Swimming By with Some Cool Looks From STAEDTLER!

So... I am on the STAEDTLER design team... and LORDY... they have been good to me! They sent me a package a while ago and it contained these STAEDTLER Watercolor Markers from Marsgraphic Jr.So being a card maker... I got out the stamps and here is what happened and how...

I stamped this little Mermaid onto some watercolor paper with STAZON ink. I knew I had to use that ink because this was gonna be getting wet!

I colored near the edge of the image and used a brush to move the color around and "paint" with it. Then I cut her out and adhered her to the front of this card. I created the opening with a nestie.

I made the underwater scene for out mermaid friend by using a piece of cryogen white paper and coloring with the markers and making seaweed looking squiggles. Then, I used a water brush to move the color again and this is the result...

Here you can kind of see the sparkles in the water that come from the paper I used...

So that is my project... don't be limited by just using alcohol ink markers or being afraid to try other types or paper...or adding water! It is just paper,after all and some "mistakes" can be the best thing ever! Thanks for popping in!

One Stamp,The Same Technique... Three Different Looks

Hey Y'all! I am here again to show a group of cards using the fabby STAEDTLER watercolor crayons the same way that I used them in the post below. The looks range from simple and quick to medium and a little more glitzy to full on glitz and more technique and layering... so here they are...

this is the simple card... quick...not alot of layering...but still pretty...

More layers... alittle more intricate...

lots more layers... more glitter and dry embossing and sponging.

After I stamped the image that I made with the watercolor crayons, I inked the black outline stamp in black STAZON ink because i was using watercolor paper... and it was wet and I did not want it to run.

Those are my creations... Thanks for popping in!

HEY... REMEMBER ME???

Well... it has been a while for sure... but I am back! Life has been crazy and I have had alot of changes... but I am back again...Tanned, Rested and READY!!! Here is a card that I made using STAEDTLER KARAT Watercolor crayons.

 Here is the card...

And here is how I made it!

 I took the watercolor crayon and I colored directly onto the stamp. I did mist the stamp first with a little bit of water with a spray bottle that I got at target for like $1. I colored red first and then added orange and some yellow highlights. Oh and I colored the stem green. Then I stamped it onto watercolor paper that I spritzed lightly with water as well. Dont get to crazy with the water... you want the image to blurr... but you still want to be able to tell what it is. Then I just stamped the rest of the images without recoloring to get the lighter look. I did the same thing with red only and then I added some stickles and here is my card. For real... it took like 10 minutes... and I think that this would be a lovely set of cards to make for a gift for someone...

Thanks for popping in... and watch this spot for some giveaways coming soon. and THANK YOU to my loyal fans...I hit a rough patch... but on to bigger and better!

Funky Folds Challenge over at Art Impressions Stamps!

This is the fun folds card that I created for the challenge over at the ART IMPRESSIONS Challenge blog! i used STAEDTLER water color pencils to color everything and some STAEDTLER chalk pastels to age and distress my card! This was a really fun challenge and I love the look of the watercoloring with these fun and easy to use pencils! Thanks for stopping in and be sure to check out the Art Impressions blog to play along with this weeks challenge for a chance to win a gift certificate from Art Impressions!

Art Impressions Challenge...Show Me The Bird!

We are having a fun challenge over at the Art Impressions Blog. We are challenging you to use a bird in your creation...and Art Impressions bird stamps are really fun! Just check out the inspiration at the blog while you are adding your bird creation to our challenge! Every week, a new person has a chance to win a $10 gift certificate for playing along with the challenge... why not you? Thanks so much for popping in and I cant wait to see what you create!

Sweet Pea Blog Hop Featuring Karen Middleton

We hope you enjoy your travels today where we will be featuring the wonderful works from Karen Middleton. Currently, all full and half sheets in the Karen Middleton Collection are discounted 25%! All orders placed by July 4th will also be entered into a drawing for a $44.44 gift certificate to the Sweet Pea Stamps store.

Your stops along the way include:

Sweet Pea Stamps

Alexandra Lundgren

Angela Sowell

Connie Piotter

Dawn Knight

Ellen Kristiansen

Jennifer Willis

Karina Lange

Lisa Cook

Micki Harper

Renee Ludlow

Leave a comment at each of the stops to be entered into a drawing for a $15 gift card to the Sweet Pea Stamps store!

Watercoloring the AI way!

I did this. ME!!! me and Art impressions watercolor stamps. And if I can... you can too. It is so easy with Art Impressions Stamps. Just stamp,add a little water and you can create a masterpiece in no time at all.

I have the stamps,some markers and the handy dandy booklet and that is all...oh yeah... a little tap water too.

There are so many to choose from and they can all work together. Please check out the stamps and see for yourself!

Thanks for stopping in!

Pretty in Purple... featuring Rachel Anderson

I LOVE Rachel Anderson's stamps. LOVE them... like I LOVE ice cream and that is saying something! For my card, I used this image From Rachel Anderson's sheet 2 plate 111. I stamped the image onto watercolor paper with black Stazon ink.Then I used ink from the top of my ink pads and a water brush to water color her.I embossed the paper she is mounted on and sponged it with a darker purple for contrast. And as far as the shadowbox effect that my image is in? Simple... i used my dies to cut out my finished image. Then i used the next larger size die to cut the red paper and used a smaller die to create a frame I used dimensional tape to life the frame for the shadow box look. EASY... and a really nice look. I had the ribbon in my humongous ribbon stash and I thought it matched pretty good! thanks for stopping in and don't forget to have a look at the Sweet Pea Stamps page for some great deals on some amazing stamps!

Who Knew Art Impressions Had THESE Stamps?

I sorta stumbled across this category of stamps over at the Art Impressions webstore. They are called Stamp Puns and they are sooo funny! I used on for the color challenge over at the AI blog and Just creating this card tickled me! I mean... how adorable is this image! I enjoy sending cards to make people smile and when you check out the stamps in this category, I am sure you will need to add some to your collection!

I water colored this little lady and embossed the background and then sponged it to show off the texture. The flowers were a perfect match... so they went on there too! Our challenge this week at the AI blog is a color combo... blue black and tan! Please join us and you could win a $25  gift certificate to the AI store! thanks for stopping in!

My Wish Came True!!! I Made IT!!! Oh Yeah... Blog Candy to Celebrate!

I did it! I am on the Sweet Pea Design Team!!!! Yeah for me! I will so totally too my own horn here because I ADORE these stamps! I have loved them since they have some out... well since I found them...and now I am on the Design Team! Yeah!!! I made this card using Brigid Ashwood's Phunky Pharies. I colored her with copics for her skin and water colors for the rest. I added some details with glitter and gel pens. The embellies were fun... ribbons, buttons and one tiny fairy sized orange clothes pin!

Here is a close up of this little gal!

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And now for the BLOG CANDY!!!

This gorgeous sheet of Rachel Anderson's Fairies can be yours...

here is what you need to do...

become a follower of mine so that you wont miss any Sweet Pea Deliciousness

leave a comment here and let me know your Favorite Sweet Pea stamp

post this somewhere to get more attention...

BECAUSE...

I will throw in more goodies as the number gets higher!

I will draw a random winner on March 13th

Thanks for popping in!

Woodware USA Challenge 16... Anything Goes!!!

Welcome to the 16th challenge for Woodware USA! We hope that you have enjoyed our challenges thus far. I know that I have enjoyed coming to your blogs and seeing your amazing work! Thank you!

Don't forget that you can save 15% in the Woodware USA store on any and all orders. Now, that's a deal!

On to our challenge this week. The theme is: ANYTHING GOES!

Woodware USA Challenge Rules:

1. An original creation for the challenge (any backdated projects will be removed).

2. A direct link to your creation using Inlinkz.

3. A maximum of 2 entries per participant.

4. One entry per creation in our monthly drawing. Use a Woodware USA image, and you will receive an extra entry.

5. BONUS: If you would like to be considered as a guest designer, please use a Woodware USA image and mark an asterisk (*) next to your name.

for my card, I used Sea Life. I embossed it onto water color paper and then I sprayed it with water. I took really watered down ink and touched it to the wet paper and it spread out and created the soft, flow-y water color blended effect. then i took glitter cardstock and cut it to look like seaweed... and that is my creation! thanks for stopping by and be sure to join us at Woodware USA and link up your creation!

If I Can Do It... YOU can Too!!!

Art Impressions makes it SOOOO easy! AND... you probably already have the supplies that you need to create this awesome project. Water based markers... that's right...any water based markers will do. Bonnie, the amazing Art Impressions water color artist, uses,prefers and sells the Marvy markers. She references them in her work and her amazing tutorials on you tube and her written tutorials. I used some that I had... but I followed her tutorial and I had this lovely creation in MINUTES!!! Amaze your friends...( I amazed myself) with my water coloring ability that I never knew I had until I used the AI stamps. Please Check out the selection of gorgeous stamps and the tutorials available. You can even click on a video in the left side bar and see for yourself how EASY it is! Thanks for popping in!

Another Amazing Sweet Pea Offering

This is a stamp that Sweet Pea Stamps offers...here are the details:

Elaine Cox's sheet 14 (plate 84)

I just adore these stamps and I love all of the unique artists that are offered at SWEET PEA STAMPS. Elaine Cox's designs have caught my eye because they are so very detailed and I LOVE that !I also love to detail them more after I have colored them in. For this image, I colored her face and hair with copic markers,and the water was done with water color crayons. Then I used glitter and gel pens to accent the water and her tail. I also colored over her tail with Shimmerz and I added Crystal Effects to the water for some extra shine. For the pearls in her hair, I used my viva decor pen. I used Nesties in the background for the pink lattice circles and here is my creation. I  used some cuttle bug strips to emboss the top and bottom to make it look like bubbles. Here is my creation and I hope that you love this! Thanks for popping in!

close up of the detail

Sunday Scrolls Work Stamps Show Off!

Haa Haa! I love the look on the little ANGEL'S face and I thought the phrase was perfect for her!!!This is a Scrolls Work Photo stamp and they are amazing! The stamp looks like nothing... and then you ink it and stamp it and viola... it looks like a black and white photo. It is like magic every time I stamp with them! 

This is another example of the Photo Stamps. Ya Know... sometimes ... you NEED a BITE ME card! I stamped this guy in what else... CHOCOLATE and then I used the scallop punch for the ... well... BITE!

I really thought his face needed a googly eye and the ribbon and brad are chocolate as well...FUN!!

I made this card by watercoloring the background first. Then I stamped the girl and her "baby" onto another piece of paper and colored them in and cut them out and added them to the scene. I loved the way the ribbon went with the sky and added some sparkle. I used a wax dot that I heated up with my heat tool and stamped a shell stamp, also from Scrolls Work onto it and let it cool. When I removed it, the image was in the wax... Cool, no? My daughter thought it was peanut butter!!! (LOL)

Stay tuned because I just got a TON of new Scrolls Work stamps and Will be creating some fun Christmas ans Halloween designs with them ! Thanks for stoppin in!   

Water Colors, Scrolls Work Stamps and a Little Teary...

I love this stamp from Scrolls Work Stamps. The momma smooching her baby... so sweet and for me a little sad. Next Month... MY baby turns ONE!!! And today, My Precious Ava lost a tooth. Father Time... You are KILLING me!

ANYWAY...about my card. Well...I wet water color paper with water and I dropper SU reinkers on it to get the soft and swirly background. While it was drying... I water colored the image that I stamped with STAZON because I did NOT want the image lines to blur.While THAT was drying (and drying can be sped up with a heat gun) I thought that my background needed branches, so I water colored them onto my background. Then I thought it needed flowers to match momma's kimono. I made 5 small dots in a circle with a water based marker and then I blurred it with a paintbrush and water. I added the flower centers with a white gel pen while they were still a little bit damp. I adhered my momma and baby and here is my creation. Thanks for popping in!

ART IMPRESSIONS Water Color Stamps

OK y'all. I am not an artist... I am a stamper. But check it!!! I,ME,MYSELF... made these 2 cards. Here is the kicker...I did it in less than 10 minutes each!!! I used ART IMPRESSIONS watercolor stamps. SO EASY!!! They have amazing stamps and watercolor paper on the site for sale and the prices are great! There are free video tutorials on You Tube and the directions are so easy to follow. There are also directional pamphlets available on the site. Go have a look... and the next time you send someone a card... they may just frame your ART work!!! Thanks for popping in!

Ladies... LETS PAR-TAY!!! (Properly, of course!)

Love this stamp, Love these ladies... Love parties!!!These gals look like they are ready to pary... properly, of course!

I got this in a huge grab bag of stamps on e bay for like $12. I got well over 100 stamps and this was one of them! Lucky me! I stamped the image in Adirondack black ink and used water colors and copics to color them in! I used the marble texture cube from Stampendous for the background with white craft ink. Some dots, a few circle and scallop punches later... and viola... lets PARTY!!! I like how well the ribbon coordinated with the color scheme and if you click on this card... you will see all of the glittery details like the earrings and jewelry that they are wearing! I of course used my glitter pens for that... and gel pens for the dots!

My little one got up this morning at 5:30 and has been at full tilt all day... so this post will be short... but I still hope you will get inspiration from it! Thanks for stopping by!

Good Rosey Rooster to ya!

WHAT???!!! I made this card a little while ago and have not posted it yet. I LOVE the Impression Obsession stamps and Leigh Hannan is my favorite artist over there! I have been looking at these stamps on line and just could NOT justify (to my hubby at least) why I NEEDED them. Well, I am luck enough to live by the best stamp store in North Carolina... Stampers Alley... and she had them for 30% off... and no shipping!!! No time to justify... I had to SHOP!

I embossed this Rooster in detail gold embossing powder and then I set to coloring him in! I used SU ink and a water color brush and here is my result. I thought the background paper was perfect and the scrolls and dots look like a marquis in New Orleans (to me at least). I am not sure if there is a Rosey Rooster Holiday... but if there is ... have I got THE card for it!!!

Water color leaves...

...so easy and fun!!!

I stamped the leaves background from DRS on watercolor paper with waterproof ink. This background stamp is super easy to use because you don't have to try and line anything up... it always just seems to work. I love all of the background stamps from DRS... have a look at them!Then I water colored them in and cut them into squares. I had to ink around the edges of the squares, cuz that is how I roll... LOVE INKING EDGES!!!It just "finishes" the look...

Then I matted the squares on yellow card stock. I used my cuttlebug embossing folder on the green paper. I stamped the sentiment on white... INKED THE EDGES... AGAIN and mounted it on yellow as well. I tied two different organdy ribbons on the bottom of the card for some texture.

This card makes me want to stay at home and have hot cider! The leaves in Charlotte don't really change till like November... so I just had to create my own... and what fun it was!