Mile High Cupcakes

Thanks for popping in today! I'm sharing a birthday-perfect card using a digi stamp from Polkadoodles over at the Clever Dexter Challenge blog. You've heard the saying, "April showers...blah blah blah", so we've chosen "USE WATERCOLORS" as a theme this month.

I'll admit, I may have forgotten a birthday or two and needed something special to send. Ohhh the shame. These cupcakes really stack up...see what I did there :) It's called Cherry Cream Cupcake from Polkadoodles. I used my photo editing software to layer and flip the cupcakes to make a tall card. I was inspired by the watercolor dots on the the decorative background cardstock I found and used Copic colors to match.  The real pop of fun was layering sparkly Stickles on the cherries!

I hope you want you to join us! Check out how to play along below and be sure to share in the gallery before April 30th.

PRIZE FROM OUR SPONSOR

Polkadoodles

Don't forget to check out the sparkles on my Instagram page. Thanks for stopping by! 

xoxo Deidre :)

Supplies

Cupcakes: E29 & E59; E21 & E23

Frosting: V15, V06, RV66; E01, E93, YR02; BV02, BV13, BV04; R81, R83, R85; BG11, BG23, BG13

Cherry: R29, Diamond Stickles

Wrapper: C1, C3

Sentiment: Word Salad (by Paper Smooches)

Let's Eat Cake with CASology

Yes please to a cake, a stack of donuts, and a cupcake! Of course the only thing 

that could make them better would be this week's CASology cue card: SPRINKLE!

I really wanted the sprinkles on this load of goodies from Concord & 9th to pop. I heat embossed the stamping with white EP and used a white Prismacolor pencil to add some shading. Then I used a multitude of Liquid Pearls to make the sprinkles on the treats. Other than drying time for the LP, this was a quick and easy CAS card!

Crafty tip: When using embossing powders on dark backgrounds, ALWAYS use an anti-static bag, embossing buddy, or powder tool! I even tap my fingertips with it to prevent the moisture from transferring to my paper. You can easily whisk away the stray powder with a soft dry brush.

The DT has some great interpretations this week that you have to see! 

Give them and the Guest Designer this week a little love too :)

Ardyth Percy-Robb

Deidre Payne (that's me)

Hannelie Bester

Hazel Hodgkins

Jacquie Southas

Jen Wills

Joyce Mehrberg

Judy Marino

Kymona Tracey

Melissa Chipperfield

Sherrie Mannion

Tracey McNeely

Guest Designer: Lisa

I can't wait to see what you craft this week and add to our gallery!

Don't forget to follow us on Instagram! You can link up your entry directly from there too.

We love to see your work and leave happy comments, so please use

#casologychallenge so we can find you :)

Thanks for stopping by and have an awesome week :)

xoxo Deidre

Watercolor for Freshly Made Sketches #226

Freshly Made Sketches has a new sketch up and I was so inspired by the floral element and decorative strip across the card that I had to jump in and play along. I was asked to make a birthday card for a friend's grandmother. Here's my take on the sketch and my final card:

I am so in love with these Essentials by Ellen dies and I thought they made the perfect birthday card! If you haven't used Peerless Watercolors...get you some! OMG! They blend beautifully and are so portable and easy to work with. 

To make this card:

1. Place the blossoms die cuts on the watercolor paper (no adhesive) and use plain water to trace the outside of them so you have an idea of where to drop in the color. Set those flowers aside.
2. Add multiple layers of watercolor paint, patiently letting them dry between layers....sike, using a heat tool to dry them :) This is really loose painting, dabbing the color from a larger round #10 brush into the wet areas.
3. Adhere the blossoms to their respective areas. Note: I didn't die cut any leaves, but by dropping in green between the blossoms, I was able to achieve the look of foliage...such a magician one can be with paint :)
4. Stamp and emboss the birthday sentiment on a strip of vellum and you're all set to mat it onto a card base. Oh yeah, it's me, so don't forget the splatters!

Look at the dimension you can create with just 2 layers of die cut watercolor paper!

 

As always, thank you so much for stopping by!

xoxo Deidre

Flower Power

I'm back at it again with a specially requested card!

You have to love a request from a guy to make a card for

a special young lady :) Here were his responses to my 

normal Q&A when I'm asked to make a card:

Her favorite color? I have no idea

Girly girl, tomboy, good mix? Ummm, not really girly girl.

Symbols of love on the card? Not too many, but some hearts.

Anything special you want? Nope, just whatever you come up with.

Look at these images and point out what strikes you the most: All of them.

How old is she turning? 21 {yes a real answer lol}

So here was my final mixed media birthday card :)

Butterfly Happy Birthday: A Mixed Media Card

What fun to sit down and make a mixed media card! 

I was contacted by a friend to make a birthday card for her older sister. 

She wanted a loving card that showcased her sister's love 

of butterflies and fun personality. I love a challenge...

especially one where the limits are almost boundless. The result:

I used a ton of supplies on this card....as is typical with mixed media :)

The three die cut butterflies are from one of my favorite oldie-but-goodie
stamp & die cut sets from Sizzix and Hero Arts. For color, I used
Dina Wakley heavy body acrylics, gelatos, and Pitt big brush pens. 

I would love to receive a created like this, so I really hope she enjoys it.
I can't wait to her the reaction! Thanks for stopping by and have a restful day. 

Deidre :)