...just a little tutorial.... Watercoloring!

Please be sure to scroll down on the page to visit my other posts today. I have the finished project my "Beloved Box" as well as a new challenge with blog candy being offered!

Watercolor Tutorial

So, at long last, here is my video tutorial for watercoloring. I do hope that its helpful to anyone that hasn't tried the technique before, or for anyone that's new to the technique. It is super important to use a waterproof ink, as well as watercolor paper.

My ink choice is Brilliance. Stazon would work, but it doesn't work well with acrylic stamps. And watercolor paper allows the reinker to blend so nicely! Regular paper will pill up and create holes where you've used too much water! My brush of choice is a Niji waterbrush.

This morning I woke with a scary thought... did I repeat myself enough times that you must walk away from the project and let it sit in between each "layer" of ink? I'm not sure if that point came across enough in the editing. While the project looks QUICK here, I was making this in stages (alternating with making my dinnner). If you don't wait between steps, your inks will bleed across the wet paper. Just make sure you give each layer proper drying time before moving on!!

I've written a separate post with the details on my "Beloved Box" which you'll find just below! I'm now off to post a challenge with some Pure Innocence Blog candy! Be sure to check this post!

If it is easier for you, this video is also available on YouTube here (the version on YouTube will be larger and easier to see! )

Please note: If you have any questions, be sure to add them to my C-Box on the right hand sidebar! I'm happy to help!

...just a little challenge... Beloved!

Tonight I'm posting a new project, a new tutorial and this new challenge! There's lots to read... grab a coffee and hang out a while!

My Beloved Challenge:

Since I'm so excited about these stamps, this paper, the "Beloved Box" and the completion of my tutorial, what better time to have a challenge!!

Please use my Beloved box as an inspiration for your own valentines gift for a loved one. To play along, use any (or all!) of the following elements in your creation:

• Watercoloring
• MFT's Pure Innocence
• MFT's Bling Bet
• Beloved Paper from MME
• Pearls
• Machine Sewing

To enter, add your creation to my Mr Linky box below. The challenge will be open for one week - entries should be submitted by Sunday, January 17th at 9pm EST. At that time, the Mr Linky widget will close to entries.

I'll pick my top five favorites to share with you, and one lucky winner, selected at random will win three stamp sets: Pure Innocence Fairy Girl, Flower Girl, and My Balloon! I'm also adding a pack of Beloved Paper from My Minds Eye and a $20 Gift Certificate to MFT Stamps! **stay tuned, who knows what else I might add!**

My faves, and the winner will be announced on Monday, January 18th at 9am.

Beloved Box

Beloved Box

I'm pretty sure I gave fair warning a few weeks ago that I'd fallen for this Beloved paper from My Minds Eye. I picked mine up from Eclectic Paperie and I'm off now to buy another package since I've used nearly all of it.

This little project just about finished it off. But its okay, I can (and will!) get more!

After all the watercoloring I'd done on my projects last week, I thought that I owed you a tutorial on how I do it. I so enjoyed watercoloring all those samples, and I think the technique is just perfect for these Pure Innocence girls with all their wide open spaces for coloring.

So, I as I worked on this project, I taped it step by step so that you could see how the coloring comes together. I'll warn you, it is pretty long, but hopefully you'll find it helpful. If you're interested, the tutorial is here.

You might recognize that this is the "An Apple for You" image from My Favorite Things, but as I finished the project, I used a kraft knife to open up the image, remove the apple, and instead, tuck this chipboard heart into her hands.

The box itself is a Taylor's Perfect Package, and I just love them. I've got two more on my shelf for an emergency gifting situation! LOL!

On the front of the box, I've spelled out LOVE with MFT's Bling Bet and in place of the "O" I've used a flower punchout, all crumpled, rumpled and distress inked, with a twine bow button.

The letters were stamped with red ink to white paper, then trimmed and matted on Kraft, then trimmed and matted on red. The dots in each letter are filled with stickles, though I don't think it shows in this photo?

Each panel of designer paper has been matted onto red cardstock, then inked with my distress ink, then stitched with my machine.

The actual gift isn't the box - the gift is inside! Right now, the box is filled with assorted valentine chocolates, and you'll see a Target gift card sticking out of the pocket on the lid.

I made this for my cousin who is headed back to college after a semester abroad. I know that she's going to have a lot of things that she'll need to get settled back into school. And of course, that any late night study session requires some late night snacks!! I told her that the pocket will also store a book of stamps and that I'll send her some cards to send home to her mom!

I'm off to add the Tutorial as well as a related Challenge with Blog Candy! Be sure to stop by to see it all. And warning, grab a coffee, my video is long!

Designed for Sympathy

The other day, I received a phone call from my Aunt, who needed to have her stock of sympathy cards replenished.

As a cardmaker, it is the type of card that I always find so hard to make, but sadly, that we all need to send at some point

That being said, its one of those times, that a handmade card says just so very much. I wanted something that was cleanly designed and full of thoughtful details.

To keep the card respectful of the occasion, yet full of thoughtful details, I reached for for my Cuttlebug Embossing folder and my Out on a Limb Sentiments, Background Basics: Text Style II and Damask Designs stamp sets.

I was so thankful that my order from Paper Trey Ink had just arrived containing the In Bloom patterned paper.

You can barely see it in the photograph, but the text is actually overstamped with the Damask pattern.

To tie the main panel together, I've added stitched detail with my sewing machine, stitched grosgrain ribbon, and some Apron Lace trim across the bottom.

All the edges have been softened with the Tea Dye Duo. Seriously LOVE the stuff, really I do!

Remember when you're making cards with a dark cardbase (I've used Scarlet Jewel here) that you want to line your cards with a lighter color. This is especially important if you're planning to sell them!

While you can write on the inside with a white gel pen, they aren't always 100% reliable, and then you've messed up the inside of your pretty card! So, save yourself the hassle, and just line your cards.

Thanks for stopping by today, I hope you have a truly wonderful weekend.

Its Bellariffic Baby!

Bellariffic Fridays are BACK! You may have noticed that the Bellariffic Babes took a little break for Christmas and New Years, but this week - the game is on, and the theme is Back to School!

For me, back to school means back to work, so things have been in full swing, getting the boys back to school, welcoming my little daycare clients into the house each day... Its been great, but you KNOW I'm thrilled its Friday!

After seeing Jodi write in the titles of the Twilight books on this card a few weeks ago, I couldn't wait to create a kid version for my little reader... his stack of books includes the Diary of a Wimpy Kid, 39 Clues and The BFG.

This image is Spencer the Bookworm, who's one of the adorable Green Bean Babies over at Stamping Bella.

Luckily he got MANY new books for Christmas, some right for us reading together, and some right for him reading on his own. I love that he asks to stay up late to read, I love that some mornings, he'll roll over and grab a book. He loves that I let him snuggle up in my "no kids" sitting room with a book and my favorite blanket. When I was his age, I was obsessed with the Little House on the Prairie books. What were YOUR favorite reads as a kid?

Be sure to stop by Blogabella today to see all the samples that were sent to Emily this week, and to see all the creations from the Babes!

Bella's Baby Bubble Bath

As a cardmaker, isn't the birth of a new baby one of the most FUN occasions??

Last week, my uncle and his wife gave birth to a sweet little boy. I'm sad that they live to far away for me to be able to pop by to lend a hand, or more importantly, to give a snuggle to that little cutie pie.

So, instead, I'll have to send a little card and giftie their way. Luckily, in my most recent order from Stamping Bella, I had the foresight to pick up a few new baby images including this Baby Bubble Bath.

Seriously, how had I not picked up any of the baby images before now! Adorable!

To finish off my bubbly bath in a realistic fashion, I coated the bubbles with Shimmerz and then gave a coat of crystal effects to only half of the bubbles.

I keep telling myself that I'm not going to stitch around the circular panel any more - it is a wee bit tricky. But yet.. there I went and did it again.

Don't forget that Bellariffic Fridays are back! This week's theme is Back To School! Be sure to send your sample to Emily by Thursday at 5pm EST so that you can be included in her roundup!

You'll find all the details HERE. I'll see you tomorrow!

You'll also want to stop by Jodi's blog and give her a HUGE new welcome as the newest Bella Babe! I'm SO excited to finally be working on a team with Jodi, I'm just in awe of her talent!

January MFT Shop Hop

Welcome to MFT's January Shop Hop!

All the new stamps are officially available at My Favorite Things, but we've got a quick hop for you sharing all the sets, and important pieces of information for the release all along the way.

You won't want to miss any of the eye candy along the way, so be sure to start up at Kim's Blog.

Its funny that this is the creation I'm showing you last, because this is the first one I watercolored! *giggle* isn' that funny?

Did you know that this sweet stamp set titled "Wheee" is based on Kim's younger daughter? Aww. This image is totally precious, just like sweet little Emma.

I would seriously recommend placing your Pure Innocence purchases *quickly* this month as I know there are now quite a few fans of this sweet line and I am predicting they are going to FLY out of the store yet again!

I did a little mixy-matchy thing by switching out the sentiment for this set and using the sentiment for the little Tween Pure Innocence set.

I stamped the sentiment in a straight line, but then with some creative trimming, I was able to bend my cardstock to match the curvature of the main panel. And then gave it all a little bit of distressing with my distress inks, and tugged and rumpled all the little pieces.

And of course, once you've finished up the outside of your card, you'll generally have a lot of scraps leftover. Why not patch them back together for a finished inside to your project?

The next stop on tonight's Shop Hop is Julie Dinn she's one of the newest members of our team and we're so happy to have her on board! I've already had a peek at her project tonight and it is totally FABULOUS, you won't want to miss it! I'll meet you over there!!

Presenting February's Calendar

Because I'm crazy, and because they are just this easy... I've got February's page using the soon to be released Calendar Templates from My Favorite Things!

I had already printed out and trimmed down all the months last night, so a quick matting with some handy scraps and February was pulled together so quickly!

If by chance you missed my January calendar, just scroll down, it is my very next post!

You'll notice on the templates that the bottom row has some empty spaces for monthly notes. For February's design, I chopped off the notes section and used it to add a buttony bow, and another scrap that was too pretty to throw away, and just sweet across the bottom of my page.

I've added a chipboard covered, and stickle covered heart to February 14th.

Now that I've got the first two months covered, I'm going to create little add ons for special days that I can keep in a little drawer and add to my monthly calendars as needed.

Be sure to stop by Kim's blog today for a full list of participating design team members!

Altered Up - Make the Date

Who's getting so excited for tonight's release from My Favorite Things? I swear each month it gets better and better! Before I show you my project today I just wanted to remind you that the new stamps, templates, and accessories will go on sale tonight at 10pm EST. And, as the doors are opening, you'll want to stop by Kim's blog for the Shop Hop Blog hop!

You may have seen a few peeks of the new Make the Date set yesterday - it is HUGE! Its perfect for invitations, calendars, to do lists, journals etc! If you ask me, it is a *must have* set for stampers.

There is also an amazing set of digital downloads which have been put together for you to quickly and easily make calendars, to do lists and more! The calendar template is available in both a large and a small version. For my sample, I used the larger sized calendar for my project today. Let me just say that I downloaded, printed, trimmed and assembled this in less than 30 minutes. Which for me, is pretty fast!

Using a paper trimmer, I quickly trimmed off the whitespace around the calendar, and then adhered it to a piece of kraft cardstock. A quick zip zap through my machine and a bit of distress ink, then it was added to a piece of MFT's Hot Fudge cardstock with dimensional boosters. I used Make the Date to add "January" to the calendar and sponged the edge to match.

I've added some of my favorite touches to the matting - this month that consists of using my Apron Lace punch, sewing, distressing, distress inking, a little grosgrain ribbon and a few half pearls. Oh, and about five trips through the sewing machine with the "crazy stitch."

Since it came together so easily, I decided that I'll make a new one each month, based on whatever my newest "thing" is that month. You'll see February in the next day or so as I'm already loving the Valentines day theme!

Don't forget to stop by Kim's blog today after 11am EST for links to all the DT who will be participating in previews today!

I'm here with a belated little post for this week's TCP Tuesday. Its been a little nuts getting everyone back into the swing of things this week.

Amy is the hostess this week, and she's selected one of my favorite things for this week's TCP Tuesday challenge - glitter - so it was clear that I had to play along.

You may have noticed, but I'm a *wee* bit obsessed with TCP's German Glass Glitter - a.k.a. Glitzy.

There isn't a ton of stamping on my card today... just this sweet little sentiment "sweetie pie"

from the Puppy Love set.

You've seen my Glitzy covered snowflakes a ton lately, but its also quick, easy and clean to laying down a strip of Scor Tape and the pour on the Glitzy!

I love how opaque the coverage is here - and trust me when I tell you that the adhesive on the Scor Tape is strong enough to hold it on there firmly!

This is a fun little card size that I was introduced to by my friend Cindy Lawrence. Like Cindy, I'm often making square cards 5 1/4 inches. When I trim my cardstock from an 8 1/2 x 11 it leaves a good sized scrap... which when folded over makes what I'm going to call a half note.

Don't forget to swing by Amy's blog - Ink About Me- for her amazing sample, and also to read all the details for the challenge. I hope you'll play along and add your sample to the guestbook on Alma's blog.

Bling Bers - MFT Previews

I think I may have warned you that I'm obsessed with this paper. Right? Its a little bit more of the My Minds Eye paper that I've been loving...

And you've caught me watercoloring again. I really find it so soothing. And in particular, I think it looks so wonderful with these sweet little Pure Innocence images, no?

I've paired "My Balloon" with the new "Bling Bers" set for a birthday greeting for a very sweet little girl that I know who will be turning seven in a few days.

Just like its sister set "Bling Bet", this new set "Bling 'Bers" is made specifially for 4mm crystals.

I used some of my Chocolate Kiss Crystals in each of the holes, and then added a little dollop of Stickles to the top of each little crystal. I love it, it looks like rock candy!

In addition to the numbers themselves, the sent has loads of great sentiments for putting together great number based cards.

Be sure to hop all around the Design Team today so see lots of inspiration featuring Bling Bers as well as an amazing new Calendar set titled "Make the Date!"

Don't forget!! You'll find links to all the participating team members on Kim's blog today after 11 am.

Krafty Pure Innocence Previews

Oh my goodness, have I ever been having a blast playing with the new Pure Innocence images this month! I'm sure, that these sweet little stamps are going to FLY out the door again this month! I didn't realize until I started writing this post that I used lots of kraft paper on ALL my samples today!

And, I've been having such a blast that I've got THREE samples to share with you today, and I've got one more saved up for the Shop Hop on Wednesday night!

I know my boys are so excited for our crop share at the local farm to start up again this spring, so that they can resume their weekly visits to our local farm. The boys LOVE collecting eggs at the hen house. So, I had to create a basket full of farm fresh eggs - complete, of course with my favorite October Afternoon Farm Fresh paper.

Thanks to Michele, I've become fascinated with matting the same color as my cardbase, and in particular, I'm loving it with kraft paper. I've been aging the matting to help it stand apart from the card base, and look how fun it is on the Apron lace punch!!

And, I tell you, I know you girls are going to FLIP out over this sweet stamp set too! She's such a sweetie pie with her adorable little umbrella! I paper pieced her coat, umbrella and boots too. This adorable paper is from Bo Bunny and I love that with double sided paper, you've got lots of mix and match options for your paper piecing, and for your panels too.

Lots of sewing, distress inks, and a sweet little button cluster. I even got brave and faced my fear of Stickles to add some shine to the raindrops.

****NOW ETSY LISTED! By the way, I'm now adding both this Farm Fresh Eggs card and the Umbrella Girl card to my Etsy store today! ****

And, you may know, that I'm a mom of two little boys, so I've been dying to have a Pure Innocence boy to stamp with.

I wanted my little bundled up guy to have a handmade little sweater, so I decided to paper piece him with this sweet Jenni Bowlin patterned paper. His little houndstooth sweater was stamped, then trimmed out and I added distress ink to all the edges of the sweater for some added texture.

I pieced all around the main panel, wrapped the card with some chocolate stitched ribbon and added a button trio.

This sweet boy and his little puppy are sporting matching scarves, and I've used a quick dollop of liquid applique to his little knit cap.

Quick note: I'm sure you've seen the rule of three before, but if not, just a quick tip, if you're adding multiples of an embellishment, try to keep it to an odd number - its more pleasing to the eye. I also try to vary the way that I thread my buttons, you'll see here that I've got one one criss cross, one tied in a bow, and one threaded straight through. I also like to mix up the sizes for interest.

If you're still with me, you deserve a medal today (or maybe you just loooove Pure Innocence like I do!!) You'll find links to all the designers that have samples today on Kim's blog today after 11 am EST.

Who's That Chocoholic

Did you catch all the previews from the My Favorite Things Design Team yesterday? So fun!!

Today we're sharing previews of this amazing mini set "Who's that Chocoholic." As you can see, yes, I'm still infatuated with watercoloring. What can I say, I like to play....

And yes, a bit more of my My Minds Eye paper. I can promise you'll be seeing a lot of it the next few days.

And, for all you true chocoholics, there is also a companion set, Clearly Sentimental About Chocolate. And it is loaded with tons of great chocolate sentiments. But me, I used one from the WTG set itself which just makes me giggle "here today... gone today." Yup, that's me and chocolate.

In case you happen to be interested, here's a little detail shot of the front. I recently picked up a little package of chipboard hearts - I covered this with pattern paper, sanded the edges, then wrapped it up with jute twine, finished off with a button.

**Etsy Update - today's card sold - Thank YOU!! However, I'll be listing two samples tomorrow!**

Don't forget! Grab some bling and get your thinking cap on! Join Christina and I for this month's Guest Designer contest for MFT. Your chance to join the design team for the February launch! You can find all the details here.

And be sure to stop by Kim's blog today after 11 am EST for a list of all the girls on the team that are participating in previews today! See you TOMORROW!!

MFT's January Guest Designer Contest!

You may have noticed that the MFT Design Team has started with previews for this month's release.

Which means, that its also the time that we announce the Guest Designer contest for January.

If YOU would like to win the full February release for free and play along with the Design Team for next month's launch - then this is YOUR chance!!

My sweet friend Christina and I are the hostesses this month, and when we chatted the other day, we wanted to have something related to the New Year, and here's what we've got....

USE BLING! That's right, to celebrate the hope of a shiny new year, bring out your bling and let it shine!

Christina and I have both used the Bling Bet set, along with MFT's Crystal Adornments. Here's a little hint..... I've also used two varieties of a product that I am completely in love with that MFT will now be offering.

My little Pure Innocence sweetie is truly in a winter wonderland inside her shaker case. I'm seriously loving these things.

Be sure to stop by this thread to read all the details on the contest, and I really, really hope you'll play along.

Also, be sure to stop by Kim's blog today after 11am for links to all the girls on the team who have samples today!

I'll be back with a preview tomorrow from the new release! I've had a blast working on samples, and totally can't wait to share everything with you!

Celebrating MFT - New Design Team Unveiled!

Happy New Years! I hope that you all had a wonderful night, and that nobody is feeling too terrible this morning!

Today, Kim is announcing the My Favorite Things design team for the next term. I'm thrilled, simply thrilled, that I'll be continuing to work with MFT for the next six months.

Please be sure to stop by Kim's blog tonight to see our new full roster. I'm so incredibly excited!

To help celebrate my love for MFT, I had fun playing with my My Mind's Eye paper, and some kraft cardstock (I know, I know, I need to back away from it lately, but its so pretty, with everything!!)

And just look how much fun I'm having with my new sewing machine. Seriously, if you see a card that isn't sewn, you have permission to slap my hand. The image was stamped with Brilliance ink to watercolor paper. Let me just say, I hope you like the effect, because you'll be seeing a LOT of it the next few days.

I've been working busily on samples for the new release, and all I can say is that I hope Santa left you some spending money! Teasers from the new team will begin on Saturday, January 2nd and new sets will be shared each day until the release on Wednesday January 6th.

Tomorrow I'll be back with a sample for this month's Guest Designer Challenge. I'm hostessing the challenge with my SWEET friend Christina!