Happy Summer with Teeny Bikini

For today's card I used some left over colored diecuts from previous videos and the C.C designs Teeny bikini for the girl, starfish and shell and the sand details.

For the scene I used a palmtree border die I got it from Aliexpress, is also comes with the wave and dune I believe. Or I used the dunes from another set, also Aliexpress.
The sun is from Lawn Fawn (spring showers).
The seagull is from My Favorite things, the dolphin I think is Marianne design, the turtle too I think, I can;t be sure as I had those sets on loan from the craftstore to make them some examples.
I made a stencil with the lawn fawn stiched cloud borders and sun. There's three cloud borders in the set, so I left the fourth side of

the card straight, for horzons p.e.
I've inkblended Mermaid Lagoon from Distress inks on the cardbase and the wave diecut, Antique linen for the sand. Lucky clover for the palm tree leafs and the trunk is gathered twigs.
The clouds are tumbled glass Distress inks.
To stamp the sand detail I used Memento desert sand.
then I splattered on some water as it's Distress inks and I can't resist ;-) Also makes the diecuts less flat looking.

I assembled everything with glue and one two or three layers of foamtape.
The frame was made with a rounded rectangle,  and the sentiment is from the C.C. designs set and I used Versamark and the Be creative stampers friend tool.
Tucked in the critters and the girl supporting  then with foamtape if needed.
Nuvo shimmer pen (clear gloss) on various lements, for some glorious shimmer.

You are all kinds of wonderful....

The Simon Says Stamp Wednesday challenge is: for a Child, showcasing Neat and Tangled products.

I thought to slip in a few Neat and tangled sequins I have, but they were too big compared to the little heart breeze (from SSS).
So Sorry no Neat and Tangled this time.

I did use the Heart breeze die on a panel, kinda traced it's placement onto the cardbase. I swiped Distress inks in a rainbow order on the cardbase for the vibrant look and feel (candied apple, carved pumpkin, mustard seed, twisted citron, mermaid lagoon, wilted violet and picked raspberry).

The sentiment is from Paper Smooches (fun and flirty) and I stamped it with Versafine onyx black ink.


The Fairy is from My Favorite Things (fairy happy) and I colored her with my Spectrum Noir markers. I used SSS intense black ink to stamp her on Crafter's Companion Neenah paper and let the Scan n Cut do it's magic cutting it out.


I was thinking the heart breeze might look like a trail of fairy dust she leaves as she  flutters by....

Adhered the panel with taperunner to the cardbase and I also used taperunner to adhere the little mermaid.

I don't have kids, but I thought this little encouraging card would be cool for a birthday or even a little note on a low day, lunchbox maybe? Well I don't know, but I hope they'd like it.


For more information on the Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge, see this

Oldie but goodie #13: art Impressions and Decotime Markers, with video

For this oldie but goodie card I used the Art Impressions stamp from the Whoots! series (Umm4120) and I stamped it on Crafter's Companion Neenah paper with Simon Says Stamp Intense black ink.
I diecut the panel with a rounded square die with stitched detail.
I colored the image with the cheapest alcohol markers I've ever encountered: Decotime, they work out at 33 euro cents each! And frankly they work a treat, so I pulled them out again to show you, you don't always need to get the most expensive tools.
They're hard tof ind though, always sold out, and that's not a surprise. I got mine at Action and lately all they seem to stock is the pink and red ones.

I would suggest trying some from Aliexpress, there are great reviews on Youtube about them, there's different kinds and I had good luck with the fake zig ones, honestly.
The only drawback to these markers is that there's not a big range of colors, but you can mix and match them with your own markers, maybe to fill up your collection quickly and cheaply.

The sentiment is from Simon Says Stamp and I wanted it to look like a banner hangign from the branch. In the Birthday balloons set there's a curved one and I thought that was perfect, I stamped it with Versafine Onyx black ink.

I notched the cardbase so I would add some embroidery thread in the same colors as the party hat. The notches keep the tread in place.
Mounted the panel with foamtape.

Rainbow thanks

Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge, is celebrating their 7th anniversary, 7th! I feel we just did the 6th, but hey, time flies when you craft lol....

They want us to showcase their own Simon Says Stamp brand and I used the thanks on a line.


I used this to say thank you to SSS for their wonderful webshop and blog and challenges and Youtubes...so thank you!

I put Stick it behind some black card and diecut it.

Then I made a rainbow with Talens Ecoline ( a fluid watercolor that SSS now carries), for this I used the classic Schut watercolor paper, too rough for stamping, but super for this kind of thing.

I attached the diecut and them mounted the watercolor paper with foam tape.

As my wc panels are always narrower I used washi tape on the side. I thought B&W would be a nice contrast to the rainbow.

Then I mounted the panel on top and added a few (homemade) enamel dots with (homemade) gluedots.

For more information on the SImon Says Stamp Monday Challenge, or toplay along, see this

Talens ecoline, Woodware stamps and a desk organisation tip, with video

For today's card I pulled out the Talens Ecoline and one of the new Woodware stamps, I'm enjoying coloring them very much, especially with Ecoline as it is such a vibrant liquid watercolor.

I stamped the image (long tall flowers) onto Schut hotpressed watercolorpaper and the sentiment is from Circle flowers, both stamped with Simon Says Stamp intense black ink and with the use of the Stampers friend tool.

I put my fluid watercolors in icecube trays and let the fluid evaporate, you can then reconstitute the paint with water, but it's much easier to take with you...no spills.

For reference I use my swatch list.
After all is colored I used the Nuvo shimmer pen in clear gloss on the red flowers, for some glorious shimmer.

As the panels are always slightly narrower and taller than my cardbases I used a black and white washi tape on the side and to mount the watercolor panel I used a bit of foamtape.

After filming I went outside to spray fixative on the card as Ecoline will reactivate, say if it rains when the postman does his rounds, or if someone's hands are wet...so be careful.

I bought this CD tower on a second hand website (Marktplaats) and it was only 5 euro, you can also find similar ones at thriftstores or goodwill stores.
Mine has two rows though,which I never seen, but it was perfect for my desk.
I did have to saw off it's feet to make it fit, and rebuilt it as it came in pieces, but an hour later it was lying on my desk, usually these towers stand, but I lay it on it's side on the edge of my desk. I did secure it on the back, so it can't move and or slide off!.

I use all the cubbies for my  most used supplies, like black inks, Versamark, tapes, pens, scissors etc. I'm sure it will change still over time, when I've worked with it a bit, but for now it's so perfect and for 5 euro...ha, who could resist even if it's not white and a dark purplish blue on the inside and out...5 euro...think 5 euro ;-) lol...

Adapting your stamps

The less is more challenge this week is: tropical fruits.
The Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge is: food and or drink.
The Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge is: splatter it with Ranger products.

I combined them all as I'm running out of time.
It also took some thinking as I have one drink set (from Simon Says Stamp) but no tropical fruits, strawberries but nothing else.

I went through all my stamps in case I missed an image somewhere and found this rat eating cheese. I decided to turn the cheese into a watermelon, which is rather tropical I think, right? A food in any case ;-)

I used Ranger Distress inks for my watercoloring (mowed lawn, picked raspberry, pumice stone, tattered rose and ground espresso). I stamped the image with Versafine onyx black ink and also the sentiment from Clearly Besotted (brushed greetings II)
The rat is from Katzelkraft (les rats des ville).
I used Schut hot pressed watercolor paper.

The cheese has holes, but I made them look like watermelon seeds with the ground espresso.

Splattered mowed lawn as if a leafy canopy in the background.
Mounted the panel with foamtape and used a green washi tape on the side to fill the gap as my watercolor panels are always slighlty narrower.

AAA cards challenge #96, with video

This fortnight the AAA cards challenge is: summer fun.

Our sponsor this time is Happy Little Stampers and you could win a $20 gift card if you play along.

I thought my die (from China) with boat and seagulls was very summery :-D

I die cut the die from 300grams/140lbs card stock and ,yes, I used the other side of a messed up one...waste not want not..lol...

I then placed it back in the opening and stuck it down with Scotch tape.
Traced the opening onto the card base and applied Distress inks: Peacock feathers, mermaid lagoon, blueprint sketch and faded jeans, as per one of my recipes.

The sentiment is from Joy! Crafts, and I think it's one or two years old, maybe three. but please use whatever sea like sentiments you have. I wish the seagulls from My Favorite Things or the Mermaids were in at the time of filming. I've used Versafine Onyx black ink.

As an embellishment I used a metal seastar/starfish and I stuck it down with Aleene's fast grab tacky glue.

For more information or to play along the AAA cards challenge, see this