For A Deer One

Hi everyone,

Thanks for stopping by and for all your wonderful comments. I'm honored to have you here and I truly appreciate each of you more than you know!

Yes, the post title IS another play on words, and yes, there are TWO deer on the card. They are from the beautiful scenic Stampin' Up! stamp set, In the Meadow, and the card was created for someone who is very dear to me...

I colored the deer and mountains with ink and blender pens, then filled in the scene with watercolor using an aqua painter. I have to say I LOVE the look and hope you do too?

Card: Watercolor paper and Early Espresso
Ink: Jet Black StazOn (outline and sentiment), Crumb Cake (deer), Smoky Slate (mountains), Tempting Turquoise (lake and sky) and Pear Pizzazz (grass)
Stamp sets: In the Meadow
Tools and embellishments: Blender Pens, Aqua Painters
Adhesives: Stampin' Dimensionals

Challenges...
AG at Incy Wincy Designs
AAG at TTCRD
August Linky at DL.ART

Whatever you're doing this weekend, have a great one. I'll be back on Monday with another creation, so I hope you'll join me then.

What A Beautiful Blessing

Hi everyone,

Thanks for stopping by and for all your wonderful comments. I'm honored to have you here and I truly appreciate each of you more than you know!

You might already know that I absolutely love the Rose Wonder bundle from Stampin' Up! If not, check out my other creations with it here. At first glance the photo below looks as if I've only used the bundle. Yep?

Nope! Let's take a closer look...

I've used some new (NBUS) goodies... Shimmery White card and Clear Wink of Stella brush to add some admittedly hard to see sparkle over the entire watercolor, die cut combo.

Card: Blushing Bride (card base and rose), Shimmery White, Wild Wasabi and a snippet of Whisper White (sentiment panel)
Ink: Blushing Bride ink and reinker
Stamp set: Rose Wonder
Tools and embellishments: Rose Wonder dies, Aqua Painter, Clear Wink of Stella brush
Adhesives: Stampin' dimensionals and Fine Tip Glue (NBUS)

Challenges...
NBUS #6 at djkardkreations (ends 3/10/16)
#221 AAG at Word Art Wednesday
#166 All that glitters at 613 Avenue Create
Linky Party #14 at Crop Stop

I'll be back tomorrow, so I hope you'll join me then.

Not What You Look At...

Hi everyone,

Thanks for stopping by and for all your wonderful comments. I'm honored to have you here and I truly appreciate each of you more than you know!

The card I'm sharing with you today is one I created for a friend's birthday a couple weeks ago...

Card: Crumb Cake and Watercolor Paper
Ink: Jet Black StazOn, Pear Pizzazz reinker, Tempting Turquoise reinker, Early Espresso reinker and Smoky Slate reinker
Stamp set: Moon Lake (retired)
Tools: Aqua Painters and Deco Labels Framelits

Challenges...
#203 AAG at Word Art Wednesday
AAG at TTCRD
#71 CAS at Beyond Grey

I'll be back tomorrow with my latest DT creation for House of Cards, so I hope you'll join me then.

Birthday Greetings with Moon Lake

Hi everyone,

Thanks for stopping by and for all your wonderful comments. I'm honored to have you here and I truly appreciate each of you more than you know!

The card I'm sharing with you today is the one I created for my bestie's birthday yesterday. I designed the card in my mind as soon as I saw the Moon Lake stamp set from Stampin' Up! in the then-new Spring/ Summer catalog, but didn't create it until early July. Yep, you read that right, around SIX MONTHS later! I'm not sure about you, but it is by FAR the longest lead time from conception to creation for me. EVER! Indeed the card is the reason why I bought the set, because I knew it would be perfect for him!

My bestie and I share so much, including some of my works in progress. Yep, he saw this one too, the watercolor. His response? "AMAZING!" Of course I didn't tell him it was for HIS card and he didn't see the finished card until he opened it. It was so tough keeping it secret from him, but I managed it. Just!

Oh, you're wondering what his response was? He loved it and yep, he recognized the painting! Grin

Card: Whisper White and Watercolor
Ink: Jet Black StazOn, Tempting Turquoise, Old Olive, Early Espresso and Smoky Slate
Stamp sets: Moon Lake (retired) and Wetlands (birthday sentiment)
Tools: Aqua Painters and Deco Labels Framelits
Adhesive: Stampin' Dimensionals

Challenges...
#194 AAG at Word Art Wednesday
Take Your Pick at Papertake Weekly (color)
AG at Simon Says Wednesday

I'll be back on Thursday with a pictorial, so I hope you'll join me then.

Hugs,
Em

Watercolor Blooms

Hi everyone,

Thanks for stopping by and for all your wonderful comments. I'm honored to have you here and I truly appreciate each of you more than you know!

I promised you on Wednesday that today's creation hasn't been created with either Watercolor Wings or the Bold Butterfly Framelits. What I couldn't promise you is that it wouldn't include those elements in some way!

Let me explain... as the title of today's post says, I've created a watercolor scene, using a favorite stamp set from the Occasions catalog that's been carried over into the new annual. Yep, the flowers are indeed from the Butterfly Basics stamp set from Stampin' Up!

Card: Watercolor Paper, Pear Pizzazz and Whisper White
Inks: Jet Black StazOn, Rich Razzleberry and Old Olive
Stamp set: Butterfly Basics
Tools: Aqua Painters
Adhesive: Stampin' Dimensionals

Challenges...
AAG at Through The Craft Room Door
#189 AAG at Word Art Wednesday
AG at Incy Wincy Designs
AG at Simon Says Wednesday

Whatever you're doing this weekend, have a great one! I'll be back on Sunday with my latest DT creation for 613 Avenue Create, so I hope you'll join me then.

Hugs,
Em

Watercolor Blended Bloom 2

Hi everyone,

Thanks for stopping by and for all your wonderful comments. I'm honored to have you here and I truly appreciate each of you more than you know!

Days after I posted this watercolor creation using the beautiful Blended Bloom stamp from Stampin' Up!, I saw the latest challenge over at TGIF is also a watercolor theme. There was only one thing to do, reach for the stamp and my Aqua Painters again! This time I've used another of my favorite colors, Rich Razzleberry and created a watercolor background...

I LOVE the variation that you can get by simply using a bit more water with the ink! The leaves and sentiment from Kinda Eclectic complete the design perfectly, even if I say so myself!

Card: Mossy Meadow, Whisper White and Watercolor Paper
Ink: Jet Black StazOn, Rich Razzleberry and Mossy Meadow
Stamp sets: Blended Bloom and Kinda Eclectic
Tools: Aqua Painters
Adhesive: Stampin' Dimensionals

Challenges...

#TGIFC06 Watercolor at TGIF
#202 Summer Colors at HIMCR
#187 AAG at Word Art Wednesday
#46 AAG at Scribble and Scrap

All the products I've used for today's creation are available 24/7 in my Online Shop. Click the images below to be taken straight to them.

Built for Free Using: My Stampin Blog

I'll be back on Friday with another creation, so I hope you'll join me then.

Hugs,
Em

Watercolor Blended Bloom

Hi everyone,

Thanks for stopping by and for all your wonderful comments. I'm honored to have you here and I truly appreciate each of you more than you know!

It's been a while since I've done any watercoloring, so when I saw the latest challenge and blog hop over at House of Cards, I thought it an ideal opportunity to put that right...

Card: Pear Pizzazz, Whisper White, Watercolor paper and a snippet of Mossy Meadow
Ink: Jet Black StazOn, Melon Mambo and Mossy Meadow
Stamp sets: Blended Bloom and Trust God
Tools and embellishments: Aqua Painters, Build a Bird punch (for leaves) and Basics Pearls
Adhesives: Mini Glue Dots and Stampin' Dimensionals

The challenge and blog hop is also a DT call and I'm using this card as my application. Wish me luck?

Challenges...

End of Term Blog Hop at House of Cards
#107 AG at Dream Valley Challenges
#186 AAG at Word Art Wednesday

All the products I've used for today's creation are available 24/7 in my Online Shop. Click the images below to be taken straight to them.

Built for Free Using: My Stampin Blog

Whatever you're doing this weekend, have a great one! I'll be back on Monday with another creation, so I hope you'll join me then.

Hugs,
Em

Moon Lake Watercolor Take 2

Hi everyone,

Thanks for stopping by and for all your wonderful comments. I'm honored to have you here and I truly appreciate each of you more than you know!

As I said on Tuesday, when I shared the first watercolor with the gorgeous Moon Lake stamp set from Stampin' Up, the set is perfect for painting. So perfect, that I've painted the main lake image from the set for today's quick and easy card...

Card: Watercolor Paper and Very Vanilla
Ink: Jet Black StazOn, Pear Pizzazz, Tempting Turquoise, Crumb Cake and Early Espresso
Stamp set: Moon Lake
Tools: Aqua Painters and Stampin' Dimensionals

Stamp the image in Jet Black StazOn onto Watercolor paper.
Paint using the Aqua Painters, varying the amount of water to alter the intensity of the color (both the water and sky have been painted in Tempting Turquoise and the leaves and foreground with Pear Pizzazz).
While the image is drying, stamp the sentiment in Early Espresso ink onto the lower right corner of the folded Very Vanilla card.
Pop the watercolor image onto the card with Stampin' Dimensionals

Never mind that I'm still waiting for spring, the scene in the card has me wishing for SUMMER :)

Challenges...

#61 Clean and Quick at CYCI
#175 AAG at Word Art Wednesday
AAG at TTCRD

All the products I've used for today's creation are available 24/7 in my Online Shop. Click the images below to be taken straight to them.

Built for Free Using: My Stampin Blog

I'll be back tomorrow with another Moon Lake creation, so I hope you'll join me then.

Hugs,
Em

Watercolor Moon Lake

Hi everyone,

Thanks for stopping by and for all your wonderful comments. I'm honored to have you here and I truly appreciate each of you more than you know!

I've always loved to watercolor, and the Aqua Painters from Stampin' Up make it something that even a complete beginner can do. The gorgeous Moon Lake stamp set is perfect for painting and that's what I've done for the focal point of today's quick and easy card...

Card: Watercolor paper and Very Vanilla
Ink: Jet Black StazOn, Tempting Turquoise, Crumb Cake, Pear Pizzazz and Early Espresso (sentiment)
Stamp Set: Moon Lake
Tools: Aqua Painters, Labels Collection Framelits

Stamp the image with Jet Black StazOn onto Watercolor Paper and die cut with one of the Labels Collection Framelits dies.
Using the stamp pad lids as palettes for the ink (or reinker), paint the image with Aqua Painters, varying the amount of water used for the lighter areas. Allow to dry for a few minutes
While the image is drying, cut and fold your card base from Very Vanilla card. Stamp sentiment in Early Espresso ink on the bottom of the card
Pop image onto the card with Stampin' Dimensionals

The card really is quick to create. It took me just less than 10 minutes, although the wetter the image the longer it will take to dry

Challenges...

#61 Clean and Quick at CYCI
#40 AAG at Scribble and Scrap
#51 AAG at Crafting From The Heart

All the products I've used for today's creation are available 24/7 in my Online Shop. Click the images below to be taken straight to them.

Built for Free Using: My Stampin Blog

I'll be back tomorrow with another creation, so I hope you'll join me then.

Hugs,
Em

Watercolor Blended Bloom

Hi everyone,

Thanks for stopping by and for all your wonderful comments. I'm honored to have you here and I truly appreciate each of you more than you know!

I hope those of you in the US and Canada are enjoying the extra daylight now the clocks have gone forward and spring seems to be on the horizon, if it's not already arrived where you are. It was warm and sunny here Saturday, but freezing again yesterday. Still not many signs of spring, although there are daisies in the lawn outside my window.

To hurry spring along a bit, I'm bringing you another flower filled week and without a Blendabilities marker in sight! I love the blended Bloom stamp from Stampin' Up! and at over 3" square, it is perfect for using with your Blendies, but there are LOTS of other ways to use it and I hope to inspire you. Today's offering is a watercolor...

Card: Whisper White (panel and folded card base), Watercolor paper and Strawberry Slush
Ink: Jet Black StazOn, Blushing Bride and Melon Mambo
Stamp sets: Blended Bloom, Gorgeous Grunge and Trust God
Tools: Aqua Painters

Stamp the Blended Bloom in Jet Black StazOn ink onto Watercolor paper. While it's drying Stamp the spatter image from Gorgeous Grunge in Blushing Bride ink onto the Whisper White panel.
Transfer some Blushing Bride and Melon Mambo ink into the lids by squeezing (or use reinker in the same way).
Using an Aqua Painter color the flower with the transferred ink and allow to dry.
Stamp the sentiment from Trust God in Melon Mambo ink onto the Gorgeous Grunge Panel and attach panel to base card.
Trim the Watercolor paper panel to desired size and stamp around the image with the  Gorgeous Grunge spatters, again using Blushing Bride ink.
Cut the Strawberry Slush card to create a mat for the image (I cut mine ¼" bigger), layer together and attach to the card

Challenges...
#212 AG at Sweet Stamps
Spring Colors at Crafty Sentiments
AG at Party Time Tuesdays

All the products I've used for today's creation are available 24/7 in my Online Shop. Click the images below to be taken straight to them.

Built for Free Using: My Stampin Blog

I'll be back tomorrow with another Blended Bloom creation, so I hope you'll join me then.

Hugs,
Em

Watercolor With Love Is Kindness

Hi everyone,

Thanks for stopping by and for all your wonderful comments. I'm honored to have you here and I truly appreciate each of you more than you know!

If you're at all like me and totally fed up of winter, with no sign of spring in sight, then hopefully the card I've got for you today will help brighten your day.

I love both the gorgeous wrapped tulips image in the Love Is Kindness stamp set from Stampin' Up! and the sentiment, but to get more use out of them I very, VERY carefully cut the sentiment from the image when I initially mounted the stamp onto the wooden block.

I have used my Aqua Painters and Watercolor paper to create the focal point of today's card...

There's a hidden surprise. This isn't a standard 5" square card, it's an easel...

Card: Crisp Cantaloupe (10" x 5" folded for base, 5" square, 4¼" x 3 1/8" piece for layering and snippet for punching), Watercolor Paper and Best Year Ever DSP (Sale-A-Bration, two 4 3/4" squares)
Ink: Jet Black StazOn, Melon Mambo, Pear Pizzazz
Stamp Sets: Love Is Kindness and Bloom With Hope (sentiment, hostess set from the annual cattie)
Tools: Aqua Painters, Decorative Label and Scallop Oval punches and Basics Rhinestones

Stamp the image in Jet Black StazOn onto Watercolor Paper and allow to dry for a few moments.
Squeeze the Melon Mambo and Pear Pizzazz ink pads before opening so ink transfers into the lid (or use Reinkers). Paint the image with the transferred ink and the Aqua Painters.
To create the base card, score the 10" x 5" piece of Crisp Cantaloupe at 5" and 7½". Fold and burnish score lines. The second score and fold will create the easel
Attach one 4 3/4" square of Best Year Ever DSP to the 5" Crisp Cantaloupe Square and the other to the inside of the base card. Attach square to base by adding adhesive to the second smaller panel.
Trim the image piece to desired size (mine is 2 3/4" x 3 3/4"), layer onto Crisp Cantaloupe piece and pop up onto the base using Stampin' Dimensionals.
Stamp the sentiment from Bloom With Hope in Melon Mambo ink onto a snippet of Watercolor paper. Punch with the Scallop Oval and layer onto a Crisp Cantaloupe punched Decorative Label. Pop the sentiment onto the inside of the card with Stampin' Dimensionals to create the stopper for the easel.
Attach Basic Rhinestones to complete the design

If you've not tried this type of card before, although it sounds complicated, it really is easy.

Challenges...

#58 Designers Choice at CYCI
#231 AG with birthdays at OSAAT
AG at TTCRD

All the products I've used for today's card are available 24/7 in my Online Shop. Click the images below to be taken straight to them.

Built for Free Using: My Stampin Blog

I'll be back tomorrow with another Love Is Kindness creation, so I hope you'll join me then.

Hugs,
Em

Watercolor With Butterfly Basics

Hi everyone,

Thanks for stopping by and for all your wonderful comments. I'm honored to have you here and I truly do appreciate each of you more than you know!

The card I'm sharing with you today is another created using the gorgeous Butterfly Basics die from Stampin' Up! I LOVE the intricate dies in the set and have teamed it with an easy to create background using my never before used (NBUS) Aqua Painters...

Card: Crumb Cake 10" x 5" folded to create a square base, with extra for the butterfly. Whisper White 4 3/4" square
Ink: Melon Mambo
Die: Butterfly Thinlits
Tools and embellishments: Aqua Painters and Basics Pearls colored with Melon Mambo Blendabilities

The card is perfect for the latest challenge at CAS-ology...

#129 NBUS at CAS-ology
SDC178 Color Splash at Stampotique Designers
CAS at Top Tip Tuesday

All the products I've used to create today's card are available 24/7 in my Online Shop. Click the images below to go straight to them.

Built for Free Using: My Stampin Blog

I'll be back TOMORROW with a very rare, but very special Saturday post, as I join my Pinkie sisters for a blog hop, so I really hope you'll join me.

Hugs,
Em

Very special gift

Hi everyone,

I've just heard that a very special recent piece has arrived with the recipient and so I can now publicly show the card. In creating it, a special gift for a very dear friend, indeed Zane is more my brother, I knew it had to be one of, if not my best ever creation. I'm very proud to say that I achieved that.

Zane and his wife Jenny's comments upon it's arrival, have brought me to tears, which as I write now, are still falling. I was also in tears while I worked on it. Words cannot express how honored I am to have created something that has touched them both so much.

The scene is my interpretation of one of Zane's photographs, sunset over the Atlantic, and is the first time in years that I've done any painting.

Hugs,

Em