Ellen's Mix it Up Challenge

Howdy, my Bloggin' Buddies!

Have you heard the news?

Ellen Huttson has a new challenge going on over at the Classroom! The first one is to mix a wonderful "Essentials by Ellen" product with a Hero Arts product.

I have been having such fun with my new Kuretake Gansai Tambi paints and decided that this was the perfect chance. I have many of Ellen's great Essentials (such amazing designs!), but I wanted to combine this simple word die from Julie's "You Rock" set with part of a Hero Arts sentiment, in this case one from Essential Messages, CL371. The background is from Neat and Tangled (hope that is permitted!).

I added a mist of Perfect Pearls after the watercolors were applied - a lovely shimmer! - and some sequins from my stash.

I'm still fighting with making good photos at the new house - sorry!

Give this challenge a try - you have a couple of days. And check back at the Classroom for additional future challenges.

Thanks for the visit - have a great week!

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,

Smile

Hello, Bloggin' Buddies!

I sure hope you have had a great weekend. We sure did - it feels like Spring, but we continue to pray for rain.

Today I am sharing a fun little card that incorporates products from several companies. The sentiment is from a fun set by Inkadinkado called "Kid Quotes, Friendly Advice". These just make me chuckle. The crazy rabbit is from paper Smooches "A Little Lovin" and the matching dies. Finally, the vellum circles, called "Circle Scribbles" are from Papertrey Ink.

These are all mounted on a background that is water-colored with Distress Inks (but I just got a new set of great water colors - can't wait to try them).

Thanks for the visit and have a wonderful week.

Promises

Hello, Bloggin' Buddies:

I had a special event last week - I met up with a high school classmate I hadn't seen in 45 years (does that ever date me?)! We had become Face Book "friends" and arranged a meeting. Such fun to see who we are today, rather than who we WERE. I like us both NOW so much better!

I made her a set of four cards that I thought she would like based on what I'd learned of her on Face Book. This is one of the cards. I have always loved these stamps by Emerson Quillin at American Art Stamps - I've had about 4 of them for years and will never let them go.

I colored the great gal with Copics, added lots of patterned papers, die cut a doily and punched out some flowers.

This card was such fun that I made a similar one for a special friend going through a rough time who needed a big hug.

Hope you are having a glorious week. Thanks for the visit!

Happy New Year!

Hello, Bloggin' buddies!

I have a special friend who celebrates Lunar New Year so I try to make her a special card every year. This is the year of the ram/sheep/goat (there is some apparent confusion).

Red is a very important color, so I did it up with lots of red! The gold (very traditional) glitter paper (DCWV) adds the perfect sparkle to the background.

The image and sentiment are from the internet with lots of color and embellishment added by me.

Happy New Year, Joanne!

Thanks for the visit and have a great day,

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!

Dang!

Hello, dear bloggin' buddies!

I needed a cowboy card and I have no stamps with any kind of western theme (no surprise, eh?). So I got online and found this adorable digi cowboy at Free Dearie Dolls Digi Stamps. Pretty dern cute, eh?

I colored him up with Copics, framed him with the stitched rectangle dies from Simon Says Stamp and mounted him on a piece from a new My Mind's Eye 6x6 paper pad that is full of all kinds of wood patterns (got at Michael's with a coupon). The sentiment is computer generated and the brads are from my stash - yes, I still have brads!

I even found some better light for photographing!

See ya'll 'round and thanks for the visit!

Glow On!

Hello, dear Bloggin' Buddies!

My husband's best friend (since 2nd grade!) - he's my friend now, too - recently had a milestone birthday so I thought I'd make him a card. I don't really like to make masculine cards, but one of Larry's hobbies is collecting antique and vintage lanterns. When I found this perfect stamp, I knew I had it handled.

This lantern stamp is from a San Francisco Bay Area (Berkeley) company from which I have bought stamps for over thirty years - Leavenworth Jackson. Very cool and unique stamps! I haven't bought many from them recently since I am trying to avoid wood-mounted stamps, but this was worth an exception!
I sure wish you could see this in person - I just haven't figured out the best spot for natural light photographs in our new house.
The Hero Arts gold embossing powder seriously glows.

For the background I used Hero Arts Shadow Ink, Cup O' Joe, and a Cuttlebug embossing folder. The lantern is cut with Spellbinders Labels 4, and the sentiment is from Hero Arts "Birthday Messages". On the insdie I used Hero Arts "Glow Girl" set and stamped "Keep Calm and Glow On". Perfect!


Thanks so much for the visit - have a glowing weekend!

29 again?

Hello, dear Bloggin' Buddies:

Today I am sharing a fun stepped card that I made for a dear friend's birthday. This is another great set from Art Impressions - doesn't she look like a typical Grandma? I colored her with my Copics and went with a pink theme (patterned paper right from Granny's kitchen!) and added a couple of birthday sentiments from Hero Arts.

Hope you are having a great week! To all my eastern friends - stay warm and safe!

 Thanks for the visit,