Two Challenge Tuesday

It's another two challenge Tuesday - I'm the hostess for two challenges.  I suppose if I had really thought about it I would have chosen a stamp set for the sketch challenge that would have been good for the color  challenge.  But I had ideas for both separately and I really didn't want to think that hard! :)

This card is for the sketch challenge at CAS Colours & Sketches.

I needed to use three of the same element in different sizes.  I chose snowflakes and when I went to lay them out on the card I realized quite quickly that overlapping snowflakes didn't look very good. They needed dimension.  Since using foam underneath would have been a bit difficult I cut more snowflakes from coordinating cardstock.  There is one under the large snowflake and four under the medium snowflake.  I think this added enough depth.  The background I watercolored using three colors of ink.

My second card is for the color challenge at Splitcoaststampers.  Terracotta Tile, So Saffron and Bermuda Bay.  Yes, very close to the colors I chose last week for CC&S - I'm lazy, what can I say?  Or maybe they are just such great colors I wanted to use them again!

I used the ink pads to watercolor the image.  Last week I went to a music festival that had a very laid back vibe to it, so I was in the mood to use this van stamp.  It was quite simple to color.  I know for some, cards like this are a bit too simple, but when you have the right image and sentiment I think they are great.

I hope you consider joining in one or both of the challenges this week!  I'd love to see what you create.

Snowflake Card:
Dies: My Favorite Things Snowflakes
Stamp: MFT Deer Friends
Ink: Soft Sky, Pool Party, Balmy Blue
Paper: Strathmore Mixed Media, Pool Party
Accessories: Silver Embossing Powder, Aqua Painter

Van Card:
Stamp: Flora & Fauna Hat-tastic Car Set
Ink: Bermuda Bay, Terracotta Tile, So Saffron, Smoky Slate, MFT Hybrid Black Licorice
Paper: Strathmore Mixed Media
Accessories: Bermuda Bay Washi Tape, Blender Pens, Aqua Painter

Thanks for visiting today!  Click here to sign up for email notifications of future posts (you will be sent an email to verify your address - don't forget this step).  Follow me on Instagram, Pinterest, Facebook and Bloglovin'.

Die Cuts Only Christmas Card

Happy Friday!  Today I have an all die cut card for you.  Although I love to color, I also like the look of die cuts.  And when I saw this Kitten in Teacup die I fell in love.  The kitty is so cute and although it is a Christmas die, it doesn't need to be.  Just take off the Santa hat and holly and it can be used all year long!

I purposefully picked a Christmas paper with two shades of red and a small pattern since I wanted my die cut word to show against it.  If the pattern is too large or contrasting in colors, words will often just get lost.  I also chose gold so there would be contrast.

After cutting all my pieces I used Distress Oxide ink and a sponge dauber to tip the edges of the cup, cat, paws and hat pompom and band.  This gives them a little bit of depth.

I assembled my teacup and kitty on a silicone mat.  I like to do this rather than assemble my die cut image on the card itself.  This way I have one element to use and it can dry on the mat but it won't stick to the mat.

I used foam dots on the back to pop him up off the circle panel.  Another reason I like to assemble the die cut image into one - I can add dimension with the foam dots.

Dies: Cottage Cutz Kitten in Teacup, Hugs Phrase, Christmas Floral #2, Nested Wacky Stitched Circle
Paper: Retired DSP, Cherry Cobbler, Very Vanilla, Smoky Slate, Garden Green, Mossy Meadow, Gold Foil, Whisper White
Ink: Copic markers to color pink in ears, nose and holly leaves (these were all cut from white)

Thanks for visiting today!  Click here to sign up for email notifications of future posts (you will be sent an email to verify your address - don't forget this step).  Follow me on Instagram, Pinterest, Facebook and Bloglovin'.

Color Challenge Tuesday

Hi everyone!  Today I am the hostess for the color challenge at CAS Colours & Sketches.  I chose Terracotta Tile, So Saffron and Pretty Peacock.  Two of the colors are new In-Colors for Stampin' Up! and ones that I haven't used much, so I was pretty excited to play with them!

I used a technique that I've used before and really enjoy.  Using a stamping platform - in this case a Stamparatus - I stamp my image on mixed media paper and use an aqua painter to loosely color it.  So, for this image I stamped my flower in the Terracotta and colored it using the ink from the stamped image.  I used my heat tool set on low to dry it.  I didn't even take the image out of my Stamparatus.  Then I reinked that stamp in my outline color (Pretty Peacock) and stamped it again.

I repeated this for all my design elements.  I like the looseness of this, but I admit I struggle to make it loose.  My natural design style is much more controlled.

Loosing up - it's something I'm working on - on many fronts!  LOL!

I hope you find the time to join us in this week's challenge.

Stamps: Simon Says Stamp Spring Flowers, Lawn Fawn Sophie's Sentiments
Paper: Strathmore Mixed Media
Ink:  Stampin' Up! Terracotta Tile, Pretty Peacock, So Saffron
Accessories: Aqua Painter, Stamparatus

Thanks for visiting today!  Click here to sign up for email notifications of future posts (you will be sent an email to verify your address - don't forget this step).  Follow me on Instagram, Pinterest, Facebook and Bloglovin'.

Just Breathe

My card today was inspired by an art exhibit my daughter curated (and also had piece in) this past weekend at her university.  The theme of the show was "Self Care".  So I chose to make a card that could remind me to slow down.  Something I have trouble doing at times.  It also does double duty for two challenges - the color challenge at Splitcoaststampers and the sketch challenge at CAS Colours & Sketches.

The colors this week are Old Olive, Pool Party and Pretty Peacock.  And here is the posted sketch:

 
I started by making a light watercolor wash with Pool Party and Old Olive on the front panel and drying it with a heat tool until damp.  I used my Stamparatus to stamp a feather in Pretty Peacock on the wash after I had stamped off once. I wanted it to be very light.  By doing this the feather bled a bit softening it.  I added to the wash and repeated.  Then I flipped the panel and did the other side.

For the main feather I created a wash and stamped the feather full strength.  I die cut it along with three in Pretty Peacock and one in an Old Olive foil.  I stacked these underneath to add some dimension and a little color.  The sentiment is stamped in Old Olive and I think it fits with the feel of the card - peaceful and relaxing.

Stamps: Stampin' Up! Four Feathers; Impression Obsession Words for Art
Dies:  Stampin' Up! Feathers
Paper: Starthmore Mixed Media, Pretty Peacock, Old Olive Foil
Ink: Old Olive, Pool Party, Pretty Peacock
Accessories: Aqua Painter, Stamparatus

Thanks for visiting today!  Click here to sign up for email notifications of future posts (you will be sent an email to verify your address - don't forget this step).  Follow me on Instagram, Pinterest, Facebook and Bloglovin'.

Bluebird of Happiness

We've had bluebirds in our yard recently and they inspired me to make this card.

I love this chubby little bird who started off as a cardinal but ended up as a bluebird.   The bird and leaves are cut in white cardstock and colored using Distress Oxide inks.

This card is pretty simple to make.  I used an embossing folder for the back panel and some coordinating paper for the strip panel.

I started by thinking this would be a birthday card, but it really could be for any occasion.  This little cardinal is so cute and just by changing his colors you can make him into many birds - think robin, canary, sparrow.....

Dies: Cottage Cutz Jolly Cardinal, Christmas Floral #1 and Stitched Rectangles
Stamps: MFT Seaside Seagulls (sentiment)
Embossing Folder: Stampin' Up! Layered Leaves
Paper: Stampin' Up! Magnolia Lane DSP

Thanks for visiting today!  Click here to sign up for email notifications of future posts (you will be sent an email to verify your address - don't forget this step).  Follow me on Instagram, Pinterest, Facebook and Bloglovin'.

Ready for Fall

Well, a few weeks ago I wasn't ready for summer to end, but after working in my garden in 90 degree heat this weekend - I'm ready for fall!  So today's card for CAS Colours & Sketches color challenge reflects that.

The colors this week are:

This card is very straightforward.  I colored it with a combination of Stampin' Blends and Copic markers.  To get the wood look on the wheelbarrow I used the darkest marker and then blended over with the lightest to soften the marks.

The stamp and die are from a fun set and its add-on from The Stamps of Life. There are multiple images to put in the wheelbarrow - flowers, strawberries, pumpkins and others.  Stephanie has such cute stamps.  I really need to use them more!

Stamps: The Stamps of Life Wheelbarrow 2 Stamp, Goodies 4 Wheelbarrow, Pilgrim Boy 2 Stamp (sentiment)
Dies: The Stamps of Life Wheelbarrow and Goodies for Wheelbarrow, The Stamps of Life Edgelits
Markers: Stampin' Blends - Pumpkin Pie Light and Dark, Soft Suede Light and Dark; Copic markers - G21, G24, G28, YR00, E43, N5, N7, N8, C0, C1, C2, C3

Thanks for visiting today!  Click here to sign up for email notifications of future posts (you will be sent an email to verify your address - don't forget this step).  Follow me on Instagram, Pinterest, Facebook and Bloglovin'.