Winged Things with Outlines

Hello Crafters !

I received a newsletter from Outlines last week with the surprising news that they are closing.     I'm sad to hear this as Outlines has been one of my favourite stamp companies, their stamps are fun to work with.  I will treasure my Outlines Stamp collection.  

I started this card for the March 26th Outline challenge which was planned to be 'Going Buggy - Winged things'.    Once I read the news, there wasn't a hurry to complete the card, but today I've finished it.   Because this is not entered into an challenge with Outlines,  I added a non-Outlines sentiment.  

The background was once again created with Tom Bow markers, Water & Salt.  (Tom Bows 673, 676 & 703).     I sprayed Purple Glimmer mist over the background.   Nice effect but hard to see in the photo.     I kept the card large as I didn't want to cut any of the water colour off.   It's such a neat technique,  I'm always intrigued with the interesting results.

I stamped Outlines H61 Flutterfly Lg & embossed with Silver EP.   I stamped twice to 3D the inner section of the butterfly.   I blended Milled Lavender & Dusty Concord Inks to colour and then added Mica colour Interference paints over top.  I cut an extra body from a third Butterfly to add one more layer.   I added some Dusty Concord Distress Ink onto my non-stick mat, added a little water and brushed it to the outside border of the wings.  I also used a little dark Purple Smooch in the spots.   A little Diamond Stickles was  added along the edges and the body.   I popped up the layers as show and onto the background.

The sentiment is by Kaisercraft CS921 (set of 4) which was stamped with Memento Sweet Plum Dye ink.  I blended a little Milled Lavender Ink over and again added some Mica colour paints and distressed the edges.  I rounded the corners with a little punch.    The finishing touches are some rhinestones, ribbon and Starform corner & border stickers. 

Well that's all for today.  Thanks for visiting and have a great weekend.
Shirley

Miraculous Art Zonnegroet (Sunflower)

Hello Everyone !  I hope your week is going well.

Two years ago while on vacation in the Netherlands I was introduced to Posthumas, a wonderful stamp store downtown Amsterdam.    I was so inspired by the many beautiful card samples they had on display.      Last fall I learned that the talented lady who creates their cards is Miranda.   You can find her creations at her blog,  Miracle art Inspirations.  

Miranda is also an artist and designs stamps for Inkerbell Stamps and Crealies in the Netherlands.   As soon as I saw her Miraculous Art Zonnegroet (Sunflower) set, it came to the top of my 'wish list'.     My kind young sister who lives in the Netherlands purchased the stamp sheet from Inkerbell Stamps and mailed them out to me.    It's a beautiful set and I'm posting two creations featuring them today.   I enjoy cutting so had fun with these flowers !   A third creation is in the mail to my sister to say 'Thanks' for all that she does for me :)  

The background strip was created by blending Banana Custard & Lettuce Smooch Inks and then I stamped  the poem twice with Bamboo Leaves Memento Dye Ink.  I stamped one of the leaves from the Zonnegroet set with Brilliance Gold on the dark green cardstock (hard to see in the photo).

The flower was stamped and embossed twice with Copper EP.  I blended Banana Custard Smooch Ink on the petals and then added Pumpkin Smooch Ink with a little water on my craft mat using a small brush.   I used Lettuce Smooch in the centre which seems to be Zentangle, love it.    The Smooch ink didn't blend like water colours, it dries too quick, but I wanted to add a little contrast.   It was a little experiment, a different effect.   I cut out extra petals from the 2nd flower to pop up on the main flower.   I added liquid pearls to the centre.    You cannot read the poem on this card,  it's there for a background effect.   I like the script.

Marianne Design Creatables LR0150 Branch & Crealies Shapes CL CS 11 were used for the foliage.  I also used Crafts-Too flower embossing folder for the small strip.  

This next card was done with water colours and was arranged so that you can read the poem.  If you don't read Dutch as I mentioned above, I think the script is attractive and makes a nice background.

Unfortunately I cannot read Dutch, but I should as the Netherlands is my heritage and I have close family living there.    I always love my visits as I feel 'at home'. 

I started with a piece of background created with Tom Bows, water & salt.   I stamped the Dutch Sunflower poem twice over top with Bamboo Leaves Memento Dye Ink.      The flower & leaves are arranged so that you can read the first verse at the top and the second on the bottom.

The flower & leaves were stamped and embossed with copper EP and colored with Tombows and water.  Again the flower was stamped twice and I cut out extra petals from the 2nd flower to pop up on the main flower.   I stamped the very small Sunflower from the set on brown card stock with Brilliance Gold ink (again hard to see in the photo).    I added Diamond Stickles to the centre of the flower.    

That's all the flowers for today.   Thanks for stopping by and have a great day !

Shirley

A Fish Named Wanda

Good evening !    I'm still feeling a little jet-lagged, but it's going away thank heavens.   At least I'm still awake and it's later than 8:00 pm  :)

I created this card for Designs by Ryn using her new Sea Creatures line.      The new line is awesome, I especially like the texture of the Bubbles.    They will be added to her website at the end of April.

The background for this card was created by blending Smooch inks- Frosted Aqua, Pool & Lettuce.   I stamped over the smooch inks with Ryn's "Sea Bubbles Set CM-S15" with Brilliance Gold and then again with Memento Bamboo Leaves.     The Angel Fish - "Wanda CM-S7" was stamped and embossed with gold on water colour paper and then painted with my Tom bow markers & water.  I cut her out and popped her up onto the background.    I added a few pearls and layered onto co-ordinating cardstock.

The wonderful quote is by Impression Obsession C5053 - "Voice of the Sea"  which was embossed with Jade powder.     

I recall a movie that was out in the Eighties titled a 'Fish named Wanda' , it's a hilarious comedy.   Nothing to do with this card of coarse but it came to mind when I saw that Ryn named this Angel fish 'Wanda' :)

Thanks for stopping by and enjoy the rest of the weekend.
Shirley

All you need is Love

Good Afternoon !      My husband & I were away in Scotland for the past week to help celebrate one of his Aunt's & Uncle's 60th (Diamond) Wedding Anniversary.    We had such a great time visiting with everyone and touring around the beautiful country.   Jim's family were so kind to us, we were well looked after.     We arrived back home today, so I'm quite jet-lagged.   I'm behind in blogging but thought I would post the card that I created for the happy couple. 

I  picked up heart shaped dies after hand drawing hearts and cutting them out for Valentines cards.  This was the first time trying them out.     I intended to create a card that was mainly white with a bit of pastel but somehow deep purple crept in.   And once again I used my new Crealie Dies to add flowers with the heart.       

I created the background with Impression Obsession's Cover a Card Tapestry CC025.  I stamped it with Versa Mark and embossed with White and blended Tattered Rose, Milled Lavender and a little Dusty Concord Distress Inks over the embossing.  

The sentiment is from Inkadinkado's Love and Friendship Set 99644.   'All you need is Love' was stamped with Color Box Boysenberry Pigment Ink and embossed with Clear on the inner heart.     I blended the same Distress Inks over the heart and the white cardstock used for some of the flowers.  I added lots of clear rhinestones for the "Diamonds" and tiny little stickers with the happy couple's initials.    I also added a tiny 60 below the sentiment, but did that after I took the photo !

Dies used:  Crealies: CL CF 17 flowers & CL CS 11 shapes.   Nellie's Multi frames - MFD 022 (hearts). 

That's all for now.  Thanks for stopping in and have a great day !
Shirley

Spring Flowers

Good Evening !

We are enjoying warmer than normal temperatures in this area.   Our snow has melted (yay !) and I've had a chance to get out into the gardens to start pruning and admire crocus that are blooming.   We normally wait until April for this treat !

The warm weather motivated this simple card for Spring.    It's a challenge for me to create cards without a 3D image, but I've been inspired by looking at the elegant cards posted at  Less is More's Blog.   I love creations that are 'fussy' but also appreciate Clean & Simple.      At some point I would like to enter some of their challenges.  
 

The background behind the tulip was created using the stamp kissing technique (again).   I covered Impression Obsession's Solid Cover a Card with Colour Box Moss Green pigment ink.   I used a flower from the Hero Art flower set CL428 and covered it with Boysenberry Colour Box pigment ink and then 'kissed' the two stamps.  Using the Cover a Card stamp I then applied the image to white cardstock.   Over this I stamped the tulip from the Hero Art Set CL427 and embossed with deep purple powder.   I coloured the tulip a little with Prisma Pencils.    I used dark plum & vibrant moss green cardstock to compliment the stamping.   A little ribbon and rhinestones were added for the finishing touch.

Thanks for stopping by and I hope that you are enjoying nice weather where you live !
Shirley

Another Hummingbird !

Hi everyone,  I hope you are enjoying the weekend.     The weatherman says it's going up to 12 tomorrow with sunshine !     It's still too early for Hummingbirds, but I saw some crocus today peeking thru the little bit of snow that is still hanging around.   It's exciting to see the first Spring flowers coming up ! 

I'm a little behind in 'card work' but have one more Hummingbird card that I created for Designs by Ryn that I thought I would share.   This is Ryn's favourite in the group of Hummingbird cards :)

Stamps: Designs by Ryn -  Leaves set CMF5 and Sitting Hummingbird CMB7
Stamps: Impression Obsession - Solid Cover a Card CC084

Spellbinder Die:   Labels 23 S4-347

To create the background I started with the stamp kissing method with the large leaf from the set.   I covered IO's Solid Cover a Card stamp with Memories Foxglove Pigment Ink.   I stamp kissed the leaf into the ink and then stamped onto white cardstock using my Mega mount.     Next I stamped over top with the leaf using Brilliance Gold, then Brilliance Pearlescent Crimson (a few times to change the density without re-inking) and finally Bamboo Leaves Mememto Dye ink.    I sprayed the entire background with Gold Glimmer Mist (which is hard to see in the photo - it added a nice shimmer).    I kept 'playing' until I was happy with the result.

The Hummingbird was embossed with black and then coloured with Tombows & water.        I used "Peeled Paint" Distress Ink and the die as a mask to colour around the bird.   A little ribbon and rhinestones are the final touches !  

Thanks for stopping by and have a great day !
Shirley

Beauty

Hello everyone ! The post lady delivered my most recent order from Chocolate Baroque a couple of days ago.  It's a beautiful set of stamps- "Artistic Expressions" UA4GW0384.     This set is a new release from CB and I pushed ordering it ahead of others on my wish list as I know I'll use them frequently !  I'll post a photo below so you can see what I'm talking about !

I decided to use 'Beauty' together with a flower from the "Fantasy Meadow" set UA5SP0355 also from Chocolate Baroque.   This expression makes me think of all the beauty that is around us. 

The background on this card was created by using Tom Bow makers, water & salt.  There is a little purple in with the pinks.    Both images were stamped and embossed with a dark plum EP.   I added a little white & pink to the flowers with my Prisma Pencils and then used a little holograph glitter for highlighting.

The mats behind the water color background are dark plum, then bright pink and the folded card is white.   I added white sheer ribbon and a flower charm before adhering it all together.

 

Below is a photo of the actual set of rubber stamps that Beauty comes in.   You need to order an EZ Mount sheet with these, but they are easy to mount & cut.  You get great value by doing a little work !

Thanks for stopping by and have a Beauty day !
Shirley

A True Blue Sweet Ostrich

Hello Crafters !     I still have the wicked cough from the cold/flu I had this week, but I'm starting to get my energy back today as I managed to create a card this evening for IO's "True Blue" challenge while my DH is watching a Hockey Game.     You will find all the details and the beautiful creations by the Design Team at Impression Obsession's Blog.

I used the same colour theme as the card in my last post, but with more blue.   I also took the opportunity to use a fairly new IO stamp,  a sweet Ostrich, and my new Crealies dies again to create a few flowers !     I have another Ostrich from IO (Victorian Ostrich) that I also love but this one was so cute with the hearts, I 'needed'  it too !   This stamp will work well for Valentines day cards.

Impression Obsession Stamps:   CC108 Cover a Card Greenery.    I use this one a lot, but I own many more.  I Love them.  The Ostrich is F2299.

Dies:   Crealies  CL CF 18 Flowers & CL CS 11 Shapes & Nellies Multi Frames Oval MFD007.

Note on March 4th:    Crealies Dies are available in the Netherlands at www.crealies.nl .    They have a Design Team Blog as well that post beautiful creations.   Crealies are also available from Chocolate Baroque Stamp Company in the UK.

I stamped the Greenery Background with Colourbox Glacier Ice Pigment Ink onto Navy card stock to create the background.       I stamped and embossed the Ostrich with Jade Green EP on water colour paper and cut with the Nellie Die.   The cute bird was colored with my Tom Bows and then I blended some peeled paint distress ink around the edge of the oval.     I stamped & embossed the bird two more times to add the 3D layers to her body.    The blue background was layered onto left over designer paper from the card on my last post and then onto Navy card stock again.

I cut & layered the flowers as shown.  I love these Crealies Dies, they are so much fun to use and so easy to store !   I gave all my flower punches that I never took out of their storage box to my Granddaughters who are thrilled with them.     So we are all happy !

I added a little holograph glitter around the edges of the heart and then ribbon & rhinestones for the final touches.  I had a bow made up with my bow maker, but it didn't make the 'cut', it seemed a little cluttered with all the flowers.   

  
Thanks for stopping by and have a great day !
Shirley

Butterflies Kissing

Hello Crafters !    Wow, March is here and Spring is around the corner !  Can't wait !    I'm still suffering from a wicked cold.   I haven't had such a bug in years !   I've cancelled my plans for today (again) but hopefully my energy comes back a little more and I can work on cards :)    Then the day would be more pleasurable !

I'm posting a card this morning that I created last week while playing again with Stamp-kissing and also using Distress Inks with the Acrylic Block technique.  Some things ended up in the recycle box but that happens when I'm  'playing' and trying different colours.     This card was created using both techniques. 

 

I used a large acrylic block to add both Tumbled Glass & Scattered Straw Distress Inks with some water sprayed on the ink and then stamped onto smooth white cardstock.   The Butterflies (Impression Obsession stamp - D5565 ) were stamped several times using Stormy Skies Distress Ink that was spritzed a little with water first.  Next I sprayed the background with Gold Glimmer Mist which is hard to see in the photo.  It really added a nice sheen.   

The Butterflies stamp was covered with Harbour Colourbox Pigment Ink and "kissed" with IO's Cover a Card CC108 Greenery and stamped onto white cardstock.   I embossed the images with clear 3 times to give them a hard shine and then cut them out and adhered to the background.   

The label is from Spellbinders Shapeabilities S4-322 set which was distressed around the edge.   The sentiment is from Kaisercraft CS921 set.    The polka dot designer paper is Quick Quotes - Andrew Avenue.   A few rhinestones and co-ordinating ribbon are the final touches.

Thanks for stopping by & have a great day !
Shirley