Vintage Carnations

Hello!  I'm so glad to see you!  It's been a while since I sat down at the computer due to all the attention we've been focusing on the house and LuLu.  There's more to tell, but everything is fine and today I'm just going to share about card making.

Before I took my stamp room apart for the new floor I looked through my digi box to see what I might color while the room was inaccessible.  As it turns out, I've been too busy to color anything since I finished this card on July 2.  It is a free Carnations digital stamp from the Digital Two for Tuesday blog.  Post also includes a mum.  The illustration is from an 1893 book -- very vintage and yet as beautiful as ever.

I've always been fascinated with the transformation of this type of image.  You wouldn't expect it when you see the beginning.  The black disappears when it's done, and it looks like no-line coloring.  I used Copics for the coloring.

I covered the card base with some nearly vintage designer paper -- Scarlett's Letter by BasicGrey.  I loved this paper pack so much I bought two and have mostly hoarded it.  All covered up with a large image, you can't really see how pretty it is, but I hope to be showing more of it soonish.  I love the write up on the BasicGrey cover:  "Cause a scandal.  Get into some trouble.  Scarlett's Letter is a risque color combination of red, black, cream, and a touch of green blended into bold, courageous patterns.  Totally unique."

 

It will be difficult for me to create any new cards until I get my room in order.  Rich had a problem with the Stamping Command Center.  The large L-shaped desk had to be taken apart to remove it from the room but, alas, it broke in several spots and could not be saved.  I salvaged the two desk tops and hope to fashion some sort of work space with them.  Pictured below is the area where the desk used to be.

I know I'm going to go on another sorting and purging spree.  There's too much of something here, but I'm not sure yet what that is.

It won't be so long till I come back to visit again.  I have cards previously made, but afraid I'm falling short on some of my DT duties.  I know you all understand.  Sending good wishes full of love and happy to everyone!

Stamps:  Free digital stamp from Digital Two for Tuesday, Hero Arts Small Greetings, SU Itty Bitty Backgrounds  Paper:  Neenah Classic Crest Super Smooth Solar White 80#, black, BasicGrey Scarlett's Letter designer paper  Ink:  Printer, Memento Tuxedo Black, SU Going Gray  Coloring:  Copics  Other:  Sequins, stitching

CAS Mix Up Reminder: Alcohol Inks on Vellum

Hello, there!  It's time for a reminder that our CAS Mix Up Challenge - Alcohol Inks on Vellum is still in full swing till the 24th.  Coni is our host this month and she has provided a full list of video links to help first timers like me.  Cards only, keep it clean and simple, and enjoy the play!

Short on time, I used the same piece of alcohol-inked vellum as on my other Mix Up card, but it really is such a pretty piece.  It's peeking through a border cut with one of my oldest dies -- Spellbinders A2 Curved Borders One.  I still use that set frequently.

This card is a mini-slimline, measuring 3 1/2 x 6.  The die cut "sending" was cut from a background made two years ago, part watercolor, part Ken Oliver Yellow Gold Liquid Metal.  Cool stuff!

Stop by the CAS Mix Up blog and check out the team samples for inspiration and then play along with your card.  I'm seeing some pretty things in the gallery!  Thanks everyone, and have a fabulous day!

Stamps:  Altenew Wishing You (birthday wishes), Stampendous Birthday Smiles (candles)  Paper:  Neenah Classic Crest Super Smooth Solar White 80 & 110 lb, vellum  Ink:  Versamark, alcohol inks Stream, Butterscotch, Wild Plum  Other:  Rhinestone, Ken Oliver Yellow Gold Liquid Metal, Spellbinders A2 Curved Borders One, Frantic Stamper Sending Love/Hugs die, rectangle die unknown origin, Scotch brand foam mounting tape

Flower Fun

Hi!  I'm back and first up I would like to tell you that we have workers in our house all this week and Monday installing the new flooring.  We've spent the last few days shuffling furniture and taking everything apart, including my stamp room.  You can imagine the upheaval.  I have not been able to get to the computer to visit my blogging friends, but please know I'll stop by as soon as I have a chance.  I do have a few posts scheduled with cards I made before the upheaval.  Thank you so much for hanging in there with me.  Now onward to card making!

There are times stamping is so much fun you'd think it would be illegal.  You know it, don't you?  Then there are other times... well, forget those.  Today it's all about the fun.

My card was made with the new-to-me Stampendous Flower Frame set.  I used some of the smaller stamps in the set and made a happy summer scene.  The green landscape is a cloud die set, and the sky is stenciled.  I smiled all the while I was making this and I hope it gives you a smile, too.  Have a happy day!

Stamps:  Stampendous Flower Frame  Paper:  Neenah Classic Crest Super Smooth Solar White 110 lb, BasicGrey Lemonade designer paper  Ink:  SU Cool Caribbean, Memento Tuxedo Black  Coloring:  Copics  Other:  Simon Says Stamp Medium Dots stencil, Poppystamps Stitched Cloud Line

Spring Floral Heart

Recently I decided I didn't have enough pretty flower stamps... wait, what?  Okay, truth be told, I felt like shopping for some new pretty flower stamps.  Naturally, I went straight over to 1-2-3 Stitch and searched "flower stamps".  It wasn't easy to keep my order down to a reasonable size, but this Spring Floral Heart by Impression Obsession was definitely staying on the list.

I don't know if it's a recent release.  When I shop I'm generally searching a genre, or designer, or a specific stamp, so all manner of things may jump into my cart along the way.  I embossed with Ranger Princess Gold and watercolored with Tombow markers.  Finished with gold sequins.  The popped up sentiment is from a new to me Stampendous set.  All supplies are listed in the recipe below my signature.

Sigh... such a beautiful stamp and I'm a hopeless addict.

Thank you so much for visiting today.  What would I do without you?  Have a fantastic day!

Stamps:  Impression Obsession Spring Floral Heart, Stampendous Birthday Smiles  Paper:  Fabriano Artistico Extra White 140 lb hot press watercolor, SU Blush Blossom  Ink:  Versamark, SU Not Quite Navy  Coloring:  Watercolor with Tombow markers  Other:  Ranger Princess Gold embossing powder, gold sequins, Spellbinders Scored and Pierced Rectangles, Spellbinders Fancy Tags One (used only an inner rectangle), Scotch brand foam mounting tape

Birthday Sunflowers

Hello, friends!  I hope you're feeling fine and having a good summer.  Crazy weather, right?  It's been downright miserable some places, but here on the Oregon coast we've been pretty comfortable.  Must count every small blessing.

I thought I would share another one of the sunflower cards I made.  Stampendous Pop Sunflower Set.  For this card I used just the single bloom and leaf, tucked in the bird, and arranged all that and a frame on a stenciled background.  All the parts are embossed with Ranger Princess Gold embossing power, then watercolored with SU inks.

I love the little bird.  I made three cards with this set one day and everything is watercolored exactly the same.  I really want to do more with it.  I have one more card yet to share.

About that stenciled background -- I bought a set of 36 stencils on Amazon, mostly geometric patterns.  The stencils are a good quality, but only 5" square.  That's okay by me.  Who knew I would ever have this many stencils?  I would link, but can't seem to find the exact set.

Two shout outs today:  Loll for enabling me to buy the Princess Gold embossing powder, and Lynette for enabling me to buy a set of stencils on Amazon.  Thanks, girls!

Wishing you a happy day!

Stamps:  Stampendous Pop Sunflowers  Paper:  Fabriano Artistico Extra White 140 lb hot press watercolor, Neenah Classic Crest Super Smooth Solar White card base and frame, SU Whisper White for stenciled panel  Ink:  Versamark, Memento Tuxedo Black, various SU inks for watercolor, Distress Oxide Salty Ocean and Dried Marigold for stenciled background  Other:  Ranger Princess Gold embossing powder, stencil from Amazon (36 in pack), MFT Die-namics Stitched Rectangle Frames

Quick LuLu Update

Hi, there.  Just a note for all my friends who may be wondering how LuLu is doing.  She's an enigma.  She was recovering better than I ever expected, then suddenly took a turn for the worse.  She began limping in obvious pain, and her leg joint (knee or hip?) popped loudly with every step.  She soldiered on, but it was a sad sight to see and hear.  I'll make a long story short and just say I took her back to the vet who agreed it was a new development in her knee, and now we're waiting to hear from an orthopedic specialist in another town.

However, it doesn't end there.  First, let's take a look at her sweet and pretty girly self in the grippy socks she borrowed from me while waiting for her own grippy socks to arrive from Chewy.

LuLu's grippy socks make all the difference in how well she walks on bare floors.  She still gets her leg tangled up sometimes, but she's learning how to manage it.  By the way, I refer to her grippy sock as her "super power sock" because it gives her the power to walk on bare floors.  She knows exactly what I mean when I say "let's put your super power sock on".  She's so easy and cooperative.  A very good patient.

Now for the rest of the story:  Her leg is suddenly much better again.  No popping, no pain.  She's putting more weight on it.  She can even manage the bare floors without her grippy sock, but mostly she wears it.  She's perkier, happier.  Guess who else is happier, too?  Yes, me!

So, that's where we are right now.  Fingers crossed that we stay on the good path to recovery.  Thank you for caring about my little Golden Girl.  Have a good day!

Halloween in July

Hey, if we can have Christmas in July, why not Halloween?  The Two Old Bats and team think it's a great idea and so we present our July inspiration board:

You're not required to use the board, but I love that aspect of the challenge.  You'd think I'd do something with the adorable Golden Retriever, wouldn't you?  Well, as much as I love to look at that sweet image, I went with the wreath and crow instead.

I used a Cheery Lynn wreath in three layers -- black on the bottom, dark brown in the middle layer, then a lighter brown on top.  The top wreath layer is actually vanilla cardstock sponged with brown ink.  I turned each layer ever so slightly to add some twiggy fullness.  I embossed the circle behind the wreath, die cut the sentiment in orange glitter paper then layered over black.  The card is decorated with ages old Halloween paper, and the card base is SU's Tangerine Tango embossed with the Subtle 3D folder.

That's all from me, but have a look at the rest of the team's cards on the Two Old Bats Halloween Challenge blog.  Fun stuff!

Have a happy day!

Paper:  SU Tangerine Tango, black, brown, vanilla, BasicGrey Eerie designer paper  Other:  Cheery Lynn Happy Halloween Twiggy Wreath, SU Subtle 3D embossing folder, Darice Fall Leaves Swirl embossing folder, Spellbinders circle die to cut vanilla behind wreath, Spellbinders Scored and Pierced Rectangles to cut DP layer

CAS Mix Up: Alcohol Inks on Vellum

Hello again!  It's time for another CAS Mix Up Challenge, hosted by Coni this month.  She's given us an interesting task -- alcohol inks on vellum.  Say what?  I've never done much with alcohol inks, period, let alone on vellum.  Come to find out it's fun and, as you might expect with vellum, it produces a softer result.  There are several links to video tutorials provided on the challenge blog.

The team's samples are hugely inspiring, and we're delighted to welcome the lovely Hannelie as our guest designer.  Girl knows her way around a CAS card, for sure.

I've used gold and black over alcohol inks on vellum.  As the graphic above states, in addition to the prompt technique we must use stamping and at least one other mixed media element.  See the sidebar on the CAS Mix Up Challenge blog for a list of MM choices.

My Tutti Designs stained glass dies come out differently every time, but always beautiful.  The top layer of gold sits on two 110 lb layers of white.  On the first white layer I popped out the background pieces, but left the frame, leaves and birds intact.   That assembly was glued onto the alcohol-inked vellum, then edges trimmed.   Finally it was glued to the white card base.

The next step was to color the inner image pieces with a black Copic, and then go over that with Wink of Stella.  I did my best to keep the actual card design CAS.  The sentiment is gold embossed and die cut.

If you enjoy making alcohol ink backgrounds, come try it on vellum and show us your card at CAS Mix Up.  We'd love to see it!  Have a good day!

Stamps:  Altenew Wishing You  Paper:  Neenah Classic Crest Super Smooth Solar White 80 & 110 lb, gold mirror, vellum  Ink:  Versamark, alcohol inks Butterscotch, Stream, Wild plum  Other:  Ranger Princess Gold embossing powder, Tutti Designs Birds Stained Glass die, Spellbinders small rectangle die