Hello friends! It's been a busy couple of weeks here with a few routine appointments, some outings with friends, and several days of gardening. The wind died down and the weather was incredible. I'm working to restore the garden after too many negative factors made me almost give up. Let's hope I'm not simply inviting the deer to a fresh smorgasbord. Wish me luck!
Morning coffee time, however, is for playing in my room. Today I'm sharing my first attempt with a brushstroke stamp. Now I'm hooked, but I won't rush out and buy more just yet. I've got a lot of catching up to do.
Penny Black's Sweetly Scented waited too long in the NBUS basket. It's such a pretty thing and easy to work with, a good one for beginners. The first card was done the usual way on watercolor paper with markers and spritzing lightly with water. I worked with Tombows in smallish areas at a time. I stamped a lower corner with PB's Nature's Paintbrushes (2015), then sponged the edges, added stamped sprinkles and a sentiment. Finally, I dotted with Nuvo Crystal Drops.
The second card was an experiment which I would really like to play with a little more. I used wedge-tipped sponge applicators to brush on Distress Oxide inks -- Milled Lavender and Seedless Preserves on the petals, Wild Honey for the flower centers, Shabby Shutters and Pine Needles on the leaves. I used regular Neenah super smooth white cardstock and didn't spritz with water. Its a different sort of look, not perfect, but it doesn't have to be. I would also like to try it with spritzing.
Since my Sweetly Scented is out of the package for the first time I'll share here:
NBUS Challenge #75 -- Never before used schtuff. Darnell is celebrating 75 months of the challenge. Visit her and read all about it. Thank you, Darnell!
The busy times continue with more of the same, and I hope that will include card crafting. I'm glad we could visit today. Take care!
Stamps: Penny Black Sweetly Scented, Nature's Paintbrushes, Thinking of You, Stampin' Up Itty Bitty Backgrounds (sprinkles) Paper: Fabriano Artistico Extra White 140 lb hot pressed watercolor (first card), Neenah Classic Crest Super Smooth Solar White 80 lb (second card)
Ink for first card: Tombow markers, various possibly retired Stampin' Up for sponging and sprinkles, PTI Dark Chocolate for sentiment, DOX Antique Linen for Nature's Paintbrushes
Ink for second card: Distress Oxide Milled Lavender, Seedless Preserves, Wild Honey, Shabby Shutters, Pine Needles, Stampin' Up for sentiment and sprinkles
Other: Nuvo Sugared Almond Crystal drops on first card
Oh Leslie...what a wonderful way to start my morning with these two beauties! Your first card with all the yellows (my favorite color!) has blown me away...absolutely STUNNING!! You definitely nailed the faux water coloring technique with this gorgeous card!! I'm loving your 2nd card too using the make-up sponges and DOX inks...what an awesome look! I love the sentiment on that card too...it's perfect! Two lovely, lovely cards my friend!! Hugs. :0)
ReplyDeleteBoth fabulous cards, love the beautiful stamps and watercolour effect, love both the sentiments too. Good luck with the gardening and hope no more negativity.
ReplyDeleteCarol x
Oh my stars, Leslie these are the epitome of summer! They're so wispy and wonderful with the perfect CASness to them. Just beautiful!
ReplyDeleteBoth these are so pretty. I am glad you found time to get that stamp out. It was definitely worth it xx
ReplyDeleteThats how I want to start my day too...the craft room is m aking progress.
ReplyDeleteYOU have used that PB bloom fabulously. Its so pretty, delicate and perfectly inked and brushed up. Wonderful.
I wish you luck with the deer, we have been seeing more bunnies and I am hoping they won't like what we have planted this year.
ReplyDeleteYour cards are just beautiful, I love their brushstroke stamps, they are so fun to play with, you have done a lovely job with both cards. Loving the colors in the first and the way you did the shading around them too, sweet sentiment! Wonderful results with the inks on the second too, like how the colors look together and your splatter stamping, another wonderful sentiment to go with the lovely flowers! Hope you continue to have good weather and play time in your craft room too!
Oh my stars, these are both delightful! You've knocked it out of the park with your faux water coloring technique and I love the stamped flowers as well. What a great stamp image from PB to practice on. I'm wishing I had this stamp in my collection after seeing these two beauties. Wonder if it's still in stock. Time to go look. ;0)
ReplyDeleteSo gorgeous, Leslie! Your cards are always so amazing! Good luck with your garden.
ReplyDeleteOooh, a new way to ink up my brush stroke PBs! Thank you, Leslie! I really love the usual way, of course, with your first sunny card, but I'm head-over-heels with the way your sponged design looks! I'm intrigued by how it looks like you painted the petals and leaves free-style! Thank you for inspiring everyone to use their NBUS! Good luck with the garden; if anyone can bring it back to life, it's you! Hugs, Darnell
ReplyDeleteTwo beautiful cards using your new stamp, Leslie. They are both so sweet!! Love the first one with the sun shining over the flowers. Love this technique and use it often, but never with sponging. I would have messed it up once the water was added. :) You nailed it!! Your second card is adorable. I LOVE pink and these flowers speak to me. Great way to colour them to get a watercoloured look. xx
ReplyDeleteLeslie these are absolutely stunning! I love the watercolor look and thank you for explaining how you achieved these masterpieces. Wow!
ReplyDeleteOMG!! How beautiful are these cards you made! O love how you colored them especially with the sponge and your shaded is perfect! With all the rain we have been having we are fighting so many weeds and the deer are not helping with our garden. Have a great weekend!
ReplyDeleteGosh, these are really beautiful, a perfect way to use these awesome stamps. I understand your gardening woes, after 19 years of being mostly gone in the summers I have LOTS of work getting mine back into shape. It was fun to see your pretty cards, I haven't created anything in forever it seems, all my cards are pre-scheduled for the year!
ReplyDeleteLeslie, these are both amazing cards. Love how you created each one, these are so beautiful. The shading depth you created is spot on! All your finishing touches bring these cards to life. Love it!
ReplyDeleteI was just out in my garden this morning, we had a lot of rain lately and then the heat, so those weeds just seem to grow wildly.
I hope the deer stay away from your restored garden. thank you for sharing your cards today Leslie! Beautiful as always!
Each of these are beautiful, Leslie! What a gorgeous stamp set, and I'm so glad you shared your methods. I'm loving the soft hues of the yellow one. You got a stunning result with the sponges! How I love that sentiment on the second card.
ReplyDeleteI love all your pretty flower cards and enjoyed reading about your techniques. I like them both! 💕Sue Kment
ReplyDeleteWOW! Two beautiful ways to use this sweet set, Leslie! It's one of my favorites! It pairs beautifully with the Nature's Paintbrush which I need to remember. It's so pretty in the pink and didn't need spritzing. I'm loving these sentiments and think I need to get them into my collection!
ReplyDeleteOh My.....TWO beautiful cards and sentiments, Leslie:-) All my extra time has been spent outside in the gardens the last few months, which I LOVE, but will have to catch up on inside card making projects Now:-) TFS your beauties, dear friend:-) Love and Hugs, Nancy
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