Author: linda

Floral Bookmarks

linda4 Comments

i’m back with another entry for the Altenew March 2020 Inspiration Challenge:

Altenew March 2020 Inspiration cool colour palette

the Altenew Book Club stamp set was one that i purchased with my Ellen Hutson 12 Tags 2019 winner’s gift card. i made three bookmarks, all painted with twinkling H2Os on Arches hot press watercolour paper and attached to shimmer card stock bases.

this one was created for one of my daughter’s retiring professors:

someone saw the first and asked me to make another:

i decided i wanted one for myself, a bit softer:

thanks for popping by.

Rudolph Days Challenge March 2020

linda7 Comments

i’m up on the Rudolph Days Challenge blog this month, hosted by Maureen, to encourage you to create your holiday cards from the 25th to the last day of every month; there’s also a prize waiting for one random winner.

vintage christmas card copyright linda snailzpace.com

this was a very easy card to make because i didn’t paint this time; i cut out one of the sweet images from a 12 x 12 sheet of Bo Bunny Christmas Treasures. the impression obsession swirl was stamped in plum ink and i used burgundy linen cardstock to die cut the hero arts snowflake swirl and border before i popped the image on foam tape. This is a great way to embellish upcycled images or card toppers.

thanks for popping by.

Happy Thoughts

linda2 Comments

i just finished two and half weeks of antibiotics for a recurring RA complication but now my thoughts are happy since i’m up to creating again.

i’m playing along with the Altenew March 2020 Inspiration Challenge:

Altenew March 2020 Inspiration cool colour palette

more happy thoughts – the cool colour palette has always been my favourite.

purple and blue altenew floral card copyright linda snailzpace.com

i started with an Altenew heart cut from Arches hot press watercolour paper and stamped the Altenew weekend doodles floral image with Wendy Vecchi watering can ink and painted with  twinkling H2Os (twilight, wild plum, sweet alfalfa); the sentiment is from the same set. i masked the image to stamp the Altenew swiss dots background with dusty concord distress ink and attached foam tape. i sponged distress inks on the shimmery white card stock: faded jeans at the top and dusty concord at the bottom. to finish off, i cut a blue shimmer card stock frame with the new Ellen Hutson essential rectangles dies.

thanks for popping by.

More Spring Flowers At Penny Black and More

linda9 Comments

I’m back with a reminder that we’re mid way through March so there’s still time to share your spring flower creations at the Penny Black and More challenge.

penny black easter copyright linda snailzpace.com

i painted this Penny Black cling stamp, easter basket, with twinkling H2Os and Faber Castell Albrecht Durer watercolour pencils. I added yellow nuvo drops and a Swiss dot embossing folder background.

Also a reminder that to be eligible for a prize, images from any company must be hand stamped and follow the challenge theme – it’s that easy!

thanks for popping by.

Spring Flowers At Penny Black And More

linda10 Comments

it’s time for a new monthly theme at the Penny Black And More Challenge. i wish i could say spring is here but the next best thing is to make creations that focus on spring flowers.

tulip card copyright linda snailzpace.com

i painted the Penny Black tulip bouquet with twinkling H2Os on Arches hot press watercolour paper. the sentiment from the Penny Black smile today! clear stamp was a generous DT gift from Maureen at the Rudolph Days Challenge and was stamped with Archival plum ink; i added splatters.

you can use any company’s image, as long as it’s hand stamped, is the focal point and suits the theme to be eligible for a prize from our generous sponsors: Penny Black, Blade Rubber, Lost Coast.

thanks for popping by.

Sticker Christmas Cards

linda10 Comments

i made four QAE (quick and easy) Christmas cards using Penny Black stickers; unfortunately, they are being discontinued but they are still for sale at penny black inc: berry delight.

sticker christmas cards

all the sentiments are clearly besotted and were stamped with versafine inks.

as a design team member for Rudolph Days Challenge, it’s my month off but i’m playing along just for fun and to build up my stash of cards. the Jingle Belles inspired me with their ‘Stuck On You‘ sticker theme, otherwise i might not have been able to join the challenges.

thanks for popping by.

Colourful Coffee Cups

linda2 Comments

i’m in the mood for colour, especially since it’s another dull day and it’s snowing!

colour coffee cups on card copyright linda snailzpace.com

i painted the cute SugarPea Designs cups (Mugs & Kisses) with twinkling H2Os on Arches hot press watercolour paper and the stripes on Canson cold press watercolour paper; the cups were fussy cut and popped on foam tape. i didn’t add a sentiment but i’m thinking of using it for an anniversary card.

i was inspired by the sketch at the SugarPea Designs Mix It Up Challenge 64:

thanks for popping by.

Blue Butterfly Bookmark

linda11 Comments

this is my mid month DT post for the Penny Black and More Challenge and this month’s Animals, Birds and Butterflies theme.

blue butterfly bookmark copyright linda snailzpace.com

i made a bookmark using the penny black Illumination clear stamp set and a brilliance tricolour ink pad that was overstamped with the penny black text background in blue ink. playing along is easy; to be eligible for a chance at a prize from one of our generous sponsors just follow the theme and make sure your focal point is a hand stamped image from any company.

thanks for popping by.

Hugs And Kisses

linda2 Comments

well i’m really creating at a snail’s pace so far this year but i am able to play along with the Impression Obsession challenge theme of hugs and kisses.

guina pig in teacup copyright linda snailzpace.com

i painted this adorable Impression Obsession guinea pig (H13747) by artist Dina Kowal on Arches hot press watercolour paper with twinkling H2Os. the edges of the image panel were lightly sponged with pumice stone distress ink and the sentiment (CL549) was framed with a hand cut banner that was also lightly sponged with wild honey distress ink.

i’m also playing along with the Simon Says Stamp Wednesday challenge to use 2 or More Patterned Papers.

thanks for popping by.

Special Delivery At Penny Black And More

linda8 Comments

we have a new theme for February at the Penny Black and More Challenge and this month we’d like to see your creations featuring Animals, Birds and Butterflies.

mail delivery hedgie card copyright linda snailzpace.com

i’ve used a wooden penny black stamp called Hedge Delivery, painted everything with twinkling H2Os and added a mat from a scrap of doodlebug paper. i finished it off with two clearly besotted sentiments. playing along is easy; to be eligible for a chance at a prize from one of our generous sponsors just follow the theme and make sure your focal point is a hand stamped image from any company.

I am finally playing along with Pixie’s Snippets Playground – Challenge #370 since i used a scrap of paper for the frame and got a nudge from Di.

thanks for popping by.

Redesigning Designer Paper For Rudolph Days

linda13 Comments

it’s time for the first 2020 Rudolph Days Challenge, hosted by maureen, where we encourage you to create christmas cards/creations during the last week of every month until November. you only need to submit one entry to be eligible for a generous prize.holly christmas card copyright linda snailzpace.com

for my DT card, i used a technique i am calling redesigning designer paper. i wanted to use the taylored expressions holly embossing folder but with something other than a plain background. see below for steps. I finished off the card with impression obsession die cut holly embellishment and a creative expressions die cut sentiment with red cardstock.

photo heavy tutorial:

step 1: choose paper

step 2: emboss
(if lightweight paper is used, avoid cutting through by placing copy paper behind DP)

step 3: choose inks, ink up brayer
(before brayering on paper, brayer on teflon sheet to evenly distribute ink)

step 4: brayer embossed paper with light pressure

step 5: brayer another layer, lightly

step 6 continue, lightly, until you’re happy with colour intensity

step 7: use marker to colour details

step 8: use leftover inks to splatter background

step 9: spritz leftover inks on teflon sheet

step 10: press watercolour paper onto spritzed inks

I’d love to see your creations using this technique. thanks for popping by.

Snail Mail

linda3 Comments

i haven’t created much so far this year but it was fun to paint and make this little note card.

i painted this cute turtle from the Clearly Besotted ‘snail mail’ clear stamp set with twinkling H2Os, fussy cut, and popped him on foam tape with two layers of grass from the same set. i sponged the sky with distress inks.

i’m submitting this to the Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge Besotted With Our Pets theme; my brother had a pet turtle.

thanks for popping by.

Thank You Ellen Hutson Twelve Tags 2019

linda5 Comments

i was absolutely shocked to see that i was the random winner of the Ellen Hutson Twelve Tags 2019 challenge! i had to get hubby to check to see if i was reading the winners’ post correctly and yes, one of the tags i entered was posted so it was true.

if you follow me you know that Christmas is challenging for me because of my son’s brain cancer diagnosis in early december and his birthday at the end of december right after christmas. the 12 tags challenge has been a tradition for 6 years now; it gives me something to focus on and feel productive during the holidays.

thank you card for ellen hutson copyright linda snailzpace.com

so, this is the card I sent to Ellen Hutson. i painted the poppy stamps wreath, die cut with hot press watercolour paper, with twinkling H2Os and added glossy accents to the berries. the WPlus9 sentiment fit perfectly.

thanks for popping by.

You Can Do It!

linda11 Comments

i’m posting my first card of 2020 – happy new year. this is my DT creation for the January Penny Black and More Challenge and we’d like you to make it feminine this month.

penny-black-stickeroo-cat-copyright-linda-snailzpace.com-1.jpg

this cute cat is from a sheet of Penny Black stickeroos called So Cute! #10-163 that i attached to some pretty paper and added a ribbon. i finished off the card with a Clearly Besotted sentiment popped on a rectangle that was sponged with distress ink.

remember to be eligible for a prize from our generous sponsors, Penny Black and Blade Rubber Crafts, the focal point has to be hand stamped although it can be any company’s; the only exception are the PB stickeroos.

thanks for popping by.

Warm Winter Wishes

linda3 Comments

every year i make a set of cards for my daughter to send out to the vet and other animal lovers so this is the 2019 design.

stampendous-snowman-bbunny-copyright-linda-snailzpace.com_.jpg

i painted the small stampendous image with twinkling H2Os on Arches hot press watercolour paper and attached it to a green vellum-like circle mat. the sizzix tim holtz holly die separates pieces so i die cut through the white cardstock, attached a green shimmery vellum-like rectangle behind it and then taped that piece to the card base. i thought it would be faster than inlaid holly because i made 12 cards. to finish it off i stamped a Clearly Besotted sentiment. i added glossy accents to the buttons but resisted adding glitter to the cuffs and pom pom because some bunnies like paper and touch their noses to it.

thanks for popping by.

Mid Month Reminder Penny Black and More

linda5 Comments

i’m sharing another design team card for the november Penny Black and More Challenge theme of flowers all over.

i coloured the penny black centrepiece cling stamp with coloured pencils and the inside with a sentiment from the smile today set.

remember to be eligible for a prize from our generous sponsors Penny Black and Bee Crafty, your focal point has to be hand stamped but can be from any company.

thanks for popping by.

12 Tags of Christmas 2019 Challenge Day 12

linda2 Comments

this is my tag for day 12 of the annual Ellen Hutson’s 12 Tags of Christmas. down to the wire but i did it.

santa, elf and rudolph tags

inspired by Santa Claus Is Coming To Town, i love Julie’s creative tags. i ran out of time to fussy cut but i’d like to try tags like hers another time. all the painting i did took up most of my time and then computer problems yesterday so i couldn’t upload. then today i went to upload and the link expired too early but thank goodness i could email them in. that’ll teach me for creating at a snail’s pace. anyway, it was a lot of fun and i always learn something new.

as usual, i painted these clearly besotted images with twinkling H2Os on Arches hot press watercolour paper, die cut with mama elephant bookmark die, lawn fawn sentiment and lawn fawn red sparkle twine.

thanks for popping by.

12 Tags of Christmas 2019 Challenge Day 11

linda2 Comments

this is my tag for day 11 of the annual Ellen Hutson’s 12 Tags of Christmas.

rudolph tag

 Lisa’s White Christmas tag  inspired me to create this. i love her pink background and layout. i painted this Taylored Expressions reindeer with Twinkling H2Os on Arches hot press watercolour paper, fussy cut and popped him on foam tape. the background is sponged with distress inks and cut with Avery Elle bookmark. it might be a bit fuzzy but the mama elephant stamp says peace & love and is heat embossed with white ep, cut with altenew heart die.

thanks for popping by.

12 Tags of Christmas 2019 Challenge Day 10

linda2 Comments

this is my tag for day 10 of the annual Ellen Hutson’s 12 Tags of Christmas.

critter christmas tag

Lisa’s Rockin’ Around The Christmas Tree tag is so cute featuring adorable animals with a decorated tree. i painted the mama elephant critters with Twinkling H2Os on Arches hot press watercolour paper, fussy cut them and popped on foam tape. these little guys decided my tree needed more ornaments so they’re each going to add one.

thanks for popping by.

12 Tags of Christmas 2019 Challenge Day 8

linda2 Comments

this is my tag for day 8 of the annual Ellen Hutson’s 12 Tags of Christmas.

snowman snow globe tag

Jessica’s tag for Let It Snow it so pretty; she used pink/purple/blue and created a shaker tag.i also loved the dark walnut on the wood base. i’ve been using those colours quite a bit so i switched to traditional colours and stamped this Stampendous snowman in the globe, painting with twinkling H2Os on Arches hot press watercolour paper. i finished it off with a dark pink and green twine and sprayed it with a clear shimmer.

thanks for popping by.

12 Tags of Christmas 2019 Challenge Day 6

linda3 Comments

this is my tag for day 6 of the annual Ellen Hutson’s 12 Tags of Christmas.

polar bear tag

Lisa’s tag for Midnight Clear is gorgeous; she created a background with Daniel Smith indanthrone blue, and added cute animals. i need to check out that paint since i like staining and non-granulating watercolours. i painted a wash with twinkling H2Os on Arches hot pressed watercolour paper and added some hologram peel off stars. i painted the Hello Bluebird bear with twinks, cut with coordinating die and popped him on foam tape; i like using this sizzix die shape for tags.

thanks for popping by.

12 Tags of Christmas 2019 Challenge Day 5

linda2 Comments

this is my tag for day 5 of the annual Ellen Hutson’s 12 Tags of Christmas.

penguin tag

Adelina’s Jingle Bells tag is so adorable with a sweet penguin scene so i was inspired to create a penguin scene too. i painted these cute Clearly Besotted penguins wth twinkling H2Os on Arches hot press watercolour paper, fussy cut and popped them on foam tape. i also liked Adelina’s extra tag and cute jingle bells so i added a mama elephant sentiment.

thanks for popping by.

12 Tags of Christmas 2019 Challenge Day 4

linda2 Comments

this is my tag for day 4 of the annual Ellen Hutson’s 12 Tags of Christmas.

holly tag

today’s carol is Deck The Halls. i love everything about Lisa’s tag; she used such pretty colours and the layout was so creative. i painted impression obsession holly with twinkling H2Os die cut from Arches hot press watercolour paper, added red seed and green seed beads from the home spun holidays sparkletz. the mama elephant sentiment was stamped onto a scrap of watercolour paper that was leftover from another project. i finished it off with lawn fawn twine in pink and green.

that’s it for today. i need a rest and your inbox probably does too; until tomorrow anyway.

thanks for popping by.

12 Tags of Christmas 2019 Challenge Day 3

linda3 Comments

this is my tag for day 3 of the annual Ellen Hutson’s 12 Tags of Christmas.

dog couple under mistletoe tag

Kelly’s tag inspired by I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus! featured a very cute bear couple and my stash of santas is limited so i used the penny black under the mistletoe image. i painted with twinkling H2Os on Arches hot press watercolour paper, added stickles to their hats ad liquid pearls to the mistletoe. after attaching to red glitter paper, i enlisted my husband’s help to punch a hole and threaded it with lawn fawn gold glitter twine.

thanks for popping by.

12 Tags of Christmas 2019 Challenge Day 2

linda3 Comments

this is my tag for day 2 of the annual Ellen Hutson’s 12 Tags of Christmas.

penny black mouse tag

Ardyth’s tag inspired me with her favorite Christmas Carol, Joy To The World! featuring an adorable and very happy yeti. i started by painting the background with twinkling H2Os on Arches hot press watercolour paper die cut with a lawn fawn stitched circle tag die; then i painted this happy penny black mouse. the image had snowflakes already so i just filled them in with stickles.

thanks for popping by.

12 Tags of Christmas 2019 Challenge Day 1

linda2 Comments

this is the sixth year i’ve played along with the annual Ellen Hutson’s 12 Tags of Christmas, an event i look forward to.

as a bereaved parent, the holidays are challenging so i like to immerse myself in a creative mess and be inspired by fabulous designers who take me outside my comfort zone. this week was difficult because i had to say goodbye to my sweet grandbunny after 11 years.

rudolph the red nosed reindeer tag

this year’s tags focus on christmas carols and day 1 starts with rudolph the red-nosed reindeer. THERESE CALVIRD’s tag inspired me with her attention to detail, pretty colours and i love the layered tag.

instead of holly, i used trees to frame rudolph; i painted the mama elephant reindeer with twinkling H2Os on hot press watercolour paper, adding a glow to his nose. i found a white shimmery paper at my favourite art store, currys, that i die cut with a lawn fawn circle tag die and discovered it takes distress ink sponging very nicely. i also learned i could paint on it so i used twinks for the ice, added liquid pearls for snow and popped rudolph on foam tape so he’s flying. finally, i added a small cheery lynn tag die stamped and white heat embossed with mama elephant sentiment and tied with doodlebug twine.

thanks for popping by.

Flowers All Over At Penny Black and More

linda8 Comments

it’s the first sunday of a new month so it’s time for a new theme at the Penny Black and More Challenge: flowers all over.

For my design team card, I painted the penny black slapstick cling stamp ‘unfolding’ with twinkling H2Os on hot pressed watercolour paper. The challenge rules are simple – the focal point can be any company’s image as long as it’s hand stamped and fits the theme. There are prizes from generous sponsors Penny Black and Bee Crafty.

thanks for popping by.

Christmas Kisses

linda3 Comments

i gave these cute Lawn Fawn tiny gift boxes to one of my specialist’s office staff; they hold one chocolate Lindt truffle or in this case, they’re stuffed with four Hershey kisses.

christmas treat boxes copyright linda snailzpace.com

the papers are doodlebug and i white heat embossed a tiny tag sayings sentiment on the circle die that comes with the die set.

i’m playing along with the LAWN FAWNATICS CHALLENGE 65 – FUN WITH DIES! and the Scrapy Land Challenges #126 – Always Anything Goes with Die Brand SL sells; Lawn Fawn.

thanks for popping by.

Bah Humbug

linda6 Comments

i was asked to make a christmas card for someone who shares the taylored expressions grumplings’ sense of humour.

bah humbug christmas card copyright linda snailzpace.com

i die cut the circles, sponged them with distress inks and inlaid them after using the taylored expressions Holly embossing folder on the white card panel. i stamped the hum bug from the Calendar Grumplings stamp set and painted the cat from the Fluffy Friends – Holiday stamp set with twinkling H2Os. i added glossy accents to the lights before fussy cutting and die cut the Little Bits Christmas Tree with green glitter paper and inlaid red glitter dots.

i’m playing along with these challenges:
Rudolph Days November christmas creation
Cardz 4 Galz #110 Get Ready For Christmas
Cutie Pie Challenge #141 ADD ANIMAL
Fab n Funky #459 – Christmas
Simon Says Stamp – Anything Goes

thanks for popping by.