Horsing Around in Nature - Inspiration Station Challenge

With a big smile, waving "Hello" to everyone! I hope you are doing well. 

It's time for a new challenge at:

Inspiration Station

This wonderful OLD Horse Image was stomping the shelves, begging to be used. It's at least 20 years old and never before used! This Magenta wood mount stamp is 4.25" by 5.5" so I placed it rubber side up, inked it thoroughly, and applied the card stock gently on top, rubbing it thoroughly with my fingers to create a complete image. Magenta's wood blocks are unusually thick, and I've found this is the best way to achieve a great inking the first time around.

The current inspiration board is:

I immediately accepted Mother Nature's invitation to ESCAPE into herself, and all that she has to offer. The path to embracing Nature (and all Creation) is to love all  her creatures and wilderness offerings. 

What does the photo inspire YOU to do?

After stamping with rich Acorn VFC ink, these horses were heat embossed with clear detail EP. Assorted DI inks (listed below) colored the image, with a few highlights done in watercolor pencils.

The edges were "distressed" with Versafine ink and heat set with a pretty, semi-transparent sage-mica powder. Up close, the edges are quite iridescent. 

Today's cameras are great, in that they capture the smallest of details, but they are also unforgiving because they can see colors, shades and intensities that our human eyes don't see in real life.

Copper Mirror CS was used in the frame with a strip of green vellum behind.

Thanks for popping by today!

Products: Stamps: Magenta 13116S horses, Hero Arts CL342 Just a Note, Papers: Pine, Green Vellum, Copper Mirror, River Rock, White, Inks: Distress in Old Paper, Rustic Wilderness, Crushed Olive, Stormy sky; Sentiment in Pinecone Brown VFC, Edges in Versamark for Sage Mica EP; image in Acorn Brown VersaFine Clair for detail clear EP; Derwent Inktense watercolor pencils; Memento Desert Sand Ink, Dies: SB Grand Labels Twenty-Three, IO Small Grass 178C

Challenges I would like to play in please!

1. 2 Crafty Critter Crazies #54 AG with Animals 09/25 (sep post)

2. NBUS #30 Anything never before used 10/1 (RW)

3. World Wide Open DT Challenge #8 AG DT 09/15 (sep post)

4. Pammie's Inky Pinkies #2135 AG 09/13 (sep post)

5. Simon Says Stamp It (9/6) Must ink stamp 9/13 (sep post)

 

Stamping hugs,

I'm Resisting - Back to Basics and Beyond

Hello, blogging friends!
Wishing you all the happiest of seasonal preparations throughout the month!

It's time for a brand new Back to Basics and Beyond Challenge!

For the next two weeks, join us by uploading an "Anything-Goes" project as long as you use any resist technique on it. The team has all kinds of inspiration and a variety of styles to view, so take a look! Hope to see yours there.

My card is a magical night time dance of snowflakes using two rubber stamp sets from Sparkle N Sprinkle:

Hanging head in shame... because my planning was not satisfactory for this card. The watercolor paper should have been trimmed before stamping the images. The snowflakes were stamped with VersaMark and heat set with White Detail EP. The paper was then spritzed with water and Color Burst watercolor powders" were puffed" onto the wet paper. Both colors were very intense and made a magical night time party of snowflakes.

The edges of the watercolor paper are distressed with VersaFine Clair inks in Purple Delight and Warm Breeze Turquoise, then heat embossed with sparkling Sangria Star EP and Cerulean Star EP.

Embossed the Happy Holidays sentiment on vellum with Sangria EP (no glitter compared to Sangria Star EP)

Products Used:

Products:

• Images: SNS Rubber Stamp Sets ($9.99 each) Dancing Penguin, Crystal Snowflakes, Happy Holidays sentiment
• Embossing Powder (for resist) White Detail EP298, Sangria Star EP and Cerulean Star EP, sentiment in Sangria EP
• Coloring Medium: Color Burst in Pthalo Green and Violet
• Paper: Watercolor, Vellum, Razzelberry, White
• Inks: VersaMark, VersaFine Clair inks in Purple Delight and Warm Breeze Turquoise

Challenges I'd like to support:

1. City Craft Challenge #442 "Snowflakes" 12/18

Happiness Hugs,

Poinsettia Easel - Back to Basics and Beyond

I'm so happy you are here, and that you have time to share in my little creation.
It's time for a brand new Back to Basics and Beyond Challenge!

For the next two weeks, join us by uploading an "Anything-Goes" project as long as an easel "fold" technique is used. The team has all kinds of inspiration and a variety of styles to view, so take a look! Hope to see yours there.

My card features a Stampendous 6x6 stamp which has been cut down:

I started with this gorgeous Stampendous Poinsettia Collage stamp on textured watercolor paper and VersaFine Clair Tulip Red. What dreamy details this fabulous ink picks up! I have all the colors and am delighted my favorite store now carries them - (get an extra 10% off using my discount code)

Because of the heavily textured paper, I stamped the image 3 times to capture all the details:

Apple Red Detail EP276 was used on the top half of the image, and Clear Detail EP was used on the bottom half:

I stamped two more partial images for layering purposes and heat set with Firecracker Detail EP291 because it contains glitter:



Here is the main image embossed and watercolored:



A 6x6 red panel was cut, and 1/2" Double-sided Tear-ific Tape was applied to each side. Tomato Red Glitter Tinsel was burnished into each side:



Gypsy Red Microfine Glitter was burnished into the tinsel to cover up all the tiny crevices:



The sentiment from Happy Holidays 897 was stamped with VersaMark Ink and heat set with White Detail EP298,



A close up of the image:

An old Martha Stewart Trim punch was used for the easel stop. There are 8 layers adhered together.


Dynamites Holly Branch die was decked out with Gecko Green Microfine Glitter and Fire Engine Red Ultrafine Glitter:



I promise the dimensional flower is glittery and not so dark around the edges in real life.

Hoping to see your pretty easel cards in our challenge this time!

On a sad note, this is my final official SNS design team card, but I'm grateful to still be using their products!

Products Used:

• Stamps: Stampendous Poinsettia Collage, SNS Happy Holidays 897 (also available digitally)
• Embossing Powders: Firecracker Detail EP291, Apple Red Detail EP276, Clear Detail EP, White Detail EP298,
• Inks: VersaFine Clair Tulip Red, Fired Brick Distress, VersaMark Ink
• Adhesives: Nuvo Deluxe Glue, Brushable Glue, 1/2" Double-sided Tear-ific Tape,
• Glitters: Tomato Red Glitter Tinsel, Gypsy Red Microfine Glitter, Gecko Green Microfine Glitter, Fire Engine Red Ultrafine Glitter, 
• Other: MS Double Arch Deep Edge Punch, MS Double Arch Corner Punch, MS Double Edge Trim Punch, Zig Watercolor Markers, Dynamites Holly Branch die
• Paper: Watercolor, Poppy Red

Challenges I'd like to play in please:

1. Allsorts Challenges #493 Poppies or RED 11/16 sep post
2. Christmas at Sweet Stampin' (Nov 14) 12/3 (sep post)
3. The Holly and Ivy Christmas Challenge #40 Anything Christmas Goes 11/17 (sep post) C15
4. Try Stampin' Or Not on Tuesday Nov Technique Challenge - Glitter - (I have 2 types microfine glitter, glitter tinsel, and 1 ultrafine glitter) 11/25 (sep post - they have multiple challenges each month)
5. Dream Valley #190 Use Dies AND punches (3 Martha Stewart punches and one Dynamites die) 2nd entry, C10, 11/16 sep post
6. Make My Monday Challenge #84 Winter Foliage 11/25
7. Pammie's Inky Pinkies #1845 AG 11/19

Stamping Hugs,

Aged To Perfection - A Masculine Card

A note to my panhandle friends - please stay safe from Hurricane Michael. I hope you do not suffer loss or too much discomfort.
Hurricane Michael passed to our west today - monster storm that even effected our weather - keeping the temperatures lower, but the humidity higher than usual, making the "feel like" temperatures pretty icky. We only suffered gusty winds and a tad of rain, thank goodness.

Hoping everyone else is doing well - and that you are enjoying a happy crafting week!

It's time to share a Project for the new Moving Along With The Times Challenge!

Challenge #82's theme is MASCULINE - for the next 2 weeks just make sure your project is suitable for a man and upload it!

Like many guys, my husband loves old trucks, old cars, old tractors - it's that guyish nostalgic thing. His birthday is next week, so he's getting a monochromatic old truck card from the I Love Old Trucks set.

The image and sentiment were heat embossed with Timber Opaque EP. It's a dark embossing powder that shows its highlights when the light hits it.

While Timber Opaque EP is a dark brown, it shows up beautifully against the darker colors (like tires) in the image:

After "watercoloring" the image with distress inks, Tombow markers and Prismacolor pencils, a VersaMarker Pen was used on the windows and headlights, and then dredged with a light coating of Clear Detail EP. This heightened the bluish-grey tone of the glass, but allowed the textured blending paper to still shown through, kind of like "old glass".

Here is the finished card (with a sappy note on the inside of course) giggle.

On a Personal Note:

Could the sun have been any more spectacular yesterday morning?
It's like Mother Nature is saying, "Have a Rainbow Kind of Day".

After pausing a few moments to look out over the pastures and talking to my ever-present feline companion, I turned to go indoors. The heat (93F-33C) and humidity (90%+) are still heavy, and well... I'm a wimp! But then, two tiny hummingbird moths greeted me, as well! My bright pink nightie likely attracted them and they continually tried to "taste me". Soon they were busy pollinating the "dregs" of this summer's coleus, pentas and periwinkle flowers. They were quite diligent and only a foot or two away! I was able to capture one quick shot (see the arrow?) click for a larger photo:



Here's a better photo from the internet. Aren't those wings incredible?
Sigh - I love mornings!

thanks for stopping by today!

Some SNS Products used on this project:

Products Used:

• Images: I Love Old Trucks 890 (also available digitally with fabulously colored trucks!)
• Embossing Powders: Timber Opaque EP469 (for the truck and sentiment), Clear Detail EP280 (for the windows and headlights)
• Inks: VersaMarker Pen, VersaFire Clair Acorn, Antique Linen Distress, Black Soot Distress
• Other Coloring Mediums: Prismacolor Pencils, Tombow Markers
• Dies and Punches: SB Majestic Labels 25, MS "Cherish" Edge punch, SW Double Pierced Rectangles, IO Grass
• Paper: Ivory Blender CS, True Thyme, Black

Challenges I'd like to play in please:

1. Scrapy Land Challenges #99 AG w/dies fr SL 10/17 (SB Majestic Labels 25, MS "Cherish" Edge punch, SW Double Pierced Rectangles, IO Grass)
2. Pammie's Pinky Pinkies #1840 AG 10/15
3. Papercraft Challenges - must stamp - #22 Diecuts and Punches (my Spellbinders die cut frame is also edged with a Martha Stewart border punch. I also used a Sue Wilson die cut and an Impression Obsession die grass). 10/23  C5
4. Always Happy Birthday Challenge (Oct 1) Happy Birthday - to my Husband - 11/1

stamping hugs,

Fairy Hugs and Sprinkles of Watercolor

Hello, Blogging Friends! Hoping this finds you doing well. Please know that if you are experiencing hardship of any kind, I am thinking fondly of you, sending love and prayers toward your dear home.

and now...

It's time for a brand new Back to Basics and Beyond Challenge!

For the next two weeks, join us by uploading an "Anything-Goes" project as long as a watercolor technique is used. The team has all kinds of inspiration and a variety of styles to view, so take a look! Hope to see yours there.

I am so enjoying this team - the themes help me play with lots of products in my stash and motivate me out of the usual styles I gravitate toward.

To see close ups, just click on any of the photos please.

I have used three types of watercolor techniques in this project.

1. I started with watercolor paper and sprayed it with water, lightly saturating the paper. Then I softly "seasoned" the moist paper with Atlantis Burst Watercolor Shimmer Powder. Wish you could see this in person. If you enjoy playing with mediums, this is a must have for your stash! It's truly shimmery! After applying the powder, I spritzed a bit more, moving some of the color with my heat tool, and allowing the rest to dry on its own. 
2. Then I inked up Stampendous 6x6 Blossom Scroll rubber stamp with Versafine Clair Pinecone ink and dredged with Gold Tinsel opaque embossing powder. I love the glittery sparkle! While you cannot see the defined outline of the stamp itself, I knew it would make a lovely mosaic of "uneven", sparkly color in the background:

Watercoloring the image:

1. The darling fairies were stamped with VersaMark and heat set NOT with white embossing powder, but with Sparkle Semi Transparent embossing powder. Instead of being a plain white medium, the outline now has sparkle to it! 
2. The watercolor resist technique was employed using Peacock Feathers and Mermaid Lagoon Distress inks applied as watercolor. 
3. With Tombow Markers I scribbled a little pink and flesh colors onto an acrylic block and applied to the fairies with a water brush.  
4. They were then die cut. I also used the silhouette as a halo on the left side (but isn't the silhouette adorable all on its own?):

This close-up shows the difference the Sparkle Semi Transparent embossing powder makes (check out the Starfire semi transparent ultrafine glitter on their little wings and skirt ruffle). 

And that Gold Tinsel opaque EP is amazing! 


Wish you could see it in real life. 


The Turquoise vellum was torn down one side and distressed with VersaMark ink before being heat set with the Gold Tinsel EP.

The brads were heat set with Melon Twist Semi Transparent. While still hot, I dipped the brads into more Starfire glitter. The glitter melted into the hot EP.

Even the sentiment is sparkly. It was stamped with Warm Breeze VersaFine Clair, dredged with Mediterranean Star opaque EP, and heat set. The Tuscany Star line's formulation is great for fine detail images, distressing, or bold image coverage. They are my favorite EPs in my stash:

I had fun using the vellum and punchinella in overlapping layers (is that a redundant statement?) giggle.

Finished card is 6x6 at flat for mailing:

thanks for stopping by today!

Some SNS Products used on this project:

Products Used:

• Sentiment: Happy Flowers 840 rubber stamp set (also available digitally with matching digital papers)
• Background Stamp: Stampendous 6x6 Blossom Scroll 
• Tonic Fairy Reflections May & Fay single stamp and the cutest 2-part silhouette die set
• See all the Tonic Fairy Reflection characters here
• Glitter: Starfire semi transparent ultrafine glitter
• Embossing Powders: Melon Twist Semi Transparent (brads), Gold Tinsel opaque, Sparkle Semi Transparent (fairies watercolor resist), Mediterranean Star opaque (sentiment)
• Watercolors: Atlantis Burst Watercolor Shimmer Powder, Color Burst Watercolor Powder, Peacock Feathers and Mermaid Lagoon Distress inks applied as watercolor on the fairy image
• Cardstock: Punchinella strip, Turquoise vellum, Aqua Coordinations, Watercolor, Neenah Solar White
• Other Dies: Cheery Lynn Fanciful Flourish

Challenges I'd like to play in pretty please:

1. Scrapy Land Challenge #98 "AG Dies SL Sells" (Tonic, Cheery Lynn)
2. Always Fun Challenges #78 "Dies and Punches" 10/8
3. Pammie's Inky Pinkies #1839 AG 10/8
4. International Art and Soul #43 NOT CAS, layer it up! 10/15 (sep post)
5. Do-A1(1) Kreatives #22 Design Your Own Background (used paints, inks, shimmer paints, embossing tinsel) 11/1

stamping hugs,