All My Love

     I just love to make Valentines Cards, so here's another one.

     This little bear from Penny Black's new release is perfect for a Valentine. I love the Pink and Gray combo too. 

     I stamped the bear on a 41/4" x 51/2" piece of Bristol Vellum Paper using Altenew Permanent Ink.

Then using my Zig Clean Color pens I water colored the image.  Using my stitched rectangles die, I first cut out the whole panel. Then I repositioned the die and cut it again so that it was 31/2" x 33/8".  I took the smaller piece and placed it back in the die to add the stitches to the edge that was cut off.  The sentiment was then stamped on the smaller piece. After that I added fun foam to the back of both pieces and matted them both with pink. I then Adhered both pieces to the front of the card.

  For the inside I stamped a sentiment also from the new release and some hearts in Pink.

Products used for this card:

Penny Black-All My Love #30-534

Penny Black-Love Sentiments #30-532

Zig Clean Color Real Brush pens

Strathmore Bristol Vellum Watercolor paper

Kat Scrappiness-Stitched Rectangles Dies

Recollections #110 CS

Ranger Archival ink (Watering Can)

Misti

I will be entering this card in these Challenges:

Penny Black Saturday Challenge-Anything Goes/Something New

Addicted to Stamps And More-Anything Goes

Crafty Creations-Anything Goes #383

Pile it On- Land and/or water animals

   

Bee Mine

     My card today is one I made for my 9 year old Granddaughter, Evelyn. This little girl reminds me of her, she loves to wear headbands with things attached to the ends. She's a very special little girl and just like this stamp,  her smile will melt you heart.

      I water colored her using my Arteza real brush pens. She was stamped first with Altenew Permanent Black ink on Strathmore Bristle vellum. I framed her with my Kat Scrappiness Stitched Rectangles die. I also cut a large stitched heart and a few small ones for the inside. I Used a piece of patterned paper from my Altenew 6"x 6" Reflections paper pack for the background. Then I adhered the Bee Girl to the left side and placed the pink heart to the right, just overlapping a little. I used a piece of washi tape and some foam for a flag at the bottom. I used Hero Arts heart gems on her head band and on the large heart. Then I added a little sparkle with my Spectrumnoir Sparkle pen, to her wings, the bees wings and her skirt.

On the inside I stamped the bees and added some hearts with, I heart you. I added a strip of the paper from the front and the big beautiful, Happy Valentines Day, stamp from Clearly Posh Stamps.

Supplies used: 

PB Fairy Love 30-530

Altenew reflections 6x6 paper pack

Altenew Permanent Black ink

Arteza Real Brush Pens

Strathmore Bristle Vellum Paper

Recollections cardstock

Hero Arts Gems

Clearly Posh Stamps sentiment

Washi tape from my stash

Spectrumnoir Sparkle Pen

I will be entering this card in these challenges:

Tuesday Morning Sketches #487

Addicted To Stamps Challenge #325 Photo Inspiration

Simon Says Stamps Wednesday Challenge Have A Heart

PBSC Anything Goes or Something New

Watercolor Wednesday Challenge "All About Holidays"

Watercolor Birthday

    So here we are, the first day of Spring in Rochester, NY. It's sunny with a few clouds, you know the white fluffy ones, and 30 degrees. Not very warm, but you can't have everything, I guess.  I can't wait to be able to open my windows and let the fresh air in, it's been way to long.
     My card today is one I made using a technique I saw in one of Jennifer McGuire's
 video's, I love this technique and have used it many times, with beautiful results.
     First I stamped my image on Canson watercolor paper. I inked up my stamp and spritzed it, quite a lot. and then stamped it. It came out even better than I expected and I set it aside to dry. I don't like to use my heat tool for drying as it might spread the ink where I don't want it, and sometimes warps the paper. Once dry I used my blue painters tape, (I stuck it to my arm to remove some of the stickiness first) and framed my stamped image with it. Then I took one of my background text stamps and inked it up, stamped it off on another piece of paper, then on my background. I repeated this several times using only a small section of the stamp. I used my blending tool and distress ink to color the background. When I took off my tape I had a center background with parts of the flower and branch outside of the inked area.
      I stamped my sentiment, trimmed down my card to 4" x 51/4"added some fun foam and adhered
it to a card.    
                                    
Supplies used:
Penny Black  #40-450 The Unfolding
Penny Black #30-413 Birthday Love
Distress Ink (Dusty Concord, Forest Moss, Shaded Lilac, Gathered Twiggs, Vintage Photo)
Ranger Archival ink (Black)
MISTI
Canson 140lb. watercolor paper
Recollections ivory 110lb. paper
Fun Foam
Blue Painters tape
I will be entering this card in these challenges:
CAS-Watercolor-March Challenge-Garden
Penny Black Saturday Challenge-Anything goes
Time Out Challenge- 4th Birthday
The Flower Challenge-#18 Anything goes

    
As always I hope you have a wonderfully, crafty day.
God Bless,
Karen

My Valentine

 Hi,
   My card today has a little story behind it so here goes. My husband and I have been married for 40 years and always celebrate Valentines as if it is our first. Candy, flowers and a special dinner. He gets candy too. He always finds just the right card to give me and I do the same. However in the past I've had to buy his card because I didn't have the right stamps to make one. This year I did.
    While browsing the Penny Black sight I found 2 stamps that were perfect for what I had in mind. Tom and Lily (40-098) and Sweetheart (40-503). I bought them and waited. As soon as they arrived I got to work on my vision for the perfect Valentines card for my sweet hubby.
     I stamped them, separately, on Tim Holtz white watercolor paper with black archival ink and used my Zig Clean Color Real Brush pens to color. When I was done coloring the heart wreath, I fussy cut it out leaving just a hint of white around the flowers. I then worked on coloring Tom and Lily, and added some blue to the background to look like sky and clouds. I stamped the Happy Valentine's Day in red Archival ink using Clearly Posh Stamps (POSH-CST_024) then went over it with a red glitter pen. I used some dimensional tape and popped up the heart around their heads. Then I stamped several different sized hearts with red archival ink and colored them with the red glitter pen. Lastly I found the Eternally Yours stamp in My stash (from the $ bin at Michael's) and stamped it on the bench. The birds are from Altenew's Be A Lighthouse set.

     

 I'm very excited to give this card to my wonderful hubby Dale, as we celebrate Love and Happiness this Valentine's Day.

I will be entering this card in these challenges: Mod Squad Challenge Valentine Love

                                                                       Simon Says Wednesday Challenge-Layer it Up

                                                                       Penny Black- January-Anything Goes

Have a very crafty day!

God Bless

Karen 

 

The Daily Marker 30 Day Challenge-(Days 4&5)

Hi All,

      Had some difficulty linking my project to Kathy's blog, but I finally figured it out. I guest when I read the first blog I forgot that all Links are to the first 30 Day challenge blog. I did post them on the 30 Day challenge Facebook page, but now that I know where I'm going I will be posting through my blog post.

       So (Day 4) was a Penny Black slapstick/cling and my Altenew markers. I haven't used the markers much yet but after watching several YouTube videos I went to work coloring this beautiful stamp. When I got done I decided to fussy cut it out, I love to fussy cut, and pop it up on a spellbinders A2 card creator die. I was very happy with the result.

Products used:

Penny Black #40-428 scented beauty

Altenew markers set A

Spellbinders Card Creator #S5-218 for A2 card

     For (Day 5) I went back to my Prismacolor pencils to see if the card I created with them on day 3 was a fluke. LOL. I used another Penny Black stamp and went to work. This one, I got for Christmas from my Hubby and I just love it. It has several different flowers and leaves so I could use lots of color, I was very excited to see how I would do.

     After I finished coloring it I went back and used my black pencil, very sharp tip, and  outlined the leaves and some of the flowers, this made everything pop and I love it.

I then added a few extra touches. I used my Tim Holtz brick stencil and some distress in to create a wall in the background and a sentiment from Penny Black. I used foam to pop the whole thing up on the card.

Products used:

Penny Black #40-466 Flower cascade

Penny Black #30-105 gratitude

Prismacolor soft core colored pencils

Tim Holtz Brick Stencil #THS038

Ranger distress ink

Ranger Archival ink

I will be linking these cards to: The Daily Marker 30 Day Coloring Challenge (Day 1)

Thanks for stopping by.

God Bless,

Karen

 

Happy Birthday

     My card today is for a very special young women. She is my son's wife and mother to my grandchildren. I've known her since she was a child of 12 and can tell you she is and amazing women. She takes care of a house, 3 kids, a husband, a cat and dog, she's a part time nanny and she somehow goes to college full time. I love her as if she were my own daughter and so I wanted to make her a very special card for her birthday.
     For Christmas my husband went all out and got me some amazing stamps by Penny Black, Zig clean color pens, and tons more. This card was made using some of them.
     Using Penny Black Slapstick/Cling #40-447 Poppy Gems I stamped with Versa Mark and embossed in black on watercolor paper. Then using my Zig pens I colored in the flowers in 2 colors using some black seed beads for the centers. I stamped the Happy Birthday from a  Stampabilites clear titles set. The butterfly is from Hampton Arts Cling,( Once upon a time springtime set). I added Light blue zig pen around the flowers, and fussy cut 3 butterflies for the front and inside the card.
     I hope she likes this card as much as I do.

I will be entering this card in these challenges:
My Favorite Things Color Challenge #61
Penny Black At Allsorts
Penny Black Saturday Challenge


Thanks for stopping by.
Happy Crafting!
God Bless,
Karen

Seasons

      Today I want to celebrate the beauty and joy of the changing seasons. 

 

      Winter; cold and not so much fun for most people, shoveling, wearing boots and heavy winter coats. However, there are also times, when you look out the window after a snow storm and everything is pure white and laced with snow and ice and it's the most beautiful thing you've ever seen. Building a snowman with your kids, sledding, skiing, snowboarding, when you have snowball fights or make snow angels, Christmas. Then Winter becomes a wonderland full of fun and excitement.

      Spring; crocuses, daffodils, tulips, cherry blossoms, dogwoods in bloom,  trees waking from their winters nap with green buds, rain, birds singing, the sound geese flying overhead and spotting the first robin of the season. The promise of warmer, longer days, Easter bonnets, bright colors and baseball games. People coming outside after a lone winters hibernation to enjoy the beauty of a new season. What a glorious time of year.

      Summer; longer hotter days, lots of sunshine, cookouts, 4th of July, fireworks, family reunions, graduations, weddings, and of course vacations. It's a time to celebrate with friends and neighbors, a time for swimming, flip flops, shorts, hiking, tubing, camping, mowing the lawn and making s'mores around the fire pit. Hopping in the car and taking long rides in the country, carnivals, festivals, amusement parks, finding adventure around every corner. Summer is full of fun and enjoyment for everyone.

      Autumn; leaves changing from green to red, orange, yellow and brown; cooler days and nights, a crispness to the air. Sweatshirts, sneakers, long pants and jackets. Farmers markets, apples picking, carving pumpkins, Halloween, trick or treats, falling leaves and the World Series. Thanksgiving with family and friends, Football, pumpkin and apple pie   A time to take stock in all you have and to be thankful.

     My cards today reflect the beauty of the Fall season.

     Card #1 Celebrate

Products used:

Penny Black #40-357 Autumn Dance

Penny Black Die #51-028 Celebrations

Ranger Queens Gold embossing powder

VersaMark

Ranger Distress ink

Misti

Canson watercolor paper 130lb

      Using the Misti, I placed the watercolor paper in it and centered the stamp. Then I inked it with VersaMark and stamped it on the paper, I did this twice to make sure all the detail was stamped. I removed the paper from the Misti and covered it with the embossing powder, then tapped off the excess and embossed with my heat gum. When the embossing was set I let it cool then used my Ranger distress ink to shade and blend the background. I spritzed it with water and dried it. I did this twice to give the background movement and texture. I wiped any excess ink off  the embossing and added the celebrate die-cut.

Card #2

       I learned this technique from my friend Lynda, and she in turn learned it by watching 

 Watercolor with Brushstroke stamps and the Misti PB and J YouTube   



Products used:

Penny Black #40-492 Berry Kissed

Penny Black #30-229 Special Wishes

Canson watercolor paper 130lb

Canson card stock

Ranger distress ink markers 

Ranger Archival ink

Misti

     I started out with my stamp and watercolor paper in the Misti. I colored in just the leaves with Tea Die and then I added some Gathered Twigs to the bottoms of each leaf and just a touch to some of the edges. I spritzed the stamp with water and closed the Misti to stamp the leaves. Then I used a paint brush and blended just a few of the leaves at a time, and stamped again without adding any more ink. I did this with all the leaves until I was happy with the texture, color and definition in each leaf. I repeated this technique with the berries using Carved Pumpkin and Rusty Hinge. I did the stems in Ground Espresso. (see website above)

     I also used my Misti to stamp my sentiment so I would get a clear stamping and so that if it wasn't I could stamp it over again if needed.

 

     This technique is so awesome I have already used it on a bunch of my other stamps. Try it I'm sure you will love it too.

    

 I will be entering these cards in:

Penny Black Saturday Challenge (Nature)

Color Q Challenge #361

Make My Monday( No Patterned Paper)     

Simon Says Wednesday Challenge (Anything Goes)

Thanks for stopping by.

Have a wonderfully crafty day!

Karen

Clean and Simple

     Clean and simple card are not my favorite cards to make. While they are usually quick and easy I have a problem knowing when to stop. I always want to add just a little more of this or that and then they're not Clean and Simple anymore.

     Well today I am happy to say that I started out with an idea of what my card should look like and I didn't add anything extra. Yay for me. However, it wasn't simple, but it was fun.

Products used:

Altenew "Peony Bouquet"

Misti

Ranger distress ink

Ranger Archival ink

Penny Black #30-229 "Special Wishes"

Canson 130lb watercolor paper

Inkadinkado masking paper

     Using my Misti I inked the first peony outline with distress ink, Mustard Seed, and spritzed it with water then stamped it onto the water color paper. Using a paint brush and some water I drew the ink from the edges to color in the flower.  Then I inked the stamp again and re-stamped the image using the same ink. I then lined up the second stamp, highlights, over the first stamped image, inked using Mustard Seed, and spritzed with just a little water and stamped. I used a brush to soften the highlights, then masked it and moved onto the next 2 flowers and the leaves using the same technique. The Misti allowed me to stamp my image as many times as needed to get the desired effect with each layer. It is by far one of my favorite stamping tools.

     

     Using distress ink, Tumbled Glass, and water I added a shadow around the bouquet to give it stability.

     I stamped the sentiment also using my Misti and I was very glad I did because the first stamping was not dark enough so I re-inked the stamp and stamped it again, perfect!  

     My inspiration for this card came from the Muse card below The colors and the flowers, these colors are so perfect together, and I love to watercolor flowers.

I will be adding this card to these challenges:

AAA Cards "Masking"

Addicted to Stamps and More "Make Your Mark"

Muse Challenge Blog #184

Altenew Ultimate Blog Hop

     Muse

Thanks for stopping by!

Have a wonderfully crafty day!

Karen

 

    



Fur-ever Friends

     My husband and I have always loved having pets around the house. I don't remember a time in our 39 years of marriage when we haven't had a dog, cat, guinea pig, hamsters or fish. until the last few years. After so many different types of pets we found Zeke, a loveable mix of 4 different breeds, and adopted him. He was 8wks old at the time but we knew just by looking in his eyes he was special. He was such a smart, sweet and loving boy. Even as a Pup he would let us know if he needed something, like water, if his bowl was empty he would pick it up in his teeth and bring it to us. If he needed to go out he would hit at our feet and tilt his head and stare, then when we got up he would bounce all the way to the door. He was a special part of our live that we miss every day. He lived to be just over 17 years old and gave us so much joy.

     I'm sure we will get another dog someday but for now, memories of Zeke still fill our hearts,  I'm sure they will forever. For now we have a wonderful Grandpup named Bella, who loves us as much as we love her.

     My card today follows the theme Fur-ever Friends from Little Red Wagon, with a dog and kitten sharing a warm moment.



Products Used:   

Stampers Anonymous Crazy Dogs #CMS271

Stampers Anonymous Crazy Cats #CMS251

Hero Arts Kitten Stamp

Hero Arts Oval Frame

Ranger Distress Ink

Diamond background stamp

Penny Black #30-358 Happy Snippets 

Inkadinkado Masking paper

Canson watercolor paper 130lb.

Misti

     First I stamped and cut out all my masks and then began stamping the rest. I stamped the dog first in a very light Antique Linen distress ink, using the Misti. then I placed the kitten mask that I trimmed so that part of the dogs leg would show on the image and stamped with archival ink.

     To stamp the rug I placed left the kitten mask in place and masked the dog then I stamped all the other elements and masked them.

     For the floor I stamped over all the masks with my Diamond background stamp making sure to line up the diamonds with each stamp.  I removed all the masks and used my distress black marker to fill in where any of the diamonds were not stamped well near the masking.

     I water colored the dog and kitten and all the different elements and added the sentiment, which was stamped on watercolor paper and outlined with Festive Berries then I dragged a wet brush over it to smear the ink on the edges, attached with dimensional tape.

     It was a very time consuming card but I love the results. 

 

I will be entering this card in:

Little Red Wagon "Fur-ever Friends"

Simon Says Wednesday Challenge "Stamp It"

Thanks for stopping by!

Have a Wonderfully Crafty Day!!

Karen

    

    

   

New stamps, let's play!

I've having so much fun with these new stamps I got from Altenew. I had no idea what I was going to do with them at first I was just playing around, this is the result.

Inspiration:



Products used:

Altenew card#1 Lotus card #2 Golden Garden

Penny Black card #1 30-105 Gratitude card #2 30-356 Treasured Sentiments

Ranger distress ink

Ranger watercolor paper

Ranger Archival ink black

Clarity brushes card #2

Dimensional tape

Card 1: I stamped the Lotus using Picked Raspberry, Peeled Paint, and Fossilized Amber distress ink markers. Then I used my water brush to shade. I stamped several and fussy cut them out. I decided to add some depth so I cut the bottom of one flower to pop up on another, for the background I used a mixture of two inks, Faded Jeans and Broken China, I wet the whole piece of watercolor paper and then added the ink brushing it to make it appear to be water. I added the flowers and sentiment and matted it on pink and then on a gray card.

Card 2:  This one was from my earlier stamp play. I stamped and masked and stamped and masked until I had this curved image. I water colored the flowers with Abandoned Coral and Peeled Paint and them fussy cut the whole thing out. I adhered it to a white card and then using my Clarity brushes I shaded just the edge to the right of the flowers. I add my sentiment and it was done.

Another great day of stamping fun! Can't wait for my next 3 sets to come in the mail!

I will be entering these cards in: Altenew August 2016 Inspiration Challenge "Flamingo Inspiration"