Watercolor Wednesday: The Greeting Farm + Peerless Watercolors

Hi everyone! I'm back with another Watercolor Wednesday video for you! Surprised?! I know I am! haha I pulled out my Peerless Watercolors for this one and decided to try no line coloring once again. I did no line coloring a couple years ago but hated the way I would draw back in the faces so I just stopped. It would be frustrating to spend all that time coloring only to mess up the face when I tried to draw it back in. When I first started hearing about the MISTI, the main reason I wanted it was to eliminate that problem of having to draw the faces back in. I tried it out on this image and I am happy to report that it worked out perfectly - exactly as I had hoped!!!

Today I am using Frou Frou Royal by The Greeting Farm. Isn't she adorable?! I love how she turned out and I hope you will enjoy the process video below but don't take my word for it, you can see for yourself how awesome the MISTI is for this technique!

Thanks so much for stopping by today! I would love it if you would click on the button below to subscribe to my blog to let me know you enjoy what you see and would like to see more! 

Supply List:
The Greeting Farm (Frou Frou Royal)
Ranger Distress Ink (Antique Linen)
Tsukineko Versafine Onyx Black ink
Arches 140lb Hot Pressed Watercolor Paper
Peerless Watercolors
Zig Wink of Stella Glitter Brush Pen (Clear)
Silver Black Velvet 3000S Round 2 & 4 Watercolor Paintbrush
Bo Bunny 6x6 Paper Pad (Altitude)
Pretty Pink Posh Sequins
My Favorite Things Die-Namices (Blueprints 20)
White Gel Pen
Micron Pen .5

Blitsy Feature: Happy National Coffee Day to all my fellow coffee + mixed media lovers!

Hi Everyone! I am up on the Blitsy today with a new project. In honor of all my fellow coffee lovers on this most awesome of holidays. Happy National Coffee Day! Here is a sneak peek, please check out my post HERE for a full reveal plus my process video!

Guy Tang Inspired Copic Hair Coloring featuring The Greeting Farm

Hi Everyone! I was thrilled when The Greeting Farm asked if I would be a guest for their new YouTube Video channel and of course I said yes. The day has finally arrived and I can share my first video with you! I absolutely love the new Merbean Collection and of course I got every single one during the pre order. I couldn't resist. Today, I decided to use Mishell because she is absolutely adorable. I decided to play with her hair because she's a mermaid and mermaids can have any color hair they want! Using a photo as my inspiration, I will show you in the video how Sandy Allnock's Hex chart has been super helpful in choosing colors.

Here is a close up of the coloring. I am really happy with how her hair turned out. So without chatting much further, take a look - oh, and there is a giveaway in the video I thought I better mention, so definitely check it out! ;)

Thanks so much for stopping by today! I would love it if you would click on the button below to subscribe to my blog to let me know you enjoy what you see and would like to see more! 

Supply List:

The Greeting Farm stamps (Mishell - Limited Edition, Sparkle & Shine)

The Greeting Farm die cuts (Sparkle & Shine)

Copics:

Skin: E50, E51, E11, BV20, R20, R01

Hair: BV20, BV31, BV23, BV25, V17, BG11, BG34, BG23, FBG2

Tail: E50, C1, C2, C4

Starfish/shells: E93, E95, YR02, E00, R01, R30

Pearls: Fabercastell Pitt Artist Pen Metallic (Green, Copper)

Crown: Zig Wink of Stella (Gold/Silver)

Perfect Pearl (Salmon)

My Favorite Things Die-namics (Blueprints 20)

My Favorite Things Gold Cardstock

Tsukineko Tuxedo Black ink

Tsukineko Tuxedo Black Marker

Simon Says Stamp Clear Sequins

May Arts Gold/White Bakers Twine

Helmar Zap Dots

3M Scotch Double Sided Foam Adhesive

3M Scotch Advanced Tape Glider Adhesive

Watercolor Wednesday: The Greeting Farm + Zig Clean Color Real Brush

Hi Everyone! Today I'm watercoloring Frou Frou Birthday by The Greeting Farm from the Frou Frou Collection. There are four adorable stamps available in this line and they are the perfect size for watercoloring. Check out my first video coloring Frou Frou Sweet HERE (only done eons ago! LOL) I have two more Frou Frou's to color for you coming in the next couple weeks. So much for my series back in, oh, April?! Oyi vey! 

Anyway, I love using Strathmore Watercolor 5x7 cards to create one layer cards when I'm going to watercolor. I normally cut them down to an A2 size but these stamps are pretty big so she has a lot more room to stand out if I keep them the 5x7 size so that is what I did. I pulled out my Zig Clean Color Real Brush markers as well as my Kuretake Gansai Tambi watercolors to do my coloring today. I filmed my process, so enjoy the video and I will explain how it all came together as well as how I am finally obsessed with the MISTI.

Thanks so much for stopping by today! I would love it if you would click on the button below to subscribe to my blog to let me know you enjoy what you see and would like to see more! 

Supply List:
The Greeting Farm (Frou Frou Birthday)
Tsukineko Versafine Onyx Black ink
Tsukineko Versamark
Strathmore Watercolor PreScored Cards 5x7
Zig Clean Color Real Brush Markers -
Skin (No. 071 Flesh Color, No.069 Blush, No.222 Pink Flamingo, No. 803 English Lavendar)
Hair (No. 061 Light Brown, No. 068 Deep Brown)
Dress (No. 033 Persian Green, No.050 Yellow, No. 230 Pale Rose, No. 901 Gray Tint)
Hat/Presents (No. 038 Peacock Blue, No. 230 Pale Rose, No. 902 Natural Gray, No. 010 Black)
Zig Wink of Stella Glitter Brush Pen (Clear)
Kuretake Gansai Tambi Watercolors (No. 50, No. 61, No.54)
Imagine Crafts by Tsukineko Embossing Powder (Clear)
Ranger Embossing Powder (Liquid Platinum)
Yasutomo Niji Waterbrushes - Small Round
Silver Black Velvet 3000S Round 8 Watercolor Paintbrush

Jane's Doodles: Coloring Open Stamps with Solid Stamps + Shaker Card

Hi everyone! Today I have another card featuring Jane's Doodles stamps. I was sent this Winnie Halloween stamp set and I figure with Halloween just over a month away, it was time to pull her out and get her on a card. I wanted to try a technique out using solid stamps to color open line art stamps with different colored inks. This technique is a lot of fun because you can get a stamp colored super fast  to concentrate more on coloring your focal image like I did on my card today. As if one technique wasn't enough, I had to go ahead and try to make a shaker card again. I don't know when to quit! haha

I went ahead and filmed my process for you today so check it out below or on my YouTube channel. 

I'm excited to hopefully bring you more process videos. I just love to color, make cards, play with paint, watercolor and try new things to share with and hopefully inspire you to do the same! I added a new banner on my YT channel so it is more cohesive with my blog as well as my Facebook page. If you aren't already following me on both, I would love it if you would do that! I even started to create playlists on my YT channel to make it easier to find things if you are looking specifically for Copic Coloring, Watercolors or Mixed Media! 

Thanks so much for stopping by today! I would love it if you would click on the button below to subscribe to my blog to let me know you enjoy what you see and would like to see more! 

Supply List:

Jane's Doodles (Winnie Halloween)

Tsukineko Memento Tuxedo Black

Copic Xpress It Blending Card

Copic Markers - Skin (E000, E00, E11, V20, R20, R01)

Hair (YG05, YG25, W3)

Dress (BV02, BV32, C7, Y18, Y13, W5)

Pumpkin (Y38, YR16, YR18, E25)

Hat/Shoes (W5, W7, W9)
Zig Wink of Stella Clear & Gold
Tsukineko Staz On Opaque Cotton White ink

WPlus9 Pure Color Dye Ink (Last Leaf, Pumpkin Spice, Warm Wool)

Simon Says Stamp Dye Ink (Wisteria)

Paper Smooches (Cute Fruit, Hot Concoctions)

Essentials by Ellen (Bokeh Dots)

Simon Says Stamp (Stitched Circles Dies)

Imagine Crafts Tear It! Tape
Helmar Zap Dots

3M Scotch Double Sided Foam Adhesive

3M Scotch Advanced Tape Glider Adhesive
Bakers Twine (black and white)
Pretty Pink Posh Sequins
Recollections White Stars

My Favorite Things: Ink Blending + Copic Coloring

Hi everyone! I have a few cards to share with you today and I'm going to split it into two posts so they don't get overwhelming! I knew I wanted to try entering a couple more times for the My Favorite Things You Could be a Card Designer Superstar contest that ends tonight and I finally have a moment to pop them up on my blog! Be sure to check out the other post HERE.

Like I mentioned in the other post, the contest ends tonight and to spark my creativity, I turned to the MFT Card Challenges. 

For this card, I am following the Sketch Challenge. This sketch caught my eye right away because it features my absolute FAVORITE MFT stencil that I am a teensy bit obsessive with - but it might be because it's my ONLY MFT stencil. I definitely need to fix that! I kept my overall card design very clean and simple (something I am working on - it's so hard to leave the white space alone without thinking it needs just one.more.thing. LOL) 

I started by using the Jumbo Peek A Boo dies to create my circle stencil. Then I placed the Abstract Stencil over that to do my ink blending. The way I blended and the colors I chose it turned into a little sunset scene which I think is just adorable. 

I asked my girls to go through my MFT stamp stash and each pick out a set they wanted me to use…they BOTH wanted me to use MFT BB You Have My Heart! haha That was easy! This stamp was one of the first MFT stamps I purchased and I absolutely still adore her. These images are so fun and simple to color - another bonus! I also love that their is a companion die set to make fussy cutting so much easier. My little tip since they are a closed die, die cut it first and then stamp it. I was SOOOOO nervous trying to cut her out after I had colored the stamp but luckily it worked out.

Again, my oldest played with me and created this PAWsitively AWESOME card! She is my Washi Tape girl. LOL She uses it on everything and I think she did an awesome job layering them to make her own pattern paper background. Yeah, I'm a teensy bit biased. And dang, I just saw how she gave her pup a cute pink ear - I should have done that!!! haha

Thanks so much for stopping by today! I would love it if you would click on the button below to subscribe to my blog to let me know you enjoy what you see and would like to see more! 

Supply List:

My Favorite Things stamps (BB-11 You Have My Heart)
My Favorite Things Dienamics (Blueprints 20 & Blueprints 24, Jumbo Peek-A-Boo Circle Window)
My Favorite Things Abstract Stencil
Copics: Skin - E000, E00, E11, R22, R20, BV20
Hair - BV04, BV08, B26, BV29
Dress - Y21, YR31, W5, E41, E42
Grass - YG17, G46, BG96
Tsukineko Memento Tuxedo Black
Tsukineko Versafine Onyx Black 
3M Scotch Double Sided Foam Adhesive

3M Scotch Advanced Tape Glider Adhesive

My Favorite Things: Heat Embossing + Watercolor

Hi everyone! I have a few cards to share with you today and I'm going to split it into two posts so they don't get overwhelming! I knew I wanted to try entering a couple more times for the My Favorite Things You Could be a Card Designer Superstar contest that ends tonight and I finally have a moment to pop them up on my blog! Be sure to check out the other post HERE.

Since time was of the essence to get cards made for the challenge, I decided to spark my inspiration by playing in this week's MFT Card Challenges as well! I am so glad I did because I have missed playing in these two challenges. This one follows the current color Challenge.

I started by embossing this gorgeous MFT Roses All Over BG stamp with Ranger Enchanted Gold embossing powder. I have acute glitter phobia but I had been seeing this in use a lot lately and since I already had it sitting on my shelf, I figured why not?! It is absolutely stunning in real life. I wish the photos could capture the shimmer and shine on this card! I used Zig Clean Color Real Brush markers to color the background in the colors of the challenge. To create my sentiment, I love all the large sentiments of the MFT Written In Watercolor stamps but it wouldn't quite fit on my banner…so, I cut it!! I never used to cut my stamps like this but finally realized it doesn't hurt the stamps and it can make them even more versatile. It is a lot easier to place than doing selective stamping or masking. I also used my MISTI to do all my stamping today and I have to wonder why I was so afraid of it - it made everything so much easier! Speaking of easy, hands down, one of my favorite tools in my craft room to make cards are the MFT Die-namics Blueprints. I love combining them like I've done here with Blueprints 20 and Blueprints 24.

My girls wanted to play along with me and I promised I would post their cards to my blog - they love crafting and stamping and coloring just as much as I do…in fact, probably more. I love how they just make to make and aren't concerned about anything else. They find true joy in the process and they color a TON! I find stamped images all over the house as much as legos around here. LOL My younger daughter used the MFT BB You Gnome Me set. I LOVE her clean and simple style here! 

Thanks so much for stopping by today! I would love it if you would click on the button below to subscribe to my blog to let me know you enjoy what you see and would like to see more! 

Supply List:

My Favorite Things stamps (Roses All Over, Written In Watercolor)

My Favorite Things Dienamics (Blueprints 20 & 24)

Tsukineko Versamark

Ranger Embossing Powder (Enchanted Gold)

Paper Source Embossing Powder (White)

Zig Clean Color Real Brush Pens

Papertrey Ink Cardstock (Aquamist)

WPlus9 Cardstock (Coal Mine)

Lawn Fawn Lawn Trimmings (Silver Sparkle Hemp Cord)

Pretty Pink Posh Sequins (Summer Mix)

3M Scotch Double Sided Foam Adhesive

3M Scotch Advanced Tape Glider Adhesive
Thermoweb Zots Bling Tiny Adhesive Dots

Watercolor Wednesday: Backgrounds with Cosmo Cricket Just Add Water

Hi Everyone! I have two cards for you today - I know it's been quiet here but the first two weeks of the month is always a busy time for me as I work to meet deadlines for Blitsy!! Filming, photographing and editing, oh my, but I *hope* you will LOVE what I have in store for you next month so be sure to follow my blog and Blitsy's blog to see the projects when they are published! I can tell you I have some watercoloring, mixed media and something a bit out of my comfort zone lined up! ;)

When I got everything wrapped up and submitted for the month, I wanted to reward myself with some free play! There are many challenges that pass me by week after week and I really want to get into the habit of playing in them again. I pulled out some watercolors, stamps by two of my favorite companies WPlus9 and My Favorite Things and got started.

Here is my first card. I created this card for the Guest Designer Search at Pretty Pink Posh that ended yesterday. After much waffling, I decided I had to at least try out! She asked us to create a card using one of 4 samples as inspiration. I chose Joni's bright and watercolored background as my inspiration. I used the Zig Clean Color Real Brush markers to add my watercolor. It is so hard to photograph the gold foil on this Cosmo Cricket Just Add Water paper but it adds such a great elegant touch. I stamped the elephant from the Unforgettable Wplus9 set with Distress Ink Pumice Stone because I wanted the lines to be soft and subtle once I added my color. I used the matching dies to cut him out then popped him up over the sentiment panel which I white embossed like Joni did on her card. I really love how the white embossing looks on the dark card stock. Might have to do this technique again! I used dimensional adhesive to pop up each panel of the card and finished with some Pretty Pink Posh clear and star sequins. This card also fits Virginia's View Challenge #18: Geometric Patterns and Simon Says Stamp Die Crazy Wednesday Challenge so I'm entering it there as well! Yay for entering challenges again! There are so many great ones out there, it's hard to keep up and I'm thankful for someone telling me about this one on Facebook. :D

For this card, I also used some of the Cosmo Cricket Just Add Water paper (I cut up all the 12x12 sheets into 4x6 to make it easy to grab and go for card backgrounds.) On this card, I used my Kuretake Gansai Tambi watercolors. They are so lush and creamy. I love this Birthday Bear stamp set and knew with the bright background I wanted to have a black bear on my card. We have a lot of them here in Colorado and actually, they had to a popular trail because of notsosmart people using SELFIE STICKS to try to get close to the bears and get pictures?! For realz?! OMG! Sometimes there are no words. LOL Anyway, MY bear is a cutie patootie that just lost his balloon. I colored the balloon with Copics and paper pieced it on after I stamped where I wanted it directly on the background. Then I added Wink of Stella Clear Glitter and Glossy Accents to give it some dimension. Doesn't he look so sweet as he looks at his lost ballon so this sentiment seemed to be perfect. I added the strip of glitter tape under the bear because he needed something to ground him so he wasn't just floating around on the card like the balloon. Since I still had my Pretty Pink Posh sequins out, I added some as a final touch to this card as well. 

Did you hear that My Favorite Things is having a really cool You Could be a Card Design Superstar contest?! If you haven't, definitely CHECK IT OUT! 10 Winners!!! There are TWO days left to enter so you know me, my mojo is just now revving up as the deadline approaches. haha I really admire my friends that create right away or two weeks before a deadline…but that's just not my jam! So, here I am entering this bear card the first of my submissions to this amazing contest. You can enter up to 5 times! Eeeep! I already told my hubby that as soon as the kids are in bed this entire week, I'm going to be in my craft room. Good thing he is enjoying some game on the Xbox currently. LOL He doesn't miss me as much. ;) 

Thanks so much for stopping by today! I would love it if you would click on the button below to subscribe to my blog to let me know you enjoy what you see and would like to see more! 

Supply List:

Card 1-

WPlus9 Unforgettable Stamp Set and Matching Dies

WPlus9 Gift Card Layers Die

My Favorite Things Die-namics Blueprints 15 & 24

Cosmo Cricket Just Add Water Paper

Zig Clean Color Real Brush watercolor pens

Ranger Distress Ink Pumice Stone

Pretty Pink Posh Sequins and Stars

White Embossing Powder

Tsukineko Versamark Ink

3M Scotch Double Sided Foam Adhesive

3M Scotch Advanced Tape Glider Adhesive

Waterbrush

Card 2-

My Favorite Things Birthday Bears

My Favorite Things Die-namics Blueprints 15 & 24

Cosmo Cricket Just Add Water paper

Kuretake Gansai Tambi Watercolors

Silver Black Velvet Watercolor Brush Round Size 6

Copic Markers: C4, C6, C8, 100, E71, E74, E77, Y11, Y13, Y14, Y17

Zig Wink of Stella Glitter Brush Pen - Clear

Pretty Pink Posh Sequins

Ranger Glossy Accents

3M Scotch Double Sided Foam Adhesive

3M Scotch Advanced Tape Glider Adhesive

Jane's Doodles - One Layer Watercolor Card

Hi everyone! I have two quick cards for you today because I'm not feeling the best. I got some new Zig Clean Color Real Brush watercolor markers and am LOVING the soft colors. One of my favorite techniques to do with watercolors is make one layer cards. I think watercolors are so pretty that they don't need to compete with a lot of layers. Today I used the Anemone stamp set again from Jane's Doodles. I absolutely love water coloring florals. You don't have to be perfect because I think the beauty is in the imperfections. 

I started both of these cards on premade Strathmore Watercolor Cards. They come 5x7 but I prefer to make A2 (4.25"x5.5") cards so I trim them down. Then I inked up each stamp with Tsukineko Versamark Ink and used white embossing powder to emboss each floral image before coloring. Once all the coloring was done and dry I just added a few sequins from Pretty Pink Posh and called it done! I think they turned out so pretty. 

Are you on Periscope? I am addicted to this new platform of sharing live videos. I shared this morning how I colored these stamps and you can catch the replay HERE for 24 hours! Hope you will check it out and follow me to catch my future scopes. :D It is really fun to interact with you live as I create for you!

Thanks so much for stopping by today! I would love it if you would click on the button below to subscribe to my blog to let me know you enjoy what you see and would like to see more! 

Supply List:
Jane's Doodles - Anemone
Strathmore Watercolor Cards
Tsukineko Versamark Ink
Imagine Crafts White Embossing Powder
Zig Clean Color Real Brush Watercolor Markers (Green Shadow, Shadow Mauve, Pink Flamingo, Light Carmine, Mid Green, Haze Blue, Blue Grey)
Tsukineko Versafine Onyx Black
Waterbrush
Pretty Pink Posh sequins
ThermoWeb Tiny Glue Dots

Submitting to publications: Before and After!

Hi everyone! Have you seen the latest issue from Scrapbook & Cards Today? It's a special issue called Creative Cards Vol. 1 and it's going to feature over 100 card designs! I am SO excited because one of MY cards is in this publication! 

I wanted to share with you a bit of back story on this how this came to be. I have only ever been published once before in 2011 and it was super exciting for me to get that amazing email from Susan Opel at Paper Crafts to say my card had been accepted! I have called myself a one hit wonder since but it's only because it is intimidating to submit to publications! You have to put yourself and your art out there but then if you don't, you can't complain about not getting published either. haha 

This summer, I decided I didn't want to be afraid of submitting to publications anymore! I wanted to make the time to really focus on finding out about publications calls and TRYING to keep track of the deadlines so I can send in a few cards to each one. I also wanted to reach out to a former editor that I have the utmost respect for and get some tips on what editors are looking for as they sift through hundreds of card designs for their magazine. So, I sent a little PM to Susan Opel and not only did she respond with some tips but that she would also be happy to take a look at my cards and give me some one on one critique before I submitted them. What?! Heck yes! So, I thought it would be fun to share with you the before and after of this card design and even though it didn't get picked, I think you can tell that the design got tons better and I definitely picked up some great tips! 

My card before:

First of all, don't mind the poor photo - I took it with my phone just to send to Susan for a quick look over. I didn't bother with lighting, etc. 

Here is what Susan replied with:

And don’t be nervous! I’ve counseled MANY card makers on design. I’m not an expert, but I know the types of things we looked for at Paper Crafts that made things publishable-worthy. I think I could use some advice sometimes. And my sister is NOT afraid to give it to me. LOL She has a degree in art, so I usually don’t argue.

OK - Here’s my two cents.

• Cute how you added the bow tie to the onesie!
• Good color choices. I feel like the aqua background should match the bow tie, though.
• The sentiment feels like a bit of an after thought. Maybe if you put on a banner that might give it more weight and meaning.
• The onesie being off-centered feels a little off to me. Like it’s not off enough. I would center it.
• Honestly, the inked edges look a little dated to me. I always think that popping things up on foam tape gives the needed depth.
• What if you added a subtle background stamp to the main blue panel? I’m not sure if that would work or not. Just thinking aloud.
• I’m also wondering what a coordinating patterned paper would look like for the card base rather than the white. 

So, I took all of that awesome advice and redid my card. Here is what I ended up submitting:

I literally squealed as I saw it come together and emailed Susan back! I mean, I loved it so much more than the original card! It felt so much more complete. I feel like I took her advice but it still had me in the overall design. Like the banner, I had no where to put the banner so I stamped the sentiment across the onesie die itself and embossed it. I think it looks more prominent (taking her advice) and not so much an afterthought anymore. 

So, you know what, this card isn't in the up coming Creative Cards Vol. 1 by Scrapbook & Cards Today but another design I submitted is! So, ORDER your copy today!! I can't wait to see all the other awesome cards in this issue and I'm excited to take all I've learned to continue to submit to publications. It's fun and exciting if you just remember to be true to yourself, be fearless and be creative (another piece of awesome advice from Ms. Susan herself!)

As you probably know, Susan is the Creative Ambassador for My Favorite Things. A go to resource for me is the My Favorite Things Educational Series! Definitely check it out for amazing design tips if you want to take your card making to the next level. Susan also runs the challenges for My Favorite Things at the MFT Card Challenges Blog.  

Thanks so much for stopping by today! I would love it if you would click on the button below to subscribe to my blog to let me know you enjoy what you see and would like to see more! 

Supplies:
The Greeting Farm Baby Onesie Die
Mama Elephant Just Hatched stamp set
My Favorite Things Plaid Patterns Paper Pack
My Favorite Things Wood Plank Background stamp
WPlus9 Sunshine Layers Die
Tsukineko Versafine Onyx Black Ink
Simon Says Stamp Big Mama Foam Adhesive 
Papertrey Ink Cardstock
Cuttlebug
Scotch 3M ATG Adhesive

Blitsy Creative Team: Mixed Media Pocket Letters

Hi Everyone! I am up on the Blitsy today with a new project. This time, I'm sharing my take on Pocket Letters by giving it a mixed media twist. Here is a sneak peek, please check out my post HERE for a full reveal plus my process video!

WPlus9 Pure Color Challenge - Multilayer Stamping!

Hi everyone! Today I wanted to join in the WPlus9 Pure Color Challenge #3. I bought the Watercolor Anemones, oh, I don't know, months ago when it was release because of THIS video Dawn posted on her blog and YT channel. She makes it look so easy and effortless but I was sooo apprehensive that I could ever achieve the same results but the stamp came home to me anyway. I had tried this multi layered stamping before with many failed results! The colors in this color challenge inspired me though and I knew I had to break out this stamp once and for all! I used a variety of dye inks from WPlus9 (Warm Wool, Hayride, Falling for Blue, Pumpkin Spice) and Simon Says Stamp (Melon, Duckling, Stone, Steel Blue) to do all of my stamping. 

For this first one, I used the large stamp with all of the florals and leaves as a guide. I stamped it 2nd generation with the light grey Stone ink. I wanted to start with this so I could kind of ease myself into the process! I'm so glad I did that because it made it so much easier. It was like a map and I could just follow it along with all of my layers. 

Here is a close up because you know I had to add Wink of Stella Clear on my word die! I used the Celebrate & Enjoy Die Cuts from The Greeting Farm with the matching stamps to create my sentiment for this card. I cut out the word celebrate 4 times from white cardstock and stacked them to create dimension. Then, because I wanted the word to match exactly I just ran my Warm Wool ink pad over the stacked die cuts to color it! I added a sprinkling of Pretty Pink Posh sequins to finish off this elegant card. 

After creating my first card, I felt pretty bold and wanted to try stamping without the guide! This is the result of that and while I'm not super happy with it (of course, I can see all the mistakes…), I do love how it turned out! I think I need to experiment more with different ink colors for the different layers when I do this again. I'm slowly building a better dye ink collection - I have to say I am LOVING the WPlus9 dye inks and colors so I will be picking up a few more of those when I can!

I have so many pictures for you and I'm trying to hurry up and post this so I can enter the challenge that ends today! haha I love inlaid die cutting so I decided to do that here with this Blessed word die from the Doodle Buds Die by WPlus9. It is always a little bit nerve wracking to cut through something you painstakingly stamped but it has almost ALWAYS been worth it to get such a lovely effect!

Again, I also added some clear Wink of Stella to the die cut and some sequins from Pretty Pink Posh. I also added a bit of twine that I used Ranger Multi Matte Medium to twist it and hold it's shape on my card. I hope I made sense today - I was so rushed in taking the pictures (ugh, I'm having such issues with picture taking lately - I wish these came out better) and writing this post. If you have any questions, please leave me a comment or send me an email!

Thanks so much for stopping by today! I would love it if you would click on the button below to subscribe to my blog to let me know you enjoy what you see and would like to see more! 

Jane's Doodles + Art Squares Birthday Card

Hi everyone! Today I am up on Jane's Doodles Blog with a birthday card I created using her gorgeous Anemone set. There is no video to go with this card not because I didn't have time (actually that is the real reason) but because I didn't want to have to try to pronounce Anemone for you! haha This stamp set is beautiful and comes with four sentiments making it a great versatile stamps set to have in your collection. I used the Happy Birthday sentiment because it's always great to have some of those on hand. I colored my image with Faber-Castell Polychromos pencils and added some white accents with Imagine Crafts irRESISTibles in Wedding Dress (one of my favorite embellishment mediums that you can find at Blitsy!) I kept the card design simple because these flowers really just pop against that smokey grey cardstock and I just clear heat embossed a wood grain stamp for some texture behind the image. 

I stamped my images in Tsukineko Versafine Onyx Black on Art Squares by Inchie Arts. They graciously sent me a variety of samples and I had in mind stamping on a grouping of the 2.5" squares and spacing them out a bit on my card but I ended up liking it better this way and added a strip of masking tape on the back to keep them together. It's now secret that I prefer to create on a smaller scale and I fell in love these tiny square. I want to play and explore with them a bit more but stay tuned as I will put together another blog post along with a video using this awesome substrate in your art! 

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