It's New Release day at Imagine That! Digistamp.  

Kristy has taken a bit of a break the last couple months, so it's so fun to have her back creating for us again! I've missed you, Kris! There are 3 new sets in today's New Release -- Bedtime Monique, Girls Night In, and Slumber Party.  I used a very small portion of Girls Night In to create this:

I colored the sleepy cat from Girl's Night In with Copic markers. The sentiment is also from the Girl's Night In set.  The designer papers on this card, also from Imagine That! Digistamp,  are the Cat Pack digi papers.  Any cat lover will love these papers!  

Check out the other new releases on the Imagine That! Digistamp blog today.  There will also be more fun and inspiration in the Imagine That! Digistamp Facebook Group. 

Happy Mother's Day -- for Path of Positivity Challenge Blog

Happy May, fellow crafters!  I'm so excited to share with you about this month's challenge at the Path of Positivity Challenge blog.  It starts today and runs all month. This month's theme is "present, not perfect."  This can be interpreted a number of ways.  Ever had someone close to you get sick, or a loved one die, and you didn't know how to reach out to the sick one of the ones left behind?  Often, being present is enough.  You don't need to say the perfect thing.  Just be there for them.  Present, not perfect.  This can also apply to our art.  Afraid to try new techniques because they look too hard?  This is your chance!  Present, not perfect!  Just try, perfection is not required!  (see below)

One of our sponsors this month is Imagine That! Digistamp.  I always love working with the wide variety of images available in the Imagine That! Digistamp store.  Today, I have a card I created using the Daffodil digital stamp set.

I tried a new-to-me coloring medium on this card, watercolor pencils.  I have had a few in my possession for years, but recently branched out and bought more colors.  This was my first attempt with them.  I found it more difficult to get the contrast I'm used to.  The colors kept washing out on me.  Maybe that's why it's called watercolor?  I didn't have a light blue pencil, so used a blue from a very inexpensive watercolor set for the wash around the daffodil.  I had a lot of trouble with this 'wash' technique.  I don't know if my lack of skills, the brushes I have, or the paint I used, but I wasn't pleased with the results.  That's why this month's theme is great.  Present, not perfect!

Papers on this card are from MHKDesigns and are digital.  I used a Spellbinders card creator set, a sentiment from Close To My Heart, and tried Nuvo Crystal Drops for the first time.  I wasn't totally happy with those either, but I think there might be a learning curve with those, too. 

I hope you can join us this month at the Path of Positivity for our "Present, not Perfect" challenge.  It's the perfect opportunity to try something new!  You have until June 4 to join in the fun!

Imagine That! Digistamp's Daffodil

Peace on Earth -- for the 12 Months of Christmas Link Up

It's another new month, and it's another new challenge at The 12 Months of Christmas Link Up.  It's never too early to start on those 2017 Christmas cards, so come link up with us!  This month, the optional theme is "Cute Christmas", so just about any card will fit that theme. 

Our guest sponsor this month is Mari's Digis, and the wonderful digi papers were created by Decosse's Dynamite Doodles. Here's what I created for the challenge:

I colored the Mari's Digi image B63 with Comic markers.  I used a die from Lawn Fawn to back the image, then attached it to 3 papers from Decosse's Dynamite Doodle's Cute Christmas digital papers set. 

Mari's Digis

Decosse's Dynamite Doodles

Come join the fun this month at The 12 Months of Christmas Link Up!  There's great prizes to win, and I'd love to see what you make! 

Happy Birthday -- for MHKDesigns

May 1, May day, and the start of my favorite month of the year.  It's also the start of a new challenge at MHKDesigns.  Our challenges are Anything Goes if you use an MHKDesigns product.  If not, there is an inspiration board for you to follow.  

Since I can always use another birthday card to add to the stash, I used the May inspiration board to create this:

I made this shaker card using the MHKDesigns Eat Your Cake digital stamp set.  I used watercolor pencils on the cake.  The designer papers, also from MHKDesigns, are Rosy Posy digital papers.

MHKDesigns products used on this card:

Eat Your Cake digital stamp set

Rosy Posy digital paper pack

Here's the May picture board, if you'd like it for inspiration.

I hope you can join the challenge at MHKDesigns. It goes all month and I'd love to see what you create!