Recently, I fell upon a Pinterest pin about hammering flowers.  It is a technique I'm familiar with but never took the time to explore.  I decided to try my hand at it!

My son and daughter in-law gave me a beautiful begonia plant for Mother's Day and its gorgeous brilliant red flowers was a perfect choice for this "experiment!"

To my surprise, my brilliant red flowers turned a greyish purple blob when pounded!  The flowers were quite wet and pulpy when I was finished pounding, and I literally needed to allow the paper to dry before proceeding.  The leaf was just an outline but was a nice green color.  I was surprised I didn't get more detail, but since I was totally experimenting, I kept going.

I love doodling and turning blobs into a meaningful visual picture, however, I felt this particular project was a different kind of challenge for me.  I kept at it and "walked away" when the negative voice in my head got too loud!  ​I actually pounded a second leaf to better fill in the space during the doodling process. 

The piece was nearly finished and rather than add splatters as I often do with watercolor, I literally pounded additional flowers directly onto wax paper and pressed the wax paper over the piece to allow any wet areas to randomly add color!  (Refer to the original pounding above to see the difference.)

Another artist I follow (stalk) is Catherine Cote (CreationsbyCeeCee) for her amazing watercolor and doodle talents.  She is also one to add gold paint and white gel pen to many of her pieces, which I promptly did as well!  ​I actually pounded a second leaf to better fill in the space during the doodling process.

The finished piece is only 5x5 but I took it to my favorite framer (Hobby Lobby in Liverpool) and am thrilled with the frame and matting.  The hard part is waiting for it to be ready!

Hope you give this project a try, especially if you're looking for a new creative challenge!


Thanks for stopping by!

XOXO

LYN

 It has been way too long since I've responded to challenges!  The current Card Concept Challenge intrigued me as I made several Christmas cards this year and to choose a favorite one was actually a challenge in itself!  Here are two favorites that couldn't be more different!

The Adirondack card began with stamping the Buffalo plaid image (Inkblotshop.com) on red cardstock and a Moose diecut (Penny Black).  Along with my Hugs and Wildflowers Stamp Set (Gina K) for the cross section of a cut tree.  Living most of the year in Central New York state really provides me the environment to create this card even though I was in Florida when I made it!

​
Finally, here's a photo of my

tree and front window that is

my favorite place to read.
























​

​Thanks for stopping by!
​
Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, Happy New Year!

XOXO

LYN

​This week, I'm showing you how easy it is to create lots of cards with one triangle shape!  I've purposely kept the cardstock base white and didn't add any additional background embellishments.  We loose time fussing and this E-News is all about producing!

DIRECTIONS:
Cutting a triangle Christmas tree begins with a rectangle.  I cut rectangles in various sizes, but for this explanation, I'm using the dimensions of 1-1/2" x 3-1/2. 

Find the center of the short side (eyeball it) and cut from the center point down to the bottom corner.  Repeat for the other side starting at the center point.  Voila!  You have a perfect triangle tree shape!

Before I started cutting triangle trees, I had an idea in mind to use the following papers/materials:
Felt, Glitter Paper, Paint Chips, Background Scraps, Small Pattern Papers, Embossing Folders, Scrap Ribbon, Washi Tape

Have fun making simple Christmas tree cards!  I'd love to see your tree cards!  If you're just making a few cards, it would be fun to go all out with embellishments!

Thanks for stopping by!

XOXO

LYN

In my last E-News #346 I posted a fall background card using Distress Oxides.  I thought it would be useful to show my process of making this (literally) 5-minute card.  Running out of time has definitely served me well in discovering this fun technique.

To begin, I chose 2 Distress Oxide colors from my stash and pressed them onto my glass mat as shown.  

Generously spritz the inks.

Using regular cardstock, quickly swipe the top half of the card across both inks and repeat going in the other direction.  Dab the card front into the remaining ink for added blots, but don't fuss too much.  Let dry.

Repeat the process for the bottom half of the card using 2 different inks.

The background will look something like this.  The magic is that each time this background is created, different results will be achieved.

Stamp the bare trees twice to achieve the design across the entire width.  I used Tim Holtz Tonic Studios stamp positioner.  The Misti will work also.  Rather than black ink, I chose VersaFine Smokey Grey.  A sentiment was added in the same ink color.  Final step was to splatter in gold acrylic paint that is slightly watered down.  I like to hit the loaded brush against a dowel or larger paintbrush.

Here's the first card I created using the same inks.

This technique will work for a snowy scene as well and I can't wait to play with winter colors!

Thanks for stopping by!

XOXO

LYN

​I subscribed to a new artist on YouTube this week!  Lynne Bauer of Dragonfly Spirit Studio.  She creates simple Postcard Paint-Alongs.  I happened to have Strathmore postcards just sitting in my drawer, so I was happy to watch her video and create my own little paintings.  She shares really useful information as she paints along beginning with a dime!  I think you'll be pleasantly pleased to give her video a look, especially for my friends who are new to watercolor!

This was my first of 7 postcard paintings.  The techniques I really love are painting a water ring around the sun and creating sparkly waves reflecting off the sun with a credit card!  I added birds just to fill in the space.  Notice where the horizon line is on this one compared to the others!  Had to go back and refer to the video several times.

​I basically worked with the same color pallet using Daniel Smith watercolor.  I just chose color in different orders and mixed them differently as I went along.  I found it interesting that the artist doesn't recommend using black paint for the foreground images, but I'm happy with the results.

​I love the bloom around the sun on this one.  The heron was hand drawn on a scrap paper first, scribbled on the reverse side with a graphite pencil covering the entire bird, and then placed onto the postcard.  I traced the bird with a blending stump, 'cuz I couldn't find a dried up pen.

​​Same bird image and graphite pencil technique.  I love how each postcard is a little different!

​Had to veer away from the video and go out on my own with a palm tree.  This bloom is amazing around the sun too!

​Tall grasses are so easy to create and fills in the corner nicely.

​Had to try different color combinations for the last postcard.  There is no limit to the colors you can use for this project!  I loved creating these little painting so much, I hope to move into making 5x7 cards using the same techniques!

​I sure hope I've inspired you to give this a try!  Like Lynne says continually in her video, "it's a postcard!" and meant to be quick and fun.


Have a pleasant week!

XOXO

LYN

After a long absence from my Florida home since early April, a quick trip to my happy place and this Inspired By Challenge was all I needed to get in a coastal state of mind!

The colors are favorite Florida colors for me and the pop of black and white background pulled all the water color images together!  TIP:  After arranging all the diecut pieces (and before affixing), take a phone photo for reference to place everything back together just the way you envisioned.

Supplies Used:
Stamps:  Timeless Tropical Stamps & Dies Bundle (SU)
Paper:  Cardstock (Darice), Watercolo (Canson), Black Background (Reflections)
Accessories:  Trellis Die (W Plus 9), Koi Watercolor (Sakura), Versafine Onx Black (Tsukineko), Mono Multi Glue (Tsukineko), Foam Mounting Tape (3M)


Thanks for Stopping By!

XOXO

LYN

Loved the challenge immediately and couldn't wait to play.  The card came together fast once I chose my stamp set.  I was totally happy making this card!!!!

Here's a view of the dimension of the flowers.

​Supplies Used:
Stamps:  Bouquet of Love (Amuse Studio), You're So Sweet Sentiment (Studio Katia)
Papers:  Cardstock (Darice), Watercolor Paper (Canson)
Accessories:  Versafine Smokey Grey, Versafine Onyx Black (Tsukineko), Framelets Tag (Stephanie Barnard Sizzix), 3D Foam Tape (Scotch), Foam Mounting Squares (Scrapbook Adhesives), Mono Multi Glue (Tombow), Twine (Fun Stampers Journey)

Thanks for Stopping By!

XOXO

LYN

I call this my "cutie patootie" card ' with the little girl (oh that face!) holding her little doggie.  Loved this challenge right away and couldn't wait to dig out my stamps and colored pencils.

Supplies Used:
Stamps:  Girlfriends (A Muse Studio), Sentiment Watercolor Dots (Alt&New
Papers:  White Cardstock (Darice), Red Hearts (Reflections)
Accessories:  Versafine Vintage Sepia Ink & Memento Gray Flannel Ink (Tsukineko), Recycled Color Pencils (Tombow), Stitched Rectangle (Lawn Fawn), Zig Two-Way Glue (Kuretake)

Thanks for Stopping By!

XOXO

LYN

Woop woop!!!!  You don't win unless you play!!!

Here in Florida, spring isn't as noticeable as in New York State.  In fact, it's actually 10 degrees hotter than normal in Florida right now, which feels like summer without the humidity!  Spring in New York is a dramatic happening and a big deal to see the early flowers popping up as the snow melts.

I have the perfect new stamp set for this challenge and enjoyed creating this happy little card.  To get a good impression on the watercolor paper, the images were stamped using a stamp positioner.  The fun was choosing bright and springy water color for the flowers.  The grass and sky areas were washed in last.  Once dry, a stitched framed added a finished edge.  Diecut letters were added using a T-Square ruler to complete the card.

Supplies Used:

Stamps:  Bunch of Blossoms PCS (Stampendous)
Papers:  Watercolor Paper (Canson 140 lb), Cardstock (Darice)
Accessories:  Versafine Onyx Black Ink (Tsukineko), Koi Water Colors Pocket Field Sketch (Sakura), #6 & #8 Round Brush (Wonder Forest), Alpha Dies (my stash), Stitched Frame (Lawn Fawn), Adhesives (Mono Liquid Glue - Tombow, Zig 2-Way Glue (Kuretake)


Thanks for Stopping By!

XOXO

​LYN

When I saw the challenge to use acrylic paint, I immediately thought mixed media!  I can't tell you how exciting it has been to create acrylic paint in card making today!  I want to show you the steps I took today to create an 8-1/2 x 11 paper that was eventually cut up into A2 sizes.

The first photo is a prepped sheet of cardstock that I Gessoed first.  I used the light to dark painting with no particular plan.  It sure doesn't look like much at this point.  I used Dylusions acrylic paints by Ranger for this entire project.

The above photo was then painted over with a wash of white paint.  From there several layers of stencils and stamps were added.  I cut the piece into 4 quadrants of 4-1/4 x 5-1/2.

I ended up with 7 cards out of this 8-1/2 x 11 inch cardstock.  However, for the CAS Challenge, this is my design.  Turned out the scraps worked as elements of this card.

I can't be happier about this challenge that inspired me to spend a good amount of my day playing.

Supplies Used:
Stamps:  Patterned Polka Dota (The Sstamp Market)
Paper:  Hammermill
​Accessories:  Dylusions Acrylic Paint (Ranger)


Thanks for stopping by!

xoxo

LYN