Time Out Challenge #12

Have you noticed that it has been quiet around here? No posts, no commenting on your blogs... Well, we have been on our annual camping trip and it was a lot of fun!

But now we are back and I have managed to make a card for the Time Out Challenge where Anita from mypapercraftworld is the designer we are to CASE. If you don't know her get in a comfortable chair and surround yourself with drinks and snacks while you look around your inspiring blog! Anita is one of the kindest people in blogland and I really wanted to play in this challenge!

First check out Anita's beauty

and my attempt to CASE it

and a close up so you can see the Wink of Stella on the flowers

Stamp: Stampin' Up 

Die: Simon Says Stamp 

Stencil: Memory box

I have to hop over there before Mr. Linky closes. You should check out all those gorgeous cards people already made! (Link is on top of the post)

Thanks for visiting,

Susanne

OCC "Stretch Your Stamps 2" - Sympathy

This morning I made a card inspired by Stephanie Klauck's video on Day 3 of the Online Card Class "Stretch Your Stamps 2". She made a fun little scene stamping through stencils. I don't have a stencil that let's me create a scene like hers so I did this:

Stamps: Stampin' Up (sentiment), Hero Arts (words inside stencil)
Stencil: The Crafter's Workshop
Punch: Martha Stewart

I really like how this came out and definitely want to use this technique again.

We'll see if I manage to make another card today! These classes really get your mojo going! So many ideas swirling in my head (so little time)...

Enjoy your day,
Susanne

Happy Birthday, Darnell!

Even though I am still in Germany I would like to join the blogworld in wishing our sweet friend Darnell a VERY HAPPY BIRTHDAY and show you the card I sent her (hope you received it, Darnell). She is the funnest, kindest and most supportive person in blogland and I am sure you all know and follow her already!
Bev from Happy Dance put on an awesome party with everything you can wish for and Ardyth from MASKerade has opened a Linky so you can join in with your creation for Darnell!

I made another watercolor background with the Plaid stencil like I did on this card but used different Distress Inks and glittery embossing powder for the greeting and centers of the flowers. Very sparkly and fun, just like Darnell! Hope you have a wonderful day, my friend!

We are having a great time here visiting family and friends and doing little side trips to Venice, Italy and Salzburg, Austria!
Hope to get back to more frequent posting once I am back in my space with all my stuff!

Hugs,
Susanne

Watercolor Birthday

The Watercolor Class is over but I am not done playing yet! In fact, it will keep me amused for a very long time. So I hope you are not getting tired of my experiments with watercolors!

Now after my very systematic beginning I was "naughty" and jumped to Day 11 because I wanted to see what tricks Mr. Tim Holtz had up his sleeves. He taught us monoprinting with stencils, something he apparently has covered in one of his online classes and books in case you have taken/read them.

I used a Plaid stencil, Distress Inks, a sentiment from Avery Elle on vellum because I didn't want to take anything away from the background, and lots of bling.

While I was typing this post the phone rang. It was my older son's teacher telling me that my son had fallen off the stage during a play and he thought we should get his arm x-rayed as my son was in pain and couldn't turn his hand. So instead of me trying out a new watercolor technique we spent the afternoon in the emergency room. Fortunately the elbow is only badly sprained. Phew!

Take care,
Susanne

Simon Says Wednesday Challenge turns 5!

I really did not want to miss out on congratulating the Simon Says Wednesday Challenge on turning 5! Happy Birthday (and many more...)

I used the Simon Says happy die which I love and layered it a few times to raise it up. I was spritzing a TCW stencil but it didn't come out the way I imagined. This background is actually the stencil used as a stamp with the residual mist as ink. The golden layer is a scrap. 

It so happens that several other challenges have stencils as themes so I am sending this over to 

Virginia's View

keep it simple 

Moxie Fab Challenge

Ha, this is rare that a card of mine fits so many challenges! 

Have a great week you all,

Susanne

Stamp: My Sentiments Exactly

Die: Simon Says

Stencil: TCW

Mists: Heidi Swapp, LuminArte (Radiant Rain)

SSS Monday Challenge / Virginia's View - Take Two

I am back with another card for Simon Says Monday Challenge (Paste) and Virginia's View Challenge (Watercolor) because when I got out my gesso and watercolors I made more than one background/card since those media are a bit unpredictable...

With this card I tried to by artsy (stop laughing, you real artsy people)...

Those beads in the center of the circle? I've had those for a VERY long time. They were waiting patiently in the drawer... I was originally thinking of something else but discovered that those beads fit the watercolor background perfectly. 

You know what? I have more cards for a different challenge that ends tonight! So, yes, you will find another post or two in your inbox/reader a little later.

Stamps: Stampin' Up (word circle), Mama Elephant (triangles)

Stencil: TCW

Other: beads (Beedz)

SSS Monday Challenge (Paste)

This weeks Simon Says Monday Challenge is to use embossing paste, gesso or something similar with stencils and that was exactly what I needed as I have been meaning to play with my new stencils and gesso (still don't have embossing paste...) Didn't have time to craft until this weekend so I am entering in the last minute (well, there are over 9 hrs left...)

Created a watercolor background, used the flame stencil with gesso, poured gold embossing powder over it, let it dry, heat embossed it and then didn't know what to do with it. Thought those words would work. Embossed them in black on vellum and adhered everything on a black card. Played around with sequins but after consulting with my 14 year old son decided it looked better without. 

Also linking this to the new Virginia's View Challenge: Watercolors!

I will probably be back with another one (just a warning)...

Stamps: Inkadinkado (words)

Stencil: TCW