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

So fun that I had a cactus stamp!  I also had a dot background waiting to be used.  The images were stamped and then colored with chalks.  The vertical stripes were added also with a stripe stencil and chalks.  Such a fun little card.

Supplies Used
Stamps:  Grow (A Muse Studio)
Papers:  Brown Kraft (Darice), Hammermill Cover, Copy, Cover
Accessories:  I Kandee Chalks (Pebbles, Inc.), Stickles Glitter Glue, Dot Background (Altenew), Stripe Stencil (Unknown)


Thanks for stopping by!

XOXO

LYN

I had leftover stamped pattern paper that I was intrigued to use for this week's Fusion Card Challenge!  My card design ended up with mixed textures, and changing the vertical focal to a tag shape.  I went further to add Stickles Glitter Glue to the berries and little dotted circles for added interest.  The leaf diecut affixed horizontally added design interest that pulled the tag and two halves together.  The heart diecut seemed a perfect embellishment for the tag tab.  The raised label word sentiment added a perfect final touch.  This was a fun, fun challenge for me!

Supplies Used:
Stamps:  Label Messages (Studio Katia)
Papers:  Hammermill Cover, Copy, Color, Color Cardstock (Reflections)
Accessories:  Swiss Dots and Gingham Embossing Folders (Cricut Cuttlebug), Tag Stitched Die (MFT), Heart Diecut (Spellbinders), Versafine Onyx Black Ink (Tsukineko), Foam Mounting Tape (Scrapbook Adhesives), Mono Multi Liquid Glue (Tombow)

Thanks for Stopping By!

XOXO

LYN

The idea behind this challenge is to use lots of small images or shapes or words/sentiments but at the same time keeping the card as CAS as possible. 

I was intrigued by this challenge to use small images so I rummaged through my stash and found a set of botanical images that I thought would work.  I proceeded to cover the surface of an A2 size panel, but decided it wasn't enough white space so I chopped it in half.  The fact that I used "Christmas" colors wasn't intentional but more meant as colors of nature.  A simple embossed fish tail banner and neutral diecut sentiment worked to finish the card.  I'm feelin' the CAS!

Supplies Used
Stamps:  Botanical Silhouettes (A Muse Studio)
Papers:  Hammermill Cover, Copy, Cover, FSJ Red C/S
Accessories:  Flag Tags Die (Paper Smooches), Hello Phrase Set 2 (Spellbinders), Versafine Spanish Moss, Olympia Green, Smokey Gray Vintage Sepia (Tsukineko), Tombow Markers, Tombow Mono Multi Glue.


Thanks for Stopping By!

XOXO

LYN

What a fun challenge!  I saw so many elements within the inspiration photo.  My design began with a favorite Eiffel Tower image that I've had for a long time.  Adding a little of this and a little of that and the card began to take shape.  Lastly, I added the vertical stripe strip as it seemed so Parisian!  TIP:  Diecut a heart strip and turn it upside down to create a scallop edge!

Supplies Used:
Stamps:  C'est La Vie (A Muse Studio), You're So Sweet Stamps & Dies (Studio Katia), Sentiment (Catherine Pooler)
Papers:  Hammermill Color, Copy, Cover, Strathmore Watercolor Paper, Dots & Stripes (Echo Park 6x6 Paper Pad)
Accessories:  Onyx Black Versafine Ink (Tsukineko), Tattered Rose (Ranger Distress Ink), I-Kan-Dee Chalks (Pebbles, Inc.). Heart Scallop Die (A Muse Studio), Blending Tool (Picket Fence), 1/8" Score Tape (Scor-Pal), Tombow Mono Multi Glue, Black Ribbon (store packaging)


Thanks for Stopping By!

XOXO

LYN

Anyone who knows me knows I LOVE photo cards!  They tell a story without words and are always a hit for the intended recipient.  You can imagine my delight when I saw this sketch for TGIF Challenge #251!  The card is a loose representation of the sketch but it gave me all the design ideas I needed. 

The story without words is that my friend (on the left) is actually coming for a visit real soon.  The photo is from the 24 Hours of Daytona where she and her fiance flew down and joined my husband and me for a fun-filled 4 day mini vacation.  Since it was somewhat cold that weekend and not especially beach weather, my friend is making a re-do trip soon so she and I can just "do the beach!"

​Do any of you know where we took this photo?!?

The inside of a card is often not given nearly the attention as the card front.  I wanted to take the time by stamping the palm trees first and then adding the sentiment.  It was an extra 30 seconds and so worth it

Supplies Used:
Stamps:  Timeless Tropical (SU), Sealed with a Fish (A Muse Studio)
Papers:  Hammermill Cover, Copy, Photo
Accessories:  Stitched Circle (A Muse Studio), Stitched Rectangle Dies (Lawn Fawn), Versafine Inks - Toffee, Spanish Moss, I-Kandee Chalk Pastels (Pebbles, Inc.), Quickie Glue Pen (Tsukineko), Diamond Glitter (Reflections), Twine (A Muse Studio)


Thanks for Stopping By!

XOXO

LYN

I just happened to have a new pineapple diecut and was glad to have the opportunity to use it for the Twofer Card Challenge!

My card utilized "failed" watercolor that was stuffed in a pile that literally came back to life for this card.

The next card is a simple CAS one layer design with the pineapple diecut from watercolor paper.  I painted the diecut and then affixed it to the card front.  A sweet stamped sentiment completed the CAS card.

If you haven't discovered the life altering trick to fussy diecutting, you need to read on.  Save your dryer sheets and stack them in a pile of 4 and then fold in half.  Layer the stack of dryer sheets on the bottom diecut platform, then paper, then the diecut, then the top platform.  Your fussy diecut comes out like butter.  I am not joking here.  You have to try this trick with any fussy diecut.  The dryer sheet "pad" works many times over.  You will feel like your life just changed dramatically.

Supplies Used

Stamps:  Timeless Tropical (SU)
Papers:  White Cardstock (Darice), Canson Watercolor
Accessories:  Lene Lok (Spellbinders), Versafine Onyx Black (Tsukineko), Tombow Mono Liquid Glue, Twine (May Arts), Fun Foam (Michaels), Waves Embossing Folder (Spellbinders), Koi Water Colors Pocket Field Sketch Box (Sakura)

Thanks for Stopping By!

XOXO

LYN

Well I love stripes so I just had to respond to this week's challenge.  My two cards are "painted" with chalks on regular old cardstock.  Is that crazy or what?  Don't they look totally water colored?  Chalks  allow a paint surface that doesn't fight with card stock. I'm in love!

The above card was "striped" after the dots were created from an earlier project.  I laid a striped template over the dots and using a wet cosmetic sponge smooshed into chalk, I created the stripes.  After painting with chalks, I added a diecut sentiment to become a focal over the image.  Dots of Stickles added a pretty pop.

Here I first stamped the image onto regular old cardstock and then laid the stripe stencil over the card front.  It was so easy to use a wet makeup sponge rubbed into the chalk and create the background stripes.  The florals are also painted with a wet brush and chalks.  Is that not the coolest watercolor effects???  I don't know what's in chalks but clearly you can create beautiful watercolor.  The top right corner was a perfect spot for the sentiment.  Gold Stickles added some prettiness.

Supplies Used:

Stamps:  Mondo Sakura by Julie (Ellenhutson.com), Timeless Tropical (SU)
Paper:  Card Base (Darice), Reflections (Michel's)
Accessories:  Brights I kan' dee Chalks (Pebbles, Inc.), Versafine Onx Black (Tsukineko), Stickles (Ranger), Diecut (A Muse Studio)


Thanks for stopping by!

XOXO

LYN