FInal Altenew Card - Happy BIrthday

Ok this is my last one for awhile anyways, I promise. This time I used the dies along with my watecoloring to give this card some dimensional pop.

I also wondered how the flowers would look using two colors instead of just one, so I mixed ina bit of orange along with my pink for the petals.

And a side view so you can see the dimension

One more Altnew watercolored card

Somehow I just have a hard time resisting these stamps, especially when I watercolor them.
I know so many people are into coloring books using colored pencils but for me water coloring is where it's at. Hopefully you don't mind looking at one more.

Unusual Pair

This is a layout of our two kitties. One being mine and the other being my son's. Using lots of leftover supplies which is always a good thing.


I joined a bunch of challenges over at scrapbook.com and this filled all them. One was a pet challenge the other was a silhouette and last one was a sketch challenge.

Another Altenew card

So after trying the watercolor method with these stamps I opted for the more traditional stamping method. These are layering stamps so you can add as much or little detail as you like. I used all four below but with the water coloring I just choose one.

I actually stamped these first using inks I had on hand but was solely disappointed that I just wasn't' getting the vibrancy from them I wanted. I then went and purchased some of the crisp inks from Altenew and found them to be much better in handling the details of the stamps but still not overjoyed with the color scheme, although I do like how they give off a romantic vintage feel.

And I struggled with a sentiment on this card, seemed no matter which color I tried it just didn't work so I finally decided it's fine just the way it is.

My Birthday gift

So remember I needed a gift to go with my card that I made for myself (you didn't think I was joking did you?) I decided to buy some of those yummy romantic peony stamps from Altenew. Lets just say they don't disappoint.

I have tried them two ways and so far I am liking them water colored. Mostly because I  just can't find an ink that is bright enough for my taste.

This was my first pass with these stamps and also with no line water coloring. No line coloring is very similar to coloring with copics. You use your darkest or less diluted color where shade or depth would be and then without adding more color but diluting your brush you pull the color out, and you do that twice so you have a dark, med and highlight colored area. I find this actually to be a little time consuming but very relaxing. Good for those days when your mind is too tired for creativity but you feel the need or desire to do something crafty.

I mixed the stamps with Clearly Besotted Butterfly Wishes stamps and dies to finish the card and of course a couple of added sequins to give it just a tinge of sparkle.

Merman card for the boys

Hope everyone had a wonderful Mother's Day and a scrap happy time this weekend in honor of National Scrapbook Day.

Today I am showcasing yet another card for the grandsons. They now officially have a shelf where they are displaying all of my cards, so cute! I feel kind of funny sending them back to back ocean themed cards but one of the challenges this week I have with my friend is to use a digital image and when I saw this cute merman boy I just couldn't resist.

I am using two sentiments combined that are from Kraftin Kimmie as well as the coral at the bottom of the card and the fish dies are from Poppystamps. I colored the little guy in copics and fussy cut and then popped him up on the overall frame which was a die from My Favorite Stamps.

And it's hard to see on except in person but I used some copic glitter pens to give the mermans fins and scales some shine. The dark aqua blue also has a sheen to it. Lets just say this card looks much better in person than in film.

Layout - 1968

Another challenge I entered over at Scrapbook.com was called 3-2-1. We had to use 3 flowers, 2 die cuts and 1 tag.

This was my take on that challenge. I did actually stamp flowers in the upper left hand corner as well as the bottom right and then diecut 3 flowers. For the diecuts I cut feathers and a floral border that are layered on the right side and then the obvious kraft tag.

Sending You Rainbow Happiness

Lately I have been partaking in challenges with my friend. First it started out to just help us get our rooms cleaned and organized but lately we extended that to creating cards and layouts and my last challenge was to join the challenges that Scrapbook.com had going on.

I must confess it was truly fun and inspiring to join those challenges plus you can win $$ to their store, how awesome is that. Turns out I actually did win, twice. First for just posting projects into their gallery and then for one of the challenges.

The challenge I won was based on this PageMaps card sketch

And this was one of the winning cards or one of the winning cards as they select 4 people.