Tuesday 30 June 2015

CASology 153 - Pop



This week's CASology Cue Card is Pop!



We're being sponsored by Serendipity Stamps this week and this dove is one of their stunning dies. I love the detail in his wings and decided that inlaying the piece back in (after colouring with copics and WoS for sparkle) would be one way that my card would 'pop'. The other is that I framed the dove with a circle cut out of a panel. His tail is glued right down, but his wings and his head are popped up with two layers of foam tape for some dramatic dimension! I finished the card with an old acrylic "Peace". I've lost track of who makes it. It's stamped in Memento Gray Flannel.

Now it's your turn to pop! Can't wait to see what you come up with! The rest of the DT has some inspiration for you as well:

Monday 29 June 2015

MCV8 - Joy to the World


This week, Lydia is our Guest Designer at Muse: ChristmasVisions. Way back when I first started blogging, Lydia called me to become a member of the Splitcoaststampers Dirty Dozen. That was my very first DT Gig! Lydia is funny, kind, full of encouragement and extremely very super talented - she will always hold a special place in my heart!



I admit that I gave up on Lydia's colours early on and went a little more traditional, by using Stampin' Up Poppy Parade and MFT Limelight.

I changed the shape too, but I think by inlaying the circles this way, I created a similar effect to the diagonal stripes. I used a Stampin' Up row of stars die. I finished with an Altenew sentiment - similar to Lydia's because it is a mix of script and text.

I hope we'll see you play along this week - the deadline is Wednesday at 8 am. At that time you can vote for your 3 stars, and the results will be posted on Thursday at noon. Hope to see you there!

Saturday 27 June 2015

Rainbow Thank You


Another experiment in watercolour. I tell you, I was thinking it would be easy and I would just figure it out but it's not working like that! I keep watching videos and trying it out but most of what I'm getting back, I'm not happy with. I think the biggest issue for me is that you have no control over the results. Anyway, it's just paper and watercolour (and time!) and I'll keep trying.

And I admit that I am quite happy with the bright colours and blending on this one (still working on getting some nice edges to my pools of colour). I used my Kuretake Gansai Tambi on Ranger watercolour paper. Then I trimmed off the really ugly parts of the edges to create a panel. And then I cut my Memory Box sentiment out and it wasn't straight! So I had a choice - either lay the panel down straight with the sentiment slanted or vice versa.

Friday 26 June 2015

Watercolour Thank you


This card started as a card for the current Fusion challenge - I watercoloured a panel in pinks and yellows but couldn't figure out where the big black and turquoise element should come in (my brain is fried from all the end-of-school activities, but now that school is done, I'm hoping for more time and more creativity).

Anyway, I'm happy with this simple, pretty thank you (and now thinking I will use it for a set for the piano teacher). I started by watercolouring with Kuretake Gansai Tambi and cutting the smaller of the two Hero Arts flowers from that. I cut the larger flower from a white panel and inlaid the smaller one into the bigger one. I like the 'halo' effect. I finished the flower with a sparkly Doodlebug enamel dot and added a Simon Says Stamp sentiment.

Yesterday was Struan's 16th birthday. We spent the morning getting him his G-1 driving license (learner's permit). He's pretty happy about that!


Thursday 25 June 2015

MFTWSC234 - Celebrate Pandas



This is my card for the current MFT Wednesday Sketch Challenge.



I don't often use animal or people images, but lately I've purchased a few because they're just so darn cute! The Happy Pandas set was one of them, along with the matching dies. I figured an MFT challenge was the perfect place to put them to work, but I also find this sketch a little busy. The result is a card that I like, but doesn't quite feel like me. But pushing ourselves to try new things is how we grow, right? And man, these guys really are cute!

I also used the Celebrate Big set - I feel like the big sentiment works well with the mostly black and white colour scheme.

Wednesday 24 June 2015

Congratulations, Kate!


Yesterday was Kate's graduation from Grade 6. Not everyone in Toronto has a Grade 6 grad - the city is made up of an amalgamation of lots of previous little towns and boroughs that used to each have their own School Board, so there are still lots of inconsistencies throughout the city.

Still, it's an achievement and a milestone before heading off to Middle School next year. She was the French valedictorian (she's in French Immersion) and also won the Principal's Leadership Award and a Music Award. We are so proud of her!

Kate's school's colours are green and yellow and she loves Perry the Platypus (see her blog Platypus Krafts here for evidence). For the card, I cut a panel on an angle and then sponged Mowed Lawn and Mustard Seed stripes. I stamped the Lawn Fawn platypus on the card base, and used the matching die to cut out a spot for his tail from the stripes. I used Memory Box dies to cut and layer numbers and an Avery Elle sentiment.


Kate and her friends

Kate and her awards

#1 Grad bracelet from Grandma & Grandpa





Tuesday 23 June 2015

CASology 152 - Nautical


This week's CASology Cue Card is Nautical!



I used stencilling, sponging and masking to make this card. Not your most CAS techniques, but the result is still CAS because of the clean simple lines and all the white space.

I started by masking a horizontal line on the panel. I positioned my Simon Says Stamp stencil and then used post-it tape to mask off the top of the waves I wanted to use. I sponged that area with Peacock Feathers and Chipped Sapphire distress inks and then removed the stencil. I created a circle stencil with post-it tape and sponged on Mustard Seed and Ripe Persimmon (masking the top of the wave).

I finished the card with part of a CASual Fridays birthday sentiment. It seemed appropriate for this summery/vacation card and I think I'll give it to one of Kate's teachers this week on her last day.

And by one of those coincidences that happen every once in a while, The Challenge's theme is also Nautical this week, so I'm linking up there.

And now it's your turn - I can't wait to see how you're inspired! Make sure you visit the rest of the DT to see how they were inspired!



Monday 22 June 2015

Teacher Thank You (8)


One final set of thank yous to give to one of Kate's teachers. This one was simple, but fun and full of graphic visual impact.

I masked each card front and sponged the main distress ink colour (that's Twisted Citrus on the middle-right card) before sponging the next shade near the bottom. As I worked my way down the rainbow (I started with Mustard Seed and Spiced Marmalade), I realized that I would have a hard time finding a darker shade than Dusty Concord, so I started again with Mustard Seed and added Twisted Citrus. The only one I had trouble with blending was Twisted Citrus to Salty Ocean (middle right) - maybe the difference in shades was too great and I should have used Peacock Feathers or even Mowed Lawn as the darker shade.

For my sentiment, I lined up the letters from Stampin' Up's new Layered Alphabet on my MISTI and finished the 12 cards (two of each colour) quickly.

Colour combinations

1) Mustard Seed and Spiced Marmalade
2) Spiced Marmalade and Festive Berries
3) Festive Berries and Dusty Concord
4) Mustard Seed and Twisted Citrus
5) Twisted Citrus and Salty Ocean
6) Salty Ocean and Dusty Concord.

Sunday 21 June 2015

MCV7 - Keep Calm and Stay Bright


This is my card for this week's Muse: ChristmasVisions challenge, where DT Member Betty Wright has given us this beautiful blue and white inspiration:



I focused on the colour scheme, the layout (image over sentiment), the horizontal strokes of Betty's background and the white image over the blue.

I started by watercolouring a piece of Fabriano 90lb Watercolour paper (from my local art store) with Kuretake Gansai Tambi, in 3 shades of blue. I read somewhere that someone was finding that the lighter paper blends better - not sure I noticed a difference, but I'm happy with my pretty result!

When it was dry, I trimmed it and cut out a Memory Box star from the centre. I used a Neat&Tangled sentiment in Night of Navy ink (stamped twice, using my MISTI).

I hope you'll get a chance to play along with us - this week, Christmas is exactly 6 months away. We're half-way there!  The deadline for this week's challenge is Wednesday at 8 am. At that time you can vote for your 3 Stars (even if you didn't get a chance to link up a card). Voting results will be posted on Thursday at noon. Hope to see you there!

Saturday 20 June 2015

Teacher Thank You Cards (6&7)


Two more teacher thank yous today (I'm running out of time!!!!) The first one uses the new Simon Says Stamp/WPlus9 Many Thanks set. I absolutely could not seem to make roses that looked pretty (I need to find a tutorial somewhere on both positioning and colour combinations. PLEASE let me know if you know where that lives!), and, feeling the time pressure, went back to a basic colour scheme and layout. I used the sentiment and one of the little dots and my MISTI to whip up 24 of these ones - 12 each for the art and gym teacher.


The second card uses a sentiment from a Christmas set from Simon Says Stamp, Handlettered Winter Wishes. I summered it up with some watercoloured flowers using a Taylored Expressions flower die and some leaves from MFT's Fresh-cut flowers die set.


Thursday 18 June 2015

Muse 122 - Thank you, Marion!


This is my card for this week's Muse Challenge, where DT Member Marion has provided us with her final inspiration card before she moves on to other things:



Lately I've been doing a lot of working on the Muse blog, getting ready to make some announcements next week, and as soon as I saw Marion's 3 balloons,  I saw a distinct similarity to our beloved logo.

Muse

So I let the Muse logo and Marion's card (I wonder if it was intentional?) to make this thank you card which I will (very appropriately, I think) send to Marion to thank her for her work with us over the last two and a half years.

I cut the hearts in white and coloured them with two copics each, to get some shading and dimension. I placed them on a black background and laid a thin strip of silver glitter paper to catch the sparkle of Marion's balloon strings. I finished with a white die cut Simon sentiment, coated in Versamark and embossed with clear embossing powder (I find that so much easier than Glossy Accents!)



MM163 - Merry Christmas


Don't let this card fool you. It's sitting there, smirking at me. It looks simple and clean and innocent, doesn't it? But this one came into life screaming like crazy. Or maybe that was me. I am happy with the result, though, so all that screaming was worth it! lol!

This week's Merry Monday Challenge is Red and White.



I started by using my MISTI and Ranger Classic Cherry ink to stamp a striped image from Simon Says Stamp Handlettered Winter Wishes. I let it sit for a while before cutting it to a 1/2" strip and sponging the edges with Antique Linen distress ink. This makes it look round like a candy cane.

Working with red can be tricky. It gets everywhere. It seems to stay wet forever and  you find smudges in the darndest places. So it took me a while to get to the finish with a clean white card, stamped with a clean black Hero Arts sentiment. It's ok, today is recycling pick up, so in about half and hour, all the evidence will be gone and this card can maintain its cool image.  ;-)




Tuesday 16 June 2015

CASology 151 - Kids


This week's CASology Cue Card is Kids



At this time of year (here in North America), kids are getting ready for summer holidays. This old A Muse bus stamp is perfect for an 'end of year' card. I feel like I've make this card before. To change it up a bit, I tilted the bus to create a bit of movement and a feeling of fun! I also chose a different sentiment this year - an old Stampin' Up stamp (Road to Happiness) that seemed appropriate.

Now it's your turn  - we can't wait to see how you interpret this cue card! Make sure to stop by the rest of the DT's blogs to get some more inspiration!

Sunday 14 June 2015

MCV6 - Merry


This is my card for this week's Muse: ChristmasVisions challenge, where DT Member Chriss has given us this card for inspiration:



I focused on the clean feeling and the colour scheme. You may notice a similarity in layout to my Muse card for this week - I made them at the same time! lol!

I used an Ellen Hutson sentiment die and a Stamps of Life circle die to create my wreath.

I hope you'll get a chance to play along with us this week - the deadline is Wednesday at 8 am EDT. At that time you can vote for your 3 favourites (even if you didn't link up) and the results will be posted on Thursday at noon.

Saturday 13 June 2015

Happy Birthday, John!


Today is our nephew's 10th birthday. I came up with this design when making a card for one of Kate's friends last week (see below). I used the Papertrey glasses die to create sunglasses and then masked a yellow/orange circle behind it. I think that works for a couple of reasons - one it looks like a sun. It also looks a bit like a face with the glasses on it. And finally it just adds some fun, bright colour.

I love the 'spectacular' pun (Technique Tuesday) and finished the sentiment with Lawnfawn's Harold's Alphabet. The 'shine' on the lenses came from my white distress marker.



Friday 12 June 2015

Muse 121 - Happy Birthday


This is my card for this week's Muse challenge where DT Member Michele has given us this lovely graphic card as inspiration:



I focused on Michele's bright clean feeling, her colour scheme and her use of a script and solid sentiment. I used my new MFT Build-able Blooms to make the navy blue flower (I stamped it in Adirondack Citrus on the panel to provide some 'leaves' around the die cut, which was stamped in SU Night of Navy - the centre is a Doodlebug sparkly enamel dot). My sentiment is from MFT's new Written in Watercolor set for my 'happy', and Altenew's Label Love for the 'birthday'.

Tuesday 9 June 2015

CASology 150 - Graduation!


This week's CASology Cue Card is Graduation.



This card is for a friend who just completed a distance degree from the University of Victoria. Using these PTI block numbers was an easy way to incorporate the colours of the university into the card design. I found an old clear 'congratulations' stamp that fits perfectly underneath. This card is full of straight lines, and feels modern and clean. (the inks I used are (left to right) - Ranger Blue Ribbon. Stampin' Up Night of Navy. Ranger Classic Cherry, Adirondack Buttercup).

Now it's your turn! Make sure you check out the inspiration from the rest of the DT members!


Monday 8 June 2015

Happy Birthday!


I'm channelling two of Laura Bassen's recent cards today. See them here and here. I cut the largest Simon Says Stamp dot circles die a couple of times and then used the outline portion to help me position my intersecting lines of dots. Each dot is coloured with copics and popped up for a little dimension. I finished with a bold W+9 happy die and a stamped 'birthday'.

Then I made another one for our nephew's 5th birthday, using a Papertrey die for the 5.




Sunday 7 June 2015

MCV 5 - Peace


This is my card for this week's Muse: ChristmasVisions challenge, where Kimberly has provided us this amazing card for inspiration:



I decided to incorporate Kimberly's navy blue background right into my card and used shimmery navy and white. I hoped it might make the card easier to photograph, but no luck! lol! The overwhelming feeling I got from Kimberly's card was one of peace, so I went very, very simple and used a Savvy peace die inlaid into a shimmery white circle.

I hope you'll get a chance to play along - the deadline is Wednesday morning at 8 am. Then you can vote for your 3 favourites until Thursday morning at 8 and voting results will be posted on Thursday at noon.  Hope to see you there!

Friday 5 June 2015

Muse 120 - Thank You, Vicki!


This is my card for this week's Muse challenge, where our farewell inspiration from Vicki is this beautiful card:



I focused on the butterfly theme, the white on white card, the script sentiment and its placement on the card as well as the colours. This Penny Black butterfly stamp is one of my favourites from a design point of view - I love how crisp the edges are, even without an outline. However, this butterfly stamp is not my favourite to work with - it's that kind of acrylic that allows the ink to pool on it, making it difficult to get a good impression - MISTI to the rescue! You can restamp in exactly the same spot until all those areas are fully inked.  The sentiment is from A Muse.

I added a few strokes of copic markers in yellow, blue and pink to the butterfly before smearing a little Stickles in the centre for some subtle sparkle.

This card is on its way to Vicki, to thank her for being such a wonderful source of inspiration, a reliable DT member and a good friend over the past year and a half. I know you join me in wishing her all the best! And I hope you'll join us before the deadline on Monday morning at 8 am. At that time you can vote for your 3 favourites and voting results will be posted on Tuesday at noon.

Watercolour Blog Hop (Teacher Thank you 5)


Pretty Pink Posh is hosting a Watercolour blog hop today. Make sure you visit for all the details.

I'm still working away on the teacher thank you sets and thought it would be fun to play some more with my Zig Clean Color watercolour markers. The process was the same for all my colour combinations (see below) - I started by scribbling a dot of my centre colour and then drew a ring of the outside colour about the size of my Ellen Hutson Bold Blooms rose. Then I simply used my waterpen to blend the colours. I then die cut the roses, but when it came time to pop out the extra bits, I really didn't want to lose the intensity of the beautifully bold colours, so I just left them all in. I finished the card with a big and bold Papertrey sentiment.






Thursday 4 June 2015

MM161, OLCCC11 - Merry Christmas


This is my card for two 'other' Christmas challenges, Merry Monday and One-Layer Christmas Card Challenge. My Muse: ChristmasVisions card will be posted here later in the week.

 

I stamped an old Impress Rubber Stamps poinsettia down the full left side of the card (front and back) before I scored and folded it. I used Real Red ink.

I used a couple of cut-up sentiments to create this one - the Merry is from Papertrey and the Christmas is from Gina K. Finally, I cut tiny dots out of Champagne shimmer paper using a die from MFT's Blueprints 25 for the poinsettia centres.

Wednesday 3 June 2015

Teacher Thank You Cards (3&4)


How about some more thank you cards that I'm making for the teachers? Today's theme is floral. And MISTI - so easy to get everything lined up many times when you use it!

For the first card, I used Papertrey's Flower Favorites stamped in shades of grey. I put some Stickles in the flower centres, but it just looks dirty in the photos. In real life, these are soft and pretty with a hint of sparkle.



Next, I pulled out Paper Smooches Reflections along with a new Hero Arts sentiment. I made it in two colours. (linking up to Paper Smooches Sparks challenge - Anything Goes).