Watercolor Christmas with Technique Tuesday

Technique Tuesday is doing a "Watercolor Christmas" feature today, and I am happy to be joining along.  I am certainly at the beginner level for watercoloring, but hopefully this project will help inspire you to pick up a paintbrush and just go for it.  

One thing I've learned is that embossing helps me a lot when I watercolor.  I don't execute the loose feel very well yet, so embossing my images really helps me.  Bounds are set, and I simply have to work within them.   I embossed this beautiful Joyous Juniper Stamp Set from Technique Tuesday in silver several times to cover my cardfront and frame a sentiment from their Classic Christmas Sentiments stamp set. 

Then, I got to work watercoloring.  I have just basic supplies, so I mixed a few colors to create the shades I wanted.  Although I was tempted to do this card in bright reds and greens, I'm a lover of blue, so I embraced juniper's natural colors.  

The Greenhouse Society line of stamps from Technique Tuesday has beautiful images and the packaging comes with a colored image of the stamps.  This is really helpful to show where shading and highlights go when you are still learning this skill.  When I started watercoloring, I put a light layer of color down on the images, and then I went back in with deeper shades of the blues and greens.  I added and added until I was content.  And when it was dry, I went back in and added a little more. ;) Obviously I was going for a bit more dramatic look here and not subtle shading.  I loved the contrast of the deep colors against the shiny silver embossing.  

Thanks for stopping by today!  You can find lots more wonderful stamps in the Technique Tuesday Christmas Collection here. I hope you'll check it out and give watercoloring a go this week.  Whether you are experienced or not, it's a lot of fun!

Happy Birthday with Technique Tuesday (plus sale coupon code)

Good morning!  Today I have the pleasure of joining Technique Tuesday and several card and scrapbook makers to celebrate all things birthday.  And what would a party be without a gift, right?  To celebrate, Technique Tuesday is having a 5-day sale on all their birthday products (so many of which work for a variety of occasions).  Just use the coupon code will be HBDAY21.  Okay, on to the cards!

I really wanted to go with something fun and playful, so I created a duo of cards in bright rainbow colors using one of my favorite techniques - using repeated images to create backgrounds.  Today I'm sharing two ways to do that. 

On my first card I created a rainbow card base with strips of paper and used a repeated die cut from Happy Everything to build the background.  I started in the top left corner and placed as many full HAPPY die cuts as I could.  Because this die has a unique design, there were a few open spots leftover.  If they were on the edge, I filled them in with another partial die cut, and for the few spots in the middle I filled them with the the little asterisk die cut also included in the die set.   

Now those little asterisks created a natural focal point, so I stamped and colored the balloons in Let's Party and placed them right in the center.  Next, I added a sentiment from Let's Party and simply colored the outline letters in black.  I finished the card off with a sprinkling of rainbow jewels.  

On my second card I used repeated images again, but this time I repeatedly stamped and embossed images and sentiments from Let's Party  and Large Birthday to build the background.  

To up the fun factor a bit I blended ink over the white embossed background, but I did not cover the background entirely.  Instead I blended the ink just around the edges to create a frame for the fabulous bow from Bow on the Border.  

This bow typically only cuts the outline on the right side since it is meant to cut on the edge of a panel, but since I wanted it dead center, I trimmed the outline out on both sides.  I also added some dimension by popping up the center and edges of the bow and ribbon tails.

Finally I stamped the Happy Birthday sentiment from Large Birthday and trimmed it in half to create two little flags to tuck under the bow.  I kind of love that the card looks like a gift itself.  

Thanks so much for joining me today!  I hope that you'll pop over to the Technique Tuesday Blog next to see the rest of the line up, and don't forget you have from today (May 16th) through May 20th to save 20% off all birthday products with the coupon code HBDAY21.  Wishing you a happy week, friends!

Thanks 3 Ways with Technique Tuesday

Hello!  It feels and looks like autumn outside, and that always makes me happy.  Today's cards make me happy, too, because thank you cards are my favorite.  They are my favorite to create and my favorite to give.  And I had an added measure of gratitude creating with the Happy Thanksgiving Stamp Set and Turkey & Pie Crafting Dies Bundle that Technique Tuesday so generously sent to me.  As always, "quick and simple" is my motto, but I really loved the little images in the set and wanted to show the big impact repeated use of small images or small text can have on cards.  

I have always loved the Sammy the Squirrel stamp set, so I put him front and center on my card and used the in the cute little images in the Happy Thanksgiving Stamp Set to create a wreath around him. 

I knew I wanted color on my card, but honestly my eyes were too tired to color the squirrel, so I grabbed a mask (I save them with my stamp sets until they no longer stick anymore), some ink, and a blending brush and voila...big happy color in a few quick seconds.  

Anyone else get a huge amount of satisfaction pulling off a mask to reveal the whiteness beneath?  It's just so satisfying.

Oh, I almost forgot. The cardstock I used already had some colored flecks in it, but I wanted them a bit more pronounced, so I flicked on some brown ink before pulling off the mask.  This card makes me smile big.

I used the Happy Thanksgiving Stamp Set again on my next card, but I paired it with the flower from the Enjoy Layered Flower stamp set.

I wanted the flower to look a bit more like a sunflower, so I double stamped the circles in the center of the flower and added a stalk.  

This set does not come with a stalk, but that was no problem.  I simply took some post it paper and cut a slightly curvy slit down the piece of paper.  Then, I spaced the two pieces a little bit a part and blended ink in between to create the stalk.

After splattering on some brown ink, I finished the card off with a sentiment from the Happy Thanksgiving Stamp Set.

For my last card, I pulled out Technique Tuesday's Turkey & Pie Crafting Dies.  I created a focal point by repeatedly stamping some of the little text from the Happy Thanksgiving Stamp Set.  It's super easy to do, and I just eyeballed it with use a grid lined acrylic block.

I popped up one of the dies and the card was done.  So simple, so easy, so fun.  And a great way to get some use out of the itty bitty sentiments in a set.

Happy sigh.  It is always such a blessing to have time to create, and I'm looking forward to popping these in the mail.  Technique Tuesday has some great thank you and Thanksgiving themed stamps.  And guess what?  They are having a sale on them right now until Thursday, October 24.  just go HERE and use the code Thanks19 when you checkout. Happy shopping and happy rest of the week friends. :)

Olive the Octopus

Hello, friends! We just got back from the beach not long ago, and I thought it was the perfect time to share these octopus cards.  This is Olive the Octopus, a new set from Technique Tuesday.  My children and I love him.  

On my first card, I stamped the octopus and then blended on some distress inks to color him.  A super quick and simple way to add color.  Next I blended some ink at the bottom of my card base and used a few foilage stamps from my stash to try to create ocean plants. As I was trying to decide what to use for my ink blot, I noticed Technique Tuesday's Happy Hydrangeas dies sitting out and decided the to use the large flower die.  The randomness of the shape worked perfectly.  I love shaker cards, and so do my kids, so I filled the "ink blot" with sequins and beads for good measure.

After using all that color on the last card, I was craving a little white, so I made a second card.  I love when images are cute enough on their own that you can color or choose NOT to color.  And truth be told, I'm still in complete awe of simply stamped images.  They truly make me so happy.

Thanks for joining me today.  I'm hanging on to the last of summer as the school year is fast approaching.  I hope you are headed into a wonderful weekend!

Hydrangeas + Technique Tuesday Giveaway

Hello, friends!  I was checking on our garden this evening (we just returned from vacation) and it reminded me that I have a card I forgot to share with you.  A little while back Technique Tuesday sent me their pretty Happy Hydrangea stamp set, and I was definitely eager to use it because hydrangeas have been a favorite flower of mine for many, many years.

I stamped the large hydrangea cluster in an ombre fashion on the background.  Then, I die cut and watercolored the individual hydrangea flowers in the set and clustered them together to adorn the frame.  And I have to say, seeing these pretty hydrangeas just makes me smile.  

Okay, now you need to go right away to the Technique Tuesday Blog as they are having a great contest to enter to win your favorite stamps.  The contest closes July 29th, so go quickly, my friends!  This is all you have to do to enter. 

Here is how to enter for your chance to win some scrapbooking stamps & supplies!

1. Take a peek at the Scrapbooking Stamps & Scrapbook Supplies!

2. Choose your favorite stamp set.

3. Go to Technique Tuesday blog post here: http://techniquetuesday.typepad.com/

4. Leave a comment on the Technique Tuesday post (clickable link above) about your favorite Technique Tuesday stamp set.

5. Technique Tuesday will pick a winner on the 1^st of August!

Easy peasy, right?  Best of luck and happy weekend wishes!

Mother's Day Cards

My own dear mother is as amazing as they come, but I have been blessed to have many "mothers" through different seasons of my life.  So when Mother's Day rolls around I find myself needing several cards.  These are just two that I made, and since I was on a time crunch I used the same basic layout for both cards.  First I stamped an outline image lightly all over the card base and then I popped up one colored focal image.  

My momma loves pink, so I made this one for her using Technique Tuesday's Enjoy Layered Flower.  Isn't it pretty?  And it is so easy to stamp.  Love that!  My second card uses Technique Tuesday's Lilac stamp set and dies that were just released this month.

I have to tell you a little story about lilacs.  I was so happy to get this stamp because I love lilacs.  My grandmother had lilacs in her yard.  I loved how they smelled and how they would cover the giant bushes in gorgeous blossoms, but most of all I loved that they reminded me of her.  When we moved into our house about three years ago we had an unruly bush growing through our fence.  My husband cut it down; however, it seemed determined to grow.   When it came back it wasn't growing through the fence anymore, so we just let it stay.  After all, it did have beautiful leaves.  About a month or so ago I was clearing the flower bed next to the bush, and I found the most wonderful surprise tucked against the fence...lilacs!  I instantly thought of my grandmother and shed a few joyful tears at such a delightful little blessing to find this sentimental flower in my very own yard. 

I hope that you have the most wonderful Mother's Day.  I know that this isn't an easy holiday for many, but I do hope that you feel oh so loved on this special day.  Thanks for stopping by!

Technique Tuesday Giveaway Winner

Good morning!  Just popping in to share the winner of the Technique Tuesday giveaway.  Many thanks to all of you who took the time to comment.  The lucky winner is Jeanne Beam.

Jeanne, will you please email me at occasionalcrafting (at) gmail (dot) com , so I can get you connected with your prize?  Thanks so much!  Have a happy day everyone!

Technique Tuesday Giveaway Winner

Just popping to share the winner for the Technique Tuesday Giveaway.  Random Integer chose Sharron.  Congrats!! I'll be in touch with you.  Get thinking of the Technique Tuesday stamp + die that you would like. :)

Nuts About You + GIVEAWAY!

Good morning, friends!  I'm super excited to share this duo of cards today.  It’s an extra special post because not only was I honored to have the chance to use some of Technique Tuesday’s cute stamps and dies, but they are also giving you a chance to win a set of your choice, too.  How nice is that?!  I love, love giving things to people and it just seemed like the perfect week to do a giveaway.  My heartfelt thanks to Technique Tuesday for making this possible!

The super cute set I'm using today is Technique Tuesday's Sammy the Squirrel.  I love this sweet squirrel!  I colored him using a few Prismacolor colored pencils and then cut him out using the coordinating dies.  I planned on Sammy holding a little acorn, but in the end didn't want to cover up his cute tummy, so I opted to randomly stamp them on the card base instead.  

Uu

Now, if you eknow me, you know that I'm not always in the mood...or maybe more accurately just don't always have the time to color images, so I wanted to show you how this set still works great even if you don't color. 

On this card I stamped Sammy and the little caterpillar, which is also included in the set.  Then I masked Sammy off and added the super cute owl from Fly By Owl.  And guess what?!  You can earn Fly By Owl for FREE when you sign up for any of Technique Tuesdays four clubs (Memory Keepers Society, Greenhouse Society, Animal House Club and Fresh Cut Studio). Free is always fun and I love that Technique Tuesday's clubs cater to so many different style preferences.

After stamping and fussy cutting the critters, I punched out a circle and turned it into a balloon with a little bit of cord.  To further emphasize the happiness of the occasion I repeatedly stamped "Happy Day" across the balloon. Oh, and I also used a craft knife to cut around the squirrel's hand, so he could hold the balloon a bit better.

I've had these cards out the last couple weeks, and seeing these cute critters has made me smile lots.  I mailed them just yesterday, so their on their way to bring some more smiles.  Okay, now for the part you've all been waiting for....the GIVEAWAY!  I'm grateful for Technique Tuesday's generosity to allow me to offer you the chance to win any Technique Tuesday stamp set of your choice.  All you need to do is visit Technique Tuesday's Animal House Collection and comment to let me know what your favorite animal from the collection is.  Easy, right? The giveaway will close on Sunday, November 26th at 11:59 pm EST.  I'll announce the winner here and on Instagram. Have a blessed Thanksgiving week my friends!  I'm SO grateful for you!!!