'Bokeh' water-color cards...

Hello! It's Monika here today, bringing you couple of colorful cards. I am absolutely smitten with water color techniques these days, especially with the 'Bokeh' technique. HERE is a great video on how to do one of the versions. 

On my first card, I used bold Fall colors:

I used yellow, orange and crimson water-colors (any type of inexpensive water color set will work) on the background. The secret is to use water color paper! Just like in the video, I created my own  circle template out of window sheet. I die-cut the circles using my Spellbinders dies. 
The heat embossed greeting is from So Thankful clear stamp set. The leaf was die-cut with one of the dies from Season of Change die set.

The second card is just as bold, but with different colors (you might have seen this card on Split Coast Stampers): 

Here, I used yellow, blue and green colors. The sunflower and greetings came from Prim Blessings clear stamp set. The leaves were die-cut with one of the dies from Small Leaves die set.

I hope I have inspired you to try this fun technique or just make something fun today...

Thanks for stopping by,

Monika

Love You, Mom

Hello Everyone!

I am sharing a card today, made for that all-important person, Mom.  Word dies are so trendy right now and Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps has a great one, Mother.  I combined this die with the Thankful Blooms Clear Stamp Set to make this Mother's Day card.

I started by making my card base from a Spellbinders Die, then used the negative space of the Mother Die, allowing the purple to show through.  The diecut paper is popped up on dimensionals for depth.

The card is embellished with flowers I made using the Thankful Blooms Clear Stamp Set.  I used the rock and roll technique to stamp them in two shades of pink, then die cut them out with their coordinating dies.  Once they were die cut out, I spiral cut along the white petal lines of the flowers and then, using a quilling tool, rolled them into rolled roses.  A little bit of clear glitter to the edges of the petals gives them some sparkle.
I used the Small Leaves Die to cut my leaves for the roses and colored them with Copics.  I added other bits of dies- twigs and vine- and some tiny purple flowers using a punch to complete the floral spray.  Pearls added as flower centers finishes off the card.

Wishing all of the Moms out there a very Happy Mother's Day!  

Thanks for stopping by,

Lee Ann  :)

Elaina name frame

Good morning! We are gearing up for another new release so be sure to check the store on Friday!  
Today, though, I have a project to share that I recently made for a baby shower gift.  I used lots of Sweet 'n Sassy products to create a fun name frame to match the baby's nursery décor.

This is one of those projects that looks much cuter in person!  It's so hard to photograph without getting a glare from the glass and it's difficult to see the dimension with embossing and foam dots.  I have a few close ups to see it better.

The nursery is decorated with owls, so I used the Owl Be Here stamp set.  I didn't have a die large enough for the size of branch I needed so I cut my own.  Then I embossed it with a woodgrain embossing folder and sponged it with ink.

The flowers were diecut with the SNSS Kindness dies and accented with the Small Leaves.  I also diecut the Clouds and Sun with SNSS dies and the sun was accented with one of the Stars Dies.  The butterfly is from the Majestic Monarchs dies and the banner flags are from the Pennants & More dies.  Lastly, I added a single heart from the Heart Dies.

One of my favorite parts is the embossed clouds!

Besides owls, the nursery has some paisley so I made sure to add a paisley cloud.  I couldn't help but to sneak in some tiny embossed hearts too!

I hope this inspires you to create some framed art of your own.  I sure had fun creating this one!  I almost changed my name so I could keep it.  ;)

Have a blessed week, friends!

♥ Diane

Mid Winter Shape Up

Hello Everyone!
 We have made it half way through February and I have to believe that spring is right around the corner!  That said, these cold winter days do make good crafting days!
I have 3 cards to share with you today~

I used the very versatile Shape Up Stamp Set for this masculine and very mailable birthday card.  The shape was stamped in a repeating pattern to create my background.  The sentiment panel uses a technique I do not use enough- stamping a sentiment over an image. I used a stamp from the Serene Silhouettes Stamp Set and using kraft ink, stamped off once and then stamped onto my card stock.  I added the sentiment and drew a line around the panel with a fine tip marker.  I have been hoarding this ribbon for quite some time, but this seemed the perfect card to use it on. 

This next card uses another image from Shape Up and also uses its coordinating die.

I also used the  Bloom and Grow set as well as the Delightfully Delicate Background.  I stamped my three hexagons and die cut them out.  The flower was stamped and fussy cut out and I used the Small Leaves Die for the leaves (well, I guess that was obvious!).  My background panel was stamped in red on kraft card stock using the Delightfully Delicate Background image.  I added a decorative edge using the Scalloped Border Dies.

Lastly, I have a cheery card made with the Keep in Touch Stamp Set~

Washi tape is the main ingredient on this card.  I added diagonal strips of 4 different tapes to a panel of white cs and popped it up on dimensionals.  The rest of the background is dry embossed.  I curved the sentiment stamp to be able to stamp it around the inside edge of my circle.  The phone was die cut out with its matching die and popped up on dimensionals. 

Thanks so much for stopping by!

Have a blessed week!

Lee Ann  :)

Country Christmas

Good Morning, Friends!

There is no place I would rather be than in a forested mountain setting; Tender Thoughts is my new favorite set as it brings to mind log cabins,  hiking mountain trails, walks in the woods and wildlife watching.   This card has that rugged, outdoor feel, perfect for a country Christmas, thanks to the great images.

It is so easy to get the look of the 'outside the box' technique with the matching Birch Forest Dies-no fussy cutting necessary!  I paired the Tender Thoughts set with the Decorative Frames set and simply stamped the images, die cut them out and then free handed my little snowbank.  The sentiment is from the Winter Girls set.

I have used the Decorative Frames Stamps and matching Dies for this next card as well.  I added lots of Small Leaves Die cuts and other embellishments to create my centerpiece.  And did you notice the little image from the Vintage Postcard Stamp Set tucked in there as well?  

With Thanksgiving upon us, my wish to all of you is that you have a Very Blessed Thanksgiving!

Thanks so much for stopping by!  

Lee Ann  :)