WHERE I CREATE

Moxie Fab asked for pics of craft spaces today - so even tho I took these pics awhile back the space is still the same (only today it was not fit to photograph - definitely lacking in neatness to put it mildly!)

 This is my workspace looking very neat.

My craft area is in the lower level of my townhouse.  Most of the items I use are antiques - table, chairs, boxes, tall filing cabinets where inks, tools, ribbons, etc. etc. are stored in labeled drawers.  On the table are old sewing machine drawers where I keep embossing folders, misc. stamp sets, etc.  The grey box is from Ikea and blank cards are in that.  My sewing machine is on an old treadle base.  The vagabond in right across from it - there is an old swivel desk chair there that doubles as sitting place for it and the sewing machine.  I now have an old oak file cabinet under the table on my left which has all my cardstock filed by color in it.

This is the area right behind my work chair.  The cabinets are not new nor the cubby (Pottery Barn) on the wall - lots of stamps are stored in the CD cases in that.  The cupboards have baskets with 6x6 papers, misc. wood stamps, and all the other paraphernalia etc. of stamping.

This a very long room and at the other end is a sitting area with TV that I can watch while stamping (altho I tend not to do that very much).  There is a bathroom close by for other necessities - great for the fresh water during the recent watercolor class.

Thanks for visiting me today.   Betty

PLAYING WITH SPLOTCHES AND SPLATTERS

I have seen watercolor cards done sort of like this (unfortunately can't find one at the moment) - anyway a stamped flower and then just a blob of color on part of it.  Just got this new stamp set from Hero Arts and decided to have a go. 

I had a lot of fun with this - used several distress inks and just let the water do the work.  There are tiny seed beads in the flower centers for a little texture.  Will put this in the gallery for the online watercolor class even tho I don't think there was a day where this was done.  Also will enter it Simon Says Stamp: Botanical, The Paper Players: Floral, Cas-ology: Flower and A2Z Scrapbooking Supplies.  Lots of flower challenges this month!

Supplies:
Stamps: HA CL779
Ink:  Ranger Distress
Paper: Strathmore cold press

Thanks for visiting and your kind comments.  Betty

LORELEI LEAF

This past week in The Classroom, Julie Ebersole demonstrated a technique that really intrigued me.  So this afternoon I gave it a try.  I didn't do it exactly the way she did tho.  Instead of cutting strips of paper, I used some washi tape (I had tried one earlier with the strips of paper and found it way too fussy getting it straight).  The washi was easy peezy.  I mounted it on regular cardstock.  Since I was using a clear stamp I didn't have to use the stamp positioner either.  As usual, this card will await a suitable greeting inside when needed.  My washi panel is 3" wide.

Supplies:
Die: MB Lorelei Leaf
Stamp: Technique Tuesday
Washi: freebie from Archivers ages ago

Thanks for visiting and your kind comments.  Betty

WATERCOLOR TREE

In the online watercolor class, Jennifer showed a fun technique for doing a freehand tree by splattering paint.  I just used the three primary colors for my tree - red, yellow and blue - and when they blended there were many colors.

Will try this again with another tree, but really enjoyed making this card.  Will put "birthday wishes", "congratulations" or whatever on the inside when needed.

Supplies:
Paper: HA; PTI; Strathmore cold press
Stamp: Technique Tuesday
Other: Crayola watercolors

Thanks for visiting and your kind comments.  Betty

BUTTERFLY RESCUE

I'm beginning to think that "random" is not my middle name - at least that's the way I feel about my watercoloring attempts for the online watercolor class.   I went through some attempts I didn't like  and came up with this card...

The background was made from Shari Carroll's tutorial on embossed background on day 5 and the butterfly was failed attempts from Laura's acrylic block watercoloring (day 1).  I wasn't liking putting a sentiment on the front so just decided to leave it be and put something inside when the time comes.

Have had some busy days since last Saturday and have lots of catching up to do.  Yesterday was primary election day in Nebraska - am an election worker and that means a really, really long day - 7am - 9 pm - setting up before the voters come and then taking down booths and stuff, plus counting ballots and making sure it all jives with number of signed in voters.  So am having a hard time getting going today.

Supplies: 
Stamp: HA Lattice background
Other: MB dies; HA embossing powder; Ranger distress inks and markers; Strathmore cold press watercolor paper

Thanks for looking and your kind comments.  Betty

STENCILED BRANCH

I made the background for this card earlier this week for the online watercolor class by using the stencil method plus watercolor - used distress inks and water with the stencil.  Then I kept looking at it and couldn't quite decide how to use it on a card.  So today I cut it into 3 parts, stitched all to another piece of cardstock by placing the pieces together randomly so the stripes and colors were varied.  So then I had to look at it some more and finally just added the die cuts and a few sequins and called it a day.

Since I added some machine stitching will add it to Virginia's challenge for this month to have stitches/sewing on a card.

Supplies:
Paper: Strathmore cold press watercolor paper; SU baja breeze; PTI vellum
Inks: Ranger distress
Other: Heidi Swapp stencil; sequins from stash; MB die

Thanks for visiting today and your kind comments.  Betty

POPPIES & WATERCOLOR

Two more cards from the online watercolor class.  The first one uses a masking technique and is from a demo by Jennifer McGuire on day 2.  I used just my basic watercolor set to wash on the background after stamping the poppies in black.  Added a few tiny black beads to flower centers for a little texture.

For my second card, I stamped the poppies once on some script paper.  Then stamped them again on watercolor paper,  added water to the paper, made puddles of color with gelatos and painted the color on with a brush.  After they were dry, I carefully cut them out and adhered them to the background.  Spattered some more color on by flicking my paintbrush.  This actually wasn't a technique from the class, but I wasn't having any luck with the gelatos from the class demo.  So just did my own thing.

Looking at my last post and this one, I think I'm in a pink mode!!

Supplies:
Stamps: HA CL449
Paper: Strathmore cold press; PTI "Dear Jane"; SU crumb cake
Ink: Ranger black archival

Thanks for visiting and your kind comments.  Betty

WATERCOLOR CLASS

Made two cards this afternoon - can't remember for which days tho.  Have found that I have the most success with distress inks tho.  The first card is emboss resist.

I used my cheap watercolors for the background in sort of a light gray.  There are 3 layers of stacking on the "happy".

This card was done in distress inks by inking the stamps and demonstrated by Jennifer R.  The design came from a video done by Jennifer M.  I stamped the "happy" in the center and then covered it with post-it tape to keep that area clean.  I did test several kinds of ink before deciding on the distress inks.

I do like making these cards with just "happy" on the front.  Then I can put whatever inside.

Supplies:
Stamps: MFT Easter Bunny; HA Flourish Background
Inks: Ranger distress - Peeled Paint, Pickled Raspberry, Ripe Persimmon
Other: Wplus9 die; Strathmore cold press watercolor paper;  MME enamel dots; HA embossing powder

Thanks for looking and your kind comments.  Betty

WATERCOLOR BUTTERFLIES

Watercolor for Cardmakers began today - the technique was how to make backgrounds.  Well...I totally messed up my first attempt, and couldn't let it go to waste so cut the piece up into butterflies.  Remembered a challenge (CAS(E) this Sketch) where maybe I could use them  - so here it is:

The watercolors I was using are just cheap Crayola ones.  I used Strathmore cold press watercolor paper which I like quite well.

Supplies:
Stamp: HA
Other: SU very vanilla cardstock; MB dies; MS punch; MME enamel dots

Thanks for looking and your kind comments.  Betty

ATC EXCHANGE

Linda van Vliet in Holland asked for volunteers to exchange an ATC so I took her up on the challenge.  Haven't made an ATC in ages and had quite forgotten how fun they are to make.  I ended up making two of them and couldn't decide which to send so sent them both!

This is the lovely ATC she sent me - the colors are so vibrant and the center tulip is all shimmery - hard to catch the light just right.

Supplies:

Paper: Graphic45 Botanical Tea

Stamp: HA hydrangea

Other: MS punch: WRMK die

Thanks for visiting and your kind comments.  Betty

SCRAMBLE #83

Made this card for Cat's scramble today in the Hero Arts discussion group.  Used the die cutout as a stencil and sponged color around it.  Then cut out 4 more butterflies, layered them and embossed.  Added the enamel dots for the body.  The challenge was to use a HA product as focal point and then Cat gave us choices for two additional elements - I chose dry embossing and the enamel dots.

 

By the way, I picked up some Aleene's Clear Gel and have found it works beautifully for layering these die cuts - bought it at Joann's (with a 50% off coupon) - it very reasonably priced and never clogs - a definite plus!  Little dots of it hold very well.

Supplies:

Die: HA 1078

Stamp: Technique Tuesday

Other: Ranger distress ink; MME enamel dots; Aleene's Clear Gel

Thanks for looking and your kind comments.  Betty

A PURPLE BRITHDAY

The challenge for this week at The Card Concept is monochromatic purple and the style I used is "clean and layered".  Not my "go to" color, but I did like pairing it up with light green leaves.  Only used two stacked layers of cardstock for the "happy" and offset it slightly for sort of a shadow effect.  Stamped the leaves and flowers before putting in the dotted background and finally fitting all together.  Today Yana posted a video doing layered diecuts in case you're interested

Supplies:
Stamps: HA; Wplus9
Inks: PTI; Memento
Other: PTI die

Thanks for looking and your kind comments.  Betty

APRIL CARD CHAIN CHALLENGE

Lavon has received her card for this month's challenge so now I can post it.  I followed the sketch, colors (yellow, aqua, pink) and added fiber.

Supplies:
Stamps: PTI; Wplus9
Inks: HA; PTI
Other: Doodlebug twine

Thanks for looking and your kind comments.   Betty

WATERCOLOR AND SUNFLOWER

I am signed up for Jennifer McGuire's new Online Card Class - Watercolor for Cardmakers - which starts 5 May.  There is a pre-class gallery so decided to give that a try, plus do it in yellow for Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge.

The sunflower stamp is probably one of the first stamps I ever bought from Hero Arts.  I smooshed antique linen distress ink on an acrylic block with lots of water to make the background for the tag.  Stamped and embossed the sunflower.  I used gelatos and water to color the sunflower.  Put the tag to the side (although that was hard for me to do - have to get out of the box sometime!!!) and not too sure I like it. 

Supplies:
Stamps: HA; Wplus9
Inks: Ranger distress
Other: Doodlebug twine; Ranger liquid platinum embossing powder

Thanks for visiting and your kind comments.  Betty

SIMON SAYS YELLOW

The week's challenge from Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge is to use yellow.  Since I had made yesterday's card in several colors, I decided to enter the yellow version.

Used the same technique (stacked inlaid).

Supplies:
Stamps: PTI; Technique Tuesday
Inks: HA; PTI
Other: PTI die; SU cardstock for base

Thanks for visiting and your kind comments.  Betty

STACKED INLAID STAMPING

I have been wanting to do a card like this for ages and finally got around to doing it.  There are many examples out there - here, here, here, and here.  Basically, I just stamped the flowers, die cut "birthday" from the stamped part, then layered white cardstock (4 layers - 2 at a time), die cut and glued it all together.  Next I stamped "wishes", taped my stamped piece onto the base, and then inlaid "birthday".  When you die cut the stamped layer be sure to keep all the little bits because you need to put them back in at the end.  Simple card but very effective.  It wasn't easy to photograph so I did a close up also.

I am entering this in ABNH's layer cake challenge.

Supplies:
Stamps: PTI; Technique Tuesday
Ink: HA; PTI

Thanks for visiting and your kind comments.  Betty

MAKE IT MONDAY #161 INK SPLATS

PTI's challenge this week is to ink your paper and then add droplets of water to create a background.  I taped my card with post-its, sponged and blended colors and added the water.  Let it dry, cut out my poppy, adhered it and stamped the sentiment.  Pretty quick card once I had the design done.

Supplies:
Inks: PTI & Ranger distress
Stamp: Hero Arts
Other: MB "prim poppy" die; SU & HA cardstock

Thanks for visiting today and your kind comments.  Betty

CAS STENCILED BUTTERFLY

For this card I first stamped with Hero Arts flourish in white ink to make a background.  Then I made a stencil from Hero Arts butterfly die and used a dauber and ink to make the butterfly over the background.  Added a bit of glitter to the inside of the butterfly, added a sentiment and done and dusted! 

It was difficult to get the background and glitter to show in a photo, but it really quite pretty in real life!  I have left the inside blank for the time being as there are a variety of sentiments that could be added inside.  A gift set with strips of sentiments like "happy birthday", happy day", "happy spring", or whatever could be added with the set so the recipient could use it for whatever.  Will enter this in Virginia's View stencil challenge.

Supplies:
Stamps: Wplus9 "Easter Bunny"; HA CG119 flourish
Inks: HA soft pool; Colorbox frost white
Other: HA D1078 butterfly die; Wink of Stella

Thanks for looking and your kind comments.  Betty

MAKE IT MONDAY #159 AND DYNAMIC DUOS

I have never entered Papertrey Ink's Make it Monday challenge but decided to give it a try this week as I thought the no sew quilt technique looked like a lot of fun.  Once figured out it was very easy to put together - but that part plus deciding on which papers to use took a lot longer - and I'm still not sure I got it right!  I am also entering it in Dynamic Duos challenge for this coming week as the colors are light purple and yellow.  I think a set of quilted cards would make a fun gift.

Supplies:
Stamp: HA birthday
Papers: PTI "winter wisteria" and vellum; MME "in bloom"
Other: MME enamel dots; Ranger liquid platinum embossing powder; CB embossing folder

Thanks for looking and your kind comments.  Betty

ANOTHER BUTTERFLY

Decided to try another butterfly card today for Card Concept (clean and layered) and had made the stenciled background a few days ago.  Also had some vellum butterflies left over from yesterday's card and so began this card.  Colored the backs of the vellum butterflies with distress pen in same color as the stencil color.  Made the stencil from a PTI die and sponged the color, adding some ink spots by flicking my brush.

Added some yarn from my stash and the sentiments (happy birthday inside) and done!  Think I will also enter this in Virginia's View challenge to use a stencil and also Moxie Fab's Stencils: Styling with Stencils Challenge in the Moxie Fab World.

Supplies:
Stamps: Technique Tuesday (wishing you); HA (happy birthday)
Other: SU beautiful wings die; PTI vellum; Ranger distress pens (tumbled glass and shabby shutters)

Thanks for looking and your kind comments.  Betty