Seasons Greetings

Hello dear followers I hope you are doing well.   I'm sorry but I'm not a very good blogger these days but below are a few Christmas cards:

I would like to wish my kind followers Seasons Greetings and all the best for 2018.

Cheers !
Shirley

Triple Quick Poinsettias

Hello everyone and welcome to November.    It's amazing how time flies and suddenly it's dark and chilly in the mornings.

I've seen several Christmas cards on blogs recently featuring beautiful Penny Black watercolour style stamped images.   They inspired me to use a similar style Poinsettia stamp, also by Penny Black, to create these quick cards.
 
Penny Black Stamps:   Winter Glow 2808L (Poinsettia) and 3900H Christmas Flourish (Merry Christmas).  I've had both of these stamps for a long time, they've survived several 'craft stash downsizings'.

I coloured directly onto the stamp with Tom Bow markers, spritzed lightly with water and stamped on water colour paper.  I also added stickles to the flower centers and heated a little silver Frantage power around the background (heated behind the card stock).   The matting is dark blue and dark purple not black as they appear in the photos.

Thanks for stopping by and have a great day,
Shirley 

Floral Postcard

Hello Crafters, I hope you are doing well, January seems to be flying by. 

I've finally used a beautiful Crafty Individuals stamp that was sent to me a while ago as a thank you gift from the Craft Stamper magazine (when a card was published).  

The background started with Dylusions spray inks, spritzed water and blotted with a paper towel.  I over stamped using crackle, lettering and water droplets stamps.   The main image was stamped onto glossy cardstock and coloured a little with Tombow markers and highlighted with clear Wink of Stella (which you cannot see).

Stamps:  Crafty Individuals:   Floral Postcard CI-302, Designs by Ryn:   water droplets are from Textures unmounted set,  Impression Obsession:  CC069 Craquelure (crackle), Penny Black:   199L Lettered Background.

Dies:  Crealies Set of 3 No 3 (flowers, CL CS 23 (leaves) and Die-Namics Fancy Flourish small.

I coloured the die cuts with Distress Inks and molded the flowers using a stylus and foam mat by McGill (Paper Blossoms sets).

Thanks for stopping by and have a great day,
Shirley

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas to those of you that celebrate. 

Thanks for all your inspiration and visits in 2015!

Enjoy your time with family and friends.

'See you here' in the New Year,
Cheers, Shirley

Green and Yellow Christmas

Hello everyone, I hope you are doing well.

I have a few more Christmas cards to show you.  Again I created a large sheet for the background, chopped it up and started stamping :)

The background stamping above includes a small Poinsettia by Magenta and Winter Berries by Penny Black.  Merry Christmas is from Chocolate Baroque.   I stamped on the Tim Holtz Tattered Poinsettia die cuts with Design by Ryn's Sea Bubbles to create some texture.  The 'greenery' is from a McGill punch -Designer Pine .

The background stamps above are from Designs by Ryn:  Snowflake Set and again the Sea Bubbles which I like to use for 'snow'.   I added ornament Die cuts by Memory Box that match the Sea Bubbles and is the reason why I 'had to have it'.   I used again the same sentiment by Chocolate Baroque.

Again the small Poinsettia by Magenta is in the background along with Holly by Impression Obsession.  Peace and Joy is from a Penny Black set.  The star die cuts are by Memory Box. 

Thanks for stopping by and have a great week,
Shirley

Purple Poinsettia

Hello everyone, I hope you are doing well.

I have another Christmas design to show using a favourite Poinsettia stamp by Penny Black (Christmas Star).  It hasn't been out of it's drawer for a play for long time.   I've given lots of stamps away over the past few years but some I just can't part with including this gorgeous one.  It's great for 'fancy cutting' or 'decoupage'.

The background was a sheet in my stash that I had inked up with Dylusions sprays.   I added more colour and design using a few stencils with both Distress Inks and watered down white Acrylic paint.   I also added some little circles using a little tube with white acrylic paint and silver embossing enamel here & there.

I stamped and embossed the poinsettia twice with silver, fancy cut and layered as shown.  I added a few Tim Holtz die cuts and glued beads to the flower center.

Thanks for stopping by and enjoy your weekend,
Shirley

Circles and Spirals for Christmas

Hello everyone, I hope you are having a fabulous week.  It's raining so it's a good day to be inside with creative activities :)   I had a chance to play with a technique that one of my teammates at Chocolate Baroque -  Maria (who creates gorgeous cards) inspired me to try.    I've also been creating many Christmas designs recently, more will be shown later this month and into August.   This Christmas card features stamps by Designs by Ryn.   

The background was created by using circles cut out from cardstock as a mask and I inked around them with Mowed Lawn, Peacock Feathers & Picked Raspberry Distress Inks.   Next I blended Peacock Feathers & Mowed Lawn DI over TCW Circle Explosion stencil.

I stamped Designs by Ryn's Sea Bubbles Set and Patio Stone along with the sentiment from Penny Black's Christmas Cheer set with Emerald Green Archival Ink.   I highlighted some of the bubble circles with a white Gelly Roll pen and added a decorative brad in the centre. 

Thanks for visiting and have a great day,
Shirley

Seasons Greetings !

Seasons Greetings Everyone !   I would like to thank all my loyal followers & visitors for all your inspiration, visits and kind comments this year.    Without all of you, blogging would not be so rewarding.   I also wish you a very happy, healthy & creative 2013!      

I have a few more cards that I wanted to post for Christmas and will join into the following challenges with the first one:
Simon Says Stamp - Anything Christmas
Anything Goes Challenge Blog - #82 Traditional Colours 
Out of Hat Creations - Use Birthstone Colours  I used Feb-Amethyst, May-Emerald, July-Ruby

The first card below was a lot of fun to create using flower stamps from Outlines Stamps (who sadly closed earlier this year).

The background was created using Impression Obsession's Cover a Card- CC039 Lg. Paisley and Fruitcake Kaleidacolor ink.  I used a brayer to ink up the stamp along with IO's Mega Mount.

I embossed Outlines Striped Petals (Medium D658 & Small D659) with silver on green & red cardstock.  I highlighted them with Micacolor Interference Paints.     I added micro beads to the flower centres and added a pearl flourish that was in my stash along with holograph Starform border stickers.

I also have a couple of cards that I created with a pretty ornament stamp by Impression Obsession and  Penny Black backgrounds.   I borrowed this stamp from a friend during a crafty day & enjoyed colouring it so much that I ended up buying one of my own (yes I'm a stamp addict!)

 

Stamps used on above card:   Impression Obsession - D8295 Ornaments & Penny Black -  (Background) Harmony 40-170 & Christmas Story 40-164.   I used also used Spellbinder Dies.

The background (Harmony) was stamped with Brilliance Pearlescent Purple ink.   The dark green cardstock was stamped with the letter (Christmas story) stamp.  The ornaments were embossed with a gold powder that has a bit of glitter.  I painted them with Stargazer Micacolors.   The card is layered as shown, I added some holograph Starform border stickers.

And here is my 2nd card with the same image below.

Stamps used on above card:  Impression Obsession - D8295 Ornaments & Penny Black - (Background- Letters) Christmas Story 40-164 & Christmas Flourish (Merry Christmas) 3900H.   Again I used Spellbinder Dies.   The background (Letter) stamp was stamped with Wheat Versamark Chalk Ink.   The Ornaments were coloured with Vintage Micacolor paints.  

Thanks for your visit & enjoy the season with family & friends.
Shirley

Wedding Cards with Roses

Hi everyone,  Hope your week is going well.   I've had a very busy week, but it's all good !

I'm posting a couple of easy cards (almost identical) that I created for two different Weddings.

Stamps:
Penny Black- 2185K  The Look of Love (Rose)
Impression Obsession - Cover a Card CC043 Roses
Kaisercraft - CS917 Wedding (sentiment)

Spellbinder:  S4-202 Deckled Rectanges Large

I stamped Cover a Card-Roses with Versafine Black Ink on White Cardstock.     I used Tombows directly on the Rose stamp, misted lightly with water and stamped onto white card stock. I used Versafine again for the sentiment.    I layered as shown with matching ribbon & pearls.

I stamped the rose a 2nd time after misting again (and not adding more colour) and created a lighter version which is on the card below.

    
Well that's my two Wedding cards.  Thanks for your visit and have a great day !
Shirley

Stylized Trees by Ryn

Hello everyone, I hope you had a great weekend.   I had fun attending a papercraft show with my crafty friends - I have a few more stencils & stamps to add to my growing collection :)    I also took a fun workshop with Christy Riopel where we created an inky mess working with stencils & spray inks. 

I have more Christmas Cards to show today.   All of these easy cards using Design by Ryn stamps feature her Stylized Tree set (CM-C12).   I love the movement in the versatile tree designs.   The smaller tree in the set is also great to over-stamp on  backgrounds.

The  Stylized Tree on the above card was embossed with Gold along with Ryn's Snowflakes. I blended Evergreen Bough Distress Ink around the tree & background. I found a couple of metal corner charms in my stash and added them for a little 'glam'.

I created the above card for Ryn a long time ago, but haven't shown it on my Blog.  The Stylized Trees were embossed with gold.    I also applied Versamark Ink (using the pad) around the border of the white card stock and embossed with gold.  I blended a little green DI around the tree that was popped up and layered as shown. 

I created the background on the above card with Pan Pastels -  I'm still learning & playing with them.   I stamped the Stylized Tree with Midnight Colorbox Ink and the small doves from Ryn's  Silhouette Dove Set with Memento Grape Jelly Dye Ink.    I must have rocked the stamp slightly and managed to get a little extra ink below the tree. I didn't want to do the background over again and decided to just 'go with the flow & let it go' :)     It's hard to see, but I created 'snow' using a glue pen and extra fine holograph glitter.

I embossed the Stylized Tree on the above card again with gold along with the sentiment from Penny Black's - Christmas Cheer clear set.   Next I blended Shabby Shutters Distress Ink around the page and then stamped with Ryn's Sea Bubbles Set to create 'snow' texture around the parameter of the background.   I used the small bubble stamp with Brilliance Gold which is hard to see along with Shabby Shutters & Scattered Straw Distress Inks. 

If you have time, please stop in at Eileen's Blog and at Miranda's Blog where you will find beautiful work using Ryn's stamps.   You can also find lots of inspiration at Ryn's Facebook Page.

Thanks for your visit and have a great day.

Shirley



Celtic Stars with Watercolour

Hello everyone, I hope you are having a great week.     I'm still busy working out in the gardens whenever I have free time and making progress.    I'm also going through lots of Epsom Salts in baths to ease the aching muscles :)

I created another card for Designs by Ryn using her Celtic Star Set.   For this card I used just one of the three stars in the set and had fun playing with the backgrounds.  Different colours again for Christmas !

I think there is enough pink in this card to join the In the Pink Challenge (criteria- use dry or wet embossing).   There are so many beautifully pink creations by the DT & participants if you have time to visit.

I embossed the stars with gold on the first background and then blended Picked Raspberry & Broken China Inks over top.  I sprayed water and added salt and set it aside to dry.    On the second background I used 443 & 679 Tombow markers and also sprayed with water & added salt.  I left both to dry.

I stamped Peace & Joy from a lovely Penny Black Sentiment set - Christmas Cheer.   I also stamped another star & embossed with black and blended Broken China Distress Ink over it, cut it out & attached as shown.  I also added pink & purple half pearls.

Design by Ryns Celtic Star Set - CM C7

Celtic Star Set CM C7

Thanks for stopping by and enjoy the rest the week !
Shirley

Penny Black - Pink Poinsetta

Good morning !  

We have a light snow here, winter has arrived and it looks much more 'Christmasy' !     It's a busy time of year and harder to find time for blogging,  but I will do my best to add a few more posts this year !    

I'm posting a Christmas card that I created with a gorgeous Penny Black stamp.   It's a great stamp to use for cutting and layering which I enjoy so much with my card designs.    I find the cutting very relaxing.  I also really enjoy creating my own backgrounds from inks & stamps but I still have a 'passion for paper'.   I have a 'stash' of designer papers hanging out here.   A fellow blogger recently wrote how she liked to 'hoard' papers and I laughed to myself as I can relate.   Why do I feel that I might run out of paper ?   I have to tell myself that there will always be other papers that I will fall in love with too !  So I need to keep using my paper !   

The background on this card is actually not Christmas paper but it works well.   It's from Graphic 45's, Once Upon a Springtime collection.      I also love their Christmas lines.

I stamped Penny Black's Christmas Star 4104K twice and embossed with gold on white paper that is suitable for watercolouring.   I used Tom Bow markers (with water on my non-stick craft sheet)  to colour  both flowers.   I cut them out, but didn't use all the petals from the 2nd poinsetta and layered them as shown above onto the designer paper.   I also stamped the flower on burgundy card stock in gold ink that you can see on the edges of the mat under the designer paper.     The sentiment (by Craftsmart) was also embossed with gold on co-ordinating card stock.    A gold bow, green stickles and burgundy pearls are the finishing touches !

Thanks for stopping by !
Shirley

A Butterfly named Tsuki

Good morning !    It's another beautiful sunny morning here in Ontario and I'm looking forward to more time outside.  The leaves are still falling and I'm still cleaning up the gardens.    I'm thinking about butterflies with our sunny days, but sadly they have already left us for warmer climate in the south.      Fortunately I have butterflies hanging out in my craft room :)

I had fun creating cards with the beautiful Tsuki Butterfly CM-B5 stamp from Designs by Ryn.   

To create the background for this card I blended the following Smooch Inks:  Plumberry, Pool, Grape Soda and then added a little Silver Fox.    I used a letter Background to stamp first with Brilliance Platinum Planet and then again with Colourbox Boysenberry Pigment Ink.

The Butterfly was stamped and embossed with silver on white card stock.  I coloured it using Tom Bow markers 452, 636 & 665 and then cut it out.  I popped it up and curved the wings down a little.

The sentiment was stamped with Colourbox Midnight Pigment Ink and then embossed with clear.     I added some hand-dyed ribbon that was in my stash and layered with co-ordinating card stock.

Stamps used:  Designs by Ryn - Tsuki CMB5, Penny Black 1999L - Letter Background, Kaisercraft Life Sentiments

I had fun with the background for this card !   I've seen this watercolour technique and often wondered how was it done ?    Fortunately I met Ryn, a talented artist who had beautiful cards on display using this technique.  She took the time during a busy show to describe what to do !     Tom Bow markers, water & salt are the 'secret'.     I will be 'playing' more with this technique !

The Tsuki butterfly and sentiment were both stamped over the background with Colourbox Midnight Pigment ink and then embossed with clear.     I didn't think this card needed anything else as the background is the 'art' and the butterfly image compliments it.   I just added a few rhinestones and layered with some navy & teal card stock.

One more photo today !   My step-mother Ann, who is a great photographer, often takes the time to send me beautiful photos.    I thought I would post this one as it's inspiration for butterfly cards !  Thanks Ann for sharing so many of your wonderful photographs !!! 

That's all for today !
Thanks for stopping by & have a great day,
Shirley

Christmas Poinsettias

Good Morning !

I am busy making card samples with the new Shirley Doodle stamps    I had fun this week working on these Christmas Poinsettia cards.

I stamped the flower 3 times on white paper and embossed with Gold.   The leaves and flourishes at the bottom were also embossed with gold.   I blended Aged Mahogany Distress Ink on the flowers, then added Interference Red -  MicaColour Paint and added more dimension with my Tom Bow markers.  I then cut out the flowers and layered as shown.  Stickles & a pearl sprig were added as final touches !

Stamped used:   Shirley Doodle Wavy Poinsettia, Impression Obsession Cover a Card - Flourishes CC027, Penny Black - Crystalline Sentiments & Snowflakes 30-018 (with Dye Ink), the leaves are from Hero Arts CL427 Antique Flower set.

Paper is by Basic Grey - Wassail 6x6 pad.  

I hope you can see the sheen from the Micacolour paints in these photos  !  

The card above was created with the same stamps & techniques but with alternate colours.  The paper is also from Basic Grey - Wassail. 

Have a great day & thanks for stopping by !
Shirley