Sunflower Cards

Hello creative friends,

The current CAS Watercolor Challenge asks for sunflowers and since I love them and had some time this weekend I decided to see what I could come up with. I picked a very old stamp featuring a framed mosaic sunflower that I hadn't used in a very long time. And then I couldn't stop playing with it!

On the first card I colored it with markers and spritzed it with water to create a watercolor look. Because I used watercolor paper that wasn't bright white I used a kraft card base, added a little stenciling, a little spritzing, and a small sentiment.

When I used this stamp in the past I always colored the frame in blue because this color combo makes me so happy. I thought I was done but then I began wondering how it would look like with a green frame... So I pulled everything out again and had to try it. I have to say I really like the fresh look. It's almost as if it is surrounded by leaves... Since I liked the stencil (doesn't it mimic the mosaic style of the stamp?), I kept the layout, etc. the same, just changing the sentiment. 

Stamps: Rubber Stampede (sunflower frame), Hero Arts (both sentiments)
Other: Memory Box (stencil)


After all the spritzing I was curious how it would look when I colored it with markers and huffed on it (anybody remember that "technique"?). The colors are not as vibrant as when you spritz them with water but I still liked it. Since I used regular card stock I was able to use a white card base using the same stencil with some embossing paste.

Stamps and Stencil see above. The sentiment is from Print Works.


I had so much fun inking and spritzing this stamp that I ended up making three simple bookmarks with it! Sorry, forgot to take a picture but it's basically the image on a strip of watercolor and some ribbon on top.

CAS Watercolor August Challenge "Sunflowers"





Addicted to Stamps and More #304 "CAS"





Thanks so much for stopping by and commenting!

Be well and keep in touch!

Four Hugging Mice Sending Warm Fuzzies

Many months ago the fabulous Elisabeth from "auf's papier gebracht" suggested that we make cards using the same stamp and post them at the same time. Now if you don't know Elisabeth you should definitely visit her blog, she has this unique, loose style, I would call it CAS Free Style maybe? I once told her that I hope to create like her when I am all grown up, hehe!
Anyway, she picked the stamp set and the stamp. Her choice surprised my quite a bit as I didn't think that it was her style. So I can't wait to see what she came up with.

My first thought was to color with my polychromos on kraft and while I was thinking about a layout I had another idea and that's why I made two cards.

Stamps: Penny Black (Mice), Hero Arts (sentiment)
Dies: Nestabilities (circle), SSS (hearts)
Other: We 'R' Memory Keepers (embossing folder), patterned paper from my stash

The hearts on both cards are covered with Wink of Stella, the one on the second card is also coated with glossy accent. I might add some on the first card, too...


Challenges (click on the links for more information and lots of inspiration from the DTs and the galleries):


Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge "Little Critters"





Addicted to Stamps #242 "Make your mark"
I used Polychromos pencils
Uh oh, linky closed already...

Penny Black Saturday Challenge "All Things Love"






And now come with me to Elisabeth's blog and find out how she used those cute mice.

Be well,

Happy St. Patrick's Day

As far as I know I do not have any Irish blood but that doesn't stop me from exchanging cards on St. Patrick's Day with my Thursday night stamping buddies. Some years I don't manage to get any done because it's usually so close to Easter. This year this excuse didn't work, plus when I saw a recent sketch at Mojo Monday this idea popped into my head and wouldn't leave, so here it is...

Stamps:  Ivy frame (Stampin' Up), Celtic background (unmounted and unknown), sentiment (from the dollar bin at Michael's - old) 
Other: shamrock punch, sequins

The shamrocks are punched out from gold card stock.


Challenges (click on the links for more information and lots of inspiration from the DTs and the galleries):

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge "Bit O' Green"

Addicted to Stamps #233 "Holiday"







Retro Rubber Challenge #58 "Anything Goes"
The frame is way older than a year, more like 10 years... Same for the background stamp and the sentiment...







Shopping Our Stash #294 "Luck O' The Irish"








Wishing you a big pot of Irish luck!


Be well,

More Triangles

In my last post I mentioned that I had made a different version of that card and here it is! By the time everything was dry, the daylight was gone and since I worked every day last week I chose to wait until the weekend to take a picture of it! I much rather work with daylight.

So these are the triangles I cut off when I created the other triangle. For this time I used white embossing paste. The strip on the side was created by sponging Distress Ink directly on the card and stamping a splatter stamp repeatedly along it.

Stamp: Stampin' Up (splatters)
Other: Triangle stencil (Hero Arts), micro beads, embossing paste, distress inks


Challenges (click on the links for more information and lots of inspiration from the DTs and the galleries):


CAS Mix Up February Challenge 






Stamplorations CAS challenge February







Addicted to Stamps and More #229 "Clean and Simple"







If you are tired of triangles now, fear not, my next blogpost will feature something more feminine.

Be well,

Merry Christmas with folded tree

Surprise! I  have a Christmas card for you today! Blogland is full of them right now but you don't see a ton of them on mine...

Stamps: Hero Arts (swirl background), unmounted, unknown sentiment
Punches: EK success (star border)
Other: LifeStyle Crafts (embossing folder)

It features one of those folded trees that you probably have all seen around but the unusual thing about this one is that I used double-sided foil paper. One side is green, the other gold. It is very popular in Germany for all kinds of Christmas crafts and comes in a variety of color combinations. I brought some back some time ago especially with those trees in mind. After I folded it, I dry embossed it and added a foam mounted star punched from gold glitter paper. The rest is pretty self explanatory, I think, but if you have any questions please let me know!

This card works for several challenges! Check them out:

Virginia's View Challenge #9 "Metallic"




Simon Says Wednesday Challenge "Stars"





Addicted to Stamps "Anything Goes"


Inkspirational "Shine"




Hope the week has started well for you!

Susanne