Splashes of Watercolor

My dear friend Tammy passed this blogging award on to me.  It was so much fun reading her answers and then trying to give my answers (only one word, ha!)  That sounds hard!  Let’s see how I do.

The Rules are:

1. You can only use ONE word!!!
2. Pass this along to 5 of your favorite bloggers!
3. Alert them that you have given them this award!
4. HAVE FUN!!!
***************
Just ONE word…let’s see if I can do it!

1. Where is your cell phone? purse
2. Your hair? shorter
3. Your mother? sweet
4. Your father? comedian
5. Your fave food? dessert
6. Your dream last night? none
7. Your fave drink? water
8. Your dream/goal? retirement
9. What room are you in? office
10. Your hobby? kayaking
11. Your fear? illness
12. Where do you want to be in 6 years? beach
13. Where you were last night? home
14. Something that you aren’t? retired
15. Muffins? blueberry
16. Wish List Item? retirement
17. Where did you grow up? Florida
18. Last thing you did? work
19. What are you wearing? yellow
20. Your TV? small
21. Your Pets? ancient
22. Friends? many
23. Your Life? blessed
24. Your Mood? tired
25. Missing Someone? Dad
26. Vehicle? Pilot
27. Something your not wearing? necklace
28. Your fave store? Target
29. Your fave color? aqua
30. Last time you laughed? lunch
31. Last time you cried? Grey’s
32. Your best friend? daughter
33. One place that I go to over and over? work
34. One person who emails regularly? Karen
35. Fave place to eat? steakhouse
36. Facebook? nope

Hmmm.  There seems to be somewhat of a theme here.  I must be looking forward to retiring to the coast!!  Ya think??

I’m supposed to pass this on to five of my favorite bloggers.  I did a “close your eyes, point and click” in my blog list and here’s who I came up with:

1. Heidi

2. Joan

3. Elena

4. Christine

5. Susan

Have fun, ladies, and thanks again for choosing me, Tammy!

~

Happy Halloween, y’all!

When I printed this little cardinal from the Season’s Tweetings stamp set from Angels Landing, I knew I wanted a rustic look but I also wanted the card to have a little elegance as well.  That’s how I ended up coloring with Prismacolor pencils on the kraft cardstock, then mounting it on the delicate white Spellbinders Fleur de Lis die cut.

I think the patterned paper adds to the textured rustic feel and the flowing ribbon dresses it up a little too.  To keep the ribbon tails in place, I coated them with a thin layer of liquid glue then pressed only certain points to the paper and allowed it to dry.  This adds a little bit of stiffness to hold it in place and keep it looking pretty!

Check out what all the other design team members made this week for the “Wild Card” challenge:  Angels Landing blog!

• Stamps: Season’s Tweetings - Angels Landing
  
• Paper: kraft, white, ruby red, Yuletide Greetings - Christmas Magic - Fancy Pants
  
• Ink: computer
  
• Other: Prismacolor pencils, gamsol & stump, Spellbinders Fleur de Lis Pendant die, scallop square Nestabilities, Copic marker R59, Cuttlebug Olivia alphabet dies, ribbon, foam tape, Tombow aqua glue
  

Would you just look at that precious face??  I just can’t stop looking at it and smiling!  This little fella has complete stolen my heart!

He’s one of the adorable Penguin Chicks from Angels Landing.  And I chose him to be on my Color Throwdown card this week.  The colors that LeAnne presented us with just seemed perfect for a warm woolen hat and scarf.

The blue background layer is covered in sparkly snowflakes as is his snowy fur.  The snow on his little sign is liquid pearls with a touch of glitter as well.  The sheer, sparkly edged ribbon was heated just enough to crinkle the ends.  He’s colored with several different shades of grey markers (and qualifies as an entry to this month’s Copic Creations challenge - coloring black with copics).

We would just love it if you would play along with us!!  We don’t have a sponsor this week, but you have a chance at being chosen Featured Stamper of the week!!  You can find all the details on the Color Throwdown blog and then there’s so much more inspiration here:

Barbara * Cathy *Danielle

LeAnne * Tammy * Lisa Kind (Guest Designer for October)

I can’t believe this is already Lisa’s last week as Guest Designer!  Thank you so much, Lisa, for joining us and allowing us to showcase your gorgeous creations!

Thanks so much for stopping by!  I’ll have a new Angels Landing creation for you at 9 a.m., so please come back!

• Stamps: Penguin Chicks - Angels Landing
  
• Paper: white, bordering blue, razzleberry, eggplant
  
• Ink: computer
  
• Other: curved rectangles - Nestabilities, foam tape, white opal liquid pearls, 3/4″ circle punch, ribbon, CB snowflakes folder, Stardust stickles, heat tool, Copic markers:

I’m just finishing up my Halloween cards.  Good thing too, because some of them have to go to Virginia and some to Florida.  They’re all going in the mail today!

These first 2 cards are for the 2 youngest granddaughters - ages 15 months and 6 months.  The 6 month old is dressing up as a ladybug, so this Pink Cat Studio digi stamp Itty Bitty Betty - Ladybug Costume is just perfect!!  I know red is not your usual Halloween color, but it’s certainly appropriate here.

How about those gorgeous tissue paper flowers??  (You really have to click on the photo to make it larger so you can get the full effect of how pretty they are.)  Mona Pendleton did a fantastic video on how to make them.  You’ll find it HERE on the JUGS challenge blog, because that’s this week’s challenge - to make something with one of Mona’s flowers on it.

I followed Mona’s instructions, but used the Dahlia Nestabilities because I don’t have the Blossom ones.  My white tissue paper was brayered with real red ink.  I may not have let the brayered tissue paper dry long enough because when I took the eight layers out of the die, they were kind of melded together and I had to take my piercing tool and carefully separate the layers. I did try it again later with precolored pink tissue paper and did not have the same problem.  Another time saving hint: instead of cutting 8 squares for each size die, I just folded my tissue paper until there were 8 layers.  Much easier!!

Individual photos:

Now here’s the last of my Halloween creations.  It uses the MOJO109 layout and the Rubbernecker Stamps Halloween Set 2 cute little “Witchie Poo”.  Don’t you just love the Skull Trick or Treat paper from Fancy Pants?

All 3 of these cards qualify for entry to the Copic Creations challenge #14.  Check it out!

Thanks for visiting me today!  See you soon!

CUTIE PIE HALLOWEEN SET:

• Stamps: Itty Bitty Betty - Ladybug Costume digi stamp - Pink Cat Studio
• Paper: Neenah white, red, Boo to You from Bewitching Webs - My Mind’s Eye
  
• Ink: computer, red
  
• Other: brayer, tissue paper; Dahlia, circle, scallop circles Nestabilities; paper piercer & mat, white gel pen, rhinestone brads, foam tape, Distress stickles - rock candy, sewing machine, Copic markers:
  

WITCHIE POO:

• Stamps: Halloween Set 2 (474), sentiment - Halloween Set 1 (473) - Rubbernecker Stamps
  
• Paper: Neenah white, Fresh Paint glitter paper pack - K & Company, Skull - Trick or Treat - Fancy Pants, Monster Mash - Boo to You - My Mind’s Eye
• Ink: Memento - tuxedo black
  
• Other: classic rectangle, circle & petite oval Nestabilities, ribbon, stickles - black diamond, starry nights, corner chomper - deco, foam tape, white gel pen, Copic markers:

This week’s Angels Landing challenge for the design team was to use sewing (real or faux.)  I chose to use my sewing machine…I certainly need the practice!  But I got so carried away coloring the image and matching the patterned paper that I almost forgot to use sewing at all!

This is my newest favorite holiday color combo - red, aqua and brown.  Bright and happy, yet warm and yummy !

I used several brown Copic markers to make the frame have a woodgrain look. The smaller brown layer and the aqua layer are dry embossed and the sewing actually attaches the Cosmo Cricket Jolly by Golly patterned paper to the larger brown layer.

All the berries and ornaments are covered in fired brick Distress stickles.

You can see all the beautiful design team creations by going to the Angels Landing blog.

Thanks for stopping by to check in today!

• Stamps: Season’s Tweetings - Angels Landing
  
• Paper: Neenah white, vintage cream - Papertrey Ink, chocolate, Jolly by Golly mini deck - Cosmo Cricket
• Ink: computer, Versamagic (tea leaves)
• Other: sewing machine, ribbon, button & twine (PTI), CB Moroccan Screen folder, Tim Holtz holiday grungeboard, 3/4″ circle punch, Distress stickles (fired brick), foam tape, Copic markers:

I love this magical Christmas tree.  But I have to confess that I didn’t realize it was a tree at first.  After all, the name of the Rubbernecker stamp set is Snowflakes and Stardust.  And I used the swirly image as stardust on THIS CARD.

So when my friends starting making comments about how I used the “tree” image, I thought “huh?”  Silly me!  I get it now!  Blonde, ya know!

The brown tree is stamped on watercolor paper using Ranger Archival ink so it wouldn’t bleed.  Then I misted the paper and stamped the “leaves” (stardust) in 4 different shades of green.  When that was dry I stamped the garland in melon and the star on top in curry (no misting).

After the image was cut using a Labels 4 Nestabilities die and while the die was still attached, I sponged a little melon ink on the sides.  Then I smushed a glue pad along the sides and randomly over the image and sprinkled on glass glitter.

I also used the glitter on the sentiment panel.  It’s hard to tell, but there’s a tiny yellow rhinestone on the star.

That’s it…my magical stardust Christmas tree!!  Thanks for stopping by!

• Stamps: Snowflakes & Stardust (481) (Rubbernecker Stamps)
  
• Paper: watercolor paper, melon, Eskimo Kisses (Basic Grey)
• Ink: Ranger Archival - coffee; wasabi, olive, kiwi, melon, curry, artichoke
• Other: Labels 4 Nestabilities, sponge dabber, raspberry fizz ribbon (Papertrey Ink), Palette Stamp & Stick glue pad, FloraCraft glass glitter, Martha Stewart 2008 snowflake, rhinestone stickers, Ranger mini-mister

This week’s Color Throwdown is being sponsored by Stamping Bella!!  And this is my first Ketto!  She’s just so sweet and sassy!!

The colors Danielle has chosen this week are just perfect for highlighting the Bellas:

I’ve used Suzette Ketto and framed her in a split Top Note die cut layer.  She’s colored with Prismacolor pencils (blended with Gamsol) and I’ve given her a whopping big layered flower embellishment to go with all her cute little flowers!

Check out that cool double loops border!  I was so thrilled to find that my local Michael’s actually had a new Martha Stewart Punch Around the Page set in stock!  Grabbed that baby up and ran to the checkout!!

And I used my new Tim Holtz tiny attacher to secure my ribbon loops before attaching it under the flower.

Here are photos of both:

Be sure to check out all the Color Throwdown challenge details at the blog.  You have a chance to win a cool prize or even be chosen as our Featured Stamper of the week!

For some wonderful inspiration to jump start your mojo, be sure to visit the design team blogs:

Barbara * Cathy *Danielle

LeAnne * Tammy * Lisa Kind (Guest Designer for October)

Thanks for stopping by!  I’m so glad you joined me today!

• Stamps: Suzette Ketto - Stamping Bella
  
• Paper: Neenah white, teal, celery, pomegranate, Lemonade - Basic Grey
  
• Ink: Memento - tuxedo black
  
• Other: Top Note die, prima flowers, velvet rick rack, Labels 8 Nestabilities, Prismacolor pencils, gamsol & stumps, Martha Stewart Double Loops border punch, ribbon, rhinestone brad, foam tape

I used Random.org to generate a winner of last week’s Angel’s Landing blog hop candy, and the winning number was 27. That’s Nancy, who said …

 Nancy  on 14 Oct 2009 at 1:40 pm

AWWWW this is gorgeous! Love all about it!
Hugs, Nancy;O)

Congratulations, Nancy!!

I’ll be contacting you shortly!

I had a lot of fun playing around while making the background for this card.  It all started with a glossy magazine page.

I used an alcohol ink blending tool and 3 different colors of alcohol ink (the same way you’d do it on glossy cardstock or a manila tag).  Then I stamped the Leaf from Rubbernecker Stamps in Versamark several times and embossed with gold tinsel ep.  Here’s what it looked like before I cut out the inked part:

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The leaf branch from the new Fall Trilogy set was colored using Tombow markers then stamped on damp watercolor paper.  I overstamped it with the word Friend from the same set using Ranger Archival ink in coffee after the paper dried.

You may be able to see how the finished background on the card is darker than in the first photo.  That’s because I wanted the bright colors toned down a little, so I sponged over the entire piece with Ranger Distress ink in brushed corduroy and let that dry before assembling the card.

Well, that’s it for today!  Thanks for stopping by!

• Stamps: Leaf set (868 869 870 SO), Fall Trilogy (480) - Rubbernecker Stamps
  
• Paper: watercolor, glossy magazine page, pomegranate, marigold, olive
  
• Ink: Adirondack alcohol - lettuce, butterscotch, cranberry, Versamark, Distress - brushed corduroy, Archival - coffee, Tombow markers 098, 757, 993
  
• Other: alcohol ink applicator, sponge dabber, gold tinsel ep, scallop border punch, corner rounder punch, brads, ribbon, CB embossing borders folder - Just My Type

I’d like to thank Pam and all the super nice ladies at the new Just Us GirlS blog (don’t you love that acronym??) for awarding me the Chic of the Week #2 award for my Addy TUDE card!  Here’s the super cute award button that I’ll be adding to my sidebar.

If you haven’t checked out their new challenge blog you should really head over THERE!  It’s hip and cute and sassy!!  I love it!!  There’s a new challenge posted each Saturday!

Thanks so much again to Pam and all the great JUGS girls!!