SAF 2016: Masterpiece Inspirations

Red Poppy, Georgia O'Keefe

I took my inspiration from this gorgeous poppy painting by the talented Georgia O'Keefe.  I white heat embossed Delightful Dahlia stamps on Strathmore cold press watercolour paper.  I mixed some deep reds with my aqua brush and filled in the flowers.

 I die cut the flowers and added green leaves stamped with Avery Elle celery.

 I popped these up on foam tape and added them to a woodgrain card base.

I watercoloured a piece of Strathmore paper die cut with a double ended banner and stamped the Don't Forget to Write sentiment in Versafine Onyx Black.  This was also popped up on foam tape for some dimension.

If you are looking for some gently used stamp sets, take a look here - new ones have been added.
http://cardsbycara.blogspot.ca/2016/05/stamp-set-sale.html

SAF 2016: Drips and splatters

Lizzie Jones showed some awesome techniques for drips and splatters and I had fun with this card, despite me not gravitating towards the 'haphazard' look:

I took a piece of Strathmore cold press watercolour paper which works perfectly for techniques like this - it's nice and thick.

I grabbed my basic set of watercolour paints from Michaels and started flicking in different colours - yellow, orange and red.

I added a black die cut from Don't Forget to Write and a sentiment stamped with Versafine Black Onyx.  As a finishing touch, I glittered the die cut with my Wink of Stella pen in clear.  The panel was foam mounted to an Enchanted Evening card base.  This messy technique was lots of fun!  Thanks, Lizzie, for all the tips!

If you are looking for some stamp sets, take a look here - new ones have been added.
http://cardsbycara.blogspot.ca/2016/05/stamp-set-sale.html

SAF 2016: Colour Blocking

For the next challenge I tackled, Lexi Daly showed us how to do colour blocking.

I used the Take Three die to cut a mask and did some sponging with Avery Elle mimosa, Fresh Ink Cherry and Fresh Ink Pool.

I then added a negative die cut over top with thin cuts of foam tape popped up.  I thought this added a little more drama to the colours.

For the sentiment, I stamped with Wet Paint Alphabet and City Block sentiments in Versafine Black Onyx.

What a fun and easy technique!!

If you are looking for some gently used stamp sets, take a look here - new ones have been added.
http://cardsbycara.blogspot.ca/2016/05/stamp-set-sale.html

Papertrey Ink Blog Hop July 2016

This month's blog hop uses this picture as a jumping off point:

                                                                                 photograph from Classy Clutter
I was really inspired by this gorgeous interior - the colours, the patterns ... really all of it!  I made a bunch of cards using this picture as my inspiration.  Here were the main inks I used - Fresh Ink and Avery Elle pigment inks with great saturation:

 Fresh Turquoise, Avery Elle Aquamarine, Fresh Provincial Gray, Fresh Peach and Fresh Birch.

My first card uses Bloomers and a Hugs die cut.  I fussy cut the smaller blooms but have just now realized I have the dies ... oops!

I added these smaller flowers with foam tape.  Then I sponged a piece of card stock with the Aquamarine colour and cut it using the Hugs die.  I added the die cut with some Tombo Mono Aqua glue.

I put my acrylic block on top for a few minutes to ensure everything was evenly adhered.  I liked this colour combo because it's one I would usually never use.  Great to get out of our comfort zone, right?

The next card uses the triangle pattern on the wall as a jumping off point.  I used some DCWV glitter card stock in gold and the Good Times die in Smokey Shadow.  I added the cover plate cut out to a white 110lb Recollections card base.  Nice and sturdy!

I cut the card stock with the word die three times and stacked them one on top of the other, adhering them with Tombo Mono Aqua glue.

I then added some clear Wink of Stella for shimmer.  I love the detail it adds!

My next card uses the Quatrefoil cover plate which I cut using white card stock.  I adhered it with little dots of Tombo Mono Aqua glue to a soft stone card base.  I then die cut Turning a New Leaf leaves :) with bitty dot vellum.

 I die cut Hawaiian Shores card stock with a Hugs die and stacked 6 of them up one on top of each other with none other than Tombo Mono Aqua glue

I added some clear Wink of Stella for a little something something and that was about it.

I stamped the inside with Turning a New Leaf in Fresh Provincial Gray and a Fillable Frames sentiment in Turquoise.

Still with me?  This next one didn't quite turn out as I had hoped but I will still include it.  I used the Peach ink to stamp an Irresistible Ikat pattern and gold embossed some of the centres with some super fine embossing powder.  

 I then added a Bold Bouquet sentiment using the Turquoise and Aquamarine inks.

My final card also features Bold Bouquet.  I layered the stamping colours and added a sentiment in Birch ink, which reminded me of the colour combo of the pillow, if you zoom in.

 For some texture, I dry embossed using the linen impression plate.  Love this one!!

It adds just the right amount of texture, doesn't it?  This was all stamped on a Soft Stone card base.  I love the colour of this cs - understated but very chic.

Well, thanks for looking at my cards!  Which one was your favourite?  Did you have fun with this month's blog hop?

Check out my sale of stamps and dies - I have added a few new ones to the list.

http://cardsbycara.blogspot.ca/2016/05/stamp-set-sale.html

SAF 2016: Pointillism at Play

The fabulous Heather Nichols taught us how to stamp with dots for a play on pointillism.  I tried with some flowers but I think my clear embossing powder was challenged and had a devil of a time having the embossing show up.  I salvaged the flowers and leaves but will only show a peek at that card at the end ... not my best work!!

 I decided to do some pointillism and masking instead and used a Sweet Speech die to create a post-it mask.  I added dots from Harvest Berries and Polka Dot Basics in a variety of Fresh Ink and Avery Elle colours - mint to be, steel blue, sea glass, aquamarine ...

I stamped these all on a piece of soft stone card stock that I then mounted to a white card base (Recollections 110lb white).  I added a Mini Blooms sentiment in Versafine Onyx Black.

Here's my other one .. the first try at this technique!!  Don't look toooo closely! ;)

Check out my sale of stamps and dies here:
http://cardsbycara.blogspot.ca/2016/05/stamp-set-sale.html

SAF 2016: Watercolour like a Master

The uber talented Kay Miller did a fabulous video on how to stamp and watercolour.  She made it look so easy ... I had quite a time with this one but just went with it and decided to post my rather un-masterful creation!!

I cut a panel of Strathmore 300 series cold press paper for my watercolouring.  I grabbed one of my favourite sets - Natural Beauties and stamped it using yellows and oranges from Studio Calico dye inks.  I added some smaller flowers in pinks and then leaves in a mint colour.

I used my aqua brush to move the colour around and heat set it several times between layers.  I then added the detail stamp using Versafine Smokey Gray ink.  I splattered some Heidi Swapp Gold Shine Spritz all over and misted the panel as well.

I added a Fillable Frames sentiment using Versafine Onyx Black and foam mounted the panel onto a piece of woodgrain card stock in white.  Lots and lots of foam tape to flatten the watercolour paper down!!

Even though I am not loving this card, I decided to post it anyways ... maybe I will try my hand at this technique again tomorrow ... we'll see if I have time.


Have you ever used woodgrain card stock?  It is beautiful and the texture is sooo nice!!  I bought and split two packs (the dark chocolate and white) with a friend.  I bought it here at LCI Paper.  I am thinking of getting the grey next ...

Check out my sale of stamps and dies here:
http://cardsbycara.blogspot.ca/2016/05/stamp-set-sale.html

Stamp-a-Faire 2016 farewell

I will be making more cards tomorrow but just wanted to say goodnight and farewell to all who participated!  Thank you for the amazing inspiration, videos and creations from the design team and to Nichole for organizing everything!  We are so lucky!

Here is a picture of the sunset from the seawall by my place:

Check out my stamp-a-faire creations here.

Updated stamp sale here.

SAF 2016 - Master Colour Recipes: Georgia O'Keefe

For this challenge, I took the above colour combo and made a simple (almost) one layer card.  I grabbed my Ombre Builders stamp set and some Fresh pigment inks in Sicilian Blue, Sky Blue, Blue Sage, Tuscan Olive and Silver Lilac.

I combined them by overstamping and layering the colours with my trusty MISTI stamping tool.

I then added a sentiment from the Don't Forget to Write kit using Versafine Onyx Black.  I added a few white sparkly sequins and that's it!

If you are looking for some crafty items, check out my sale here:

http://cardsbycara.blogspot.ca/2016/05/stamp-set-sale.html

SAF 2016: Gilded in Gold

Danielle Flanders knocked it out of the park on this one - loved this challenge!  I took out my gold paint since my gold leaf hasn't arrived yet and went to town.

 I cut four stitched tags out of kraft card stock and masked off an edge.  I then used a makeup sponge and the gold craft paint and painted a stripe on each.  I let them dry and then added Versafine Onyx Black stamped sentiments from Mini Blooms and Wet Paint.  I added another die cut for stability and glued the two together before punching a hole in each.

This gold paint gives some great sheen and I can't wait to use these tags!

For my next project, I took a die cut frame from the Don't Forget to Write kit and used a piece of thick perfume packaging.  I added gold to the edges and let it dry.

I cut a circle from dotted vellum and a Swoosh thanks that I also painted in gold.  I also used a Leave it Be leaf die cut in Staples grey that I stamped with Graceful Garden's thank you using Fresh ink in Tuscan Olive,  I layered these when everything was dry and adhered them using Tombo Mono Aqua.

I put lots of foam tape behind the frame and adhered it to a scalloped card base in Enchanted Evening cut from one of the Don't Forget to Write dies.

You can see in one of the pictures above I also painted an A2 kraft envelope to use for another project.  I loved using the gold paint and will definitely be coming back to this!

Check out my sale of stamps and dies here:

http://cardsbycara.blogspot.ca/2016/05/stamp-set-sale.html

SAF 2016: Starry Night

Stamp-A-Faire is off to a great start with the Starry Night challenge with Amy Sheffer's tutorial.  Wow, what an amazing card she created! I had a lot of issues creating the trees but just went with it ...

I sponged Fresh Ink in the following colours all over a piece of Strathmore 300 series cold press watercolour paper: Tuscan Olive, Sugar Plum, Navy, Turquoise, and Blue Sage.  I spritzed with a mini mister and moved the colours about, adding some more of the deeper hues.

I used some cheap watercolours from Michaels and my trusty aqua brush to paint the horizon .  I had a lot of difficulty with the trees and a sponge so had to make the area bigger to cover my mistakes! I am still not in love with the trees I created but I did my best.

I flicked some Studio Calico opaque white and Distress Ink dauber in pewter.

I added a die cut from Scripted cut in Staples grey and shimmered with my Wink of Stella clear pen.  I tried to make a thread nest but to no avail so I just added some star and silver sequins gifted to me by a kind forum friend.  I added a foam panel behind the watercolour piece and mounted it to a 110lb Recollections card base.

Check out my sale of stamps and dies here:
http://cardsbycara.blogspot.ca/2016/05/stamp-set-sale.html