My Favorite Things and Clearly Besotted Home Sweet Home card.

Hello and welcome back. We are just starting a new watercolour challenge over at Happy Little Stampers Watercolour Challenge, and this time our twist is 'Home'.

Our winner for this challenge will receive a $20 coupon to spend at the shop! Check out all the details HERE.

IF YOU USE STAMPS BY HAPPY LITTLE STAMPERS AND YOU ARE OUR RANDOM WINNER, YOUR PRIZE WILL BE DOUBLED!

My daughter has just bought her first home, so I made this card for her.

1) Take the My Favorite Things Home Sweet Home die set and cut all the pieces from mixed media card.

2) Colour all the pieces using Arteza watercolour brush pens. When the roofs have dried, stamp them with patterns from the Papertrey Ink Bitty Background Blocks using brown ink. Assemble all the houses, adding the windows, doors, and roofs.

3) Die cut a stitched rectangle and watercolour with blue and green paint before adding the houses, trees, and clouds to make a scene.

4) Die cut a Papertrey Ink brown double ended banner and stamp the sentiment from Clearly Besotted Delightful Day in Versamark ink and emboss with white detail embossing powder.

5) Layer everything up on a brown stitched rectangle before adhering it to the base card and finish it off by adding a few flowers to the tiny trees using a white gel pen.

Remember that we are an Anything Goes with Watercolor challenge and if you don't want to play with our optional twist, that is fine. Why not head over to our blog where you can see lots of inspiration from the team.

I'd like to play along at

City Crafter Challenge # 401 - die cuts

Inspired by all the Little Things #80 inspiration photo - I was inspired by the colours

Thanks for stopping by

Hugs

Carol x

Sizzix and Papertrey Ink Birthday card

Hello everyone. Can you believe that September is leaving us already? I can't pretend anymore that autumn isn't here yet. I like autumn in principle, and I do love the beautiful colours, but I know that winter will be following close behind and the older I get, the more I prefer spring and summer with the long warm days to enjoy. I'll have to find joy in the things I do like about the colder seasons. I've treated myself to a new snuggly jumper to change into when I get home and just want to relax, and I received some lovely scented candles for my birthday that help the sitting room look and smell all cozy. I also don't feel so guilty about ignoring nice weather to sit inside and make cards, so that is a good thing! Another good thing is that it's time for the Happy Little Stampers Watercolour Challenge.

Our winner for this challenge will receive a $20 coupon to spend at the shop! Check out all the details HERE.

The optional twist this time is Gold and I came up with this card

1) Take a piece of white card and paint it with gold paint. I used Pearlescent liquid acrylic which I watered down a little. When it is dry, cut it down using a stitched rectangle die, and then use the Sizzix Postage die from the Sizzix Butterfly set to cut a panel from the centre of the rectangle.

2) Cut a rectangle of black card and stamp the greeting from PTI Quilled Elegance at the bottom. I stamped with Versamark ink and used white detail embossing powder over the top.

3) Take a piece of watercolour card and paint over it using shades of blue watercolour and a little bit of Inka Gold. Once it is dry, use the butterfly panel die to cut the centre panel and adhere it to the gold postage rectangle.

4) Layer everything up and add it to the base card. I decided to leave the layers flat this time for easier postage, but the centre panel could be raised on foam if you prefer it.

If you head over to the HLS Blog, you'll find lots of inspiration form my talented Teamies and you can join us by linking your project there.

I'd like to play along with

A Gem of a Challenge #204 - birthday card

Aud Sentiments Challenge #189 - use a two word sentiment

The Sisterhood of Crafters challenge - use your dies

Thanks for stopping by

Hugs
Carol x

Lavinia Stamps and W Plus9 Sparkle and Shine fairy card

Hello and welcome to the new Watercolour Challenge over at Happy Little Stampers. This is an anything goes watercolour challenge but each month we have a little twist to make it more fun if you are looking for inspiration, and this month the twist is 'spritz'

Here is my card

1) Take a piece of white card and spritz it with the Cosmic Shimmer Mist in Ocean Sunlight.

2) Once the card has dried, stamp the Lavinia Stamps silhouette fairy and then stamp and emboss some stars with silver embossing powder under her right hand, to make it appear that she is holding them.

3) Stamp over the card with the Woodware Old Letter stamp, and give a little spritz with gold spray over the top.

4) Use a Spectrum Noir Clear Glitter pen on the wings to give them some sparkle. I was interested to see that the script did not show through the wings so I was glad that I didn't go to the trouble of masking them.

5) Prepare the layers, and stamp and clear emboss the My Favorite Things Balloon Strings background stamp on one of them. (I'm trying to make more use of my sadly neglected background stamps.)

6) Take some of the leftover spritzed card and cut the sparkle & Shine words from the WPlus9 die set and paint over them with the sparkle pen.

7) Finish off by layering everything up and adding the die cut words. I layered everything up without foam tape this time so the card would be post friendly.

I'm sad that my photography does not show up the sparkle and shine you can see in real life but you can get a little idea from the small top photo.

I hope you are tempted to join us this month but if you need more inspiration, you can find plenty over on the Happy Little Stampers blog, where my talented  Team Mates have some fabulous cards to show you.

I'd like to play along with

Inky Chicks Challenge #87 - stars

The Fairy and the Unicorn Challenge #6 - anything goes

Crafting By Design September Challenge - anything goes

Thanks for stopping by.

Hugs
Carol x

Altenew Adore You Thank You card

Hello everyone,

I'm sorry I haven't been around for a while but my husband was in the hospital for a hip replacement operation and there were complications that led to an admission to ICU. All is well now and he is slowly recovering but quite frankly the blog has been the last thing on my mind over the past few weeks! However, I'm glad to be back and I'll really enjoy having a browse around over the next couple of weeks to catch up with all you've been up to. Luckily, I had a brief period of being organised before all this happened and had my July DT cards ready to go!

It's time for another Watercolour Challenge over at Happy Little Stampers, and our optional twist this time is 'Blue'.

I came up with this card

1) Take a piece of watercolour card and paint a wash of various blue paints from the Gansai Tambi paint set.

2) Stamp the open flower from the Altenew Adore You stamp set onto a couple of post-it notes and cut them out to use as masks. I use the full cover post-it notes, peel off 3, stamp on the top and cut it out, so you have 3 masks that can be reused several times.

3) Stamp a few flowers and leaves in one corner, masking as you go, and emboss with white embossing powder, before cutting the panel out with a stitched rectangle.

4) Stamp and emboss the Thank you sentiment from the same stamp set.

5) Cut a small banner from navy blue card and stamp and emboss the small sentiment.

6) Layer everything up and finish off by adding a few Nuvo Drops.

Our winner for this challenge will receive a $20 coupon to spend at the shop! Check out all the details HERE.

We are lucky enough to have the talented Stephanie join us as Guest Designer this month and you can see her lovely card and lots of inspiration from the team over on the Happy Little Stampers blog. We had lots fabulous entries last month and we are really pleased that so many people like to play along with us - why don't you join in with us this time.

Sadly I have no time to enter any challenges at present:-(

Thanks for stopping by.

Hugs
Carol x

Altenew and Papertrey Ink Poppy Sympathy card

Hello everyone and welcome to the May Happy Little Stampers Watercolour challenge. Well, we were bowled over by the fabulous quality of the entries for last month, and we are so pleased that you are liking this challenge so much. Once again, this is an anything goes watercolour challenge but each month we have an optional twist to add to the fun,

and as always, we have a prize, donated by our lovely Kylie

Our optional twist this time is 'Red' so I came up with this card

1) Die cut a piece of watercolour card with the stitched panel die from My Favorite Things Blueprints 23
2) Using the MISTI stamp positioner, stamp the outline stamp from the Altenew Painted Poppy stamp, in red ink. Paint the poppy using red ink, and then stamp the image again, this time just inking up the centre with black ink.
3) Repeat step 2 but re position the stamp so that it is going off the panel. When the paint is dry, add some touches of darker ink with a very fine brush to give the impression of folds in the petals.
4) Add a couple of stems to the flowers with green ink, and add a strip of black card to the edge of the panel.

5) Cut a small rectangle of red card and round the corners with a corner chomper before stamping and white embossing the sentiment from Papertrey Ink Year of Flowers Carnation stamp set.

6) Fix the panel to a red base card on some fun foam and attach the sentiment. Finish off with a few Nuvo Crystal Drops.

We are lucky enough to have the talented Helen Gullet joining us as the guest designer this month so I do hope you will give her a warm welcome. You will find her lovely card and lots of inspiration from the team over on the Happy Little Stampers blog.

I'd like to play along with

Time Out Challenge #82 - flowers no twist

Allsorts Challenge #413 - embossing

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - anything goes

Thanks for stopping by

Hugs
Carol x

Happy Little Stampers and Avery Elle Encouragement card

Hello everyone,

I don't know where the year is going to but I can't believe we're up to April when it seems we only put the decorations away last week! It's time for another challenge over at Happy Little Stampers Watercolour Challenge, where this time our optional twist is Rainbows, and I'm sure we'll be lucky enough to see plenty of those in the coming month after all the April showers. 

our winner this time will receive a $15 discount at the HLS Stamp Store

I came up with this simple little encouragement card destined to wing its way to a friend of mine who has been going through a rough time lately.

1) Take a panel of Mixed Media card and paint rainbow stripes across it using Gansai Tambi Watercolour paint.

2) Stamp the sentiments from HLS Rainy Days and Avery Elle Brushed with black Versafine ink.

3) Stamp the cloud from the HLS Rainy Days stamp twice, and fussy cut them both, snipping off the sun as you go.

4) Mat the panel onto black card and then onto a red stitched rectangle before placing it on the base card.

5) To finish off, stick one cloud flat on the card and raise the second one up on foam tape.

We are fortunate to have the talented Julie as our guest designer this month, and you can see her lovely card, along with lots of inspiration from the team, over on the Happy Little Stampers Blog.

I hope you will join us this time.

I'd like to play along with

Time Out Challenge #80- 'When it rains look for rainbows

Craftin' Kimmie challenge - keep your head in the clouds

Aud Sentiments challenge - any sentiment except for birthdays

Thanks for stopping by

Hugs

Carol x 

Papertrey Ink Birthday Classics March birthday card

Hello everyone and welcome to the March Watercolour Challenge over at Happy Little Stampers. This is an anything goes as long as it's watercolour challenge but there is an optional twist that you can use to pep things up with if you choose, and this time the twist is 'smoosh'

The winner of the challenge will receive a $15 discount at the Happy Little Stamper Store

Now we are into March, I can feel that spring is almost here, so I came up with this this card in my favourite spring colours

 1) Take a non stick craft mat and squish three distress inks onto it. I used squeezed lemonade, peacock feathers and mowed lawn. Spray some water onto the inks and press a piece of watercolour card onto the mat and let it soak up the wet ink. Leave to dry.

2) Once the card is dry, add some texture to it by stippling the same inks over the paper with a slightly damp brush.

3) Once it is dry again, stamp the Papertrey Ink Birthday Classics: March stamp in the centre of the card with Versamark ink and then emboss with white fine detail embossing powder.

4) Use a rectangle die to cut out the centre of the panel and mat that onto black card. Mat the larger piece of card with black card that has been cut with a stitched rectangle die.

5) Adhere the larger piece of card onto a yellow card base and raise the smaller panel on some fun foam in the centre to give some dimension. Finish off with a few pearls, coloured with black alcohol pen.

We are lucky enough to have the talented Linda Walmsley join us as Guest Designer this month and you can see her gorgeous card, and lots of inspiration from the team over on the HLS Blog.

I'd like to play along with

Crazy 4 Challenges - make the sentiment the focal point.

Cut it up Challenge - die cuts and birthday

Thanks for stopping by.

Hugs

Carol x

Sheena Douglas Scenic Winter Christmas Deer birthday card

Hello everyone and welcome to the second Happy Little Stampers Watercolour Challenge, where the theme is anything goes with an optional twist of Dies.

Well we were bowled over by your response to our first challenge and you are making it really hard to pick the top 5! Why not play along this time and you could win a $15 discount to the Happy Little Stampers Store

I got some new Sheena Douglas Scenic Winter : Christmas Deer stamps and dies just before Christmas but didn't get enough time to play with them. I am on a mission to make more use of my stash, so I decided to change the winter, snow covered trees to a spring/summer green ones, so it can be used year round.

1) Take a square of watercolour paper, mark a horizon and paint a light watercolour wash. 

2) Stamp the tree stamp from the Sheena Douglas Perfect Partner Scenic Winter stamp set, and watercolour the trees and hills. Paint the sky and clouds, and when it is dry stamp some birds.

 3) Die cut the Scenic Winter Christmas Deer from cream card and stamp the matching stamp onto the deer, before painting him.

4) Use distress ink to add some colour to the frame die cut and stamp Happy Birthday from the HLS Especially For You stamp set.

5) Adhere the watercolour paper to a PTI Rustic Cream card base, and use thin strips of foam tape to raise the frame die on top to give dimension.

We are lucky enough to have the talented Ingrid from the Creative Grove blog join us as Guest Designer this month and you can see her beautiful card and inspiration from the rest of the team over at the Happy Little Stampers Blog.

I'd like to play along with 

Darnell's NBUS challenge - use NBUS - my stamps and die are NBUS!

Use your Stuff challenge - animal theme.

Dare to Be Artsy - something new


Thanks for stopping by

Hugs
Carol x

Papertrey Ink and Creative Expressions Sending Hugs card

Hello everyone and welcome to a brand new challenge for a brand new year over at Happy Little Stampers

This is a regular watercolour challenge that is anything goes, and each month we will have an optional twist that you can use if you want to have some extra fun. Our first twist is stencil, and I came up with this card

I started with a piece of watercolour paper and taped the Creative Expressions Ivy Background stencil to it. I then used several shades of blue watercolours with a fairly dry brush and painted over different parts of the stencil to give some variation of colour. The brush has to be pretty dry or the watercolour will seep under the stencil, which is okay, but I was going for a cleaner look here.

When the panel was dry, I trimmed it into three pieces and matted it onto black card before layering it up on the base card. I die cut the sentiments in black and white, and shadowed them so they would pop more on the card. The Hugs sentiment is a die from PTI that I have had in my stash for a long time without using it but it looks good here and covers the card well. Have you tried the Nuvo Crystal Drops yet? I have new bottle of the white Drops and made a few dots to finish the card off. I'm quite impressed - they held the dome shape really well and were easy to glue on.

Video Tutorials using our optional twist
Brushos and Stencils by Kylie Purtell (7:47)
Watercolour Stencil Masking Technique by Ingrid Blackburn (8:27)
Stencils and Watercolours by Justine Hovey (2:57)
Stencilled Watercolour Background by Tiffany Johnson (2:36)

Video Tutorials without our optional twist
Watercolour Stamped Butterflies by Ingrid Blackburn (12:08)
Brushos and Glossy Cardstock by Kylie Purtell (5:34)
Fun and Easy Watercolouring by Kamila Routsis (8:31)
Watercolour Smash Technique by Ingrid Blackburn (12:08)
Stamping with Gelatos by Kylie Purtell (7:04)

We are lucky enough to have Barb join us as Guest Designer this month and you can check out her  lovely card-and see lots of inspiration from the team over at the Happy Little Stampers Blog.

I'd like to play along with

Cut it Up Challenge - use something old and something new.

Sunny Day Crafting Challenge - anything goes

4 Crafty Chicks Challenge - anything goes

Thanks for stopping by

Hugs

Carol