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Thursday, May 7, 2020
Happy Mother's Day Cards and Some Watercolor Painting
I picked up The Ton Amazing Gardenia stamp set. I was so enamored with the large floral which so fit the front of an A2 card. I promptly stamped onto watercolor paper with a couple of different media. This first card was stamped and clear, sparkle heat embossed. When I did the watercoloring of the image, the outline sparkles in real person and the white lines create a perfect accent for the petals. The watercolors I used are my Mission Gold watercolors.
I also stamped several with plain black ink. For this purple version, I ended up stamping over the image using my Simon Says Stamp You Are background stamp and white pigment ink. I love how this turned out - the purples with the offset of the letter is delightful.
White acrylic paint spatters accent this pink floral image. Probably the poorest watercoloring job in the bunch, but I still like the final product.
I'm not sure what I like best about this last card. The yellow accent to the blue, the You Are background over the top or the contrast with the black and white sentiment. In the end, this is my very favorite of the bunch.
So very much fun!
Tuesday, May 5, 2020
Better Together - A Mix and Match Challenge Week 4 by Brandy
During this time of quarantine, Brandy and I miss crafting together. It isn't that we did so often - we didn't see each other every week sometimes. It's more that we can't see each other. So I had an idea to create a challenge each week - one just for Brandy and she could create one just for me. Brandy has to amp the idea up and came up with our official title. This is our fourth week of challenges. I present to you Week Four of the Better Together - A Mix and Match Challenge.
Andie's Challenge for Brandy:
Creating an Interactive Birthday Cake Card - by Laura from My Favorite Things
How to Make 2 Beautiful Cards with One Die - by Therese from LostinPaper
No-Line Watercoloring in Real-Time by Kristina Warner
Creating a Magical Rain Shaker Card by Laura from My Favorite Things
Fun & Fresh Cluster Stamping w/Dawn - From WPlus9
Use some or all the video as inspiration (not imitation) to create your own project. The transformation only has one instruction – use the color palette provided. Brandy did not have to use the theme or products from the videos, just take something from the technique as an inspiration and transform it.
I was so excited to get Andie's Better Together Mix and Match challenge this week! I was given choices from her favorite videos of the last year, but the only requirement was I make whatever I picked my own and to use the color pallet. I watched all the videos and decided I would combine one from Kristina Warner and Dawn from WPlus9.
I also used the MFT Somebunny I Love stamp and dies. I colored the images with Copic markers using the color palette. I had bought this stamp set years ago, I am certain and never used it or the star dies. This challenge gave me an opportunity to do so now. I am very happy about that.
I had some time challenges this week, so I am the reason for delayed posting. However, Andie and I agree this should not be stressful, especially since we are doing it to reduce stress in this crazy time. I do have two other cards using these products that I didn't get to finish for this post, but I plan to finish them.

Better Together - A Mix and Match Challenge Week 4 by Andie
During this time of quarantine, Brandy and I miss crafting together. It isn't that we did so often - we didn't see each other every week sometimes. It's more that we can't see each other. So I had an idea to create a challenge each week - one just for Brandy and she could create one just for me. Brandy has to amp the idea up and came up with our official title. This is our fourth week of challenges. I present to you Week Four of the Better Together - A Mix and Match Challenge.
Brandy wrote a poem for my challenge this week:
This week’s challenge is a bit funny,
as it is all about being punny.
Don’t fret, you are all set,
write your own pun on the run; or
use one from Dawn or Lawn Fawn.
Please no perspiration, I provided inspiration.
The color pallet is bright,
primary colors will make a pretty sight.
Use just the three or maybe
mix those colors for a rainbow effect,
either way, the card will be perfect.
Rules are for schools, but there are a few,
Clean and simple is fine or add a layer or two.
Your images must correlate with the joke,
or you will owe me a lunch and a coke.
Now go get creating my friend,
Because on Monday this challenge comes to an end.

My first card was very simple, but did give me an opportunity to use a stamp that I purchased on a whim and have never used. It was a clear cut pun so I knew that I had to use it. The trick is what to do on the card to make the sentiment (pun) seem appropriate. I ended with a stenciled, ink blended sun behind some die cut letters using my The Greetery Slimline Alphabet dies. Simple, punny and definitely hits all the color palette. However, this card took less than 30 minutes to put together so I decided to make a few more cards to respond to the challenge.
My husband and I are fixin' to celebrate our anniversary in the next month. When I read Brandy's challenge I also thought of my Lawn Fawn Whale You Be Mine? stamp set. I think this card also accurately captures the challenge - punny on the inside and outside. Those whales were stamped onto Bristol and colored with my Zig Clean Color Real Brush markers and then fussy cut out to be able to mount on the front of an stenciled, ink blended sea. I did get all three colors in, though because I used my waterbrush, the red and yellow are not quite as bright as I'd like in the final picture (better in person).
I didn't know if I was quite done because I also remembered by Clearly Besotted That's So Tweet stamp set. I decided to put these two cards together after coloring some of the birdies from that stamp set. I like the bluebirds best, but both cards are charming.
I'm so grateful for a bestie who is willing to inspire and challenge me. This challenge was a bit out of my box again with that primary colors palette. I'm loving the opportunity to stretch as well as the connection with Brandy each week.
Sunday, May 3, 2020
Ever Start a Project and Loose Interest?
Brandy and I have both taken on fairly large projects during the quarantine and find that our interest in these large projects wains. Today I'm sharing some cards made following the pattern when I made this birthday card for my bestie. I had previously mentioned in this post that I used some samples I discarded when making the original card to do some multiple sets of card fronts with different color schemes. My original thought was that during the quarantine I'd have plenty of time to make these into cards. The problem, once I stamped the card fronts my mojo with finishing them just ran right out of me. So they sat for a bit. I made the Mother's Day cards and then they sat a bit more as I found other, more interesting projects to work on. I finally decided to finish these off as a card set. Nothing spectacular, I reverted to a very similar design to the original birthday card and called them done. I suppose I can give them away as they are pretty, but I definitely have lost interest.
Friday, May 1, 2020
2020 Graduation Cards - A Hopeful Make
I've mentioned before that I take some of my cards to a local coffee and flowers shop and sell them to the customers - well the store sells them on my behalf. We've kept our social distance since the first of March and so I have not actually visited the store. They have been providing curbside service for both coffee and flowers, but I'm not sure there have been many card sales. Anyway, I made these graduation cards on the hope that sometime soon I can visit and so can the customers. They are simple, but I think an effective design that would make any graduate proud.

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