The Stamp Nation has a series called Masterclasses and this week begins a segment on Spectrum Aqua markers!  I was fortunate to be provided a few sets of markers from the good folks at Spectrum Noir along with a couple of their amazing stamp sets.  I designed a card as part of our design team work with these amazing products that you can see simply by logging or joining The Stamp Nation!

Today, I am posting a card for the love of working with Spectrum Aqua markers and I can't resist a challenge!!!!  My card is all about emboss resist, so you know that means it starts with heat embossing images and then creating a watercolor a background.  

​Here's my card:

To create the resist images, I began by placing various Leaf Motif stamps (Catherine Pooler Designs) on a Tonic Studios Tim Holtz Stamp Platform, inking with VersaMark ink (Tsukineko), sprinkling Stampendous Detail Gold embossing powder and heat set.  The sentiment grateful (SOA Autumn Blessings Catherine Pooler) was heat embossed in the same manner on Fun Stampers Journey cardstock with 3 added gems (A Muse Studio).

For the background, I literally scribbled Spectrum Aqua markers (Nature) one color at a time (light to dark) in random areas around the cardstock panel and then quickly spritzed with water to help the color soften and blend.  Before each color change, I heat set.  There's probably a total of 5-6 colors on this panel.  Once it was dry, I spritzed the entire panel with the Tim Holtz's Distress Sprayer to create splotches.  I heat set after a few spritzes and then spritzed again.

For the base panel, I colored directly around the perimeter of a premium white cardstock (Catherine Pooler) with a Spectrum Aqua marker to match the blue in the blended background.

I rather like the uneven movement of color in the background.  Even though the result isn't necessarily screaming autumn, the vibe of autumn is clearly there nevertheless.

Thanks for stopping by!

xoxo

LYN

Have you joined The Stamp Nation yet?  This is all I can show you of this challenge.  You can see everything and SO MUCH MORE as a member.  

I LOVE autumn and the beautiful rich colors.  Guess which card is mine based on these cropped images?  Tell you what, comment below your guess and I'll mail you the card if you guess correctly!!!!

Thanks for stopping by!!!

xoxo

LYN

Here's a sneak of my project!  Is it a card?  Is it a tag?  Love getting my vintage on!​

Click on either photo for the link.  Members get to see the entire post!!!  Non members can see the "JOIN" page and what a great reason to sign up!!!

Thanks for stopping by!

xoxo

LYN

Being grateful and thankful, being a part of something amazing...crafters and women supporting women is what the Rowanda Friendship story is all about.  I am fortunate to own a Rowanda bracelet and I love the meaning behind the story.

The challenge today is to send a card to a woman who inspires you and to tell her why she's so special.  I already told Stamp Nation my story behind my card.  I wish I could show you the entire card, but Stamp Nation rules says I need to link this post to their site.  The good news is the recipient will receive the actual card and she could post it!!!!

Here's my card that I totally enjoyed making as I was thinking of the recipient all the while during the design process.

I did redden up the hair to better reflect an image of me .  If only I had her rockin' body...!!!

I'm hoping you'll feel the spirit of sharing a card to someone who inspires you.  I really could have sent many cards, but I had to just make one.

Thanks for stopping by!!!!

xoxo,

LYN

This week at The Stamp Nation, we're challenging you to not only design the outside of your card, but give the inside more than a sentiment!

I can only show you a sneak of my card, but click on the photo for a link to our wonderful online stamping community!!!!

I will tell you that the card is a gatefold and I used all 4 of Catherine Pooler's stamp sets!!!

Stamps: Medallion Mix Up, Wild Garden, Birds of a Feather, Simply the Best (Catherine Pooler Designs)
Ink: It's a Boy (Catherine Pooler Designs), VersaMark Watermark, Delicata Golden Glitz (Tsukineko)
Paper: Fun Stampers Journey
Accessories: Wild Garden Dies, (CP Designs) White Embossing Powder, Gold Embossing Powder (A Muse Studio) Twine (Fun Stampers Journey) Pearls (A Muse Studio)


Thanks for stopping by!

xoxo

LYN

When Challenge #248 went live, I was at Dunedin, Florida beaches soaking up warm sunshine (a little too warm, actually!), the soft sand, fun outdoor activities (walking the Pinellas Trail sweating to death!) and fine dining experiences with my sister and a friend.  I'm back now and linking The Stamp Nation post.  I can only post a section of my card, but you can see the entire article just by clicking on my photo.

​Here's the inspiration photo:

Here's a sneak of my card design:

I'm pleased to share that I have been chosen to be on the The Stamp Nation design team for the next 6 months!!!

Here's the lineup of the rest of my team:

Susan White - susansstampingblog.blogspot.ca
Dawn Turley - dawnsworldnz.blogspot.com
Michelle Wallace - seashellcreates.blogspot.com
Michele Allison - colorfulencouragement.com
Susan Powell - creatingwithsusan.blogspot.ca
Chrissie Tobas - Returning design team member

If you see any of these talented ladies, give them a high five!

Thanks for stopping by!!

xoxo

LYN

Have you joined The Stamp Nation yet?  Hey, $27 bucks for a 3-month subscription plus access to a world of classroom tutorials, videos, challenges, and networking is a fabulous deal.  Here's the LINK in case this is the day you jump in!!!

I'm so excited about this week's challenge because it's all about using Gelatos!!!  Faber-Castell is sponsoring two generous prizes valued at $62 each!  To be eligible, just upload your card by July 7th.

Here's my cards:

I began making the insert background on paper I had prepped with Gesso (Krylon spray Gesso!) and scribbling 3 colors of Gelatos in random areas.  I used orange, yellow and salmon.  With Gesso paper, you can easily use your finger to blend colors.  Add more Gelato as needed.

Once dry, I placed a Stampendous/Dreamweaver stencil over the Gelato and using a baby wipe, removed color.  Tip:  Try using a less juicy wipe to avoid excess seepage.  A lint free cloth dipped in water works as well.  Remove the stencil and allow the ghosted image to dry.  Using a Misti, stamp the botanical branches and tiny birds as shown (Catherine Pooler).  

Though it's hard to see, the panel behind the framed panel is 'stamped' (Catherine Pooler) with Gelato scribbled directly on the stamp and lightly misted with water.  I got several stampings before I needed to 're-load' with more Gelato and water.  Even if you get too much water, just stamp off on a scrap piece.

The word best (Catherine Pooler) is diecut out of craft foam.

This card background is a similar process to the above card where I used a Stampendous/Dreamweaver stencil.  Once dry, I stamped the Medallion (Catherine Pooler) in Ruby Red ink (Catherine Pooler) and then layered the diecut doily (Catherine Pooler and also colored in Ruby Red).  Prima flowers were colored directly with yellow Gelatos and spritzed with water to blend color.  Best (Catherine Pooler) diecut sentiment was inked with a Palette glue pad and WOW glitter.  The sentiment ever (Catherine Pooler) was stamped just under the diecut word.  Butterflies were diecut from extra pieces of Gelato papers (A Muse Studio). 

Okay, so I think you know I'm gaga over Gelatos and LOVE a reason to play.  Challenges keep our skills fresh and utilized.  We have years of skills and this is a great way to continue our creative process.

Thank you for stopping by!

xoxo

LYN

Wow!  I can't believe how long its been since I posted on my blog under The Stamp Nation tab.  I love this site (have I mentioned that 100 times already in my e-news?)!!  This month's Pen Pal swap theme is black & white with 1 or 2 color pops.  Since I just received the Stamp of Approval box, I couldn't resist working with some of the new items.

I wanted to create a background in black and white and simply stamped images all over.  Inside the SOA box was a new inkpad called All That Jazz and it's gorgeous!  All the color you see on my card is done with either blending the ink onto white card stock to create card base or taking a Tombow blender pen and dipping it into the inkpad and coloring in the little hearts!

This card started one way and ended up totally another way!  Wish I had taken photos.  Once I stamped the background, I actually diecut the sentiment out of All That Jazz that I colored onto white cardstock, but it just didn't pop!  Next I diecut the same word out of fun foam and mounted it right over the original die.  That didn't pop either.  FINALLY, I glittered the word in black glitter and that did the trick.  To break up all the background, I added the diecut frame.

Here's a list of supplies:
Stamps:  Catherine Pooler Designs Simply the Best, Beautiful You
Paper:  
​Dies:  Catherine Pooler Designs
Inks:  Catherine Pooler Designs All That Jazz, Midnight
Embellishments:  A Muse Studio-Gems, Stampendous-Glitter
Other:  Tombow Blender Pen, Tsukineko Quickie Glue Pen, 3M 1/4" tape roller, 3M Foam Tape


Thanks for stopping by!

xoxo

LYN

As a follow up to E-News #189 (Jan. 29th), I'm re-posting Catherine Pooler's tutorial here.  We've been at this card making for so long, we've forgotten what we know!  Her tutorial is a classic example of a useful technique.  As I said in the e-news, you can stamp and heat emboss the focal branch using whatever you have in your stash.  Give it a try!

I hope to create a card using this technique and will post it here.

Enjoy!

xoxo,

LYN