happy birthday, darnell!

There's a birthday bash happening at CAS Watercolor Challenge in honor of the one and only Darnell K. You know her. And if you don't... you absolutely should. Don't drink coffee and read her blog posts at the same time though ;) You may end up with coffee all over your screen. Don't say I didn't warn you...

So here's my watercolor bouquet on its way to the belle of the ball.

STAMPlorations Precious Plumeria stamp

STAMPlorations Fond Expressions 2 stamp

STAMPlorations Just Squares stencil

Zig Clean Color Brush markers

Distress ink - Mustard Seed

I totally CASEd Erum T.'s amazing no-line watercoloring card, right down to splatters and some attempted shading (gag). I'm making another one without shading that's for sure!

But I do love the addition of the light stenciling to "ground" the bouquet.

Dear Darnell, you ARE my kind of wonderful. Hope your 71st year is as wonderful as you.

I'm hooking up at:

STAMPlorations - World Watercolor Month

Time Out - Inspired by Words

CAS Watercolor - Flower Bouquet

STAMPlorations inspiration #224

Welcome to another Tuesday inspiration from the STAMPlorations inspiration team.

Although things are quiet on the STAMP blog, the inspiration girls and I will continue to share projects with you throughout the summer and I have a theme for July - inking with stencils.
  

I love me some ink blending. But I'm keeping the ink blending CAS today.

 STAMPlorations Oh My Stars stencil
STAMPlorations Little Love Birthday Wishes stamp

Distress inks
makeup brushes

First I stamped the image and masked it. Then I tore a "circle" out of scrap paper and used the negative to cover my card. Then I put down the stencil and inked Tumbled Glass, Peacock Feathers and Mermaid Lagoon through the stencil. Removed the stencil and masks and voila! Stamped the sweet little sentiment making this a truly one-layer card!

I've used this stencil here and here too.

You could win yourself a $10 GC to the store by leaving a comment on this month's inspiration posts! Check out today's post here. Thanks for looking.

I'm playing at:
Addicted to Stamps - CAS Summer card (this was for a July birthday boy)
Always Fun - AG
SSS Wednedsay - Stars and/or stripes
Basteltraum - Summer

so raise your glass...

Someone in our household turned 60. And it ain't me. But it's still shocking!

The kids and I got DH tickets for Pink in Frankfurt. This is the card I made, inspired by the line in Pink's song AND the current sketch at Freshly Made Sketches. (OK, I missed the challenge due to a busy weekend) but still inspired by the sketch...

Spellbinders Bottle Tag die

Essentials by Ellen Hands die

Memory Box Parker Numbers die

patterned paper

nail polish
Dymo label maker

Pretty self explanatory. But did you notice the polished nails? Yep, used red nail polish ;)

I'm joining the fun at:
Tuesday Throwdown - AG
The Sisterhood of Crafters - Any Occasion

spotlight on easy peasy summer design

OK. This might just be my very favorite card design this summer. You just can't beat a rainbow accompanied by lotsa white space and dramatic black.

OK, add a unicorn and maybe you beat it ;)

I'm over on the STAMP blog with a tutorial for this card.

I'm taking this to:
SSS Wednesday - AG
Pinspirational - #242

AAA Cards - One Corner

STAMPlorations inspiration #223

Welcome to another Tuesday inspiration from the STAMPlorations inspiration team.

Although things are quiet on the STAMP blog during the summer, the inspiration girls and I will continue to share projects with you throughout the summer and I have the first of my July theme- inking with stencils - for you today. BTW, did you see my Stencil Sunday post over at the STAMP blog. Check it out for more ideas. And you still have a couple days to leave a comment for a chance to win!
  

I love me some ink blending. It's so easy to create a one-layer card (my faves) with a stencil and some inks. Here's one inspired by the yellow peonies I saw on Instagram lately.

 STAMPlorations Peony One stencil
STAMPlorations Healing Herbs stamp

Distress inks
makeup brushes
white embossing powder

Love this stencil. Love this design - a bloom, lotsa white space and a heat embossed sentiment on a snippet.  Nothing original about it but it's always good.

You could win yourself a $10 GC to the store by leaving a comment on this month's inspiration posts! Check out today's post here. Thanks for looking.

I'm playing at:
Simon Says Stamp Wednesday - AG
AAA Cards - One Corner (+ flowers)

simon says stamp - waves for summer

Have you seen the latest SSS release, Rest and Refresh?  I got to play with this wonderful background stamp, Waves.

So I know, it's called "Waves". But...  if you stamp it once, turn it 45 degrees and stamp it again... you get the coolest design. Just sit back, chillax and watercolor. You may have seen this in my IG stories...

SSS Waves stamp

Altenew watercolors

orange embossing powder

And maybe you saw the first three cards I posted using portions of the watercolored 6 x 6 panel.

The pattern and colors screamed summer to me, so using the panel I reached for the Simon Summertime die and made two cards. First with the negative. Did some ink smooshing with acetate to match the colors of the die cut piece and added two tropical die cuts Kesi Hibiscus and Flora and Fauna Flamingo.

With the positives I revisited a CAS design. Used an older Simon set, Summer Garden and some Nuvo drops.

Check out the release if you haven't, and all the makes with it in the gallery at Simon Says Stamp. Thanks mucho, Simon.

I'm joining the fun at:
SSS Wednesday - AG

Happy Little Stampers - AG with Dies June

STAMPlorations inspiration #222

Welcome to another Tuesday inspiration from the STAMPlorations inspiration team.

As you've probably heard by now, our 6th Birthday party has been postponed, but there is a giant selection of products in the store for a 6th Birthday Sale. Throughout the month of June, products in the 6th Birthday section are 30% off instantly + with my STAMPGIRLMARIA code, you actually get up to 50% off!
  

I love me some ink blending. I put it to use on this birthday card (the inside reads "Happy Birthday to Ewe").

 STAMPlorations Baa Baa stamp
MFT circle die (mask)

Distress inks
white embossing powder

As I was perusing my stamps, this cutie caught my eye. Don't you love a good pun? I chose to make the straight-on ewe the star of the show. So I masked and inked a circle with blues and greens hinting at sky and grass, then stamped her smack dab in the middle.

I used this stamp set here too.

You could win yourself one of 6  $25 GC to the store by leaving a comment on this month's inspiration posts! Check out today's post here. Thanks for looking.

I'm playing at:
Addicted to Stamps - For a Boy/Man
Creative Friday - Clean and Simple

ATSAM - Anything Goes

Happy Little Stampers CAS - Funny