Paper Players

It's CAS week at the Paper Players Challenge and there's a suggested theme of plants. That was a perfect reason for me to dust off some WPlus9 stamp sets and begin to arrange some plants in this fun watering can image.  Lilacs are my favorite spring flower (well...it's a tough one competing for tulips for top spot - lol)! 

I started with 3 different patterns of washi tape for the background. The watering can was stamped with Weathered Wood distress oxide ink then I sponged some Black Soot near the edges. Other distress oxide inks used for the florals included Peeled Paint, Twisted Citron, Crushed Olive, Forest Moss, Milled Lavender, Seedless Preserves, Dusty Concord, Shaded Lilac, Mustard Seed, Fossilized Amber, Worn Lipstick, Picked Raspberry.  The sentiment die is from the Thanks and Hello Word Duos by Reverse Confetti.  I always layer at least 2 or 3 word dies to give it a chipboard dimension.

STAMPS: Fresh Cut Florals, Fresh Cut Containers - WPlus9.

For more inspiration from the rest of the talented design team, please check out their creations HERE.  Hope to see you in the gallery! Have a blessed day!                                   ~Wanda

CAS(E) This Sketch

My second post today is a card I actually completed yesterday for the CAS(E) This Sketch Challenge.  Awhile back, I was intrigued by the ink blending skills of Kristina Werner and have been following her videos on this technique - especially with distress oxide inks. You can see her tutorial HERE. I used Picket Fence Studios Life Changing Blender Brushes (pack of four in my case) and they really do a fabulous job of blending! My only complaint is that the handle is essentially useless and feels like it will break off because I have to push down pretty firmly over the brush area.  Is this just me or is anyone else having this concern?

I CASEd one of Kristina's color combos and used Old Paper, Evergreen Bough and Black Soot distress oxide inks. I would never in a million years have thought of combining these colors, but I really do like it!  I used X-Press It Blending Card for the ink blending since it has a really smooth surface (and I was out of the Neenah cardstock that I believe Kristina uses). I heat dried the background prior to white embossing the image (you will definitely need to use an antistatic tool).

STAMPS: Weekend Doodles (Altenew), Simple Strips Background (Taylored Expressions).
DIES: Simple Strips Background (Taylored Expressions).

That's it for today...now I must get some errands done!   
                                                                                  ~Wanda

Watermelon Slice

There's a fun new sketch up for the MFT Wednesday Sketch Challenge! I'm so in love with the new MFT watermelon dies and sweet sentiments that go with it! I experimented with smooshing Distress Oxide inks on watercolor paper. I smooshed the inks on my glass craft mat, then lightly sprayed both the mat and the cardstock with water. I splattered Mowed Lawn ink over the dried green panel to add a more textured look.

RIND: Twisted Citron, Mowed Lawn, Cracked Pistachio, Lucky Clover.
WATERMELON: Worn Lipstick, Picked Raspberry, Abandoned Coral.

I sponged the green inks onto the card base using my homemade stencil (different sized circles die cut on a piece of acetate). I initially created this stencil for use with bokeh effects. 

STAMPS: Sweet Sentiments (MFT).
PAPER: Black and White Stripes 6x6 pad (MFT); New Leaf and True Black (PTI).
DIES: Sweet (MFT), Stitched Rectangle STAX (MFT), Watermelon Slice (MFT).

Thanks so much for stopping by and commenting!    ~Wanda

Freshly Made Sketches

I had just stated to someone online that I didn't need any graduation cards this year, and then...I suddenly remembered our 4 year old granddaughter will be graduating from preschool! My typical grad card ideas just didn't sound appealing for a girly girl who is all about princesses! So, off to Pinterest for something to spark my interest!  I saw this fun owl idea that uses nothing but punches or dies and wanted to pair it with the great sketch for the current Freshly Made Sketches challenge.

These patterned papers from Echo Park's "Spring" 6x6 pad were

perfect for the feminine girly look. I initially left the white circles blank but it reminded me of strange wings on the owl, so I remedied that with some celebratory stars - lol!  The "diploma" was a small piece of script paper rolled up over a thin paint brush handle then tied with black thread. The grad cap is a sticker (? company).

STAMPS: Simple Strips Background (Taylored Expressions).
INK: Memento Tuxedo Black.
DIES/PUNCHES: Stitched Circle STAX and Stitched Stars (MFT); Stitched Rectangle (Lil' Inker Designs). See the photo for the punches I used.
OTHER: Square Lattice embossing folder by SU.

Thanks so much for stopping by and commenting!  
                                                                        ~Wanda

Fusion Card Challenge

It's time for another Fusion Card Challenge! I've always been fascinated by the adorable hedgehog stamp images in blog land, but believe it or not, I don't own a single one! My two wheeled image options were also very limited so I went digi shopping! I found this really cute digi image on Di's Digi Stamps and had a ball coloring it up with Copics! I'm also trying to add some highlights with a white gel pen (Hobby Lobby has a pack of two pens - Gelly Roll bright white ink by Sakura) when I do Copic coloring. It always adds interest and depth when others do it, so I added some dots to the cheeks and to the geraniums.

I modified the circle element and used a Stitched Rounded Rectangle die by My Favorite Things. The sentiment is from the Sentiment Sampler set by Paper Smooches and the patterned papers are from the "Sunkissed" 6x6 pad by Doodlebug Design. One of my favorite card base dies is from MFT's Blueprints 27 set. It was OOS for a really long time, but I finally snagged it.

As you can see...I used both the sketch and was inspired by the photo as well! We'd love to see how you are inspired by the new Fusion Card Challenge! Hope to see you in the gallery.
                                                                       ~Wanda

Color Throwdown #543

You know what day it is? It's hump day and it's the day for a new Color Throwdown challenge! When I noticed the vases of hydrangeas in the photo, I knew I wanted to use the Hydrangea Set by Impression Obsession. I chose a textured medium gray piece of cardstock by SU for the base and stenciled with Silver Lining ink (WPlus9) and the English Brick Wall stencil by My Favorite Things. I stamped some ink splats with Color Box Frost White pigment ink over the base (Ink Splats stamp set by WPlus9). The sentiment is from the Hydrangea Set and was die cut with MFT's Stitched Sentiment Strips Die-Namics. I added a small drop of Nuvo Jewel Drops in Grey Mist to the tiny flower petals. 

For more inspiration, click on the design team links below:

•  Amy Rohl 
• Amy Rysavy 
•  Barbara Anders
• Broni Holcombe
• Jodi Collin
• Lisa Henke
• Lori Tecler
• Lynn Put  
• Vickie Zimmer
•  Wanda Cullen (you are here)  
•  
• Hope to see you in the gallery!    ~Wanda

Sketch Saturday

The Sketch Saturday challenge is a nice and simple layout that was perfect to use this panel of wide washi tape by Altenew. The sentiment - Doodle Buds by WPlus9 - has a light and airy, feminine feel to it which pairs up perfectly with this pretty floral background. 
 

 

All of the stitched dies (circle, rectangle, fishtail flags) are from My Favorite Things.  So quick and easy!

                                                                   ~Wanda