Die Cut Divas - Watercolouring

 Hi - can you believe it's the end of May.  Where has the year gone!  Today I'm sharing my card for the last day of our challenge at Die Cut Divas.  

Art Impressions are sponsoring us this month,   I have a few of their rubber stamps and some of their clear stamps in association with Hampton Arts.   And our challenge is Watercolouring - Real or Faux

I started by using some Distress Spritz drops to make my faux watercoloured background.  I dropped little dots of the spritz and used my finger to make them "splat" and the spritzed some white Altenew ink spray.   I stamped these two (from Laughing Girlfriends set) I used my Scan'n'Cut machine to cut out the image.  I then used Zig Real Brush  watercolour markers to paint in the girls. Scribbled some of the colour onto a plastic mat and used a paint brush to do the colouring.  Used the packaging to help work out where the shadows needed to go.  I grounded the girls with some darker marker.  The sentiment is from the clear set - Got Style.  Perfect card for a friend who is turning 60 in a couple of months. 

Our challenge finishes at 9pm Pacific time tonight, so do come join us Here

Craft Roulette # 219

 Back again for my 14th submission for the Craft Roulette.  

Interesting parameters.  As soon as I saw Folded Corner, I knew I wanted to do a Corner Flip Fold card. 

Project: Anniversary - who doesn't love getting flowers for an anniversary!

Colours: Salad -green lettuce, red tomato, black olives, blueberries, white dressing and brown croutons.

Element - New - first time this stamp is being used. Got it last week.

Random - Folded corner - my card is a Corner Flip fold card.

My Teddy Bouquet stamp is from Penny Black. I got it last week and have been waiting for the ideal time to use him. I watercoloured the image with scribbled Zig Markers and fussy cut it out. It was layered onto the red panel and some white Nuvo Drops finished it off.

As it was Ted's first outing, I'm adding this to Darnell's NBUS Challenge. And to the Penny Black Saturday Challenge Anything Goes.

Woodgrain Background - Floral card

 Hi there.  It was a public holiday yesterday here in Auckland for Auckland Anniversary Day.  It was hot and breezy so I spend some time in my craft room as it was nice and cool in there.  

About a month ago I watched a video by Natasha Foote on making woodgrain backgrounds (here) and have been meaning to to give it a go.  I did an order from Scrapbook.com as this is where Natasha gets lots of her products from - and got a Woodware floral stamp to try out.   They are very reasonably priced.

 I made my background by swiping some Distress ink cubes down my card.  I used Rusty Hinge, Weathered Wood and Gathered Twigs, leaving some white showing as well.  I stamped the Woodware stamp (Floral Wonder) onto the wood panel and again onto white card.  I used Zig markers to colour the leaves directly on the panel and then fussy cut around the flowers after colouring with inks and Zigs.  I used my Spectrum Noir glitter pen to move the colour around so the flowers have a great shimmer to them. The bud was stuck directly to the panel and the other flowers added with some 3D tape.  Love this large floral stamp and boy are they reasonably price via Scrapbook.com.  Took a sentiment from an Altenew set and drew a frame around it before trimming it out.  It's been awhile since I did a background like this. 

Omicron is now out and about in the community but still reasonably low numbers...for now!  I'm taking advantage of the ability to work from home - 3 days in the office and 2 at home...depending on our roster for manning the Front of House - where people can come in and get their tax queries answered.  Some weeks I have to work 4 or 5 days in the office, others I can do the 3/2 ratio.  Today is an at home day... currently taking a break.   Take care out there people. 

WWC292 - Dawn's Challenge: Anything Goes With a Feminine Twist

 Hi there.  Today it's my turn to be the hostess at Watercooler Wednesday and I have an Anything Goes With a Feminine Twist.  

I love making floral cards and nothing says Feminine than flowers.   Today my card is using a new to me stamp from Altenew - Paint a Flower Calla Lily.

My neighbour has some white Calla Lilies in her garden which inspired me to have a go at doing some white ones.  I did make a bit of a boo boo with one of the leaves... colouring in an area that really wasn't a leaf!  However I think it turned out ok. I used Zig Markers to colour in the image.  I added a very CAS sentiment from a Tim Holtz set.  I decided to keep it simple and did not add any embellishments.  I trimmed the panel and added to a white card base.  I'll be sending this to my Dad's partner for her birthday in a couple of weeks. 

Come and join in the fun at Watercooler Wednesday Challenge and check out the projects from the other designers.  Then take our challenge and link up your project to the challenge post.  We'd love to have you join us.  You have until Monday at 5pm Mountain Standard Time (Tuesday at 11.00am NZ time) to link up your project. 

Thanks for stopping by.  Your visit is appreciated and I would love if you want to leave me a message with your thoughts. 

WWC 273 Marsha's Challenge: All About Occasions

Hi there - time for another challenge at Watercooler Wednesday Challenge.  Marsha is our hostess with an All About Occasions.

 

Today I am sharing a Birthday card with you.

I have used an large Altenew stamp called Happy Bloom which I stamped onto some Bristol smooth card.  I then used some Zig Real Clean brushes to add the colour.  I did some very pale blue around the flowers and leaves.   Added some clear faceted gem to finish.

Come and join in the fun at  Watercooler Wednesday Challenge and check out the project from the other designers.  Then take our challenge and link up your project to the challenge post.    We'd love to have you join us.  You have until Monday at 5 pm Mountain Standard Time (Tuesday at 12.00 noon NZ time ) to link up your project.

All about Animals at Die Cut Divas

 Hi.  It's time to share my card at Die Cut Divas. 

April's sponsor is Di's Digis and it's All about Animals.

I chose to use a sweet little digi called "Daisy Fun" I printed it onto some watercolour card.

 I used my Zig Markers to watercolour these cuties. I decided yellow daisies would suit them. I added some gold Sparkle pen to the centres and a few little dabs onto my hedgie. I used Craft Creations Mega rectangle dies to cut out the watercolour panel and to make the black frame for around the image. Added a Sentiment from Clearly Besotted and it was done. 

WWC#261 Kath's challenge: Anything Goes with a Feminine Twist.

Hello there, it’s time for another Watercooler Wednesday Challenge.  Kath is our hostess this week with an Anything Goes with a Feminine Twist. 

Here is my card this week.  

 

 I am a great lover of the colour Purple.  I took some watercolour paper and stamped the Altenew Book Club stamp and die set and used some Obsidian ink to stamp.  I used some Zig Markers to colour the image and then die cut it.  I wanted to add some gold splatter but found if I watered down the Altenew Enchanted Gold it was not very vibrant.  So I took the Your Next Stamp Mini Splatter stamp and used the gold ink to make my splatters.   I made a card base from watercolour paper and layered my die cut on it.  

Come and join the fun.  Check out the projects that the other artists at Watercooler Wednesday

Challenge have created.  Then take our challenge and link your creation to the challenge post.  We'd love to have you join us.  You have until Monday at 5 pm Mountain Standard Time (Tuesday at 12.00 noon NZ time ) to link up your project.

Inspired by a Book/Feature a book/ Use a book page at Sweet Stamp' Challenge

It's time for a new challenge at Sweet Stampin' Challenge.  Our challenge this week is:  Inspired by a Book/Feature a Book/Use a Book Page   - lots of scope here.

  
I decided to use a card with Books on it.

 This is stamp I've had for a long time.  It's a Gorjuss Girl stamp by Santoro.  I have used Zig Markers to colour her in.  I masked her and then used a Hero Arts stamp in light grey ink to stamp it.

Do come and join us at Sweet Stampin' this week.  

Rennie Roses Birthday

Hi there... it's my birthday today so what better than to share a birthday card I finished off yesterday.

A very CAS card using some Altenew Rennie Roses, coloured with Zig Markers.   A birthday sentiment and some wine coloured sequins (they do look black in the photo but are truly a beautiful deep wine colour. )

The day has started wonderfully with a cuppa of tea from my grandson (with Mummy's help of course) and now we are going to walk down to the local little village - Mairangi Bay - for coffee.  Hubby doesn't work between 9.30 and 2.00 on Friday's so it will be nice to have him with us. Dinner will be fish and chips here with my son and his family coming over, so a very special time with both my children, their partners and both grandies here on the day.

Have a great day, I will be.

Crafting Sunday

I got to spend some time in the craft room this afternoon.  I wanted to join a few challenges so got out some stamps and went to it...

First off, I saw the challenge at Just Us Girls - Word of the week "Houses"

I chose a bird house that as a freebie back in 2015.  It is a Crafter's Companion set that was in collaboration with Quick Cards.

I stamped the image onto some super smooth cream cardstock and used Zig Real Brush markers and some water to colour the image.  The sentiment was in the same set.  I matted it onto some darker cream card then onto a base.

My next two cards are both going into the Delectable Die-cuts challenge at Christmas Kickstart Challenge. 

First up is this CAS card.  I started by embossing the background with a holly folder.  The die cut is a two part one that came with a magazine, that my newsagent was selling for $4.  It was the embossing folder and the die plus another twig die.  I used some vellum to cut the layering part and the maroon card for the inner part.  Added some Nuvo drops to finish.

Next one used a sleigh die, again a set that came with a magazine.  It had a little embossing folder, a die and the stamp set.

I started by using some Altenew Sea Glass ink to sponge on the top part of the card before embossing the little strip at the top.  I left the bottom part of the card plain to be the snow.  I cut the sleigh die twice, once in a rose gold foil card and once in red.  I trimmed the red piece and layered it on top of the gold part.  I added the sentiment in black ink and the reindeer in Altenew Espresso ink  I stamped and coloured Santa and his bag of presents and fussy cut them.  Added some Stickles for snow.  Mounted onto some red card and then a white base.

You can see my background for my photos...it's a new backdrop I made today... I made two day

I got some book covering vinyl and two 12 x 12 cake boards that were about 1/8".  I added the vinyl to both sides of the boards... one colour on each side so I could get both the bottom and back.

Thanks for stopping by. Your visits are appreciated.

AECP - Beautiful Details...

Well my good intentions to get my level 2 accreditation done quickly this year have fallen by the wayside!  Life and other obligations seem to have side-tracked me.   I recently purchased some Altenew Academy classes which prompted me to review some of my older classes and get another class project done for the AECP.  I chose to review the "Beautiful Details" class lead by Marika Rahtu.  Marika is a beautiful colourist and her class was enlightening.  I learnt alot about different ways to use your stamps and colouring mediums.

I chose to CASE Marika's day two card.  The emphasis on this day was about detailed leaves.... She used Zig Markers to stamp and add detailing to the leaves from the "Beautiful Day" stamp set.   I took the outline leaves stamp and used a Gray marker to "paint" onto the stamp and add to some watercolour paper.  Next was using two other gray makers (Light Gray and Blue Gray) with a little water to add the detail.

The best tip from Marika was to ensure you worked in layers... and let the layers dry in between each one.  I really enjoyed doing this and love the darker blue gray layer.  It really popped.  These colours were quite different to the ones Marika used.

For my base card, I chose to use blues for my sponging

I used two different blues - Altenew Caribbean Sky and Persian Blue to sponge the card with a bit of an ombre look with more colour in the lower left hand side of the card.  I also added some splatter ith the Persian Blue ink.  I liked the blue as it tied nicely with the Blue Grey in the leaves.  I chose to use a sentiment from "More than Words" set at the top of the card, and like Marika noted, added a stripe of some bright blue card at the bottom to balance the card.   In order to have the focus on the detailed leaves I left the flower uncoloured.   Some blue and clear sequins finished the card.

Although I CASE's Marika's card, I feel that I added my own touch with my colour choices.  I will be using this idea again as it really produces an elegant card. 

Here's one last view of my card.

Thanks for stopping by today.  Hope your weekend is going to be crafty.  I'm enjoying my Saturdays as Rugby season has started and hubby heads out to watch the Senior team from his club play, giving me the afternoon to myself!

WWC205 Donna's "All About Holidays" Challenge

Hello there, it’s time for another Watercooler Wednesday Challenge.  Donna is our hostess this week with Holidays Around The World.

For the challenge this week I am celebrating St David's Day which is 1 March.  People in Wales and those of Welsh origin celebrate the life of their patron saint, St David, and the Welsh culture on March 1 each year. Many people pin a daffodil or leek to their clothes and some, especially children, wear traditional costumes.

I chose to use a Daffodil stamp from Altenew to make my card. 

 

I stamped the daffodils onto some Strathmore Bristol paper and used Zig Clean Clear Real Brush markers in Orange, Yellow, Bright Orange, Light Green and Olive Green to colour them before die cutting.  I added splatters of orange and yellow and black onto a card base and added the daffodils. I popped up one on foam tape.  I white embossed a sentiment from the stamp set onto black card. 

Come join in the fun and make a Holiday card.  Check out the projects that the artists at Watercooler Wednesday Challenges have created then take the challenge and link your creation to the challenge post. We’d love to have you join us.  You have until Mondays at 5 p.m. Mountain Standard Time (Tuesdays at 1pm NZ time) to link up your project.

Thanks for stopping by and have a great day.

 

 

Happy New Year - from our family to yours.

Last day of the year - where has 2018 gone?

This month over at Die Cut Divas we have been celebrating Winter /Winter Holidays with

I've finished the year with a New Year's card - with a winter theme

I love these little winter Polar Bears from Di's Digi... so sweet.  I started by adding the image to my into a Word document and removed the background. I then added a precoloured background (a free download from a magazine) and cropped it to fit behind my bears.  I printed this onto some Bristol paper.  I used Zig Clean Clear markers to colour up the image, using Di's image as inspiration.  Then it was die cut with a Lil'Inkers die.  The sentiment is from a Stamp and Die set I recently purchased.  A bit of stamp surgery was required to get it to fit on my card.  I finished with some Gel pen dots for snow.

Wishing you all a Happy  and Prosperous New Year. 

Flowery embossing

I am sharing a birthday card made using this lovely stamp set called Cake by Jane's Doodle who is our sponsor for May at Die Cut Divas.  

 May challenge theme is:  May Flowers (trees, grass, and plants all count too).

 

I have used a flowery embossing folder to make my flowers and then used two of the sentiments from the Cake set.   I coloured the embossed flowers with Zig Markers which I blended with Wink of Stella.  I can tell you for real, it sparkles!   

I am currently taking the Online Card Class called Sparkle and Shine so I'll be adding this to the Student Gallery.  I've been watching the videos each day, but as I don't have much of the supplies, not too much homework being done.  I did however pull out the PearlEx and Perfect Pearls Mica powders this afternoon following Debby Hughes video.  Working on some backgrounds.   

Enjoy your weekend.  It's been a lovely Autumn day - some sunshine and now cooling down.   As I write (about 2 hours before the scheduled post) my taste buds are watering with the smell of a roasting Pork Belly we are having for dinner.  Fennel and Carraway seeds, garlic and salt for the rub on the crackling... hope the finished products lives up to the smells emanating from the oven!

An Oldie but a Goodie

It's my day to post at A2Z Scarpbooking.   I am waiting for my new goodies from the latest catalogue to make their way to New Zealand, so today for our Color it Challenge, I am sharing an older Hero Arts stamp set (discontinued)  I am sure many of you will have this in your stash as it is an all time favourite butterfly set!

I made this for the Hero Arts Flickr group Scramble .  I stamp the butterflies all over my background and added is some 2nd generation stamped dragonflies.   I coloured up the butterflies going up the page, with some vibrant Zig Clean Color brush markers in blues and grey.   The sentiment was white embossed onto black card.  It comes from the Hello Stamp and Cut set (available HERE  in our A2Z Scrapbooking Store).  Some Spectrum Noir sparkle pen, a simple blue mat and it's all done.

Be sure to check out the Store.... there are LOTS of goodies there.  Remember  if you are in need of any items  you can use code Dawn15 at checkout to receive 15% off your purchase of $25 or more. (before tax and shipping)  And don’t forget that we are on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.  Follow us on these different social media outlets so you won’t miss out on any fun promotions!
Supplies:
DC 151 Hello Stamp and Cut
CL 383 Antique Engraving  (discontinued)
Zig Clean Color Real Brush Markers

Die Cut Diva's Make it Gliiter

A new month so a new challenge at Die Cut Divas.... Make it Glitter

Our sponsors this month are

 

My first card for the month uses  a Bugaboo image and a Darice embossing folder.  This one is not available from DiesRUs, but they have lots of other awesome  folders and dies.

 

In my rush to get this one done on time, I put it upside down in the folder.... but happy accident, I rather like the look of the de-bossed side.   My image was printed onto some Bristol card stock and coloured with Zig watermakers,  I used an old Wink of Stella pen filled with water to spread out my background blue so it is all shimmery and glittery with the extra sparkle still in the pen.   Added some more to parts of the girl and flower and then some glossy accents too.  It's hard to see all the shimmer and glittery goodness but I can assure you, it's there!   As I took my photo, it's not completely secured to the base as the Glossy Accents is still a little wet.  

So come and join us with your glitter - be it Kindyglitz, Stickles, Wink of Stella, Spectrum Noir glitter pens, glitter paper or even good old fashion glitter,,, we'd love to see it. 

I am entering into the "Anything Goes" at Catch the Bug Challenge blog

As as side, I spend most of the day at SENZ - NZ's largest papercraft fair.  A fabulous day, looking at all the wonderful products available and having to limit my spend to the money on hand!  Hard work when I needed wanted so much.  Picked up Altenew's Peony Bouquet, Tim Holtz Crazy cats plus another set of cat stamps from Katzelkraft, plus a new Fiskars cutter, a T-ruler, a set of 12 Liquid Drops ( like Liquid pearls), 4 Pixie Dust colour bursts and a Happy Birthday die.  Now to find time to play!  

Enjoy your weekend.

May CCC reveal

I enjoy my monthly CCC card swap that Deborah Nolan organises.   It's a big WIN WIN... you get to make a card and then you get to receive one back into the mail....

Deborah gives us some choices in the challenge... a colour theme or a sketch or a theme.

See the reveal to see these and what each of us send the other.

I used the sketch (sort of) for my card that was sent to Jerrie in Wisconson

I used stamps from Tim Holtz, a stencil, Distress inks and Zig Brush Markers. 

I've signed up for the June Challenge as well... go take a look

Happy Days Watercolured Flowers

It's my day to share over at A2Z Scrapbooking and our theme for this month's challenge is Water colouring... a favourite of mine.  There are just so many ways to use your paints, inks, markers to add watercolour to your cards and projects.

I started by adding some water to my water colour paper in each corner.  Scribbled some Zig Clean Clear Colour makers in Carmine Red and Pink onto a block and watered down and dabbed onto the wet card.  Once it dried I used the Hero Arts CL864 and stamped the flowers in Fresh Peach and added the centres in Neon Pink.  The leaves are done in Green Fields and the darkest of the Ombre green inks.  The sentiment from the same set was stamped with Charcoal ink.  Finished with splatters of the Green ink and Pink zig marker. 

So if you are using your Hero Arts products and watercolouring be sure to join us for this months challenge.


And remember if you are in need of any items from the a2z Scrapbooking store  you can use code Dawn15 at checkout to receive 15% off your purchase of $25 or more. (before tax and shipping)  And don’t forget that we are on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.  Follow us on these different social media outlets so you won’t miss out on any fun promotions!

Poinsettias galore.

Poinsettias always say Christmas to me.  I have a number of Poinsettia stamps.... and here I am to share a few with you.

My first two cards use a Penny Black Poinsettia.  The first card is a CASE of the card that was back of the stamp packaging.

The background is sponged with distress ink and then overstamped with the same ink and the wreath that is in the set.  The poinsettia was inked and clear embossed before being coloured with Zig markers and then  fussy cut and put onto a Spellbinders die cut label. The sentiment was embossed with Platinum embossing powder.  Finished with a twine bow and a pearl.  Entering into the Anything Christmas at Penny Black and More

For my second card I did a similar card.

The poinsettia was coloured with watered down Zig markers.  The gold label was a RAK that came with my CCC card this month from Christi.  The gold die cut circles behind it are a Simon Says Stamp die.  The sentiment is from Kaisercraft and is white embossed.

My last card uses a Kaisercraft poinsettia.

The sentiment is from Hero Arts.  I stamped the poinsettia in black ink onto the patterned paper and then stamped once in green ink and twice in black ink onto white card.  I fussy cut out the leaves from the green image and stuck them onto the card.  The next two layers were coloured with grey Zig marker.  The centre berries were done in a red Zig marker. Added a few dots of white gel pen.

The Christmas card pile is slowly growing.

Hope your weekend was good and managed to get some crafting done.