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Jan 31, 2018

Botanical Notes Two Ways

Happy Wednesday everyone!
I skipped my Pilates class this morning and instead I decided to play a little bit in my craft room. I had so much fun that I decided to make two cards using the same stamp :-) I used some challenges as  inspiration so they were fairly easy to make.


On the card above I used Loll's splash watercolor technqiue. with the stamp Botanical Notes by Penny Black. Super quick and easy to do! Bristol Vellum card stock was used as my card front, which I find works wonderful with watercolors and it has a pretty smooth surface, compared to traditional watercolor paper. I used a mix of  Distress inks to create the background using the technique linked above. My new Tonic Stamp Platform came in really handy for this, and I find it works so well with these types of stamps. I really need to replace my versafine onyx ink pad though...
The butterfly was stamped again over a scrap piece of inked card stock, then fussy cut using my  Cutterbee scissors. I mounted the image panel onto Melon Mambo card stock, then  Neenah Linen textured card stock and then onto Stampin Up's retired bashful blue card stock. I finished off the card by going over the butterfly with a  Wink of Stella glitter brush in clear glitter to add just a hint of sparkle. Of course as usual, it's hard to see the shimmer on the picture here... Two sticky pearls finish off the card.

The colors for this card were inspired by this week's Color Throwdown challenge.


And I am also playing along here:

For my second card I used the same stamp by Penny Black - Botanical Notes, this time I heat embossed the image using white detail embossing powder on Bristol Vellum card stock. The image was colored using my Zig Clean Color real brush pens and  Zig Detailer Watercolor Brush.
I framed/cut out the image panel using my new Wonky Stitches  die set. The banner is part of this set and I used Penny Black's clear set Snippets for the sentiment. I was able to bend the sentiment the way I wanted it to appear on the banner. To finish off the card I added some Wink of Stella in clear again and tied a bow using  Jute Twine in Parrot Green.


This post contains affiliate links. I may earn a small commission if you purchase through the links, at no additional cost to you. Thank you!


Two completely different cards made with the same stamp. Which one do you like more? I am leaning towards the first card, somehow I just like the stamping with black ink more. I feel like the pretty image is getting lost a little bit when stamped in white.


I am entering this card here:

Thanks so much for visiting! Enjoy the rest of your week, and hope to see you again on Saturday when I share my card for the new Allsorts challenge!


Jan 27, 2018

Old Favorites

Hi everyone, it's Saturday again and so it's time for a new challenge at Allsorts. This week it's Tracy's turn to host and she wants us to use our Old Favorites. Should be an easy one, unless of course you have many old favorites like I do :) Well...I just ended up making two cards, and don't forget you can also enter our challenge up to 3 times for more chances to win! And more chances for you to use some of your old favorites!! This week we  have a fantastic prize to give away kindly sponsored by Fantastic Ribbons.


First up is a Winter themed card using the cute stamp Skiing Snowman by Penny Black. I haven't had a chance yet to use this cutie this Winter so it was the perfect choice and fitting for this time of the year! (Although we currently are enjoying some warmer weather, which is really nice after such arctic temperatures we've had for a while.)

 I heat embossed the image and then colored with Kuretak Zig Real Brush Pens
The patterned paper is from my stash  and the sentiment is from a clear set by Penny Black. I used  Mica Flakes  to make it look like snow is flying through the air. These flakes are more white in real life with some iridescent shimmer, but my camera picked up so many colors from the shimmer, that aren't really showing in real life. I also used some  Stickles Stardust Glitter on the snowman's hat and a little more on the snow. A few punched snowflakes (Martha Stewart punch)  were used to finish off the card. 


Playing along here:
Tuesday Throwdown  - Anything Goes


For my second card I decided to use the cute stamp Bees 'n Bunny also by Penny Black. Another one of my old favorites! Heat embossed on  Bristol Vellum paper and also colored with Kuretak Zig Real Brush Pens . I fussy cut the image and adhered it onto inked Neenah Classic Crest Solar White card stock. I used my new Avery Elle Wonky Stitches Dies to cut out the image panel. To make the grass I simply cut into some patterned paper and tucked the flower pot into it.
The sentiment is from Penny Black set Heartfelt. To add more of my old favorites I used a little button and black gingham ribbon.

I hope you'll find some time to join us this week, it's always so much fun to see what everyone's favorites are!


This post contains affiliate links. It helps support my business if you shop through the links, at no additional cost to you.Thank you so much for your support!


Jan 20, 2018

Butterflies at Allsorts challenge


Good morning, happy Saturday!
This week Wendy is our host at Allsorts challenge and she wants to see Butterflies. Super fun challenge and I had so much fun with this theme, that I decided to make two cards :)

I wanted to try the "Splash Watercolor Technique" I keep reading about on Karen's blog Snippets, and I had this stamp in mind ( Butterfly Suite by Penny Black) for the challenge, which I thought was perfect for this watercolor background technique. Karen actually linked to a short technique video by Loll, super easy to do and I love the results. 

I used  Ranger Distress Inks in Feathered Peacock and Concord Grape for my colors and stamped the image using VersaFine onyx black ink (I really need to replace this ink pad or get a re-inker!!) I stamped the butterfly twice, the second time on a leftover piece of inked card stock, then fussy cut and added  Stickles Stardust glitter. I have also added couple tiny white and glittered butterflies. 



The sentiment (Snippets by Penny Black) was stamped onto vellum paper using Black Stazon ink, then attached to the card with a staple, which in this case I covered up by tying a white silk bow. Framed with white then wisteria card stock to finish it off. 


I really wasn't planning on making two cards, but as I was looking for a stamp for an upcoming challenge, I saw this cute Mimi stamp (which I forgot I had) and realized it was absolutely perfect for the challenge of Butterflies. Luckily I had some time, so I was able to make another card. 

It's been colored using my  Faber Castell Polychromos colored pencils on Neenah Solar Crest card stock. I kept the sketch simple by just added some striped designer paper (old, from Stampin Up) and some twine. The sentiment is also part of the Penny Black Mimi set " Sweet Smiles". 

As both my cards use Penny Black stamps I am playing along in the Penny Black Saturday challenge where the theme is "Anything Goes". 

Enjoy your weekend and stay warm! 




This post contains affiliate links. It helps support my business if you shop through the links, at no additional cost to you.Thank you so much for your support!

Jan 18, 2018

Penny Black and More Midmonth Reminder

Hello everyone, we're about halfway through our January challenge at Penny Black and More with the theme of "Something New", and so it's time for the mid- month post.

I originally was going to make a "New Baby" card using this cute duck from the Penny Black set "Buddy and Duck", but found this sentiment worked better inside the circle, so I decided against a baby card. Of course I think this duck works well for a lot of occasions, and I think it fits the sentiment really well.

The heart circle frame is brand new to me, another set by Avery Elle I recently treated myself to. This design is available with stars too, and it's next on my wishlist :)
The duck was colored with Faber Castell Polychromos pencils, then fussy cut. The umbrella was stamped again and fussy cut separately, then attached with dimesionals. The sentiment is from an old Stampin Up set. I paper pierced on two corners and then framed the image panel with dotted designer paper from my stash before adhering it to the card base.


You can see the wonderful prizes we have on offer by visiting the challenge blog, where you will also see what the rest of the team is sharing this mid-month! Some really delightful creations!


Before I sign off for today, here is a text I copied from my teamie Brenda about recent commenting troubles on blogger:

"Most of us have probably encountered the recent problems with publishing comments when we go to peoples blogs.

Well one of my challenge teamies came across a possible solution whilst she was out in blogland, I have tried it on my own blog and it certainly does seem to make comments much quicker to publish. So this is the information she passed on:

In the settings on your blog select 'posts, comments and sharing, select 'comment location' and from the drop down menu select 'pop up window' then save. 

As I mentioned above I obtained this info second hand, but I am sure the originator will be happy for us all to share as it will make life much easier for all of us, so please feel free to lift the above and share." 


Thanks for visiting,
hope you have a wonderful day!


Jan 13, 2018

Polka Dots and Wonky Stitches

 Hello everyone, it's time already for a new challenge at Allsorts and this week Tracy M is our hostess with the theme of
 No Patterned Papers
I had a completely different card in mind using distress inks, masking and sponging, but I came down with some flu-like symptoms  this week not feeling too well, so I decided on a clean and simple card instead. 

The cute hedgehog stamp is one of Penny Black's of course, from the clear set Garden Critters, and I did some simple coloring using my Faber Castell Polychromos pencils on Neenah Solar Crest. I cut out the image panel using my new Avery Elle wonky stitches die set. I have no idea when this die set was released - it could be a few years old- but I've been looking for a stitched die set for a while and finally decided on this one. It also comes with a heart, a couple of cute little tag and a banner die.  I miss sewing on my cards, but ever since I moved things around in my craft room, I haven't decided on a spot yet for my sewing machine, so I haven't done any machine sewing recently. 

The sentiment is also by Penny Black, a little single wood mounted stamp. 
A polka dot embossing folder was used for the card front and some silk ribbon tied around it. The image was popped up with dimentionals. Not much more to say here...I hope you like the card even though it wasn't what I had first in mind.

This week we are being sponsored by Craft Obsessions who are giving away a great prize, come join us for a chance to win! And don't forget to visit the rest of the team to see their wonderful creations. Lots of inspiration for sure! 

Have a great day and hope you stay warm!

Jan 7, 2018

Something New for Penny Black and More

Happy Sunday and thank you so much for visiting! 
We are back at the Penny Black and More challenge blog with new challenges and we're starting out the new year with a "Something New" challenge. This can be new stamps/stash, new baby, new home, new job, maybe a new technique... 


I used a new stamp, it's not a new release but new to me - Gentle Whisper - by Penny Black. I love orchids! I also used my new Tonic stamp positioner by Tim Holtz. I have to say I'm impressed! I'm so impressed that I am actually thinking about unmounting my wood mounted stamps ... but I do love my wood mounts so not sure yet what I'll do.

The card was simple to make. I inked the stamp using distress ink markers, spritzed with a little bit of water and then stamped on bristol vellum card stock. I flicked a few ink splatters onto the background to add a little more interest to the card. Then I sponged the edges and a stencil design to two of the corners. The sentiment is from the Penny Black set Heartfelt. The card front was then mounted onto wild wasabi card stock and that completes this birthday card.

We have some wonderful and very generous sponsors lined up for this month's challenge and we welcome everyone to join us. As always you can use any stamp company, just no digi stamps, and please do remember, the focal point has to be stamped, the only exception are Penny Black stickeroos.  I hope to see you there :)

Have a great day!!

Jan 6, 2018

Stencil and Pan Pastels

Good morning! It's my first post of the new year and before I get to my card I want to wish you all a happy and healthy New Year! I hope it's off to a great start for you!

As today is Saturday we have our first challenge of the year for you at Allsorts.  Susan is our hostess this week and chose the theme of "Something New".


Perfect opportunity for me to play with my new stencil by Penny Black (thank you Brenda!!) and also had the chance to use my pan pastels again. Sadly they have been sitting in a drawer for most of last year! But when I saw this stencil I thought the design would look great on black card stock to mimic a chalkboard and the pan pastels were the perfect choice.

After sponging the pastels I used a french script background stamp (old, by Stampin up) and white craft ink to add some words to the background. I don't speak french but I was told the script has something to do with friendship so the little sentiment "Just for You" goes perfectly with it. The sentiment is from the set "Snippets" by Penny Black and I used a stitched tag die by Whimsy Stamps to cut it out. I tied some green twine to the sentiment and attached with a dimensional. Framed with white card stock then adhered to a soft sky card base.

I used the same colors on the second card, but here I used a music note background stamp (by Hero Arts) and craft ink, along with a dotted stencil on the background. The sentiment is from Whimsy Stamps (mini chalkboard greetings) heat embossed using white embossing powder. I also added some embossing powder around the edges, then framed using plum card stock to match the purple pastel.

We are starting out the year with two wonderful prizes by DigiStamp Boutique and Stix 2, come join us for a chance to win!

Thank you so much for visiting, have a wonderful day. I hope you stay warm wherever you are! Ice rain in our forecast tomorrow and I am not looking forward to that! But I am hoping it'll warm up a little bit next week, it's been way too cold here already!