Best Wishes

Hey there!  Did you think I disappeared?  I know it's been a week since my last posting.  That was intentional.  I wanted to leave my Watercolor Tutorial at the top of the page so it would be easy for everyone to find. Speaking of watercoloring- I actually have another watercolor card to share tonight!  

Tonight's card was created using the Lovely as a Tree stamp set.  I'm not really sure why I've waited until NOW to actually use that stamp set but it's quickly becoming a favorite. 

Thanks for stopping by!  

Watercolor Tutorial

Hello there stampers!  Last night I posted a gorgeous card that I created using the Watercolor Technique. I have had a TON of questions on how I created the card so tonight I have a step by step instructions that show just how I created the card.  The card that is in the tutorial is the same basic card- just different colors and no reindeer.  

Step 1:  Using watercolor paper and Washi Tape- I first masked off the bottom edge of the card.  The top layer of washi tape was torn to create a jagged edge.

Step 2:  Then I flooded the entire top portion of the card using an Aqua Painter filled with plain water.

Step 3:  Next it was time to add the color. I used Daffodil Delight, Pumpkin Pie and Melon Mambo. Each color was added a little bit at a time. Because the card was already flooded with water- the colors pulled in various directions.  The color was added using an Aqua Painter.

More color:

Step 4:    I then used my Heat Tool to speed up the drying process. You can wait for it to air dry if you like. 

Step 5:  After the card was dry- I began stamping the evergreen tree from the Greetings from Santa stamp set. I used Cajun Craze for ink.  I started in the outer left side and worked towards the middle. Each time I stamped the tree- I made it smaller and smaller. The smallest image is in the center of the card. Then as I continued to stamp to the right- I made each tree just a little bigger than the last.

Step 6:  Next- using the White Craft ink- I created a snow storm. (I inked up my Aqua Painter and flicked the ink all over the card). This is extremely messy so protect your work space.  

Step 7:  Once again- I used the heat tool to dry the ink (only this time it was the snow spots that needed drying)

Step 8:  Remove the Washi Tape from the bottom of the card.  

Step 9:  Using Soft Sky ink and an Aqua Painter- I began to outline the snow bank. Be careful not to use too much water on the outline as it will bleed up into your tree images and pull the darker colors down into your snow bank.  Also be careful not to touch any of the upper colors as they will also bleed.  

Step 10:  After the snow bank was completely outlined- I then used plain water and the Aqua Painter to blend the color down towards the bottom of the card.

Step 11:  Once again- I used the Heat Tool to dry the bottom portion of the card.  After the card was completely dry- I inked up a sentiment from the Holly Berry Happiness stamp set and stamped it onto the bottom right side of the card.  

Thanks for stopping by!  If you have any questions on how to create your own beautiful watercolor creations just let me know!  I'm happy to help!

Greetings from Santa

Good evening!  Have you found a technique that you absolutely adore?  I have....and for me it's watercoloring.  I just can't seem to get enough of the gorgeous backgrounds that are created with this technique.   Thankfully the more I practice the better my watercoloring gets!  

My card tonight features a forest of evergreen trees against a gorgeous watercolored background complete with a reindeer taking a stroll.  It's hard to see in the picture but it's also snowing in my watercolor scene. White Craft Ink makes the perfect snow storm!

I hope you have enjoyed my project tonight!  

Thanks for stopping by!

Mini Notebooks

Hello stampin' friends!  My project tonight is a set of 4 absolutely adorable mini Halloween notebooks.  These notebooks were originally designed by my fabulous upline Becky Roberts.  I tried to resist making them but I just could not.  They are literally the absolute cutest!  

Part of the reason I love them is because how easy they are to create.   It's as easy as die cutting the pieces and putting them together.  My books have a cover (shown above), 15 sheets of paper (created from index cards) and a back (created from solid card stock).  All notebooks have been embellished with some form of Halloween cuteness.  

If you're on the fence about making some of your own- trust me when I say you'll be glad you did!

Thanks for stopping by!

Monday Montage #78: Trick or Treat

Hello there and welcome back for the bi-weekly Monday Montage blog hop. I'm so happy you joined us!  Be sure to visit all of the stops to see what other fabulous projects we have created to share with you.

Tonight I have another adorable Halloween treat to share with you.   This one has some sweet treats in a tray made from Halloween Night DSP.    These little trays are perfect for candy or cookies!  They are sized just big enough to hold a few treats which makes them the perfect gift for neighbors, co-workers and friends!

Here is a side view of the tray.  I hope this gives you a better idea of its size.  It's roughly 6" long by about 1-1/2" deep.

The candy inside is a combination of Halloween Hershey Kisses and Dove Milk Chocolates with ghosts.  They are all arranged on top of some Basic Black paper shred.

I hope you have enjoyed my project for tonight!  It was fun to create!  Please be sure to visit the other fabulous designers on this hop to see what they have to share with you.  Thanks for stopping by!

                

Not All Who Wander Are Lost

Hello stampers! I'm back tonight with another favorite from the Holiday Catalog.  This set is called Glamper Greetings and let me tell you- it is stinkin' cute!  I love, love, love retro campers and I was so excited to see one in the Holiday Catalog.  

In addition to the glamper and various other decorations, this stamp set features several different sentiments.  Some holiday themed and others for any occasion.  I adore the "Not All Who Wander Are Lost" sentiment and couldn't wait to use it on this card.  

Thanks for stopping by!

Happy Autumn!

Hello stampin' friends!  Have you noticed a change in the weather where you live?  We certainly have here in Michigan!  The temps have been slowly inching their way down into the 70's.  I'm not quite ready to say goodbye to summer but I don't really have a choice.  

So come on autumn!  Let's get this over with so we can move on to winter then spring so we can get back to SUMMER!!!

I created this card for a Team Inking Everything challenge.  Each week on our team FaceBook page we are issued a challenge.  Either a card sketch or a color combination.  This week's colors were Cajun Craze, Cherry Cobbler, Calypso Coral and Crushed Curry.  

It's not a color combination I would have come up with on my own but I definitely think it works!  I LOVE how this card turned out!

Thanks for stopping by!
Oops!  I accidentally left the stamp sets used off the supply list!  They are:
Date It
Endless Birthday Wishes

Reindeer!

Hey there stampers!  Don't you just love the Santa's Sleigh framelits from the Holiday Catalog?  I have a few favorites from this set.  Most specifically the sleigh and reindeer.  Speaking of reindeer-have you notice that you can make the deer face each other?  Simply turn one of your deer cut outs over and voila!  You have the reverse image!  Way too simple and perfectly cute!

Who is interested in attending an all day stamp camp with me?  I have received several emails so I figured I would ask so that I can better gauge interest.  If you are interested in attending an all day stamp camp, please send me an email and let me know.  I'm currently looking into the logistics and am happy to email you the information as soon as it's available.

Thanks for stopping by!  

Spooky!

Hello there!  Do you have a favorite holiday?  For as long as I can remember, my favorite holiday has aways been Halloween.  I love the parties, the colors, the costumes, the decorations, trick or treaters, the food, the candy, etc...  I don't think I've met a part of Halloween that I haven't loved!  That's why my project tonight is so fitting for me.  It has decorations (mini lights), trick or treaters (Cookie Cutter Halloween people), black(mini chalkboard)  and is just overall FUN!

Plus- I can't forget those Pumpkin Pie Glimmer Paper letters!  What Halloween project would be complete without a little bling?

Thanks for stopping by!  

Santa's Sleigh

Good evening stampers!  When you first saw the new Holiday Catalog was there anything that caught your eye?  You know, something you couldn't wait to CASE?  For me- it was the gorgeous Santa's Sleigh home decor frame on page 24.  I absolutely adore this little frame.  It's so cute and it's the perfect little picture to display on my fireplace mantle!  

This frame in particular will be heading to my friend Julie for her INKredibles Holiday Extravaganza in Hillard, OH on September 17th.  It's one of the fabulous raffle prizes!  

The frame I chose to use was not just a regular 5" x 7" frame.  I used a shadow box.  This way I could pop all the layers out (and there are lots of layers!).  It's hard to see them all in the picture but they're there.  You'll notice that the only piece I left off from the original is the tiny silver bow on Santa's Sleigh.  I'm still trying to decide if I want to add that or not.  I'm thinking the frame could use just the slightest touch of red.  But perhaps I'll just leave it as is.  What do you think?  Should I add the silver bow?  Maybe a Real Red or a Cherry Cobbler bow?  

Thanks for stopping by!

Monday Montage #77

Hello there and welcome back for the bi-weekly Monday Montage blog hop. I'm so happy you joined us!  Be sure to visit all of the stops to see what other fabulous projects we have created to share with you.

Tonight I have a adorable Halloween Ensemble to share.  It consists of a card, a treat and my favorite- a flask.  I just love the Cookie Cutter Halloween set!  It's just too cute!

Here is a picture of the ensemble:

The Happy Halloween card has a lot of special features.  There's a watercolor wash background, some funky stitching around the edges, and a gorgeous pleated Silver Ribbon to name a few.

My favorite part of the Halloween Ensemble is this adorable Halloween Flask.  Who wouldn't love to drink a Halloween themed beverage from this adorable little glass?  It measures approximately 5" tall and holds approximately 250ml (a little over 8 fl. oz.) and is made of glass.  Not only is it the perfect glass for a Halloween party but it also makes the perfect party favor for guests to take home after the party!

What Halloween Ensemble would be complete without some Halloween treats?  This little cellophane bag is filled with some pumpkin shaped marshmallow peeps.  

I hope you have enjoyed my projects for tonight!  They were fun to create!  Please be sure to visit the other fabulous designers on this hop to see what they have to share with you.  Thanks for stopping by!

Ensamble supplies:

I have accidentally left a few supplies off the supply list above.  They are:

Aqua Painters, Smoky Slate Ink Refill

                

Christmas Pines

Can you believe it is September already?  Where has the summer gone?  The weather in Michigan is already starting to get cooler.  It's not even fall yet but oh how I miss summer already!  The longer days, hot sun-shiny days, vacations, BBQ's, swimming, no school....I could go on and on!   Just think- before you know it- it'll be Christmas!  Thankfully I started working on my Christmas cards early!  It's a looooong list!

Since today is the first day to order from the brand new Holiday Catalog I thought it only fitting that I share a card created with holiday products.  The stamp set is called Christmas Pines and the coordinating set of thinlits are called Pretty Pines.  I just love this set.  The pine boughs are beautiful, the pine cones are amazing.  Combine them both together and you get a gorgeous card!

I love to create cards with a vintage-y feel.   Crumb Cake has a way of making things look/feel antique.  It's probably my favorite color to work with!  Do you have a color that you LOVE to work with?  

I hope you have enjoyed my card tonight!  Thanks for stopping by!