Sunrise

Well it's going to be another scorcher of a day.  It's been hot and dry here you would think we were living in the desert! This past week temperatures felt like 40C (104F), with no end over the next couple of weeks, other than Monday it's suppose to drop down to 32C (90) but that's it. 

June was a busy month for the need of masculine birthday cards.  Today I have one to share with you.

I'm using a stamp from Magenta.  There is no name on the package, sorry.  I stamped this onto some water colour canson 140lb  paper using black ink.  I then sponged on some distress oxide inks.

Trimmed the image down slightly to fit behind my black frame cut from MFT stitched square frames.  The blades of grass are from Impression Obsession, cut from green c/s, then sponged a bit of green ink.

Paper is from MME - dilly dally.   Added a sentiment and a couple of enamel dots.

An after thought, I think next time I would use white c/s rather than water colour.  It was hard to get a really good impression of the crane as the paper has a bit of texture to it.

Well that's it for me today.  Have a wonderful weekend.  Keep well, stay cool!

Hugs,
Pauline

Homeward

Hello everyone!  I hope you had a good weekend, and are doing well.  Here we are, beginning of another month already, time is flying!

My card today is one that I actually made two of and then just changed up the sentiment.  This card is for my brother-in-laws birthday which is actually today!

I pulled out Penny Black's Homeward cling stamp.  I just love how fast these cards work up. Put it in your MISTI, ink it up and stamp, it's that easy!  I also used Canson 140lb watercolour paper.

For ink, I used Tombow markers, coloured the stamps and then spritzed and stamp.  Repeat process until you are happy with it.  With the stamp still in place in the MISTI, clean the stamp then add versamark to the rubber and stamp onto your image.  I repeated this twice to make sure I got a good impression.  I then pulled the image out of the MISTI, then added clear embossing powder, then heat set.

For the background shading, I used some Memento inks and my life changing brushes.

Sentiment - happy birthday is from Papertrey Ink stamped in Rich Cocoa Memento ink.

To finish off I added 2 enamel dots, picking up colours in the image.

The other card I made the same just added 'Father's Day', requested from my friend.

For great tutorial's on these types of stamps, hop over to You Tube and check out Penny Black's videos.

I appreciate your visit today.  Have a great day!

Pauline

Masculine thanks

I have 2 cards to share with you today.  Nothing special, just working on some extra cards for my basket. I'm trying to work on cards that I don't already have or cards where I've been asked if I have them and usually don't.

I made a couple of masculine thank you cards.  Love how quickly these worked up.

For my first card was so simple, just one die and cardstock.  I saw a card like this made by Laura Bassen over on the Simon Says blog last year.  The triangle die is from SSS - stripes card wrap (SSSD111781). I used coordinating papers from Papertrey Ink and SU.  Thanks (SSS - Big Thanks Words) was embossed with white EP onto some black cardstock then trimmed.  I added some enamel dots to finish this off.

 

For my second card, I started with some watercolour paper, added a couple of sprinkles of  Nuvo shimmer powder - golden sparkler, then spritzed with water.  This powder has gold mica powder in it so has a lot of shimmer, just gorgeous.  I then used MFT wonky rectangle die to cut it out, layered it onto some gold shimmer c/s then SU navy cardstock for the base.

The triangle layer on top is from SSS - stacked diamonds.  I cut this from cream flecked c/s, also cut it from some of the scraps left over from the background once I trimmed it down, so I could use the diamond centers to fill back in here and there.  The 'thanks' was cut from SSS die using navy c/s.  I cut this 3 times then adhered them together. To finish off  I added some enamel dots as well.

Well that's it for me.  I'm off today, good thing because it is suppose to reach 91F feeling like 115F with the humidex. and for Saturday too. Way too hot for outside, but have lots to do inside (like making cards - wink!)

Thanks for visiting, wishing you a wonderful weekend.

Pauline

Happy moments

June is a very busy month in our family as far as birthdays. Last weekend we celebrated at my sister's place the June 'guy' birthdays (4 of them) and fathers day.

This is one of the cards I made, this one went to my Brother Steve.

I started out with some Penny Black Script foil paper and stamped a Magenta leaf branch (sorry no name on the package) using Archival ink - potting soil.  I then added a couple of strips of washi tape (Tim Holtz Ideo-ology tape) along the bottom, then adhered this to some dark brown c/s.

For the copper background, I used some copper shimmer c/s and Creative Expressions Diamond Illusions embossing folder.

The sentiment is from Penny Black - Smile Today set - stamped onto some cream c/s, cut using Spellbinders Hexagon die and then I sponged (using my brushes, similar to Picket Fence life changing brushes - bought mine from Aliexpress - and I love them, they blend so perfectly) potting soil ink around the edges, adhered to brown c/s and then added some diamond copper brads. I added some craft foam behind the sentiment for some dimension, and ran a piece of ribbon behind.

I ended up making 2 of these cards, one for my stash.

Thanks for visiting, have a great day!

Pauline

Live for the moments....

Hello there.  Hope your week is going well. 

Today's card features another image from the Tim Holtz Theories collection.  I think these images are fabulous for those 'masculine' cards.

I started by spraying some distress oxide inks onto some canson watercolour paper.  Drying with a heat gun in between, and then adding more ink.  Once completely dry, I stamped some background images using distress oxide inks, and also used a 'sun ray' stencil in the left upper corner.  I then placed the paper into my misti, then stamped the image using black archival ink - I believe I stamped a couple of times to get a nice dark impression.

I then added some washi tap along the bottom, used a PTI die to cut the circles at the top using some brown shimmer c/s, stamped the sentiment onto some black c/s, and embossed with white ep, I then trimmed the edges.

For the turquoise background, I took my distress oxide ink pads and ran them across my turquoise c/s to give it added colour, then layered this onto a piece of brown shimmer c/s. I also cut 3 little banners and lined them up the left side of my main piece (used scraps from my main background).

To finish off I added some enamel dots.

I'm always a bit hesitant to make cards like this, not sure what it is about it, but once I get moving along I really enjoy doing these types of cards. You will never get 2 the same as inks always blend differently each time.

Thanks for stopping by, and I wish you a happy and safe weekend!

Pauline

Masculine Birthday

As I'm writing this  (Sunday night for Monday morning posting), we are experiencing the worst wind ever!  With gusts up to 90KM - (110 KM at noon -between 50 - 60 MPH).  Overnight it still is pushing gusts of 75KM/hr - not sure how much sleep I will get as it is coming from the southwest and that is my bedroom side.  Might have to put the ear plugs in!  We have 34 yr old Cedars in the back yard which are about 30ft tall and with this wind they are swaying and bending, I just hope we don't loose any. I also saw on the weather channel that the winds are so strong on Lake Erie it is actually move chunks of ice off the shore and up onto the roads.

This is the weather alert for our area:
Summary

Major wind storm across the regions.

Very strong southwest winds with frequent gusts of 100 to 110 km/h will continue in the wake of a sharp arctic cold front blasting across the region.

Higher wind gusts of 120 km/h are possible long the shores of the Great Lakes.

The damaging winds will continue tonight, then will gradually start to diminish early Monday morning

Power outages, damage to trees and structures are being reported across the regions.
Damage to buildings, such as to roof shingles and windows, may occur. High winds may toss loose objects or cause tree branches to break.

--------------

Well enough of that, lets get to my card shall we.  My card today is one I did a couple of weeks ago. Yes another masculine card!  It all started out by me playing around with some spray inks.  These inks are by Stampzia - colour wash jewels.  I've had these for about 10 years.  I picked them up at one of the Heirloom scrapbook shows over in Detroit, and actually Stamp Zia came to Chatham.  My friend contacted her and she was willing to come the day before the show and do a class for us.  We had about 12 people or so, and we worked with her stencils and sprays. It was awesome!

The molted looking background is the spray background.  Her sprays are very rich in colours, I used three or four colours on this.  I don't remember the exact colours.  So after I did this it sat on my desk for a bout a week as I was trying to figure what to do with it.  I pulled out some TH sizzix flower/stem dies as well as a set from Concord  & 9th called layering leaves.  I cut them from metallic papers.  I tried a couple of different colours of blue for the frame, but settled on this PTI ocean tides.

For the blue background I stamped MFT wood grain using the same ink as the cardstock.  I'm not sure of the colour I used as I seem to have used my last piece for this card. Hmmm darn!

I stamped a happy birthday and embossed in white on a strip of black c/s. To finish off I added a brass/copper coloured metallic dot.

Thanks for visiting today.  Have a great day!

Pauline

Live for today

Well it's the end of another work week! Hope you all had a good week.  I've been trying to work on some masculine cards as of late but have been struggling.  I find these so hard to do, mainly because I don't have a lot of masculine stamps other than leaves and trees. 

 I'm using all  Papertrey Ink; dies and stamps for my card.

I started by die cutting the Mighty Oak Tree so I could use the leaves.  I then stamped the leaves using PTI inks onto the die cut leaf.  White background is cut using the PTI: Noted Pinked A2 Vertical die set.  

I stamped the sentiment from PTI: Through the trees using black versafine ink, then cut it out using PTI Nesting basics pierced retangles.  I popped this up on the center of my card, then adhered the leaves.  Added some rhinestones to finish off.

I appreciate your visit today, have a wonderful weekend!

 Pauline

Leftovers

Hello everyone!  The other night I was trying to get my creative juices flowing.  Went on Pinterest, checked out Feedly, blogs, etc, but I continued to be in a rut!! So, I looked on my desk and saw a small pile of cut dies and papers etc and decided to go through it and see what I had.

I happened to have this bird below along with the brown frame and paper all bundled together but nothing was finished.  I believe I was going to make this for Father's Day, but changed my mind and came up with something different. So figured I might as well finish it.  I never have too many 'masculine' cards made ahead.

The background paper is from Bo Bunny - Trail Mix. 
Brown c/s frame is using MFT Stitched square frame
Image of bird is from some designer paper from SU - and just cut out the bird to fit behind the frame.

Added some twine where the two dp meet. It still needed something.  I didn't want to add sequins or enamel dots, so pulled out TH Wildflowers # 2 Thinlets and cut a couple of the stems using metallic bronze c/s.  I wasn't sure at first if I liked the stems, but the more I look at it, I do.

It was a quick card, but another little unfinished project completed!

Thanks for your visit, enjoy your day!

Pauline

Miraculous Mushrooms

Hello everyone! I hope you had a good week, and enjoying your weekend.  We are in the middle of another heat wave, temperatures today reached 106F, it's just too hot to be outside. 

This morning Bill and I ventured out early before the heat set in.  We hit some of our usual spots looking for some birds.  Although we are kind of early for the migration to begin, you just never know what pops up.  Today we saw a couple of hummingbirds, - captured a couple of nice shots, and of the house wren a well.  I hope to show you these shortly.

Today's card features one of the newest digital images released from Power Poppy called Miraculous Mushrooms.  My whole thought when I started to colour this image was to match it up with some mushroom image dp I had.  Once it was all coloured, the mushroom dp was just too busy, so I opt for another route.  Kept this 'masculine', as I never seem to have very many of these on hand.

I coloured the image with Copics.  I was very undecided as to how to cut out this image, I finally settled on the oval arch from MFT - (I don't think they sell this anymore). I left the die in place then sponged some antique linen lightly around the bottom edge.

Designer paper is from Echo Park - Reflection Fall & MME - Wood Designer Paper.  I added some twine around the middle and finished off with some wooden dots.  Image is popped up off the card.

I finally started to work on some Christmas cards!  Well, lets say I finished colouring one, now need to get that onto a card! Progress, progress!

Wishing you a wonderful day!

Pauline

Using up Remenants

Hello everyone, and Happy Monday.  I hope you had a good weekend.

Today's cards that I'm sharing are using scraps from 'what's on my table'.  You know the stuff that you stamp but don't like or wasn't what you had in mind once you start it, then you toss aside.  Well, I have lots of those.  I have a few 'masculine' birthdays this month, so decided to go through my pile to see if I could salvage any of it.  I had success.

These were quick and easy, so here goes:

First card, I already had the leaf background stamp off (MFT stamps), and I already and the die cut Celebrate (MFT) inked up.  Added a few other elements and this is the end result:

My second card - I had the sponging already done.  Not sure what I had intended this one for, but I stamped Flourishes LLC - an image from Country Roads in black memento.  I then stamped a branch from Penny Black in scattered straw along the side, top and bottom, just to fill in the open spaces.
I felt it still needed something, so cut some scrap paper using MFT Flag Stax dies and added a brad. Not sure if the brad is a bit distracting from the image. What do you think?

I wish all cards were this easy to pull together. I'm off to enjoy the afternoon outdoors.  I'm off today, so need to get some much needed weeding done.

Enjoy your day!

Pauline

In Nature

Hi there! Here we are at the beginning of another week, and a very hot one at that. The weather has been brutal ever since last thursday, temperatures into the low 100's.  It's been very hot a humid and not much in relief until the weekend.  

I finally finished my 29 card order and another 6 card order late last night.  Everything is packaged up and ready to deliver at work tomorrow.  Most of the 29 card order was for Thank you cards and I was able to do multiples of each, which really helped.  I will share some of those at a later date, but first I wanted to share a Father's Day card I made last month.  

This one is using a Flourish LLC stamp set called - In Nature.

I stamped the image onto come canson watercolour paper using black memento, then coloured using my Zig Clean Colour Markers.  I then cut it out and layered it onto a some black cardstock cut using Justrite vintage labels two. I don't recall the top part of the designer paper, but the bottom orange wood grain is from MME. I also used Memory box stick frame border to add a bit of interest at the bottom of the card.

Finished off with some striped ribbon, some Stamping Bella - bella dots and I used my wink of stella clear pen to add a bit of shimmer to the water.

Supplies:
stamp - Flourishes - In Nature
ink - black memento, Zig clean colour markers
paper - SU black, MME, canson watercolour coldpress
dies - spellbinders - oval,  MME - stick frame border, Justrite - vintage labels two
misc - ribbon, bella dots, wink of glitter clear pen

Thanks for stopping by, have a wonderful day!

Pauline

Another abstract card

 Hello everyone.  I must say it is starting to feel like Spring has arrived, warming up a bit each day and by the weekend we should be in the upper 60's! I'm getting that 'itch' to get out in the gardens and get everything cleaned up.

My card today is a card I made for my Team Lead - he started a new job within our company but in another department. So we had a little celebration and everyone in our dept signed the card.

I started with a piece of canson water colour paper, MISTI,  MFT abstract art stamp set and various distress inks (peacock feathers, cracked pistachio, peeled paint, ripe persimmon, carved pumkin)

I placed my paper in my MISTI, laid one of the abstract stamps where I wanted it, closed the MISTI to pick up my stamp, ink the stamp, spritz then closed the MISTI to transfer the ink to the paper.  I continued to do this by adding different shapes and sizes of stamps - ink, spritz & stamp. What I love about the MISTI is that if you don't get  clean crisp impression the first time, you can re-ink your stamp and stamp again - perfect everytime!

For the sentiment I used one of the sentiments from a Penny Black set called - snippets.  The sentiment actually says - just for you - I only wanted the 'for you', so again I placed the stamp onto my stamped background while it was in the MISTI, closed the lid to pick up the stamp, inked with black versafine the ' for you'  and closed.  It was a perfect impression so I didn't need to re-stamp it.

For the leaves I used Papertrey Ink - Leaf Silhouette dies, I cut them from brushed gold metallic paper, and for the plain leaf die I cut from deep orange.

To finish off I tied some twine around the top layer then glued the leaf cluster under the bow.

Thanks for stopping in today, have a wonderful day.

Pauline

The grillfather

Hey friends, hope your enjoying your summer weekend!  Warm enough were you are?  It's suppose to reach 100 again with the humidex - way to hot for me.  Thanks for all your concerns regarding my root canal.  All is well, no more pain. :)

Before I head out to my gardens to do some weeding I thought I should post my 3rd fathers day card as I mentioned in my last post.  Although, I guess you could use this for a birthday as well.

Here you go:

I stamped the image (Art Impressions) on 100lb cougar white c/s using black memento ink.  I coloured the image using copics, and I'm sorry I never kept a list of the colours.  After coloured, I added some grass using prisma colour pencils, then I cut out the image using the largest square nestabilities, left the die in place then sponged some SU soft sky and memento new sprout around the image.  I then layered this onto a piece of SU soft suede.  

Designer paper is from Basic Grey - Bowties. I used a piece of washi tape from Little B as a divider between the 2 pieces of paper.  I have a fair bit of washi tape but never think to use it.  I then layered this onto a piece of soft suede then a dark brown for the card base.

Finished off with a couple of stars use a star die from the MFT die-namics set - sun, moon & stars. I added a bow made from twine and then held it all together using a gold star brad.

There you have it  - an awesome 'masculine' card for that special guy in your life.  

Thanks for stopping by today, hope you enjoyed my card.
Til' next time,

Pauline

Wonderful marvelous you!

Sorry I haven't posted sooner this week, I thought I would of had time, but life is just too busy sometimes.  I've been working overtime, and today I was up in London visiting my Dad for Father's day as well as celebrating his birthday which is next week.  We gathered at my sisters, had a bbq, lots of eats and laughs.  It's always good getting together with family, it just seems we don't do it enough.  Everyone has such busy lives.

Okay on with my card.  If your like me 'masucline' cards are the hardest to do.  After making the last card I posted for my Dad, I was struggling to come up with another.  I woke up on Wednesday morning, with an idea so I put it into action before heading off to work.  It worked up very fast, I used MFT's dies to help it along.  

I started with a 4x4 confetti cream c/s.  I then inked up my Penny Black hot rod using Distress Paints.  I applied bundled sage over the entire image, then went in with peeled paint here and there, and then finished off with some forest moss - spritzed with a bit of water then stamped.  I love the effect this gives.  I then took a leave from PTI - turning a new leaf - and inked it with MFT grout gray and stamped it in the top corners and the bottom right.  I then inked it again using peeled paint, stamped off a bit then over stamped in the top corners. I then sponged around the edges using distress pumice stone then a bit of brushed corduroy. Next I used the sentiment from Verve - wonderful marvelous- and stamp it using PTI chocolate brown. 

Next I cut a flag tag using one of the dies from MFT blueprints #12, added a brad and the wrapped some twine around it and then adhered to the front of the card.  For the middle layer again I used one of the dies from MFT blueprints # 14.  I really love these blueprint die sets.

Finished card measures 5.25 x 5.25.  I know I will be making more of these in different colours.

Supplies:
stamp - Penny Black - hot rod,  Verve - wonderful marvelous, PTI - turning a new leaf
Ink - distress paints - bundled sage, peeled paint, forest moss, distress inks - pumice stone, brushed corduroy, PTI - chocolate brown
Dies - MFT blueprints # 12, & 14
Paper - confetti cream, bazzill greens - not sure of the colour names
Misc - brad, twine

This card will be going to my husband - Bill's birthday is tomorrow (June 15th).

Hope everyone has a great day tomorrow as you spoil your favourite guy on Father's Day!

See you again real soon, I have another 'guy' card to share. I'm on a roll! LOL

Pauline 

Quick Masculine card

Hi all.  It's been a rough week for me - I contacted some kind of a cold bug and my throat has been so sore I could hardly swallow for a couple of days, (good for the weight loss!) It's not as bad now but all I do is constantly cough - it gets very annoying and it hurts.  But enough about me, I will be fine eventually!:)

I thought I would share a card I whipped up in about 10 min! Yes seriously, I had my card order done for my co-worker then when I checked her list I realized I forgot about a card for her brother.  Darn! okay so I have about 45 min before I have to head to work so what am I going to do.  Started going through my stamps and I came across this image from Le Blanche.  Have you ever used their stamps?
They stamp very nice.

So to keep it masucline looking, I had to force myself to cut into a piece of textured wood grain paper that I purchased at Paper Pickle.  It's not cheap, buy hey, I bought it to use I told myself, so cut it!!
LOL.  I am such a paper hoarder, I really have to let go and use some of the gorgeous papers I have had for a years.

 
 I stamped the image using Memento Rich Cocoa directly onto the wood grain paper, then layered it onto a piece of dark chocolate c/s.  Out of some scrap paper I cut a fish tale flag for the corner, wrapped some textured ribbon around the image and taped on the back.  Now for the 2 half circles on the bottom left, well somehow, yes somehow I managed to get a smear of brown ink and of course I had to cover it up.  One  1/2 circle didn't look right so added another to balance it some. My card base is kraft, card size 5.5 x 4.25.
Finished off with a button and some twine.

There you have it a very quick and easy card.  I'm sure I will be making more of these.

Well, that's it for today.  Have yourself a wonderful day, and again thanks for stopping in and leaving me comments.  Love to read what you have to say.

Next up -..... a gorgeous wedding card.  Stay tuned.
Pauline

Hole in One

Hi everyone - hope you had a wonderful Christmas however you spent it.  Ours was a very low key, quiet day, and even my birthday (dec 26th) was very low key.  I did absolutely nothing, I was going to work on cards, but instead I watched movies and browsed through blogs and pinterest.

My card today is one that I made for a co-worker who wanted a card for her Dad's 50th - she said make it fun and he loves golf.  So this is what I came up with.  Image is from Art Impressions - which includes the sentiment!

Image was stamped on 100lb white card stock (Cougar) using black memento then coloured using copics.  Shading and ground cover was done with prismacolour pencils and blended out with gamsol.

Designer paper is from Basic Grey - Marjolaine - the card base and diamond strip is Night of Navy although it does look like black in the picture.

For the diamond strip I used a die from MFT - it fits perfectly with the paper don't you think?  Needed a bit more masculinity to it, so wrapped some twine around the card and added a hand made photo corner  to the top and adhered a gold flat nail head sticker to that.

I also needed to make her Mom a 50th birthday card, so will be back in a couple of days to share that one with you.  
Thanks for stopping by today for a visit.  See you again real soon,

Pauline

A Classic

Hi everyone.  Thanks for all your well wishes.  My leg is finally healing good, no more pain when I walk.  It will probably be a few more weeks before it is healed,but I'm on the mend!

I have a masculine card to share with you today.  A co-worker needed a card for her Grandpa. She requested an 'old car' image if I had one because he loves cars.  I knew I had something that would fit her request. 

The stamp set I used is from Justrite called - Going places Vintage labels.   I stamped it on rustic white using black memento.  Coloured the image using copics - R27, R29, E81, E87. I used the custom die to cut it out from the set called Vintage Label & Banner die.

Designer paper is from  Studio Calico - called Classic Calico collection vol.2.  Finished off with a couple of antique gold brads in the center of the wheels and some cream/red ribbon.  Finished size 5.5 x 5.5. 

Thanks for stopping by, see you again real soon.

Pauline

Remember when.......

Happy Wednesday everyone.  I hope you are keeping warm from this terrible cold snap we are having.  It is just bitterly cold.  It's -7c today or -22c with the windchill,  and I know it is worse in other areas, but after having a fairly mild week last week, this feels like a slap in the face - ouch!

Okay so on with my card. I decided that I needed a few masucline cards in my stash so this is what I came up with.  I'm using a Beth Ful image by Stamping Bella called Remember when....

Do you remember owning a tricycle like this?  Mine was a red one with a white seat and the little platform between the two back wheels was white and I also had some streamers dangling from the handle grips - oh the memories.

So for the recipe - stamped on some watercolour paper with black versafine and then embossed it with clear embossing powders.  Cut it our using a square nestie, left the die in place and sponged some antique linen, frayed burlap, brushed corduroy, and a bit of aged mahogany. Papers are from Pink Paislee called Old School.  This stamp also comes with it's own sentiment, which I used.  I stamped it on the piece of DP that I cut out using an MFT hexagon die.

Finished off with some Bella dots.

Here are a few reminders as well - over on SCS we have our next  challenge going on right now, this challenge is 'lovey dovey' so anything romantic.  You can read all the deets here.

Also our bellariffic friday challenge - we have a sketch this week.  Play along and email your entry to Emily by thursday evening for a chance to win $20 in bella bucks.

Thanks for the visit today, see you back here on Friday for the challenge. Keep warm...brrrrrrr..

Pauline

Life is good

TGIF!!! Welcome to our first inspiration challenge of 2013.  I always thought it would be cool to have inspiration challenges. I see them all the time on blogs - some of the colours you would never think of putting together. When I saw our inspiration colours I thought what am I going to do - follow the colours or the design.  As I went through some of my 6x6 paper packs I came across the perfect paper that contained the exact colours - well pretty close.

Then I saw this image sitting on my desk - I pulled it out last week to colour and never did, so this is what I went with.  I'm using another Mo Manning image called The Big Guy Jogging.

 As always, I stamped the image using black memento on bella's bestest paper.  I used copics to colour and pencils for the shading.

The top right corner left a large white space and wanted to fill that in a bit, so I decided on this little sentiment from Verve.  I stamped it on a piece of scrap dp and then cut it out using Verve's ribbon banner die.  I tied a piece of red twine around it and then tucked the end in behind the layers. 

For some more inspiration on this weeks challenge, stop over at Bloggabella and leave a comment while your there for a chance to win $10 in bella bucks.

Did you notice my new 'blinkie' in the top right side of the page? You can have this too.  Be a part of the Sisterhood and add this to your blog.  Stop over at Stamping Bella to get your new blinkie - here.

Next weeks challenge is another sketch. If you get a chance to play along, you can email Emily your card by Thursday night.

Have a great weekend, and thanks for stopping by. Your comments are greatly appreciated. 

New rubbah in the house!

Woohoo, gotta love when you get a package of new rubbah! It arrived on Friday, but I had a busy weekend, and never got a chance to dive into it until tonight.

It seems like I'm hitting a mental block lately, time to change things up a bit, so instead of colouring I thought I would do some old fashion stamping.

I'm using a new image from Emily's latest release called Grandma's Gramaphone by new artist Rheea.

I started by stamping the image on watercolour paper using Archival Ink Sepia.  I then added distress inks - antique linen, frayed burlap, vintage photo, walnut stain, then spritzed with water.  It looked to plain, so I did some stamping on the image using Eclectric mini bubble, mesh and french script with frayed burlap. I then spritzed some water over that - love the look of the water dropplets when it dries.

Designer paper used is some Cosmo Cricket from 2006 - I can't believe I've had this that long! I add some vintage photo and walnut stain around the edges. Finished off with some Bella dots.

It was not what I an visioned when I started, but I think it turned out okay.

Just a reminder for our challenge this week,- it's all about the girls - that's right colour  up one of your favourite girl images, email your card to Emily by thursday night.

Thanks for stopping by, see you again soon....