4 Crafty Chicks #393 - ATG + Bleach Technique Twist

Good Morning Thursday!

Hope you having a good week, it's almost over!

I'm hostess today for the new challenge at 4 Crafty Chicks!

4 Crafty Chicks #393 - ATG & Bleach Technique Twist

I like learning and doing different techniques in cardmaking.  I've done the bleach technique before but it's been a while so I thought it would be fun to head up a challenge using it.

There are several tutorials on how to do it, and there are even faux bleach techniques if you would rather have the look without dealing with actual bleach.  The finished projects with bleach don't smell like it, and if you use an aqua painter filled with bleach, it doesn't really have an odor.  Either way, it's a fun look.  Mine I did with an aqua painter, now a bleach painter.

SPIES:

STAMPS: Blooming Bunch (Studio Katia); Spring Bouquet (Avery Elle); Happy Birthday - "Spring Bouquet" (Avery Elle); Thinking of You "Hand Drawn Florals (Avery Elle).

PAPER: Neenah white cardstock, 80 lb; Pink Pirouette cardbase (Stampin'Up); backgrounds made from Catherine Pooler Inks.

INK: Peppermint Scrub, Rose Petals, Shea Butter (Catherine Pooler Inks); Champagne Mist All Purpose Ink (Tsukineko).

EXTRAS: Scalloped stitched frame (WPlus9); banner die (Reversed Confetti); Rounded rectangle die (WPlus9); Silver sequins; white pearl gems; white silk string.

I wound up making two cards for this week.  I had been playing around with my bleach-filled aqua painter and my first card was the rosy one.  I wasn't sure I was gong to use it as a couple bleach spots came out too much, but in the end I decided to use it as well.  

The first one I inked white cardstock with Rose Petals pink, then sponged around edges with Peppermint Scrub.  I used my emboss buddy before stamping the image in Rose Petals a couple times using my Misti, then quickly applied clear emboss powder.  Then I colored areas of the image with an aquapainter filled with bleach.  A couple spots came out a little much, but I decided to still finish the card and show it.  I finished it off with a Happy Birthday sentiment stamped in Rose Petals on Pink Pirouette cardstock with a frame of Peppermint scrub around it.  I mounted the whole thing on a Pink Pirouette card base.  I also added some sparkly paint to the middle of the flowers for a little more sparkle.

My second card I made a cardbase from Neenah 80 lb cardstock.  Then I inked up some white cardstock with Shea Butter ink by Catherine Pooler.  I did the same technique on this one, stamping in Shea Butter then embossing with clear powder before coloring part of the lilies with bleach.  I cut out the scalloped frame and coordinating inside frame, bumped up the inside frame and cut a banner for the sentiment out of the same Shea butter cardstock and stamped the sentiment several times in Shea Butter.  I added the pearls and string bow for finishing touches.

Be sure and stop by the Hen House and check out Leanne, Lori, Amy, Tangii and our March Guest, Angela's beautiful bleached projects.  Then, play along with us either just as Anything Goes or with the added Bleach Twist.  You have until Wednesday to play along!

Crafty Chick Blessings!

CAS Christmas ~ Holly

Happy Weekend!

It's March, can you believe it?

 Today is also the first day of a brand new challenge

AND

it's my debut as a member of the Design Team!

If you know the CAS Mix Up Challenge and CAS Watercolor Challenge then you'll like this challenge!

It's created and ran by the same gals ---

Loll & Bonnie!

I'm very honored and thrilled they asked me to be a part of the team!  I definitely have no excuse for not having any Christmas cards ready next Christmas being on 2 monthly Christmas challenges.

So onto the challenge --- 

This month the theme is HOLLY 

and of course

CAS - Clean and Simple.

The challenge begins on the 3rd of each month and ends on the 24th of the same month.  

So you have 21 days to play along!

For my card, I created some holly using the Faux Enamel technique.  Some of us have been playing around with that technique just seeing how it is.  I posted an earlier card with a heart on it made with this technique.  Bonnie Klass and I got together one day recently to try this technique more 

We found the technique in this tutorial to work the best for us.   I cut the leaves and berries from thin chipboard that Bonnie had on the Big Shot.  I had some thick chipboard but we found it too thick for the Big Shot, so I will find another use for that. I used some old emboss powders I bought years ago at Michaels, light and dark green and added in some WOW fine gold emboss powder.  I also sprinkled on some iridescent glitter to stick and some course white emboss powder.  I used red and the course white emboss powder for the berries. 

I kept everything else white besides the holly and the sentiment.  I used a woodgrain emboss folder by Sizzix on the front of my cardbase and popped up a scalloped stitched tag by Poppy Stamps on top where I affixed the holly.  The sentiment is from "Lovely Blessings" by CAS-ual Fridays which I stamped in Versamark and embossed with the same WOW fine gold emboss powder.

Now go check out the rest of the team's projects at CAS Christmas and play along with us each month and stack up those Christmas cards before next Christmas!

CAS Christmas Blessings!

Feline Special

Happy Friday!

I have a quick post here.  It's been a sunny but very windy day here.  Was the perfect day to spend working on cards or so I thought.  I have bits and pieces done here and there that hopefully will be finished up tonight or tomorrow.  This one I scrambled to get done as one of the challenges I wanted to participate in closes soon this evening.  

I looove this cat stamp, Cat Zen from Seaside Stamping Ink.  Addicted CAS Cat challenge and this month's CAS Mixup were great challenges to use it in.  I stamped the cat in Versarmark on Acetate then embossed it in gold, along with the sentiment.  The Sentiment is from Stamplorations.  Next, I turned it over and colored it in with Copic markers.  I finished it off by adding a stitched frame around it and attached some light blue sequins on top.  I realized after I finished it that part of under his eye is blue and should have been pink.  Guess maybe I can say he got in a cat fight.  The handmade plight sometimes.  LOL  I wasn't about to try and take it off the cardbase and fix it.  

Addicted to CAS #130 CAT

I used Acetate, Stamping, Embossing, Copic Coloring

Special "Feline" Blessings!

4CC #392 - ATG + Just a Sentiment Twist

Happy March 1st!

That means 20 days until SPRING!  YAY!

It's also Thursday 

and

 that meansa new challenge starts 

at

4 Crafty Chicks!

Leanne is our hostess this week!  

She's decided the twist for this week to be using just a sentiment on the front of our projects!

4 Crafty Chicks #392 - ATG / Twist: 

Just a Sentiment!

I dug out a beautiful sentiment stamp set, Lovely and Sweet Stamps, by Lil' Inker Designs,  for my card:

I've been trying to stretch myself creatively by trying different techniques.  Thanks to Jennifer McGuire's wonderful techniques and tutorials, I've been learning a lot and having fun too!  The one I tried here was Multi-Color Inking using my Zig Clean Color Real Brush pens.  I colored right on the stamps with my Zig pens and then stamped, using my Misti so I could stamp several times and get a crisper color. 

I also created my own background using the Zigs.  I just colored the sides, top and bottom that would show up around my sentiment layer to match each row of color.

Now stop by the Hen House and check out the rest of the Chicks' projects, lots of fun and creative inspiration there!  Then, come play along with us.  Remember it's always Anything Goes  and the twist this week is "Just a Sentiment".

For Following Challenges:

Crafty Chick Blessings!

Keeping Christmas - Feb 2018

Good Morning Sunday!

WOW, can you believe two months ago was Christmas Day?  Two months of the new year almost gone already!  

Since today is February 25th, it's time for another 

Keeping Christmas Inspiration Hop! 

The Team will be hereevery month on the 25th 

to share cards and inspiration 

and 

to add to our Christmas card stash 

throughout the year.

The whole idea is to have some Christmas cards in our stash all ready to go for December 2018!

My card this month contains some old and newly created items.  We crafters like to hoard --- paper, stamps, paper, die cuts, paper, sequins...did I mention paper?

I have a basket where I keep my background papers that I create with alcohol inks, watercolor, distress inks, etc.  I also have a small bin of card bases in all different colors that I started out to use for a project and then didn't.  One of my goals this year is to try and use up a lot of my papers, die cuts, embellishments that I already have sitting in a bin.  

So, that's what I've done with my card today.  The gold splattered card base had been sitting in a bin since Christmas, not as long as a lot of other things but it was perfect for my project today.

As I said I have a lot of handmade backgrounds I need to use up and so I pulled out one of these very bright blue watercolored ones to die cut and stamp into a globe ornament.

SUPPLIES: 

STAMPS: World map - The World Awaits; Sentiment - Here We Come A Caroling; Border strip - Happiness Enclosed -- All Catherine Pooler Designs.

PAPER: Watercolor Paper (Strathmore); White card base (Neenah Crest Solar White); Gold Foil (Stampin' Up); Gold glitter paper (Stash).

INK: Something Borrowed - (Catherine Pooler Inks); Versamark; Gold spray stain - Gold Color Spray Shine (Heidi Swapp);

EXTRAS: Super Fine Gold Emboss Powder- (WOW); ZigZag circle Die (My Favorite Things); Tiny Stars - Star Confetti Die (Hero Arts); Bow Die - (Impression Obsession); Gold string (Stampin' Up).

I cut the circle from a zig zag stitched circle die then inked up the map stamps (The World Awaits) in Versamark and embossed in gold.  Next I die cut an ornament top and bow out of gold foil paper and glued to the top of the globe along with a piece of gold string.  Then, I cute a thin strip of white cardstock and stamped the striped border (Happiness Enclosed) in Versamark and embossed it in the same gold.  I stamped the sentiment (from Here We Go A Caroling) in "Something Blue" CP ink.  I finished off the card adhering some tiny gold stars I had saved from a previously cut and used Star Confetti Die by Hero Arts.  I added them with some Micro dots.  Finally I added a blue gem to the ornament bow.

So, one way to make some fairly quick and easy Christmas cards is to raid your stash of already made backgrounds, card bases and/or old die cuts and pair them all together.   You'll not only clean out that stash of scraps and spares that keeps piling up but you'll also build up your Christmas cards.                                                                               

Now hop along and be sure to visit each blog. 

There is a lot of inspiration and ideas to get your creative juices flowing!

Kelly Lunceford

Lesley Croghan

Anita Madden

Broni Holcombe

Claire Broadwater

Julee Tilman

Kim Heggins

Lori Tecler

Nance Salkeld (You are HERE!)

Nina Forsyth

Vicki Finger

Keeping Christmas Blessings!

Cork Bunny and Easter Canvas

Good evening or Good morning?

It's really really late.  I've been trying to have a crafty weekend.  The Hubs is working for Hospice all weekend and so the furry babies and I have the house to ourselves.  You know when you think you're making progress, but then you look at the clock and then the list you made and realize, nope, not so much!  hahaha 

That's why I'm up so late doing a post I forgot to finish earlier.  Yet, now I do have more company because the Hubs is also home, awake and finishing up some charting.  

I made a card earlier for the CAS Mix Up Challenge this month and just never got it finished nor on my blog until now being under the wire before the challenge closes.  <eye roll>

I have a very large swath of thick canvas I bought to do something with and never did, so now I guess I'm using it for cards.  LOL  I cut a piece off then used my Quilted Swirl cover plate die by Lil' Inker Designs to add a little more texture to the canvas.  You can't see it well in the photo unfortunately.  Then I cut a tag out of it using a Poppy Stamps stitched tag die.  I actually cut one out of cardstock adhere the canvas one to so it is sturdier on the card.  I used an old multi-sentiment stamp from Taylored Expressions and inked it up in Catherine Pooler inks, It's a Girl, Shea Butter, Mint To Be and It's a Boy. 

A couple weeks ago I found my bag of bunny dies I had cut last year (after Easter of course) <eye roll> again!  Bonnie Klass, crafty friend and fellow Cary-ite had the stitched bunnies from Lil' Inker Designs and she let me borrow them. My thinking was since she had the dies, I could cut a whole bunch and then when I ran out I'd borrow it again. LOL Boy, did I cut A LOT of bunnies!  Talk about "multiplying like rabbits".  Then, later in the summer, what did I do?....bought the dies!  My hubs is shaking his head right now.  Anyway, in the bag were a couple of bunnies cut out of cork.  So now was the perfect time to use it.  I did use my own die and cut out two of the bows from gold foil paper by Stampin' Up.  I kept the background just the kraft card to keep it simple.

I think they're multiplying just sitting there!  

Now I must go finish up some other things and get in bed at some point!

For Following Challenges:

I used Cork, Canvas, Stamping, Die Cuts

Early Easter Blessings!

New Challenge! New Designer Gig!

Happy Saturday!

It's another warm and mild day here in the Triangle of North Carolina!  We almost turned on our air conditioner the other day.  That's even crazy for NC in February! Whew!

I have some exciting news, well at least exciting for me!

I have another new Designer Gig!  

I'm a Designer for the new challenge, CAS Christmas!  WooHoo!  YAY!

I'm so excited that Loll and Bonnie asked me to be on the team.  It will be a monthly challenge and will start on March 3rd.  So be sure and come back here next Saturday because THAT'S March 3rd!  LOL

We will have a monthly CAS Christmas card challenge so now you can get some Christmas cards done more throughout the year! 

CAS Christmas Blessings!

4CC #391 ATG & Color Inspiration

Happy Thursday!  

It's time for a new challenge at 

4 Crafty Chicks!

Lori is our hostess this week - YAY!

Her request is a color inspiration:

4 Crafty Chicks #391 ATG + Color Inspiration:

Is that not a gorgeous inspirational pic and combo of color?

I got some new Catherine Pooler stamps and inks and they were perfect for today's challenge.  I started by creating my background with alcohol inks, Stream, Cloudy Blue and Denim. The cutting plate is Stained Glass Plate by Catherine Pooler, cut out of white cardstock.  The butterflies and sentiment are part of the set, Faithful Fluttering, a new set by Catherine Pooler.  I stamped them in Catherine Pooler Inks, Rockin' Red and Juniper Mist for the larger one, and Juniper Mist and Stone Blue for the smaller one.  The postage die is also by Catherine Pooler.  I popped out the middle rectangle die a bit for some added interest.  It's hard to tell at the angle of the photo.

So, stop by the Hen House and check out the rest of the Chicks' projects and leave them some blog love.  Then, ink up some stamps and play along with us using the color inspiration twist for the week or not, it's up to you!

Crafty Chick Blessings!

Paper Sweeties February Blast From The Past!

TGIF!

It's Day #3 of Paper Sweeties Blast From The Past!

Hop along and check out what all the Designers are showcasing as some of their favorite Paper Sweeties products in new or past projects.

Debbie Marcinkiewicz – Paper Sweeties
Jinny Newlin
Karen Letchworth

Kathy Schweinfurth

Larissa Heskett
Lisa Bzibziak
Lori Turner
Mackie Robertson 

Maria Patrick

Michelle Bala
Nancy Salkeld (You are HERE)

Hello Spring - Paper Sweeties

Tree of Life Add-On: Spring Stamp Set--Paper Sweeties

Pretty Posies Stamp Set - Paper Sweeties

Raspberry Sequins--Paper Sweeties

Raspberry Seam Binding

Paper Sweeties Blessings!

Paper Sweeties February 2018 Blast From The Past

Good Morning, Thursday!

Boy the week flew by!  WHEW!

It's the 2nd day of Paper Sweeties' 2018 Blast from the Past.  

Hop along and check out what all the Designers are showcasing as some of their favorite Paper Sweeties products in new or past projects.

Debbie Marcinkiewicz – Paper Sweeties
Jinny Newlin
Karen Letchworth

Kathy Schweinfurth

Larissa Heskett
Lisa Bzibziak
Lori Turner
Mackie Robertson 

Maria Patrick

Michelle Bala
Nancy Salkeld (You are HERE)

I made two new cards for today.  I did some watercoloring using an acrylic stamp block to create my backgrounds.  Then I stamped my images with Versamark and white embossed them.  On one card I added sequins while on the other I added some hearts cut from painted watercolored paper.

Hello Friend Stamp Set - Paper Sweeties

Birthday Banners - Stamp Set - Paper Sweeties

Happy Cake Day - Stamp Set - Paper Sweeties

Hugs and Kisses

Cupcake Sprinkles Sequins - Paper Sweeties

  

Paper Sweeties Blessings!