My Peerless Water color set arrived!

Ok, I gave in. 
     I have seen so many card making videos using the Peerless water colors, I just had to buy them. Being a frugal crafter, I wanted to "try them" before "investing in them". With the basic set not having many colors, and the bonus set costing too much plus shipping, I hesitated. 
     Then I went on Etsy.com, and found "Peerless Watercolor "mini" Travel Palette 3/4" squares of peerless on 4.5" x 6 " palette" sold by "Oliveme Artsie" for only $15! Perfect, I get to try before investing, and I have 40 colors to play with! It arrived in less than week. So, what do I paint first? Here is my first attempt:

It's true, the colors are SO vibrant, and they pop from the page. My Happy birthday is a bit askew, but its all good. In the background I filled in with a copic marker. I am excited to use these A LOT!  lol. 
Thanks for stopping by!

Featured Technique: Distressing

Hello,
I got the chance to go to "Just for Fun's" Trunk Show on Saturday. I almost go run over by women twice my age! I walked away with a handful of great deals.
     One item I am enjoying is a thick stack of pre-cut textured colored cardstock. I got about 100 pieces for $1 cut 5 1/2 by 4 1/4. I also grabbed a brand new package of shimmery black cardstock normally priced for $11.95, was priced $5. It is beautiful cardstock. I always have trouble finding thick black cardstock for my cardbases. I grabbed a few stamps and some used templates.
     One item I purchased was a used set of the Sew-Easy handle and multiple heads. I need to play around with them. Unfortunately, it didn't come with the pink mat that you need, but maybe my other mat will work just as well. Maybe you will see some sewing on a few cards in the near future! Anyway, on to my card for tonight:

      I know you can't see the details really well, but all the parts to this card are distressed. I had fun using a rough piece of sandpaper and sanding the card stock to smithereens! I had paper powder everywhere. I even distressed the floss at the bottom of the butterfly panel, it is looking ragged to suit the look. The photo did a nice job of picking up the colors, I just love distress inks. I just purchased a set of the mini color distress inks. I love them!

Paper: Stampin' up and Neenah Solar White Card Stock Inks: Distress inks Stamps: Butterfly and flower - unknown (Indadinkado, I think), Sentiment - A stamp in the Hand Embossing Powder - White Distressed with sandpaper and distress tool

 Thanks for dropping by!

Bokeh Background Technique - By Understanding Blue

I ran across this video, and watched it from start to finish. I was looking for a way to e-mail a link to my friend, and I realized that with one click, I can post a video to my blog! How cool is that. I realize it is not my video, but I tested it out to see if it works. It does!

I have been struggling with my use or (lack of) circles in my designs. I simply don't use them. Why? Not sure. So I thought this technique may help me with incorporating circles into my cards. This video is fabulous. Thank you Blue!

Freshly Made Sketches 153

Hello!
I hit several challenges this week! I love playing along when I can. This sketch was easy to enjoy.

Here is my spin:

The colors on this panel are so beautiful! I love distress inks. Thanks for stopping by!

Supplies:
Butterfly Stamp: unknown set; I like you: Simon Says Stamp September card kit
Paper: SU !
White embossing powder
Wooden embellishments: Simon Says Stamp September card kit

Featured Stamp Set: Petals from Scratch - Fiskars

Hello!
I was playing around in my craft room, and a simple card emerged. (Don't you love when that happens!?) I am sure I was inspired by a post I saw, although i can't give credit off-hand. It looks so spring-y, (although we are currently heading into autumn here in Florida) I wanted to share with you!

 I spend the other day researching PEERLESS water colors. They seem to be all the rage in card-making right now. I put it off and put it off, and decided that I can watercolor just fine using distress inks and all the other inks I own. I just can't afford to purchase every HOT item in this industry. (although some days I feel like I DAMN right deserve it) Maybe once the rage settles down, I will find a small "try me out set". Until then, I will hone my water coloring skills with other paints!

Supplies:
Flower stamp: Fiskers "Petals from scratch"
Butterfly stamp: Penny Black "free flight"
Sentiment: Penny Black "Allegro"
Ink: distress Inks and Embossing powder

Clean & Simple Stamping Card Challenge:307

I joined the card challenge at Clean & Simple Stamping this week. This card has a bunch of techniques built into it. (Watercoloring, die cutting and embossing, and painting with distress inks) Not to forget the fiber and the framelit! Take a look. Here is the sketch I drew the idea from:

Take a look around while your here. I would love a comment or two. It would make my day!

Seize The Birthday Challenge! "Toppings"

Happy Sunday!
I am excited that I found the time and have the energy to join some challenges this week. I really do enjoy having a creative direction laid out for me. I get creative blocks when I have too many ideas and possibilities running through my mind.

This challenge was entitled: "Sweet Treats"

How could I not resist to use this adorable stamp for this challenge! I just love this pig so much. For info on him, and where to purchase, click here. I am slowly getting the hang of my copic markers. The shading is not as difficult as it was in the beginning. Thanks for stopping by! Please leave a message, it will make my day!

CAS challenges: Listings

Hello everyone!

     Here is some info about a few challenges that I have played in, and plan to play in more often very soon. I really enjoy sketch challenges that are clean and simple. I struggle remembering which site starts when and for how long. So, I complied a bit of info for me, but thought "hey, if I need this info complied, maybe my readers will too!" Please note that I gathered this info quickly from what I could gather from each site and with the help of: PaperPlayful. It may not be 100% accurate. Feel free to leave me a comment and/or correction if needed. Enjoy!

Name of Challenge	Challenge Address	Challenge Info
CASology	Casology.blogspot.com	Start: Tuesdays (CST) Ends: Mondays Noon (CST)
Clean and Simple	Cleanandsimplestamping.blogspot.com	Start: Fridays Lasts 20 days
Less is more	Simplylessismore.blogspot.com	Start: Saturdays Once a month
Freshly Made Sketches	Freshlymadesketches.blogspot.com	Start: Wednesdays (PST) Mondays Noon (PTS)
{CAS} Colours and Sketches	Cascoloursandsketches.blogspot.co.uk	Start: Thursdays Lasts two weeks
Seize the Birthday	Seizethebirthday.blogspot.com	Two times a month Ends: Tuesdays @ noon

Hello! Simon Says Die cuts

Good afternoon!
I have had a busy week with teaching, and did not get a chance to post my cards! I LOVE the way they came out.

I purchased the hello die from Simon Says stamps after seeing everyone making fabulous creations with it. I pulled out patterned papers that I received in my monthly kits from SSS. I know the balls in this paper simply look like circles, but if you look closely, they are lanterns attached on strings. i Popped the "hello" with three layers beneath it to give it dimension. I love this look.

This paper came from SSS in a card set. The paper gets darker at the bottom and had a sun at the top. If you look closely you can see the sun rays peeking at the top! I hated having to cut it down for the card, but I love the effect! I wanted more lift, so I popped it up with 6 layers beneath for more drama.

Frugal Solution: Teflon Sheet For 16x24/ 5 MIL HIGH QUALITY PREMIUM

Hey,
I needed a new Ranger's craft sheet. Mine was totally beat up, ripped, stained and too small. I was searching for other craft sheets online, when my darling husband told me "It is a TEFLON sheet. They are used for heat presses. Search for that."
Here is what I found on Ebay:

Teflon Sheet For 16x24 Heat Press Transfer Sheet / 5 MILHIGH QUALITY PREMIUM

You'll never guess the price! It is exactly the size of my craft mat I have under my craft sheet. $15.00, + free shipping. It was at my door in 4 days. I LOVE IT! I'm spreading the word. What a difference to my work space. I feel all professional and neat.

Featured Product: Simon Says Stamps' die: Hello!

Hey there,
I had time to play around with the "hello" die  I purchased from Simon Says Stamps. That site is very addicting! It has everything and more. I love just playing around and seeing what emerges from my craft room. Here's some of my creations before I made cards with them.

 I clear embossed it twice, then embossed a third time with JudiKins "Psychedelic" embossing powder! WOW! Can you see the colors! Beautiful!

I was so in love with the colors I embossed other sentiments I had leftover from past cards. I must use this embossing powder more often!

 

I created a full sheet of these butterflies and then cut them up and made front panels with them.

Then I die cut the Hello, and inserted the beautiful Hello from above! WOW, just as I envisioned. I love it!I think I will be making a few more of these! Stay posted!