Saturday, February 23, 2008

Soggy and Wet

It's been a while, yes. We had a leak in our basement, a big one. I had to pack up my craft table and my husband his office so that we could pull back the carpet and under pad to let it all dry out. Let's just say that it put a damper on my card making.


I made this card last summer. I believe I cased the layout from the SU catalogue, but I can't remember for sure, and of course my catalogues are packed away too. I will have to hunt through my cards and dig out some oldies to post while my craft table is out of service.

Monday, February 11, 2008

Sole Mates

Too punny, maybe, but I couldn't help myself. This is my submission for the Sketch #4 challenge on My Paper World

I cheated on this card, however. For the life of me I was not able to reverse the image as per the instructions on Splitcoaststampers using acetate. So, I scanned a stamped image (without the bubbles), flipped it over in Photoshop and printed it onto cardstock, then stamped the next fish with the bubbles so that they would be facing one another.

I added the wave cut out last minute this morning, because I thought the card was looking a little too bland. The DP is left over scraps from a previous scrapbook project.

Saturday, February 9, 2008

So Nice

Look what I got in the mail yesterday from JenMarie. Check out her site, you have until Feb 14, to win her blog candy give-away.


She was one of my blog candy winners and she sent me such a nice thank you card. Thanks JenMarie, I'm was so touched that I had to share your card with everyone. I hope you don't mind. Have a great time with your new prisma colour pencils.

Friday, February 8, 2008

"Sketch This Card 41" Challenge

I found a great new website today Sketch This: Cards! Their sketch challenge # 41 is very similar to my submission on my last post. To be fair, I created a new card just for their challenge and decided to go very different colour wise.


It's amazing how colours can have a very different feeling about them. My last post was bright & cheerful. Although this card is happy, it's much more subdued.

Thursday, February 7, 2008

Watercolour Flowers

I've been seeing a lot of watercoloured stamped images lately and wanted to give it a try myself. I didn't think that I had a solid block stamp however, but remembered this flower from the retired SU - Mixed Bouqet set I purchased used off of eBay ages ago.

I have read tutorials on two different methods of creating this affect. One is to spray the stamp once you have coloured it with watercolour markers then apply to watercolour paper. The other is to spray the paper and then apply the stamp that's gone over with watercolour markers. I tried both methods to see the affect. I found that there is more flowering or mushrooming of the paint if you spray the paper. So spraying the stamp was the affect I went with for this project. I could see how the other method would work very well for a very wispy look though.





I cut out the images leaving a border of white exposed and then used them to embellish the layout sketch challenge (Sketch #3) on My Paper World . I did use some artistic license with the sketch and moved the placement of the sentiment. The sentiment is from SU - Polka Dots and Paisley.

I have such a limited range of Tombow markers (I am just starting out) so I was curious if this affect could be accomplished with another medium. Here are my results: The first is done with my daughters Crayola Washable markers. It worked, however the colours did not blend fantastically. The yellow in the yellow and blue image is actually a Tombow marker, I could not find my daughters yellow crayola.


The next medium I tried was SU - Stampin Spots. I dabbed or patted the ink pad right onto the stamp, then spritzed with water. This worked just as well as the Tombows. The only suggestion I would have is don't get the stamp too wet or the ink will splatter. I didn't seem to have that problem with the Tombows.

I used Really Rust & Summer Sun, as well as Summer Sun and Not Quite Navy all from SU - Earth Elements. I love the rust flower, it looks great close up.

Sunday, February 3, 2008

Wild Thing

This is my entry for the challenge on i {heart} 2 stamp and Verve Visual. I thought that the Verve stamp Wild Thing sentiment would be perfect for this image. This was a really fun challenge, I'm glad I attempted it.


The paper is Rhonna Farrer "Flourish and Fun, from my Christmas grab that I actually never ended up using. I love the swirls, it was almost a shame to cover them up with anything.

I painted the elephant with watercolour paints and the hearts with Tombow markers. The main heart has red Stickles. Both centre squares are raised with sticky foam dots.

The centre ribbon and the 2 tear drop style ribbons on the upper left are the same ribbon, the centre is just revealing the reverse side.