diy Christmas shadowbox votiveholder with the WRMK scoreboard - and two ...

AAA cards challenge #100: sketch Challenge, with video

This fortnight (October 1st-14th) the challenge is to make a card following a sketch.

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


For my card I made a stencil from card stock with circle dies. I wanted 5 gumballs in a row.
So I measured and found this size die was the best. Started in the middle, then the outer two and then the last two towards the center, It's easier to space them that way.
I used Distress inks to color the treats and the colors I used are: candied apple, mustard seed, mowed lawn, mermaid lagoon and wilted violet. To apply the ink I masked off the circles next to one and I used a finger dauber.
For the shine I used a white gel pen. 
The sentiment is from Simon Says Stamp (it's your birthday 3x4 set) and I stamped it

with Versafine onyx black ink.

Added matching rhinestones to reinforce the gumball theme. Now if people see something different in these , like marbles, or snooker balls, or other, then that's fine too ;-)

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

Merry Christmas

The Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge, is: anything goes, showcasing Stampendous products.

Only when I grabbed the supplies to write this blog I realized these weren't the Stampendous house mouse mice, but a Penny Black set called just a note..sorry, luckily it's not a requirement ;-)

I stamped them in Simon Says Stamp intense black in onto hot pressed Schut watercolor paper.
Colored them with my watercoloring markers and used some Nuvo Shimmer pen in clear gloss on the ink pot.
The sentiment is from Simon Says Stamp (presents and ornaments) and I stamped it in blue to match the ink pot (Memento

Danube blue)
Mounted the panel with foamtape and used a matching blue washi tape on the bottom behind the panel.

For more information or to play along with the Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge, see this

Snowscape

It's lucky dip week at the Less is More blog and the pick is watercolor.
For my card I first diecut the sloping hill from a panel, it's slightly shorter than our metric card size, so  I chopped the cardbase as well. I then Stamped the sentiment with Versafine onyx black ink and set it aside to dry.

For the sky I used Talens ecoline, a fluid watercolor in all sorts of blue tones and a few layers, heat setting in between. I then splattered Ranger distress spray brushed Pewter and Dylusions spray white linen, also heat setting in between. I also wanted to splatter the white ecoline as it's more opaque, but I can't get the jar open this morning, just yet (reuma is not fun)...
Stuck the watercolor strip down with double sided (carpet) adhesive as I couldn't find the Elizabeth Crafts one and I stumbled upon this one haha...It's super tacky and well I don't really like it, but it works for these thing very well, just don't try to reposition anything ;-)

I mounted the panel with foamtape and adhered in on top.
I thought about adding some enamel dots, but I didn't like them at all, weirdly or randomly positioned around the sentiment...made no sense lol I think it's too early in the morning and I'm still cranky haha


For more information or to play along the Less is More challenge, see this

Background block printing, with video

For this card I pulled out my stamping blocks, I don't really use them anymore and they felt ignored ;-).

I pulled three sizes and decided to use the smallest and biggest. The smallest so I can make strips of color by inking one color at the time on the block, spritz it with water and "stamp" it on Schut classic watercolor paper.

The biggest I just inked the three colors in one go.

For the first card I used Distress inks Chipped sapphire, blueprint sketch and wilted violet and instead of water I used the Shimmer spritz in frost.

Heat set it and then applied another layer.

The new Distress colors seem to water down really quickly and become faint. A  mere shadow of themselves just look at the card I used the same colors on but inkblending tools instead.


For the second card I used Aged mahogany, fired brick and wild honey and water.

I cut a strip off the bottom to add interest to the background panel and kind of a horizon line. You could also use a shaped die, a wave die  would be cute with the pirate but I wanted it more minimal and less frilly if that makes sense.

Adhered the watercolored panel with foamtape to the cardbase. then Stamped the

sentiment with Versafine onxy black ink.

Adhered the images with tape runner.

For the African sunset card I cut the background into three strips, just to chance things a little.

The images are all from My Favorite Things #mftstamps and I colored them with Spectrum Noir and Spectrum Illustrator markers.

Mission control, we have a birthday

This fortnight the challenge over at the Male room challenges is: anything goes with the option of technology.

I was asked to be the guest designer for this challenge and I'm so honored and happy :-D.

The Male room is all about cards for men, but also boys.
So for my card I chose an Astronaut in space. It takes a lot of technology to get them up there.

I started my card by watercoloring my space on Schut classic watercolor paper 300grams/140lbs. It's pretty rough in texture, so not good for stamping, I use them for these things.

For the space I used Talens Ecoline, a fluid watercolor. For the splatters I sued water, then Distress spray stains brushed pewter and picket fence, then Ecoline white.
I have a video on how I did a background similar on my Youtube channel.

I then diecut a window from a cardpanel and stamped the sentiment from the My Favorite Things set (space explorer) with Versafine Onyx black ink.

The little astronaut is from the same set and I stamped him with Simon Says Stamp hybrid black ink and colored him with Spectrum Noir markers. I chose primary colors as I thought they're more boyish.

I chose my favorite bit of my "space" panel and stuck in on the cardbase with red sticky tape, as that's nice and strong. Then I mounted the panel with the window with foamtape and adhered it to the cardbase too. I cut out the astronaut and mounted his head with foamtape and the rest with tape runner and stuck him on the front.

The I used the Nuvo shimmer pen in clear gloss to add glitter to the balloons...it's really stubtle but a card needs some shimmer haha.

For more information on the Male Room challenge, or to play along, see this

New Woodware suuculents and Oldie but goodie #14

My card today features the lovely succulents from Woodware stamps, and an old sentiment from Paper Salon, I got it second hand and there's no date, but judging on the sticky stuff deteriorating it's pretty old. But any sentiment will do of course, I just like this font very much and the reason I bought this set.

I first made and cut out all the succulents on Inka dinka do masking paper, I didn't show it in the video, I have done before and I like to do these things while I watch tv or a Youtube video ;-).
I then placed them as I'd like them and took a photo so I could reference it the day after, if you can remember then good for you, my memory is in serious trouble I think lol.

I use Schut hotpressed watercolor paper and Simon Says Stamp Intense black ink and the Be creative stampers friend as I had to stamp it four times, I think my inkpad is seriously used up :-(...
I then Used two bins of the Crafter's Companion aquablend pencils (primaries and naturals).

I'm also showing off my new pencil sharpener. It's a different one than advertised by Aldi, but it was also 2.99 euro, and a better one with adjustable tip size, not sure the other had it, didn't say in the ad. Of course just a few days after I got it, Lidl also advertised one, an electric one for 5.99 I believe, but battery operated, not a fan of using too many batteries.

Anyway I think it works great and I just wanted you to see a 3 euro thing works as well, it might not last as long, but the outlay is not as bad a a 100 euro or more, very important for me ;-)....

I stamped the sentiment with Versafine onyx black ink and chose a washi tape similar in color to my pots and cactii...I thought black and white was too strong.

Mounted the panel with foamtape and adhered it to the card.