Butterfly Thank You

Wow! I can't believe it's June already. My hostas and baby's breath are blooming, the birds are singing and nesting their little heart's out. Spring colours of lilac, green and blue are in abundance. My garden's lovely spring colours have influenced this card. I hope you like how the magic of ink, water and monoprinting on embossing folders go together. I'm so glad you stopped by. Please leave a comment. I love to hear from you and visit your blogs.

Paper: 90 lb. cold press watercolour paper, Recollections gold shimmer paper.
Scraps: green vellum, label. 
TH inks: tumbled glass, dusty concord, shabby shutters. 
EF: Cuttlebug Folder - Baby's Breath.
Stamps: SU thanks so much
Punches: SU Modern Label, EK Success Butterfly 
Other Materials: Bone Folder, Score Pal, water spritzer, pearls, TH blending tool, glue dots. 
Technique: inks direct to embossing folder, spritzed and monoprinted. Label is made from a scrap of paper that I punched and picked up the extra colour remaining on the embossing folder.Then I sponged the edges of the label to define it.

I'll enter the following challenges: 

    

Challenge: Magic

http://virginiasviewchallenge.blogspot.ca/2014/06/virginias-view-challenge-4.html

Paper Smooches Blog Hop with Prizes!

Check out the Paper Smooches Blog Hop for awesome prizes and many chances to win! I hope I win! Please, pretty please! 

Along the way, there are fab-u-luscious things to see and try out for yourself. Don't take my word for it...GO! 

 http://papersmooches.blogspot.ca/2014/05/may-ps-dt-blog-hop.html?showComment=1398982111642#c7586949340649334453


 Win this from Xyron




Win from Paper Smooches - a $25. gift code to choose what you like at the PS online store.

Tim Holtz Inks and Embossing Folders - Absolutely Amazing!

Since I last posted, I've been getting inky and excited over trying out endless possibilities of combining my embossing folders with Tim Holtz ink and a water spritzer. I'm channelling my inner child. Everywhere on my table are pieces of watercolour paper with my experimental creations...some more successful than others. Smile! Thanks for stopping by and hope you like my efforts.

Butterfly Card:

Paper: 90 lb. cold press water colour paper, Recollections gold shimmer card stock base., vellum butterfly scrap.
SU: markers to colour butterfly.
TH inks: tumbled glass, dusty concord, shabby shutters, black soot.
EF: Cuttlebug "Leaf Branch" 
Stamps: TH Stampers Anonymous Collection URBAN CHIC. 
Score board, water spritzer, clear rhinestone, glue dot, painter's tape. 
Technique: mask edges of paper with painters tape. Apply inks directly to folder in a random fashion and spritz with water. Lift print onto water colour paper. TURN OVER YOUR PAPER WITH BATED BREATH AND EXCITED ANTICIPATION! What joy! Set aside to dry or use heat tool. When the paper is dry, remove the tape and score along the tape lines. 

Forever Friends are the Best

Hello, Hello! I'm glad to back to my blog page and posting a new card. I've been watching the trends and there are so many wonderful ideas, I don't always know in which direction to go, so I end up being indecisive. Does that happen to you too? 
Today I just dove in and here's the result - a card for my forever friend, Anna! We've been hanging out together since our college days and have seen each other through thick and thin.  
I wanted to make her a hip hip hooray to life card and hope I succeeded. 

I was on Karen Dunbrook's blog, "Snippets", and admired a background she did. Of course, when I did mine, it turned out inside out. I wanted the leaves to have ink and the background white, but hey, go with the flow, right?
Go to Karen's blog to check out her beautiful backgrounds with Embossing Folders. I love this one she did below. Thanks for the inspiration. Karen. I can't wait to try it again. I think a better quality white CS will help me get a more vibrant image.

http://snippets-karen.blogspot.ca/2014/04/today.html





Materials:

Stamps: Technique Tues, "Big Wish". Digi stamp chalkboard sentiment is the freebie from http://www.jellypark.co.uk/. Thank you Jellypark! Become a member, and you can get free digi stamps too. The prices are reasonable to purchase digi stamps and you will like the adorable images to choose from. 
EF: Stampin Up "Vine Street"
Ink: TH spiced marmalade, fired brick, mustard seed, broken china. 
"Big Wish" image is stamped with Stayzon on a brayered background of glossy CS. I used tumbled glass and a shade of green that I forget. 
CS: SU, generic, shimmery blue scrap. 
Pop dots to pop up the bold chalkboard sentiment. 


Thanks for visiting and leaving a comment. Please come again!

Challenges:
Sister Act, "Anything Goes" #54  http://sisteractcardchallenge.blogspot.ca/

The Card Concept #8, "Use and Umbrella". My card is Freestyle Collage with a beach umbrella. Come on sunshine! http://thecardconcept.blogspot.ca/

Cheer on Some Spring!

I'm HOPING that this spring-like card will spur on some happy thoughts and spring-like behaviour. (I don't think the weather is ready to co-operate yet)!
I tried some sponging on a MS stencil. I LIKE it! Fast and easy. Years and years and years ago, I used to stencil onto fabric, etc. I never thought I would be doing it again, but I like this easy new version. Bonus:your card is lighter in weight if you want it to be.
I painted the magnolias with inks and then fussy-cut them. There is glimmer mist on the flowers but the photo doesn't show it. I also spritzed the stencilled area with water but you can't tell that either! LOL!
I HOPE your heart is lighter after seeing the spring colours. I know it perked me up. Thanks for stopping by. ((((Hugs)))) to anyone who needs one.

PS: go to djkardkreations if you want a more regular pick-me-up! Darnell keeps you chuckling while reading her blog. She delights you with her designs as she fractures English to make you laugh.

Materials:
Stamps: sentiment and flowers "Magnolia" by Flourishes
Inks: TH spun sugar, victorian velvet, shabby shutters, peeled paint, broken china, dusty concord, crushed olive, wild honey.
CS: SU whisper white, yellow scrap framing the sentiment.
Other stuff: sponges, MS stencil, paint brushes, doily, scissors, water mister, glimmer mist, tape gun.

Challenges:
Fusion #5: http://fusioncardchallenge.blogspot.ca/
Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge - Paste http://www.simonsaysstampblog.com/mondaychallenge/
Sister Act: Anything Goes http://sisteractcardchallenge.blogspot.ca/

Thank You Very Much Plumrose Lane!

Hello, hello! Glad you're here! Welcome! You've come in time to observe my HUGE THANK YOU to  

Plumrose Lane.   http://www.plumroselane.com/ 
I've been searching the internet, looking for help with adding and updating my blog. Putting it mildly, I'm challenged when it comes to implementing directions. I stumbled upon the Plumrose Lane website and found the tutorial (FREE) that explained how to accomplish what I needed! The explanations were simple and straightforward.  I was so happy when the directions proved to work exactly as they said! Not only that, the site owner said she was in an ongoing process to update the instructions as needed. I can't ask for more than that. Please visit as soon as you can! It's a site for "graphic designs, tutorials and treasures for creative indie souls".
I am still learning, so bear with me, okay?
Take care and thanks to all those creative souls out there who have shaped, inspired and challenged me to try my best to be the best that I can be. :)

Love You Grungely

Happy Birthday to my husband! I made him a card inspired by sistersandie at http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/gallery/photo/2469397?&si=cc460 . I'm not sure if he'll like it 'cause he's a "what is that?" kinda guy. He likes high realism when he looks at pictures. I'm sure the verse inside and the "Love You" will win him over. Besides, it's the thought that counts, right? LOL! Here it is.

Stamps: Close to my Heart "Happy Forever", Stampers Anonymous/TH "Bitty Grunge", SU "Happy Birthday" (don't know which set), miscellaneous larger heart stamp

Ink: SU really red. 

Paper: SU whisper white, generic dark gray CS

Other: black and white acrylic paint, palette knife, pop dots, brad, black Sharpie.

Of all the shades of ink that I have, I do not have grey, so I tried something new and used acrylic artists paint to stamp. The thickness of the paint changed the look of how the stamp created the image. Notice the textured look. I randomly mixed the paint so that a marbled mixture was created. The shade variations don't show as well as I would have liked in the photo. The red blotches are created with SU ink. I edged the white panel and words with the black Sharpie to add a little more definition to the edges. I think the tiny hearts are nestled amongst the splatters nicely. I didn't want the card to appear too feminine. With leftover paint, I "grunged" another panel to use for an additional card sometime. 

Hints: I mixed the paint on a margerine lid and you only need a black dab less than the size of a dime. Use more white than black to create the grey shade. Don't mix thoroughly to create a marbled effect. Cover with a wet paper towel or plastic wrap to keep moist in between uses within an hour's time frame. 

Thanks for visiting! Comments are welcome and appreciated. 

Challenges entered:

Loves Rubber Stamps #86 Use Metal  http://www.lovesrubberstampschallenges.com/

Member Gallery Splitcoast Stampers Keyword LRSBC8   http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/gallery/photo/2472042?&cat=500&ppuser=354073

Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge: Anything Goes   http://www.simonsaysstampblog.com/mondaychallenge/

Inky Impressions IIC #141 Try Something New 

http://inkyimpressionschallenges.blogspot.ca/

Creative Moments Challenge #33 Anything Goes

http://carabbiemomentsofcraft.blogspot.ca/

Crafting By Design Birthday Challenge - theme Birthdays

http://craftingbydesigns.blogspot.ca/2014/01/its-birthday-challenge.html

Crafting By Design Anything Goes 

http://craftingbydesigns.blogspot.ca/2014/01/first-challenge-of-2014-and-anything.html