Still Counting the Happies

I recently had an opportunity (haven't we all?!?!) to spend a little time indoors and coloring.  There was rain here in Arizona, which is rare.  I had previously stamped and white heat embossed these images using my Scraps of Love Smile stamp set onto Toner Grey paper.  This paper has a little texture so my Polychromos worked very well to create these cards.  I am so very pleased with this very alternative color scheme for the first card.  I didn't know what to expect, but thought I would try.

For the remainder of the cards, I decided to go with various brighter colored cards.  I am very pleased with this blue monochromatic set.  I love how the green leaves offset the colored flowers.

Orange is my least favorite color, but I decided to give it a try.  I like the variation of color and how the white gel pen accents impacts the image.  I didn't expect to enjoy this card, but find it is growing on me.

Not sure I enjoy this red which is probably too bright for me, but I think I salvaged this one into a passable card.

I tried to use the opposite to the previous card and I'm not sure I enjoy the yellow flower, but the rest of this card works for me.  Again, resulted in a passable card, so I'm pleased.

I have previously read One Thousand Gifts by Ann Voskamp.  I started to write down my gratitude and somehow stopped around 300+.  It's a steady difficult job.  However, I haven't stopped praying my thanks and I like to think I'm closer after a few years, I just stop writing it down.

I'm counting my happies through this difficult time.  I'm grateful for aging parents and a grandpa who have so far stayed healthy.  I'm grateful for continued work (from home) when I could be facing a business shut down at some point in the future.  I'm grateful for my kids and husband (not necessarily in that order, just depends the day!).  I'm grateful for a bestie who can still tolerate crafty chats - more on the phone than previously in person.  I'm grateful for the comfort and hope that I have in my Savior, Jesus.

Sending you all the happies too and hoping you can find a way to count your own happies. 

More Count the Happies

I took me a minute, but I did eventually put these card fronts together.  I had shared a few cards that I stamped with my Scraps of Love Smile stamp set and painted with Windsor Newton Gouache and Mission Gold watercolors a few days ago.  In this case, I left the black as the background and die cut an accent frame around the image.  I can't say which I like better.

This last I tried to create some blue accent around.  Turned out a bit bright for me, but it is very striking in person and I would have to say - I'm ever so delighted in my experiments.

I'm Just Counting the Happies

Brandy and I had a bit of excitement last year when Legion came out with black watercolor cardstock.  So we hurried up and bought some.  Brandy, being more artistic and adventurous, has already put her black watercolor cardstock to good use.  You can read more about it here and here and here.  The only think I had the courage to investigate was some swatching that I'd have to say was mixed results (at least).    I finally was inspired to use some Winsor Newton Gouache with my Mission Gold watercolors and these cards are the results of those endeavors.

The image was clear heat embossed onto the black watercolor paper using my Scraps of Love Smile stamp set.  I ended up white heat embossing the sentiment because I didn't appreciate how the sentiment looked when it was just black (i.e., clear).  I ended up having to paint the dots back into the daisy after all the painting was completed and the edges of the card front were softened with Picket Fence Distress Ink.

All in all, I'm super pleased with how these cards turned out.  I have a few more painted card fronts that I'll share when I get them made into cards.  A wonderful experiment and a different technique for me.  I couldn't be more pleased.

Smile - Notecards Featuring Scraps of Love

I picked up the Scraps of Love Smile stamp set at the Mesa, AZ Scrapbook Expo.  We had so much fun, but a clear highlight for me (Andie) was meeting Ann Cobiere-Scott in person, visiting and doing a Make-n-Take with her.  Ann designed this stamp set and the Make-N-Take used this stamp set and a white gel pen with some patterned paper.  Brandy thought it was such a delightful stamp set, she borrowed my set and stamped these card fronts during the crop that night.  Wasn't I tickled when she sent me these pictures of a delightfully colorful card set using the same technique?!?!!!

Really great set and so much fun to put together too.  Brandy hits a home run once again!

Andie for