Splashes of Watercolor

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 the JUGS girls have issued a technique challenge - paper piecing.  I LOVE paper piecing!  So of course I decided to jump in and play.

I just got a bundle of new Stamping Bella images and they are just so perfect for paper piecing.  So I pulled out little miss Addy TUDE and got to work.   Her dress, scarf and shoes are all paper pieced using some yummy Basic Grey Indian Summer paper and some rose red cardstock.  The rest of her is colored with my Copic makers.

I did a little stitching around the edges, placed some sparkly Bella dots here and there, and glittered up her scarf and shoes with Stardust stickles.  Oh, and her glasses are covered with Ranger glossy accents.

Thanks for stopping by to visit!  Have a great day!

• Stamps: Addy TUDE and Dare to Be Different sentiment  - Stamping Bella
  
• Paper: Neenah white, rose red, rich razzleberry textured, Indian Summer - Basic Grey
  
• Ink: Memento - tuxedo black
  
• Other: stardust stickles, silver RoseArt pen, sewing machine, Labels 8 & oval Nestabilities, Prismacolor pencils, gamsol & stump, Bella dots, 3/4″ circle punch, Ranger Glossy Accents, foam tape, Copic markers:

I saw on my friend Tammy’s blog that Kristin has started a new sketch challenge (JUGS1), so I thought I’d try out her very first sketch.  It’s a cool one!

And since I’m trying out new things, I decided to try out one of my new digital images from Mo’s Digital Pencil.  What a great artist she is! And this image just cracks me up!  (Although I know Swine Flu is not funny at all if you have it.)

Bless his heart!  This poor little fella looks miserable!  Sure hope I don’t need to send this to anyone!

He’s colored with Copic markers and shaded with Prismacolor pencils.

Thanks for stopping by!

• Stamps: Swine Flu - Mo’s Digital Pencil
• Paper: Neenah white, always artichoke, chocolate chip, cameo coral, Basic Grey Porcelain
• Ink: computer
• Other: Prismacolor pencils, gamsol & stump, petite oval, circle & labels 3 Nestabilities, ribbon- PTI, white gel pen, foam tape, Copic markers:

I have 2 friends who both have a birthday this Thursday.  They live in different states and don’t know each other.  It’s ok to send them each identical cards, right?

Well, that’s what I’m doing!

I used Beate’s WSC98 sketch (which I love and will definitely use again), and Fifth Avenue Floral (which I love and don’t use often enough).  This is a new color combination for me too and I really do like it!  The flower is shaded with Copics, the patterned paper is Thoroughly Modern DSP from SU, and the center is sparkly ’cause I used a yellow metallic gelly roll pen.

I’m keeping it short today, folks!  Thanks so much for stopping by!

If you’re looking for the Stampers United blog hop post, you can find it ->-> HERE.

• Stamps: Fifth Avenue Floral
  
• Paper: soft suede, rose red, Thoroughly Modern DSP
  
• Ink: Versafine - onyx black
  
• Other: Martha Stewart arch lattice border punch and frond punch, yellow metallic gelly roll pen, Hibiscus Burst ribbon (Papertrey Ink), Copic markers: 0, R22, R39
  

Today’s Ways to Use It challenge at Splitcoaststampers is to use red.   I can do that!

This card was made as a birthday card for a child who loves balloons, but I don’t see why an adult wouldn’t love it too!   Using the Everyday Button Bits stamp set from Papertrey Ink, I created the little scene.  Then I die cut some “hot air balloons” using oval Nestabilties.  I stitched the seams on the large balloon and then tied on some embroidery floss.

And here’s the inside - a different set of balloons:

Thanks so much for dropping by!  And thanks, Julia, for the fun challenge!

• Stamps: Everyday Button Bits - Papertrey Ink
• Paper: aqua mist, spring moss - Papertrey Ink, red, Basic Grey patterned paper
  
• Ink: Memento - tuxedo black
  
• Other: oval Nestabilities, sewing machine, DMC floss - white, foam tape
  

This week the Color Throwdown challenge is being sponsored by Rubbernecker Stamps!! So my Color Throwdown card is also my Wacky Wednesday challenge card.  Yeah, my head is spinning too!

Be sure to check out both blogs for all the details of the challenges….you could double your chances of winning great prizes by posting links to your creation in both places!  And there’s a special something extra just for you too!!

Here are the colors I’ve chosen to work with this week:

And here are the Prism alternates just in case you don’t have the new SU In Colors:

Bermuda Bay - Prism Vibrant Teal

Dusty Durango - Prism Desert Coral Dark

Soft Suede - Prism Suede Brown Medium

I LOVE this Small Sunrise Palm (1532 SO) and I loved coloring it with my Copic markers.  I didn’t, however, love cutting out the top of the palm to layer it!

Check out all the wonderful stamps at Rubbernecker Stamps….there’s definitely something for everyone.  You can find details of the challenge HERE and HERE and both have links to the super talented designers’ blogs.

Thanks so much for visiting me today!!  Now go forth and stamp!

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• Stamps: Small Sunrise Palm (1532 SO)
  
• Paper: Prism - simply smooth white, SU - Bermuda Bay, Dusty Durango, Soft Suede, Basic Grey - Marrakech
  
• Ink: Memento - tuxedo black
  
• Other: circle & labels four Nestabilities, ribbon, foam tape, button, hemp twine, Copic markers:

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I was honored that Sharon asked me to make a sample for her Dare to Get Dirty challenge today.  Of course I said yes right away!  It’s a color challenge: use black and white and just a touch of red.

I had no idea where this card was going to end up when I started, but I did know I wanted to start with the white background and the Wildflower background stamped in black.  I also wanted a lot of it to show, so I decided just to go with that and an embellishment that would pop!  I’m happy with how it turned out!

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Go check out all the challenges  HERE and play along with us.  So much fun!!  You are a Fan Club member, right?  It is SO worth it to join in on all the fun!  C’mon!!  This is your chance to be a “dirty girl”!!!

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• Stamps: Wildflower background (447) - Rubbernecker Stamps
  
• Paper: Prism Simply Smooth white & classic red, black
• Ink: Versafine onyx black
  
• Other: clear EP, Labels One & Labels Four Nestabilities, ribbon, Heidi Swapp flowers, glittery button, DMC floss, foam tape, wonder tape
  

Hi y’all!  It’s time for another Wacky Wednesday challenge!  Sherry is our hostess this week and we’re doing a color challenge: Pink, Purple and Green.  Sounds like a winning combination to me!

I decided to go a little vintagy (is that a word?) this week.  I love this K & Company paper and it had just the right colors in it, so that set the theme.

I’ve used the 2 Sketches 4 You sketch for the week – Kazan Sketch 30, and decided to watercolor with my Tombow markers again.  (The purple is really not quite that bright in real life and matches the background paper better.)  Don’t you love that sentiment?  I know a lot of people like that!  (Not really!)

Please join us in this challenge!  Get the details at the Rubbernecker blog and you could win a 40% off coupon to use in the Rubbernecker Stamps store!

You can check out all the great cards by the design team here:

Happy, happy birthday to Candy and Juliana!!

Thanks for stopping back by!

• Stamps: Coffee Time set (458)
• Paper: watercolor paper, elegant eggplant, rich razzleberry, confetti white, Brenda Walton Madeline (K & Company)
• Ink: StazOn jet black & timber brown, Versafine onyx black, Tombow markers 
• Other: water brush, oval Nestabilities die, Martha Stewart doily lace border punch, foam tape, wonder tape 

I got some new toys!!  A full set of Tombow markers…and I couldn’t wait to play!

Lucky for me, the Featured Stamper at Splitcoaststampers this week is (Sandra McLean (B-gin-r) who is a super-talented watercolorer.

I chose to use THIS CARD as my inspiration.  Of course mine is the little girl version of it!!   Sandra’s is just incredible!

I love using the Tombows!  And there are so many colors!   Basically I just watercolored with them by wetting the paper first, laying the color where I wanted it to be the darkest, then spreading it with my water brush.  (I decided to use patriotic colors too in celebration of the 4th!)

Thanks for visiting today!

• Stamps: Untamed - Gorjuss Girl from Sugar Nellie
• Paper: watercolor paper (hot pressed), vanilla, real red, pacific point, Daisy D 8×8 winter fun pad
• Ink: StazOn jet black, Tombow markers, Ranger Distress - antique linen
• Other: water brush, curved rectangle Nestabilities, Martha Stewart arch lattice border punch, May Arts ribbon, button, crochet thread, ink blending tool, corner rounder punch, foam tape, rhinestone stickers, lace, wonder tape
  

It’s been a long time since I’ve had a chance to play along with the Featured Stamper challenge at Splitcoaststampers, so when the opportunity arose this morning I jumped right on it!

Today’s featured artist is Christy S.  She’s got a great gallery!  This is the card I chose to CASE.  I used the same stamp from the same set and the same basic layout.  Everything else is changed a little.

Thanks for stopping by to look!

• Stamps: Forest Friends & Great Friend - Stampin’ Up!
  
• Paper: Prism - Simply Smooth white, Island Mist Dark; Poppy - SEI paper stack
  
• Ink: Adirondack -stream, SU - going gray
  
• Other: Labels One Nestabilities, C1 Copic marker, tangerine tango ribbon, buttons, cotton thread