Simply Sketched Saturday Challenge #12 – Watercolour Birthday Blooms

Image ~ 23 July 201621 February 2018 ~ Anna Krol ~ 19 Comments

Anna’ Stampin’ Cave – Watercolour Birthday Blooms

Thank you for joining us for another Simply Sketched Saturday Challenge! We’re so excited to be sharing this hop with you. The products used are all available in the current Annual, or seasonal, Stampin’ Up!® Catalogues*. Simply use the buttons at the bottom of the post to keep hopping!

Today’s sketch was designed by very talented and lovely Louise from Whiteflag Designs, who sadly couldn’t take a part in the challenge today. But we hope she’ll be back with us soon.

For today’s card I’ve used Birthday Blooms stamp set but in a rather unexpected colour scheme. Since I can remember I always loved blue and yellow colour combination. Firstly, these were the colours of my town’s sports club Avia Świdnik. These were also the colours of my favourite radio station RMF FM, back when I was a teenager. And it’s not surprising that, when I first moved out from my mum’s, I repainted all cabinets in my new kitchen yellow and blue. Even a fridge, that’s how much I loved these two together 🙂 But enough of my babbling, here’s the card I’ve made:

I slightly alternated the sketch: I created landscape fold card instead of portrait one. I also decided to mirror the image, so the largest ‘panel’ is on the right side of the focal point. For the base, I’ve used beautiful but sadly underrated Delightful Dijon. I truly love its deep, earthy shade. I added two panels of Whisper White to the base: a square that measures 4″x 4″, and a strip that measures 4″x 1-5/8″. For next panels, I’ve used a square piece of Pool Party card stock and a piece of a striped pattern paper from Designer Series Paper Stack in Delightful Dijon. And these are accordingly 1/8″ smaller than Whisper White pieces.

Now for the watercolour. I stamped the flower on a piece of watercolour paper using Versamark, and heat embossed it in white. Using aqua painter, I added water to the petals first and started adding the colour. For the first layer of colour, I’ve used Pool Party. I started really light and added more colour along the way. Next, to add more definition to the flower, I added some shading with Marina Mist. For the leaves, I’ve used a combination of Pear Pizzazz and Wild Wasabi. And again I started light and built up the colour.

When I was happy with the flower it was time to create the background. I added water to my watercolour piece. I had to be really careful to not let the colours from the flower bleed into the background. I’ve used same technique like with the petals: I started with a light wash of Delightful Dijon and I kept adding more colour along the way until I was happy with the results. Next, I’ve used aqua painter to “flick” few droplets of water to the surface of the panel. I think will never get tired of seeing how ink reacts with water and create interesting organic texture. To jazz it up a little more I used Gorgeous Grunge stamp set to stamp some splashes in Delightful Dijon first, followed by Whisper White Craft Ink. When the panel was completely dry I adhered it to my card base. I kept the sentiment really simple: I stamped Happy Birthday from Teeny Tiny Sentiments in Basic Black on a strip of Whisper White and glued it to the card using liquid glue.

To finish off my card I decided to add Delightful Dijon to the centre of the flower with a blender pen, as I don’t own the markers. And the very last touch was to add Clear Wink Of Stella Glitter Brush Pen to the petals and leaves.

I’m so chuffed how this card turned out: beautiful bold colours and textures. I just love how these blue flowers stand out from their deep yellow background. I really hope you like my project too.

Now, be sure to hop along and see more inspiring projects. Your next stop is Karen’s blog – go and see what she has made for you.

Thank you for stopping by and have a blessed day

Pinkies Annual Catalogue Blog Hop – Tuscan Vineyard

Image ~ 16 June 201621 February 2018 ~ Anna Krol ~ 22 Comments

Thank you for joining us on another Pinkies Blog Hop! We’re showcasing lots of gorgeous projects using products from the new Stampin’ Up!® Annual Catalogue. Simply use the buttons at the end of each post to keep hopping!

When Chris, my husband, saw Stampin’ Up! Tuscan Vineyard Stamp Set he said: “we have to have it” ;). In our home, we love to have a glass of good wine on special occasion, or when friends come over. We also make our own wine from the fruits of our garden. Chris (my husband) is very passionate about it. When he was young he’s spent some time on a French vineyard, and he fell in love with the art of making wine.

I think this set is perfect for collages, but I decided to use my favourite technique – watercolour. First, I randomly stamped the base of my card using various images from the stamp set. I used Crumb Cake cardstock and ink pad for tone on tone look. Next, I took a piece of watercolour paper and I stamped bunches of grapes and olive branches using Basic Grey Archival ink and water coloured them with an aqua painter. For fine lines, I’ve used Blender Pens.

When I was happy with the results I made some random splotches with Perfect Plum and Wild Wasabi. To assemble my card I backed my watercolour panel with a piece of Crumb Cake and Very Vanilla. I wrap linen thread around the panel, added a piece of new doily underneath, and adhere it to the card base using dimensionals. I stamped round image from the same set, that reads Toscana Vigneto on a piece of Very Vanilla and tucked it underneath the panel. Few rhinestones, simple sentiment, and my card was done. I also stamped inside of the card.

I truly hope you enjoyed coming to my blog today and see my card. As always, if you wish to purchase any of the products I have used, simply click the images below to go directly to my online shop.

Now, be sure to hop along and see more inspiring projects. Your next stop is lovely Kim – go and see what she has made using the new products.

Thank you for stopping by and have a blessed day! Product List

Tuscan Vineyard Wood-Mount Stamp Set [141899] £25.00	Tuscan Vineyard Clear-Mount Stamp Set [141902] £18.00	Labeler Alphabet Photopolymer Stamp Set [141936] £15.00	Crumb Cake A4 Card Stock [121685] £7.25	Very Vanilla A4 Card Stock [106550] £8.25
Watercolor Paper [122959] £4.50	Crumb Cake Classic Stampin’ Pad [126975] £6.00	Basic Gray Archival Stampin’ Pad [140932] £6.50	Perfect Plum Classic Stampin’ Pad [126963] £6.00	Wild Wasabi Classic Stampin’ Pad [126959] £6.00
Always Artichoke Classic Stampin’ Pad [126972] £6.00	Pear Pizzazz Classic Stampin’ Pad [131180] £6.00	Aqua Painters [103954] £15.50	Blender Pens [102845] £10.75	White Stampin Chalk Marker [132133] £3.25
Delicate White Doilies [141701] £2.75	Linen Thread [104199] £4.25	Rhinestone Basic Jewels [144220] £4.50	SNAIL Permanent Adhesive [104332] £6.25	Stampin’ Dimensionals [104430] £3.75
Stampin’ Trimmer [129722] £27.00

CAS Card – Birthday Blooms Meets Wink Of Stella

Image ~ 30 April 201621 February 2018 ~ Anna Krol ~ Leave a comment

Anna’ Stampin’ Cave – CAS Card – Birthday Blooms Meets Wink Of Stella

Today I’ve got for you beautiful, clean and simple (CAS) birthday card. I am so happy that Birthday Blooms stamp set staying with us for another year. I love this set for it’s stunning, bold flower image.

For the base, I took a piece of Whisper White cardstock that measures 5-7/8″x 8-2/8″ and fold it in half at 4-1/8″. Next, I cut a strip of this beautiful, embossed Color Me Irresistible DSP in Basic Black and adhere it to my base. The strip measures 2″ x 5-7/8″.

I stamped the flower image in Basic Black Archival ink and watercolour it. For the petals, I’ve used Watermelon Wonder and Rose Red. Center of the flower is Crushed Curry – I fell in love with this shade of yellow just recently. And leaves are a mix of Old Olive with a gentle touch of Always Artichoke. First, I added my colours and shadings with blender pens. Next, I used my Aqua Painter to blend it nicely and to add more colour or shading if required.

I let my flower dry completely and then fussy cut it. I should probably mention that as I knew I will fussy cut it, I’ve used regular Whisper White cardstock for the flower. Because my hands are quite numb and I find it hard to do more intricate things, I cut off tiny leaves from the flower. Really wasn’t able to fussy cut them. However I’m pretty chuffed with myself that I managed to fussy cut the little buds, it took me a while, though.

While the flower was drying I stamped the sentiment, from the same stamp set, in Versamark and heat embossed it with silver embossing powder. I really like this curly font. I assembled the flower using dimensionals and added some Silver Metallic Baker’s Twine underneath.

I stamped the inside of my card too. I used the single flower from the set, but this time, I colour it only with blender pen so it doesn’t bleed through. I also added a strip of the same DSP (5-7/8″ x 1/2″), to match the card front.

The last touch was to add some shimmer to my beautiful flower, using Clear Wink Of Stella Glitter Brush Pen. I love this stuff!

I love how this card turned out! I have to admit that CAS cards are growing on me but I still have a tendency to overthink and overcomplicate them. I’m a grungy-distress at heart, you know haha

I’m adding my card to Crazy 4 Challenges #C4C333 – April Showers bring May flowers!

Now I would love to hear from you. Do you like my today’s card?

Thank you for stopping by! Have a blessed day,

Simply Sketched Saturday Challenge #9 – Time To Split!

Image ~ 23 April 201621 February 2018 ~ Anna Krol ~ 24 Comments

Simply Sketched Saturday Challenge #9 – Time To Split!

Today’s sketch was designed by talented Karen from Lilliputcrafts.

I have to admit I was stumped when I saw this sketch, and my mind just went blank. Like mo ideas at all!! But two days ago? Eureka! A lightbulb moment! So here’s my take on the sketch:

I don’t know if this technique has any name, but I’ve noticed that splitting your card fronts is quite a big trend lately. And I really wanted to give it a go. And as unusual for me, I only used one stamp set to make my card: Balloon Celebration. Shock, right?! 😉

The base of my card is A6 top folded Very Vanilla because I run out of Whisper White when making my swaps for OnStage…oops 😉 Actually the last piece of WW (4″ x 5-6/8″) I’ve used to create panel for this card., seriously haha

First, I stamped the circles (quite overlooked stamp in Balloon Celebration set) in Versamark and heat embossed them in white. Next, I took Wisteria Wonder ink pad and swoosh it through the panel until it was all covered in beautiful lavender colour. This technique seems to add texture to the card as it’s not flat solid colour.

To add even more texture I sprinkled some water on my panel. I love to watch how ink reacts with water. Remember, for this cool effect, you have to sprinkle your water as soon as possible. And you have to immediately wipe off the water with paper towel. Otherwise, you will ruin your panel (ask me how do I know lol). When my panel was dry I cut it: the wider piece, with circles, measures 4″ x 2-1/2″ and the other piece measures 4″ x 1″.

The split we’ve got left is the perfect spot for our sentiment. I’ve used this cool “let us celebrate” balloon string. I attached the panels with dimensionals. Next, I stamped and punched two balloons from a piece of Very Vanilla (one small and one large), glued them together, and add them above the split. So it looks like the sentiment is actually a string hanging from balloons. I love it! I stamped the inside of my card too.

Do you like my project?! If so please leave me a comment. I would love to hear from you!

Now, be sure to hop along and see more inspiring projects. Your next stop is Suzanne’s blog – go and see what she has made for you.

Thank you for stopping by and have a blessed day!

Pootlers Spring / Summer Celebration Blog Hop

23 January 201621 February 2018 ~ Anna Krol ~ 13 Comments

Thank you for joining us on another Pootlers Blog Hop! We’re showcasing lots of gorgeous projects using products from the new Stampin’ Up!® Spring/Summer Catalogue. Simply use the buttons at the end of each post to keep hopping!

If you have arrived here from Jerim Dickins, a big welcome to you. To continue your journey simply use the buttons at the end of each post to keep hopping!

I hope you had a chance to look through our Spring/Summer catalogue and you’ve got your favourites already. I have chosen to use Rose Wonder Bundle from page 18.

I know I said that many times but I will say it again: I love everything about this bundle. I’ve played with this stamp set many times, but in today’s project, I incorporated watercolour with inlaid die-cutting. And yes, I’ve used these two techniques with this bundle already in this project.

This time I stamped my image straight onto watercolour paper with Versamark and heat embossed it in white. I’ve added water to the rose petals first and used Calypso Coral and Blushing Bride as my watercolours.

I let the flower dry completely before I moved to the leaves. And again I added water first. For the leaves, I choose Pear Pizzazz, Wild Wasabi and just a hint of Old Olive.

When my rose and leaves were dry I added water to the background. I didn’t want it to be as intense as last time so I mixed Lost Lagoon with Mint Macaron. I love how these two colours complement each other.

When my background was dry I gave it a little spray with water, and “lifted” those water droplets with a paper towel. As you can see it lifted some colour from background too – beautiful effect.

When my card was dry I’ve used Rose Garden Thinlits Dies to die-cut rose straight from my watercolour piece.

I separated the “frame” and put all these “inside” tiny pieces aside. I dabbed the frame in Versamark, added Heat & Stick powder and heat embossed it for a second. Enough to melt the powder. When it was nice and sticky I cover it with Gold Stampin’ Glitter and heat set it again.

My base is Whisper White. I trimmed the watercolour piece to be slightly smaller than the base. I added Gold Glitter to the bottom of my WW base so this gold will peek a little from underneath the panel.

Now I could assemble the card. I added background panel first, then the frame and all the little die-cuts at the end. I have to say it was really time-consuming but well worth the effect.

For the sentiment, I choose “What a beautiful blessing you are to me” but decided to use only part of the sentiment. I heat embossed it in gold on a strip of Whisper White and finish it with a piece of a doily.

I truly hope you enjoyed coming to my blog and see my card. Now, be sure to hop along and see more inspiring projects. Below is the list of all the participants but you can also use the buttons to keep hopping. Your next stop is lovely Kathleen Rintoul-Waite – go and see what she has made using the new products.

Thank you for stopping by and have a blessed day!