prismacolor blending for altenew challenge

Felicitationes France! And nice job, Croatia! It's amazing how the World Cup has a way of influencing daily life in our house. And how its end, leaves me feeling someone's moved out...

In that funk, I decided to quickly post this card I made yesterday. Lots of coloring with Prismacolor pencils on dark cardstock. Lots. But I am happy with the result. What do you think?

Altenew Arabesque Medallion stamp
Ranger Platinum embossing powder
Prismacolor pencils

Stamped the medallion twice and heat embossed them. Filled in some areas with my Versamark pen and embossed them too. Then I colored. And colored. And colored some more. Here's a great video from Yana S. if you're interested. I chose my pencil colors (four blues, black and white), BTW, based on this month's inspiration challenge at Altenew.

I'm joining these challenges:

Bastel Traum - AG (#2)

CASual Fridays - Heat Embossing

60 is the new 40 with flora fauna

Created this fun card for DH's friend who lives in the boonies in Sweden. DH and DS have been up there to visit. As "romantic" as it sounds, the bugs would do me in by the end of day one. Thought Flora and Fauna stamps would be appropriate...

Flora Fauna Happy Place stamp

Flora Fauna Graphic Flower stamp

Flora Fauna Holiday Terrarium stamp

Copics

A little bit of masking. A lot of strategically-placed stamping. Some basic Copic coloring. Voila!

I'm playing at:

Always Fun Challenges - Anything Goes

Seize the Birthday - Anything Goes (no optional Sequins for me!)

Watercooler Wednesday - Occasions

Addicted to Stamps and More - Happy Birthday

Paper Players - Celebration theme for their anniversary

STAMPlorations inspiration #178

It's summer break time over at STAMPlorations through September, but we're popping in today with an inspiration post from the inspiration DT . Hope you're enjoying summer (in this hemisphere).

This month I'm creating with the Stamp Club set Succulently. I was inspired during the Daily Marker 30 Day challenge to color. Meet today's creation. I had such fun with this.

 STAMPlorations Succulently stamp and die

STAMPlorations Hugs die

Studio Calico PP
Copics

I had fun with the images and Copics. There's just something about that vase! And the tiny blossoms - barely noticeable but allowing for a little pop of color.

Even Copic-colored the die cut sentiment. And added a coat of Glossy Accents to that fun vase!

A reminder that during the STAMP summer break, every Tuesday all stamps, dies and stencils in the shop are 15% off. Use my code STAMPGIRLMARIA to get an additional 20% off.

I'm going over to:
Inkspirational - #164

Crafty Hazelnut's PP Challenge - July
Crafty Cardmakers - At least two dies or punches

spotlight on adding interest to a simple succulent card

I'm over at the STAMPlorations blog with a tutorial for this card today. Hope you're having a "fancactus" day"...

happy birthday, shery

Dropping in today with a birthday card for a virtual birthday party for Shery Russ, the heart and soul of STAMPlorations.

I decided to make a one-layer card (Shery's blog is called That One Layer Mixed Media Girl) that I hope Shery will like. It's not really mixed media. But there is a certain grunge factor ;)

STAMPlorations Floral Bliss 

Ranger Letter It Birthday

Distress Inks

I stamped and masked the sentiment then stamped the flowers around it, masking them sometimes too. I used Distress Inks so when I was finished I took a wet brush and softened the lines a bit. Even added some additional ink to the flowers with my brush. And splatters. Cuz splatters are always good. Like washi ;)

Check out this post over on the STAMPlorations blog for lots more birthday card inspiration. And have a great day.

I'm playing at:
Stamping Sensations - In my Garden
CAS colors and sketches - #279

Paper Players - Celebration

Just Us Girls - AG

more smooshed sympathy cards

Did you see this card I made? Well, because ink smooshing (or as CAS Watercolor calls it - splash watercoloring) is such fun (YAY!) and I've needed several sympathy cards lately (BOO!), I actually created four more during that crafting session. And forgot to post them.

Inkadinkado Delicate Branches stamp

efco Trauer Das Leben stamp

Distress Inks

While we're here, can we take a moment to praise the MISTI (or whichever stamp positioner)?!? I held out for the longest time. And y'all said "it'll change your life". And I thought, "yeah, sure". And boy were you right. It's a total game changer. Not just for crisper, clean images. But also for creating multiples. Which lowers the time spent per card. Which just makes you feel good, doesn't it?!?

I opted to keep these cards simple and one layer (no frames) and therefore I changed the position of the sentiment. But once the image and sentiment were in place, the cards were super easy and quick to produce. Thank you, MISTI.

Thanks for stopping by. I'm stopping by:
CAS on Friday - Watercolor
CAS Watercolor Card - July

Happy Little Stampers Watercolor - July

Just Us Girls - AG

STAMPlorations inspiration #177

Although it's actually summer break time over at STAMPlorations through September, we're popping in today with an inspiration post from the inspiration DT . Hope your summer (in this hemisphere) is progressing nicely - not too hot, not too cool.

This month I've decided to create with the Stamp Club set Succulently. Inspired during the Daily Marker 30 Day challenge to color, here's today's creation.

STAMPlorations Succulently stamp and die

STAMPlorations Thanks die

Studio Calico PP
washi

I had some fun with the images and Copics. Shirley had told me that her pooch has a thing for cordylines, thus the plant in the center. For the other two succulents I gave 'em a touch of purple to go with the pink ;)

Grounded the planters on die cuts using that cool shape from the matching die set and added the sentiment. A strip of gold washi along the bottom... I like that little touch.

During the STAMP summer break, should you feel like exercising your shopping muscles... every Tuesday all stamps, dies and stencils in the shop are 15% off. Grab my code from the sidebar to get 20% off on top.

I'm going over to:
Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - AG
Crafty Hazelnut's PP Challenge - July
Crafty Cardmakers - At least two dies or punches
Basteltraum - Hobby/Leisure (I do love my plants)