WATERCOLOR PLAYTIME

Hi, There!

Well, I am smitten with the watercolor techniques I am seeing all over YouTube so I am going to give it a try and hope to be back to show you the cards I will make from these pages.

Also, had a 60% off coupon at Michaels that was for today only.   So just had to run to get a small set of "good" watercolors.  Can't wait to try them out but have other duties calling my name for now!!

Check out the magnifying glasses I had to buy myself.  As I color some of the digital images that have intricate areas to shade, I am finding my eyes tear so I am going to try these!!!  Tough getting old!!  LOL

Till next time, hugs and blessings ~ CaroleAnn

Sorry, after I posted the above picture I cut off part of it.  As you can see it was just playing around and then I got serious with the one on the right for an ocean scene.  Can't wait to make that one into a card!!!
Goodies from Michaels:

Pansy Hello To You!!

Hi, There!

I hope my post finds you well and starting a week of crafting when you can and making that little bit of time needed for yourself.  We all need that little bit of downtime to quiet our inner spirits.  So hard to do when we juggle so "many things" in our lives.  But that is my wish and prayer for you today that you can refresh your spirit!

Now this little sprite from Aurora Wings is just so cute and I want to thank the artist, Mitzi Sato-Wiuff for this beautiful line art.  It was so much fun to color up!!  I did alter your sketch request on your challenge so I am hoping I didn't go too far with that.  

Thanks for stopping by, till next time, hugs and blessings ~ CaroleAnn

Card Recipe:

Image from Aurora Wings.
Copic Markers: Skin E0000 E000 E00 E01 E01 E11
Flower BV000-00-01-01-11 V04-12-09 YR0000-21-01 G12-21-24-94
Black Spectrum pencil for shading
DP - DCWV The Four Seasons Stack - this is an old paper stack from 2010.  I used a separate panel to popup with foam dots for the top of the card.  Added lace from my stash.  Spellbinders Circle and Scallop dies used for the image.  Distress inks for shading the frame for the image.  Liquid pearls and sequins added.

Sharing this card with:

Aurora Wings Challenge #46 - Sketch
Ching-Chou Kuik Challenge March 2017 Easter/Spring
Crafting From the Heart Challenge #152 - ATG
Crafting With Friends Challenge #39 - ATG
Glitter & Sparkle Challenge #232 - Mothers Day/Female
Simon Says Wednesday Challenge - Use more than one die or punch
Southern Girls Challenge #156 - Dieing to see your project Team Lou (use a die cut)
Word Art Challenge #274-275 - ATG

ALL A FLUTTER!!

Hi, There!

Happy Weekend to you all!!  Just love how fast the weekend comes around!  I managed to finish a card today so I seem to be getting my crafty mojo going lately.  Love this digital image and so fun to color up.  I love their eyes and naturally for me - their hair!!!  You know I love to color hair and eyes.

Enjoy your weekend and do something fun for yourself.  Makes your heart smile for sure.  Big Hugs and Blessings ~ CaroleAnn

Sharing this card at:

Ching-Chou Kuik - Month of March - Spring/Easter
Crafting From the Heart Challenge #151 - ATG
Crafting With Friends Challenge #39 - ATG
Glitter & Sparkle Challenge #231 - ATG
Simon Says Wednesday Challenge - use more than one die or punch
Southern Girls Challenge #156 - Use a die cut

Card Recipe:

This is a 5 x 7 card and the background paper is from Tim Coffey/Cottage Garden.  Die used on top of background paper is from Spellbinder/Grate Effect.  Image framed with die cut from Spellbinders/Opulent Ovals.  Butterflies created with MS punches and colored with copic markers and stardust added.

Digital Image from Ching-Chou Kuik/Blue Sea Illusion  Colored with the following Copic markers

Skin  E000 E00 E01 E02 E11  Hair E70 E71 E74 E77 E79  Butterflies BG09 Y04 Y08 Y19 R35  Leaves G12 G24 G94 G85

Lots of stardust on butterflies, liquid pearls.  Flowers from Recollections and Prima

DO ALL THINGS WITH LOVE

Hi, There!

Hope you are having a joyful day.  I managed to play with some mixed media today.  Used my Magicals by Lindy's Stamp Gang - colors Bavarian Blue, Guten Tag Teal, Polka Purple.  Splatters on the back card.

This inspiration came from Kelly Fellowes for Lindy's Stamp Gang as she presented a lovely card that she made and I just had to try it right away!!  LOL  Thanks Kelly!!  

The layers of paper were all colored with the inks mentioned above and then I stamped some text on them.  Tore some papers and cut some and layered together with a piece of lacing and used lots of teal glitter, purple crushed glass in between the layers.  Cheesecloth underneath the frame (which was painted with the magicals) and added some sparkle threading behind the frame.

The butterflies have been supplied by my friend Marta at #Maremi's Cafe.  I used two different butterflies and hot glued together.  More stardust glitter added and a word sticker from 7 dots studio and the background paper is from my stash.

Thanks for visiting, till next time, hugs and blessings ~ CaroleAnn

Sharing my card at:

Crafting from the Heart #151 - ATG
Crafting with Friends #39 - ATG
Glitter & Sparkle #231 - ATG
Mixed Media World #23 With a twist/Mood Board - started out with that but I think I got side tracked:)
Simon Says Monday Challenge - Layer it up
Word Art Challenge #274-275 - ATG with option of using their scripture

SPRING TIME

Hi, There!

I can imagine you are hoping for spring as much as I am if you are in the NorthEast of USA and maybe spring is not hopping along too fast for you somewhere else in this vast beautiful world of ours!!  I just have to make springtime cards and /or mixed media projects!!!  We still have so much snow here and the temps are dropping to the teens and single digits with the wind chill factors.

So here is my "Spring Time" card, thanks for visiting, hope you enjoy the rest of your day/or evening, hugs and blessings ~ CaroleAnn

Sharing this card with:
Ching-Chou Kuik Challenge - Month of March 2017 - Easter/Spring
Simon Says Monday Challenge - Layer It Up
Southern Girls Challenge #155 - Pop Up Foam (behind my tag)
Tuesday Throwdown Challenge #335 - Add Dimensions

Inside peek of card:

Card Recipe:
Digi is from Ching-Chou Kuik (visit her etsy shop here) called Time Flies
Digi is colored with Copic Markers:
Skin E000 E00 E01 E11 E02  Hair B0000 BG000 BG01 BG32  Spectrum Noir pencils for shading: Black #120 and Blue #073  Wink of Stella in her hair.
Eyes E42 E53 E99 with glossy accents.  Clock B91 B95 - also has glossy accent which did not dry in time for taking the photo!  As usual I was in a hurry!  LOL
Outfit Y21 Y23 Y32  Flowers R000 R00 R02 R22
Papers for background from DCWV Primrose  Used Spellbinders Opulent Ovals for frame of the digi and shaded with distress ink/Antique Linen
Sequins added along with stardust, liquid pearls.  Flowers I painted some to match her hair.  All flowers are from Wild Orchid Crafts.  Ribbons and doily from stash.  Tag on front has been popped up with a 3D foam as the flower inside the card.  I wrote "Spring Time" on the tag and tied a gold cord around the tag to match the gold in the top ribbon.

YOU AND ME!!

Hi, There!

Some of us really love our pets.  So I decided to do a card showing how much I love my cat, Sam.  He is a rescue cat and I have had rescue pets before and they always seem to show an extra level of appreciation for being at home with you!!  They seem to love you more!!  Anyhoos, here is my card and Sam was walking all over my pc while I was trying to type.  I will have to get a picture of him to show you.  Hope you have a special someone in your life, furry or otherwise;), (I am blessed to have both)  Till next time, take care and btw we are still shoveling our way out of 2 feet of snow!!  No school today and no school tomorrow!  Hugs and blessings ~ CaroleAnn

Card is being shared at:
Crafting From the Heart #150 - ATG
Glitter & Sparkle Challenge #230 - use some green
Scrapbook Stamp Society Challenge #112 - ATG - option distress edges
Stampavie Challenge #282 - Stars
Word Art Wednesday Challenge #272-#273 - ATG

Close up of the note inside envelope:

Card Recipe:
Image is a Stampavie/SarahK - Josephine & Kiki - colored with copic markers
Skin E000 E00 E01 E02 E11  Hair Y15 Y35 Y38  Outfit BG09 BG49  G17 G19 G29  B39  Black pencil for shading.  DPapers are all from Simple Stories/A Charmed Life and all layers have been distressed.

Added an envelope with a small note inside.  Added - Sequins from Simon Says, stardust around the image and layered the image with 3D foam dots onto the background, a white ribbon was added along with liquid pearls and stardust on all the stars.  Cords on the tag note.

HB FOR A SPECIAL LADY

Hi, There!

Another card created for another birthday coming up in April for a special person in my life.  I so want April to be here as perhaps then I would not be preparing for a huge snow storm coming our way!!!  Wishing my life away, I know!  LOL

Went out and fought my way thru the crazed people shopping at Shoprite for that last milk and bread that they are all sure they will never get out again to buy!!!  LOL (I'm one of them!!!)

Got all the ingredients for my lasagna that I promised my granddaughter I would make for her since she is home from college this week.  So tomorrow will be a baking day!!

I hope you are not in the line of the snow storm but if you are stay warm and safe.

Big hugs and blessings ~ CaroleAnn

Sharing this card at:
Crafting with Friends Challenge #38 ATG
Cute Card Thursday Challenge #468 Mothers/Ladies
Polkadoodles Crafting Challenge Week #10 - ATG
Simon Says Wednesday Challenge - Special Lady/Optional Penny Black Stamp

Card Recipe:
Image is a Penny Black Clear stamp "It's Your Day"  Used Copic markers to color all the cute critters:
Cats  E50 E21 E23 E27  Mice C0 C1 C2 C3 YR01
Fussy cut all the critters and popped them onto the side step card with 3D form dots  The celebrate and heart stickers are from my stash.  Background paper used is from Simple Stories/Good Day Sunshine.  Later I went back in and added glossy accents to the icing and some stardust glitter here and there.

JOYFUL - TRESS

Hi, There!

Hope you are well and not too snowed in by you.  We had a lot of snow on Friday and a bigger storm coming in for Tuesday thru Wednesday!!!!  I so want spring to be here so onto cards with lots of springtime flowers and/or colors!  I can't wait to be able to wear something so light weight as this image is wearing - have to go out and so on with my boots and heavy winter jacket!!!  We know that the change of seasons is what makes us like each one more as they arrive!!  ARRIVE Spring!!!  LOL  Till next time, enjoy your weekend, hugs and blessings ~ CaroleAnn

Sharing this card at:

Crafting With Friends Challenge #38 - ATG
Cute Card Thursday Challenge #468 Mother/Ladies
Polkadoodles Crafting Challenge #10 - ATG
Simon Says Wednesday Challenge: Special Lady

Card Recipe:
Digital image from Make It Crafty/Tress Joyful
Colored with Copic Markers:
Skin E000 E00 E11 E21 E02
Hair Y21 YR23  Eyes B00 B01 B26
Outfit  R11 R12  G12 G21 G24

All papers from my stash, also in my stash I found the wooden camera and the wooden banner, little clothes pin, tag and a piece of a doily that just happened to be the right color!!  Frame around image is from IO.  MS butterfly punch.  Simon Says sequins added.  Wink of Stella in her hair.  Stardust on her pants and shirt and liquid pearls here and there.

ALL ABOUT THE BACKGROUND

Hi, There!

Well, today I finished a mixed media art journal page and it is all about the background.  Of course, I just had to add a butterfly or two or three and some word stickers!  I had so much fun doing this background with no idea where it was heading.  The best part of mixed media art and just going with the flow - you never know what you will end up with!  I thought this was going to be a disaster as it was coming out too dark but by the time I finished - I liked it, a lot!!

So thank you for visiting, complete details on making this is below, till next time, I hope you get to create something with "free abandonment" - just go with the flow:)  Hugs and blessings ~ CaroleAnn

Sharing this art journal page at Simon Says Monday Challenge - Make Your Own Background

Close Up:

Close Up bottom:

Art Journal Page Recipe:

Page was covered with torn pieces from a scrapbook page.  Gesso applied on top and once dry shaded the areas with Cray-Pas oil pastels.  Added the circles using random tops from jars that were dipped into black Heavy Body acrylic paint by Dina Wakley/Ranger product.  Then I used circle rubber stamp from PaperArtsy with Archival Black ink around all the original circles.  Gelatos used to color inside the circles - Snow Cone/Watermelon/Banana/Blood Orange.  

Stamped text here and there with Archival back ink.  Removed some of the Gelatos with a baby wipe with a stencil from crafters workshop.  Added texture paste using another stencil from Tim Holtz product line.  Used charcoal pencil for additional shading around the circles and some white acrylic paint for hi-lights here and there.

Added the butterfly prints that I received from Marta at #Maremi's Cafe.  The text stickers are from 7 Dots Studio and I think the Moth at the bottom is secretly smiling. Shaded around the stickers with charcoal pencil.  A bit of stardust here and there on the circles.  Done! :)

TAG YOU'RE IT

Hi, There!

Did a quick tag tonight with my distress inks, lindy's stamp gang ink, modeling paste, stamped and embossed a stamp from Our Daily Bread Designs "Faith in God includes Faith in His Timing".  Adding some text with a clear stamp for interest in background.  I attached some cords and a clock charm.  I am using this bookmark for my Bible in my study class.  Hope you are having a good week, till next time, hugs and blessings ~ CaroleAnn

Shared this tag at:
613 Avenue Create Challenge #195 - ATG/Mixed Media
Crafting When We Can Challenge #139 - Mixed Media
Our Daily Bread Designs Challenge - SLC284 ATG with a ODBD stamp
Simon Says Wednesday Challenge - Tag You're It

TREASURE ISLAND

Hi, There!

Happy Friday!!!  Even happier when I can find the time for being creative and playing!!  So another art journal page completed!!  This page is based on a book - Treasure Island!  Books can be some great spring boards for your imagination so I did have fun with this one.  Hope you like it - have a creative weekend - do something fun - Hugs and Blessings ~ CaroleAnn

Sharing the art journal page at:

Crafting With Friends Challenge #38 - Anything Goes
Creative Artiste Mixed Media Challenge #24 - Anything Goes
Polkadoodles Crafting Week 8 - Anything Goes
QKR Stampede Challenge #233 - Anything Goes
Simon Says Monday Challenge - Based On A Book

Art Journal Recipe

Background done with distress paints - broken china/stormy sky/peeled paint  Rubber stamp - Star of India stamped with black archival ink.  Kraft paper used to make the map.  Edges distressed with distress inks - vintage photo/black soot.  Letters done from Concord & 9th - Sophisticated Script set.  Used Pitt India ink to shade around the map and the waters.  Shark fins I drew and the map images I drew except for the pirate - he was fussy cut and pasted to the map.  Compass image from Stampin Up stamped with archival black ink.  White gel pen used for around the pages and a few highlights here and there.  Heavy back gesso used for spotting around the page.  I rolled up one side of the map on the page.  Lots of fun creating this!!

SUNFLOWERS & BUTTERFLIES

Hi, There!

I love sunflowers - such a happy flower just like Gerber Daisies!!!  So I added my fave flowers with the butterflies (that I love) and I have a very happy art journal mixed media page!!  Hope you like it as I had a lot of fun creating this page.  Till next time, hugs and blessings ~ CaroleAnn

Sharing this art journal page at:

Mixed Media World Challenge #22  - Anything Goes
Southern Girls Challenge #154 - Nature Inspired with Team Lou
Tuesday Throwdown Challenge #332 - Things with Wings

Close Up:

Art Journal Page Recipe:
Background was done with Dylusions Inks (teal/lemon/orange) added to a gelli plate and applied to both pages. Used a stencil with more color directly to gelli plate and applied another coat to pages.  Used text stamp in background and the sentiment is from Flourishes.  Then I stamped and die cut the sunflowers, vase, and butterflies - all from Stampendous Stamps and Die Cuts.  Colored with distress inks.  Once they were fussy cut, I added them to the pages with gel medium so I could shade with Pitt India ink brush pens.  White gel pen for hi-lights, stardust, and liquid pearl.  I drew the border with Heavy Gesso Black and heavy gesso white.  Gloss for dew drops.