Aloha!

Hello, Bloggin' Buddies!

Yes, Aloha is the word. I have just returned from a couple of weeks in my happy place, Kauai. We try to go there every year and it just seems to get better. Here is a photo of part of the beauty that I saw on my morning walks. Paradise!

Today's card is a reminder of our trip. I used Avery Elle's
"Stay Fresh" stamp and die set. I ink-blended a partial circle onto some wonderful woodgrain paper, using a mask. The pineapple is heat-embossed on vellum and colored from the back with Copics. Some gold card stock was used as a mat and for the greeting, which is from Lawn Fawn. Gold Gansai Tambi watercolor splatters, sequins and twine complete the embellishments. The woodgrain and gold papers are from my LSS, the Paper Garden Boutique in Sacramento.

Thanks for the visit and carry the aloha spirit in your hearts,

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!

Pineapple Chin?!

Hello, Bloggin' Buddies!

So, the other day one of my very favorite exercise instructors was leading us in an exercise and she said to imagine a pineapple under our chins! Well, I've just had that image in my head ever since! I decided to thank her for doing that to me - ha!

I made this card with the Hero Arts Layering Pineapple die which is a little tricky to use. I doesn't cut out the shape of the pineapple, but rather the textural elements. A bit of a challenge. In fact, if I had realized this when I purchased it (I love all things tropical) I probably would not have.

I die cut the image and colored it up, using a mask, with Distress Inks and some finger daubers. It went well.

The sentiment is from "Many Thanks" by Paper Smooches and the sequins are from Simon Says Stamp "Sunshine Mix". I splattered the background with my gold and black Kuretake Gansai Tambi watercolors. The cardstock is Essentials by Ellen's "Desert Storm".

The nifty Stickles edging on the left side is a little trick I learned from the amazing Julie Ebersole when I took a class from her at the Paper Garden Boutique. My hand isn't quite as steady as hers, but I love the look.

Thanks for the visit and think tropical,

ZUMBA!

Happy Monday, Blogging Buddies!

I am a fan of Zumba. As one who loves to dance and hates to exercise, it is just perfect for me. I can become exhausted and work up a huge sweat without realizing it because I am having so much fun. If you have never tried it, I recommend it.

Why am I telling you this? This week's Share Handmade Kindness Challenge at Jennifer McGuire's blog is "Community" and we are to share with someone who works/serves in our community.

I decided to give a special thank you to our sweet Zumba instructor, Summer. I made a card inspired by one I did months ago in a class at the Paper Garden Boutique in Sacramento taught by the amazing Julie Ebersole. I especially like it because we are celebrating some terrific and much-needed rain here in northern California.

I used a Memory Box die to cut some watercolor paper that I had painted with my Gansai Tambi paints and textured with a Tim Holtz stencil. I die cut (Essentials by Ellen) some stars and attached them with some twine. All good.

Even better is that I used the other portion of the paper to create another card which I can give to a special lady who works the desk at our gym!

Think about someone who is in your life who could use a little handmade kindness and get busy!

Have a great week, thanks for the visit and Zumba on!

Giving Thanks

Hello, Bloggin' Buddies!

It is that time of year when we celebrate giving thanks. My Mom taught me early to be grateful and to express it. Hubby and I thank each other several times a day. It is important to let others know how much you appreciate them.

This week's Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge Blog is all about thanks. I have already made all of my Thanksgiving cards, so I made this watercolored all-purpose thanks card using a Hero Arts background stamp (Harlequin Pattern) and a Lawn Fawn sentiment (Scripty Thanks) in some wonderful gold paper I got at my LSS (Paper Garden boutique, Sacramento CA).

I am thankful for your visit and I hope you are having a great week.

More Watercolor

Happy weekend, Bloggin' Buddies!

A quick post before we get ready to head to our niece's soccer game. Those are always fun and today is probably our last day of excellent weather for awhile.

In my ongoing quest to master enjoy watercoloring and be a little less controlled, here is a card made using Penny Black die cuts and my rich and creamy Gansai Tambi watercolors. The background stamps are from Hero Arts and I added some Distress Ink and dots of Viva Pearl Pen for the flower centers.

To be honest with you, when I saw this photo the balance of this card bothered me, so I ended up trimming off some of the right side.

It is kind of nice to break away from all the holiday cards that are everywhere on the web right now.

This is headed for the current Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge, "Anything Goes".

Have a wonderful weekend, a happy Halloween and enjoy that extra hour! Thanks for the visit.

Wonderful Watercolor

Hello, Bloggin' Buddies!

I recently took a class where we learned to use watercoloring with die cuts. We did several watercolored backgrounds and then we watercolored die cuts which were made from watercolor paper. It was intimidating, but so much fun. I just love my Gansai Tambi watercolors - they are so highly pigmented and so rich.

For this card I blended three different colors of watercolors, being careful not to create mud (as my friend says "ask me how I know").  I then stamped the dry background with some brown ink and added the watercolored Penny Black die cut image. The sentiment is from Tim Holtz and the bling is from my stash.

This is headed to the current Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge Blog, which is Wonderful Watercolors. You have time to play along!



Thanks for the visit and I hope all is good.

Hey, Chickie!

Hi bloggin' Buddies!

Today's card is one I put together for a special friend using Paper Smooches stamps. I plan to submit it to the current Paper Smooches SPARKS Challenge, "Anything Goes".

I am struggling with a new Mac. The computer is great, but many of my favorite old programs weren't compatible, so I am having some troubles - excuse me!

I did some watercoloring with my Gansai Tambi paints and cut the shape out with Die-Namics Zig Zag Stitched Ovals. Everything else is paper Smooches  - "Chubby Chums" and "He Said She Said".

Thanks for the visit!

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge

Hi, Bloggin' Buddies!

Just a quick post today - it is too darn beautiful outside to remain inside for too long! I don't usually do many challenges, but this Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge, Make Your Own Background, just pulled my strings. How much better does it get?

I used a Hero Arts background stamp (Looped Flower) with my amazing Gansai Tambi watercolors to create a colorful background for the great Avery Elle "Happy" die. Love the combo.

Hope you are having a grad weekend! Thanks for the visit!

Let's Get Outside!

Hello, dear Bloggin' Buddies!

I hope you are having a great weekend. We are enjoying some perfect weather (but we'll take more rain, please). It is the time of year that we love to get outside - before it gets too hot.

We have met some new friends here who have amazing adventurous spirits. They are always going somewhere or doing something exciting.

I wanted to make them a special card after they told me about their amazing parents who, in the 1940's and later, hiked and camped in some pretty desolate and exciting places and produced documentary films. Simply amazing folks.

This card uses Hero Art's Lattice background, die-cut stars from "Essentials by Ellen", my terrific Gansai Tambi watercolor paints and some computer-generated words.


Thanks so much for the visit. Have a lovely Sunday.

Hello Weekend!

Dear Bloggin' Buddies:

One would think that weekends don't mean so much for us retired folks, but they still do. So many different things to do. We have our two favorite exercise classes on the weekends, so that is special. And now that our young nieces are involved in sports there are always games to attend. The days are longer and the weather is great - life is so good!

Anyway, on to the card! I have been playing with my Gansia Tambi water colors again. This time with the Hero Arts Harlequin Pattern background stamp, which was clear embossed on watercolor paper. The great word die is from Simon Says Stamp.

This will go into that mass of talent known as the Simon Says Stamp "Anything Goes" Challenge.

Thanks for the visit and enjoy your weekend!

Stretch Your Dies - Day 7, the Grand Finale!

Hello, Bloggin' Buddies!

Wowzer, but did I ever have fun with today's lesson. I loved all of the techniques, but Kathy Racoosin's "Hidden Letter" technique with alphabet dies had me in love. She did such a great job with her example that I couldn't wait to give it a whirl.

Did I tell you haw much I am loving my Gansai Tambi water colors?! Oh, MY!! It is unbelievable and so worth the investment. I'm glad that I got the 36-color set.

Anyway, I stretched some watercolor paper and went to town heat embossing and old favorite from Hero Arts, CG134, "Large Flower". I did a background first, let it dry and then painted the flower. When it was all dry I sprayed it with some Perfect Pearls, let it dry again and over-stamped it with Hero Arts S1832, "Italian Poetry". The sentiment is Hero Arts CL371, "Essential Messages", and the alphabet dies are Memory Box "Parker Upper Case".

Can you see the raised letters in the second photo? Unbelievable!

What a great series - I really recommend it it you want to make the most of your dies.

Thanks for the visit!

Playing in the Water

Colors!

Hello, Blogging Buddies:

I am so excited about my new set of watercolor paints!

I had been using an old kid's set that I got at a garage sale for $1.00, but I kept hearing so many of you talking about the Japanese Gansai Tambi paints.

I finally jumped in and got a 36-color set and I think I'm in love - with every rich and creamy pan of luscious color. What a treat it is to use these amazing paints.

I did some clear embossing on watercolor paper and played for hours. Love the look!

The background stamp is Hero Art's Lattice and the "Hello" die is from Simon Says Stamp.

Thanks for the visit and have a lovely weekend,