Maureen does Mixed Media

Hi, Bloggin' Buddies!

I have been doing lots of work lately with  pigment powders. I've been comparing and contrasting the different brands, trying lots of techniques, using different applications, different papers, etc. It has been fun. I've learned so much and gotten so messy! I'm actually preparing for a demonstration I'll be doing at my Paper Arts group.

The most difficult thing for me using this medium is the lack of control. I am a real "control freak" and these powders just explode, mix and delight all on their own!

For this card I used a combination of Color Burst and Cosmic Shimmer Shakes in a wet-on-dry technique on watercolor paper. Sometimes the backgrounds become so busy and bright that it is difficult to pair them with images and sentiments. This is one of those.

I used Concord & 9th products here. I love this "Friend Like You" die because can be used in so many different ways. That just wasn't enough on this colorful background; I felt I needed some images to ground my design. I stamped and die cut some of the smaller images from the "Wonderful Florals" set, also by Concord & 9th, using Delicata silver ink. I added silver Wink Of Stella and Glossy Accents to the word "friends" to help it pop.

This is headed for the current challenge at the Where Creativity Meets C9 Blog which is "Mixed Media".

I hope you will challenge yourself with some new techniques and products - it is so rewarding. Thanks for the visit and have a terrific week,

Glitter and Alcohol Do Mix!

HI, Bloggin' Buddies!

Well, I've been bitten by the alcohol ink bug! Once I started, I couldn't stop. Isn't it funny how what was old can be new again? I almost got rid of my alcohol inks because I didn't think I'd ever use them again.  Now I wish I'd saved my white "GO-Go" boots and and stirrup stretch pants from the 1960's!

I inked three pages of 5" x 7" Yupo paper and I managed to get 11 cards made from them! I'll be sharing some of rest of them soon.

Todays card was inspired by the current challenge, "All that Glitters!", at the Impression Obsession Blog. and the "Simon Says: Sparkle and Shine" Challenge on the Wednesday Challenge Blog.

I've said before what a big fan I am of Impression Obsession. I've been using their products since the late 1990's and, while their designs keep pace with current trends, there are so many that are timeless.

This card uses a piece of my alcohol inked paper and a glittery (sorry - after several attempts, I just wasn't able to capture all the glittery goodness in my photo) copper card stock from DCWV.  The die is the "Good Wishes Word Block" and is perfect for layering over fun backgrounds. I don't know the origin of the flower - I found it in my stash, probably stamped years ago at some crop. It is colored with Copics and dusted with Wink of Stella.

Please some and play along, and I urge you to. Challenges, especially sparkly ones, are good for the dull soul - ha!

Thanks for the visit and have a great week!

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.

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,

A New Year filled with Creative Potential!

Happy New Year, Bloggin' Buddies!

I hope that all of your holidays were filled with loving memories and that you are once again ready to get inky! I thrive on my "normal" routine, so I am READY.

Here is a little gem to start the year with a sparkle. I made this card for a dear friend who shares my love of mermaids. The sentiment is from Reverse Confetti's "Shine from Within" set. Love it!

The mermaid is an older stamp from Unity designed by Suzi Blu called "Elena Seaside". I watercolored her in an ombre style with Zig Clear Color Markers and a water brush and I added lots of Wink of Stella and Stickles for extra sparkle. Super-artsy, eh? She is mounted on a panel that was watercolored using an emboss-resist technique for which the Impression Obsession "Shells" background stamp was used. Cold press watercolor paper was used for stamping both pieces.

I think this card represents a perfect tone for my New Year - I plan to try to keep it in mind every single day.

Thanks for the visit and welcome to 2018,

Uninspired

Hi, Bloggin' Buddies!

Yep, that is how I've been feeling lately. When that happens I try to pull out some easy things, such as using  some backgrounds that I previously prepared or coloring up some some ready-made images.

Here are some cards that I recently made using Suzy's Sizzling Series Watercolor Paintable Prints from Simon Says Stamp. I used my trusty Zig Clean Color Markers (I so love them!).

I took some real liberties with the one on the right side. I removed the bottom sentiment (it just wasn't "me") and added a mermaid (from Clear Art Stamps, 2010) for a focal point of interest.

Lots of Wink of Stella, Wink of Luna and Stickles here, also!

The photos is a bit blurry because I used my phone (uninspired again).

Hope you've been having a great August. Thanks for the kind visit,

Rainbow

Hi, Bloggin' Buddies:

The past couple of weeks have been tough, eh? So much sadness in our country's news.

I made this card as a small tribute to those who were lost in the Orlando massacre (and for a couple of dear friends).

I used one of the panels from Simon Says Stamp Suzy's watercolor paintable prints. I watercolored it with Zig Clean Color Markers, Wink of Stella and glitter pens. The colors are much more vibrant in person!

This is the first time I have played with Decco Foil and, NO, I do not have a laminating machine or a laser printer!

I simply used Score Tape and sandwiched the strip in a couple layers of typing paper and ran it through my die cutter (with a new, unscratched top plate). It worked beautifully and it added just the rainbow kick I sought.

I raised the panel with Fun Foam.

Wishing that your dreams do come true, especially those for love, peace and understanding.

Thanks for the visit,

Cutness Quotient

Happy Friday, Bloggin' Buddies!

Yep, I've been playing with my Fuse Tool again!

I was inspired by the February Paper Smooches Challenge, "Fun & Cute". And cute is the perfect word for so many of the paper Smooches stamps - I love 'em!

Today I colored up (Copic pens) a double dose using the "Party Pals" set. It is an older set, but a favorite and perfect to pair with my balloon die and some colorful sequins for a real party in a card.

The stars in the background are from some unmarked stamps I got at a used stamp sale. I tried adding some white dots like I have seen so many doing on various blogs - I still struggle with those darn gell pens, but I like the look. A dash of Wink of Stella adds some glimmer.

It is a beautiful sunny day (which is why I got the reflection on my acetate balloon) and I plan to get out an enjoy it!

Thanks for the visit!

Ugly Sweater

Hello. Bloggin' Buddies!

I'm wrapping up the holiday cards - sometime I save the most fun for last.

First this was a simple A2 card featuring a favorite (but apparently retired - I can't find it on their website) Art Impressions holiday stamp that I colored with Copics. But the more I looked at it, it just had to be MORE. So I took it apart and made it into a 5" x 7" inch card, adding layers of "ugly sweater" printed paper (cut with SSS stitched rectangle dies), a playful bow (Die-namics) and lots of sparkle with Wink of Stella, Stickles and embelishments.

The sentiment I added inside is "Don't get your tinsel in a tangle". Fun?

The colors are actually much more vibrant - it has been so dark in the house that I had to use a flash.

I made this card for someone very special to us. She motivates us to move, inspires us to be healthy and is a total kick in the pants. She is also very kind, loving and thoughtful. Jeri is our aerobics instructor and we appreciate her so very much! I never dreamed that I would set my alarm for 6 am on Saturdays to exercise, but she makes it SO worth it. Thanks, Jeri!

Merry Christmas, dear readers - I also appreciate YOU!

Grateful

Hello, Bloggers!

Hope you are doing well and getting ready for the weekend.

Today's card is my acknowledgement that fall is really on it's way. Every year I approach this time of year kicking and screaming. I am a summer/tropical gal and don't like to see the days getting shorter and cooler and the leaves turning.

Anyway, I used a new Paper Smooches set for this card - Blossoming Buds and used my Copics to give them some fall colors. I used the coordinating dies called Blossom Icons. I am getting into these watercolor backgrounds! There is Wink of Stella on the flowers, but it isn't too visible.

This is my final entry into the current Paper Smooches SPARKS challenge "Anything Goes"

Take good care, thanks for the visit and have a wonderful weekend.

Bee Mine!

Dear Bloggin' Buddies:

Time for another heart! This one features The fun set from paper Smooches called Bee Mine. I have loved this set forever, and Kim recently came out with dies to go with it - perfect! I tried some water coloring with Distress Inks on this happy fella with some Wink of Stella on his wings. Pretty darn cute.

I again used Jennifer McGuire's great stacked shape die stacking technique with Memory Box Stitched Hearts dies. Love the look!

I haven't entered a challenge in ages, but this is just in time to enter into the Paper Smooches Valentine Challenge.

I can't believe it, but Kim and Gang are celebrating their Fourth Anniversary this month - congrats and thanks for all the super-great designs!

Wishing you a day filled with love and fun. Thanks for the visit!

It's Heart Time!

Dear Bloggin' Buddies:

I love hearts! And, it is that time of year - yay! My cards have been made, mailed and received, so I can now share some with you. I had so much fun making them this year.

This adorable guy is from a new set from Stampin' Up - such sweet critters! I got this set from my friend Dottie, who was also the recipient of this card. I changed his banner into a string of shimmery hearts and used the "stacked shape die technique" featured by Jennifer McGuire.

The stitched heart dies are from Memory Box and the sentiment is a die from the Wet Paint collection by Paper Trey Ink. Love it all!

Happy Heart Week and thanks for the visit!