Hello everyone,
Today's birthday card post uses another lovely stamped bird image.
The card base is The Paper Studio. The image is Magenta coloured with Tombow N35, 476, 493 and 528 markers and stamped on a white of unknown origin. The sentiment is Flonz Happy Birthday stamped in Altenew Desert Night on more white. The sentiment and image panels are layered on Close To My Heart Lilac Mist and Stampin' Up Midnight Muse.
This little bird image is one of my all time favourite stamps. It's red rubber and takes both markers and watercolour crayons really well. I've used both mediums and have always been so happy with the results. It's not a large image so I try to plan the layout to include layers. Though the sentiment is a little more flourished than I'd like, I thought it was a good scale for both the card and the image. The layer of Midnight Muse was intended to bring it all together.
I hope you enjoy this card and come back to SPI again soon.
Gisèle
Thursday, February 28, 2019
Wednesday, February 27, 2019
Butterfly Fun
Hello everyone,
Today's post is another lovely simple birthday card.
The card base The Paper Studio. The image is Magenta stamped in Altenew Rouge and Tsukineko Brilliance Pearlescent Rust inks on a white of unknown origin. The sentiment is Rubbernecker Happy Birthday stamped in Versafine Onyx Black. The image/sentiment panel is layered on a glittering gold of unknown origin and Close To My Heart Orange.
This is not one of my favourite butterfly stamps because it's a little too 'fantasy' for my taste. That said, I am trying to use more stamped images for this commission. I will say, it was pretty easy to blend the inks and the final result is pretty great. I love the layer of glittered paper and was quite surprised by how well the orange layer brought it all together. A great, if surprising, result!
I hope you enjoy this card and come back to SPI again soon.
Gisèle
Today's post is another lovely simple birthday card.
The card base The Paper Studio. The image is Magenta stamped in Altenew Rouge and Tsukineko Brilliance Pearlescent Rust inks on a white of unknown origin. The sentiment is Rubbernecker Happy Birthday stamped in Versafine Onyx Black. The image/sentiment panel is layered on a glittering gold of unknown origin and Close To My Heart Orange.
This is not one of my favourite butterfly stamps because it's a little too 'fantasy' for my taste. That said, I am trying to use more stamped images for this commission. I will say, it was pretty easy to blend the inks and the final result is pretty great. I love the layer of glittered paper and was quite surprised by how well the orange layer brought it all together. A great, if surprising, result!
I hope you enjoy this card and come back to SPI again soon.
Gisèle
Tuesday, February 26, 2019
Spring Tulip
Hello everyone,
Today's post is another bright spring birthday card.
The card base is The Paper Studio. The image is Magenta coloured with Tombow 126, 296, 623 and 636 markers then stamped on a white of unknown origin. The image is layered on Close To My Heart Gypsy and more white. The sentiment is Hero Arts Thoughtful Messages stamped in Versafine Onyx Black on more white and layered on more Gypsy. The card is highlighted with Ivy Green Liquid Pearls.
This is one bright tulip birthday card. As I post this card, I wonder what it would look like if I used crayons or pencils to colour it in. I'll have to give that a try on another tulip image. I had stamped this sentiment for another card but it didn't work in black so I set it aside. I knew I'd find a card for it at some point in this commission. I quite like the angled sentiment. It adds a little extra interest and makes it a little more different than some of the other cards in this series.
I hope you enjoy this card and come back to SPI again soon.
Gisèle
Today's post is another bright spring birthday card.
The card base is The Paper Studio. The image is Magenta coloured with Tombow 126, 296, 623 and 636 markers then stamped on a white of unknown origin. The image is layered on Close To My Heart Gypsy and more white. The sentiment is Hero Arts Thoughtful Messages stamped in Versafine Onyx Black on more white and layered on more Gypsy. The card is highlighted with Ivy Green Liquid Pearls.
This is one bright tulip birthday card. As I post this card, I wonder what it would look like if I used crayons or pencils to colour it in. I'll have to give that a try on another tulip image. I had stamped this sentiment for another card but it didn't work in black so I set it aside. I knew I'd find a card for it at some point in this commission. I quite like the angled sentiment. It adds a little extra interest and makes it a little more different than some of the other cards in this series.
I hope you enjoy this card and come back to SPI again soon.
Gisèle
Monday, February 25, 2019
Modern Dandelions
Hello everyone,
Today's post is another birthday card with an appealing ink application.
The card base is The Paper Studio. The image is Magenta stamped in Tsukineko Delicata 4 Metals on a white of unknown origin. The sentiment is Close To My Heart Happy Birthday stamped in Versafine Onyx Black on a white of unknown origin. The image and sentiment panels are layered on a pale metallic copper of unknown origin.
I was thrilled to find this pale metallic copper in my stash and it's the perfect layer for this card (and yesterday's too). I though this would be another great stamp for using multiple inks. The Tsukineko Delicata inks used are four spots attached in a single row. It's an odd configuration unless you blend them directly on the stamp or use very small stamps. This image is perfect for using a vertical sentiment and I like how much of the metallic copper is revealed because it's perfect with the image colours and the card base.
I hope you enjoy this card and come back to SPI again soon.
Gisèle
Today's post is another birthday card with an appealing ink application.
The card base is The Paper Studio. The image is Magenta stamped in Tsukineko Delicata 4 Metals on a white of unknown origin. The sentiment is Close To My Heart Happy Birthday stamped in Versafine Onyx Black on a white of unknown origin. The image and sentiment panels are layered on a pale metallic copper of unknown origin.
I was thrilled to find this pale metallic copper in my stash and it's the perfect layer for this card (and yesterday's too). I though this would be another great stamp for using multiple inks. The Tsukineko Delicata inks used are four spots attached in a single row. It's an odd configuration unless you blend them directly on the stamp or use very small stamps. This image is perfect for using a vertical sentiment and I like how much of the metallic copper is revealed because it's perfect with the image colours and the card base.
I hope you enjoy this card and come back to SPI again soon.
Gisèle
Sunday, February 24, 2019
Warm Butterfly Wishes
Hello everyone,
Today's post is a birthday card with a fun ink application.
The card base is The Paper Studio. The image is IndigoBlu Ink Splat Butterfly stamped in Tsukineko Brilliance Pearlescent Chocolate, Crimson and Rust on a white of unknown origin. The image is layered on a pale metallic copper of unknown origin. The sentiment is Stampin' Up It's Your Birthday stamped in Versafine Onyx Black.
I truly love this stamp but am never quite sure about the message it sends. I've slowly been sorting though some craft stuff and came across the few Tsukineko cat's eye inks that I'd kind of forgotten about. I really love the pearlescent aspect of the ink and these three colours worked wonderfully together. I started with the lightest colour, working up to the darkest so the blending didn't totally mess up the ink pads. I dithered over the sentiment for far too long when I decided to just use this one from an old Stampin' Up set. It doesn't show up as strongly as I'd like but I can live with it.
I hope you enjoy this card and come back to SPI again soon.
Gisèle
Today's post is a birthday card with a fun ink application.
The card base is The Paper Studio. The image is IndigoBlu Ink Splat Butterfly stamped in Tsukineko Brilliance Pearlescent Chocolate, Crimson and Rust on a white of unknown origin. The image is layered on a pale metallic copper of unknown origin. The sentiment is Stampin' Up It's Your Birthday stamped in Versafine Onyx Black.
I truly love this stamp but am never quite sure about the message it sends. I've slowly been sorting though some craft stuff and came across the few Tsukineko cat's eye inks that I'd kind of forgotten about. I really love the pearlescent aspect of the ink and these three colours worked wonderfully together. I started with the lightest colour, working up to the darkest so the blending didn't totally mess up the ink pads. I dithered over the sentiment for far too long when I decided to just use this one from an old Stampin' Up set. It doesn't show up as strongly as I'd like but I can live with it.
I hope you enjoy this card and come back to SPI again soon.
Gisèle
Saturday, February 23, 2019
Delicate Duo
Hello everyone,
Today's post is another pair of sweet birthday cards.
The card bases are The Paper Studio. The images are Penny Black Delicate Florals coloured with a variety of Stampin' Up watercolour crayons and stamped on Recollections White.
The sentiment on the blue card is Rubbernecker Best Wishes stamped in Close To My Heart Indian Corn Blue. The card is highlighted with White Opal Liquid Pearls.
The image on the pink card is layered on Stampin' Up Rich Razzleberry and Lucky Limeade, and Close To My Heart Blush. The sentiment is Hero Arts Thoughtful Messages stamped in Rich Razzleberry. The card is highlighted with Diamond Stickles.
This pair of cards is actually part of a trio but I'd already posted the third card last Sunday. These images truly are delicate and can be a bit of a challenge to get a good impression using watercolour crayons. I often end up with multiple fails in my blue box because I inevitably spritz either too much or not enough water. That said, the frustration is worth it with results like these. I particularly love the large image on the blue card. It's big enough that only a little trimming was needed for a great result. I braved adding Liquid Pearls but instead of just 'going for it', I used a light pencil mark before committing to the final placement which I think turned out quite well.
I hope you enjoy these cards and come back to SPI again soon.
Gisèle
Today's post is another pair of sweet birthday cards.
The card bases are The Paper Studio. The images are Penny Black Delicate Florals coloured with a variety of Stampin' Up watercolour crayons and stamped on Recollections White.
The sentiment on the blue card is Rubbernecker Best Wishes stamped in Close To My Heart Indian Corn Blue. The card is highlighted with White Opal Liquid Pearls.
The image on the pink card is layered on Stampin' Up Rich Razzleberry and Lucky Limeade, and Close To My Heart Blush. The sentiment is Hero Arts Thoughtful Messages stamped in Rich Razzleberry. The card is highlighted with Diamond Stickles.
This pair of cards is actually part of a trio but I'd already posted the third card last Sunday. These images truly are delicate and can be a bit of a challenge to get a good impression using watercolour crayons. I often end up with multiple fails in my blue box because I inevitably spritz either too much or not enough water. That said, the frustration is worth it with results like these. I particularly love the large image on the blue card. It's big enough that only a little trimming was needed for a great result. I braved adding Liquid Pearls but instead of just 'going for it', I used a light pencil mark before committing to the final placement which I think turned out quite well.
I hope you enjoy these cards and come back to SPI again soon.
Gisèle
Friday, February 22, 2019
Nature Trio
Hello everyone,
Today's post is another trio of birthday cards.
The card bases are The Paper Studio The images are Stampin' Up Faith In Nature.
The image on the green card is stamped in Altenew Emerald on Recollections White and is layered on Close To My Heart Emerald. The sentiment is Hero Arts Thoughtful Messages also stamped in Emerald on Recollections White.
The image on the orange card is stamped in Altenew Vineyard Berry on Recollections Vanilla and is layered on Close To My Heart Poppy. The sentiment is Gina K Block Greetings also stamped in Vineyard Berry on Recollections Vanilla.
The image on the purple card is stamped in Altenew Cosmic Berry on Recollections White and is layered on Stampin' Up Orchid Opulence. The sentiment is Gina K Fanciful Tags also stamped in Cosmic Berry on Recollections White.
The stamp set has always been a favourite and really a 'go to' when I'm stamping images. It is really easy to use and is perfect for any number of occasions. I like how the three cards have the same look and feel but are so different with the change of ink and sentiment. I debated adding embellishments but in the end, was perfectly satisfied with the simpler look. All three are great results.
I hope you enjoy this card and come back to SPI again soon.
Gisèle
Today's post is another trio of birthday cards.
The card bases are The Paper Studio The images are Stampin' Up Faith In Nature.
The image on the green card is stamped in Altenew Emerald on Recollections White and is layered on Close To My Heart Emerald. The sentiment is Hero Arts Thoughtful Messages also stamped in Emerald on Recollections White.
The image on the orange card is stamped in Altenew Vineyard Berry on Recollections Vanilla and is layered on Close To My Heart Poppy. The sentiment is Gina K Block Greetings also stamped in Vineyard Berry on Recollections Vanilla.
The image on the purple card is stamped in Altenew Cosmic Berry on Recollections White and is layered on Stampin' Up Orchid Opulence. The sentiment is Gina K Fanciful Tags also stamped in Cosmic Berry on Recollections White.
The stamp set has always been a favourite and really a 'go to' when I'm stamping images. It is really easy to use and is perfect for any number of occasions. I like how the three cards have the same look and feel but are so different with the change of ink and sentiment. I debated adding embellishments but in the end, was perfectly satisfied with the simpler look. All three are great results.
I hope you enjoy this card and come back to SPI again soon.
Gisèle
Thursday, February 21, 2019
Birthday Birds
Hello everyone,
Today's post is a pair of bird birthday cards.
The card bases are Craft Smith. The images are Stampin' Up Wetlands.
The image on the green card was stamped in Stampin' Up Soft Suede on Recollections White, coloured with a variety of green Reeves watercolour pencils and layered on Soft Suede. The sentiment is Close To My Heart Happy Birthday stamped in Soft Suede on more Recollections white and is layered on Stampin' Up Soft Suede and Sage Shadow. The embellishments are Close To My Heart Round Durables.
The image on the grey card was stamped in Close To My Heart Whisper on Recollections White, coloured with a variety of blue and grey Reeves watercolour pencils and layered on Stampin' Up Ballet Blue and Close To My Heart Whisper. The sentiment is Close To My Heart Happy Birthday stamped in Whisper on Recollections White. The embellishments are Teresa Collins "Far and Away" enamel dots.
Not all these birthday cards can be florals! I had an idea to stamp these images then use watercolour pencils on only one part of the image. I'm not certain if this result was what I pictured in my head, but it's not too bad. These two cards are intended to be more masculine cards with the neutral card bases and images.
I hope you enjoy these cards and come back to SPI again soon.
Gisèle
Today's post is a pair of bird birthday cards.
The card bases are Craft Smith. The images are Stampin' Up Wetlands.
The image on the green card was stamped in Stampin' Up Soft Suede on Recollections White, coloured with a variety of green Reeves watercolour pencils and layered on Soft Suede. The sentiment is Close To My Heart Happy Birthday stamped in Soft Suede on more Recollections white and is layered on Stampin' Up Soft Suede and Sage Shadow. The embellishments are Close To My Heart Round Durables.
The image on the grey card was stamped in Close To My Heart Whisper on Recollections White, coloured with a variety of blue and grey Reeves watercolour pencils and layered on Stampin' Up Ballet Blue and Close To My Heart Whisper. The sentiment is Close To My Heart Happy Birthday stamped in Whisper on Recollections White. The embellishments are Teresa Collins "Far and Away" enamel dots.
Not all these birthday cards can be florals! I had an idea to stamp these images then use watercolour pencils on only one part of the image. I'm not certain if this result was what I pictured in my head, but it's not too bad. These two cards are intended to be more masculine cards with the neutral card bases and images.
I hope you enjoy these cards and come back to SPI again soon.
Gisèle
Wednesday, February 20, 2019
Another Floral Trio
Hello everyone,
Today's post is another trio of floral birthday cards.
The card bases are The Paper Studio. The images are Gina K Garden Silhouettes coloured with a variety of Stampin' Up watercolour crayons and stamped on Recollections White.
The image on the purple card was layered on Close To My Heart Olive and a white of unknown origin. The sentiment is Close To My Heart For Every Occasions stamped in Versafine Onyx Black.
The image on the green card was layered on Close To My Heart Gypsy. The sentiment is Joy Crafts 6410/0308 Sayings stamped in Versafine Onyx Black.
The image on the yellow card was layered on Stampin' Up Early Espresso. The sentiment is Stampin' Up Perfectly Penned stamped in Early Espresso and highlighted with Sakura Clear Star Gelly Roll pen.
I've taken fully advantage of my self imposed challenge to use stamped images (as opposed to printed paper) for this series of commissioned birthday cards to play with watercolour crayons. This is yet another set of red rubber stamps that are perfect for this technique. I love the silhouette design. The size of the images are the perfect scale for smaller, simpler cards. Another very pleasing result.
I hope you enjoy these cards and come back to SPI again soon.
Gisèle
Today's post is another trio of floral birthday cards.
The card bases are The Paper Studio. The images are Gina K Garden Silhouettes coloured with a variety of Stampin' Up watercolour crayons and stamped on Recollections White.
The image on the purple card was layered on Close To My Heart Olive and a white of unknown origin. The sentiment is Close To My Heart For Every Occasions stamped in Versafine Onyx Black.
The image on the green card was layered on Close To My Heart Gypsy. The sentiment is Joy Crafts 6410/0308 Sayings stamped in Versafine Onyx Black.
The image on the yellow card was layered on Stampin' Up Early Espresso. The sentiment is Stampin' Up Perfectly Penned stamped in Early Espresso and highlighted with Sakura Clear Star Gelly Roll pen.
I've taken fully advantage of my self imposed challenge to use stamped images (as opposed to printed paper) for this series of commissioned birthday cards to play with watercolour crayons. This is yet another set of red rubber stamps that are perfect for this technique. I love the silhouette design. The size of the images are the perfect scale for smaller, simpler cards. Another very pleasing result.
I hope you enjoy these cards and come back to SPI again soon.
Gisèle
Tuesday, February 19, 2019
Spring Blooms Trio
Hello everyone,
Today's post is a trio of spring-inspired birthday cards.
The card bases are The Paper Studio. The images are Gina K Spring Blooms coloured with a variety of Stampin' Up watercolour crayons and stamped on Recollections White.
The image on the pink card is layered on Close To My Heart Sweet Leaf and Hollyhock, and a white of unknown origin. The sentiment is Stampendous Happy Birthday stamped in Close To My Heart Hollyhock in on a white of unknown origin and highlighted with Sakura Clear Star Gelly Roll pen.
The image on the purple card is layered on Stampin' Up Pale Plum The sentiment is Flonz Happy Birthday stamped in Stampin' Up Pear Pizza on a white of unknown origin and highlighted with Sakura Clear Star Gelly Roll pen.
The image on the yellow card is layered on Close To My Heart Garden Green and New England Ivy. The sentiment is Stampin' Up Birthday Blossoms stamped in Stampin' Up Mossy Meadow and highlighted with Sakura Clear Star Gelly Roll pen.
This is another stamp set which is ideal for the watercolour technique. The stamps are red rubber and, with simple lines, are very forgiving. These are very simple layouts with interest added through layers and a little Sakura glitter. I ended up have to redo the pink card after I dropped an ink pad on it - I hate it when that happens.
I hope you enjoy these cards and come back to SPI again soon.
Gisèle
Today's post is a trio of spring-inspired birthday cards.
The card bases are The Paper Studio. The images are Gina K Spring Blooms coloured with a variety of Stampin' Up watercolour crayons and stamped on Recollections White.
The image on the pink card is layered on Close To My Heart Sweet Leaf and Hollyhock, and a white of unknown origin. The sentiment is Stampendous Happy Birthday stamped in Close To My Heart Hollyhock in on a white of unknown origin and highlighted with Sakura Clear Star Gelly Roll pen.
The image on the purple card is layered on Stampin' Up Pale Plum The sentiment is Flonz Happy Birthday stamped in Stampin' Up Pear Pizza on a white of unknown origin and highlighted with Sakura Clear Star Gelly Roll pen.
The image on the yellow card is layered on Close To My Heart Garden Green and New England Ivy. The sentiment is Stampin' Up Birthday Blossoms stamped in Stampin' Up Mossy Meadow and highlighted with Sakura Clear Star Gelly Roll pen.
This is another stamp set which is ideal for the watercolour technique. The stamps are red rubber and, with simple lines, are very forgiving. These are very simple layouts with interest added through layers and a little Sakura glitter. I ended up have to redo the pink card after I dropped an ink pad on it - I hate it when that happens.
I hope you enjoy these cards and come back to SPI again soon.
Gisèle
Monday, February 18, 2019
Asian Floral Pair
Hello everyone,
Today's post is a pair of birthday cards with an Asian feel.
Today's post is a pair of birthday cards with an Asian feel.
The card bases are The Paper Studio. The images are Stampin' Up Artistically Asian coloured with a variety of Stampin' Up watercolour crayons and stamped on Recollections White.
The image on the purple card is layered on Stampin' Up Old Olive, Close To My Heart Gypsy and a white of unknown origin. The sentiment is Annabelle Stamps Sentimental Bluebells stamped in Altenew Industrial Diamond. The ribbon and embellishment are of unknown origin.
The image on the pink card is layered on Stampin' Up Lucky Limeade, Close To My Heart Sorbet and a white of unknown origin. The sentiment is Stampin' Up Bloom With Hope stamped in Altenew Lava Rock.
I really like both of these images. They are perfect for using the watercolour crayon technique and I've always had great success using them. I've really been enjoying dusting off all these image stamps, pulling out sets that I've not used in eons. To facilitate the process, I've been stamping a number of images at once before adding a variety of layers. To date, these cards have been quite simple, using a minimal amount of embellishments.
I hope you enjoy these cards and come back to SPI again soon.
Gisèle
Sunday, February 17, 2019
Flourished Tulip
Hello everyone,
Today's post is a lovely feminine birthday card.
The card base is The Paper Studio. The image is Penny Black Delicate Florals coloured with a variety of Stampin' Up watercolour crayons then stamped on Recollections White. The image panel is layered on Stampin' Up Rose Red and Old Olive, and more Recollections White. The sentiment is Sweet & Sassy Birthday Greetings stamped in Old Olive. The image is highlighted with Diamond Stickles.
My personal challenge for this commission is to use more stamped images and rely less on printed paper. Not only have I been having a lot of fun experimenting with the image stamps in my stash but I've been using some tried and true techniques. I've had this Penny Black set for eons but haven't used it all that often. It's a red rubber cling stamp which works great with the watercolour crayon technique. I love the flourished image which has the perfect spot for including a smaller sentiment.
I hope you enjoy this card and come back to SPI again soon.
Gisèle
Today's post is a lovely feminine birthday card.
The card base is The Paper Studio. The image is Penny Black Delicate Florals coloured with a variety of Stampin' Up watercolour crayons then stamped on Recollections White. The image panel is layered on Stampin' Up Rose Red and Old Olive, and more Recollections White. The sentiment is Sweet & Sassy Birthday Greetings stamped in Old Olive. The image is highlighted with Diamond Stickles.
My personal challenge for this commission is to use more stamped images and rely less on printed paper. Not only have I been having a lot of fun experimenting with the image stamps in my stash but I've been using some tried and true techniques. I've had this Penny Black set for eons but haven't used it all that often. It's a red rubber cling stamp which works great with the watercolour crayon technique. I love the flourished image which has the perfect spot for including a smaller sentiment.
I hope you enjoy this card and come back to SPI again soon.
Gisèle
Saturday, February 16, 2019
Simple Wishes
Hello everyone,
Today's post is a simple card which uses another teal card base.
The card base is The Paper Studio. The image is Hero Arts Native Grass coloured with Tombow 055, 098 and 373 markers on Recollections White and layered on Recollections Kraft and a white of unknown origin. The sentiment is Hero Arts Thoughtful Messages stamped in Stampin' Up Soft Suede on more white of unknown origin.
This is another photo that really doesn't do justice to the actual card. The card base is much more green with the colour in the buds coordinating quite perfectly. The stems coordinate equally well with the Kraft layer. I originally stamped the sentiment is black but it was too stark a contrast with the image. The Soft Suede version is much more pleasing. I didn't add any extra embellishments, though this sentiment takes embellishments well. This card turned out much more neutral than I anticipated and I'm very pleased with the results.
I hope you enjoy this card and come back to SPI again soon.
Gisèle
Today's post is a simple card which uses another teal card base.
The card base is The Paper Studio. The image is Hero Arts Native Grass coloured with Tombow 055, 098 and 373 markers on Recollections White and layered on Recollections Kraft and a white of unknown origin. The sentiment is Hero Arts Thoughtful Messages stamped in Stampin' Up Soft Suede on more white of unknown origin.
This is another photo that really doesn't do justice to the actual card. The card base is much more green with the colour in the buds coordinating quite perfectly. The stems coordinate equally well with the Kraft layer. I originally stamped the sentiment is black but it was too stark a contrast with the image. The Soft Suede version is much more pleasing. I didn't add any extra embellishments, though this sentiment takes embellishments well. This card turned out much more neutral than I anticipated and I'm very pleased with the results.
I hope you enjoy this card and come back to SPI again soon.
Gisèle
Friday, February 15, 2019
Perfectly Plaid
Hello everyone,
Today's post is a very natural birthday card.
The card base is Craft Smart. The image is Memory Box Cattail Birds stamped in Close To My Heart Mink on Recollections White and layered on a khaki and a printed paper of unknown origin. The sentiment is Hero Arts C5594 Happy Birthday stamped in Close To My Heart Heather on Recollections White and layered on more khaki.
I'm so pleased with this card! I've always been keen on a great plaid and this one works particularly well with the kraft card base and the subtle image and sentiment. It's intended to be a more masculine card but it is also rather neutral. This photo doesn't do the image justice as it's a little dark in reality. This is a very simple layout with the lines in the plaid facilitating alignment of the two elements. A great result!
I hope you enjoy this card and come back to SPI again soon.
Gisèle
Today's post is a very natural birthday card.
The card base is Craft Smart. The image is Memory Box Cattail Birds stamped in Close To My Heart Mink on Recollections White and layered on a khaki and a printed paper of unknown origin. The sentiment is Hero Arts C5594 Happy Birthday stamped in Close To My Heart Heather on Recollections White and layered on more khaki.
I'm so pleased with this card! I've always been keen on a great plaid and this one works particularly well with the kraft card base and the subtle image and sentiment. It's intended to be a more masculine card but it is also rather neutral. This photo doesn't do the image justice as it's a little dark in reality. This is a very simple layout with the lines in the plaid facilitating alignment of the two elements. A great result!
I hope you enjoy this card and come back to SPI again soon.
Gisèle
Thursday, February 14, 2019
Butterfly Flight
Hello everyone,
Today's birthday card post is an interesting mix of inks and layers.
The card base is Craft Smith. The image is Memory Box First Flight stamped in Tsukineko Delicata 4 Metals ink on a white of unknown origin. The image panel is layered on a dark pink Bazzill and a brushed gold of unknown origin. The sentiment is Gina K Framed Greetings stamped in Stampin' Up Early Espresso. The card is highlighted with Platinum Liquid Pearls.
I absolutely regret adding the Liquid Pearls to this card! I should have just left it alone and it would have been perfect! That said, it wasn't horrible enough to start over. This is another stamp that I've had for a long time. I was, of course, drawn to the butterflies. It's not a favourite stamp because the butterflies are not as well defined as I'd like. I decided to try blending these four metallic inks and was quite pleased with the impression. I just wish I'd left the bottle of Liquid Pearls on the shelf.
I hope you enjoy this card and come back to SPI again soon.
Gisèle
Today's birthday card post is an interesting mix of inks and layers.
The card base is Craft Smith. The image is Memory Box First Flight stamped in Tsukineko Delicata 4 Metals ink on a white of unknown origin. The image panel is layered on a dark pink Bazzill and a brushed gold of unknown origin. The sentiment is Gina K Framed Greetings stamped in Stampin' Up Early Espresso. The card is highlighted with Platinum Liquid Pearls.
I absolutely regret adding the Liquid Pearls to this card! I should have just left it alone and it would have been perfect! That said, it wasn't horrible enough to start over. This is another stamp that I've had for a long time. I was, of course, drawn to the butterflies. It's not a favourite stamp because the butterflies are not as well defined as I'd like. I decided to try blending these four metallic inks and was quite pleased with the impression. I just wish I'd left the bottle of Liquid Pearls on the shelf.
I hope you enjoy this card and come back to SPI again soon.
Gisèle
Wednesday, February 13, 2019
Rose Bud Wishes
Hello everyone,
Today's post uses a favourite floral image.
The card base is The Paper Studio. The image is Hero Arts Delicate Rose Stems stamped in Versafine Onyx Black on Recollections White. The image was coloured with Stampin' Up Rose Red and Old Olive watercolour crayons and is layered on Recollections Black. The sentiment is Denami Design Upright Happy Birthday stamped in Versafine Onyx Black.
I've had this stamp in my stash for years. I use it fairly often because it is particularly easy to colour. In this case, I used watercolour crayons because they were already out. I very lightly coloured the image and very judiciously added water with a paint brush. You can use the same technique with watercolour pencil crayons. The sentiment is another favourite wooden stamp. The font is lovely and that it is a vertical stamp is a bonus. I always use my Stamp-A-Ma-Jig because it's a large stamp and can be challenging to get straight.
I hope you enjoy this card and come back to SPI again soon.
Gisèle
Today's post uses a favourite floral image.
The card base is The Paper Studio. The image is Hero Arts Delicate Rose Stems stamped in Versafine Onyx Black on Recollections White. The image was coloured with Stampin' Up Rose Red and Old Olive watercolour crayons and is layered on Recollections Black. The sentiment is Denami Design Upright Happy Birthday stamped in Versafine Onyx Black.
I've had this stamp in my stash for years. I use it fairly often because it is particularly easy to colour. In this case, I used watercolour crayons because they were already out. I very lightly coloured the image and very judiciously added water with a paint brush. You can use the same technique with watercolour pencil crayons. The sentiment is another favourite wooden stamp. The font is lovely and that it is a vertical stamp is a bonus. I always use my Stamp-A-Ma-Jig because it's a large stamp and can be challenging to get straight.
I hope you enjoy this card and come back to SPI again soon.
Gisèle
Tuesday, February 12, 2019
Circled Wishes
Hello everyone,
Today's post is a sweet feminine birthday card.
The card base is The Paper Studio. The image is Hero Arts Artistic Circles stamped in Close To My Heart Hollyhock on a white of unknown origin and layered on Paper Accents Glossy Mirrored Silver and more white of unknown origin. The sentiment is Denami Design stamped in Versafine Onyx Black. The card is highlighted with Diamond Stickles.
This is another lovely feminine birthday card. This is a wooden background stamp and it can be a challenge to get a good impression. I ink it then place the paper on the stamp and use a brayer. It can take a couple of attempts before I'm happy with the results. Depending upon the size of the layer needed, I'll trim it. This piece was trimmed because the edges of the images didn't come out all that well. Again I chose the ink colour to coordinate with the card base. It's a great result.
I hope you enjoy this card and come back to SPI again soon.
Gisèle
Today's post is a sweet feminine birthday card.
The card base is The Paper Studio. The image is Hero Arts Artistic Circles stamped in Close To My Heart Hollyhock on a white of unknown origin and layered on Paper Accents Glossy Mirrored Silver and more white of unknown origin. The sentiment is Denami Design stamped in Versafine Onyx Black. The card is highlighted with Diamond Stickles.
This is another lovely feminine birthday card. This is a wooden background stamp and it can be a challenge to get a good impression. I ink it then place the paper on the stamp and use a brayer. It can take a couple of attempts before I'm happy with the results. Depending upon the size of the layer needed, I'll trim it. This piece was trimmed because the edges of the images didn't come out all that well. Again I chose the ink colour to coordinate with the card base. It's a great result.
I hope you enjoy this card and come back to SPI again soon.
Gisèle
Monday, February 11, 2019
Dandelion Wishes
Hello everyone,
Today's post is another very neutral birthday card.
The card base is from Craft Smith. The image is Hero Arts Dandelion stamped in Stampin' Up Always Artichoke on a white of unknown origin. The image panel is layered on a brushed silver of unknown origin and Recollections Black. The sentiment is Gina Marie All Seasons stamped in Always Artichoke on more white of unknown origin. The sentiment is highlighted with Onyx Pearl Liquid Pearls.
I will readily admit that I'm really enjoying crafting these simple birthday cards. Using straightforward images and coloured card bases with a variety of layers is leading to some really wonderful results. I like how the font in this sentiment speaks to the lines in the image. I originally planned to place the sentiment on the diagonal but found this offset placement in the design sweet spot was more appealing. It's another great result.
I hope you enjoy this card and come back to SPI again soon.
Gisèle
Today's post is another very neutral birthday card.
The card base is from Craft Smith. The image is Hero Arts Dandelion stamped in Stampin' Up Always Artichoke on a white of unknown origin. The image panel is layered on a brushed silver of unknown origin and Recollections Black. The sentiment is Gina Marie All Seasons stamped in Always Artichoke on more white of unknown origin. The sentiment is highlighted with Onyx Pearl Liquid Pearls.
I will readily admit that I'm really enjoying crafting these simple birthday cards. Using straightforward images and coloured card bases with a variety of layers is leading to some really wonderful results. I like how the font in this sentiment speaks to the lines in the image. I originally planned to place the sentiment on the diagonal but found this offset placement in the design sweet spot was more appealing. It's another great result.
I hope you enjoy this card and come back to SPI again soon.
Gisèle
Sunday, February 10, 2019
Blue Wishes
Hello everyone,
I'm posting another birthday card today.
The card base is The Paper Studio. The image is Hero Arts Pop Stems stamped in Stampin' Up Bordering Blue on a white of unknown origin and layered on more Bordering Blue. The sentiment is Hero Arts Say It All stamped in Versafine Onyx Black.
I have a very, very old Bordering Blue ink pad and it absolutely ready for re-inking but I never bought one before it was retired. It's a great blue and I kick myself every time I use the ink pad. Again, this is another great larger stamp that always turns out wonderfully. For this rather simple cards, it's the perfect image. I debated adding a bit of glitter but decided to forgo in order to keep it a more neutral card.
I hope you enjoy this card and come back to SPI again soon.
Gisèle
I'm posting another birthday card today.
The card base is The Paper Studio. The image is Hero Arts Pop Stems stamped in Stampin' Up Bordering Blue on a white of unknown origin and layered on more Bordering Blue. The sentiment is Hero Arts Say It All stamped in Versafine Onyx Black.
I have a very, very old Bordering Blue ink pad and it absolutely ready for re-inking but I never bought one before it was retired. It's a great blue and I kick myself every time I use the ink pad. Again, this is another great larger stamp that always turns out wonderfully. For this rather simple cards, it's the perfect image. I debated adding a bit of glitter but decided to forgo in order to keep it a more neutral card.
I hope you enjoy this card and come back to SPI again soon.
Gisèle
Saturday, February 9, 2019
Lovely Layered Wishes
Hello everyone,
Today's post is another birthday card.
The card base is The Paper Studio. The image is Penny Black Inclinations stamped in Stampin' Up Rich Razzleberry on a white of unknown origin and is layered on more Rich Razzleberry and white. The sentiment is Gina K Tag Lines stamped in Versafine Onyx Black on a white of unknown origin. The sentiment is highlighted with Diamond Stickles.
Rich Razzleberry has been a favourite colour from the moment it was released. When I went to coordinate the colours for this card choosing Rich Razzleberry was a no-brainer. This is a great corner stamp and by trimming it carefully, it appears as though there is an extra layer. It's a great card.
I hope you enjoy this card and come back to SPI again soon.
Gisèle
Today's post is another birthday card.
The card base is The Paper Studio. The image is Penny Black Inclinations stamped in Stampin' Up Rich Razzleberry on a white of unknown origin and is layered on more Rich Razzleberry and white. The sentiment is Gina K Tag Lines stamped in Versafine Onyx Black on a white of unknown origin. The sentiment is highlighted with Diamond Stickles.
Rich Razzleberry has been a favourite colour from the moment it was released. When I went to coordinate the colours for this card choosing Rich Razzleberry was a no-brainer. This is a great corner stamp and by trimming it carefully, it appears as though there is an extra layer. It's a great card.
I hope you enjoy this card and come back to SPI again soon.
Gisèle
Friday, February 8, 2019
Three Fern Wishes
Hello everyone,
Today's post is another simple birthday card.
The card base is The Paper Studio. The image is Hero Arts Three Ferns stamped in Altenew Teal Cave on a white of unknown origin and layered on a light green Bazzill. The sentiment is Sweet & Sassy Script Birthdays stamped in Versafine Onyx Black.
Earlier this week I stamped a number of images for this commissioned series and I've spent the week putting the cards together. I selected the card bases before stamping the images so I could coordinate the colours. This teal card base facilitated using one of new Altenew ink pads that I'd yet to use. I love the results. I did have to use the colour wheel to find an appropriate layering paper and chose a light green. I tried black but it was just a little too stark. I do like how the black sentiment pops in the design sweet spot. A great result!
I hope you enjoy this card and come back to SPI again soon.
Gisèle
Today's post is another simple birthday card.
The card base is The Paper Studio. The image is Hero Arts Three Ferns stamped in Altenew Teal Cave on a white of unknown origin and layered on a light green Bazzill. The sentiment is Sweet & Sassy Script Birthdays stamped in Versafine Onyx Black.
Earlier this week I stamped a number of images for this commissioned series and I've spent the week putting the cards together. I selected the card bases before stamping the images so I could coordinate the colours. This teal card base facilitated using one of new Altenew ink pads that I'd yet to use. I love the results. I did have to use the colour wheel to find an appropriate layering paper and chose a light green. I tried black but it was just a little too stark. I do like how the black sentiment pops in the design sweet spot. A great result!
I hope you enjoy this card and come back to SPI again soon.
Gisèle
Thursday, February 7, 2019
Bloomed Wishes
Hello everyone,
Today's post is another lovely birthday card.
The card base is the The Paper Studio. The image is Hero Art Exotic Bloom stamped in Tombow N57, 679 and 528 markers, and is layered on Stampin' Up Elegant Eggplant. The sentiment is Close To My Heart Happy Birthday stamped in Elegant Eggplant.
I love using Tombow markers to ink this particular stamp. It's a fairly easy image to colour and the results are always fantastic. I used a vertical sentiment is work with the vertical stamped image. I'm having fun with the coloured card bases which I found on a recent shopping trip to Niagara Falls.
I hope you enjoy this card and come back to SPI again soon.
Gisèle
Today's post is another lovely birthday card.
The card base is the The Paper Studio. The image is Hero Art Exotic Bloom stamped in Tombow N57, 679 and 528 markers, and is layered on Stampin' Up Elegant Eggplant. The sentiment is Close To My Heart Happy Birthday stamped in Elegant Eggplant.
I love using Tombow markers to ink this particular stamp. It's a fairly easy image to colour and the results are always fantastic. I used a vertical sentiment is work with the vertical stamped image. I'm having fun with the coloured card bases which I found on a recent shopping trip to Niagara Falls.
I hope you enjoy this card and come back to SPI again soon.
Gisèle
Wednesday, February 6, 2019
Tall Flower In Pink
Hello everyone,
Today's post is part of the birthday card commissioned series I'm currently crafting.
The card base is The Paper Studio. The image is Hero Arts Tall Flower stamped in Versafine Onyx Black on Recollections White and coloured with Faber-Castell 427, 429, 467 and 470 watercolour pencil crayons. The sentiment is Rubbernecker Best Wishes also stamped in Versafine Onyx Black on Recollections White. The image and sentiment panels are layered on Recollections Black.
I really had to dust off the watercolour pencil crayons for this card. I don't think I've used them in years! They work very much like watercolour crayons. I coloured very lightly and used only a little bit of water to smooth out the lines because I wanted a very soft card. I really like the pop of the sentiment in the design sweet spot!
I hope you enjoy this card and come back to SPI again soon.
Gisèle
Today's post is part of the birthday card commissioned series I'm currently crafting.
The card base is The Paper Studio. The image is Hero Arts Tall Flower stamped in Versafine Onyx Black on Recollections White and coloured with Faber-Castell 427, 429, 467 and 470 watercolour pencil crayons. The sentiment is Rubbernecker Best Wishes also stamped in Versafine Onyx Black on Recollections White. The image and sentiment panels are layered on Recollections Black.
I really had to dust off the watercolour pencil crayons for this card. I don't think I've used them in years! They work very much like watercolour crayons. I coloured very lightly and used only a little bit of water to smooth out the lines because I wanted a very soft card. I really like the pop of the sentiment in the design sweet spot!
I hope you enjoy this card and come back to SPI again soon.
Gisèle
Tuesday, February 5, 2019
Subtly Shadowed
Hello everyone,
Today's birthday card post uses a very subtly stamped image.
The card base is The Paper Studio. The image is Stampin' Up Serene Silhouettes stamped in Altenew Misty Mint and Sweet Leaf on Recollections White and layered on Recollections Black. The image is highlighted with Patina Stickles. The sentiment is Altenew Birthday Builder stamped in Versafine Onyx Black.
This is the second attempt at this card. I ended up over stamping the image with the Sweet Leaf ink because the original image was so subtle, it would have been very hard for a senior to see it. Though I used a Stamp-A-Ma-Jig, I didn't get it aligned quite right so it appears like the image has a shadow. It actually turned out extremely well and it is much easier to see the image.
I hope you enjoy this card and come back to SPI again soon.
Gisèle
Today's birthday card post uses a very subtly stamped image.
The card base is The Paper Studio. The image is Stampin' Up Serene Silhouettes stamped in Altenew Misty Mint and Sweet Leaf on Recollections White and layered on Recollections Black. The image is highlighted with Patina Stickles. The sentiment is Altenew Birthday Builder stamped in Versafine Onyx Black.
This is the second attempt at this card. I ended up over stamping the image with the Sweet Leaf ink because the original image was so subtle, it would have been very hard for a senior to see it. Though I used a Stamp-A-Ma-Jig, I didn't get it aligned quite right so it appears like the image has a shadow. It actually turned out extremely well and it is much easier to see the image.
I hope you enjoy this card and come back to SPI again soon.
Gisèle
Monday, February 4, 2019
Yellow Roses
Hello everyone,
I've another birthday card commission from a local Seniors residence so I'll be posting birthday cards for the foreseeable future.
The card base is The Paper Studio. The image and sentiment are Stampin' Up Petal Palette stamped in Early Espresso on Recollections White and coloured with a variety of watercolor crayons. The image panel is layer on Early Espresso. The roses are highlighted with Wink of Stella Clear 999.
I'm going to challenge myself to use more stamped images for this commission. I've never done colouring well so this really will be a challenge. I'll be breaking out watercolour crayons and pencils as well as paints. I hope I'll be as happy with those images as I am with this card. There are a couple of subtle smears from too much water but as the image is so forgiving, I can live with it.
I hope you enjoy this card and come back to SPI again soon.
Gisèle
I've another birthday card commission from a local Seniors residence so I'll be posting birthday cards for the foreseeable future.
The card base is The Paper Studio. The image and sentiment are Stampin' Up Petal Palette stamped in Early Espresso on Recollections White and coloured with a variety of watercolor crayons. The image panel is layer on Early Espresso. The roses are highlighted with Wink of Stella Clear 999.
I'm going to challenge myself to use more stamped images for this commission. I've never done colouring well so this really will be a challenge. I'll be breaking out watercolour crayons and pencils as well as paints. I hope I'll be as happy with those images as I am with this card. There are a couple of subtle smears from too much water but as the image is so forgiving, I can live with it.
I hope you enjoy this card and come back to SPI again soon.
Gisèle
Sunday, February 3, 2019
Swallowtail Diagonal
Hello everyone,
Today's post uses an image that I found in my stash of leftover bits and pieces.
The card base is Stampin' Up Really Rust. The image is Stampin' Up Swallowtail stamped in Altenew Caramel Toffee (I think) on Recollections White. The sentiment is My Favorite Things Brushstroke Expressions stamped in Versafine Onyx Black. The card is highlighted with Copper Pearl Liquid Pearls.
I don't even remember when I stamped this image, hence why I'm not 100% certain on the ink colour I used. I didn't originally plan to trim the image like this as I wanted a rectangular panel with the image on the diagonal. I had carefully lined up the image panel on the card and once I'd finished trimming, realized that I'd goofed. That said, I didn't hate the results so decided to just run with with. There was a lot of white space for a sentiment and carefully considered drops of liquid pearls brought it all together. I would have liked to add a layer but figured I'd frustrate myself trying to repeat the original mistake. That's just the way it sometimes goes.
I hope you enjoy this card and come back to SPI again soon.
Gisèle
Today's post uses an image that I found in my stash of leftover bits and pieces.
The card base is Stampin' Up Really Rust. The image is Stampin' Up Swallowtail stamped in Altenew Caramel Toffee (I think) on Recollections White. The sentiment is My Favorite Things Brushstroke Expressions stamped in Versafine Onyx Black. The card is highlighted with Copper Pearl Liquid Pearls.
I don't even remember when I stamped this image, hence why I'm not 100% certain on the ink colour I used. I didn't originally plan to trim the image like this as I wanted a rectangular panel with the image on the diagonal. I had carefully lined up the image panel on the card and once I'd finished trimming, realized that I'd goofed. That said, I didn't hate the results so decided to just run with with. There was a lot of white space for a sentiment and carefully considered drops of liquid pearls brought it all together. I would have liked to add a layer but figured I'd frustrate myself trying to repeat the original mistake. That's just the way it sometimes goes.
I hope you enjoy this card and come back to SPI again soon.
Gisèle
Saturday, February 2, 2019
Purple Birthday Wishes
Hello everyone,
Today's post is a lovely purple birthday card that I will add to my stash.
The card base is Close To My Heart Pansy. The image is Stampin' Up Remarkable You stamped in Versafine Onyx black on Recollections White and coloured with Old Olive, Garden Green, More Mustard, Elegant Eggplant and Orchid Opulence Stampin' Up Watercolor Crayons. The image panel is layered on Recollections Black, a white of unknown origin and a shimmery purple of unknown origin. The sentiment is Stampin' Up Express Yourself stamped in Versafine Onyx Black on a white of unknown origin.
While I had the watercolour crayons out for an earlier card, I decided to watercolour a second image. I actually lightly coloured the image then used a paint brush and water to smooth the colour out. It's a great way to use watercolour crayons because it doesn't have to be 'perfect'. I also find I have more control because I can be somewhat heavy handed with the water. It's a great result!
I hope you enjoy this card and come back to SPI again soon.
Gisèle
Today's post is a lovely purple birthday card that I will add to my stash.
The card base is Close To My Heart Pansy. The image is Stampin' Up Remarkable You stamped in Versafine Onyx black on Recollections White and coloured with Old Olive, Garden Green, More Mustard, Elegant Eggplant and Orchid Opulence Stampin' Up Watercolor Crayons. The image panel is layered on Recollections Black, a white of unknown origin and a shimmery purple of unknown origin. The sentiment is Stampin' Up Express Yourself stamped in Versafine Onyx Black on a white of unknown origin.
While I had the watercolour crayons out for an earlier card, I decided to watercolour a second image. I actually lightly coloured the image then used a paint brush and water to smooth the colour out. It's a great way to use watercolour crayons because it doesn't have to be 'perfect'. I also find I have more control because I can be somewhat heavy handed with the water. It's a great result!
I hope you enjoy this card and come back to SPI again soon.
Gisèle
Friday, February 1, 2019
Warm Thank You
Hello everyone,
Today's post is a warm yellow thank you card.
The card base is Stampin' Up Hello Honey. The background was stamped with Stampin' Up Flannel Plaid in Altenew Honey Drizzle. The image is Stampin' Up Too Kind stamped in Altenew Olive, Sunkissed and Caramel Toffee. The sentiment is Altenew Many Thanks stamped in Olive. The image panel is layered on Close To My Heart Goldrush. The ribbon is of unknown origin.
We've had some miserable cold and snowy days in Ottawa so this sunny yellow card brightened up my workspace. Yellow is not my most favourite colour to work with and to be honest, I got out the trusty old colour wheel to help me figure out colour combinations. I'm glad I did because it worked much better than I'd hoped. I found this scrap of yellow ribbon in my stash and it was the perfect colour to go on this card.
I hope you enjoy this card and come back to SPI again soon.
Gisèle
Today's post is a warm yellow thank you card.
The card base is Stampin' Up Hello Honey. The background was stamped with Stampin' Up Flannel Plaid in Altenew Honey Drizzle. The image is Stampin' Up Too Kind stamped in Altenew Olive, Sunkissed and Caramel Toffee. The sentiment is Altenew Many Thanks stamped in Olive. The image panel is layered on Close To My Heart Goldrush. The ribbon is of unknown origin.
We've had some miserable cold and snowy days in Ottawa so this sunny yellow card brightened up my workspace. Yellow is not my most favourite colour to work with and to be honest, I got out the trusty old colour wheel to help me figure out colour combinations. I'm glad I did because it worked much better than I'd hoped. I found this scrap of yellow ribbon in my stash and it was the perfect colour to go on this card.
I hope you enjoy this card and come back to SPI again soon.
Gisèle