Saturday, June 25, 2016

Papertrey Ink June Blog Hop!

Happy Saturday! I am popping in with a card to share for this month's Papertrey Ink June Blog Hop!

I started with watercolor paper. I used some make up brushes to brush on and blend some ranger inks. The make up brushes are a game changer for me when it comes to blending. I do not think I have ever been able to achieve such a smooth look before with so many inks.

I have included a picture of a couple of panels I practiced on. The blending is so soft and buildable.

Link to Make Up Brushes I used from Amazon.

I had to add some water splatters along with some ink splatters to my final panel because I like them. Plus the inspiration photo has some splatters as well.

I cut in half the Split: Just a Note stamp set and embossed in white to create the look of the loopy images in the inspiration photo as well has to have a place for my sentiment. I embossed in blue the sentiment from Bold & Beautiful stamp set and die cut with the coordinating image.

I kept the card pretty simple. I popped up the sentiment and finished with some clear sequins.

As always thanks so much for hopping by!

Betty

Tuesday, June 21, 2016

Curtain Call Inspiration Challenge: Tasty Tropics Reminder!

There is still time to join us for the Curtain Call Inspiration Challenge!

You have until June 25th at 8:00 AM CDT to be inspired and share your project!

touchn2btouched.tumblr.com/post/46891414935

photo credit

The LEAD of this challenge will be invited to be a guest designer in an upcoming challenge!

I am playing along with the Summer Coffee Lovers Blog Hop! Since coffee is grown in tropical areas it works for both challenges! It sure makes for one tasty tropical treat anytime of day hot or cold. I decided to create a coffee shaker card using actual coffee grounds. I mixed in some sequins for added tropical flare! My craft room smelled divine while making this tasty confection! I chose to mix distress watercoloring with relaxing and de-stressing with a cuppa java!

For my card I used Verve's Better With You stamp set to create the watercolor distressed background. I created a shaker and used Verve's Copper Blush Sequin Mix, Harvest Gold Sequin Mix, and Signature Sequin Mix.

I stamped and distressed watercolored two coffee mugs using Verve's Coffee stamp set and Cuppa Joe die set.

I spread some textured goosebumps to the coffee for added dimension and a wet look.

As always thanks so much for hopping by!

Betty

Monday, June 20, 2016

Enjoy Every Moment!

Happy Monday! I am playing along with this week's PTI Make It Monday Challenge: Reverse Stenciling. I chose to use the smaller of the two alphabet stencils from DFTW Kit. I am also playing along with this week's Inspired By All the Little Things.

I used PTI Be Mine, Valentine stamp set and dies along with Bloomin' Cute stamp set and sentiment dies. I added some glossy accents to the red center heart of the camera. I finished my card with some fine silver threading and clear sequins.

As always thanks so much for stopping by!

Betty

Sunday, June 19, 2016

Grateful for You!

Happy Sunday! I am popping in with a couple of cards to share. Finally had a chance to get crafty. Since schools out, I am hoping to have more time to play in my craft room.

For my first card, I am playing along with a couple of blog challenges. I am playing along with MFT Color Challenge.

I am also playing along with MFT Camp Create Watercoloring Challenges and Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge: Animal Magic. This first card involves watercoloring. I started with some watercolor paper. I used versamark and white embossed the circles background stamp. I made sure this image was not a perfect stamping because I was going for a softer more distressed look.

I used blueberry and gumball green MFT inks to watercolor a sky and some grass. I add some fine splatters as well as some bigger splatters to create dimension. I included some white acrylic paint with the splatters. To add even more texture, I added a few spritzes of goosebumps spray.

I stamped and die cut these pigs using MFT The Whole Herd stamps and die namics. I colored the pigs with copics to comply with the color challenge colors. I finished with a white embossed sentiment and some clear sequins.

For my second card, I am playing along with this week's Color Throwdown Challenge and MFT Camp Create Glitzy Glitter Challenge.

I used MFT Thankful Thoughts stamp set and Words of Gratitude die namics. I also used MFT fishnet cover up and Feathers and Arrows die namics. I added glitter to the tips of the feathers. I used black glitter card stock for the word. I finished my card with a few sequins.

As always thanks so much for stopping by!

Betty

Friday, June 10, 2016

Verve's Diva Inspiration and Challenge Hop!

It's time for the Verve Divas to bring you our monthly Diva Inspirations Challenge and Blog Hop!

There are TWO $30 gift vouchers to the Verve store up for grabs this month and two ways to win! First, comment on the design team's blog hop posts (linked below) for an entry in the first giveaway. Then to be entered into our challenge prize drawing, go get inky and link up your take on the challenge. You have until July 5 to link up. Feel free to play along with the challenge as many times as you like. Verve stamps aren't required to play, but we do smile a little brighter when we see them!

Summertime is on the way and a soft beachy vibe is our inspiration this month. Soft neutrals and bold pops of color are sure to bring a bit of summer flair to your projects. Take your inspiration from the graphic or follow the color pattern, just have fun stamping. We can't wait to see what you create!

Click here to link up your challenge entries
Challenge deadline: Tuesday, July 5.
Prize: $30 gift voucher to the Verve online store!

For my card I started with some watercolor card stock and ranger distress inks. I stamped the image from Verve's Deco Borders to create a beach scene with sand, ocean, and sky. I used a water brush to sweep across the stamped images for a more watercolor effect. I stamped the sailboat from Verve's With Love set directly onto the background and again onto white card stock where I used copics to color. I cut out the main pieces and popped up using foam tape. I die cut a few clouds using Verve's Partly Cloudy die set.

I stamped and die cut some images using Verve's Strong Anchor stamp set and Nautical die set using Verve's Flourished Tag set for the sentiment. I die cut a circle from the Flourish Tag set as well to add behind the vellum sentiment to make the sentiment pop a bit more and not have to compete with the background. I added some wink of stella to the sailboat, the clouds, and the anchor. I finished my card with a few wooden stars.

Need a little inspiration? Check out the blogs linked below to see what the other Divas did with the challenge! It's sure to be a treat, and speaking of treats, we're giving away a $30 gift voucher to Verve to one random commenter along the hop. Just leave a little love as you hop about for a chance to win!


	1. Julee	7. Marisa
	2. Betty	8. Maureen
	3. Charmaine	9. Stacey
	4. Christyne	10. Susan
	5. Laurie	11. Teresa
	6. Lesley

As always thanks so much for stopping by! Next up on the hop is the wonderfully talented Charmaine!

Sunday, June 5, 2016

Sending Hugs!

Happy Sunday! Popping in with a card to share. I am playing along with this week's Make It Monday Challenge. I almost did not get a chance to play. Busy school week with exam schedule. My 7th graders have Social Studies State Exam tomorrow. I have to be at work again by 6:30 am. Only 30 minutes earlier, but it really makes a difference. Off to bed after I do this post. Only a few more days and the students will be out for summer vacation. I am out June 16th. I think I will lock myself in my craft room for several days! LOL!

For the gradient watercolor die cut challenge, I started with some Kuretake Watercolors and watercolor paper. I chose greens fro the leaves.

I die cut the Branching Out die. I glued directly to the linen paper. I added the die cut sentiment "Sending" from DFTW PTI kit that I die cut from white card stock three times and true black once.

I layered the black over the white to create a lighter shadow effect. Makes the black pop and look like it is suspended or floating a bit. I added a few shimmery dots using the Kirarina Wink Black Pearl pen.

I chose to use just the "Sending" on the front to comply with this week's CAS(E) this Sketch Challenge and finish card on the inside with HUGS!

As always thanks so much for stopping by!

Betty

By the way, if you are in need of a new paper trimmer, the new Fiskars Deluxe Paper Trimmer with Aluminum Rail is FABULOUS! It cuts card stock like butter! The aluminum rail ensures precise cutting every time.

Wednesday, June 1, 2016

Curtain Call Inspiration Challenge: Sail On!

It's time for a new Curtain Call Inspiration Challenge!

countryclubsandpolos.tumblr.com/

The LEAD of this challenge will be invited to be a guest designer in an upcoming challenge!

For my card I started with some watercolor paper, PTI Sun & Surf Stencils. I used Rangers Textured Paste Transparent Gloss and Rangers Palette Knife set to smooth the paste over the stencil. I let it dry. I then mixed Tumbled Glass, Broken China, Evergreen Bough, and Blueprint Sketch Distress Inks to create the water resist wave background. I used Rangers Distress Sprayer by Tim Holtz to add some water splotches.

Once I got the background the way I wanted, I set it aside to dry. I die cut, white embossed, and colored the whale from PTI Keep Swimming stamp and die set. I popped him up using some foam tape. I positioned him so he looks like he is jumping out of the water. I added a white emboss sentiment to the bottom corner using the same set. I flicked some blueprint sketch ink onto the card for some added dimension and texture. I finished my card with a few clear sequins.