Pretty in Pink with Elizabeth

We are blushing about this theme.  From dark hues to light whispers we are tickled pink to share our rosy creations.

Today is all about pink!

This brushstroke stamp (Ravishing 40-589) comes to life with just three colors.  The image was first stamped in Antique Linen Distress ink.  Then it was watercolored using Worn Lipstick and Peeled Paint Distress inks.  I created a watercolor palette by pushing the ink pads onto an acrylic block to make pools of color.

A soft texture (Indian Wheel 40202) was stamped in Fired Brick Distress ink across the middle band.

The soft painted effect of the flower is the perfect backdrop for the inspiring sentiment stamped in one of my favorite inks - Onyx Black VersaFine.

You can get a closer look at all of today's products here:

40-589 Ravishing

40-202 Indian Wheel

30-480 Artful

14-003 Rose Garden Cardstock

15-001 Coral Reef Cardstock

Have a rosy day and remember to create what sets YOUR heart on fire.

Same Stamp Challenge: Appreciation with Elizabeth

One stamp, one Studio, two designers, two cards... what will two friends create when they both reach for the beautiful Penny Black stamp, 30-488 Appreciation?

What happens when a resale shop teams up with Penny Black?

Framed wall art!!!!

After watercoloring Appreciation, it was matted with a simple white cut out and inserted it into this antique frame.

The hardest part of this project is deciding whether to give it as a gift or keep it for myself.  :0)

Looking for more inspiration using this stamp?  

Stay tuned for Jill's creative idea.

Same Stamp Challenge: All Fours with Elizabeth

One stamp, one Studio, two designers, two cards... what will two friends create when they both reach for the beautiful Penny Black stamp, 40-606 All Fours?

One of the creative features I enjoy about rubber stamps is the ability to use the images in different ways.

In this case, the little puppies are off enjoying a snooze and the fashionable girl has been altered to carry a large flower.

40-606 All Fours, 30-470 Just Believe, 30-449 Berries Delight (flower), 51-416 Stitched Stackers

I am especially fond of this sentiment.  I feel it is beautiful inspiration for the recipient as well as a happy reminder for myself.

A "Resuscitation" Card with Elizabeth

Ever have a card that turned into a disaster?  Yes?  Us too!  We will share our cards that were destined for the trash and were "resuscitated" with new life.

All I needed to do to finish my card, so I thought, was to add a shadow around the Blissful Blossoms.  That's when everything went south.  
The shadow was too dark and looked awful.

Frustrated and discouraged, I decided to see if I could "resuscitate" the card.

I covered the original design with white gesso, re-positioned the cardstock in my MISTI stamping tool and started the process over again by repeatedly stamping the blossoms using Memento Markers as my ink source.

This time instead of adding a shadow, I lightly stamped Letter Background using Peanut Brittle Memento Ink.  

The Stitched Stacker frame was edged in Delicata Golden Glitz and elevated over the artwork with dimensional foam tape.

I fell in love with the soft look of the design and now have a go-to "emergency" technique to revive other cards  

Stayed tuned to hear about Jill's card "resuscitation".  

Supplies by Penny Black:  Blissful Blossoms 40-600, Stitched Stackers 51-416, 

Treasured Sentiments 30-356, Letter Background 1999L

Floral Happiness with Elizabeth

There all kinds of floral ideas blooming in the Studio.  Join us as we share our bouquets of colorful happiness.

My floral journey started here:

This was a gift given to me and my husband at Christmas.  This canvas bag contained a cellophane wrapped package of delicious pistachios.  The bag was fabulously constructed and I couldn't part with it after removing the nuts.  I instantly thought it could be art-cycled!!!  The reverse side had nutritional and manufacturing information so both sides needed a makeover.

Which lead to this:

Side A

Side B

The majority of colorful mediums I used included lots of white and clear Gesso, acrylic paints mixed with a textile medium, VersaCraft Inks, VersaMagic Inks, StazOn Inks, Faber-Castell PITT Big Brush Pens, a white paint pen and a heat tool.

Some images might not be overly visible, but they added immense depth and texture to the overall design.  Other images were used as a base to do some freestyle painting.

These are some of the Penny Black stamps and stencils you might spot throughout the design.

Get your vases ready.  Jill will be sharing her beautiful bouquets next.

Same Stamp Challenge: Cup of Java with Elizabeth

One stamp, one Studio, two designers, two cards... what will two friends create when they both reach for the beautiful Penny Black stamp, 30-475 Cup of Java?

This cup of java is perfect for a tag!

The tag was created by sandwiching the die cut present bow between two stitched rectangles.

Cup of Java was stamped on watercolor paper in Tuxedo Black Memento ink and colored with Grumbacher watercolors.  After fussy cutting the design it was glued to the front of the tag.  The sentiment was stamped in Onyx Black VersaFine.  A few twinkling dots were added with a Sakura Gelly Roll pen.

Here is a snapshot of the Penny Black supplies used:

The die cut bow not only makes a cute topper for the tag, but it also allows a string or ribbon to be looped through it which makes attaching it to a gift a snap.

Same Stamp Challenge: In Paris with Elizabeth

One stamp, one Studio, two designers, two cards... what will two friends create when they both reach for the beautiful Penny Black stamp, 40-609 In Paris?

For my design, I created some Parisian mixed media.

A very special girl I knew was turning twelve and she was having a Paris-themed birthday party and I thought this card would perfect in keeping with all her French festivities.

I started by adding white gesso to a manila tag along with a piece of torn sheet music.  A combination of acrylic paints and chalks were applied to the tag with lots of water misting.

In Paris was stamped on all the colorful happiness in Paris Dusk Memento ink.  A subtle stenciling of dots was floated into the design.

To keep the sentiment crisp and clean, I stamped it with black StazOn ink on heavy tissue paper and adhered it with matte gel medium.

A little bit of freehand text in white added a message that is probably only readable by me and my heart.

After edging the tag with Delicata Gold ink it was attached to a card blank with dimensional foam tape.

Penny Black Supplies: In Paris 40-609, Snippets 30-283, Dotlets 25-007, Letter Background 1999L

Merci beaucoup for visiting us while we visited Paris via stamping!

Smitten with Stamping: Elizabeth

It's a new year and we are still in the Studio 

and we are still SMITTEN with stamping! 

Join us as we share a few creations we just LOVED making.

All hearts and love...

 This little love note has three simple ingredients: a sentiment, a die cut and a cute hedgie.

The main white panel of the card was edged in Delicata Golden Glitz which gives a little pop against the black mat.  After coloring the hedgie with Copics it was fussy cut by hand.

For extra sheen and sparkle the red die-cut love notes were buffed with Pearlescent Red Pan Pastel and the white panel in White Fine Pearl Medium Pan Pastel.

Supplies:  Penny Black - Smitten 30-455, So Loved 30-457, Love Notes 51-406.

Happy Valentine's Day from our studio to yours!

Smitten with Stamping: Elizabeth

It's a new year and we are still in the Studio 

and we are still SMITTEN with stamping! 

Join us as we share a few creations we just LOVED making.

Oh how true...I am smitten with stamping!

This sentiment couldn't more accurately depict what art does for my heart and soul.  The sentiment is from a new Penny Black release and the set is called, most appropriately for today's post, "Smitten".  The subtle design behind the flowers is an old favorite "Indian Wheel" (stamped in Niagara Mist VersaMagic) and the flowers are from a collection called "Berries Delight".

I really enjoyed the effect of combining different patterned papers to create the matted layers.  

The flowers were colored with Staedtler Karat Aquarell watercolor pencils.  After they were fussy cut, I pounced them with Frost VersaMark and heat embossed them with ultra thick embossing powder.  I love how it looks an enamel embellishment!

Supplies: Penny Black - Smitten 30-455, Berries Delight 30-449, Indian Wheel 40-202, Golden Moment Designer Paper Pad 80-015.

Next we will see what Jill is smitten with.  

You can be sure it will be a colorful delight!

Countdown to Christmas: Elizabeth

As the fall leaves tumble away and snowflakes softly make their sparkly appearance, join us as we feature cards for the approaching Christmas season.  We have lots of of holly jolly jingle joy to share with you. 

This is one of my favorite winter gratitude sentiments.  

Penny Black: Stitched Snowflake, Full of Merriment, A Festive Season

It looks so pretty paired with Penny Black's Stitched Snowflake.

The background is lots of sumptuous layers of color with snowflakes added between the applications.

For a extra snowiness, crystal glitter was added to the snowflake.

"Snow Many Thanks" for your visits with me and Jill throughout the year.  

Have a wonderful Christmas!

Countdown to Christmas: Elizabeth

As the fall leaves tumble away and snowflakes softly make their sparkly appearance, join us as we feature cards for the approaching Christmas season.  We have lots of of holly jolly jingle joy to share with you. 

It's not Christmas without some cute trees...

These little cards were made with Penny Black's Modern Xmas Tree (51-400) die, Full of Merriment (30-444) sentiment set and Wintertime (80-012) designer paper pad.

They were made identically except for the UTEE (ultra thick embossing enamel) that was heat embossed onto the trees which are on the card on the left.

Stay tuned as Jill decks the halls with her colorful holiday magic!

Countdown to Christmas: Elizabeth

As the fall leaves tumble away and snowflakes softly make their sparkly appearance, join us as we feature cards for the approaching Christmas season.  We have lots of of holly jolly jingle joy to share with you. 

More sweet moments to share....

After stamping the poinsettia several times with a Misti and Memento Markers, additional colors and shading were added with Faber Castel Pitt Pastel Pencils.  A gray Copic marker created the shadow around the image.

Next, the sentiment was stamped in Onyx Black VersaFine and then the piece was matted with gold paper.

The burgundy card base was stamped with a mosaic pattern with VersaMark Watermark ink.  A little bit of patterned designer paper acts as a ribbon between the card base and artwork.

Stamps by Penny Black:  Red Delight 40-573, Sweetest Moments 30-436, 

Mosaic Pattern 40-563, Holiday Trimmings 80-013 (designer paper)

More holly-jolly fun coming soon from Jill!

Countdown to Christmas: Elizabeth

As the fall leaves tumble away and snowflakes softly make their sparkly appearance, join us as we feature cards for the approaching Christmas season.  We have lots of of holly jolly jingle joy to share with you. 

For friends and family across the miles...

For this design, the frame was created by heat embossing the holly sprig in gold.  Different shades of Metallic Rub-Ons were applied by fingertip.  During the application, the embossed holly sprigs were wiped with a soft cloth to remove the blended color.  The finished frame was coated with gel medium.  When dry, Crystal Stickles were used to highlight the holly and a white gel pen created the small tiny white dots.

The artwork under the frame is a larger holly sprig stamped in Desert Sand Memento ink on watercolor paper.  Definition and color were enhanced with Caran D'ache watercolor crayons.  To seal the colors, the piece was sprayed with Krylon Clear Gloss Acrylic Coating.  When dry, the sentiment was stamped in Onyx Black VersaFine and heat embossed with clear powder.

Stamps by Penny Black:  Holly Sprig 40-578, A Festive Season 30-442, 

        Joy & Happiness 30-440

Fall into Fall: Elizabeth

We don't know about you, but here in the Studio we're ready to push aside the blazing sun and leap, or perhaps just gently fall, into the beautiful colors of Autumn and the happy treats of Halloween.  We hope you will join us as we do just that over the next few weeks.

Halloween is just around the corner and I have a fun silhouette design to share with you!

This card was created with 3 different die cut designs: Penny Black's Snowflake Stitch Frame, Witches Duo and Trees and Hills.  

Let's start with the portion of the design inside the frame.  A white cardstock square was inked with Thatched Straw VersaMagic, Dandelion Mention Luxe, Spring Pansy VersaMagic, and Concord Grape VersaMagic to create a night-time scene.  The positive and negative portions of a die cut circle aided in creating the moon and sky around the moon.  This was then set aside as the other elements were prepared.

The interior elements of the trees and flying witch were die cut from black cardstock.

For the frame, the Stitched Snowflake Frame was die cut from orange cardstock and splashed with red Grumbacher watercolor and dried with a heat tool.  Then the frame was pounced with Watermark VersaMark ink, sprinkled with sparkle embossing powder and heat set.  The finished piece was backed with lime green cardstock to reveal a bit of contrasting color through the frame holes.

All the components were then layered with 3M Scotch Foam Mounting Tape as shown in the picture and attached to a card base covered with Coco Style Designer Paper.

Penny Black Supplies: Snowflake Stitch Frame 51-375, Witches Duo 51-361, Trees and Hills 51-381, Coco Style Designer Paper Pad 80-010, Penny Black Mix and Match Cardstock: Fern Green, Summer Sun

"Witching" you a spook-tacular Halloween!