HLS ATC Challenge: Die Cuts

I have a fun set of ATCs to share with you today for the Happy Little Stampers challenge blog.  The theme this month is die cuts.  Hope to see you there!

I started with a partial page of gelli printed background that I had created using a large feather stencil and some color clocking.  I love feathers, and I thought this was perfect to pair with some feather die cuts.

I cut out the feather shapes in both black and white to add extra interest and offset them. I created a shadow behind the white with my black Stabilo Marks All pencil and activated it with water.

Next I chose some Tim Holtz Big Chatz stickers and backed them with a white banner.  I also created a shadow behind the white banner with my Stabilo pencil.

Lastly, I added some Nuvo Crystal Drops in black to add some shine to each one.

Thank you for stopping by today, I hope you enjoy the fun inspiration the team has created for you this month!  Come and join us over on the HLS Challenge blog and show us what you create!

HLS Watercolor Challenge for October

It's time for the HLS watercolor challenge, and I have created a bright and fun art journal page to share with you today.

Happy Little Stampers September ATC Challenge: Ocean/Sea

Happy Little Stampers' ATC Challenge theme this month is Ocean/Sea and this happens to be one of my favorite themes and color schemes :)  I also happen to love the water, it is my happy place.  It's so peaceful.

HLS September Watercolor Challenge: Tropical Theme

Robin S Sharma once wrote:  Getting lost along your path is part of finding the path you are meant to be on. When I finished this "Lost and Found" watercolor piece this summer, I knew it had something to do with finding my path in my art.

HLS ATC Challenge July Theme: Floral

Good morning, afternoon and evening :)  I have created a set of Floral ATCs for the HLS Challenge Blog today using watercolors, embossing powder and a huge stamp set from IndigoBlu.

June ATC Challenge with HLS: Christmas

This is my last project post for the HLS ACT DT, although I hope I can stay on for the next term!  I love creating ATCs!  This month's theme is Christmas.  And although I am a bit of a Scrooge, I did enjoy creating these Christmas themed ATCs :)

May ATC Challenge with HLS DT: Hello

Well hello everyone, what a great theme this month for the HLS ATC Challenge :)  This was a fun theme, and as it turns out, this has turned out to be my favorite of the ATCs so far!  It's funny how that works, when you start with something in your mind but you end up with something far better than you ever expected!

April ATC Challenge with HLS: Pretty Papers

Good day everyone!  This month's ATC Challenge theme at HLS is Pretty Papers!  And boy do I have a lot of pretty papers :)  I may be a paper addict, lol, so this challenge theme was perfect for me to use up some of the awesome paper I've been hoarding over the years.

March ATC Challenge with HLS DT: Hearts

This month's theme for the ATC Challenge at HLS is Hearts!  Yep, lol, I can work with that!  I created actual ATCs this month using a pre-created background in ...you guessed!  Red :)

February ATC Challenge with Happy Little Stampers DT: Stencils

This month's theme for the HLS ATC Challenge is all about the stencils!  I love to work with stencils.  And if you like mixed media, then you know stencils are definitely a must have for your crafty stash!

Vintage Mixed Media Tags with Happy Little Stamper Mixed Media Challenge

Hello everyone, I have joined the HLS Mixed Media Challenge Team as well as the ATC Challenge Team and this month's theme is Vintage!  And we all know how much I adore making mixed media projects hehehe.

New Year, New Adventure with HLS ATC DT

Hello happy people!  I realized I have neglected my blog something awful in the last few months.  So let's start this year off right with a new adventure!  I have been accepted as a Design Team Member for the Happy Little Stampers ATC Challenge DT!  So, aside from my usual posts that I will restart for 7 Kids Craft Supply, you will also see one post a month for the HLS ATC DT.  Thanks for staying with me and enjoying my ride!

#ArtLove52 Art Journal Challenge Week #1 And GO!

It's time!  The #ArtLove52 art journal challenge starts today! The inspiration word for week one is COMPASSION. 

ArtLove52 2018: A Year Long Challenge Series

Are you excited to enter into a new year? I am! I see some wonderful new adventures waiting for me just around the corner! 

I have decided to start a year long personal challenge. I have chosen 52 words and listed them in random order. I will use one of these words each week as an art journal inspiration prompt.

I have created a hashtag to go with this series: #artlove52. I will be adding photos to Facebook, Pinterest and Instagram with this hashtag. If you would like to join me, please do! Add the hashtag #artlove52 to your posts so I can find them! I would love to add some random #artlove52 creations from other people to my blog posts, so please join in! Please feel free to save the image above and print it out for yourself!

Fun Friendly Challenge with Jammie Clark :)

Hello everyone, Jammie and I are back with our fun and friendly challenge :)  We have decided to do this every month, and so far it's been a blast!

Next month, for a twist, we are each going to pick a challenge to enter our projects in :)  We'll see how that goes, and if we like it, well...we just may keep doing that!  We've also come up with a name to encompass what we do every month...but that's a SUPER secret SECRET for another day...muwahahahahahahaha. (yes, that's my evil laugh lol)

So, without further adieu...here is my card for September....can you tell what the element is that Jammie and I have both used?  You can view her project here on her blog :)

I had a ton of fun creating this card.  And I used a few different techniques to create the background (well, and foreground for that matter lol).  The very first layer is Distress Inks in Faded Jeans and Frayed Burlap.  The second layer is an embossing folder that I sprayed with water and applied just with a little pressure from my hands.  The water moved and removed some of the distress inks, leaving a visible image in the colors. 

The third layer is the flourish stamp from the Stampin' Up Creative Elements set and it is stamped with Staz On ink.  Then the fourth layer (phew! I'm running out of breath!) is Recollections Signature Series watercolor markers and well, water of course.  I used the blue to paint the flower shapes in the flourish stamp and the brown to do the leaf shapes.  I used a lot of water and then blotted them out so that it gives a bleached out look, while still adding color to the area. 

The next step was to outline the flower shapes with a black marker.  I wanted them to stand out a little bit more.  And lastly, the white gel pen added some strategically placed highlights and the white dots in the background.

Thanks for stopping by, and don't forget to go and visit Jammie's blog as well :)

See you soon!

Anything Goes Challenge at Sweet Stamps and a Framed Flower

I have a fun mixed-media-ish card for you today for Sweet Stamps :)

I created this card by first sponging the background using Pumice Stone Distress Ink and the Moroccan Tile 5 x 7 stencil.  The I stamped the Dahlia red rubber stamp on kraft card stock along with the Happy Birthday Sentiment from the Framed Handwritten Words clear stamp set.  I took the Classy Circle Frame Piccolo and heat embossed it with Enchanted Aubergine enamel powder, using the Piccolo fluid adhesive.  I layered them all on glittery purple card stock and voila!

I had fun creating this card, and I hope it shows you more that you can do with your Sweet Stamps craft products!

Come back soon for more Sweet Stamps fun!

Avery in Rain Poncho with Paper Nest Dolls

It's time for another challenge at the Paper Nest Dolls!  I have created a card for you using the sweet rubber stamp image "Avery in Rain Poncho".

I completed this project with paper from the We are Memory Keepers Antique Chic collection, some flowers and bling from my stash and a the Cheery Lynn Fanciful Flourish die.

I colored her using my Copics and Prismacolor pencils in the following colors:

Skin:  E000
PC927, 939, 1081
Hair:  E13
PC997, 947, 948
Clothes:  BG10, Y21
PC1088, 1027, 901
Duck:  Y21, YR02
PC1034, 1032, 943, 944
Ground:  PC1061, 1065

You can find this and many other sweet stamps in the Paper Nest Dolls online store.  Come over and visit!  And don't forget to join in the monthly challenge!

Mixed Media Tags with Sweet Stamps :)

It's time for anew challenge over at the Sweet Stamps challenge blog!  The theme for this challenge is "Anything but a Card" so I have created two mixed media tags for you :)

For this blue tag, I used the French Writing Background ATC stamp to create some fabulous background texture.

For this black and copper tag, I used the French Writing Background ATC rubber stamp, as well as the Antique Leaf Scroll Border rubber stamp   to create background texture and the Dragonflies Picollos Accents for an embellishment.

These tags are a ton of fun to create and you can sure let your creativity fly with them!

All of the linked products can be found in the Sweet Stamps online shop, so go and have some fun looking around!

Christmas Traditions Challenge with Crafty Ribbons :)

It's my turn to host the 12 Weeks of Christmas Challenge for Crafty Ribbons, and for the theme this week, I chose Christmas Traditions!

One of the traditions you find very common up here in the north is pinecones :)  You will often walk into a friend or relative's house during the Christmas season and find a bowl of pinecones, lol.  Au naturale, or painted, glittered, or dressed up.  It doesn't really matter, cuz it's the pinecone that counts!

So in honour of this Christmas tradition, I created this holiday card using a pinecone stamp, and some Wink of Stella, and finished it with some gorgeous Christmas Charm Ribbon - Snowflakes.

Have you joined us in the 12 Weeks of Christmas challenges yet?  If not, there is only one more left after this week!  Come on over and join us for your chance to win a prize from Crafty Ribbons!

A Frosty Christmas with Crafty Ribbons

It's another week, another challenge at Crafty Ribbons, and our challenge theme this week is "Frosty Christmas"!  And what does that theme remind me of?  Well, snowflakes of course, and all the fun different and dainty shapes you see in the frost on your windows.  That's probably my favorite part of winter, well, that and the hot chocolate and warm fuzzy blankets :)

I have used the Coming home for Christmas ribbon from Crafty Ribbons on this project, along with dies from Lawn Fawn and stamps from Stampin Up.

The weekly 12 weeks of Christmas challenges run right until Christmas, so you have plenty of time to jump in :)