Teal Butterfly

With a color challenge of "teal" by CASology and another challenge to use butterflies, I had to play along. 

 I did want to keep it slightly on the simple side so I created a soft background with some Distress Stains on watercolor paper. That sweet little sentiment is a stamp from Alternew.

 This gives a closer glimpse of the background and my soft vellum heart stamped with a fun Hero Arts stamp.  The little butterfly is from a stamp set by The Greeting Farm. 

 This side view shows a little bit of the layers, I love using foam tape for dimension.  

 Here is the CASology Butterfly challenge.

And the Addicted to CAS Teal challenge.
Thanks for visiting, Linda (lbpost)

Golden "love"

I found a few online challenges that I simply needed to play along with.

 The color combination came from the photo inspiration with Time Out Challenge.  I wanted black and white stripes so I created my own with a black watercolor pen and a Copic black pen.  Once I drew my lines with a ruler, I used a waterbrush to make the watercolor black ink run.  In the photo this ended up looking like it has a lavender cast but it is actually more black and white in real life making it go along with the photo.  The layout of the card went along with the Freshly Made sketch.

 I made sure my card was really on the simple side by adding black and gold glitter.  

 Here is the Time Out Challenge Photo. 

 Here is the Freshly Made sketch I used. 

This also fits the CASology challenge.

 This CAS on Friday challenge is to use markers or pens. 

And the Simon Says Wednesday challenge is Anything Goes.
Thanks for visiting, Linda (lbpost)

Big Hugs cuteness

The new year began with the desire to create more so I found a few online challenges to help get a creative spark.  I have lots of supplies but it's pretty interesting how I find direction when I find a few online challenges I want to try.  

 I started with a few brand new supplies I had on my desk that I hadn't even used yet.  How about that really neat background die from Lil' Inker.  It has enough interest and texture to be able to just leave the watercolor paper white.  The circle die and the banner are from another set of dies from Lil' Inker.  

 In order to use the colors in the Color Throwdown Challenge, I added the color pink to the circle die with a spray from Heidi Swapp.  The "big hugs" word die is from Simon Says Stamp and I colored them purple with Distress Stain.  I wanted to still keep my design on the simple and clean side so I just added the cutest little girl doggie stamp and matching die from Reverse Confetti.  

 I used inspiration from two different sketch challenges, the first one CAS(E) this Sketch.

 The second sketch challenge, CAS Colours & Sketches.

 My color choices came with the Color Throwdown Challenge. 

Plus my sentiment choice came from the CASology HUG challenge.

Thanks for visiting, Linda (lbpost)

A smear of color with Watercolor

It's no secret, my favorite inks to reach for are anything and everything Distress from Ranger.

 This might be one of the most simple ways to use the mini Distress Stamp pads to create a background.  I added a few different colors of the inks to an acrylic block, gave that a spritz of color and ran the block downward on a piece of watercolor paper.  The inks slightly run, creating a place to add other stamps and elements.     

 I then just stamped a leaf sprig on this pre-prepared background and added soft colors to that.  I used used a little bit of water and a little bit of added color with Copic markers. The leaf sprig is a stamp from Altenew and the sentiment is from a set of stamps by Simon Says Stamp.

 The layout for the card goes along with the Freshly Made sketch.

 Casology's challenge for this week is watercolor.

Plus this fits the Addicted to Stamps and More Photo Inspiration challenge.
This also fits the Simon Says Stamp flickr challenge of Emboss it.
Thanks for visiting, Linda (lbpost)

It's all about RED

Plus it's the time of year for all things LOVE and the color RED.

 So that's the theme of my card for this post plus that makes the card fit the CAS-ology challenge and the Addicted to CAS challenge.  It all starts with a "messy" background using the newest Distress Stain color, Candied Apple.  I love how something this simple sets the stage for about any kind of other elements.  

 The wreath and the word "love" are die cuts from Simon Says Stamp.  I used a gold metallic paper for the word "love".  The wreath is finished with Liquid Pearls. 

 Here is the Addicted to CAS challenge.

 Plus the CAS-ology challenge.

And the Simon Says Stamp Wednesday challenge of Anything Goes.
Thanks for visiting, Linda (lbpost)

Sweet bouquet

I recently picked up some new stamps from Stamps by Judith and I so wanted to use them.  

 I also had just gotten my Zig Clean Color pens and I thought this was the perfect chance to use them.  That great sentiment is a stamp from Stampers Anonymous.  Isn't that a great way to great a friend?

 The plant and that cute little colander bowl are separate stamps.  They are easy to stamp together though.  I stamped them with black ink on watercolor paper and then used my new pens to add interest.  Just bits here and bits there.  They were so easy to use.  

 My colors fit the Colour Q combo.

Plus the CASology challenge for SIMPLE.
Thanks for visiting, Linda (lbpost)

Blessings to You

I started in with another challenge to use a lot of white space.

 In order to do that, I started out with my new background circle stamp from My Favorite Things.  I stamped it with white ink and embossed it with white embossing powder.  I love the white on white and this makes the perfect start to adding a little bit of color in one focal point.  I used the CAS(e) this Sketch for my layout although I reversed the side the main element was on. 

 I used Distress Inks to add color to just a portion of my stamped background.  I then stamped and embossed the flower, coloring that too with Distress Inks.  I like using my image as a palette, focusing more color in some places, less in others.  I just got the matching dies for this Altenew flower set so I cut my flower out.  The wreath is a die from Simon Says Stamp and the word "blessings" is from Winnie & Walter.  Both of those were cut from the same watercolor paper that I used on my card background. 

 Here is the CAS(e) this Sketch.

Here is the CAS-ology Precious challenge.

Thanks for visiting, Linda (lbpost)

Keeping white space

Why does it seem so hard to create a card and still keep lots of white space?

 The challenge at CAS-ology this week is Precious, meaning that white space is precious.  I of course had to give it a try.  

 I started out by mixing a little bit of orange and purple Distress Inks onto a piece of watercolor paper. I spritzed these inks with water and created the little burst of color that I wanted.  I stamped this great sentiment on the ink once it was dry.  Then stamped the flower with white ink and embossed it with white embossing powder.  I added color with Distress Stain ink.  The flower and sentiment are stamps by Wplus9 Designs and the flower has a matching die.  I added Glossy Accents to the middle of the flower and then added some white pearls with Liquid Pearls.  

Here is the CAS-ology Precious challenge.
Thanks for visiting, Linda (lbpost)

Two shades of blue and some roses

Time to play....

 And when I get to play a little bit I turn to online challenges for my inspiration.  For this card I used three different challenges, the first one being the Repeat challenge at CAS-ology.  I wanted to make a statement and yet keep my card very simple.  I picked up some of my favorite flower stamps by Altenew.  After I stamped the outline of the flowers, I stamped the base of the flowers with the two shades of blue in the Colour Me challenge with Distress Stamp pads on watercolor paper.  A spritz of water helped the inks to run a bit.  

I used my brand new dotted label die set from Lil' Inkers Designs. The size of die I used cut both of these pieces.  I mounted the inside one with foam tape for a little bit of dimension.  The sentiment is by Heidi Swapp, plus a few Liquid Pearl dots.  

 Here is the Colour Me challenge.

 Here is the CAS-ology challenge.

Plus the Happy Little Stampers Stamping challenge.

Thanks for visiting, Linda (lbpost)

It's a Party

All you need is a balloon and a cute banner, and it's a party.

 I started out with this adorable little monkey from Simon Says Stamp from the Falling for You new collection.  The balloon and the banner are part of the same set.

 I paired it with a word background by using a Tim Holtz stencil and some Distress Spray inks.  This makes it fit the Simon Says Wednesday challenge, Let's get sentimental.  The stitched squares are cut with a My Favorite Things die set. 

 Here is the Wednesday Challenge.

It also fits the CAS-ology Shape challenge.

Plus it fits the Freshly Made sketch turned on its side.
Thanks for visiting, Linda (lbpost)

Pinks and Reds

I wanted to play along with the CAS-ology Ombre challenge so I pulled out some of my Distress Stains. 

 I used watercolor paper and started adding various shades of reds and pinks.  When the larger portion of my coloring was dry, I used a dot stencil to add more subtle shades.  That amazing sentiment is from a stamp set by Tim Holtz.

 I used a flower from another set by Tim Holtz.  I embossed it with Platinum Silver and colored it the same with various Distress Stains.  I wanted the flower to perfectly match my ombre background.  

 Here is the CAS-ology challenge.

Here is the Paper Players challenge for a simple watercolor look.

And it fits the Simon Says Wednesday challenge for Clean and Simple and that is also where I purchased my stamps. LOVE their great selection of good supplies. 
Thanks for visiting, Linda (lbpost)