New England Stamper

Flourishes & Shimmerz

Flourishes is sponsoring the Shimmerz Design Team this week and I chose to play with this beautiful Waterlilies set, which was released in June.  

I guess you would call this a mixed media card because I used watercolor paint, ink, Copic markers and Shimmerz.  Here's how I did it:

I mixed blue watercolor paint and December Sky Blingz into a thin wash and applied it over a watercolor panel.  Once the panel was dry, I stamped and masked the waterlilies, then stamped the lily pads all with Memento ink.  The lilies and pads were colored with shades of pink and green Copic markers.  Here's a close up view:

I trimmed the panel down to measure 3" x 4" and mounted it onto a black panel with 1/8" mat.  I finished it off with a sentiment from the same set and some pink silk ribbon that Flourishes also carries. 

Head over the Shimmerz blog where you will find more Flourishes and Shimmerz inspiration!

New Shimmerz Colors

Look at these new yummy summer colors from Shimmerz!  Couldn't you just eat them?

Stay tuned for another Shimmerz project on Monday.....

Crafty Creations Wednesday

It's half way through the week and time for another Crafty Creations Challenge.  This time we challenge you to use birds in your project.  This bookmark is my final piece this week using Impression Obsession stamps and Shimmerz.

I created the Sponge and Shimmer background with numerous green and blue inks and December Sky Blingz.  I stamped this gorgeous peacock over the top with black ink and highlighted him with a gold paint pen.  Here's a closer look:

I cut the image into three and mounted it onto black card stock; added an eyelet and fibers and called it good.  This would make a quick and easy gift to accompany a book or gift card for a book store.

Head over to Crafty Creations to check out the other DT projects and then make your own project with birds.  We can't wait to see what you create!

Supplies:

• Stamps: Peacock (Impression Obsession)
• Ink: Shades of blue and green inks from Stampin' Up!
• Paper: Vintage cream (PTI) and Basic Black (SU)
• Accessories: December Sky Blingz, gold eyelet, various fibers
• Tools: Tag Corner punch, Crop-a-dile

Impression Obsession & Shimmerz

As I mentioned in my last post, Impression Obsession is sponsoring the Shimmerz Design Team this week.  Here's another project I created using their Damask Floral acrylic stamp set, a journal for the summer to record books I read or want to read. 

I covered the Chipboard Album with Basic Grey patterned paper and sprayed it with one coat of Baby's Breath Spritz.  The leaves are one image that I stamped onto the front of the journal with black ink and onto a piece of cream c/stock.  I colored the three leaves with Copic markers and painted them with Celery and Evergreen Shimmerz and December Sky Blingz.  I cut out the leaves, added them to the journal with foam pop dots and accented them with pearls.

The inside pages are all stamped in the corner with the remaining stamps in the set.

 

Thanks for stopping by and come back Wednesday for the final project.

Supplies:

• Stamps: Damask Floral (Impression Obsession)
• Ink: Tuxedo Black (Memento), Soft Sky (SU), Copic markers
  
• Paper: Vintage Cream c/stock (PTI), Chipboard Album (October Afternoon), patterned paper Basic Grey
• Accessories: Celery & Evergreen Shimmerz, December Sky Blingz, Baby's Breath Spritz, white taffeta ribbon (SU), pearls (Kaiser Scrapbook), black stickers (Making Memories)

A Sneak Peak & Thanks

Impression Obsession is sponsoring the Shimmerz Design Team next week.  So, here's a sneak peak of the set I'm using called Damask Floral.  It's a very versatile set that I know I'll be using a lot for many different projects and occasions.

I made this card for The Pink Elephant challenge this week which was to use your favorite color combination.  I have a lot of favorite combos, but blue and green comes at the top of the list.

The main panel is a piece of water color paper that I created a salted background on with So Saffron ink. To create the flowers, I stamped three different images from the set with Not Quite Navy ink and colored them with Celery and Evergreen Shimmerz.  I highlighted some areas with a gold paint pen and added extra sparkle with Gold Glimmer Blingz.  Here's a closer look:

And the thanks goes to Stampendous for featuring my Biker Bee card on their blog and The Pink Elephant for putting my wedding in their top 5 last week.

 

And to Ann at Raindrop Echo for her sweet blog award.  Thanks Ann!

Come back on Monday for another Impression Obsession/Shimmerz project.  Have a wonderful weekend!

Supplies:

• Stamps: Damask Floral (Impression Obsession), Vintage Greetings (Pink Persimmon)
• Ink: Not Quite Navy, So Saffron
• C/stock: Not Quite Navy, watercolor paper, patterned paper by Basic Grey
• Accessories: Celery & Evergreen Shimmerz, Gold Glimmer Blingz, gold Dew Drops, gold paint pen (Pilot), ribbon (May Arts)
• Tools: large oval punch, scallop oval punch

Craft Critique

No crafting for me today - I took a day off and went shopping with a girlfriend to Ikea!  Oh, I love Ikea! 

But I have a little something for you.  Craft Critique is reviewing Shimmerz and Spritz today plus they're doing a giveway:

Vendor Spotlight by Jenny Barnett Rohrs

Vendor Spotlight by Francie Horton

Don't take my word for how fabulous Shimmerz is, read these excellent independent reviews.

Happy creating!

French Poppy

Check out these gorgeous prints by Kim Poloson!  The Flourishes' Timeless Tuesday Challenge was to make a card inspired by one of Kim Poloson's pieces and I had a hard time picking just one.  This time I chose her Belgian Tulip II, but I'll definitely back there for more inspiration.

This is the 3" x 6" card I made using Poppy Patch and various patterned papers, found text and trim.

Here's a close up where you can see the slightly shimmering poppy center:

Thanks for stopping by my blog.  Have a wonderful day!

Supplies:

• Stamps: Poppy Patch (Flourishes), French Script (SU retired)
• Paper: Pure Poppy & True Black c/stock (PTI), watercolor paper (Fabriano), Patterned paper by Crate Paper & October Afternoon, text from French novel
  
• Ink: Antique Linen Distress Ink (Ranger), Tuxedo Black (Memento), Real Red, Riding Hood Red, Always Artichoke & Old Olive inks (SU)
• Accessories: Fire Engine Red Shimmerz, vintage trim, pearls (Kaiser Scrapbook)
• Tools: Aquapainter, sponge

Happy Birthday Shimmerz!

Welcome to the Shimmerz Blog Hop!  I'm so glad that you can join the design team in celebrating Shimmerz birthday.

If you have arrived here from the Shimmerz blog, then you are on your way. If you haven't, then you will want to go back and start at the Shimmerz blog to go in the correct blog hop order. 

My Shimmerz birthday project is a cupcake box made with a template from The Digichick Boutique.  I apologize that you can't see the Pink Shimmerz on the top of the cake.  It's been raining for days here and I haven't been able to get a decent photo - sigh.

Many of the team will be offering blog candy along the way, in addition to the grand prize on the Shimmerz blog.  All those who leave a comment here will be entered into a drawing to win this current Stampin' Up! stamp set - isn't it adorable?  The deadline to win is Friday, June 19 at midnight.

Okay, so your secret word from me is:

HAPPY

Now I am going to send you over to Amber Kroening's blog to find your next word.

You have until Friday, June 19 to complete the blog hop, but remember to be eligible for the grand prize you need to leave a comment at every blog on the hop.  Good luck!

Friendship is Precious

Don't you just love that quote?  Timeless Quotes is one of my favorite sets by Flourishes. I  made it with a specific friend in mind who has spent quite a bit of time in the shade recently, but I think the sunshine is on its way.  I hope she likes it.

And the card fit nicely into Flourishes Timeless Tuesday challenge to use designer paper on a card this week.  Yeah!



One quick note about the Shimmerz Spritz.  I want to show you how the Baby's Breath Spritz spattered on my card stock.  I could have re-done the piece, but I actually quite like how it looks.  The reason it spattered is that I shook it up way too much and got air bubbles in it.  For more even coverage, tap the bottom of your bottle and swirl it around to mix it up rather than shaking it.  If, however, you do want a spattered look then give it a good old shake.

Have a wonderful Sunday!

Supplies:

• Stamps: Timeless Quotes and I Love Roses (Flourishes)
• Paper: Vintage Cream (PTI), Baja Blue (SU) and Urban Prairie d/paper (Basic Grey)
• Ink: Baja Blue & Black Memento
• Accessories: Satin ribbon (May Arts), rhinestone brad (SU)
• Tools: Big Shot, Cuttlebug embossing folder, Mat Pack (SU)

Sweet & Simple Saturday

It's the weekend already (I don't know where the week went) and it's time for a quick and easy card.  I was inspired by the colors in the Artful Sentiments blog last week - this site gives different Copic marker color challenges each week.  And the layout of the card is Karen Giron's Sweet Sunday Sketch #21.   

I plan to give this to a friend who recently became a US Citizen and like me she loves sparkle.  I added Angel Wings Shimmerz to the bee's wings, silver Stickles to tips of his antennae and some Amuse Twinkle stickers to the flag and the four corners.

If you need a creative challenge this weekend, visit Gingersnap Creations where we have several challenges right now: Tag Challenge, Journeys Challenge, Color Challenge and Inspiration Challenge. And there's some blog candy - check it out!

Thanks for stopping by and have a peaceful weekend!

Supplies:

• Stamps: Bike Bee (Stampendous)
• Paper: Stampers Select White (Papertrey Ink), Real Red, Tempting Turquoise & So Saffron
• Ink: Memento Black, Copic Markers: B05, B44, E29, R29, Y21, Angel Wings Shimmerz
• Accessories: Silver Stickles, Amuse Twinkle Stickers
• Tools: 1" punch