Stenciled Happy Birthday Card

Hi there!

I needed a masculine birthday card and got to work this afternoon trying to come up with something using stencils and distress inks. I found some neat looking Faber Castell stencils at Hobby Lobby recently. They have shapes that can easily be used for backgrounds on cards using whatever technique one may desire. Using stencils is really making a comeback it seems. The only drawback is the stencils I got are paper. So, while you can reuse them for a time, they aren't going to last forever. Ah well. I'll have fun for a while anyway.

I decided some good "guy" colored distress inks include Peacock Feathers, Mowed Lawn and Spiced Marmalade. I used some old stencil brushes because I had seen a video where a lady made a great looking background using them, creating a stippled look. Weeeeeelll, I tried that to start out with the technique she used in the video and I'd probably still be stippling next week. I obviously didn't have the right touch (or the patience) to continue that technique. I started moving the brush in a circular motion while pressing down a bit(kind of like how I used to do this years and years and years ago-ahem). Ahhhh, now that looked a lot better and was much quicker. It probably doesn't look any different than using a sponge, but I didn't get any hard lines either, so there is that. Here's the final card.

And below is a close up of a mistake an opportunity to embellish I made. I wanted to clear heat emboss the happy birthday sentiment. But.....I didn't wait long enough for the ink to dry from sponging the colors on and the embossing powder stuck everywhere. Um, oops? Nah...I embossed it anyway and liked the texture it added to the sentiment. So I used it! The die is a Nestabilities Shapeabilities die. I cut a white rectangular piece of cardstock and used the same stencil brushes to add the colors to the rectangle. This is a nice low profile card that should be easily mailable. 

That's it from me today. Thanks so much for stopping by. I hope you have a great week!

Hugs,

Jeanne

Flower Fairy Hello

Hi There!

Last month I saw this card and was smitten with the image and the colors Christine used to color this sweet fairy. Christine's coloring is terrific and I enjoy looking at what she shares. You might want to take a peek. I've added a few blogs to my Feedly over the past few months where the blogger is a fantastic colorist and seeing what they have created makes me want to color, too. Thanks for the inspiration, Christine (in case she ever stops by to read my little blog)! 

I had fun using my Prismacolor pencils and odorless mineral spirits to color this. I don't know if anyone is interested in what colors I use, so I don't keep track. If you are interested, please let me know. The pinks were colors I hadn't necessarily pulled out before and I liked how they looked. 

A heads up for those who like to use Wink of Stella pens and to color digital images. I honestly don't know what the liquid is in the pen (I've never investigated that) but whatever it is, it sure doesn't play well with printed digital images. It smears the ink. Remember when I mentioned something on that card that Jessica made. That's why she had to color another image I smeared the ink. So I forgot about that when I started to put some WOS on the wings of this little gal (after I had colored everything). I just barely started when I remembered. Thankfully it didn't ruin the work I had done(I'd have been so very sad to have to start coloring  the image again because of that). I ended up using lots of Stickles instead. 

I wanted to add a little more of something and I know sequins are popular. I've not gotten colored sequins, but I did like how these iridescent sequins(from Hobby Lobby) looked, so added a few for interest. Hopefully they don't detract from the image. 

The hello is from the Gingham Backgrounds set from Lawn Fawn. I just love that font! It's stamped in Watermelon ink from Close To My Heart. I also used their Stitched Rectangle die. 

That is all from me right now. I thank you very much for stopping by! I hope you have a great day. 

Hugs,

Jeanne

Watercolored Butterfly Hello

Hello!

I was able to head into my crafty space this afternoon and I tried something new for me. And I think it worked out better than I'd hoped it would. :)

My friend Kay participated in a blog hop for Papertrey Ink way back in February. She posted a sneak  peek of  her card here. One of the things I especially liked about this card was her use of the quatrefoil pattern and distress inks. I copied this idea with a Memory Box stencil I picked up at my local scrapbook store (probably back in February). I used the same inks and that was as far as I got that day. This background piece has been sitting on my desk ever since. 

Then a week or so ago, I took a bit of a drive to a store that sells all the colors of Prismacolor pencils. I had some holes in my collection and wanted to fill them. :) They were having a watercolor demonstration. As you regular readers know, I am very much watercolor challenged, but I stopped to chat with the gal working the demonstration. She showed me how to use watercolor crayons and watercolor pencils. I have had a set or two of watercolor pencils collecting dust for years. I even have some watercolor crayons somewhere. Seeing someone demonstrate the technique in person was so helpful! I even got to try it under her watchful eye. Ever since that demo, I've wanted to try my hand at using my watercolor pencils. (I still have to look for the watercolor crayons I think I own).

I have to say, I'm quite pleased at how this turned out!

I used a new Hero Arts butterfly stamp and die set that I found at Joann's. Last month I came across this post and the idea came to mind of what I would try to do!

I used a Dazzle Versamark ink in Champagne and clear embossing powder to emboss the butterflies. Then I used General's brand watercolor pencils to lightly color along the edge of the embossed lines. I pulled out the color with a paintbrush dipped in water. 

I actually achieved a look that I liked! Whoo hoo! I have to say, I do like the control I felt I had with the pencils. 

I popped the large butterfly up with some foam dots. You can't really tell in the photo, but the body is covered with Wink of Stella shimmer. 

Finally, a watercolor session that didn't end in my being completely frustrated. 

There may be a little hope for me yet. 

Thanks ever so much for stopping by.

I hope you have a great day!

Hugs,

Jeanne

Finished a Crochet Project for a Friend...

Hello Friends!

While I was not successful in creating a single Easter card this season, I have finished a project I've been working on for several weeks. I'm pretty happy with the finished product(s).

A good friend of mine emailed me to ask if I'd be able to create an item she found online. Normally, I might say no, but she is a very good friend. :) Going by the picture alone and some of my crocheting background and patterns, I managed to cobble together a fairly decent replica of the picture she showed me. These are gifts for people working with her on an upcoming weekend event that is Hawaiian themed.

Are you ready??

 Hula Minions!

Aren't they so  fun and yes, funny?!

*Ü*

They are about 3 inches tall and I've attached them to a key chain.

Don't they look like they are ready to hula (or maybe do the Rockette kicks) here? 

Hee, hee!

So, this is what I have been working on lately. I'm happy to have been able to help out my friend with this project. 

I used size 10 crochet thread (Aunt Lydia's brand) and a size 1 crochet hook. I also used 6mm safety eyes. They are stuffed with fiberfill. 

Thanks so much for stopping by!

I hope you have a lovely holiday and a happy Spring!

Hugs,

Jeanne