I didn't think I had any coffee stamps here in Florida, but I did!  I shipped all of my A Muse Studio stamp sets and found a coffee mug image (Crazy Friends).  Sherry recently brought me a couple of new sets that I forgot I ordered and there was the sentiment I needed (You Are My Sunshine).  I was in business!

Since I don't have my Versafine Onyx Black (Amazon has taken care of me!), I decided to go with no line watercolor.  I stamped the flowers in a vase in Distress Antique Linen and proceeded to paint with Distress re-inkers.  The mugs were stamped with Memento Gray Flannel and water colored with Distress re-inkers.  Sentiment stamped with Versafine Vintage Sepia.  Dot stencil (Catherine Pooler Designs) dots (Distress Pumice Stone).

I would say the style of this card is #2 Clean and Layered.

Thanks for stopping by!

xoxo

LYN

​I'm in a total mixed media card making phase this week that I've explained in greater detail in the E-News #217 of February 11, 2018.  This 'phase' falls nicely in the What's Next? category!  It all started when I linked a couple of articles in the E-News.  My light bulb moment flashed at the idea of turning journal pages into a card (which wasn't the point of the video link).  Wait until you see what got me all excited!  Secondly, turning background scraps into simple shapes is what this post is all about and there's a link to the post in tomorrow's E-News as well.  I was more than pleasantly surprised by how much fun I'm having!

​​To begin, go into your stash and find a bunch of background papers that you've already created.  Don't be too concerned about what you're looking for at this point.  For this demo, I've chosen from this pile of scraps to work with:

​​Decide what card panel to use.  Think about piecing different scraps together if you don't have a large enough section.  Since I already made a blue mixed media card (also in E-News #217) I chose this piece for my card panel:
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​The stamped images are now finished and the focal sentiment added.  Here you can really pick out each stamped layer.  All that's left are the triangle trees!

If you watch Martice Smith's video, she cuts her shapes first and then adds stamping.  I added stamping first over scrap sections of papers and then cut out my shapes as I felt that was easier than stamping onto little paper pieces.  She added a lot more doodling but her backgrounds were white whereas mine aren't and I didn't need to add much other than outline the trees and heart in pen.

Finally, the little punched heart and splatters of acrylic paint are added to complete the card!

Supplies Used:
Stamps:  Stampendous, Amuse Studio, Catherine Pooler Designs, Dina Wakely
Ink:  Catherine Pooler Designs, Tsukineko
Papers:  Hammermill Color Copy, Digital




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Hope you enjoyed today's mixed media card.  I can't wait to see how you are inspired to dig into your stash and play!

xoxo

LYN 

This week's Card Concept challenge is based on the above photo.  I loved the distress of the chair the most.  I also love where an inspiration photo takes me to the finished card design!

​I found a scrap piece of background paper leftover from my Stampendous/Dreamweaver design team days and decided that could work for a worn out looking background.  Embossing folder (Cuttlebug).  Diecut leaves and sentiment (Fun Stampers Journey).  ​Flowers and lace (my stash).  Burgundy paper and pearls (A Muse).

Love these challenges!!!!

xoxo
​
LYN

 My card was created with a Stampendous/Dreamweaver stencil #DWLL3037 and I'm over the moon happy with the result!  I was inspired by Jill Foster's Penny Black card that I absolutely fell in love with.  I would call this a wet-on-wet watercolor technique.

I used Tim Holtz Distress Watercolor Cardstock and traced the butterfly in the upper right corner with a pencil.  I wet the wings with clean water and then picked up blue paint from my Koi Water Color Field Box Set and painted in the wings.  I ended up closing the bridges of the stencil with color.  As the first layer dried, I added a second darker blue layer.  The body and antennae were painted with black watercolor and if color bled, it didn't matter.

At this point, it was time to add the loose outline and drippage!  I started with the tan color but then decided I wanted to pull the blues down.  I painted darker blue along the wing's edge and then added more water to the brush to fluidly and loosely pull down the color.  I added the tan color next and again, painted darker near the wings and used water to pull it down down nice and loose.

An A Muse Studio Happy Thoughts sentiment set was stamped with Versafine Onyx Black as well as A Muse sequins and twinkles were added for interest.

You really have to play with this technique and stick with it until it's done!  There is no way to pre-judge this process and you just have to let loose yourself!  I had a few moments of doubt myself.  Now that I've painted one card, I can't wait to keep going with this technique!  Maybe I'll even try a larger piece to frame!

Thanks for stopping by!

LYN