The card - stamped image is from Hero Arts. I sponged the background with 3 different colors, then stamped the image in black on top. Never made it out of town yesterday, but I am going to drive up

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Tuesday is the day for colour challenges at Splitcoaststampers. I played last week and found it really hard - somehow only having defined colours doesn't always point me in any one direction. It's almost too much like a blank page, which usually just leaves me with....a blank page! This week was easy, though - white and greeny-blues are right up my alley! I also took inspiration from this piece of artwork that I found on Etsy: here's a link: http://www.etsy.com/listing/89170273/original-painting-sea-with-flowers-24-x I love the depth of colour and clean graphic style. Who wouldn't be cheered up after seeing something like this? I stamped the yellow flower centres then stamped over them with versarmark using a solid daisy shape and embossed the flowers with clear embossing powder. Next step was to sponge Pool Party and Island Indigo ink, with a sponge dauber, to get the background effect. Here it is: What a nice, springy start to February - let's hope we continue with this fairly snow-less (at least here in Toronto) weather! Supplies: Stamps: Stamps Of Life Paper: Whisper White, Gina K Pure Luxury Ink: Pool Party, Island Indigo, Summer Sun, Versamark Accessories: Black Copic Multiliner, Sponge Dauber, Clear Embossing Powder

Masked sponging is an old technique for creating backgrounds. Using different shapes to mask off an area gives a unique and polished look ...

A one layer card. I masked with masking tape and sponged with Distress Ink #Weathered Wood and Peeled Paint. Een 1-laag kaartje. De zijkanten afgeplakt met tape, en gesponst met Distress Inkt #Weathered Wood en Peeled Paint. Great quote. Wijze woorden. The dragonflies were stamped with Ranger Archival Ink #Jet Black. De libellen werden gestempeld met Ranger Archival inkt #Jet Black. Darkroom Door recently changed the packaging of their stamps, and they are now cling foam included. Darkroom Door veranderde onlangs de verpakking van hun stempels, ze zitten nu op cling foam. Darkroom Door stamps: Wings Darkroom Door stempels vind je in Nederland bij Art Journey HIER ********** Meanwhile in the kitchen.... Ondertussen in de keuken.... We went from this Ging het van dit to this naar dit

Susan is hosting the new One Layer Simplicity Challenge and she has chosen six gorgeous summer colour palettes to inspire us. I chose the one below which was a challenge as I don’t oft…

Welcome to the June Challenge for Serendipity Stamps! This month the challenge is is Twine and HOT…(hot colors, heat embossing, what’s hot…etc). You only have to use twine. Be sure to include at least one Serendipity Stamps image (Stamp or Die) on your project! The favorite design will receive a winner blog badge and one random winner of this challenge will receive a sampler package of assorted twine from The Twinery! I used Distress Inks for the background, trying to create a warm summer sunset. Added the stamp Rowboat and Dock and used Twine to tie up the boat at the dock :) Thanks for stopping by! For more inspiration there are samples from the design team, see them by clicking on their names below. Vickie Zimmer Pauline Pollington Jeanne Jachna Jenny Gropp Julie Warner Karen Amidon Marybeth Lopez Miriam Napier Birgit Edblom - you´re here! Jen Cuthbertson (July Guest Designer)

Welcome to the Rubbernecker Stamps' Stampin' Sisterhood Garden Hop! Today the Sisterhood is showcasing stamps of a "garden variety...

I had posted this card on my blog a couple of weeks ago. I had several questions about how I created the background, so I decided to do a video tutorial. Here are the other cards that I showed in...

Day One of the On-line Card Class Spring Card Camp was masking. I masked off the oval and used Gina K inks to fill in the oval. The sentiment stamp and the flowers are both from my favorite Hero Arts sympathy set. I think I'll make another card using the reverse oval and stamp or ink up the piece except for the oval. Hopefully soon. I had to make two quick sympathy cards. I was out. My last uncle passed away last week, as did a member of our church. Our church member died of Covid-19. Well, I DID make another card, and even in time to put it in the same blog post. Mother's Day was a good stamping day for me:) I placed the die-cut oval on the white cardstock and brushed ink over it, around the rest of the piece. I used another oval die to add the black oval line inside the white oval. I think it would have been better without it, but oh well! I used the same stamps as the first card. Thanks so much for stopping by, and I hope you'll come back and visit again soon!

Last night during my Stampers With ART Online Team Event I shared a couple ways to use water on sponged-ink backgrounds to lighten and create texture and layers. And I'm now sharing those ideas

One of my favorite techniques is emboss resist...heat emboss an image on light colored cardstock using a light embossing powder and then usi...

The card - background is sponged using a stencil, flowers are from Unity. A few chores that I should do this morning and then an afternoon of stitching at Inspirations. Sounds good to me! Enjoy you

Sharing crafty things I like to do...

This technique is so easy and it's such a wow that I couldn't help but do it again with some new stamps and new In Colors this month! In tru...

Vädret har ju inte lockat de senaste dagarna till vara ute så jag tränar att måla med vattenfärger i stället! :) Här är delar av resultatet! Textstämplar och gräset från Technique Tuesday!

This week our challenge is background stamps. I am busy in the studio working on my latest workshop, but I wanted to share some inspiration with you. 7 Ways to use Background Stamps Background stamps can be used in so many different ways it seems a shame to only use them for backgrounds. So I scoured the internet (aka Pinterest) and my own samples to find inspiration for this week's challenge. #1: Partial Stamping With a little masking you can use background stamps to create borders, corners and edges. Sample from Pinterest. #2: As a Resist This is one of my favorite ways to use use background stamps, especially on white paper. Simple stamp, emboss and color. Sample from Everyday Moodlings blog. #3: To Create Texture Stamp with Gesso to create interesting texture on your projects. You can also spread a thin layer of Gesso on your surface and stamp into it. Or use embossing powder to create a variety of different textures. Sample from Pinterest. #4: With Other Color Mediums Use Perfect Pearls or Pan Pastels with your backgrounds to create beautiful and unique effects. Simply stamp with VersaMark ink and color. You can also stamp with Gelatos, Twinkling H2Os, Paint and more. Don't limit your stamps by only using ink. Sample from my workshop: Color Inspiration: Perfect Pearls #5: To Decorate Embellishments and Die-Cuts Die-Cuts can look a little sad when plain. Try dressing them up with background stamps. Sample from my workshop: The Endless Possibilities of Stamps #6: Decorating Tissue Paper or Deli Paper Forget card stock and watercolor paper. Pull out the tissue paper or deli paper. Once stamped you can layer them onto other backgrounds to add depth and interest. #7: Cut Into Pieces/Parts Look at a background stamp as more than just the whole. Cut it into strips, squares, corners, circles and more. Sample from my workshop: The Endless Possibilities of Stamps Have fun playing with your background stamps and thanks for stopping by, Jeri'

Normally there would have been a Control Freaks tour today, but life got in the way for too many of us, so the hop was canceled. *Sniff* HOWEVER, I know there are some exciting things in the works, so be sure to check us out over the next few months! Since I had my project done, I figured I'd share it anyway. I hadn't had a chance to play with the Flowering Desert photopolymer stamp set, so I thought now would be a great time. Because the southwest got SO MUCH RAIN recently, it has produced what is called a super bloom, meaning the wild flowers and cacti are going absolutely bonkers with blooms! It really is spectacular; I witnessed it several times when I lived in SoCal. Absolutely jaw-droppingly gorgeous. Since today is the also first day of Spring (hooray!) this card is even more appropriate. I used sponge daubers to add ink to the Marbled background stamp to create the effect of a gorgeous desert sunrise or sunset. The saguaro cactus, prickly pear cactus, and agave were all stamped and fussy cut so the background would show through. The saguaro and agave were glued in place, but the prickly pear was popped up on dimensionals. You can't see it, but the blooms have some Clear Wink of Stella on them, too. Measurements Image panel: Whisper White 3-1/2" x 4-3/4" Mat: Basic Black 3-5/8" x 4-7/8" Second mat: Whisper White 3-7/8" x 5-1/8" Card base: Old Olive 5-1/2" x 8-1/2" scored & folded at 4-1/4" Colors Used Marbled background: Sahara Sand, Soft Suede, Daffodil Delight, Flirty Flamingo, Rich Razzleberry Saguaro: Mossy Meadow Prickly Pear: Pear Pizzazz with Flirty Flaming blossoms Agave: Tranquil Tide with Soft Suede bloom spikes Product List Flowering Desert Photopolymer Stamp Set Marbled Clear-Mount Stamp Set Whisper White 8-1/2" X 11" Card Stock Basic Black 8-1/2" X 11" Card Stock Old Olive 8-1/2" X 11" Card Stock Jet Black Stazon Ink Pad Rich Razzleberry Classic Stampin' Pad Flirty Flamingo Classic Stampin' Pad Daffodil Delight Classic Stampin' Pad Pear Pizzazz Classic Stampin' Pad Old Olive Classic Stampin' Pad Tranquil Tide Classic Stampin' Pad Sahara Sand Classic Stampin' Pad Soft Suede Classic Stampin' Pad Sponge Daubers Clear Wink Of Stella Glitter Brush Stampin' Dimensionals Liquid Multipurpose Glue Paper Snips Scissors

Of all the swap cards I've ever made, this one was probably the most difficult for me. Why, you ask? It's so simple, what can be so hard about it? Well, that was the problem. If you know me, you know I like my cards like I like my cake...with lots of layers. The more, the merrier! This Stampin' Addicts organized swap was for a single layer card. No matting images, no popping things up on dimensionals, no DSP, none of the usual shtuff. So that is why I had the hardest time with this one. It kept looking so nekkid, like it needed something more! Stamps: Serene Silhouettes, Fabulous Phrases Cardstock: Shimmery White Ink: Gumball Green (pad and marker), Raspberry Ripple (marker), Primrose Petals (marker), Bashful Blue (pad), Daffodil Delight (pad), Basic Black (pad and marker) Accessories: Big Shot, Delicate Designs embossing folder, Rhinestones Basic Jewels, Stampin' Sponges More display boards from Convention. Enjoy!

HI Everyone! Today...I've got the video tutorial that you've asked for! But first..I have to say... Wow! I was so surprised and felt so much love from hundreds and hundreds of people who visited my blog ....sent me private messages... shared comments on Facebook... and joined The IncrEDIBLE Shrinking Mom Facebook group yesterday! WOW... Gary and I are so appreciative of your kind words and the congratulations sent to us with regard to our weight loss journey and the upcoming launch of (The IncrEDIBLE) If you're on a weight loss journey of your own... would like to follow our incredible journey... or would like to incorporate healthy eating into your food life come join us HERE... at The IncrEDIBLE Shrinking Mom's Facebook page. You won't want to miss any of the monthly recipe collections that will be available soon. I wanted to say THANK YOU before getting back to card making talk! I shared a few water colored cards on Facebook last week... created with Blue Knight Rubber Stamps New Release stamp set called... WILD FLOWERS. This stamp is delightful to create cards with and looks particularly beautiful when water colored, I think. I'll show you the cards...again...and then will share the video below When I shared the cards here on my blog... and at numerous groups on Facebook... I received lots of questions about how I created the card... and lots of requests for a video tutorial. So..today..while working on some cards out in my studio... I thought...let me put together a quick impromptu video focusing on creating the inked background for the water colored card. So..today...I've got this PART 1 video. I'll do PART 2 later this week where I'll show you how I embossed and painted the image Today I'm sharing Part 1 Creating Water Colored Background with Distress Ink Here ya go! Enjoy! (Put on your seat belt... because I am a fasssst talkin' New York girl who was at her fastest speed racer talking best in this video...) If you're loving the WILD FLOWERS stamp as much as I do... You can find it HERE... at the BLUE KNIGHT RUBBER STAMPS web store. The brushes can be found by doing an AMAZON search for TOOTHBRUSH STYLE MAKE-UP BRUSHES Distress Ink and Distress Oxide Ink can be found at lots of crafting web sites and in most craft and stamp shops. SPECTRUM NOIR AQUA (Water Color paper) can be found HERE at the CRAFTER'S COMPANION web site The craft mat is called: THE BEST EVER CRAFT MAT BY KEN OLIVER You can see Ken's video about the mat HERE Please know that I am not an affiliate of these companies... I'm just happy to share some great product info with fellow card makers. (AKA...I am an "enabler") Thanks for visiting today.. Check back in during the week for the Part 2 tutorial that will show you how to emboss and water color the stamped image. Have a great day! Michelle.

Hello sweet friends! This month, in lieu of a release, the design team at Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps has chosen their favorite Sweet 'n Sassy Stamp Set to feature. Each day from October 5th through the 9th, different sets will be featured on the Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps Blog. Not only will you be able to see fabulous samples made with these all-time favorite sets, but you will be able to purchase them at 20% off the regular price for this week only as long as supplies last. Click HERE to see the DT Favorites Sale! Today is Day 2 of the Favorites Features and we will be showcasing my favorite, Landscape Silhouettes, as well as Nature Silhouettes 2. Here are my samples made with Landscape Silhouettes: Creative Nugget: Both scenes were created by masking and sponging the background with Memento Inks. The silhouette images were stamped using Versafine Onyx Black ink. Basic Grey papers were used to make the first card, and The Vintage Postcard set was used to create a background and sentiment for the second card. For more samples using Landscape Silhouettes and Nature Silhouettes 2, hop on over to the SNSS Blog. Don't forget to leave a comment on the blogs of the DT showing samples today for a chance to win a $10 store credit. To make it easy to view their blogs, I've included their links below. *** Kim *** Janette *** Cathy (That's me!) *** Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps is also beginning a new CASH Rewards Program beginning this month. For every $50 you spend, you will receive $5 in Sweet 'n Sassy Cash. See the details Here! Thanks so much for stopping by! Have a wonderful Sunday! Hugs, Cathymac

Hello! It's a cold, wet & rainy Monday here So I thought a picture tutorial would Brighten up the day:) Many of my Lovely readers have asked how I created this card from this post, using the Penny Black Promenade 25-001 STENCIL. Remembering the steps was a bit of a challenge for me because the initial Background was a practice piece from The OLCC Watercolor for Cardmakers back in May of this year. I don't throw card fronts away thinking they may be useful later. I picked up this front and added other stamping and sponging techniques to make up the finished card. Here are the steps: Sponge your color on a card front. Leave some white space:) Using the Penny Black Promenade 25-001 stencil and small applicator sponge the leaves, vines and blooms. Make sure the ink is heavily sponged! Ink up the BACK of the stencil...make sure it's the BACK--opposite side of what you just stenciled through. Spritz the stencil with water and place it on the card front just off to the side of your sponged blooms. ****Here is the hard part...Just let it sit and air dry!! The water will pool and move under the plastic stencil. Magic happens when it dries on its own. See the Magic? Splash gold color shine as you wish. Ink and stamp the Penny Black sentiment in black archival ink. Re-ink the sentiment in another distress ink color and stamp off to the left of previous sentiment. Yes, It looks blurry. Take a brush and clean water and gently brush over the sentiment to bring the shadow together with the black sentiment. Place a strip of washi tape on the fold of your card. Trim the front down and adhere to the card base. Add sequins and WALLLA!! Your card is finished! Here are the original and the second card side by side. Each lovely in their own way... yet similar in technique. Hope you enjoyed the tutorial and PLEASE ask if there is anything that is not clear. Give it a try...I'd LOVE to see what you come up with:) I'll be linking up to the SSS Wednesday Challenge : Use Watercolor. Thanks for stopping by! LauraJane:) You can also find me: Instagram @mammacooksalot YouTube: Mamma LauraJane.

I love filling special orders! I was asked for some thank you, sympathy, and friendship cards by a customer. So I got right to work today and cranked a bunch out! Nine cards for my customer, and one for me. I borrowed a tried and true layout for the thank you cards. I love making the background paper with the water misting technique I blogged about here: http://www.somethingaboutstamping.blogspot.com/2013/07/making-mess.html For me, sympathy cards are tricky. I try to keep them clean and simple. And I had some fun with the friendship cards! My customer doesn't like coming up with what to write on the inside of a card, so I stamped some simple friendship verses inside these, but forgot to take a picture of them! Don't forget that I'd love to work with YOU on a custom order! Leave a comment and we can work out the details. Happy stamping!

Thank you Susan from Simplicity who has a wonderful Gratitude Challenge going . . . actually sending cards to those people we would like to thank for their contribution, encouragment, or whatever to our lives. I've made my list, and here are my first 2 : Distress inks on quite glossy paper - quite a challenge as it doesn't get absorbed. Spritzed with perfect pearls - lovely shine to it. And the green background is stamped with HA friend definition, and the blue top part with HA Flower Dot pattern. And the second is : Flower is quite an old stamp from Clarity in the UK. Thank You definition from Hero Arts, and the tags from Stampin'Up.

The feeder bands from Hurricane Isaac have begun to pelt us so I thought I better get this posted in case we lose power. We've had a few st...

Although in today’s card the flowers from the Penny Black set Delicate Florals are the feature I had fun layering colours and images for the background strip. After masking the narrow vertica…