Gina K's Mandala Maker Stamp set from Mona

My dear friend, Mona, recently sent me a package of stamping goodies including but not limited to Gina K's original Mandala Maker stamp set and Fancy Phrases stamps and dies.

I used Gina K's original Wreath Builder stencils, both the 3-3/4" and 4" versions. You can see in the photos, the 4" wreath builder extends almost to the edge of a regular 4-1/4" by 5-1/4" card.

I also followed Jennifer McGuire's Kaleidoscope Cards YouTube as I worked. She was very helpful in deciding which stamps to use! I followed her blue and green color scheme at first to get me started. It was very relaxing to make these mandala cards.

I added notes to my image for future reference. I marked the center of my card by taking the ruler and matching opposite corners. I stamped twice for most of the images to get good color coverage. 

I used all of Gina K's aqua/turquoise inks in this mandala...from the center outward: Sea Glass, Ocean Mist, Turquoise Sea, Blue Lagoon, Tranquil Teal. I had already stamped and die cut the Gina K Fancy Phrases Happy Birthday sentiment (Thank You Mona!!). Maybe I should have stamped it in Tranquil Teal instead of Versafine Onyx Black ink? I added Gina K Disco Balls sequins on some of my cards.

I'm glad I marked the ink colors used on this one...Gina K's Light Orchid, Sea Glass, Lovely Lavender and Medium Orchid as shown. I probably would not have remembered them!

Thanks for visiting!

Peace and all good!

Artistically Inked Stamp Set from Mona

My dear friend, Mona, recently sent me a package of stamping goodies including, but not limited to the  Stampin' Up! Artistically Inked stamp set. Plus, she sent me a beautiful card made from SU's Artistically Inked stamp set, following Jackie Bolhuis' YouTube tutorial. Jackie's method is similar to the old One Sheet Wonder technique, but she mindfully stamps to create 4 beautiful cards. Her technique was very quick and easy and fun!

I took a photo of my attempt, putting my inkpads in the picture so I'd remember what colors I used. I found it very helpful to follow Jackie's YouTube while I stamped on the entire sheet of cardstock.

I copied Mona's method of stamping the envelopes. This Artistically Inked stamp set was perfect for this technique and so much fun. 

I will created another blogpost for the Gina K Mandala Maker-original set.

Thanks for visiting!

Peace and all good!

Stampfest at Lynette's July 10, 2024

Lynette, Don and I spent the day together on Wednesday, July 10, 2024. We walked to Pita, Pita, a new restaurant nearby and  had a delicious lunch. Then Lynette and I spent several hours stamping. We always have a great time together!

Here are the cards we made. Remember, you can click on any image and see a larger version. 

Our inspiration came from cards made by members of the Gina K Designs & StampTV Friends Facebook Group.

The sailboat and map card was inspired by one of Sheri West Harris' beautiful series of cards. The boat and birds are from Gina K's Time to Coast stamp set. The map background stamp is from Lynette's stash. Tag die from her stash too.

Inks: 

Versafine onyx black

Gina K's ocean mist, sea glass and powder blue blended on the map background; tranquil teal for the sailboat and birds.

This beach scene card was inspired by Tracy Renner's beautiful beach cards. We tore an oval in a 4 x 5-1/4 inch piece of printer paper to mask the scene. Then used a  cardstock to mask the sky, the sea and the sand, using blending brushes to add Gina K inks...

turquoise sea for the sea

sandy beach for the sand

and

ocean mist for the clouds, using Gina's method of torn paper for the clouds.

We used some stamps from Lynette's stash:

Waves using Gina's turquoise sea ink

Seagrasss from Stampscapes using black ink

Sand Hill stamp which we stamped in sandy beach, giving the sand some texture. Then we added texture with a dotted stamp with vintage photo or tea dye ink.

The rocks in the background were stamped with Lynette's Stampin' Up!'s Waterfront set in Versafine onyx black ink. We drew black lines at the horizon and black lines in the sand adding bits of "seagrass" here and there and some hills. We also drew the birds in freehand. Later we noticed that Gina's Time to Coast stamp set had a similar bird stamp!

This sea card was inspired by Debra Ringler-Couch's beautiful card. We punched a circle from cardstock (a scant 2" in diameter). Placed that down first, with a little washi tape on the back-press the washi tape on cloth a few times to make it less sticky. Then we added another mask to block out the sky so we could add color to the sea. We used Gina K's powder blue with a blending brush. Then we covered the sea and added wild dandelion yellow ink with a blending brush as shown. 

We stamped the boat after removing the masks. But we should have added a little bit of blue to the sea part of the circle, masking the sky before stamping the boat. 

We stamped the boat, the rocks , the birds and the sentiment (mine) with Versafine onyx black ink. Then we added the lines for waves and at the horizon with a fine point black marker. 

We had a great time making cards and visiting! We always do!

Thanks for visiting!

Peace and all good!

Stampfest at Lynette's May 7, 2024

Lynette and I had a wonderful time stamping on Tuesday, May 7, 2024. We had lots of inspiration from cards we saw online. Thanks to those who share their artwork!  

Our "torn book and ledger" card was fun to make. Inspired by Natasha Foote's YouTube #991...and a card posted by a member of Natasha's Facebook group. It's called Come crafting with Natasha. Thank you to Natasha and the FB member for sharing their artistic talent!

I worked on the background pieces, stamping with a Hero Arts ledger stamp, using an old book page,  tearing and sponging distress gathered twigs ink on the edges of both.  I found a piece of darker brown cardstock that was already stamped with a tiny script. I trimmed it to fit the card and  added flourishes from Stampin' Up's Carte Postal, using Brilliance white ink. 

Lynette worked on the flowers and leaves, stamping Stampin' Up's Secret Garden flowers in versafine black onyx onto a soft buttercream linen cardstock. Then she did some ink blending with distress lemonade and honey to add more color. The leaves were stamped in Gina K's jelly bean green.

Inspired by a card Lynette found online created by Scrappin' and Stampin' in GJ. Scroll down-the card is toward the bottom of that webpage.

We cut book paper, 2-3/8 wide by 5-1/2 long. And added a piece of black card stock to back it. 

We used the silhouette stamp in Stampin' Up's Just Believe set. 

The green butterflies were die cut from a  Stampin Up's Embosslit called Beautiful Wings

We cut our own banner and stamped with sentiments.

We used Versafine Onyx Black ink.

We really like the big dragonfly blueprints image from Tim Holtz's old Stampers Anonymous Classic Favorites "Classics #1 SCF001" cling rubber stamp. We created a stenciled background with

Tim Holtz Collection Dot Fades THS006

Circles and X's aka Dotted and stitched-THMM114

Harlequin THS016

TH Mesh & Typo stencil from TH Mixed-Media Stamps & Stencil set THMM121.

Then stamped the dragonfly with Versafine onyx black ink.

Inks used to blend over the stencils: distress broken china, wild honey, peeled paint.

Had so much fun with the stenciled background and the large dragonfly that we made a second, portrait version, which was inspired by Rita Wright's Masked Butterfly card. 

Stencils: Tim Holtz circles THMM114 and sequin waste stencil

Inks: Gina K sea glass and jelly bean green 

Stamped the dragonfly with Versafine onyx black.

We were inspired to make these watercolor flowers after seeing Amy Williams' YouTube: Water coloring made EASY! We used Jane Davenport's set of 12 watercolors-brights pallette. I had already played with this technique using reinkers, which you can see here. We used water brushes. However, next time I would like to try using a paintbrush.

 

Below are close ups. Click on an image to see a larger version.

Here you see Gina K's 4 x 4 inch Happy Hydrangea stamped image from using Lynette's luxurious Caran D'Asche watercolor crayons. 

I have to tell you about the right layer. We spritzed the stamp first then added the watercolor crayons and spritzed it before stamping. That image was too watery. We then worked on the left panel, in which we did NOT give it the 2nd spritz of water after coloring the stamp with the watercolor crayons.  That came out better!

We decided to give the right panel another chance...spritzed the stamp and added watercolor crayon (2nd time)...but this time we DID NOT SPRITZ the stamp a second time. Lynette stamped the hydrangea right on top of the stamped image and I think it looks great now!

I hope that the descriptions make sense. It can be handy for us to look back and see what we did to create these cards and panels.

Thank you for visiting.

Peace and all good.

Watercolor Flowers, May 9, 2024

Thanks to Lynette for sharing Amy Williams' YouTube, Water coloring made EASY! from April 7, 2024. What a fun and easy technique! I really liked the way Amy added dots of color to place where the bottom of each flower would be placed.  Liked how Amy made one of the flowers is turn downward and how she added the dots of color by flicking her aqua brush. I used a paintbrush and water. I did not blot my work with a towel like Amy did.

Gina K reinker colors used: turquoise sea, tranquil teal, medium spruce and grass green

You can always click on images to see a larger version.

After dry, I added lines with a Faber Castell Pitt pen.

Thanks for visiting!

Peace and all good.