Floral Notes

Hello everyone, hope you are all doing fine!

Sorry for not being around much in the last few weeks.  Work has been busy, and I don't feel much like making cards or blogging at night.  This weekend, weather was gorgeous, we did a lot of yard work, much more to go, but we put a big dent into it.

My card today is one that I made for my last card order last month, but just never posted yet.  This is a Mother's Day card. 

Using Pinkfresh Studio dies and stencils.- Floral notes stencil & die, slim lacey edger die and Inverted diamond stencil.

I started by stenciling the floral notes using Pinkfresh studio inks.  I then cut it out using matching die, and also cut an extra one and adhered together for some dimension.

For the layer on top of my base, I using one of the edger dies from the set and cut it along the bottom edge.  I then placed the inverted diagonal stencil on top and sponged inks very lightly, blue more in the middle and the yellow and greens out towards the sides.

I stamped the sentiment in black versafine clair and cut it out with a flag banner die.

I adhered everything together, flat, but popped up the sentiment.

To finish off I added tiny pearls to the centers of the floral border, TH rock candy glitter to the centers of the flowers  and enamel dots around the floral.  For the centers of the flowers - I using a tiny stamp from on of my Papertrey Ink stamps sets and stamped it in black.  I just thought it was too plain and needed something.

That's it for me today. I appreciate your visit.  See you again real soon!

Pauline

Sending Springtime smiles

Hello!  I'm back today to share another springtime card using products from PinkFresh Studio.

This is the same stencil set that I used in my last post - the  Daisy Wreath Stencil  and matching die, along with Diagonal Stitched Circles dies and Simply Diamonds die.  I also used a background stamp - Floral Diamond.

I started by embossing the floral diamond background stamp onto some white c/s using white embossing powder. I then sponged the entire background using PF inks - Grassy Knoll and Fresh Pear, not too heavily.

My florals were done with PF inks as well, I used inks from the green set - Over the Hills as well as inks from Rise and Shine set.  

Using white c/s I cut out the diamond background using the Simply Diamond die, as well as one of circles from Diagonal Stitched circle die.  I figured out where I wanted the sentiment by arranging the floral pieces, then embossed the sentiment in gold - sentiment is from PTI.

I then layered everything together, added some glitter to the flowers using SSS unicorn glitter and my quickie glue pen.  Added some pearls and rhinestones to finish this off.

Love the fresh springtime feeling to this card. 

Thanks for stopping by today, always appreciate your visit. Stay healthy, keep well, till next time.....

Pauline

Spider Mums

Hope everyone is doing well.  I have a floral card to share today from Altenew Stamps - this one is a Paint-a-flower stamp - Spider Mum.

I stamped the image onto some white cougar 100lb using Gina K's black amalgam ink.  I then pulled out a variety of copics and went to town.

Once coloured I pulled out a SSS stencil and sponged some soft ink colours around the flower.  I used distress oxide, but pretty much what was on my brush and sponged very lightly.

Image was cut out using MFT stitched rectangle.  I layered 2 more pieces of white cardstock behind it for dimension then adhered to my card base.

Finishing touches I added clear Nuvo glitter pen to the flowers, and add a couple of gems.

As always, I appreciate your visit today. Have a wonderful day.

Pauline

Airbrushed flowers

 I'm back with a second post this week, which has not been my norm lately, but I made a couple of cards on the weekend, so this is the second one I made.

Using Altenew's Airbrushed Flowers set and matching dies.

Inks used are from the Altenew sets Nature's Wonders and Sugarplums. This set is a multiply layer set, which I just love doing.  Step by step instructions with each makes stamping so much easier.  Once stamping was done I cut it out with matching dies.

It took me a while to decide what I wanted to do for the background.  Most of my papers were either too busy of a pattern, or not the right shade of purple/plum.  So I decided to go white.  I used the Pinkfresh Studio die  called Diagonal Stitched Plaid which only cuts the plaid marks, and then I also used the oval frame which is called Francy Oval Frame also by PFS.  I cut 2 of the frames and glued them together.

I arranged the florals around the frame, tucking the leaves underneath, and adding some foam squares under the flower petals in spots as well as the top and bottom leaves.  

Using Nuvo glitter gloss pen to add some sparkle to the centers of the flowers, then added some Studio Katia Icy Sparkle crystals.

I was going to add a sentiment, but decided not to.  This way I can use it for anything, either add a sentiment at that time, or just on the inside.

That's it for me this week.  Have a wonderful weekend everyone, see you back here next week.  Keep well!

Pauline

Peaceful Florals

Hello everyone! Hope you are all doing well.

Today's card is one that I don't need, but always good to have on hand.  I'm using a stamp set from Gina K, called Peaceful Florals.  I had thoughts of water colouring this image, but changed my mind and decided to use my Polychromos pencils and a bit of gamsol for blending.

Since I always tend to go with pink or purple flowers, I decided to go with a yellow/orange this time around.  Once coloured I sponged a bit of light yellow from Altenew, but as you can see I have a bit of a pinky/orange glow, so I think my brush with the yellow ink picked up some of the orange from the pencil colouring, which I really don't mind at all.

To finish I cut it out using a MFT scallop rectangle die.  Sentiment is from a set from Simon Says Stamps.  Now it looks crooked, but I tell you when it was flat and I used my Misti to line up and stamp it was perfectly straight.  Maybe it's the way the script is written.  But it's stamped now, so gotta go with it!

I added some Pretty Pink Post diamond rainbow rhinestones.  For my card base I used a piece from my scrap bin, but I think it might be baked brown sugar from SU.

I appreciate you stopping by. Have a fabulous day!

Pauline

Hello

A few weeks ago we took a drive to London (ON) and I stopped at my favourite stamp store - Stamp Art. If you live in the area and looking for a great stamp store, this is it.  Nancy carries a wide variety of many companies and will be glad to order something for you if you don't see it in her store.  I literally could spend a couple of hours in her store, just so much to see and she is always very helpful at showing you 'what's new'.

So with the 'what's new', one of the many things  I came home with was this beautiful die from Studio Light. I went through some of my backgrounds I made and came across this vibrant one. 

I think I used distress oxide sprays onto some watercolour paper.  I cut it using an MFT scallop die, cut out the floral from white c/s twice and glued together.  I also cut a 'hello' from black c/s twice and layered.  The hello die is from creative expressions.

To finish off I added some sequins and pearls and used my Nuvo clear glitter pen for sparkle on the flowers.

I love that dies make the card making process much quicker.  What did we ever do before dies were available??

Thanks for stopping in today.  Have a wonderful weekend!

Pauline

From the archives

Hello everyone, hope you had an enjoyable weekend!  Yesterday we got some much need rain (thunder showers) to give some relief from this terrible heat wave we've been having. It will still be in the mid 90's for most of this coming week, and then back up to about 110 on Saturday!

After reading Leslie Miller's post a few weeks back about UFO (unfinished objects), I decided to take a look in my basket to see what I had and if there was anything I could salvage.  Low and behold I came across this embossed Thistle.  You will never guess how long I have had this? Are you ready? I'm going to say at least 10 yrs! Back in 2009 or 2010 our local stamp store had Fred B Mullet come teach us a class.  We did fish, leaves, flowers just to name a few.  Looks like I had embossed this with a couple of different embossing powders but that was as far as I got with it.

So pulled out some papers and put it all together.

I dusted the edges around the thistles with some antique linen just to soften the white down somewhat.The card base and the frame around the thistles is a deep purple/gold metallic cardstock. It is a very rich colour.  Designer paper is from Memory Box. 

To finish I added some coloured pearls.

I appreciate you stopping by today.  Have a wonderful day!

Pauline

Easy breezy coneflowers

I'm back today to share another card I made for my card order.  I have so many digital images already printed off, I need to start colouring them and making them into cards.

These cone flowers are from Power Poppy. I decided to colour these in purple tones using copic colours V91, V93, V95 and V99.

I pulled out some cardstock to try to match the purples.  Purple tones are the hardest to match, just so many variations of tones.  In real the background cardstock is pretty close to the flower colours, but it doesn't look that way in the picture.  It's funny sometimes how the camera see's colours in a different way. For the embossed background I used a die from Nellie's Choice called Square Drops A, for some added interest.

Anyway, designer paper is some older Basic Grey - Wisteria. I think I hoarded this paper pack because I love it so much, but time to change that! I also sponged some antique linen distress ink around the edges of the floral piece once I cut it out using MFT stitched rectangle.

The layer behind the flowers is cut using one of the Postal Frames from The Greetery.

To finish off I added a few tiny purple rhinestones and some gold coloured silk ribbon. I also added some loose glitter from Art Institute to the centers of the cone flowers.

Well that's it for me.  I'm so glad you stopped by today.  Enjoy the rest of your day and have a fabulous weekend! Beautiful weekend here with temperatures in the mid to upper 60's and sunny! Perfect weather!

Take care my friends, hugs,

Pauline

Pure Prairie Bouquet

I hope everyone is having a good week. I've been busy at nights these past few weeks working on a card order for a friend.  Sometimes it's good to have an order to work on as it pushes you to make cards, where as if you have no orders, I seem to slide a bit, and then find it hard to get back at it.

So with that said, today I have a Birthday card I made for the order. I decided to colour up some of the digital images already printed off ages ago.  This one is from Power Poppy called - Pure Prairie Bouquet. I just love it, such a variety of flowers.

I used copics to colour, and used the pointillism technique for adding colour around the image.
After the image was trimmed down I added a couple of strips of gold peel-off's for some added interest.

Now you know you need some sparkle on the flowers, so I pulled out my container of Art Institute glitter. I have so much of this, and I hardly think to use it.  I used a couple of different colours on the flowers although the close up shot below, they all kind of look the same! Just love that sparkle!

A few gold sequins were added to finish this off.

I've also been busy going through my bird photography.  So many pictures to go through, but that's one good thing about a digital camera, you can delete the ones you don't want.  I should have some pictures to share with you soon.

Have a wonderful weekend, and thanks for your visit!

Pauline

Dahlia

I have another water coloured card to share with you today.  This flower is from StudioLight item
 # STAMPJBS0 - Dahlia.

I started by white embossing it onto a piece of Canson 140lb water colour paper.

To colour, I smooshed several colours of distress oxide inks onto my craft mat, misted with water and then painted away.

For the background, well lets just say, how I envisioned it, isn't the way it turned out. But rather than keep adding more colours I left it as is, as I was afraid I would get it too muddy looking and not even use the image.

One it was completely dried, I cut it down to size.  I also cut a border using Memory Box Woodland Border using SU Fine Linen, and adhered it to the bottom of the front layer.  Second layer is dark purple, and the base is also SU Fine Linen.

For finishing touches I added some tiny iridescent butterflies from Studio Katia and added some shimmer using Nuvo glimmer gloss.

I hope everyone is doing well. Thanks for stopping by. Till next time.......

Pauline

Fresh picked for you

I hope everyone is doing well.  I can't believe it's been a month since I've been working from home.

My mojo has not returned, but lucky for me I still have a few cards I have not shared with you yet.  My card today is one using products from one of my favourite stores The Greetery!

All the flowers and mason jar have been stamped weeks ago.  I took a few weekend afternoons and just stamped and die cut until I had an assortment to put to use later on.

For my background I sponged distress oxide inks in these colours:  scattered straw, spun sugar, worn lipstick, pumice stone and hickory smoke.  I then cut the paper to fit just inside the pierced edge of the postal frame die cut. The postal frame die is just short of being an A2 size and I wanted to make it longer so I die cut another piece and adhered it to the main piece by adding another couple of inches or so.  Hence the twine around it, to cover up the seam.

I then arrange different flowers and leaves to fill my mason jar.  The Mason jar is popped up with some fun foam.

I added some TH rock candy glitter to the centers of the flowers, some sequins and pearls.  I was really pleased on how this turned out.

Dies: The Greetery - Postal Frame, Fleur Impressions, Inside & Out berry branch, Just mason around, Oopsie Daisy
Stamps: The Greetery - Fleur Impressions, Just Mason Around, Oopsie Daisy, 
Inks: distress oxide for background and flowers, as well as polychomos pencils for highlights on the flowers


I wish everyone a very Happy Easter.  It won't be same without spending it with family, but we have to do to keep everyone safe and healthy.  I appreciate your time today to stop by for a visit.  I hope I inspired you today.

Till we meet again, stay well, keep being creative!

Pauline

Miss you

Today's card is super easy! I need to make more of these types in different colours with different sentiments.

I'm using Simon Says Stamps Stencil Peony.  The stencil measures 6x6, which comes in handy for a variety of card sizes. I taped my stencil down over my white c/s and applied distress oxide inks: bundled sage, mowed lawn, salty ocean, dusty concord using my life changing brushes. 

Once my peony's were completed I cut it down to fit onto my blue scallop layer.

The sentiment die is also from SSS.  I love that it comes with the sentiment and the shadow die, which in my case I cut the shadow from vellum and the words from the blue c/s.  ( I only had a couple of pieces left and don't have the wrapper, but I think it is SU Baja Breeze, not 100% sure though).

For finishing touches I added some clear sequins and a Nuvo water droplet gem.

Have a wonderful day! See you soon,

Pauline

Nourish & Flourish

Sorry I haven't posted in almost a week.  I've been busy with another card order which I'm almost done. 14 cards this time, and the good thing about it is that I am just re-making cards that I have already posted, so this makes the process so much faster, as I just need to copy from my first card.

Can you believe that it is Dec 1 already! Yikes, still have Christmas cards to make, how about you?

Before I started this card order and right after I finished the last 19 cards, I made this one.  This is a digital image from Gracielliedesign called Nourish & Flourish. I love digitals for two reasons, does not take up space (only on your hard drive) and you can resize it to your preference.

I used copics to colour and believe it or not I actually remembered to write down the numbers this time!

This was pretty straight forward, so I will list the supplies below.

Supplies:
Image - digitial from Gracielliedesign - Nourish & Flourish
ink - printer, Copics - R30, R32, R35, R37, Y35, YG00, YG03, G97, G99, BG0000, BG10, C00, C01, C02
Paper - Bazzill Basics Paper pack - Vintage Lace, cougar white, Bazzill - kind of a sage green
Die - Aliexpress
Misc - silk ribbon, sequins, Nuvo glitter gloss aqua shimmer

Okay back to finishing up this order.  So glad you stopped by today.  Have yourself a wonderful day!

Pauline

Hope your day is fabulous

Hello! Did you think I fell off the face of the earth? Well, I didn't, just been busy with many things in my life. Have had some health issues with my feet - planters fasciitis - very painful.  I had to get orthotics and gradually break them in over a few weeks. This past weekend, something terrible happened and I could barely walk for 2 days.  My feet were so sore it was unbelievable.  Then I experience over the last month swelling of the ankles everyday.  I would ice them at night put my feet up, take advil, they looked good in the morning the it would happen all over again. I also had a flare up with my RA (Rheumatoid Arthritis) this past weekend as well.  When it rains it pours, so they say!   But must say I think I'm on the mend - thank goodness! It's been a rough month.

My card today is one I made over a month ago, but just never posted it.  I'm using Altenew - build a flower Cattleya.

I had already made the background a while ago using Magenta Nuance powders, so this came in handy when I was doing this card.  I stamped the flower onto some Canson watercolour paper using black memento and then water coloured it.  I'm sorry I don't even remember what inks I used to colour this with.

I cut out a couple of stitched circles to layer underneath the Cattleya flower.  I stamped the sentiment onto some white cardstock and then cut it with a banner die.  The sentiment is one of a few that come with the stamp set.

I added foam tape behind the flower for dimension, added some glitter to the centers of the flower and some enamel dots for accents.  I also added a strip of silver paper along the right side.

Thank you for your visit today, I will be back soon.  Have a fabulous day!

Pauline

Floral border

Hello! Sorry it's been a while since I posted, seems like forever.  Just been busy, and working overtime the last few weeks.  We are back to normal hours for a bit, so trying to catch up on things.

My card today is one that I had made a while ago.  Someone at work requested a Good Luck card for a co-worker who was moving to another job role.

I had the background already done, sitting in my spare parts basket just waiting to be used. I die cut the Memory Box Antilles Floral Border from white c/s and adhered to the coloured background.

I have a little package of labels, and there just happened to be a 'good luck' tag in there which worked perfectly for my card.  I added a green silk bow and some pretty rhinestones to the centers of the flowers.

Enjoy your weekend, see you again real soon!

Pauline

Birthday wishes

Hello! Well today marks my last day of my 11 day vacation (insert sad face).  It was a great week, Bill and I did a lot of traveling for the spring migration, captured some great photos, which I will soon share. For the most part the weather was great.  We even did a lot of yard work as well, gardens have been weeded and most of my flower pots are planted (annuals).  I admit, I did not even make one card in over 2 weeks - tsk, tsk, but you know sometimes you just need to take a break once in a while.

My card today is one that I made a while ago for my 10 birthday card order.  I know this is a SU set which cost just over $80 + shipping (CDN) which includes stamp set & matching die, but I found it on Aliexpress for less than $10 cdn! A great bargin for sure.

So, this is what I made using the set and die.  I also added a couple of extra leaves from the die set cut them from green c/s, then added some copic markers to kind of match the leaves in the main image.

Sentiment was from PB snippits, which was stamped in black versafine, then I die cut it was a Spellbinders label die.

To finish off I added some sequins and a little peach heart sequin on the sentiment piece.

I just might decide to make a card today depending on the weather.  I thought it was suppose to be sunny/cloud mix, but looks like it could actually rain. Wishing you a wonderful day, see you back here soon!

Pauline

Beautiful day

Hello everyone.  I'm back today to share another birthday card I made for my friends order.

I'm using Altenew's Handpicked Bouquet and matching die.

I started by stamping and embossing with platinum the floral onto some watercolour paper.  I then used my Zig markers to watercolour.  Once done I used the coordinating die to cut it out.

For my background I smooshed some distress oxide inks onto my glass mat, spritzed and then dabbed my paper into the inks until I liked what I saw.  I also splattered some distress ink on top once it was dry.  I then used an MFT die to cut out the background.  Some foam tape was added behind the scallop layer then I adhered this to my card base.

The sentiment is from Altenew - Beautiful Day and is embossed in white onto some black c/s.  I then cut it down to make a banner tag and adhered it to the bottom.  I was going to add some dimension in behind the flowers, but didn't want to make this card to thick as I already had some foam tape behind the background layer, so just adhered this flat. 

To finish off I added some enamel dots!

Thanks for stopping by, I always appreciate when you do.  Have yourself a fabulous weekend!

Paline

Beautiful Flower 2

Hello!  I  hope everyone had a good weekend.  Today's card is show casing one of the flowers from the Simon Says Stamp - Beautiful Flowers 2 set.

I stamped the image in distress antique linen for a no-line image onto some Strathmore mixed media paper..  I started out by watercolouring using Daniel Smith watercolours ( I bought a couple of the watercolour palette from SSS - a Debby Hughes Palette and Shari Carroll Palette, so I could try these out, very inexpensive only a couple of bucks for each. Once coloured to where I was happy with it, I switched over to Polychromos pencils for some added detail.

Using an oval die, I cut out the flower, left the die in place and sponged inks around the edge.  This was then layered onto a scallop oval die cut from a soft coral/pink card stock.

Designer paper is from Mintay - Birdsong. The papers in this pad are all gorgeous.  So hard to pick what to use and even harder to even into them lol.  I layered some cheese cloth in behind the image, and also cut out a small butterfly from the piece that I trimmed off.

Added some silk ribbon and bow, added the butterfly and some clear crystal droplets on the leaves. In the center of the flower I added a little bit of my gold wink of stella pen.

Not sure what I will use this card for, but will probably put a Mother's Day verse inside and added to my sale basket at work.

I always appreciate your visit, wishing you a fabulous day!

Pauline

Supplies:
Stamp - SSS Beautiful Flowers 2
Papers - Mintay - birdsong,  Strathmore Mixed media paper, coral, white
Ink - Daniel Smith watercolours, Polychromoas pencils, distress - ripe persimmon, scattered straw and antique linen
Die - Spellbinder Oval & scallop oval
Misc - silk ribbon, cheese cloth, crystal droplets.

Dainty whispers

Hello!  I'm back today to share another Penny Black image. 

I started by applying distress oxide inks to some canson watercolour paper, using twisted citron, cracked pistachio, peakcock feathers & blueprint sketch.

I then stamped the image - dainty whispers, using memento black.  I was sure to put this in my Misti as I was afraid I might not get a good impression first time around, so this way I can re-stamp the image,

Next, I took a wet paintbrush and dotted each flower blossom to remove the oxide ink.  It only takes a few seconds and you can see the ink lifting.  You can dab it with some paper towel to soak it up.

For the corner leafy branch, I used a Penny Black stencil and some blueprint sketch oxide ink. I just love how it fills in the corner and completes the card.

along the bottom I used a Memory Box die cut - Valencia Border.

I added some TH distress glitter on each of the flower petals.

This worked up fast, a good card to mass produce if need be.  Well looks like I'll be back to working 12 hour days again next week, so won't have any time for carding.  I'm trying to squeeze in as much stamping as I can these week nights, and looks like I'll be working this saturday as well.

I do have a couple of cards ready for posting, just need to take some pictures.

See you back here real soon, thanks for your visit.

Pauline

Kind soul

Hello everyone! I was going to post the card I made for Bill for his birthday last week, but just haven't gotten around to taking a picture, so instead I will share one I did a few weeks back.

A few weeks ago I was playing around with my Magenta Nuance powders.  I have already posted the first card I made, so this is the second one.

I embossed the image - Wplus9 - Kind Soul - onto some Canson 140lb watercolour paper using white ep.  I then sprinkled powders in the colours and areas I wanted them, then spritzed with water.  I used my paintbrush to guide some of the colours, the rest I just tilted my paper for the colours to disburse.

After it was dry, I trimmed down the sides.  I layered it onto a piece of cold miri cardstock, then onto some green polka dot designer paper.

To finish off I added some dark pink silk ribbon as well as some Nuvo crystal drops on the leaves.  I ended up doing a second layer of dots because once the first drops dried they were hard to see.

Thanks for stopping by, see you again real soon.  Enjoy your day!

Pauline