Watercolor Resist - Online Card Classes Homework

Hello there!!

So you all know how much I love watercolor!  I was so excited to see a new Online Card Class pop up on Watercolor for Card Makers: Intermediate Techniques.  I signed up right away!  Class started earlier this week, and I have to say that this class is my favorite so far.  I've learned so much!

Laura Bassen is a guest artist for the class and she did a bonus video on watercolor resist.  Now, I am  no LB, but I had a blast playing around with her technique!

I started off by heat embossing the MFT Sweater Stitch background on a piece of Tim Holtz Distress Watercolor paper with clear embossing  powder.  Then, I  used the Lawn Fawn Hearts Stackables and Stitched Hearts Stackables dies to create a random scattering of watercolor hearts all over the card front.  Since the dies are outline dies, and the center is open, it is easy to paint inside them.  I used several different colors of distress ink and did the wet on dry watercolor technique to fill in the hearts.  For the added interest, I added some paint spatters by tapping my wet paint brush over the panel to spatter the ink.  When they were dry, I diecut the panel with the Avery Elle Wonky Stitches dies.  Then, using the Simon Says Stamp Sketchy Heart die, I added a dark grey heart as a frame to the heart that I wanted to be the main focus on the card.  I diecut a bright pink heart, stamped a sentiment from the Avery Elle Hogs and Kisses stamp set, and popped it up inside the framed out heart.  Then, using the smallest heart from the Hearts Stackables, I cut tiny hearts to coordinate with a few of the watercolored hearts.  I added some details with a white gel pen, and popped them up with foam tape before popping the entire panel up on a white card base.

I can't wait to play some more!  That's all for now!  Thanks for stopping by!

All supplies are listed and linked above :)

COOL-est Card Series - Week #4 and more Reverse Confetti

Hello there!  I am so excited, because today, and every Thursday in January, I am teaming up with my friend Jenn Shurkus to bring you the 2016 Coolest Card Series!  Each week, we will be focusing on a particular company and technique, but every card will be winter or snow themed!  Each week, we will be giving away prizes so be sure to play along with us!  Here is how you can win:

1. Comment on this post

2. Comment on Jenn's post

3. Play along with us and link up using the inlinkz below

That gives you 3 chances to win per week, and we will be giving away one prize per week, so 4 prizes total.  The winners will be posted at 9am, February 4th.  When the winners are announced, you can find them here.

This week, anything goes as far as stamp manufacturers, as long as your project features some sort of sparkle!

For my card, I used an adorable new set from Reverse Confetti called S'more Love.  You may have seen it on my blog already a time or two (wink!).  I just can't get enough of these cute little critters!  I think they are so cute all decked out in their winter attire.  I started off my card by cutting a piece of white cardstock 4" x 5.25".  I freehanded a hill and cut it from post it note to mask off the bottom portion to form a snowy hill.  Then, using an ink blending tool and Peacock Feather distress ink, I blended an ombre effect on the panel starting out darker near the masked off snow bank and gradually getting lighter as I worked my way up the panel.  Then I dripped some water on the paper and sopped it up with a paper towel to add some interest to the background and make it look a bit like snow off in the distance.  Then I removed the mask, and stamped, colored and diecut the penguins using the coordinating S'more Love Confetti cuts.  I popped them up with foam tape and stamped a sentiment from the same set on the bottom right hand side of the card.  To fill in the sky, I added a few snowflakes from the same stamp set, and a scattering of sequins for some sparkle.




Can we just talk for a second about this hat?  Seriously?  It doesn't get any cuter.  And here you can see that awesome water droplet effect on the background.  I can't get enough.

I hope you are feeling inspired! Be sure to check out what Jenn has to share with you today! You can see her project by clicking here! 

 Play along with us for a chance to win! Share your creations with us on instagram using the hashtag #COOLestcardseries. We'd love to see how you are inspired by the challenges!

Want a chance to win this week's awesome prize?

Comment on this post, on Jenn's post, or enter your own project into our inlinkz below!

An InLinkz Link-up

Thanks so much for stopping by! :)

Reverse Confetti SFYTT

Hello there!  Today I have a card to share with you using some new January goodies and the January sketch for you to try - SFYTT by Reverse Confetti.  I'm sure it goes without saying, but these adorable penguins from the S'more Love stamp set are my favorite of this month's release.  I just can't put them down!

Here is the SFYTT:

And here is my card following the sketch.  Instead of doing a vertical strip of paper down the center of the card front, I chose to watercolor a stripe down the middle of the card in shades of pink and purple.  When it was dry, I  cut a strip of one of  the new All Heart Quick Card Panels  and adhered that on top of the watercolor.  Then I diecut the two largest pieces from the Layered Snowflake die to ground the focal point.  I popped the snowflake up using foam tape.  Then I stamped, colored and diecut one of the penguins from the S'more Love stamp set and popped her up on top of the snowflake using foam tape.  I needed a horizontal element to complete the sketch, so I tied some Lilac twine around the bottom of the card panel and finished it off with a bow.  Finally, I stamped a sentiment from the S'more Love stamp set on a strip of white card stock, cut it on a diagonal on one end, and secured the other end with a few staples before popping the entire panel up on a white card base.

That's all for me today!  Thanks so much for stopping by! :)

COOL-est Card Series - Week #3

Hello there!  I am so excited, because today, and every Thursday in January, I am teaming up with my friend Jenn Shurkus to bring you the 2016 Coolest Card Series!  Each week, we will be focusing on a particular company and technique, but every card will be winter or snow themed!  Each week, we will be giving away prizes so be sure to play along with us!  Here is how you can win:

1. Comment on this post

2. Comment on Jenn's post

3. Play along with us and link up using the inlinkz below

That gives you 3 chances to win per week, and we will be giving away one prize per week, so 4 prizes total.  The winners will be posted at 9am, February 4th.  When the winners are announced, you can find them here.

Our theme this week is Pinks and Reds, and we are using Lawn Fawn products!

For my card today, I created a watecolor background using Lawn Fawn Lobster and Plastic Flamingo inks.  Because they are dye based inks, you can watercolor with them!  When it was dry, I diecut it with the Small Stitched Rectangles dies.  I added a strip of the Let's Polka in the Dark striped patterned paper to the bottom.  Then I diecut the largest snowflake from the Stitched Snowflakes dies out of white card stock.  I stamped, colored and diecut the cute little Winter Owl.  I  just love adding googly eyes to him!  I selectively inked a sentiment from the Winter Owl stamp set to create a custom sentiment.  Then I matted the panel on the Scalloped Rectangles Stackables and mounted the whole thing to a white card base with foam tape.  As a final finishing touch, I added some Sweetheart Lawn Trimmings and a scattering of Mini Snowflakes.

I hope you are feeling inspired! Be sure to check out what Jenn has to share with you today! You can see her project by clicking here! 

Want a chance to win this week's awesome prize?

 Play along with us for a chance to win! Share your creations with us on instagram using the hashtag #COOLestcardseries. We'd love to see how you are inspired by the challenges! 

An InLinkz Link-up

Thanks so much for stopping by! :)

All Supplies are listed and linked above :)

Reverse Confetti Special Release

Hello there!  Today, I am sharing a project that I made with a few products from the Reverse Confetti Special Release that just hit the Reverse Confetti store today!  I am all about cute packaging, and products that make that easy, so I squealed out loud when I saw these new goodies!

Here is my valentine treat box using the brand new In the Bag dies, Layered Bow dies and Clear Tote Bags!

The Clear Tote Bags arrive flat, and they are super easy to assemble.  You just lock in the bottom of the bag, and fold gently on the score lines.  The box is a pretty good size assembled, so you can fit lots of great goodies in there.

I used the In the Bag dies along with some fun patterned paper from my stash to line the inside of the box.  First, I cut the scalloped piece.  It is scored in two places to fold and line the bottom of the box.  Then I cut a striped piece of paper, measuring just a hair under 4" x 6" to be the backing of the inside of the box.  I adhered the striped piece to the scalloped piece, and then before putting it in the box, I diecut some red and white hearts using the Double Heart Garland border dies, which I glued to the scalloped piece before putting the insert into the box.  I fill the box part way with some red paper shred to give my chocolates a little lift so that they could be seen behind the scalloped panel, added the candy, and closed the box.  To dress things up a little further, I used the Layers Bow dies to add a cute paper bow.  I cut the larger bow loops and bow tails from red cardstock, and then cut the smaller bow loops and tails from coordinating patterned paper.  I glued all of the pieces today, and instead of using the bow center that is included in the die set, I opted for a big red button threaded with some red and white twine.  Then I used the cut little tag dies that are part of the In the Bag die set, and cut a tag from white cardstock.  The tag topper, one of two included in the die set, was cut from more patterned paper.  I added a sentiment to my tag using the Lovey  Words dies and Lovey Word Coordinates stamp set.  I attached the tag to the bow using some Maraschino twine and then  used scor-tape to adhere the bow to the box.  A tiny glue dot holds the tag in place. 

Here it is a little closer:

Isn't this bow just the cutest?  There are so many possibilities.  I might be putting paper Layered Bows on everything from now on.

Here you can see a side view of the box.  There is plenty of room to fit other goodies in there along with the chocolates (which I found at Target, by the way).  These boxes and dies are an adorable way to dress up gifts.  So easy to make a $1 box of chocolates look like a million bucks!

Be sure to hop along with the rest of the Reverse Confetti gang, and see what everyone else made with these fun new products!

Reverse Confetti Blog
Amy Kolling
Audrey Tokach - **you are here**
Heather Pulvirenti
Jennifer McGuire
Lisa Addesa
Lisa Henke
Kay Miller
Amy Rohl
Amy Tsuruta
Nichol Magouirk
Amy Sheffer
Sarah Gough
Laurie Schmidlin
Wanda Guess
Susan Liles

Leigh Penner

Thanks so much for stopping by! :)

Great Chemistry {Lawn Fawn}

Hello there!  I have this fun watercolor card to share with you today over on the Lawnscaping Challenges blog!  Our current Lawnscaping Challenge is all about Watercoloring, and I couldn't resist making another card, because watercolor is my favorite!

To make my card today, I pulled out a bunch of distress inks.  I tapped Picked Raspberry, Mermaid Lagoon and Squeezed Lemonade onto a large acrylic block.  Then, I added water to each color with a paint brush.  I made a small puddle of distress ink and water on my watercolor paper, and then simply blew air through a straw, turning the paper to send the ink in the direction I wanted it to go.  I repeated this with different colors, letting sprays of color mix to create new colors.  Then, I loaded my paintbrush with Picked Raspberry and a good amount of water, and tapped the paint brush to get splatters.

When my watercolor piece was dry, I diecut it with the largest die from the Small Stitched Rectangles Stackables, and then I stamped, colored and diecut the little beakers from the Science of Love stamp set.  I felt like they were getting lost on the background, so I used the middle heart from the Stitched Heart Stackables to cut a vellum heart.  Adding the vellum mutes out the background enough to show off the beakers better.  I popped them up with foam tape, and then heat embossed a sentiment from the same stamp set on to a strip of black cardstock using white embossing powder.  

That's all for me today!  Thanks for stopping by! :)

Supplies:
Stamps: Lawn Fawn Science of Love
Dies: Lawn Fawn Science of Love, Small Stitched Rectangles Stackables, Stitched Heart Stackables
Paper: Tim Holtz Distress Watercolor Paper, PTI True Black, Stampers Select White, Vellum
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, Distress Inks in Picked Raspberry, Squeezed Lemonade, Mermaid Lagoon, Versamark
Other: White Embossing Powder, Copic Markers, White Gel Pen, Foam Tape, drinking straw

Lawnscaping Challenge #122 - Watercolor

Hi there!  Today starts another Lawnscaping Challenge and I am so excited because it's all about my favorite... Watercolor!

We are sponsored this week by the super fabulous Lawn Fawn!

One of the things that I love to do most with watercolor is create my own backgrounds.  Sometimes they are completely abstract, and some times, like today, I create patterns on purpose.  I love the look of bold black and white stripes mixed with bright colors!  I started off my card with a piece of Tim Holtz Distress Watercolor Paper.  I tape it down to a board, and used a wide flat brush and my $5 Artist's Loft Watercolors from Michaels to paint wide stripes from top to bottom.  When it was dry, I diecut the piece with the largest die from the Small Stitched Rectangles die set.  Then I stamped, colored and fussy cut a bunch of flowers and leaves from the Flutter by stamp set.  After I had an arrangement decided, I adhered some pieces with foam tape and others with a glue pen. For a sentiment, I used Violet's ABCs  to heat emboss "hello" on a black strip of cardstock, which I embossed with white embossing powder, then I cut a banner end on one side, and added it to the card front with foam tape.  I adhered the finished panel to a black card base, and added a scattering of black sequins to finish things off.

 

Be sure to check out the blog for all of the challenge details and to see lots more inspiration from the design team!  And just so you know, you are not seeing double... I am sharing this card on the Lawn Fawn blog today too! :)

Thanks so much for stopping by!

Supplies:
Stamps: Lawn Fawn Flutterby. Violet's ABCs
Dies: Small Stitched Rectangles
Paper: PTI True Black, Stampers Select White
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, Versamark
Other: Artist's Loft Watercolor Palette (Michaels), white embossing powder, copic markers, Avery Elle Midnight Blend sequins, foam tape

Sparkle and Shine Challenge #22

Hello there!  It's time for another Sparkle and Shine Challenge!  Here is our inspiration photo for Challenge #22:

We are sponsored this week by the Right At Home shop!

I am using some new-ish products from Papertrey Ink for my card today!  I started my card by ink blending an ombre pattern using an ink blending tool and Hickory Smoke Distress Ink.  I wanted the top of the card base to be dark, and the bottom to fade to white.  After I blending the ink, I used my Kuretake Gansai Tambi watercolors to add white paint splatters to the card base to look like snow.  Then I diecut a birch tree background is the Winter Woods Cover Plate from PTI.  I stamped lines on the birch trees using an image from the Winter Woods stamp set.  For some added dimension, I added some shadows to the diecut using a grey copic marker.  Then I stamped the cardinal and tree branch from the Winter Woods stamp set onto coordinating diecuts.  After adhering the birch tree diecut to the card base with a glue pen, I popped the tree branch and bird up using foam tape.  Then I stamped a sentiment from the same set on a banner diecut, and added some Sparkling Clear Sequins as a finishing touch.

Be sure to check out the blog for all of the challenge details and to see lots more inspiration from the design team!

Thanks so much for stopping by! :)

Supplies:
Stamps: PTI Winter Woods
Dies: PTI Winter Woods,Winter Woods Coverplate, PTI Double Ended Banner
Paper: PTI White
Ink: Memento London Fog, Lawn Fawn Lobster, PTI Scarlet Jewel and Smokey Shadow, WPlus9 Pixie Dust, Hickory Smoke Distress
Other: Copic Markers (C3, C1), black rhinestone, Pretty Pink Posh Sparkling Clear Sequins, Foam Tape, Kuretake Gansai Tambi watercolor, ink blending tool

COOL-est Card Series - Week #2

Hello there!  I am so excited, because today, and every Thursday in January, I am teaming up with my friend Jenn Shurkus to bring you the 2016 Coolest Card Series!  Each week, we will be focusing on a particular company and technique, but every card will be winter or snow themed!  Each week, we will be giving away prizes so be sure to play along with us!  Here is how you can win:

1. Comment on this post

2. Comment on Jenn's post

3. Play along with us and link up using the inlinkz below

That gives you 3 chances to win per week, and we will be giving away one prize per week, so 4 prizes total.  The winners will be posted at 9am, February 4th.  When the winners are announced, you can find them here.

Today we are digging into our My Favorite Things goodies and our watercolors to create our projects for you!  I pulled out my Cool Day stamp set, and my distress inks.  I started with a piece of Tim Holtz Distress Watercolor paper.  I tapped my distress ink pads onto an acrylic block and wet them with a paint brush.  For my card, I used Picked Raspberry, Carved Pumpkin, Squeezed Lemonade, Twisted Citron and Peacock Feathers.  After my watercolor was dry, I used the Avery Elle Wonky Stitches dies to add a stitched edge.  Then I stamped, colored, and diecut the cute little polar bear, iceburg and sign from the Cool Day stamp set.  Popped them up using foam tape, and stamped a sentiment from the same stamp set.  Then, I stamped the snowflakes from the set using Versamark ink and heat embossed them with white embossing powder.  Finally, I popped the entire panel on a white card base using foam tape.

I hope you are feeling inspired! Be sure to check out what Jenn has to share with you today! You can see her project by clicking here! 

 Play along with us for a chance to win! Share your creations with us on instagram using the hashtag #COOLestcardseries. We'd love to see how you are inspired by the challenges!

Want a chance to win this week's prize?

Remember, you can win one of three ways!  Leave a comment on this post, leave a comment on Jenn's post, or make a winter or snow themed card incorporating watercolor, and add it to the inlinkz below!

An InLinkz Link-up

Thanks so much for stopping by! :)

Supplies:
Stamps: MFT Cool Day
Dies: MFT Cool Day, Avery Elle Wonky Stitches
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, Versafine Black Onyx, Versamark, Distress ink in Picked Raspberry, Carved Pumpkin, Squeezed Lemonade, Twisted Citron, Peacock Feathers
Paper: PTI White, Tim Holtz Distress Watercolor Paper
Other: White Embossing Powder, Copic Markers, foam tape, white gel pen

Pizza My Heart on the Lawn Fawn Blog today!!

Hello there!  I am super excited to be sharing another card on the Lawn Fawn blog today!  I'm in the mood for love (and pizza) so I wipped this card up to share with you!  The new Pizza My Heart stamp set is just adorable, and so much fun to play with!

I started off my card by diecutting a piece of white cardstock using the Small Stitched Rectangles die set.  I also used the same die to cut a piece of checkered paper to use as a table cloth. Before adhering the patterned paper to the bottom of the panel, I used an ink  blending tool and Tumbled Glass Distress Ink to add some faint color to the background.  I inked heavier towards the bottom, and let it fade out as it reached the top.  Then I stamped, colored and diecut the pizza, pizza box and pizza cutter using the coordinating Pizza My Heart dies.  That little mouse is from a Lawn Fawn and Simon Says Stamp collaboration that was unfortunately limited edition, but there are plenty of other little critters that you could use in his place.  To add some interest, I used a white gel pen to give the pepperoni a little more pizzaz, and then stamped my sentiment towards the top of the card panel using two different colors of ink.  That Lobster ink is a pretty awesome shade of red (and one that doesn't stain your stamps incase you have stained stamp phobia like me!).  I popped  all of the pieces up with foam tape, and then stamped some tiny hearts in a trail, drawing the eye up to the sentiment.  Finally, I popped the whole thing up on a red card base with foam tape.



That's all for me today!  I hope this post didn't make you too hungry!

Thanks for stopping by! :)

Supplies:
Stamps: Lawn Fawn Pizza My Heart, Merry Christmouse (LF/SSS Limited Edition set)
Dies: Pizza My Heart, Small Stitched Rectangles
Paper: PTI White, Pure Poppy, MME 6x6 paper pad
Ink: Lawn Fawn Lobster, Versafine Onyx Black, Ranger Distress in Tumbled Glass
Other: Copic Markers, White Gel Pen, Foam Tape

Reverse Confetti January Blog Hop

WOOHOO!  The January release from Reverse Confetti is available NOW!  You can find all of the new goodies in the shop, here!

It's blog hop day, and for my project, I couldn't wait to use the newest set of critters in the Reverse Confetti lineup.  These adorable penguins are the stars of the show in the new S'more Love stamp set!  With so many cute elements in the set, it's perfect for scene building, which is one of my favorite things to do!  I wanted to create a night sky and a campfire glow, so I pulled out my distress inks.  I started with a piece of Tim Holtz Disress Watercolor paper and I blended Blueprint Sketch and Chipped Sapphire inks to create the sky, leaving a spot for Squeezed Lemonade to create the campfire glow. I was careful not to overlap the colors, otherwise, I'd have a green sky.  After I was happy with the sky, I added some water droplets and then soaked them up with a paper towel to give more interest to  the background.  Then, I used Hickory Smoke to sponge in the ground.  I stamped, colored, and diecut the penguins , their accessories, and the campfire with the coordinating S'more Love Confetti Cuts.  I added accents with a white gel pen, and then I added some glitter to the fire with a Sakura Stardust pen. I popped everything up with foam tape.   I stamped a sentiment from the same set onto a piece of dark grey cardstock, heat embossed it with white embossing powder, and then hand cut a banner end to one side of the strip.  I attached it to the panel with a few staples.  I adhered the scene to a white card base and to finish things off, I added  some stars (or snowflakes) to the scene and a hand doodled border with a white gel pen.

I just love these little penguins all decked out in their winter gear!

 

Be sure to hop along and see what the rest of the Confetti Crew has to share with you today!!

Reverse Confetti blog 
Amy Kolling 
Fetti Friend—Audrey Tokach  - **You are here**
Heather Pulvirenti 
Lisa Addesa 
Lisa Henke  
Kay Miller 
Amy Rohl 
Amy Tsuruta 
Amy Sheffer 
Sarah Gough 
Leigh Penner 
Laurie Schmidlin 
Susan Liles 

Thanks so much for stopping by! :)