TCP - That Crazy Winter Bunny

Happy Sunday everyone! I'm so excited to be able to share TWO samples with you today for the upcoming release from The Cat's Pajamas. I've been a stamping FOOL lately between preparing samples for TWELVE yes TWELVE new stamp sets for TCP, and instructing at my two local stamp (and scrapbooking) stores.

Today I'm sharing two samples with our new friend the bunny - Hm. That guy needs a name... - and all of us here in the Basile Family are skiiers. In our house, the saying is "If you're not turning, you're not learning." But, I think Alma has it right. Check out this sentiment....

"If you're not crashing, you're not skiing" I totally love it. I laughed my head off when I saw it, because seriously each time I ski I have one of those moments when I know I'm totally going to eat it. Usually when I'm trying to keep up with my eight year old. He's an amazing skiier, and well, honestly, I'm pretty terrible.

Along the winter sports theme, Mr Bunny is also doing a little ice fishing - for frozen carrots perhaps? *giggle* Wishing now that I'd stamped in a few beer bottles for him or something, because ice fishing, wow, that's a hobby that just makes me scratch my head. Brr. "Just chillin'" I think is seriously an understatement.
I added in some snowflakes with TCP Glitzy, and added a warm layer to his coat with Liquid Applique. I created the illusion of some ice with a layer of Diamond Glaze (but not too sure you can see it here in the picture... its glossy and ice-ish in real life. I promise...)

For this little set, I pulled out the watercolor papers, aquapainter and reinkers and got to work. I seriously love doing that, I grabbed all my supplies and painted a while while my hubby and I caught up on all the TiVO that had collected while he was on his business trip to Japan. The next day, once everything was dried up, I cut my Nesties, and had lots of fun with the sewing machine. If you're interested in a little tutorial on watercoloring, I've got a video one to share in my sidebar over there ---->

You'll see this sentiment treatment on a few of my cards lately, I'm sort of obsessed. Ledger paper, flag ends, stitched in place. Its a thing.

Now, be SURE you don't miss any of today's previews. Swing on over to Alma's blog and you'll find other samples of today from Susan, Tracy and Sony!

A little morning "Apple For You"

Good morning! I can't believe that at 8:30 in the morning, I have something NEW to share that I made this morning. The boys woke up too early... way too early. But its okay, because now I've got a little cuteness to show for it!

I didn't get a chance last week to play with this adorable little Pure Innocence Image titled "Apple For You" from My Favorite Things. I'd pulled the reinkers for this project a few days ago, and they were patiently waiting on my table. As it turns out, a little water-coloring is a fun way to spend the morning while the boys watched cartoons.

I'm debating about adding a video tutorial for water-coloring, it all depends on if YOU girls are interested. If you happen to be interested in a tutorial please add a comment to this post so that I can gauge interest.

Between a sweet birthday present from a friend, and now a prize package I won on Moxie Fab, I happen to have several pieces of October Afternoon paper on my desktop. Which, is handy because I L-O-V-E the new collections. *grins*

Wishing you all a wonderful day! The boys have been up so long, that they're already hungry again, so I'm off to fill those hungry bellies! See you tomorrow!!

Watercolored Iris

After Cindy's fantastic class on watercoloring at Stamp New England, I was excited to come home grab a Ninji waterbrush, and play with Elegant Flowers from the Gina K Stamp TV Floral Frenzy kit.  

I stamped the image to watercolor paper with Stazon Ink and then got to work. The only problem was that I didn't have any purple or deep blue inks for watercoloring the image.  

However, I simply adore browsing for inspiration on Flickr, so lucky for me, I was able to find an inspiration piece of an iris in exactly my favorite color.  PINK!

I love that with the variety of images in the Floral Frenzy kit you can find an image to suit just about any technique you're wanting to play with.  Its Wednesday, which means that Gina has a new episode and a new technique to share over on Stamp TV.  Have you been following along?  I am so excited that we're already over 3,000 members in such a short amount of time. Isn't that incredible? Although given the amazing quality of the videos, Gina's legendary service and of course, her super cute little smile, I'm not in the least bit surprised!

I hope you'll join me over on Stamp TV - don't forget, every week day brings a new challenge, each with the chance at a free stamp set for one lucky winner! Hope to see you there!

Watercolor Dreams

I hope you've been able to head on over to Stamp TV and get yourself set up with a login. Did you see that its already jumped to number THIRTEEN on the Stamping Top Fifty? WOW!  

Each day, Monday through Friday there will be a challenge hosted by either Gina or one of the Design Team members.  And get this, every single challenge comes with a chance at a free stamp set valued at $19.95!  Get over there and get stamping!!

This is for Cindy's color challenge on Monday which included Always Artichoke, Pumpkin Pie and Apricot Appeal.  There is, just the teeniest bit of Pumpkin Pie in there, I used it to deepen portions of the orchid.  

I used the crackle background stamp included in the Bold Flowers stamp set (part of the Floral Frenzy Stamp TV kit!) and stamped it repeatedly with Always Artichoke onto Always Artichoke paper.  Then I wanted it to be all distressed and aged, so I ran it through my crimper.

I know, I NEVER use that thing, but once in a while it comes in handy...  I ran it through in both directions. Gives it a neat waffle weave texture, then I ran my palm over it a few times to smooth it back out.  It was adhered lightly with adhesive and then all the edges were sewn down with my Janome to the card base.  

Since I stiched it directly to my card base, I wanted to be especially sure that all the edges were nice and neat.  You want to go nice and s-l-0-w around the edges, I actually operated the machine by hand around the corners rather than whirling the foot pedal.  On my last turn, I made sure to tie a nice discreet knot in the thread on the inside and snipped it close.  

The main image is from Asela's "Botanical Dreams" set which I stamped to watercolor paper then painted with my reinkers.  The sentiment is lifted from the "Elegant Flowers" set (also part of the Stamp TV kit) which I added with a piece of WeR Memory Keepers hardware. 

I'm feeling the urge to add more more more to this card, but my mom commented the other day on how she missed some of my more clean looking cards. So mom, this one's for you.  

Have a great day everyone!

Lost?

This card is going to be for my husband with the sentiment "I'd be lost without you...." I'm tucking it away for a road trip we're taking this fall.  Let me just say, I am a terrible navigator.  And, I detest long car rides.  He on the other hand, would be perfectly happy to ride cross country, or all the way to Florida etc.  Loves it.

Thank goodness for a navigation system because I'm like Joey from Friends.  I need to get INTO the map to figure out where I'm going.

When I saw this fun stamp set What's Your Sign from My Favorite Things, I knew exactly what I wanted to do.  I stamped the signpost a few times, in different directions with Chocolate Pearlescent Brilliance ink onto watercolor paper and then let it dry.  Then the whole image is watercolored with my Stampin Up reinkers and  a water brush.  Still one of my very favorite techniques.

So much my favorite, that I had to use that same color palette for another watercolor with Nature Calls.  As long as I'm stocking up on guy cards, I thought this would be fun to have to tuck in his suitcase the next time he travels. 

Can you tell I'm having SO much fun with my MFT stamps this month!  I've got one more preview tomorrow!

Have a great day everyone!