Watercoloring Flowers

Hello, friends!  Just two quick cards to share with you today. I signed up for an on line watercolor class, so I'm trying out some of the techniques.  This first one was done for one of the Dare to Get Dirty Challenges on Splitcoaststampers last week.  

Creative Nugget:  The frame for this card was done by painting watercolor onto an acrylic block, spritzing it with water, and stamping it onto a piece of watercolor paper.  Distress inks were painted right on the Wildflowers stamp by Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps, spritzed with water, and stamped inside the frame.  The sentiment is from the Script Birthdays set, also by Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps.   A few pearls and a black mat finish the card!

I'm taking the opportunity to use some of the challenges to get a jump start on my Christmas cards for this year.  This card was created for the CAS(e) This Sketch Challenge, the Splitcoaststampers CAS challenge to use a watermelon palette, and the Splitcoaststampers Technique Challenge to do a watercolor resist.

Creative Nugget:  The Light of Christmas background stamp was clear embossed on watercolor paper.  A watercolor wash was applied over the embossing to create a kind of ombre look using the watermelon colors.  The Poinsettia was black embossed, watercolored, and fussy cut before popping it on the tag which was cut with the Bookmarks & More die.  The sentiment was stamped on a hand cut banner.  Gold micro beads were added to the center of the poinsettia.  Some gold Bakers twine was unraveled and tied to the tag to finish the card.  All the stamps and dies for this card can be found at Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps.

Here is the CTS #87 sketch:

That's all for today!  Hope you've been inspired by your visit!

Have a wonderful day!

Hugs,

Cathymac

SNSS Celebrates Christmas in July

Hello friends...just a short post for you today as I'm away for the day.  I wanted to let you know about two new Christmas die sets being released today at Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps...just in time to get a jump start on making those Christmas cards!  Both of them have coordinating stamp sets to make your Christmas card stamping a snap!

Here are two samples I made using these sets and the matching dies:

Creative Nugget: This card was made with the Poinsettia clear stamp set and the Poinsettia die.  Several poinsettias were cut with the die, colored with Copic Markers, and some were cut apart to layer for texture.

Creative Nugget:  The Vintage Ornament was stamped hanging from the berry branch from the God's Purpose stamp set.  Four ornaments were cut with the matching die and everything was colored with Copic Markers.  The die cut ornaments were scored and folded in half and the halves attached to form a 3-D ornament. Wouldn't these 3-D ornaments look lovely attached to a Christmas tree with some pretty ribbon?  The newly released Doily Border Die was used to separate the panels of card stock and DP.  The sentiment is from the Holly Jolly Christmas stamp set.

I hope you've enjoyed my samples!  For more fabulous Christmas inspiration using the new dies, visit the Sweet 'n Sassy Blog.  There you will find information about the hop, the PRIZES, and the linky list to continue the hop!

Thanks so much for stopping by...Enjoy the hop!

Hugs,

Cathymac

Crazy for Crayons

Hello friends...just a short post to let you know that I am hosting the "Ways to Use It Challenge" over at Splitcoaststampers today.  My love of coloring began a looooong time ago when I would sit for hours with my Crayola Crayons and a coloring book!  So my challenge for today is to revert back to your childhood and get out those crayons...Crayolas or Watercolor Crayons.

Creative Nugget:  The background for my card was made using the Melted Crayon Background technique.  Red, pink, and white crayons were melted on a hot, craft iron and smeared onto a piece of glossy card stock.  The postcard heading from the Vintage Postcard clear stamp set by Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps was stamped using Archival Jet Black ink and then dried with a heat gun.  This was embossed using a Tim Holtz embossing folder.  The melted crayon panel was mounted on True Black card stock and a Vintage Cream card front.  Another layer of Echo Park DP mounted on a border punched piece of True Black was added.  After stamping the Poinsettia, also by Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps, several times on Neenah Solar White, a white crayon was used to color highlights on each leaf.  Worn Lipstick, Aged Mahogany, and Peeled Paint Distress Inks were then sponged on the poinsettias.  The poinsettia panel was embossed using the Canvas Impression plate while other poinsettias were cut out and layered onto the panel with Dimensionals.  Black gingham ribbon and pearls finish the card.

If you get some stamping time today, try having a little fun with some crayons, and come join the "Ways to Use It Challenge" over at Splitcoaststampers!  Hope to see you there!

Thanks for stopping by...have a wonderful day!

Hugs,
Cathymac

Card Recipe
Stamps: Poinsettia,  Vintage Postcard (Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps)
Ink: Tuxedo Black (Memento), Archival Jet Black (Ranger), Walnut Stain, Worn Lipstick, Aged Mahogany, and Peeled Paint Distress Inks (Ranger)
Paper: Vintage Cream, True Black (PTI), Neenah Solar White (Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps), Christmas This & That Paper Pad (Echo Park)
Accessories: Embossing Folder (Tim Holtz), Canvas Impression Plate (PTI), Sew Mini (Janome), Scallop Trim Border Punch, Circle Punch (SU!), Crayons (Crayola), Iron, Kaiser Pearls, Gingham Ribbon