Fall is just around the corner...

*If you are here for the Faber-Castell/Creative Imaginations Blog Hop, please click HERE (or scroll down).*

Penny Black is sharing fall cards by the designers today.  I created a pair of pennant-shaped cards.  I love how the new Penny Black designer paper pad, Madison, coordinates perfectly with Penny Black 30-138 Foliage Fancy.

Click HERE to visit the Penny Black blog to see what the other designers have created.  Have a wonderful weekend!

Same Stamp Collabo with Dina- Day 6

*If you're here for the Faber-Castell/Creative Imaginations blog hop, please click HERE or scroll down.*
I've had sooooo much fun collaborating with Dina these last few weeks, I'm bummed to report that this is our last collaboration post (for now, anyways!).  Each day that we've posted, I just couldn't wait to get over to her blog to see what she created with the same set.  And let me tell you, I was WOW'd every time!  Today we are both working with Penny Black 40-132 So Blessed:

In creating my card, I tried a new technique (new to me, at least!) to create the background.  Using watercolor paper, I heavily misted the paper with water.  Then I dabbed Distress Stains onto the wet background (Peeled Paint, Fired Brick, Wild Honey, and Broken China).  Next I stamped my image and went over it to darken it even more with a Faber-Castell Design Memory Craft Stamper's Big Brush Pen in 199-Black.  The white portions were colored with the *new* WHITE Stamper's Big Brush Pen- this was my first time using the new marker and let me tell ya, I LUV it!

Click HERE to see what Dina has created with this same set- I'm dying to see what she's come up with. :)  Thanks for popping by!

Creative Imaginations and Faber-Castell Design Memory Craft Blog Hop

Creative Imaginations and Faber-Castell Design Memory Craft designers have teamed up for a fabulous blog hop from August 27-31st! Hop with us today for craft ideas, inspiration and tutorials!  You should be arriving from the blog of the talented Shelley Hamilton.  To start the hop from the beginning, click HERE. 

For my project, inspired by THIS post by Donna Downey, I tried something I've never done before. I created a 16 x 20 inch canvas--

Supplies: Faber-Castell Design Memory Craft Gelatos™ (Grape, Blueberry, Green Tea, Tangerine, Butter Cream, Bubble Gum, Mango, Pistachio, Red Cherry, Cotton Candy, Coconut), Stamper's Big Brush Pens (Scarlet Red 118, May Green 170, Nougat 178, Magenta 133, White 101, Manganese Violet 160, Dark Chrome Yellow 109, Cold Grey III 232, Cobalt Blue 143, Sky Blue 146, Deep Scarlet Red 219, Permanent Olive Green 167, Orange Glaze 113, Pink Madder Lake 129, Black 199), Twinkling H2Os (Alfalfa, Blue Zircon, Mango Mamba, Poppy Red, Vavoom), Existencil Expressions Stencil, Other (Spellinbinders Nestablities Wonderful Wings, Penny Black 30-114 Puzzle Parts, Martha Stewart Circle Punch, Krylon Matte Finish, Helmar Liquid Scrap Dots, Twine, SRM Stickers)

 I have a short photo tutorial for you on creating this canvas, but before I share that, let me provide you with the link to the next stop on the hop, so you can keep hopping right away if you want to. :)  Next up is Lynne Forsythe- I can't wait to see what she's created!
Don’t forget to leave a comment on each blog for a chance to win!  Creative Imaginations and Faber-Castell Design Memory Craft will each be giving away a $50 prize pack!  The blog hop will end at midnight on August 31^st.  The two winners will be announced on the companies’ blogs on September 4^th.     

Here's a few photos I took along the way as I created my canvas.

I began by dividing up the canvas into 4 x 4 squares:

Next, I colored directly onto the canvas using Gelatos™, blending with my fingers as I went. I worked square by square, blending so that the darker color was on the outer perimeter of the square and the lighter towards the middle:

To lighten the centers of the squares and for additional blending, I rubbed a baby wipe in the center of the square.  You can see the difference this made on the next photo, the square on the left has been blended with the baby wipe and the one on the right has not:

Then for additional depth and richness of color I painted Twinkling H2Os around the perimeter of each square:

I blended each square a little bit more using the Coconut Gelato™:

Once all of the squares were colored and I was happy with how they looked, I sprayed a couple of coats of Matte Finish to seal in the Gelato™ and Twinkling H2O background.  This step also makes it super easy to blend the Stamper's Big Brush Pens.

Next I combined the Existencil and Stamper's Big Brush Pens to color a bit more on the background, blending colors with my fingertip as I went.

I added black and white shading, blending with my fingertip as I went.

I colored the die cut butterfly embellishments with Gelatos™, stamped them using Penny Black 30-114 Puzzle Parts and Stamper's Big Brush Pens, and added SRM Stickers to banners. Finally, I layered the butterlies onto the canvas, adhering with Helmar Liquid Scrap Dots.

Thanks so much for visiting!

It's been an honor to take part in this hop.  Don't forget to visit your next stop - Lynne Forsythe.

Same Stamp Collabo with Dina- Day 5

Today Dina and I are both creating cards using Penny Black 30-026 Tiny Wishes:

I colored my main image with Copic markers and I also used Penny Black 40-137 Brick Wall and 30-104 Sweet Wishes. The yellow background is from the new Penny Black 6 x 6 Paper Pad, Madison.  I love that while this is a fall/Christmas paper pad, there are lots of backgrounds that can be used any time of year!

My talented niece Maddi is also playing along with this same stamp challenge, and created this cutie pa tootie card.  I especially love her coloring on the flowers:

Now be sure to hop over to Dina's blog to see what she's created with this same set.  Hugs and Happy Stamping!

Penny Black Interview

Penny Black is spotlighting their designers and contributers over the next couple of week.   I'm so honored to be featured today and you can read my interview HERE.  I hope you stop by as I'd love to hear your answer to my question for YOU posed at the end of my interview.  And just to tease you a little bit, here's a peek at the card I'm sharing on the PB blog today as well:

Have a great day and see you on Friday with another collaboration day with Dina!

Same Stamp Collabo with Dina- Day 4

For Day 3 of my collaboration with Dina, we are both using Penny Black 40-098 Tom and Tilly, illustrated by Mo Manning:

Here's my take.  I decided to stretch myself out of my comfort zone and use up lots of my favorite patterned paper by My Minds Eye, Lost and Found Breeze.

Sentiment by Penny Black, 30-113 Petal Party.  Dies by Spellbinders- Twisted Metal Tags and Accents, Standard Circles Large, and Classic Edges Two.

Don't forget to pop over to Dina's BLOG today to check out what she's created with this same stamp.  I can only imagine the beauty of her card using this sweet image! 

Same Stamp Collabo with Dina- Day 3

Dina and I are back today, continuing with our same stamp collaboration, and we're both using this cutie pie set by Penny Black, 30-034 Teddy and Company:

I had fun pairing this with Penny Black's 30-114 Puzzle Parts to create this card:

The sentiment is also by Penny Black, 30-115 Lace Delight.  My overall design for this card was inspired by the talented Alice Wertz (BTW, if you've never been to her blog I highly recommend checking it out).

My super talented nieces are also collaborating with Dina and I today and did a beautiful job using the same stamp set, Teddy and Company, to create these two awesome cards:

Now, click HERE to travel over to Dina's blog to see what she's created with her stamping magic and this same set! HUGS!

If you're interested...

*If you are here for the CASE Study blog hop, please click HERE (or scroll down).*

I just wanted to let you know that Faber-Castell Design Memory Craft has a guest design team call out.  You can check out more information HERE.

And if you're in the Chicago area, Mou, my fellow Faber-Castell Design Memory Craft design team member, will be teaching a fun workshop with Faber-Castell supplies.  More info HERE.

See you on Friday with Day 3 of my collaboration with Dina!
 

Same Stamp Collabo with Dina- Day 2

*If you are here for the CASE Study blog hop, please click HERE (or scroll down).*

It's Day 2 of my collaboration with the talented Dina Kowal (for more info about our collaboration, click  HERE).  Today we are both using Penny Black 40-025 Thinking of You:

Here's my take:

I also used Penny Black 40-134 Wall Paper Print, 30-116 Social Butterfly, 30-105 Gratitude,  patterned paper by Crate Paper, and the banner die is by Spellbinders.

Thanks for visiting!  Don't forget to pop over to Dina's BLOG to see what she's cooked up with this same set!  :)

Same Stamp Collabo with Dina- Day 1

*If you are here for the CASE Study blog hop, please click HERE (or scroll down).*

I am so pleased that today I can finally share Day 1 of my Same Stamp Collabo with Dina Kowal.  Over the next few weeks, Dina and I will be sharing cards created using the same stamp set.  It is so fun to see what each person comes up with when they are starting with the same set. As I write this, I haven't yet seen Dina's card and I simply can't wait!  Today we are using Penny Black 30-096 Flowers Sweet:

For my card I decided to get out some patterned paper (Basic Grey) for inspiration.  And that polka dot background-- a new Christmas stamp by Penny Black (40-162 Crystal Pattern) that works great for snow OR polka dots! The sentiment on my card is by SRM stickers.

Now be sure to head over to Dina's blog to see what she's cooked up for today. I'm sure it will be breathtaking!!

Gift Giving...

Today's card was created using Penny Black 40-155 Gift Giving:

40-155 Gift Giving was colored with copics and then cut out and layered onto a Spellbinders Oval die. The sentiment was embossed and then the background was inked with Distress Ink (Festive Berries and Fired Brick). Finally, I stamped the red background with 4273K Winter Berries using Crimson Red VersaFine Ink.
Also, I am sooo pleased to announce that beginning on Friday, I will be collaborating with Dina Kowal on a fun project.  Throughout the month of August, Dina and I will be working with the same 6 Penny Black sets.  Each posting day we will each share our own "take" on the image(s) from the sets.  Dina is UBER talented and I had the opportunity to meet her in person at CHA last winter.  I can't wait to see what she has created and cannot express how excited I am to collaborate with her!

AND tomorrow I'll be participating in a fun blog hop... can't wait to share.  :)

In the Snow...

This new stamp, 40-176 In the Snow, illustrated by Mo Manning for Penny Black is sooo fun to color!

40-176 In the Snow was colored with Copics. For a finishing touch, the background and sentiment banner were lightly distressed with Brushed Corduroy Distress Ink.  The sentiment is also from a new Penny Black set, 30-140 Christmas Cheer. 

Be sure to pop by the Penny Black blog all this week for more cards using the newest release Penny Black stamps. See you soon with another cutesy PB Christmas card. HUGS!

New stamps!

I'm soooo excited to announce that the new Penny Black Christmas and Halloween catalogs are available for viewing  HERE and HERE.  Here's a card using one of my *new* favorite stamps---

For today's card I used Penny Black 4271 Winter Ledge:

After stamping with VersaFine Onyx Black, I inked my background using Distress Ink.  I added subtle shading to the sun using a Prismacolor Pencil.  I also used a Faber-Castell Design Memory Craft Pitt Artist Pen in black to darken some of the branches.  Finally, I used a white Prismacolor Pencil to shade the snow and trace around the darkest branches.

For more ideas and a look at the new release stamps, be sure to visit the Penny Black blog, beginning Thursday, 8/2.

Thanks so much for visiting, my friends.  See you soon with more cards and new stamps! :)