Watercolor Smooshing

Recently...well, actually before Easter...I make several cards that I thought I'd share with you.  It was a fun technique using watercolors or (in this case) distress inks, water and watercolor paper.

This is what I created.

I learned the technique from a video by Betsy Veldman for Papertrey Ink.
This technique isn't difficult, but it did take a bit of trial and error to get the effect I wanted.  Since I love playing with color, it was lots of fun!  HERE is a link to the video.

For my cards I used Ranger Distress Inks.  But there are many options available.  Any color medium that will blend with water, I would think.

That's it for today.  Thank for taking a look!

Celebrating you!

I'm playing along in a card challenge today.  Yes, finally!

It's the City Crafter Challenge Blog Birthday CASE #4 (week 359) and we're casing a beautiful card created by Marina.

It's so feminine and pretty, isn't it?  I immediately thought of lace when I looked at the cake image on Marina's card.  So that's the direction I took, as you'll see below.

Marina's colors are soft and subtle, but I decided to go a bit bolder with my color choices.  This card has lots of dimension!  I cut white card stock for each of the cake layers; covered each with teal felt, then over that I wrapped lace and ribbon trim.  The cake "plate" is a piece of gold foil paper.  After stamping the candle flame I added some Stickles to give it a little sparkle and shine.

It was fun to finally get back to my blog and play along with a challenge.
Thanks for stopping by!

Colorful Birthday Wishes

Well, hello!  It's been months since I've shared a card on this blog of mine.
I still love creating and I do so whenever I can.  This time I'm finally taking the time to play along in a challenge.  I'm so excited!  So, let's get to it.

The challenge is Color Throwdown #437.  Here's out inspiration photo.

Oh, how I love tulips.  One of the first signs of Spring, here in Illinois.
But.  I didn't go with florals on my card.  You see...my husband has a birthday coming up in a couple of weeks, so I needed to make a card for him.  I really didn't think he would fully appreciate a "floral-y" card.  Anyway, here's what I created with the inspiration colors.

I used a light aqua, yellow and a medium green to create the ink blended sky background.  The trees were diecut and layered over that, along with the two little birds (I'm thinking they're Cardinals!).  I finished my card with a simple sentiment stamped onto yellow cardstock.  All done!
This was fun.  I should do this more often.  :)

Ink: peacock feather, squeezed lemonade, bundled sage (Ranger distress inks) onyx black (Versafine)
Cardstock: whisper white, garden green, real red, so saffron (SU)
Stamps: phrase play #6 (Papertrey Ink)
Dies: tree line (Tim Holtz Alterations), in the meadow (PTI)