CAS Watercolour Ocean Shell-ebration...

Thought I'd shell-ebrate by playing along this month at CAS Watercolour Ocean challenge with two variations on a theme. Using this gorgeous shall diecut by Kaisercraft as a starting point (thanks Jenny!), First up I created a watercolour wash background, overlay the Kaisercraft diecut in kraft cardstock and added the Paper Smooches sentiment.

Variation on a theme saw the Kaisercraft shell diecut smooshed into a variety of blue Distress Inks, sprayed with water, reverse diecut out of the pale woodgrain patterned paper.

Fusion & Hop to Stop...

This weeks FUSION is inspired by the gorgeous sketch and floral theme of the fabulous FUSION inspiration photo, and importantly I am also also joining in The Hop to Stop, raising awareness for victims of domestic violence. 

This fortnight, I created a simple watercolour background and base on which I stamped these gorgeous Winnie and Walter hydrangeas, and fabulous Articellar Jane Girls stencil, adding this very apt sentiment by My Favorite Things on a layered fishtail flag. Fussy cut and pop dotted the Winnie and Walter hydrangeas.

Love to see how you are inspired by FUSION photo, sketch or both!

Hope you get a chance to play along!

Hop on over to FUSION to see some more super inspiration from

 our amazing Design Team too:

Becca Cruger - Betty J. - Carol Mayne - Jeanne Jachna - Karren Johnson

Linda Callahan - Michelle Leone - Michelle Lupton - Michelle Williams

Also joining in

The Hop to Stop, raising awareness for victims of domestic violence,

 

Mixed Media Cards Black and Purple

and Inkspirational Black plus One Colour

 

P.S. Adventure Awaits @ FUSION

This fortnights fabulous FUSION inspired this super cute nautical themed card. First stamped watercolour paper with Paper Smooches Wicked Nauticool waves and Summer Groves clouds in Versamark Watermark ink and heat embossed in clear. Added water base then coloured with Twinkling H2Os. Added paper pieced Paper Smooches Wicked Nauticool yacht and Polaroid die cut, stamped with Happy Travels "Adventure Awaits" sentiment, topped with Studio Calico wood veneer anchor.

This month at FUSION we are also lucky enough to be joined by special Guest Designer, Cris G so make sure you stop by for some extra fabulous inspiration from Cris and the FUSION team!

Betty J - Jeanne Jachna - Julia Aston - Katie Brooks

Karren J - Kimberly Wiener - Lynn Mangan - Michelle Folland

Michelle Lupton - Sandie Munro - Stephanie Severin

I would LOVE if you could join in the fun @ FUSION too!

Playing along with Color Throwdown,

CAS Mix Up and Simon Says Stamp Monday Emboss It challenges too!

Lucky Days FUSION

This fortnights FUSION challenge is filled with the luck of the Irish, so I thought I'd celebrate around the world! I thought it was super fitting too seeing as we will be heading off around the other side of the world in a few weeks, to join DD on exchange in Paris.

Created using the gorgeous (and Never Been Used Schtuff) Neat and Tangled Origami Map die cut and stamps, paired with these super cute Create a Stamp Crystal Letters alphabet stamps. Both the map and letters were stamped in white ink and heat embossed with white embossing powder, over watercolour backgrounds created using Twinkling H2Os, with added shimmer and a wooden frame, picking up on the textural elements from the inspiration photo.

This month we are also luck enough to be joined by special Guest Designer, Kate Lorenzini of Pinned and Penned, so make sure you stop by for some extra fabulous inspiration from Kate and the team!

Betty J - Deanne K - Jeanne Jachna - Julia Aston - Katie Brooks

Karren J - Kimberly Wiener - Lynn Mangan - Michelle Folland

Michelle Lupton - Sandie Munro - Shannon Jaramillo - Stephanie Severin

I would LOVE if you could join in the fun @ FUSION too!

   

 

Also playing along with NBUS #6 on the fabulous Darnell's home base,

 AAA Cards Embossing, Curtain Call Key Lime and 

CAS Mix Up Card Challenge too!

Celebrate in Pink with FUSION

Inspired by the versatile FUSION sketch and fabulous graphic colours and patterns in the FUSION inspiration photo, this week I had a play with my Gelatos to watercolour the pink layer used to fussy cut behind the carnations diecut, pop-dotted for added dimension over the two Lil Inkers stitched square and rectangles, and fussy cut MME paper chevron border. I just love this gorgeous WPlus9 birthday sentiment, and denim look MME patterned paper.

As usual, you can play along with FUSION using either this gorgeous FUSION photo inspiration, or this fabulously versatile sketch, or a combination of both. Hop on over to the FUSION site for some more super gorgeous inspiration from the fabulous FUSION DT... 

Betty J - Brandi Hall - Deanne K - Jeanne Jachna - Julia Aston - Katie Brooks

Karren J - Kimberly Wiener - Lynn Mangan - Michelle Folland

Michelle Lupton - Sandie Munro - Shannon Jaramillo - Stephanie Severin

I would LOVE if you could join in the fun @ FUSION too!

Playing along with Seize the Birthday too!

World Card Making Day with Winnie & Walter & Hop to Stop...

Created by first cutting a background panel of watercolour paper with Winnie and Walter Essentials: Katherine Cutaways and washing with watercoloured Gelatos, stamped with Winnie and Walter Winter Wonderland pine branches and heat embossed in Silver Tinsel, added snowfall using Metallic Silver embossing paste and Winnie and Walter Scenery: Big Bang Circle Creative Screenings, then stamping in Wedding White with Winnie and Walter Scenery: Big Bang Confetti. Partially cut a second panel piece to create the snow drift, stamped the Winnie and Walter Winter Wonderland reindeer twice, once on the watercolour panel, and once on a scrap piece of cardstock and heat embossed with Silver Tinsel, as was the fabulous sentiment then diecut with Winnie and Walter Winter Wonderland. Sentiment, snowdrift and reindeer are pop dotted. Playing along with:

Sketched with Gayatri

Watercolour with Vanessa

Gold/Metallic with Lydia

Make it Masculine with Julie
Simon Says Stamp - Anything Goes
Muse - Christmas Visions (see Kimberley's gorgeous card below)

 

Created using watercolour Gelatos for the background ombre wash, stamped with Winnie and Walter Sparkle stamps heat embossed in gold, Winnie and Walter Essentials: Katherine Cutaways die cut tag and background panel, and added purple gemstones and gold ribbon, to promote the HOP to STOP National Domestic Violence Awareness of which Winnie and Walter are sponsors (see my first HOP to STOP post here too).  Playing along with:

Background Building with Shay

Watercolour with Vanessa

Gold/Metallic with Lydia
Less is More Jewel Colours

HOP to STOP National Domestic Violence Awareness 

of which Winnie and Walter are sponsors!

Had fabulous fun on World Cardmaking Day (so much so we actually spent a weekend away crafting). That's us there...

 

The Hop to STOP...

Mixed Media piece created using Dylusions and Glimmermist sprays and 

Unity Stamps with gloss black embossing powder.

If you're wondering why everything in blogland is turning purple... there IS a reason - the Hop to Stop is here! 

You see, purple is the color of National Domestic Violence Awareness month. 

1 in 3 women will experience domestic violence over the course of their lifetimes. 

Let that sink in - 33% of all the women you meet. 

Women aren't the only people who are affected! Women, men, transgender - gender doesn't matter. Domestic violence is something that exists regardless of gender, socioeconomic status, religion, education level, etc.

And yet, it's something that is rarely talked about in very public ways. It's something that's hidden and hushed. And since papercrafters are some of the most amazing people out there, some of you have agreed to make a card (or cards) to raise awareness for this issue. Together, we CAN make a powerful impact. 

These are all the incredible companies who've agreed to support this blog hop. 14 companies and over $500 in prizes! So HOP on over to The Damsel of Distressed, to join in and help raise awareness, and do something positive to STOP Domestic Violence.

In AUSTRALIA... Free counselling is available through the 
National Sexual Assault,
Domestic Family Violence Counselling Service 
1800 737 732

Mama Elephant Pandamonium and Celebration sentiment, heat embossed with Antique Gold on Gelatos watercolour background.

Playing along with
Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge Ombre.

Simon Says Stamp Anything Goes

 

Simon Says... Ombre Art Journal

Had a fabulous time away crafting for the long weekend! 

Here's a peek at my very first Art Journal page, created using Gelatos and a brush over a layer of gesso for the background together with Donna Downey stencils with modelling paste for the flowers, and Unity stamps for the background text and Tim Holtz stamps for the sentiment, and butterfly, stamped over Twinkling H2O, and heat embossed.

Playing along with Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge - Ombre
Simon Says Stamp Anything Goes and
Virginia's View All things Coloured

 

This makes me SMILE...

Shake your Tail(feather) on World Card Making Day...

Although it was officially World Card Making Day for us yesterday, much of the festivities did not get kicked off til about 2am our time - just about when we had to put our clocks an hour forward for daylight savings, and as luck would have it, in the middle of a fabulous crafty retreat too!

Here is one of the creations I made over the long weekend away - this shaker card was created using some of the fabulous sequins Cecilia gifted us, together with some Pretty Pink Posh and Winnie and Walter Birthday Celebration sequins, and featuring die cuts from Winnie and Walter (Happy), Memory Box (trees) and Papertrey Ink (Holiday), together with this gorgeous watercolour fox, also from Papertrey Ink.

Playing along with 

The Card Concept Woodland Friends Challenge Mixed Media Card

Inkspirational Picture Inspiration and
Mixed Media Card Challenge Orange and Black plus Glitter

 

 

Watercolour Bloghop...

Thought I'd play along again with the Watercolour Bloghop hosted by Pretty Pink Posh. This time I created a shaker card with a Gelato watercolour background, silver sparkles and the stars, morror circles and pink sequins from the Winnie and Walter 1st Birthday Bash Sequins Mix by Pretty Pink Posh, sentiment and cute watercoloured elephant are from Mama Elephant.

Joining in the fun at Virginia's View Ombre/Monochrome Challenge and 

Seize the Birthday Animal Topping too.

Mojo Monday & Mixed Media Card Challenge...

For all of you who may be interested (and who wouldn't be!!!) Julee is celebrating a fabulous 400 milestone with Mojo Monday, and as an extra special celebration, there are a couple of DT spots open as well!

I flipped the Mojo Monday sketch to create a collage card. The base layer is Tim Holtz tissue paper, painted with gesso front and back. When the gesso layer dries add some Gelatos and watercolour the moth. The good thing about using Gesso as the base is that you can use wet wipes to rub back the colours, and reduce or remove any creative misadventures! The word strips, corner and Flourish are from Kaisercraft, together with a doily from my stash, Heidi Swapp clear butterfly diecut, and Making Memories notepaper stamped with this gorgeous Verve "Go confidently in the direction of your dreams" sentiment.

  

Why don't you join in the Mojo Monday celebrations!

Also playing along with Mixed Media Monthly 

A Year of Choices (Photo Inspiration) and

Watercolour Bloghop with Pretty Pink Posh too!

Don't forget to join in the fun at the Mixed Media Card Challenge too, 

this month we are featuring Collage cards.