Altenew’s Statement Flowers

 So, in an attempt to get back into watercoloring, I pulled out Altenew’s Statement Flowers Kit, Antique Linen oxide ink and Arches Watercolor paper. After stamping the image, I first painted the background. I then watercolored the flowers loosely. I painted the background several times to darken it and added palette knife scraping marks to give the appearance of stems. I also painted the image a couple times, continuing to darken the colors and added paint spatters. I wasn’t satisfied with my painting so I proceeded to add colored pencils and pens to continue to give the flowers depth. This ended up adding quite a bit of texture to the flowers that I was okay with for a change. Here’s some of the progressions - 

Finally, I settled on a slightly darker version, added black and patterned paper to offset this 5x7 card, and embossed and stamped the sentiments. I left the busy card unembellished. Here’s the final version!

Welp, it’s a little rustic?, coarse?, rough?? I had considered adding mixed media stamps and scripting in the background, but I didn’t think it would actually help the overall esthetic. Must admit - it is growing on me, not my worst, so I decided to share it after all that effort. Feel free to let me know your thoughts! Thanks for stopping by!

Sketch 42 Holiday Cards

 February came in with a new Build Your Stash Holiday Card sketch challenge:

So, I was inspired to create a few different cards using older papers and ephemera I hadn’t touched in a few years! Here’s my first card using My Mind’s Eye Yuletide collection. I split one of the papers up and backed it with another paper from the pack and a shiny silver holographic paper to spruce it up. I then took one of the tag ephemera from the collection and stamped a sentiment from a Tim Holtz kit. To complete the card, I added silver snowflakes, silver twine, a metal snowflake and a Snow ephemera sentiment. I really like the gray tone scenes on this card!

 For the next card, I used an old Amy Designs Christmas Wishes paper set. I took Unity’s Sweetest Snowman stamp set and tried to match the colors and theme of the paper using alcohol inks. 

To complete this card, I added the sentiment from the kit, twine and enamel dots. Hope you enjoyed my interpretation of this sketch with these cards. Thanks for stopping by!

Creative Expressions Vintage Baubles

 Oh my, I fell in love with this very cute stamp from Creative Expressions, called Vintage Baubles, that I had to pick up recently. I was so inspired by a sample card that I had to try my own version of it.

Sometimes, I get so excited that I don’t take the time and care I should on painting the image (using watercolors and Gansai Tambi paints), but I still think it turned out okay. I started by gold embossing the image on watercolor paper. After painting it, I cut it down to fit a 5x7 card base and distressing the edges. I then searched for paper scraps that I thought could complement the colors I used to paint it. I distressed the edges on those as well after cutting them down.

To complete the card, I glued down the first layer. I then used glue to adhere the centers of the rest of the layers, ensuring the sides could lift a little. I found a sticky sentiment that I cut in half, adhered paper scraps to and distressed the edges as well. I added gold thread behind the sentiment and called it done!

For some reason, I love the random sloppy vibe of this one! Well, hope this inspired you to try this kind of busy stamp! Let me know if this style works for you! Happy stamping till next time! Thanks for stopping by!

Friends of Unity February Blog Hop

 Hey… it’s time for another blog hop! With a different, for us, theme … that of a card sketch!

Before I review the cards I created this month, I wanted to remind you to comment on my blog for a chance to win Unity goodies! As I was searching my stash for this month’s cards, I happened upon some dups … shocking, I know ;-) ! So, I’ll be doing another giveaway this month! And… speaking of giveaways, my winner from last month’s hop is…. 

Kendra Storm

Congrats, Kendra…  please PM me your address and I’ll send out some goodies! 

So, had a bit of fun this time making a small bunch of cards with varying purposes… time to restock some multipurpose cards! First off, I made a masculine card using both Unity’s May 2023 KOM, Bloom in Color, and June 2023 KOM, From the Countryside (sentiment). I coupled the stamps with a Paper Roses’s One of a Kind patterned paper. I used alcohol markers on the image. I also used Unity’s ABC.123.washi kit on the background strip. For embellishments, I added sequins, feathers and a button.

For the second card, I pulled out Unity’s What If. I paired this image with some old patterned paper and a green tinted vellum sheet. Must admit I had fun coloring up with pencils and paper piecing the image to match the background. I also pulled out the Get Your Happy On to add matching colored pencil flower images that I fussy cut. I think I might be getting ready for spring already with this one! I added coordinating sequins over the card and green sticky strips to the vellum. Now I think I need to color the floral image alone for another card…hmmm… another day, perhaps!

For the last card, I pulled out My Smiles Begin. I used pencils again, on this one. I ended up pairing her with a very old favorite Kaisercraft paper collection called Keepsake. All of the paper used on the card came from that collection, including the ephemera. I distressed all the paper edges. I ended up adding string and crystals to complete this card.

Overall, I had a lot of fun pairing papers with Unity kits to come up with these cards. Now, on to the rest of the hop! Should be great fun to see the variety of cards created with this super sketch! Remember…. Leave a comment, with your name, for a chance at Unity goodies!

You may have come here from:

Amber’s blog

You may continue on with:

Rachel’s blog

Or you can start at the top with:

Crystal’s blog

Life is Tough

 Just wanted to create an original card today, so I pulled out an already die cut embossed burlap stamped image scrap and a small scrap of watercolor paper. I embossed a sentiment from Unity’s Difference Maker kit onto the watercolor paper and then proceeded to watercolor some sprigs. I then distressed the edges.

 I found a piece of paper I had tried leaf/coffee staining on that I could use as a background. I used a background stamp from an old Unity SMAK kit on it. I then added a paper strip to it.

To complete the card, I added fancy string and matching crystals!

Unfortunately, I know a few folks that can use this one! Thanks for stopping by - till next time, happy crafting!