Finally! Happy Time Crafting

You know those days (or weeks) where you're thrown every curve ball in the book? Yeah, well I finally starting knockin 'em out of the park and got the well needed time to make stuff lol :)

The new stamp set from Precious Remembrance Shop perfectly described my mood and created a card I'm really happy to submit for a few challenges this week.

Yep, happy stamping and happy crafting :) The feather dies are from Simon Says Stamp and the little stars and hearts sequin-esque embellishments are from my local big box Michael's.

The color combo came from Fusion Card Challenge this week and the layout was inspired by Freshly Made Sketches #230. You won't believe how awesome this mix of brands and products worked out together!

Ink: Peacock Feathers & Picked Raspberry Distress Ink for the stamping

Embossing Powders: Ranger Turquoise & Magenta

Staples: colored with Pitt Big Brush pens #129 Pink Madder Lake & #154 Light Cobalt Turquoise

I hope your week is off to an awesome start...and you get some happy stamping and crafting time!

xoxo Deidre

Washi what we did at CASology!

One of my most fabulous friends: "Wiki tape?? Wacky tape?? Widget tape??"

Me: "No; washi tape (LOL)!"

Regardless of what you call it, CASology is gonna challenge you to use it...and give you some inspiration to crash your stash and finally use it to do more than hold dies in place or tape down your watercolor paper---guilty as charged :)

I'm an addict for anything floral and this Mondo Magnolia die from Essentials by Ellen Hutson is totally gorgeous!

This card was super easy to make too.

• Pick out 3 different washi tape patterns and use to cover 3 pieces of cardstock that you're going to die cut (1 for each layer of the flower).
• Run each layer through  your die cutting machine.
• Adhere the largest layer directly to the card base.
• Add 2 layers of foam tape to the middle layer.
• Add 4 layers of foam tape to the center. 

Dimension, dimension, dimension, but still CAS!! The sentiment is from the matching stamp set. I loved this mix of patterns!

Crafty tip:
Intentionally offset each row of tape as you add it to the paper so the design on each layer doesn't appear so matchy-matchy (best demonstrated here with the yellow and white chevron washi).

The DT has really "rolled out" some awesome inspirations that will surely "stick" with you! 

Head on over to their blogs and show them some love.

Ardyth Percy-Robb

Deidre Payne (you're here)

Hannelie Bester

Hazel Hodgkins

Jacquie Southas

Jen Wills

Joyce Mehrberg

Judy Marino

Kimono Tracey

Melissa Chipperfield

Sherrie Mannion
Tracey McNeely

Let's see your funkiest, prettiest, underused washi designs! Have a great day :)

I'm also playing along at Addicted to CAS 

xoxo Deidre

New Release!! Happy Art from Precious Remembrance Shop

Thanks so much for joining us in this awesome blog hop to see a totally fabulous 

new release from Precious Remembrance Shop! Check out the "Happy Art Stamps" set!

Yay! That was exactly what I thought when I saw this new stamp set. It definitely made me a happy stamper/crafter :) I think this set screams for some mixed media action...and I couldn't resist!

I created my background with some ink blending and a little spritz & flick technique; stitched lines (yeah, on a real sewing machine lol); some heavy body acrylic paint circles;

 and a paper distressing tool for the edges.

Now the real fun- inking up this awesome stamp set!

1. Alternate the "Happy Stamping" and "Happy Crafting" stamps in different colors.
2. Stamp 3 sets of the trio of hearts on vellum and heat emboss using different EPs and cut out and adhere to card.
3. Stamp that amazing ink splatter from the new stamp set in various spots on the card.
4. Fill in spaces with the single heart stamp and the trio of hearts.
5. Stamp the "yay!" on a die cut tag and heat emboss with a bright EP.

A little jute bow and kraft card base and you can call it a day!

And of course there's super sweet giveaway! In order to be entered to win you must: 

Leave comment on the shop's blog post and each designer's blog post 

to show us some love no later than Sunday, March 27th :) 

One lucky winner will be chosen at random to win this fun, artsy stamp set...

yep, sent right to your mailbox free of charge. Good luck! 

To keep updated with our projects, join us on Facebook, Pinterest, and Instagram.

New Release Blog Hop

Precious Remembrance Shop

Melissa Chipperfield

Tenia Nelson

Sue Lelli

Deidre Payne (you're here)

Judy Marino

Lisa Elton

Thanks for stopping by and don't forget to comment below for a chance to win! Have a great day!

xoxo Deidre

Rain or Shine at CASology

If it's anything where you live, like it is here in VA, the signs of spring are right on track. We've had sunshine and rain, cool nights and warm days...and allergies and sinus issues kicking in full swing :) So how great that the cue card for CASology this week is: WEATHER!

Here's my card:

How funny is it that fellow DT member Kymona Tracey and I had the idea to use the exact same stamp set- it's from Create A Smile, titled "Bad Day"- and the same stamps from it LOL! 

I thought it would be awesome to go monochromatic with grays (I used Copics C1, C3, and C5) for the clouds, top umbrellas, and the furry guy, but bring in a splash of color to brighten the mood :)

It's hard to see in this photo, but I used my wink of stella clear pen for the rain drops.

Today's tip: 

If you want to make a large area glossy (like my rainbow umbrella), use a Versamark pen (it has a felt brush tip on one end and a bullet nib on the other) to color over your area, then heat set with detail clear embossing powder...rinse and repeat- well not really rinse, but you know what I mean :)

The DT has some great inspirations to brighten your day and get you going on your WEATHER cards! Blow on over to their blogs and don't forget the Guest Designer for the week!

Ardyth Percy-Robb

Deidre Payne

Hannelie Bester

Hazel Hodgkins

Jacquie Southas

Jen Wills

Joyce Mehrberg

Judy Marino

Kymona Tracey

Melissa Chipperfield

Sherrie Mannion

Tracey McNeely

Guest Designer: Amelia (Stamped for the Occasion)

Have a great week and can't wait to see what you post in our gallery!

xoxo Deidre

Guest Designing with Precious Remembrance Shop

Artsy, sweet, fun, unique...show me stamps that meet those criteria and I'm sold! Lucky me, I've found exactly that with Precious Remembrance Shop!! 

I'm over the moon that Dyane (the owner and designer) has asked me to join the amazing line up of artists to showcase the upcoming new stamp release *squeal* :) If you've not had a chance to get to know them, definitely take a stroll through their online store and check out some great cards and projects on their blog.

Shop: http://www.preciousremembranceshop.com/shop/

Blog: http://www.preciousremembranceshop.com/blog/

Mark your calendars for March 24th!

I really hope you'll join us over the next 4 weeks to see this release! It's sure to bring some great
ideas, creativity, and must-have stamps!

See ya there!

xoxo Deidre

Just Doodling Around at CASology

If you're like me, a pen and paper and boredom calls for some scribbling. I even named one of my doggies after my love of doodling; his name is Scribble :) Anywho, this week CASology has you covered! Our cue card is: DOODLE. 

Here's my card:

I didn't actually have to take pen to paper for these awesome frames, the stamp set was an on-sale find at Michael's last year. I love the look of them; perfect for this week! I did add my own extra scribbles to the flowers though. Then I coated them in glossy accents :) And it's hard to see in the photo, but I also ran a C1 Copic marker around each frame for a depth...it's a nice little trick for one-layer cards.

You definitely have to swing by the DT blogs and see what 

cool squiggles they came up with this week! 

Ardyth Percy-Robb 

Deidre Payne
Hannelie Bester
Hazel Hodgkins
Jacquie Southas
Jen Wills
Joyce Mehrberg
Judy Marino
Kymona Tracey
Melissa Chipperfield
Sherrie Mannion
Tracey McNeely

Guest Designer: Rachel (Rachel's Card Corner)

And a huge awesome thanks to STAMPlorations for sponsoring this week! They even gave us our own coupon code for you to use this week: "CASOLOGY" to save 10% in their online store, woot woot!

Thanks for stopping by...now go doodle!

xoxo Deidre

Come LOL at CASology

I hope you're ready for a really fun week with the new challenge at CASology! Our cue card will have you in stitches thinking of ways to play along. This week we want to see your take on the cue card: LAUGH. Here's my card for the week:

How many different ways do you text people to show them you think something's funny?? Well, here are just a few of my usuals...and I even censored myself :) If you're a textaholic like me, I bet you've seen all of these!

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

GTR on an ATC with Wicked Wednesday

If you haven't noticed, I'm full steam ahead with the Wicked Wednesday ATC Challenge Blog! I'm having such a great time with the weekly themes. Oh, before I forget, I know you're probably wondering what the heck the blog title means. Well, this week's theme was "Gray, Teal/Turquoise, and Red". Add the spring-like temps and sunshine we've had in VA and this is my entry:

The bird and bouquet of flowers come from a Sizzix Framelits die and stamp set titled "Love You". I used Distress Markers to color the stamps directly using Hickory Smoke, Peacock Feathers, Mermaid Lagoon, Candied Apple, and Festive Berries. Then I oh so gently misted the the stamps so the colors

Let's Go for a Spin at CASology

CASology is back with a challenge that will have ideas whirling in your head this week :) Our cue card is: SPIN. I knew the Design Team was going to have some fun with this one!

Here's my take on the challenge:

My family loves (I mean really loves) to take mini vacays in Vegas. And I have to say, the roulette table is our gambling poison of choice for everyone :) This is a digi image that I colored with Copics and the sentiment's from a MFT & Dienamics set called "Game Night". I die cut the number 21 (trust me when I say wait 'til you're legal drinking age to make the trip, lol) and then used gold embossing powder to cover them before returning them to the card as an inlay. 

So, now that I'm thinking about the next time I can get to Vegas :) why don't you twirl on over to the other DT pages and our Guest Designer and take a look at their inspirations this week!

Ardyth Percy-Robb
Deidre Payne (already here)
Hannelie Bester
Hazel Hodgkins

Jacquie Southas

Jen Wills

Joyce Mehrberg

Judy Marino
Kymona Tracey

Melissa Chipperfield

Sherrie Mannion

Tracey McNeely

Guest Designer: Michele (I Card Everyone)

Have a great week and can't wait to see what you post in our gallery!

xoxo Deidre