Splashes of Watercolor

Spring Sketches - Color Throwdown #179

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Yay!  It's springtime! 

Ok.  Not really.  But it is here on my blog today!  I'm popping out the springtime flowers for my Color Throwdown card this week!

Kristin is our super sweet and talented host, and here are the colors she chose:

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Since I'm REALLY burned out on making Valentine cards, I decided to go with a spring theme.

I pulled out Spring Sketches from Our Craft Lounge and Kristin's beautiful Candy Kisses patterned paper (I TOLD you she's super talented!).

My sketched tulip was stamped on the Krafty paper and then again on white cardstock.  I used my Copics to color up the tulip twice and popped it up on foam tape.

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The background layers were cut with the Grand Scalloped Square Nestabilities.  The Krafty and Blushing papers were sanded around the edges to let the white cardstock that they were printed on show through.

How about heading over to see what my  CTD sisters have come up with for you?  I can guarantee you'll be inspired!

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I hope you'll join us in this week's challenge!  You can check out all the details at the Color Throwdown blog. 

Thanks so much for stopping by today!  Don't forget Friday brings another new release of those precious A Day For Daisies digital images!  I can't wait for you to see what I got to color up this week!

Happy Fall, Y'all - Color Throwdown #161

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Well, I hate to admit it, but it's officially Fall, y'all.  Bummer.  Guess I'll have to pack up my bathing suits and beach chair until next…..April, maybe.  Here's my last weekend at the beach:

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Perfect!  Sigh.  Ok, enough whining from me!  On to the Color Throwdown! 

This week Kristin is our hostess and she not only chose some beautiful Fall colors, she also was sweet enough to share some of her new Trendy Forest digi papers with us!  I love them!  Here's the combo:

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So I pulled out my (also) new Simply Fall singles stamp set from Our Craft Lounge and what a perfect match these were to the Trendy Forest digi papers.

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See?  A match made in digi heaven!!

This card using OCL stamps and digi patterned paper qualifies for the Our Craft Lounge blog challenge this week - OCL#84.

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I also decided to use this week's CPS sketch 237.  It's really cool!

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I'd love to see what you gals come up with using this week's colors.  Just link up your creation over on the Color Throwdown blog!  Now here is some great inspiration for you from the other CTD designers:

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Barbara * Carole * Danielle * Kristin 

Tammy * Julee Tilman (September Guest Designer)

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Thanks for visiting today.  I'd like to invite you to come back on Friday, Sept 30th, for our next E-Team blog hop!  We're teaming up with Want2Scrap!  Fun, fun, fun!!

Until then, enjoy the rest of your week!

 

• Paper: poppy parade, chocolate chip 
• Ink: Memento - rich cocoa, Distress - dried marigold, ripe persimmon
• Other: corner rounder tool

   

Our Craft Lounge - Singles	MTME Pretty Impressions Printable Papers	Neenah cardstock	eP Ranger Distress inks	Copic Markers
Ranger blending tool	Papertrey Ink ribbon	Spellbinders Fancy Tags	Glue Dots	TE foam mounting tape

InLinkz.com

Fiskars 9" paper trimmer

Scor-Buddy

Rock-A-Blocks

Ranger Non-Stick Craft Sheet

Tim Holtz Tonic Scissors

InLinkz.com

Sparkly Congratulations - Color Throwdown #159

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It's all Carole's fault!  She's the one who picked this week's colors!  And I had a really hard time with them.  Here's her combo:

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What do you think?  Do you like them? 

Well, I'm challenging you to at least try them!  I did, and I ended up with a card for a couple of very dear friends who recently got married.

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Before you try, check out the awesome inspiration from the oh-so-talented design team, along with our oh-so-special Guest Designer:

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Barbara * Carole * Danielle

Laura * Tammy * Julee Tilman (September Guest Designer)

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That's it folks!  I hope you'll join us for this week's challenge!  Thanks so much for stopping by today!

• Stamps: Occasional Labels & Sentimental Occasions (by Kristin Eberline for MTME)
• Paper: vintage cream (PTI); cherry cobbler, pacific point, old olive; Out of Print 6x6 (Basic Grey); Mariposa Stack (DCWV) 
• Ink: Versamark, ruby red, pacific point 
• Tools used on every card: Fiskars 9" trimmer, Scor-Buddy, Tim Holtz scissors, Ranger non-stick craft sheet, Rock-a-blocks
• Other: Rose Creations (leaves) (Spellbinders), 1-1/4" circle punch, ribbon, rhinestones, Scor-Tape, foam mounting tape  

Waterlilies

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I just got some new digi images from Wax Fruit Company and couldn't wait to start coloring them.  I just love Arielle's style!

I thought this beautiful waterlily image would work perfectly for an anniversary card that I needed.  And I added one of the fantastic sentiments from Kristin's Sentimental Occasions set.

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So this is gonna be a very short post.  Lots to do this week.  I'll have my 4 year old grandson and 2 year old granddaughter all next weekend and I think they'll probably keep me very busy, so I'm trying to get a little ahead before then!

Thanks for stopping by!

• Stamps: Waterlilies (Wax Fruit Company), Sentimental Occasions (by Kristin Eberline for My Time Made Easy) 
• Paper: Neenah white, black, textured aqua, Olivia 6x6 paper pad (Basic Grey), Love Me Do "Love Takes Flight" (My Mind's Eye) 
• Ink: computer, Versafine - onyx black, Inkssentials opaque white pen, Copic markers 
• Tools used on every card: Fiskars 9" trimmer, Scor-Buddy, Tim Holtz scissors, Ranger non-stick craft sheet, Rock-a-blocks
• Other: ribbon, foam mounting tape, Scor-Tape 

Floral Caged Bird - Color Throwdown #139

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Hey, guys!  It's time for another Color Throwdown and this week is another very special one!  We're using stamps and papers designed by our very own Kristin Eberline for My Time Made Easy.   They're fabulous, you guys!  I love that I can resize these digi-papers to whatever size I want!!  And these stamps!  There are so many of them in each set and they are so versatile!  I absolutely love them!!

Kristin is our hostess this week and here are the colors she chose, based on her  papers (Fresh Cut Expressions Collection 2):

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Great combo, huh?

So here's the card I came up with using these wonderful papers and stamps:

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See what I mean?  They're wonderful!!  Thanks, Kristin and Lauren!

So now you should really visit all the blogs of the design team to see their creations:

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Barbara * Cathy * Danielle * Kristin

Laura * Tammy * Carole Burrage  (April Guest Designer)

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And now, why don't you play along with us?  We'd love for you to!  You can check out all the rules at the CTD blog and then link up your card there too.

Thanks so much for dropping by.  I really love it when you do!

• Stamps: Occasional Labels, Sentimental Occasions (My Time Made Easy)
• Paper: chocolate chip, pear pizzazz, Fresh Cut Expressions Collection 2 (My Time Made Easy)
• Ink: Memento - rich cocoa, Versamark, blush blossom
• Tools used on every card: Fiskars 9" trimmer, Scor-Buddy, Tim Holtz scissors, Ranger non-stick craft sheet, Rock-a-blocks
• Other: Caged Bird die (Tim Holtz Alterations), clear embossing powder, Heat It craft tool, ribbon, crocheted flower, foam mounting tape, pearl flourish (Zva Creative)

A Soft Thank You

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Hey, y'all!  Happy weekend!

The other day a friend at work asked me to make a Thank You card for her to give to someone.   I immediately went straight to my new stamp sets from MTME, designed by my mega-talented friend Kristin Eberline, and generously sent to me by the super sweet Lauren Meader. 

They're called Sentimental Occasions and Occasional Labels.  These will be permanently planted on my desktop for sure.  I LOVE THEM!!  Thank you so much, ladies!

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I'm in love, I tell ya!!

I hope you all have a wonderful weekend!  Thanks so much for taking time to stop by!

• Stamps: Sentimental Occasions, Occasional Labels (MTME)
• Paper: white, soft sky, Brenda Walton Flora & Fauna mat pad (K & Company) 
• Ink: Versafine - onyx black, Versamark, soft sky
• Tools used on every card: Fiskars 9" trimmer, Scor-Buddy, Tim Holtz scissors, Ranger non-stick craft sheet, Rock-a-blocks
• Other: clear embossing powder, seam binding, Heat It craft tool, craft knife, foam mounting tape, button & twine (PTI), Scor-Tape 

MTME Pretty Palette color challenge

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There's a new color challenge in town!  You can find it at the My Time Made Easy blog!  And I've decided to play along in their very first challenge!

Here's the color combo:

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Great, huh?

So I got this new image from Mo's Digital Pencil and just HAD to color her up.  These colors were just perfect!

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You should check out the challenge and play along if you get a chance!  The keyword is MTMEPPC01.

I'm sorry this is such a short post.  I've got taxes to do.  YUCK!

• Stamps: What's Cooking (Mo's Digital Pencil), Many Happy Returns (SU)
• Paper: white, real red, certainly celery, Sugar Rush 6x6 paper pad (Basic Grey) 
• Ink: Memento - tuxedo black, Ranger Distress - antique linen
• Tools used on every card: Fiskars 9" trimmer, Scor-Buddy, Tim Holtz scissors, Ranger non-stick craft sheet, Rock-a-blocks
• Other: Circles & Lacey Circles Nestabilities, word window punch, corner rounder punch, ink blending tool, ribbon, button & twine (PTI), Scor-Tape, foam mounting tape, Copic markers:

E-Team challenge: Get Distressed!

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Distressed.  This is the look I want to achieve when I have a vintage or antique-looking image, or a keepsake as a focal point for my art project, whether it's a card or a 3-D piece of altered art. I think the distressing compliments and enhances the look of such an item.

So what is distressed?  Think: worn, torn, sponged, rough, wrinkled, scratched, dented, faded, inked, stained, splattered, layered, uneven, unfinished, aged, antique, pieced.  Or all of the above!  It's usually much more fun to create in this style because you don't have to be precise, you can be sloppy (to a point), and you can layer to your heart's content!

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The E-Team challenge:   tell what your idea of distressed is (I just did that!) and show how you achieve it.

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Prepare yourself!  There are lots of pictures!

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I started with my image, which is a miniature postcard cut from a piece of Cool Romance designer paper, designed and sent to me by my multi-talented friend Kristin.  It's already a little worn looking.  I printed it on heavy-weight copy paper, glued it to a piece of cream cardstock and cut out the postcard I wanted to use.

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I ran the blade of my scissors along all the edges to give it a torn look, then sponged the edges using some blending foam and Ranger Distress Brushed Corduroy ink.  This is my current favorite color with which to distress edges.

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I wanted my postcard to be highlighted on a card, and decided to make the card a little larger than usual - 5" by 5.5".  I used kraft cardstock as the card base, and a slightly smaller piece of cream cardstock as the base mat.  I unevenly tore pieces of 3 coordinating patterned papers from the Basic Grey Capella 6x6 paper pad to go on top of that.

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I used my fingernail to rough up the edges (scissors may tear lightweight paper), then sponged them as well.  I decided to sew them to the cream layer, using 2 zig zag rows of stitching.  Notice how I left the ends uncut (unfinished).  Then I sponged the edges of the cream layer and also rubbed some of the ink over the stitching.

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I wanted to frame the postcard to highlight it and chose a chipboard frame which I sponged with the Ranger Distress brushed corduroy ink as well.  I love that it made the chipboard almost exactly the same color as the kraft cardstock!

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Next is the most fun, I think.  I went through all my goodies, and believe me, they're in every drawer and nook and cranny of my craft room/office, just to find the right embellishments for my card.

I finally narrowed it down to these few items.

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I sponged some ink over the flowers and the kraft die cut to make them look aged and more consistent with the overall look of the card.  The cardboard was a leftover piece from another project and it was already torn.

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The other items were manufactured to have a vintage look with an aged patina (the pin and brads), or were actually antique (lace made by my grandmother).

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Then all I had to do was layer it all together.  Making the composition into a random, collage-type arrangement also lends itself to the worn, aged and faded look that you might find on an old scrapbook page.

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And there you have my idea and method of BASIC DISTRESSING.

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I hope you've enjoyed your little tour of my distressful thinking process of putting together a project with a distressed look.  When my card was done, there were tiny torn pieces of paper, thread, and plastic (from the trimmed flower stems) everywhere.  And my fingers stayed inked and stained for quite a while.  But that's ok.  It's part of the fun of the process of creating!

I bet now you're ready to move on to see the fabulous projects of the rest of the creative team.  So here are the links for you:

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Latrice Murphy

Linda Duke

Linda Ledbetter

Micki Harper

Sherry Cheever

Starla Nelson

Daisy Sparks (eP blog)

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And Daisy also has some great specials going on right now at eclectic Paperie!  How about stocking up on some of the Ranger Distress inks and reinkers so you can be ready to distress your next project?  Check it out!

And you definitely NEED to go to the eP blog and get the low-down on how you can win a prize just by commenting on all of our blogs this weekend.

Thanks for stopping by!  Have a great weekend...it's gonna be (and has been) in the 70's here.  I'm in heaven, y'all!!!

• Stamps: None
• Paper: kraft, vintage cream (PTI), Cool Romance designer paper (MTME), Capella 6x6 paper pad (Basic Grey)
• Ink: Ranger Distress  - Brushed Corduroy
• Tools used on every card: Fiskars 9" trimmer, Scor-Buddy, Tim Holtz scissors, Ranger non-stick craft sheet, Rock-a-blocks
• Other: ink blending foam, sewing machine, piece of cardboard, antique lace, silk rose, tiny paper roses (Prima), chipboard frame (Maya Road), kraft mini tickets (Maya Road), Damask die (QuicKutz), trinket pin (Tim Holtz), brads, Scor-Tape, foam tape

Shutt-erfly Gift Set

My project this week for the Couture Cardstock blog is a small gift box and card set made by using all Couture Cardstock and the My Time Made Easy ™ LLC template called Shutt-erfly.

The “patterned paper” is a beautiful digital paper created by my friend Kristin.  It's called Flourish White from the Loving Heart collection from My Time Made Easy ™ LLC, printed on Detail Blending paper.

The box template was printed on the non-textured side of Blushing from the Young Love Monochromatic Family. It was cut out, scored and folded, and 2 of the sides were then attached to each other. I found that since I wanted to add layers to the box, it was easier to do so at this point before completing the box assembly.

The butterflies were made from Sweetheart cardstock, also from the Young Love Monochromatic Family, and pieces of the patterned paper I had created for the side panels. They were glued together and tied with ribbon. A pearl sticker was added to represent each butterfly’s head.

I finished by making a 2-1/2” x 4-1/4” card to complete the set, using Green Pasture from the Spring Valley Monochromatic Family. The sentiment is from the Big Birthday Wishes stamp set by Our Craft Lounge.

As I was making this box, I had my Mom in mind and how she would love these colors and butterflies, so I think this may just be her Mother’s Day gift!

Thanks so much for visiting me today!

• Stamps: Big Birthday Wishes (Our Craft Lounge)
• Paper: Detail Blending Paper; Young Love Monochromatic Family - Blushing, Sweetheart; Spring Valley Monochromatic Family - Green Pasture (Couture Cardstock)
• Ink: Versafine onyx black
• Other: Shutt-erfly template and Flourish White from A Loving Heart digital papers (My Time Made Easy LLC), Scor-Pal, Scor-Tape, ribbon, glue dots, corner rounder punch, petite oval Nestabilities die (Spellbinders), pearl stickers (Kaisercraft)