Sunday, July 29, 2018

Handmade Wedding Card

My daughter is getting married in our backyard in September so I wanted to make a handmade card with seasonal color.  I LOVE The Concord and 9th Happy Day stamp set.

Handmade Wedding Card.

I silver embossed the cake and sentiment on watercolor paper and then watercolored with Daniel Smith watercolors.  I love the bright vibrant colors.  

It was cloudy while I was photographing so I thought I would try some outdoor shots.  Nontraditional for cards, but I like them.

My inspiration for the orange flower came from Just us Girls Challenge #451


I frequently enter the Addicted to Stamp Challenge as I like their prompts.  This week is "Make Your Mark". 


Thanks for stopping by!
Karen

Saturday, July 28, 2018

Handmade Halloween Card

My daughter is getting married in September so I am getting an early start on Halloween cards.  I think this Art Impressions image is so fun!


Handmade Halloween Card using watercolor markers.

I embossed the haunted house and then colored with vividly hued watercolor markers.  I also made a coordinating envelop from a Penny Black Halloween stamp set.

























I am entering this card in:

Watercooler Wednesday Holiday Challenge



Addicted to Stamps Make Your Mark



Update:
I was very excited to learn that my Halloween card was chosen as a "Watercooler Rocker".



Thanks for stopping by!

Karen

Tuesday, July 24, 2018

Linear Pattern Stamping

I love the look of linear pattern stamping and think the horizontal (coffee cups) and vertical (cupcakes) stripes emphasizes the  linear look.  I used an acrylic block and grid paper (instead of a Misti) to hand stamp the images (Altenew Tea Time).
Altenew Tea Time Stamp Set

The coloring went very fast as I only used four colors and no blending:
Y35
BG05
RV23
YG25
N1 to outline


Being a birthday card, I wanted to add a cake (Jane's Doodles Party Time) to the Sentiment (SSS Brush Stroke Messages).  I mounted on a grey card, adhered a white insert inside and added a "celebrate" sentiment.












This card is for one of my best friends and I am entering it in the following challenges:



Update:  This card was chosen as a "Top Pick" for the  Always Happy Birthday July Challenge

Thanks for stopping by!
Karen

Sunday, July 22, 2018


In June, I won the AAA 4th Birthday Challenge with my Yappy Birthday submission.  I won a 30 pound gift card to Visible Images!  AAA also asked me to be a guest designer for today's Challenge:  AAA Cards Over The Rainbow Challenge.  I was so excited that I created two different cards and liked this one the best, so I submitted it to the Challenge.


Rainbow Ink Blending

The Doodle Buds Stamp Set by WPlus9 is a favorite and I thought it would be fun to ink blend the Rainbow.  I stamped the images and colored/blended with my Copic markers.

WPlus9 Doodle Buds Floral Card.
























I also gave this card to my card making friend, Chris.

I am entering this card in two Birthday Challenges:

Seize The Birthday Challenge


Always Happy Birthday Challenge


Update:  I was happy to learn I won "Birthday Honours" at Seize the Birthday!



Thanks for stopping by!

Karen

Saturday, July 14, 2018

Monochromatic Watercolor Bleaching


I saw a technique that I wanted to try called Watercolor Bleaching.   I thought it was very striking so I took a go at it.  I went for monochromatic blues.  First, I white heat embossed a number of floral images and a Thinking of You sentiment.  Next, I (heavily) watercolored the background with several shades of medium and darker blue distress ink.  To "bleach" I wet a paint brush and dabbed the inside of the images.  I wanted a dramatic and intense effect so I wet the areas, blotted with a towel and repeated until I had the look I was going for.  It got lighter after each cycle.
Emboss Resist Technique with  Distress Inks.

I liked that card so I did a similar second card but added some reds and greens.  In the end, I liked the monochromatic blue card the best. 














 I am entering my card in the following challenges:

Just Us Girls Watercolor Background


The Flower Challenge - Monochrome


Cas-ual Fridays Embossing Challenge


Thanks for stopping by!
Karen

Saturday, July 7, 2018

Bright Summery Card for a Girlfriend

I have been mentally designing a card with linear pattern stamping using citrus fruits.   I tried a couple different patterns and selected this one.  I usually use my misti, but I stamped this card freehand using an acrylic block.   To save time, I put all three stamps on the block and stamped across the card.
Linear Pattern Stamping
Create a Smile Fruit Salad Stamp Set

I colored the images with Copic markers using the YR02, Y06 and YG01 which are bright citrusy colors.There are a lot of images, but the coloring went surprisingly fast.  I used Sakura Gel Pens for the rind on the lime and orange images.  I debated whether to outline the fruit in gray but opted to keep the card fresh and bright instead.  If I had made two cards, I would have tried one each way to see which I preferred.

I embossed two Happy Birthday sentiments and decided I liked the smaller font on this card.  I added a few sequins and I was done!

Handmade card featuring lemons, limes and oranges.
This card will go to one of my girlfriends whose birthday is in August.  

I am entering this cheerful, summery birthday card in the following challenges:










Thanks for stopping by!
Karen

Wednesday, July 4, 2018

Birthday Bird in Red, White and Blue



I wanted to do a birthday card featuring this cute whimsical bird and decided a bold background would be fun.  Since it is The 4th of July, I used Red, White and Blue as my color inspiration.  I started by stamping the Hero Arts Tribal Stripes Bold Print Background Stamp with Ranger Denim ink.  Next I stamped the bird from one of my favorite stamp sets,  Simon Says Stamp Stacking Animals. 
Simon Says Stamp Stacking Animals.

I used the same denim ink for the bird and sentiment to tie the card together.  I colored the bird with Copic markers and then added Tonic Nuvo Glaze to the birds beak. I trimmed the smaller panel down and mounted (with foam tape) on the blue background,.  I then mounted the background on a white card and stamped a birthday sentiment inside the card. 


Denim Blue, Red and Yellow Card Color Scheme.

I am entering this card in the following challenges:





Thanks for stopping by!
Karen

New Blog Site

Hello friends.  I just wanted to let you know that I have a new blog site:  Kennyscards.com I'd love for you to pop over and check it ou...