Seaside Village Watercolor Card

March 16, 2019 Karen Brown13 Comments

I had the idea of creating a 3D seaside village for my aunt\’s birthday. She loves watercoloring so that is the technique I chose. I love this beautiful Art Impressions Shoppes stamp set.

Village Shoppes

I started by stamping the two shoppes with grey ink on Ranger Watercolor paper. Then I used my new watercolors to bring my scene to life. Next, I took another panel of watercolor paper and created my background. After the shop images were dry, I fussy-cut and used foam tape to adhere to the background panel. Last, I stamped the sentiment (WPlus9 – Doodle Buds) in the sky area.

I am happy with the card and hope Aunt Nancy will like it.

I am entering this card in:

Art Impressions Cutting Edge Challenge. Fussy cutting was my \”cutting
edge\”.

Day of the Month Inaugural Card Challenge What fun to participate in Challenge #1!
Unser Logo zum Mitnehmen! / Our logo to take away!

Allsorts \”Favorite\” Challenge. Two favorites on this card: the idyllic shoppes stamps and the sentiment stamp.

Sisterhood of Crafters \”Ladies\” Challenge. I think this scene is one most ladies would appreciate.
Please Grab Our Badge!

Time out 5th Birthday Challenge Happy Birthday to Time Out Challenges! Love the theme \”Hugs, Kisses and a lot of Birthday Wishes\”. This is a birthday card I made for my aunt.

Thanks for stopping by,
Karen

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Pink Dress Shop Scene Card

March 2, 2019 Karen Brown8 Comments

I\’ve combined two of my favorite stamps sets (My Monthly Hero: April 2017 and January 2019) to create this pink scene confection. The card is girly and feminine and is for one of my BFFs.

I started by applying Distress Ink Spun Sugar over my bricked layering stencil. Next I stamped the Hero Arts Images, colored with Copic markers and then die cut.I\’d left the \”window\” uncolored, and after die cutting, I applied Distress Ink Spun Sugar with a hint of Pickled Raspberry.Then I assembled my scene using foam tape.

$Stamper\'s Anonymous Bricked Layering Stencil$

A Blog Named Hero Challenge I love this card because it combines two of my favorite Hero Arts Stamp Sets: My Monthly Hero April, 2017 and My Monthly Hero January, 2019.

Addicted to Stamps Photo Inspiration– I was drawn to the color scheme in this photo inspiration: pinks, aqua and neutrals with a hint of purple.

Dar and Diane \”Pink and White Challenge\” I was drawn to the soft pink, white and gray on the mood board.

Just Us Girls Birthday Challenge – Like Vicki, I am in need of a bunch of birthday cards, so this prompt was perfect for me!

Southern Girls \”Girl Power\” Challenge Such a fun prompt!

Thanks for stopping by!

Karen

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Festive Spring Floral Card

February 23, 2019 Karen Brown5 Comments

Today is my birthday and I wanted to make a festive floral card bursting with color for spring.

This card definitely has a lot going on:

I started by stamping the Doodle Buds (by WPlus9) images, then colored with Copic Markers (V17, RV00, RV02, RV04, RV09, Y17, YG67, YG25) and finally fussy cut.
Next I used a 2 1/2\” punch to cut out a circle near the top of some Lawn Fawn Perfectly Plaid plaid paper. I wanted to distress it a bit so I used some Hero Arts Moss Ink around the edges and circle.
I put some craft foam on the back of the Perfectly Plaid panel and adhered it to a lighter green card. Next I used foam tape to add the fussy cut floral pieces.
The sentiment is heat embossed on black card stock.
I finished off by adding some Wink of Stella (which didn\’t photograph well) and some sequins (SSS All Hallows Eve).

I am entering this card in the following challenges:

The Card Concept Pineapple Party.I used the fun festive colors of green, pink and yellow. I am not sure if this card is Clean and Layered or Mixed Media (4 mediums: Gina K Amalgam ink, distressing using Moss ink, heat embossing, Copic coloring)…or a combination of both.

Allsorts Spring Flowers – I used fresh bright colors for my Spring Flowers Entry.

Alphabet Challenge – X is for eXtra Bling I topped my card off with sequins and Wink of Stella.
Blog Badge

Lawn Fawnatics Challenge The weather here is sunny with blooming flowers on a Perfectly Plaid lawn.

Thanks for stopping by!
Karen

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WWC209 – Marsha\’s Masculine "Anything Goes" Challenge

February 20, 2019 Karen Brown6 Comments

Masculine cards are usually the most difficult for me and I needed one for my brother\’s birthday. I love dragonflys and thought it would be fun to emboss a series across the page in Nuvo Hot Chocolate Embossing powder.

Last summer I won first place in AAA 4th Birthday CAS Challenge and the prize was a generous gift certificate to Visible Image\’s shop. I did not have any of their stamps and I picked out 4 sets including this one called Live in the Moment.

I colored the wings with Copic markers (Y17, YG01, YG03). I then made an accent strip using Altenew Espresso Crisp Dye Ink and mounted it on a Kraft card.

For more masculine card inspiration pop over to Watercooler Wednesday\’s Masculine Anything Goes Challenge

I am entering this card in:

The Male Room Anything Goes Challenge I think the images and colors are very masculine. And for the optional twist, I did not use any designer paper. I did hand ink the espresso accent strip.

Cardz for Guys Challenge Not sure if this is a wild animal, but it is a creature found in the wild.

This is my first time entering this challenge.

Thanks for stopping by!

Karen

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WWC208 – Charlotte\’s "All About Occasions" Challenge

February 13, 2019 Karen Brown6 Comments

Here at Watercooler Wednesday, we are hosting our All About Occasions Challenge.. Birthday, Anniversary, Graduation, there are so many themes you can use to enter.

I purchased Gina K\’s Wreath Builder Stencil a while back and thought it would make a pretty background behind some large blooms from the Create a Smile Botanical Love and In Bloom stamp sets. These are two of my “go-to” floral stamp sets. This is a birthday card for one of my girlfriends.

Create a Smile In Bloom and Botanical Love stamp sets.

I stamped the background wreath off center and then trimmed the card base down to 4 x 5 1/4\”. Next I stamped, Copic colored and fussy cut the two blooms and adhered with foam tape. I popped it on a coordinating lavender A2 card and it was ready to send.

I am entering this card in The Create a Smile Friends Challenge. I made this card for one of my girlfriends. UPDATE: This card was selected as a \”Featured Artist\” at Create a Smile.

Thanks for stopping by!

Karen

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Corgi Birthday Card

November 3, 2018 Karen Brown7 Comments

For Christmas and Birthdays, my daughters like to receive a collection of handmade cards that they can give throughout the year. Kristen has the most adorable Corgi named Newton so I know she will like this Corgi themed set.

This is a simple CAS card with a pop of dimension from the sequins. A nice thing about this card is that it is appropriate to send to just about anyone….it can be a masculine card, for a child or a girlfriend.

The stamp set is Corgi2stamp from Stamps of Life. I made four versions of this card, but this one is colored with Copic markers and embellished with cheerful red sequins.

Newton the Corgi

I am entering this card in two challenges:

Color Throwdown 517

Less is More – Dimension

Cupcake Inspiration 457

Thanks for stopping by!

Karen

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Puffer Fish

August 19, 2018 Karen Brown2 Comments

Tri-color Puffer Fish birthday card. This is a versatile card that I think would be perfect for a beach loving girlfriend or child\’s birthday. I love the happy whimsical fish from The Hero Arts I Am Puffer For You Stamp set.

Handmade card featuring brightly colored puffer fish.

I mounted three fish on an acrylic block and hand stamped the pattern. I knew I wanted to use three colors so I next worked out which fish would be which color. I didn\’t want stripes of color so I went with the combination above. I then heat embossed the sentiments on gravel cardstock and loosely fussy-cut the words. I then mounted the base on a \”gravel\” colored card from Paper Source.

I am entering this card in the following challenges:

Paper Sweeties 6th Birthday Challenge

Pause Dream Enjoy #33

Sunny Day Animal Challenge

Always Happy Birthday \”Water\” Challenge

UPDATE: I am very pleased my card received \”Top Pick\” Honors at Pause Dream and Enjoy!

Thanks for stopping by!

Karen

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Linear Pattern Stamping

July 24, 2018 Karen Brown1 Comment

I love the look of linear pattern stamping and think the horizontal (coffee cups) and vertical (cupcakes) stripes emphasizes the linear look. I used an acrylic block and grid paper (instead of a Misti) to hand stamp the images (Altenew Tea Time).

The coloring went very fast as I only used four colors and no blending:
Y35
BG05
RV23
YG25
N1 to outline

Being a birthday card, I wanted to add a cake (Jane\’s Doodles Party Time) to the Sentiment (SSS Brush Stroke Messages). I mounted on a grey card, adhered a white insert inside and added a \”celebrate\” sentiment.

This card is for one of my best friends and I am entering it in the following challenges:

Seize the Birthday Stripes Challenge

Always Happy Birthday (Optional Cake) Challenge

Update: This card was chosen as a \”Top Pick\” for the Always Happy Birthday July Challenge

Thanks for stopping by!

Karen

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July 22, 2018 Karen Brown11 Comments

In June, I won the AAA 4th Birthday Challenge with my Yappy Birthday submission. I won a 30 pound gift card to Visible Images! AAA also asked me to be a guest designer for today\’s Challenge: AAA Cards Over The Rainbow Challenge. I was so excited that I created two different cards and liked this one the best, so I submitted it to the Challenge.

The Doodle Buds Stamp Set by WPlus9 is a favorite and I thought it would be fun to ink blend the Rainbow. I stamped the images and colored/blended with my Copic markers.

I also gave this card to my card making friend, Chris.

I am entering this card in two Birthday Challenges:

Seize The Birthday Challenge

Always Happy Birthday Challenge

Update: I was happy to learn I won \”Birthday Honours\” at Seize the Birthday!

Thanks for stopping by!

Karen

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Bright Summery Card for a Girlfriend

July 7, 2018 Karen Brown6 Comments

I have been mentally designing a card with linear pattern stamping using citrus fruits. I tried a couple different patterns and selected this one. I usually use my misti, but I stamped this card freehand using an acrylic block. To save time, I put all three stamps on the block and stamped across the card.

Create a Smile Fruit Salad Stamp Set

I colored the images with Copic markers using the YR02, Y06 and YG01 which are bright citrusy colors.There are a lot of images, but the coloring went surprisingly fast. I used Sakura Gel Pens for the rind on the lime and orange images. I debated whether to outline the fruit in gray but opted to keep the card fresh and bright instead. If I had made two cards, I would have tried one each way to see which I preferred.

I embossed two Happy Birthday sentiments and decided I liked the smaller font on this card. I added a few sequins and I was done!