It has been forever since I've participated in an online card challenge!  I recently found Make the Cards Challenge site and so here I am inspired to create a fancy fold card.  My card has lots going on with it, so I've broken it into three segments.

I'm not sure what to call this fold but I have made it in the past.  I especially like using double sided papers for the front panel that is a fold over, and I really especially like mixing patterns using a 6x6 Paper Pack (Honey Bee) and paper and ribbon from A Muse Studio!  Double rows of diecut scallops (A Muse Studio) and a narrow strip of glitter paper adds a more elegance.

I guess I could call this "a fold within a fold" because the little ATC size focal image (SU) is actually a tiny pocket card!  

Here it is opened showing two pockets for tuck-ins.  Two punched hearts using glitter paper embellish the left pocket and the right pocket holds a gift card.  A hand written note can be tucked into the left pocket.

The inside is normally where I stamp a sentiment, but I had these Stampendous stamps in my stash and wanted to use them here.  No coloring of the image other than using a Quickie Glue Pen and Stampendous glitter on the veil.  The Mr. & Mrs. sentiment was heat embossed with Versafine Ink and Stampendous Silver Embossing Powder.  I edged the diecut circle in Delicata Silvery Shimmer and added A Muse Studio Silver Gems.

Thanks for stopping by!

XOXO

LYN

 I am so excited about a stamping technique that I saw on YouTube recently!  Creative Treehouse calls it Split 4 Stamping Technique ​but I couldn't remember it and my technique is just a tiny bit different.  I liked it so much, I've made 15 cards in no time.

To begin, score an 8-1/2 x 11 inch white cardstock (I used Hammermill Color, Copy, Cover) at 5-1/2 inch and 4-1/4 inch.  Gather botanical stamps you'll be using (SU) and a variety of inks (Distress Cubes).  Ink and spritz the stamp with the first ink color and stamp from the center out.  Repeat in all 3 quadrants.  Choose another stamp and ink and spritz and stamp/overlap next to the first stamped image.  Repeat the process until you are satisfied with the result.  I like to extend into the white space quite a bit.  Cut apart at the scored lines to create 4 card fronts!  Affix onto cardstock and stamp as desired.  Be sure to turn the image for the best orientation prior to stamping a sentiment.

My examples below were put back together after the cards were completed for a better understanding of the stamping process.

Notice the majority of the stamping starts at the center and extends out.  The 4 finished cards with an added perforated border are shown below.

The next set is the exact same procedure showing the full sheet of stamping and the finished cards.  Again, the cards were finished and reassembled to show the stamping patterns.

In this set, I dropped the inkpad onto one of the squares and had to trash it, but I showed it anyway for the full visual.

And here's the final set!  I cut the scored panels down to 5-1/4 x 4 inches and added a colored panel.

Tell you what, it was fun digging through my "old" wood sentiment stamps and actually stamping with them!  I had to practice on scrap paper to make sure they stamped well after sitting in a drawer for years.

What a great technique for bulk stamping projects.  I sure do hope you give this a try!

Thanks for stopping by!

XOXO

LYN

​After recently learning about Cyanotype Printing (see my blog post HERE), I became intrigued by a second technique of this process called "Wet" Cyanotype Printing.  There are so many unknown possibilities with wet cyanotype and I couldn't wait to try this technique.

Gathering up some weeds and wild flowers with no particular plan is really a fun component of this printing process.  I had previously painted several sheets of watercolor papers with the special print solution and placed them in an area that was fairly dark to dry.  (Under a bed is a great place for a dark environment away from UV light.  I laid a 55 gallon bag down to protect the carpet from the wet papers.)  Once the plant materials are arranged, the magic to this process is to leave it in the sun to "do its thing."  

This first piece is about 8x11 size.  ​I am fascinated by the uneven greens and blues in the background!  You don't know what the results are until you decide it is done and rinse off the solution under water.

The next piece is about 5x7 in size and I really like the result!

Because I've always loved backgrounds, wet cyanotype printing appeals to me in exciting ways.  I can't wait to continue experimenting!

Thanks for stopping by!

XOXO

LYN

I enjoy creating a special and unique birthday card for my brother every year and, since he is an avid golfer, I grabbed a Riley golf stamp from my extensive stash of Riley images.  It's been awhile since I've made a cute card and I was looking forward to creating a perfect card for my brother.

I began by using a 6x6 paper pad (Honey Bee Great Outdoors) for my masculine patterns.  The background of the card was created by layering lots of mismatched patterns.  I had stamped Riley several times (Versafine Onyx Black ink) on white cardstock (Hammermill Cover, Copy, Color) just to have him available for other card making sessions.  I knew I would use color pencils (Prisma) and Mineral Spirits (Gamsol) to color him.  Here's a link to working with this super cool and easy coloring technique.

There is another inside of the card that was stamped with Happy Birthday.  So fun, right?

Thanks for stopping by!

XOXO

LYN

A subtitle to this card could be "The Making of a Two Hour CAS Card!"

​Ever struggle with designing a card that is not quite coming together but parts of it are worth sticking with it?  Well, that is today's card for me!  After several design attempts, I finally landed it.  How did I know?  My subconscious just said "there it is" and I knew my struggle was over. 

​Mind you, I wasn't tortured by this card at all but rather challenged by it because I knew I could achieve a look that pleased me if I kept at it.  Thankfully, not every card presents similar challenges, but by sticking with it and not having anything else in particular to do today, I was okay figuring it out.

There are a couple of nifty design elements to this card.  The scored horizontal lines and the dimensional diecut rose.  The next photo shows the cool layering of the rose.  I simply diecut about 6 additional roses on white cardstock and glued them all together.  The rose and sentiment are from Stampendous (discontinued).  Rose is water colored and embellished with glitter.  Sentiment is Gold Embossed (Stampendous).

Nothing makes me happier than to paint something that reminds me of my Florida life!  It is a 5x7 size that will most likely end up as an 8x10 when framed.  I want to paint more of this scene on a larger scale!

Sometimes the story behind a painting is almost as enjoyable as the painting itself!  This is the story that begins with an idea and my love of the ocean...

About four years ago, I purchased a large 36x24 canvas that I planned to hang over our guest room bed in Florida.  While changing to new bedding in the guest room, I was suddenly inspired to get the painting done once and for all!  It also helped that my husband was back in NY and I had entire days to be creative...a true "me time" opportunity!

Over a year ago, I sketched an idea about what I wanted to see in this painting...and that's as far as it went.  Here's my rendering:

Enter the arrival of my Wayfair quilt that totally transformed the look of the guest room and that's when the call to paint started.  I dug out my sketch book and studied my design.  You may not know this, but there is a medium out there that when applied to canvas, will created a surface suitable for watercolor!  The name of the product is QPR Cold Press Ground and it's super easy to apply.

 Once the medium was dry, I drew my design on the canvas with a pencil.  ​Adding the sky and ocean set the mood of the painting for me.  When that was dry, I decided to add a little sun because, after all, we always refer to Florida as "sunny Florida" right?  I immediately began to doubt my decision once I began painting in the yellow but later realized I'd be painting objects in front of the sun that would break up the streaks of yellow.  Next came the sandy beach and painting around my objects.  ​

It was finally time to paint details and I started with the palm trees, since I love painting them!  The pilings and birds were next and I was happy how they turned out.  The Ponce Inlet Lighthouse got painted and this was another object I've painted previously and had a good comfort level for. The tall grasses pretty much completed that entire section of the painting.

The next section to paint was the momma and her toddler making a sand castle.  This is where my heart was guiding me as it is a future depiction of my daughter in-law, Kris, and their second child (currently in the planning stages!).  Or, it could be present-day and my grandson, Liam, is now walking!  It is a fluid story for sure!  I decided to tackle the sail boat and that was also an image I've painted previously with success.

It was time to tackle the two people fishing!  The future story is the dad is my son, Will, and the child is my grandson, Liam.  Or, it could be a present-day depiction of Kris's nephew, Ethan fishing with Will.  Either way the story will fit the scene!  I decided to add the sand pipers, a bird I absolutely love to paint!  They are fascinating to watch hopping around on the beach.  A beach umbrella and beach chair took care of that corner.

My husband asked if I could add dolphins and a turtle at the very end and I'm so happy for his input.  You can see them in the finished painting at the beginning.  This painting took me about 7 days to complete as I only worked for 2-3 hours at a time on it.

I hope you enjoyed The Telling of a Painting story!

Thanks for stopping by!

XOXO

LYN

I'm posting today because I am absolutely gaga over Cyanotype printmaking!  If you've never heard of it, it is taken from the work "cyan" for it's dark blue tones and is commonly referred to as a Prussian Blue color. It was the same color as used in blueprints until around 1950.  Cyanotype was invented in 1842 by a British astronomer and chemist, John Frederick William Herschel. To say the least, it is a very old process.

I've been following Cyanotype printmaking for awhile and when my friend, Kathy Greenia was here visiting, we played with pre-inked papers I had purchased through Amazon.  Going on a nature walk and picking leaves, flowers, and twigs that we thought would be fun to use was a highlight of this activity!  Waiting for the photosynthesis process to take place was magical!

Fast forward to yesterday when I took a class from a Cyanotype artist, Judy Pickett at The Hub on Canal Street here in New Smyrna Beach! I learned so much about this technique!  Once you know the gist of the process, it's really a matter of playing and experimenting with lots of different organic materials and papers.  We used rice paper, mala paper and watercolor papers.  I purchased the Jaquard Cyanotype Powder solution as it has a longer shelf life to use when I return to NY.  The instructor used a liquid solution such as Photographers' Formulary Liquid Cyanotype Printing Solution.

I'm excited to share this intriguing technique and my hope is that you give this a try yourself.  If you'd like more information, search YouTube and Pinterest.

Thanks for stopping by!

XOXO

LYN

Today was about the pure enjoyment of simple pleasures.  A walk along the river always enriches me.  Taking photos of whatever caught my eye along the way was amazing.  Not only did I get in a little exercise, I gathered several reference photos for my sketching practice, and I decided to post on my blog about it.

I miss writing and sharing my creative journey that the E-News gave me.  However, I also love my blog and I can share just as well from here! 

Until next time, I have some dried up leaves to sketch!

XOXO

LYN

Yesterday I made this card to give away and I love it so much, I want to make more of this style.  The technique is super easy with The Misti, Distress Oxides, a water spritzer, regular cardstock, and the direct-to-rubber inking technique.

In case you aren't familiar with this inking technique, arrange the leaf stamps onto the lid of The Misti to line up with the cardstock.  Pick up one of the Distress Oxide inks and randomly swipe onto the leaf images (without over thinking!).  Note:  Distress Inks can also be used for this technique.  Next, pick up a second ink color and swipe over the stamps.  It won't matter if you swipe over the first ink.  Finally, pick up the third ink and fill in any remaining areas.  Lightly spritz the stamps with water (I emphasize lightly because regular cardstock reacts poorly to too much water.)  You can always go back and re-ink areas and re-spritz.  If I were to critique this card, I can see the long leaf in the lower right corner got too much water as the detail is washed out, but that didn't bother me.  Let completely dry before the next step.

The magic is to accent the stamped images with a bit of gold paint diluted slightly with water and a round brush.  A splatter of gold paint with the same round brush hit against a dowel fills in the stark white areas nicely!  After making sure the gold paint is dry, a simple sentiment finishes the card.

If I didn't give this one away, I'd place it in a wood frame and add it to my fall décor, which is why I'll create more of these to keep and give away!

Products Used:
Paper:  Hammermill Color, Copy, Cover
Ink:  Ranger Distress Oxides:  Crackling Campfire, Fossilized Amber, Spiced Marmalade
Sentiment:  Concord & 9th - Mushroom
Stamps:  Stampendous:  Summer Leaves, Sentiment:  Amuse Studio
Paint:  Peerless Gold Transparent Watercolor


Thanks for stopping by!

XOXO

LYN