Hi everyone.  Last month, my dear friend Frances, came over for a day of playing with alcohol inks.  We made some lovely backgrounds on different types of substraits, using different techniques.  I finally got around to using one of the backgrounds I made that day ... pearl alcohol inks smooshed on vellum.  I folded the excess over the edge of a white card stock panel and taped it down.  I added a simple white die-cut flower (Ascending - Penny Black), and a white heat embossed sentiment (Happy Messages - retired - Stampendous).   A pretty card that was simp ..read more

Hi everyone.  Today's card is for the IDEAS Challenge with Darnell.  This week is "A - Anything Goes". For my Anything Goes, I've tried a new-to-me technique.  Thanks to Tiffany Solorio for this great video.  I used a panel of alcohol inked yupo from my stash, ran it through my Gemini with the Vine Canopy embossing folder (Simon Says Stamp).  I then used a sanding block to sand off the top of the raised design, which turns white.  I love the effect and will try this with more of my AI panels that have been collecting dust. :) I popped it up ..read more

Hi everyone.  I'm back with two cards using one of the new releases at Penny Black, called Blooms (31-064) with matching die-cuts, In Bloom cut out (51-824). I'm again following one of Jill Foster's video, Permission to Play #4.  She uses the hexagon frame for her card samples, but I'm using the same sketch, only substituting circles.  I started with the background, cutting two panels (4 1/4" x 5 1/2") and die-cutting a circle from each one (different sizes).  Both card fronts (and circles) were then run though my Gemini Jr. to dry emboss with Variegated embossing folde ..read more

Hi everyone.  It is a dear friend's birthday today and this is the card I made for her.   HAPPY BIRTHDAY, sweet friend.  Have a wonderful day of celebration! :) It's also time for the next IDEAS Challenge with Darnell.  This week is "E for Embossing Folders".  I usually post on Mondays ... but I delayed a day so I can post it today.  Hopefully my friend has received this card in the mail. :) I started by dry embossing the background using the new Diagonals embossing folder (Penny Black).  This is the first time I've used this embossing ..read more

Hi everyone.  Another card for June's Group of Seven's Design Element - Monochromatic. Simple CAS design all in shades of green on white card stock.  Sponged Shabby Shutter Distress ink over the Flourish stencil (Tim Holtz), fading out towards left side of card front.  Stamped Full Bloom (Penny Black) over top in Peeled Paint Distress Oxide Ink and added a simple sentiment:  Many Everyday Messages - retired (Hero Arts) in the same ink to finish card. Close-up ... Sending the above card to the following Challenges:              ..read more

Hi everyone.  Today I'm sharing a card stamped with Special Blend (31-059) from Penny Black.  I adore this sweet image of two little girls having a tea party! :)   I have been following along with Jill Foster's latest series of YouTube videos for Penny Black, called "Permission to Play".  It's a fantastic series of videos with sketches to create beautiful cards easily.  Today I am using Jill's sketch and tips from video #5.  Thanks so much Jill!! :) I stamped the image in Watering Can Archival ink onto mixed media paper.  I watercoloured with Distres ..read more

Hi everyone.  Today I'm sharing a birthday card I made for Jeremy's sweet friend, Vanessa.  I used some new Penny Black products:  Overflowing (31-062) and Overflowing Cut-Out (51-822), and some older PB products as well. I started with one of the images from the Overflowing stamp set, stamped in black ink and heat embossed in clear onto mixed media paper.  The image was die-cut from the matching die (Overflowing Cut Out) and then the flowers were sponged with Distress Inks: Pine Needles and Evergreen Bough.  I went over the sponging with a wet paint brush and added ..read more

Hi everyone.  This is for a very special friend for her birthday, so I delayed adding it to the IDEAS Challenge ("I - Inks/Colour Mediums") until today. :)  HAPPY BIRTHDAY DEAR FRIEND!! I used my stamp/stencil/die from Pinkfresh Studios (already retired) to create the card above.  I started by stamping the image in Black pigment ink, setting with my heat tool and then adding stenciling with Distress Inks:  Kitsch Flamingo, Picked Raspberry, Shabby Shutters, and Peeled Paint.  I think it's just me, but I have a hard time lining up the stencils so th ..read more

Hi everyone.  Today I'm starting a Multiple Makes self-challenge.  I'm inspired by my sweet friend, Darnell (djkardkreations.com), who ran the Twofer challenge for four years and continues to make multiples.  It's a great way to increase your stash of cards and I definitely need to do that with Christmas cards for this year. I used Penny Black's Radiant Red stamp for all of today's cards.  I LOVE this large poinsettia stamp and I had fun creating eight cards over three days.  I'm sharing five of them on this post. :) For the 1st card above, I was inspired by ..read more

Hi everyone.  Today's card is for the IDEAS Challenge with Darnell.  This week is "A - Anything Goes". For my Anything Goes I'm using a new-to-me stamp, die, and stencil set (Nature's Magic -Altenew). I used a couple of the layering stencils to sponge my stamped flowers, adding shading as I went rather than using the detail stencils for the shading.  I like to have more control. :)  Next time I will try watercolouring these beauties.  Distress Inks were used to add colour (Large flower:  Mustard Seed, Spiced Marmalade, Crackling Campfire; Smaller f ..read more