Sunflowers of Hope

 Good morning. It's been an exciting week so far! Sassy gave birth to five adorable puppies. Mama and babies are doing great and its fun to hear all the little squeaks coming from the pen.

My post today is inspiration for you today using The Sunflower Zentangle Stamp and the Sunflower Layered Stencil from Maker Forte. The stamp was used in the background and Stencil was inked over the top of this.

To show you the process I have a You Tube video explaining the steps I took.

I hope you found that informative and enjoyed seeing the card being designed. All products I used are linked in the video description.

Thank you for stopping by and I hope you gained some inspiration from my post.

Stained Glass Windows

Good morning! The weather is great at the minute, still warm and we've had sunshine most days.

My post today is inspiration for Sunshine Bee Designs, I have used 3 of the images from the October release. They are 3 stained glass florals - Sunflower, Poppy and Echinacea (which I have colored to look like Black Eyed Susans)

I printed the flowers and colored with Copic markers, using Polychromo pencils to add some detail to them.

I then used a circle die to cut them out. I matted a piece of blue card with some digital paper and using the same die I had used for my flowers to cut circles from this.

This was then adhered to my card base with foam tape and the flower circles added into the 'holes' to frame them. A simple card that showcases the flowers perfectly

Thank you for stopping by, if you love what you see the flowers are available at the little paper tree along with lots of other paper crafting goodies. If you see something you like, using my code SHARON10 will get you a 10% discount!

Altenew Educators Certification - Magical Markers

 Good afternoon, after a week without power and extreme temperatures I'm ready for some cooler weather - shame the forecast doesn't agree!

My post today is my submission cards for my latest AECP class - Magical Markers by Sara Naumann - it's all about using alcohol markers but not just for coloring - there are so many techniques you can do with them.

My first card was designed using markers with a stencil:

I used the Weave builder stencil and 2 shades of grey marker. Coloring through the stencil I did the first 2 rows in a darker pen. I then flipped the stencil and used a lighter markers to color the first 2 rows on this side. I think it has given a tire track effect.

I matted a white A2 card base with black and grey cardstock, trimmed my stenciled piece down and matted this onto the same black card before adhering it to the left side of my card base.

Thanks was diecut twice once from white cardstock and once from black - I colored the white with the same lighter grey marker as the stenciled panel so it coordinated. I then attached this to the black to the back of the grey sentiment slightly off center giving me a shadow. When I adhered this to my card it stood out due to this shadow. 

To finished the card I stamped 'a million' underneath thanks. 

My next card uses techniques from lessons 3& 4

I started by stamping my feather and sentiment onto vellum. While this was drying I cut a piece of card stock slightly smaller than my A2 card base. I then scribbled a purple and bright pink directly onto my glass mat. I added isopropyl alcohol to the colors and picking them up with a splatter brush made splatters over my piece of card. I then edged this with ink by running the purple marker round the piece. I cut another piece of cardstock same length but slightly wider than my vellum and edged this in the same way.

Once dry I colored my feather using 2 alcohol markers, starting with light and adding depth with darker one. I then pounced my lighter marker over the coloring to give me texture. I adhered the vellum to the strip of card and then added this to my splattered piece. Using foam tape I attached this topper to my card base.

Finally I colored some white pearls with the darker purple marker and added these to the card.

My final card used a technique from Lesson 2 - coloring peel-offs with alcohol markers.

I cut a piece of white cardstock slightly smaller than my A2 card base. then using the wide tip of a blue marker I colored 4 strips of silver peel-offs. Once dry I laid these on the white card making a crossed border in one corner.

Beautiful Day is still my favorite stamp set. I stamped a flower and leaf outline and colored these with 3 shades of blue marker. They were then die cut with coordinating dies.

I arranged these on the bottom of my card near the crossed peel-offs. There was a lot of white space so I stamped directly onto the card with some of the included flower spray stamps and colored these with same color markers as main flower. I stamped the sentiment above these balancing my design.

The white card was added to a grey card base and the leaves were glued directly to the card and flower added with foam squares. 

Finally I colored a white pearl with a black marker and added this to the center of my diecut flower.

Thank you for taking time to read.

If you like what I have made please let me know in the comments.

Altenew products I used:

Neenah Classic Crest Solar White 110lb Coverstock Purchase From: SSS | AZN | ALW	Beautiful Day Stamp & Die set Purchase From: ALW	Crisp Dye Ink - Jet Black Purchase From: SSS | ALW	Envelope Liner Die Set Purchase From: SSS | ALW
Pure White Crisp Embossing Powder Purchase From: ALW	Thanks Die Purchase From: SSS | ALW	Crisp Dye Ink - Magenta Purchase From: ALW	Crisp Dye Ink - Forest Glades Purchase From: SSS | ALW
Embossing Ink Purchase From: ALW	Silver Embossing Powder Purchase From: ALW	Build a Flower Fashion Monger Dahlia stamp and Die set Purchase From: ALW	Wild Fern Stamp Set Purchase From: ALW
Halftone Thanks Stamps Purchase From: ALW	Weave Builder Stencil Purchase From: ALW	Mini Delights - Strength Stamp & Die Purchase From: ALW	Vellum Translucent Paper Purchase From: ALW

Growing Friendship

 Good afternoon, hope your weekend is amazing! We are spending it quietly at home.

I'm back with another of this weekend's new releases from Stamper's Delights. Chibi Friendship Grows is a sweet little gardener:

I printed her, her flower and the included sentiment onto stamping card. She was colored with Copic markers and trimmed to size.

I cut the top front section off a 7x7in card base. Then matted the remaining bottom section and inside with pink card and patterned papers. I also matted the section I had removed and adhered this back at a 90 degree angle in the center of the bottom front of the card, giving me an upside down T for the card front.

My Chibi and sentiment were matted with pink card and arranged on the center panel. I fussy cut the little flower and used foam pads to attach it to my card.

Finally I colored some card candy to coordinated with papers and added this to either side of my image panel.

Head on over to the Stamper's Delights Store to see all of this week’s New Releases.

Why not stop by the Stamper's Delight Facebook page for regular news and inspiration from my Teamies you can also enter the progressive challenge there, no blog needed and receive freebies!

Also for this weekend Stamper's Delights have a great give away over on the Kit and Clowder Facebook group - Come and see how you can win both clear and digital stamps!!!

All the design team projects are available on the Inspiration blog - hop on over there for more inspiration.

Thanks for stopping by and if you like what you see please leave a comment to let me know!

Cute as a Bug

 Good afternoon from a hop Michigan - we were supposed to have storms all week this week but it appears they dissipated before they reached us.

It's the start of new release weekend over at Stamper's Delights and we have some super cute images waiting for you. Today is Kawaii New Release and Cute as a Bug is available as both a digital stamp AND in the new clear stamp format!!!

Here she is: 

Isn't she super sweet!!!

The digi set includes her with her little garden or on her own - She also has extra images you can add as well as a "cute as a bug" sentiment.

I printed her on stamping card and colored her with alcohol markers. she was the die cut into the shabby circle.

I made an arrow point card (I will be doing a tutorial post for this at a later date) and matted this with pink cardstock and coordinating design papers both inside and outside of the card.

Head on over to the Stamper's Delights Store to see all of this week’s New Releases.

Why not stop by the Stamper's Delight Facebook page for regular news and inspiration from my Teamies you can also enter the progressive challenge there, no blog needed and receive freebies!

Also for this weekend Stamper's Delights have a great give away over on the Kit and Clowder Facebook group - Come and see how you can win both clear and digital stamps!!!

All the design team projects are available on the Inspiration blog - hop on over there for more inspiration.

Thanks for stopping by and if you like what you see please leave a comment to let me know!

Stamper's Delights Kit and Clowder Event

 Good afternoon! School starts on Monday and I am going to be super busy as Mollie is doing Virtual School - hopefully it will go smoothly!

Stamper's Delights are the sponsors this weekend over at Kit and Clowder. Alyce will be offering this super cute Anime Nixie Fairy free:

This is my inspiration using her:

She was colored with Copic Markers and fussy cut. My card base was matted with a yellow patterned paper, I then die cut a floral design from some polkadot paper and added this to my base. Nixie was then adhered in place and a few coordinating enamel dots finished my design.

As well as Nixie Stamper's Delights have a couple of complimenting images that they are releasing and I love these:

I could resist coloring up both of them. I colored the designs using the same color pallet. I kept the cards simple to show off the gorgeous images:

This image is Plant Fuchsia, I tried to be true to the colors of the fuchsia using Copic markers. I then googled butterflies that are attracted to to flowers and there were some super bright yellow ones so of course I emulated them in my design. A simple mat and a die cut sentiment was all I felt the card needed.

Chibi Fuchsia Fairy was colored as the butterfly in the first image but I in order to stick to my color pallet I had to add purple and where better than her dress. again a simple dark pink mat and a die cut sentiment was all I felt was needed on this card.

My teamies will all be posting their inspirations on the Kit and Clowder Facebook page so hop on over, grab the freebie and 20% off coupon which you could use on the fuchsia collection!!!

Why not stop by the Stamper's Delight Facebook page for regular news and inspiration from my Teamies you can also enter the progressive challenge there, no blog needed and receive freebies! 

Thanks for stopping by and if you like what you see please leave a comment to let me know! 

Painting with Stamper's Delights

Good afternoon! 3 weeks of stay at home order and all is well. It's spring break here and although we can't go anywhere Mollie gets a break from school work.

Stamper's Delights has some awesome news to share along with their new release. they are now going to be making physical stamps! yes nice clear polymer stamps that stamp so clear! So my new release inspiration I am sharing with you today is a stamp set called Painter Pals, you get both the male and female version of them along with sentiments and accessories:

What I Did:

I stamped the character onto stamping card and then used some of the embellishment stamps to make a background. All of these were colored with alcohol markers. I fussy cut my painter out. I then used distress inks in similar colors to my flowers to make splashes over my background.
The sentiment was stamped and cut into strips and matted onto red card. I also matted my 7x5in card base with the same red card before adding my stamped background
I arranged my painter and sentiment and adhered these to the card

What I Used:
Stamps: Stamper's Delights Painter Pals
Stamping Card: X-Press It
Alcohol Markers: Copics
Ink: Distress
Card Base: Core'Dinations Premium Heavy Weight
Red Cardstock: Core'Dinations
Glue: ZipDry

As well as the amazing new release stamps Stamper's Delights The progressive challenge over on our Facebook Fan group has a huge bundle of images that can be used not only for the challenge but to honor all of the heroes at the front line during the current pandemic. They are also great for get well cards to show your love for the sick:

Head on over to the Stamper's Delights Store to see all of this weeks thrifty offers.

We also have a monthly challenge where you can enter any makes you do.

Why not stop by the Stamper's Delight Facebook page for regular news on and inspiration from my Teamies you can also enter the progressive challenge there, no blog needed and receive the freebies! 

Pink Orchids

Good morning, I am still in bed at this hour but I know my family and friends in the UK will be around! My post today is the first one for Jan's Digi Stamps Challenge. When I saw Jan's stunning images I just had to apply to be on the team and lucky me I was chosen.

The challenge runs for 2 weeks and is an 'anything goes' challenge so if you make and create there is no reason not to come and join us.

I have an obsession with flowers at the minute so I couldn't resist coloring Botanical Orchids which comes with colored and line images as well as suitable sentiments.

What I Did

I arranged the png image of the flowers along with the sentiment using my graphics program the printed them onto stamping card.

I colored the image using Copic markers and then added depth and texture with Prismacolor pencils

I cut a 5x7in card base from white card and matted this with pink and green card to coordinate with the image.

I added my image topper and to balance the image I added some crystal gems.

What I Used

Digital Stamp and Sentiment: Botanical Orchids

X-Press It Stamping Card

Copic Markers: R000,10,02; E51; Y11; G24, 94; YG61, 91,95,97

Primacolor Premier Pencils: hot pink, sand,Jasmine, Deco Pink, Goldenrod, Marine Green, Warm Grey

Nuvo Marker: 452

White Card: Core'Dinations Premier Cardstock

Pink and Green Cardstock: Core'Dinations

Studio Katia Iridescnet Crystals

ZipDry Glue

Ranger Multi Medium Matte

Thank you for stopping, come and join the challenge here you can also check out my teamies gorgeous designs too!

Some friends are one of a kind

Good Morning, the heat continues, the pool in the back yard is getting lots of use, from Mollie playing in it with her friends to us cooling off after work outs or just sitting in it to beat the heat.

My card today is a 'just because'  for a good friend. I don't have many friends but cherish the ones I do so when I'm trying out new stamps I love to send them to people who mean the most to me.

This card used the Snap dragon flower stamps from Altenew:

I stamped the image using Altenew inks, I love these layering stamps they are so quick to use and the effect they leave is amazing. Once I had stamped all the layers of the flower I then used a stamp set from Simon Says Stamp called Say it all friend. It has some great sentiments that say just what you need! The sentiment was stamped using Versafine ink as this leaves a really good crisp image for small sentiments.

I matted a 5x7 inch card base with black card and added my image topper. I didn't want anything to distract from the image and words so nothing else was added. I posted the card so am waiting to post this post for when I know it has been received.

Thanks for stopping by and if you like what you see please let me know in the comments.

Seeking Nectar

Good morning, we still have high temperatures but all the recent storms means we have had an explosion of mosquitoes hatching. They are everywhere and are biting like crazy!

There are definite signs that fall is on the way though, one of them is the migration of my favorite little bird. The hummingbirds are so fun to watch feeding during the summer months. For today's card I have colored one of them from my favorite Sheena Douglass stamp set Tropical Nectar:

I made this card for a friend's mother-in-law's birthday, the flower and the humming bird were stamped on to X-press It card stock using Memento Ink and colored with alcohol markers. I then chose a sentiment stamp from a set by Penny Black called Special Thoughts.

  I folded my card base from a piece of  white card stock cut to 10 x 7 inch and matted this with a piece of pink card stock that matched the colors in the flower.  

Once my colored image was adhered to my card base I added a shower of pink pearls around the image.

Thank you for stopping by and if you like what you see please leave me some love in the comments below 

Etched Daisy

Good morning, Hope it's not too hot where you are, thankfully it's cooled a bit here but not for long!

I'm over on the SumMore Fun today with the Oops a Daisy Raisin Boat stamp set. I have been having fun trying something different:

This is my first attempted at etching a glass. I stamped the image onto a piece of white card which I then taped inside a drinking glass.

Using a permanent marker I traced the stamped image onto the outside of the glass. I then used my rotary tool with a diamond tip to etch the flower onto the glass.

Once I had etched the whole image I used alcohol hand sanitizer to remove any pen marks left and washed the glass to ensure there were no glass fragments.

I did look a site when I was doing the etching. I wore a mask, gloves and safety glasses to ensure none of the glass dust got in my eyes and respiratory tract and gloves in case the glass broke - fortunately it survived!

Have you checked out the latest SumMore FunMood board challenge? You could win a gift certificate for the store. Oh and the prize doubles if you use stamps from from the store! 

Want some discount too? Use the code SHARON10 at check out and I will save you 10%

Now check out the mood board:

There are only a few rules to follow so what have you got to lose?

Thank you for stopping by, If you are looking for more inspiration check out my teamies creations on the Blog, FaceBook, Instagram and Pinterest.