I {heart} Hearts!

Hi, Bloggin' Buddies!

Yes, I do. Most of my life I've loved hearts. I used to own way too many and I used them everywhere.......now, although I still love them, I've settled to using them (lots) on cards and wearing them as jewelry.

I wanted to put together another card for the current "Where Creativity Meets C9" challenge which is watercolor.

I just got my first shipment of the Concord & 9th new release and I am just tickled pink! They are such a great company. I haven't had a chance yet to do more than catalog and organize my new products, but I did use a sentiment from the amazing new "Birthday Stacks" stamp and dies set for this card. I heat-embossed it onto back cardstock with liquid platinum embossing powder.

I chose the wooded heart from the "Cozy Up" stamp set and used my Zig Clear Color Markers to watercolor it. It is mounted with some Fun Foam for added dimension. I added some sparkle with Wink of Stella and used a woodgrain Sizzix embossing folder for the back piece of the card.

I can't wait to play with and share with you projects I make from this latest release. I already have my second shopping list started.......maybe I should be drafting up an addition to my craft room!

Take care and have a wonderful weekend. I appreciate the visit.

Dogwood

Hi, Bloggin' Buddies!

My Aunt loves Dogwoods and it will soon be her 97th birthday, so I made her a card using the Impression Obsession's Dogwood Cling stamp (Aislinn Adams, F12003) and my Gansai Tambi watercolors. I heat-embossed the image using Memento Luxe ink. I don't think this process did this lovely image justice, so the next time I think I'll try a different watercolor medium. I also got a bit carried away with my splatters! I have never been a fan of yellow - I hardly ever use it - but it is her favorite color, so.......Ah, well.

The sentiment is also from Impression Obsession (MC657 Wishes).

I will submit this to the Impression Obsession Blog current challenge "Birthday Wishes"). There is still time for you to play along!

Thanks for the visit and for being patient as I work through trials with watercoloring!

Concord & 9th

Hello, Bloggin' Buddies!

I admit to having my favorite stamp companies. And, yes, they have frequently changed a little over the years (remember, I've been stamping and making cards since 1969!). But in recent years I have added a new one to my list of very favorites - Concord & 9th! They have some of the most innovative and unique designs I've ever seen in stamps. Simply amazing! I love their "turnabout" line of stamps = big fun.

Have you see the newest Concord & 9th release? I think I NEED it all. I've already placed an order, but.......I do have a budget (tell that to my patient hubby - ha!).

Since I haven't done much watercoloring in the past few months, I decided to take up the current Concord and 9th "Where Creativity meets C9" challenge, which is "watercolor". I used an old favorite, "Hello, Lovely" and clear-embossed the image onto watercolor paper. I broke out my Distress Markers to layer lots of watercolor richness and had so much fun.

I tired several basecard colors and settled on a deep green that brings out the darker colors in the card. I added a white heat-embossed sentiment which is part of the stamp set.

Please explore this great company and have fun with some of their amazing products. Thanks for the visit and have a wonderful weekend,

I'm Obsessed!

Hi, Bloggin' Buddies!

Yes, I am - with Impression Obsession products and (as you know) mermaids! I love some of the new products that have from Impression Obsession, especially some of the sentiments, and will use some on future projects. Today I decided to combine some of my favorites for an ocean-inspired birthday card to submit for the current challenge at  the IO Blog.

I'm not sure what the name of this type of card is (half gate-fold?) but I haven't made one in a long time and thought it would be perfect to highlight this delightful mermaid.

Impression Obsession products I used are the mermaid by Lindsay Ostrom D19179 which I colored with Copic Pens, Wishes stamp set MC657, and my all-time favorite shell die set, DIE 077-W. I added an embossing folder by Darice and an older heart punch from Stampin Up and lots of Wink of Stella for sparkle.

Isn't she swimingly adorable? Hope you are having a great weekend. Thanks for the visit,

Eye of the Tiger

Hi, Bloggin' Buddies!

As you know, I am a big fan of the Hero Arts Layering stamp sets. I will admit that some are easier to layer than others - some of the designs are a real challenge!

We have a dear friend who is crazy for tigers, so I had to get this set and use it for a card from him and a couple other fierce friends (ha!). I'm happy to say that this wasn't too tricky to align and I love the results. Haven't had a sunny day for photos, so these colors are not as brilliant as they are on the actual card.

The background is the "Flamingo Foliage" Kite Stencil with Nuvo Mousse and Wendi Vechi Embossing Paste. I'm trying several different products with my beloved stencils. I added some Nuvo Drops as embellishment.

Hope you are having a great week. Thanks for the visit,

Year of the Dog

Hello, blogging Buddies!

I have a few special friends (including my fellow stamper and blogging pal, Cindy) for whom I make Chinese New Year cards. I love the challenge because each year features a different animal and because I have a fascination with the rich and colorful traditions of the culture. It is all good.

Laurel Burch

February 16th is the big day and this is the Year of the Dog! My card features a wonderful Laurel Burch image by Stampendous. I was a big fan of Laurel in the 1960's and 1970's. I wore her jewelry (still do!) and carried her beautiful bags. She is probably most well-known for her cat images. She died in 2007, but her unique art lives on! I love it that Stampendous has a new line of terrific products featuring her designs.

I watercolored the "Tail Run" dog with Gansai Tambi paints and assembled the card using the traditional red and gold colors. I used a Sizzix  embossing folder for the background, some gold-printed vellum and some gold foil paper that I die cut (Memory Box "Parker Numbers" & Die-Namics Border).

Do not remove this vinyl!

There is something worth noting about Stampedous cling stamps. Unlike most clings, they come with an additional "cling vinyl label" which you do not remove from the stamp; it is mounted directly onto your block or stamp positioner along with the rubber stamp. Here is a tip sheet to better explain this feature: https://www.stampendous.com/tips-techniques/stamps/cling-rubber-stamps/.

Wishing you a Happy New Year and lots of stamping! Thanks for the visit,

Longing for You!

Howdy, Bloggin' Buddies!

It's that time of year - love is in the air! I am a huge fan of hearts (but only one fella has mine!), so I use them throughout the year. Needless to say, I have a hefty stash.

One of my best pals is nuts about giraffes, so when I saw this adorable Impression Obsession stamp set, I knew it had to be mine. I've used this company's products for decades and I've always thought that their artists are terrific!

I colored this guy (aren't the eyes wonderful?) with Copic markers and added a small heart that I die-cut from some fun foam and some sequins from my stash. The sentiment is cut from a Tim Holtz/ Sizzix label die.

I'll be submitting this to the Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge Blog, "It must be love". Check it out and play along!

Thanks for the visit and wishing you lots of love,

Still Crazy

Hi, Bloggin' Buddies!

I've been traveling a bit, but I'm happy to be home and crafting again.

Here is a card made with one of my favorite sets - Tim Holtz's Crazy Birds. Those guys simply make me smile. A simple design colored with Distress Inks and Markers. The Paper Smooches sentiment is mounted into a bottle cap embellishment from somewhere in my stash.

Sure hope you are all healthy - stay that way!

Thanks for the visit and have a great weekend,