Tuesday, January 29, 2019

Technique: Watercolor and Salt

When I read this blog post by Julee Tilman, I couldn't believe I'd taught elementary school for so long without knowing what cool things a sprinkling of salt does to piece of wet watercolor.  Since then, it's been in the back of my mind to give it a try.  Today, I saw some cards by Betsey Veldman that reminded me to have a little fun and try it out.

I painted a panel in pretty aqua from my Prima Pastel Dreams palette and added a sprinkling of plain old table salt.  The speckled blue brought robins' eggs and spring time to mind, so I added a few daisy-like blooms cut from MFT's Stitched florals. 

Thanks for stopping by,
Christine

Linking to:

Word Art Wednesday
PIP Challenge

Wednesday, January 23, 2019

AHSC #300




Happy Wednesday!  Today is the day the the AHSC design team members share their interpretations of Michelle's sketches, and this one is a milestone:  #300!

 The Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenge is set up in such a fun way:  a new sketch is posted each Monday, and design team inspiration is show on Wednesday.  That way, participants can choose to play either before or after being influenced by the DT's interpretations of the sketch.  Such fun!  Hope you will visit the AHSC Blog and play along!

Thanks for visiting,
Christine

Linking to:
SSS Wednesday Challenge (Have a Heart)
Word Art Wednesday
PIP Challenge

Monday, January 21, 2019

"Wheelie Great"




One of my favorite crafty things is a layered sketch, and if there's something I am afraid of it's the whole idea of CAS cards.  So, it's quite surprising that subtle layers on this card create such a CAS look.  The scalloped layer is Flags and Frames, and the vertical layer is a MFT border die that I inked by cleaning off my brush after creating the cloudy sky. 

Thanks for stopping by,
Christine

Linking to:
Inky Paws Challenge
PIP Challenge
SSS Wednesday Challenge CAS

Cards for Little Hearts: Scootin' By To Say Hello



I am enjoying this chilly holiday listening to music and making cards.  This one features Newton Scoots By and will be sent to the Cards for Little Hearts Drive.  

The Cards for Little Hearts Drive is organized by the very sweet and talented Christina Hor.  Please take time to follow the link provided to read about how your handmade card could bless a child with congenital heart disease.  The collected cards are chosen by doctors and nurses for their young patients, and they take time to write a special greeting to each one.  What a way to spread love and to encourage healing!

Note:  Please read the guidelines first as Christina has really thought about safety and children's perceptions as the cards are received.  There are several drives if you can't make the deadline for this one.

Thanks so much for visiting,
Christine

Linking to:
Word Art Wednesday
PIP Challenge
SSS Wednesday Challenge (CAS)

Sunday, January 20, 2019

Cards for Little Hearts -- Hugs and Smiles



This card was made to send hugs and smiles to children hospitalized with congenital heart complications.   The Cards for Little Hearts Drive is organized by the very sweet and talented Christina Hor.  Please take time to follow the link provided to read about how your handmade card could bless a child with congenital heart disease.  The collected cards are chosen by doctors and nurses for their young patients, and they take time to write a special greeting to each one.  What a way to spread love and to encourage healing!

Note:  Please read the guidelines first as Christina has really thought about safety and children's perceptions as the cards are received.  There are several drives if you can't make the deadline for this one.

Thanks so much for visiting,
Christine

Linking to:
Word Art Wednesday
PIP Challenge
SSS Wednesday Challenge (CAS)

Saturday, January 19, 2019

So "fawned" of you


Love the darling little "Deer Friend"set from Newton's Nook!
Such fun to watercolor them with Arteza Real Brush markers and to layer according to the current sketch!
Thanks for taking a look,
Christine

Linking to:
Inky Paws
PIP Challenge
Word Art Wednesday

Thursday, January 17, 2019

Cards for Little Hearts--Hello!




This card uses MFT's Adorable Elephants and the current MFT Sketch, but much more importantly, it is designated for the so very sweet Christina Hor's Cards for Little Hearts Drive.  Please take time to follow the link provided to read about how your handmade card could bless a child with congenital heart disease.  The collected cards are chosen by doctors and nurses for their young patients, and they take time to write a special greeting to each one.  What a way to spread love and to encourage healing!

Note:  Please read the guidelines first as Christina has really thought about safety and children's perceptions as the cards are received.  There are several drives if you can't make the deadline for this one.

Thanks so much for visiting and please say a prayer for the little ones hospitalized with congenital heart complications,
Christine

Linking to:
MFT Sketch Challenge
Word Art Wednesday
PIP Challenge
SSS Wednesday Challenge (CAS)

Tuesday, January 15, 2019

Seize the Cupcake



 I wasn't feeling the low-carb pain until I fussy cut this yummy little cupcake....now, I want a cupcake!  Instead, I'll share this little card with a friend who has a birthday coming up.

The fun layers were suggested by the wonderful Mojo Monday sketch which even includes measurements, and the color scheme is courtesy of MFT's color challenge.  The patterned papers are a sampling of several different stacks, and the pierced scallops were created using Altenew's Dotted Scales Debossing Cover Plate. The stamps are part of Verve's Cake and Candles collection (retired).

Thanks for stopping by,
Christine

Linking to:
Mojo Monday
MFT Color Challenge
PIP Challenge
Word Art Wednesday


Wednesday, January 9, 2019

Thanks Sow Much---MFT Sketch


I used Hog Heaven with last week's MFT sketch...back again with the cute little piggy, punny sentiment, and a new sketch.  Such fun!

Thanks "sow much" for visiting,
Christine

Linking to:
MFT Sketch Challenge
Word Art Wednesday

Monday, January 7, 2019

Thank You Sow Much

 

"Mom, do you think you could make a thank-you card with a barbecue theme?

My son is preparing to return to college for his last semester before graduating, and I guess he is feeling a little nostalgic about campus life coming to an end.  He has a list of experiences to have one more time before commencement and a list of people he wants to thank.  Among them are the folks at a barbecue restaurant the students enjoy.

I answered his challenge with MFT's Hog Heaven stamp set and decided to play along with their challenge.  I had to run my brand-new-just-out-of the-mailbox Altenew Dotted Scales cover plate through the Big Shot.  It is even more wonderful than the after-dark photo shows!

It was lots of fun to make this card!  Thanks so much for taking a look,
Christine

Linking to:
SSS Wednesday Challenge (Something New ---Altenew Dotted Scales)

Sunday, January 6, 2019

The Caramel Apple of My Eye

Lawn Fawn's Caramel Apple set is another Christmas gift.  It was stamped in black Archival ink and colored with Arteza Real Brush Markers.  I normally use watercolor paper and a water brush with my Artezas, but this time, I stamped on a smooth blending card stock.  The color seemed to pool on the surface, so I will probably go back to watercolor paper.

Thanks for stopping by,
Christine

Linking to:
SSS Wednesday Challenge (Something New)
Word Art Wednesday


Happy "Purr"thday


I watercolored  Newton's Birthday Balloons using red, arctic blue, and black ash Arteza Real Brush markers and layered him over PTI's Scroll Frame Die.

Thanks for visiting,
Christine

Linking to:
Inky Paws Challenge
Word Art Wednesday

Saturday, January 5, 2019

Inlaid Squares


One of my Christmas gifts was some cash to spend at a wonderful paper crafting store.  If found the Neat and Tangled Inlaid Squares cover plate die to be intriguing, but truthfully, I wasn't quite sure what the cut would look like.  I love it!  It cuts like a dream, which is important since all the little pieces are needed to put it back together.  There are some very creative samples shown in the Neat and Tangled store. 

The Happy Hydrangea is a Technique Tuesday image which I heat embossed and colored with Arteza Real Brush markers.

Thanks for stopping by,
Christine

Linking to:
SSS Wednesday Challenge (Something New)
Word Art Wednesday

Wednesday, January 2, 2019

Something New from Newton's Nook


This adorable stamp set was a prize from the 25 tags of Christmas, and it arrived in my mailbox while we were traveling.  So glad to have a little time to break it in.  The images work up nicely with Arteza real brush markers on water color paper.

Thanks so much for taking a look,
Christine

Linking to:
Inky Paws Challenge
SSS Wednesday Challenge--Something New
Word Art Wednesday

Tuesday, January 1, 2019

So fawned of you

 


Newton's Deer Friend arrived in my mailbox while we were traveling for Christmas.  I was fortunate to have won a prize during the 25 Tags of Christmas event and chose Deer Friend when shopping with the gift code.  I couldn't wait to ink it up and may have stretched the parameters of the Inky Paws Color Challenge just a bit .....

Thanks so much for visiting,
Christine

Linking to:
Inky Paws Challenge
Word Art Wednesday
SSS Wednesday Challenge


Floral Thanks



I spent a little time yesterday watching crafting videos and came across this beautiful card which inspired this thank you note. The stamps are Papertrey Ink Floral Sketches and the inked area was  done with Peacock Feathers Distress Oxide.

Thanks for visiting,
Christine

Linking to:
Word Art Wednesday
SSS Wednesday Challenge

Mojo Monday 506: Thanks


Happy 2019, crafty friends!  Card-making is a great way to start a new year, and I need a few thank-you cards.  The central panel is a new Confetti Cut:  the Grid-Stitched Tag and the watercolored flowers were in my "extras" bowl.  They are from Reverse Confetti as well:  Banner in Bloom and Build a Bunch.  I stacked the thanks word die three times and layered everything over a lacy scalloped Verve die (retired).

Thanks for taking a peek,
Christine

Linking to:
Mojo Monday 506
Word Art Wednesday
SSS Wednesday Challenge