Sweet Birthday Wishes

I don't seem to make enough birthday themed cards so it was great to have the CAS on Friday challenge to help me with that for this card I'm sharing. 

 I started off cutting the scallop circle from a set of dies from My Favorite Things, one of my newest purchases from Simon Says Stamp.  It gave a great piece for grounding my other elements.  I wanted a playful yellow background but I didn't like plain yellow cardstock so I used a piece of watercolor paper, I embossed the circles into it and then added color with Distress Spray.  This ended up giving it a little bit of texture.  

 The little tiger is a stamp from a set by Reverse Confetti, another new purchase from Simon Says Stamp.  I colored this cutie with Zig Clean Color markers on watercolor paper.  I used a stencil to add purple dots to the circle and then accented them with Nuvo Crystal drops.  

 Here is the Paper Players sketch challenge.

 Here is the CAS(e) this sketch challenge which is so similar to the Paper Players.  

Here is the CAS on Friday challenge.

And here is the Simon Says Stamp Wednesday challenge.

Thanks for visiting, Linda (lbpost)

The Colorthrowdown Challenge #528

Recently I was the featured stamper and that means I get to be the guest designer for this weeks color combination.  

 One of my favorite challenges are color related and wow did I love this weeks challenge combo and how much do I love that owl!  I started out creating a messy background with Distress Inks and a leaf stencil on watercolor paper.  Once I had that the way I wanted it, I stamped the leaf spring and colored it with Zig Clean Color markers.  The leaf sprig is a stamp from Simon Says Stamp from the Beautiful Day set with a matching die.  

 The "thank you" word die is from My Favorite Things.  I colored it with Distress Ink too so I could get the exact color I wanted.  The small sentiment is from Reverse Confetti.  

 Here is the adorable Color Throwdown Color challenge combo. Take a few crafting minutes so you can play along.  

Thanks for visiting, Linda (lbpost)

You Are Awesome

For the card I want to share, I went to two online challenges for my inspiration.

 I used the CAS(e) this Sketch challenge for the layout of my card.  I decided to make my coloring gradient, my version of the sketch.  I tried something a little different to start my card.  I used a Simon Says Stamp stencil and translucent embossing paste, covering the entire front of my card made from watercolor paper.  When that was dry, I started adding inks with Distress Inks, starting with the lightest color on top.  The embossing paste resisted the inks and I love the resulting look. 

 Here is get the idea of the shiny design of the embossing paste.  Since the paper is watercolor paper I love the way the inks run together.  The sentiment running up and down the card fits with the sketch and the heart makes it fit the Simon Says Stamp Wednesday challenge.  

 Here is the CAS(e) this Sketch challenge.

Here is the Simon Says Stamp Wednesday challenge.

Thanks for visiting, Linda (lbpost)

Butterflies

I knew I had to play along as soon as I saw the Sketch Saturday sketch for this week. 

 

 After I die cut the two little tag accents, I pulled out a butterfly set of stamps from Simon Says Stamp.  

 The butterfly was colored with Zig Clean Color markers on watercolor paper.  I accented portions of the butterfly with Nuvo Crystal Drops.  The copper glitter tag is a die cut from My Favorite Things and the other chevron tag is from Reverse Confetti.  

 I added a subtle accent with a light green ink and a Tim Holtz dot stencil.  

Here is the Sketch Saturday challenge.

Thanks for visiting, Linda (lbpost)

Best Wishes

I love a simple color combo and that was what the ColorThrowdown challenge was this week. 

 I actually started out with the great, simple sketch from CAS(e) this Sketch and finished my card with the ColorThrowDown colors.  The flower sprig stamp is by Magenta and since it almost fits the front of my card, I thought it helped my use the sketch.   

 After I stamped this stamp with white ink and white embossing powder, I added color with Zig Clean Color Markers.  These markers work so perfectly on watercolor paper and a waterbrush.  The sentiment is from Reverse Confetti. I added a clear glaze to the main flower with Nuvo Crystal Drops.  

 Here is the Color Throwdown challenge.

 Here is the CAS(e) this Sketch.

And the Simon Says Stamp challenge this week of Clear & Simple.

Thanks for visiting, Linda (lbpost)

Big Hugs

Starting a card by playing with Distress Stains is my favorite. 

 This card base started out with some red and pink Distress Stain then I used a leave design stencil to add some of that leave design with Distress Stain and then with white embossing paste.  Using the stencil helps it fit the Simon Says Flickr challenge.  This provided the ground work for the elements I then added.  

 The wreath was stamped and then cut out with a matching die.  The words "big hugs" and the "thanks" were then cut out from black cardstock.  All of these dies are from Simon Says Stamp.  

Here is the Card Concept challenge.
Thanks for visiting, Linda (lbpost)

Browns and Blacks

I love online challenge blogs because I can find myself going in a direction in crafting that I hadn't planned on, out of my box so to say.

 The Color Throwdown Challenge for this week was a simple black, brown, white.  I thought that would be easy until I started working on it.  This might be my third attempt!!! I stamped a Simon Says Stamp background stamp in white on watercolor paper, embossed it with white embossing powder and then just blotted a brown Distress Stain all over that, letting the ink sit in puddles as it dried.  I love this "resist" technique especially with the white lines.  

 The large "thank you" die is by Altenew and the leaves are from Paper Smooches.  I covered the leaves with Nuvo Crystal Glaze. I love how easy it is to spread this liquid and how evenly it dries with a great crystal shine.  The black dots are Nuvo Crystal Drops.  I purchased both from Simon Says Stamp and they might be my new obsession.  

 Here is the Color Throwdown challenge.

And the Just Us Girls challenge.
Thanks for visiting, Linda (lbpost0
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The Little Things

I have such a huge love of Distress Stains or Distress Inks and Altenew stamps and dies, these were my go to for the card I want to share plus I used the January Altenew challenge for my inspiration.  

 The background is the simplest, I used watercolor paper and Distress Stains blotted onto a thin strip of acrylic, one color at a time.  The wet ink on the acrylic was spritzed with water to make it a bit diluted, then pressed onto the paper, one color at a time.  I love the "messy" results of these inks and watercolor paper.  

 This flower die set is a new tool for me.  It is unique in that it doesn't require any stamping, just cutting.  I cut each piece from white watercolor paper and then added Distress Stains to each individual piece.  Spritzing the papers and the inks with water helps them run and mingle.  I love that the flower is layers and you actually can get a little creative, not adding them together as they were intended.  

Here is the Altenew Inspiration Challenge piece.

Thanks for visiting, Linda