My Friend

The panel was created using watercolors and the Simon Says Stamps 'Tumbling Leaves' stencil. The image -a long ago retired CTMH stamp was inked with Slate on top, and also a background stamp. The sentiment was cut from SSS printed sentiments card.  I have wanted to try using various techniques with stencil. The watercolor must be done rather dry with a fine brush to avoid it getting beneath the stencil.  I really liked the soft background it created.

Linking to Freshly Made Sketches #431

I liked it so much, I made another card with the same materials, and added splatter. 

Quarantine Playtime

Well, I have been watching lots of great videos and chats with some of my favorite artists.  These cards are inspired by Laura Bassen (http://www.laurafadora.com/2020/04/05/perfect-shapes-star/) and
Cathy Zielske (https://www.cathyzielske.com/2020/04/outline-love-die-with-soft-pastels/) and
FRESHLY MADE Sketches #430

I used A Gina K stamp and die set for sentiments, and my new Frames Diamonds die set from Altenew.  The first card is linked to Freshly Made, the second is an attempt to try the CZdesign challenge in her 10 minute talk this morning.  The solid diamonds are there to cover serious glue mistakes! So I'm going with the "no mistakes, just opportunities for creativity" theory. The photos look better if you click on them...too much sunshine. Wait! That's not a thing.

A Special Place in my Heart

Down memory lane with my Close to My Heart products!  I pulled out the 'spring' folder and found a lovely paper set, Penelope, a sweet stamp set called Sensational Season, and Flamingo enamel dots. Long retired, I am sure. 
I stamped with Versamark on some bright white water color paper, and used some watercolor pencils for the image, then fussy cut and foam tape popped.  This is my design card for
Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenge #363. The sketch is up for you to try today, and my card will be on their blog Wednesday. 

You are Loved

Making an effort to turn off news, stop cleaning the house...the stay at home can feel so strange, and it has kept me watching videos and copying. Found it hard until yesterday to get any creativity going. So I played last night with alcohol inks and my new Gilded Alloy on yupo paper. This morning I was inspired by CAS(E) this Sketch #366 to make something new. I used some pink card stock from my stash, some shiny purple paper from Simon Says for the panels. I cut the SSS sentiment die from gold shiny paper.  I used some Seedless Preserves ink for splatter and  Brutus Monroe gilded shimmer spray on the card base.  Alcohol colors used were Cool Peri (the lavender/purple shade), Shell Pink and Pink Sherbet.
Also linking to Time Out Challenges - use a little or a lot of purple.

AHSC 361 You are Wonderful

I have done a black and white and spotlight color card today. The sentiment and small butterfly are from the Close to My Heart Card Word Puzzle set.  A very versatile favorite of mine. The larger image is from my favorite butterfly set from STAMPlorations.  Used Copics to color.

I am a day late here...found it very difficult to motivate myself these past few days.  I finished a group of cards for a mailing and then just sat for hours on the news.  Today, I decided to turn it off and think of people to contact and thank. This got me started♥   Love the power of crafting and the amazing companies and people out there creating some paper love!

Check out the sketch this week at Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenge and give it a try!  You'll find a lot of inspiration on the blog.

Atlantic Hearts Challenge 359

My card for this week's sketch used a stencil and flower image from Altenew. I stamped in SSS Intense Black, and colored with Copics. The sentiment die is also from Simon Says Stamp. The challenge is up today on
Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenge.

 Play along, and go there on Wednesday to see the Design Team inspiration!

*The little glass bee was given to me by my sweet granddaughter

Inchie!

Had a great deal of fun creating inchies with some tiny stamps.  This one was the favorite.  It's a very old mini from Close To My Heart. When I was a consultant, I'd give out these 'petite perks' with some orders. This was stamped and then colored with Copics. LOTS of white space here :-)

AAA Challenge - check it out!