Cut it Up Challenge #312 ~ What's in Your Garden

Hi Crafty Friends,
Our first September challenge at Cut it Up Challenges.#312 is "What's in Your Garden?"
This theme can have a variety of interpretations.  Some gardens have flowers, others veggies, or even birds and critters.  Let your creative imagination have fun with it.
I've used my Spellbinders Betterpress to create my card.

 

I used the Sealed Floral and Let's Chat Soon plates.  I pressed with Betterpress black ink and used my Zig Clear Color Real Brush pens to water color the image.  My die cut is from the Pinkfresh Studio Ornate Rectangle Frame set.

I hope you'll join our challenge.  Upload your project HERE.

Pearly Sparkles Monthly Challenge ~ Add a Ribbon and/or Bow

Hi Crafty Friends,
Welcome to September!!! Oh my, how can that be?  Guess it's time to head to the shed to start bringing out fall decorations - woohoo!
This month at Pearly Sparkles we're sharing projects that have ribbon and/or bows on them.   I love ribbon but I seem to go in cycles using it.

Here's another card I made using Zig Clean Color brush pens..  It's simple yet I think it's really pretty.  I love purple and turquoise and the pop of pink is just an added surprise.  The patterned paper and ribbon came in one of my Crafter's Companion kits.

I hope you'll join our monthly challenge.  Just follow the link above.

Die Cuttin' Divas Challenge 435 ~ Thinking of You

Hi Crafty Friends,
Our challenge at Die Cuttin' Divas is THINKING OF YOU.
Along with birthday cards, I feel you can never have too many of these cards in your stash.
You know how much I love using Copic Markers for my projects but I'm trying to branch out and master new skills.  Today's card is a simple tag which I created using Zig Clean Color water color brush pens.  I love the way it turned out but I must admit that this isn't an easy technique for me because I tend to over-color! EEEK!  As Elsa says, I need to "Let it Go!"

This ribbon is some homemade crinkle ribbon which I made using bias tape and distress stain.
I hope you'll join our challenge this week.  Just follow the DCD link above.

Die Cuttin' Divas #425 ~ Happy Birthday

Hi Crafty Friends,
It's a Happy Birthday challenge at Die Cuttin' Divas.
I finally got a chance to visit our local Tuesday Morning and found some great crafty goodies.  I certainly don't need more stamps or dies but I couldn't resist this Tim Holtz die and stamp set that featured the small birds.  I also decided to use water color/Zig pens.  I'm not sure I'm a fan but you've gotta try new techniques, right?

I also used Jaded Blossom Word Bubbles die and Border Die 2.
I hope you'll play along.  We all need Birthday cards in our stash.  Just follow the link above.

Always Fun Challenge #76 ~ Fall Colors

Hi Crafty Friends,
For today's Always Fun Challenge, we're sharing projects using fall colors.

I have had this Penny Black stamps for a very long time and never got around to using it.  I needed to make a sympathy card so I decided that the stamp would be the focus.  I stamped on water color paper and used my Zig Clean Color brush pens to color.  I think the branch die cut finished the card nicely.
I hope you'll join in our challenge by following the link above.

Always Fun Challenge #56 ~ Flowers

Hi Crafty Friends,
Our Always Fun Challenge this week is FLOWERS.
This was the perfect time to get out my seldom used Zig Clean Color pens and play with water coloring. 

I used Gold Detail embossing powder on the stamped images.  First, I applied clear water and then began adding color with a Zig Clean Color brush pen.  I used  Pale Rose on the first card and a combination of Pale Rose and Deep Red on the second.  There are so many ways you can apply the medium but I like the way the paint moved when applying water first.  If you want a brighter, even application, you can use the pens alone.  So much fun.
I hope you'll join our challenge by following the link above.  You may create any type of project but you must follow the FLOWER theme.

A New Challenge Blog!

Hi Crafty Friends,
Today is the debut of a new challenge blog, Always Fun Challenges

The design team will share their projects EVERY Monday and you'll have the week to add your project to the link.  All types of crafty goodness is encouraged!
Our first challenge is ANYTHING GOES.
For my debut project I decided to work with (for me) a different medium.  I used Zig Clean Color pens (watercolor) to color this Stampendous Cling Rose Cluster.

I stamped the image using Versafine black ink onto Tim Holtz Distress Watercolor Cardstock. Even though these are watercolors, I still created the blends using  light, midtone, and shadow colors for each section (still a Copic colorist at heart.)  I did use a wate rbrush pen to enhance the blending and then added a water brushed background.  I really enjoyed using these pens but know I still have to practice and there's a lot more technique to learn!
The papers are pearls are from my craft stash, not sure of the brands.
I hope you'll visit the design team blog following the link above and then join in the fun with us.
Remember, we'll be sharing a new challenge EVERY Monday!!!