Thank You, Paper Crafts Blog Hop

Today, a large group of paper crafters are expressing our thanks to our beloved magazine, Paper Crafts & Scrapbooking, that will be closing its doors early next year. I have had the honor to have several projects published through their beautiful magazines over the years. It's hard to believe that it will be no more.

Thank You, Paper Crafts Magazine and Staff. You have been my source of inspiration ever since I started paper crafting a few years ago. You have made my day many times when I received the acceptance emails from Susan that my projects would be published by you. You will surely be missed. My prayers are with you as you seek new adventures and adjust to life apart from our beloved PC Mags.

If you came from Heather's blog, then you're in the right spot.  My card today is pretty easy with a simple sentiment. I free hand painted the tree with watercolors. The sentiment is from Penny Black Sunny Hello. The panel was attached using Scrapbook Adhesives by 3L Photo Corners.

To make the tree, I first loaded my brush with watercolor paint, then flicked it all over the paper with my fingers. I then smeared more water on the drops. When that dried, I painted the trunk and branches. Finally, I added the blue background and grass.

Your next stop is CLEARSNAP, makers of some of my favorite inks. Happy hopping!

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Peace Joy Tag Cards

Hello, friends. Sorry for my absence the last couple of weeks. Thanksgiving took all of my free time and I'm thankful for the much-needed break. Before I share my card, I have to ask you to come back tomorrow. I will be part of the largest blog hop I've ever been part of, I believe. You don't want to miss it! Also, I still have some stamps and dies for sale HERE. If there's anything your really want and the price isn't agreeable to you, please shoot me an email and let me know your best offer.

My card today has one of my favorite color combos (red, white and blue). I didn't use any stamping here. Can you believe it? The papers, buttons and tags are by Fancy Pants. The sentiment dies are by Penny Black Love & Joy.

I stitched around the white panel. The tags were mounted using Scrapbook Adhesives by 3L foam squares.

Challenges: Runway Inspired, The Card Concept, Just Us Girls, SSS Monday, Card Mania, Die-cut Divas, Vintage Stamping.

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Watercolored Swirly Background CAS Card

Hello, I have a simple card for you today.I first heat embossed watercolor paper with sparkly white powder using my Penny Black Dotted Fusion stamp. I then colored it with various Distress markers and wet them to blend the colors.

The sentiment is from Penny Black Amazing! which I stamped on a flag. The only embellishment the card needs is a little flower and some burlap string. Adhesives are by Scrapbook Adhesives by 3L.

Challenges: Time Out Challenge (embossing) Paper Players (CAS Thank You), The Shabby Tea Room (Photo Inspiration with Burlap), Runway Inspired (Photo inspired colors), CASology (flag sentiment), Cardabilities (sketch), ATRS (Make Your Mark), Uniko Studio (anything goes and/or sketch).

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Golden Autumn Leaves

Gold has been trendy for a while now and I've resisted using it because it's just not me. The only thing gold I own is my wedding ring. But as I was organizing my craft room, I stumbled upon some old gold embossing powder that was just begging to be used. So, here's the result, which was inspired by so many lovely challenges going on right now. I used my Penny Black Foliage Fancy set. I inked the solid images with distressed ink spritzed then with a little water before stamping.

I then heat embossed the detailed images with gold. The sentiment is from Penny Black as well. I finish the card with a simple flag sentiment, button and a burlap string. Adhesives are by Scrapbook Adhesives by 3L.

Challenges: Virginia's View, Shabby Tea Room, The Paper Players, Runway Inspired, Pals Paper Arts.

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Water Color Painting Card #2

I'm back with my 2nd card this week using a freehand watercolor painting. This is really easy to do. I just basically tapped my very wet brush with the paint directly onto the paper. I then spritzed just a tiny bit of water and let it dry before painting the trunk and branches.

I distressed the edges and sponged some ink to make it look vintage. The sentiment is from Penny Black's Foliage Fancy. I finish the card with a little bird sticker by Paper House.

I have two more cards using the same technique but with very different results. Challenges: Moxie Fab Trees, CASE this Sketch, colorQ, Addicted to Rubber Stamps, The Pink Elephant.

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