This day was about traditional watercolors.

I used my peerless water colors and my Kuretake

On this card I used Peerless to get a dreamy background

I ended up doing the Gnome twice.  The first time the colors ran so bad.  I then switched to distress inks.  I had more control and it looks way better.

OH MY GOODNESS!  I loved this one.   This is the lineless watercolor technique.  I dont know if it was because I did a good job or those mice are so stinkin cute!!!   I dyed the ribbon to match the color of the paper.  So so so so CUTE!!!

I tried to do a die cut emboss into the water color paper and it still cut some parts of the paper.  It just was not happening for me.   Oh well.

Thanks

Howdy,  Nothing like panicking at the last minute trying to get cards done.  I am sooo bad at finishing early.

Day one is all about watercolor markers!   And boy do I have them.  I have distress markers, I have Zig Real Color Markers.  I even purchased the new ones that Kristina used in her circle card.  They did not come in the mail yet.  Probably tomorrow.  Oh well!

The first card is using a cherry stamp set from Flourishes.

I really liked how it came out.  Struggled a bit to make the cherries show different colors.

I used the Zig Real Color markers on this card

This card technique was using the color right onto the stamp.   I also used the zig real color markers for this one.  I also make the ribbon.  I tried to used zig real color but it was not happening.  So I ended up using distress ink to make the ribbon.  I also added that silver sentiment holder.  This was an attempt to use up old supplies from my closet.

This card is a FAILURE.   LOL, we all have them.  I tried to use the zig markers in a way to so gradual color change.  I fail.  The colors smeared.  I even hate the ribbon.  Oh well.

Thanks for looking!

Ok, off and running with a new watercolor class.   To prep for this class, I did a card using those Cosmo Cricket Watercolor cards.  They prints some wonderful thing on the watercolor paper and then you go ahead and color it!

I used a set of metallic watercolors that I refused to throw away.   I like them.  It was gold, copper, pink and shimmering rose gold.   Loved it.

Thanks for looking!

Yahoo!  I won.   OK, keep in mind that it is truly random, but I always enjoy getting a prize for my efforts.

I only wish my sister won also!

Oh boy, it is finally done.  I actually did every challenge.  I pushed myself and learned, got brain freeze, had laughing fits, drank champagne, got real creative and really enjoyed myself!   Hard to believe it is over with.  I need to wait a whole year to do it again.  I wish I had a clue to what the challenge will be!   They are so much fun!!!!

Thank you everyone for looking at my creations.  See you next year!!!!!

—Create a project that incorporates unconventional materials from a hardware store.  Your budget was $10* and we’d love to see a photo of your receipt next to your card!

This was interesting.  I did this card last because I was afraid I would not have enough time to run to the store and finish my cards.   Fortunately I did finish everything, and I ran to Lowes to look for goodies.

I actually made two cards

Here is the first….can you guess what I got at the hardware store….

Here is a close up of the bird area

Can you see the blues and greens around the embossed areas?

This is the 2nd card

Want to know what I got at the hardware store…..

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The first card used Metal Repair Foil Tape and the second card used paint chips.   I actually did not use the washers.

Card One Supplies:

My Favorite Things After Midnight Cardstock
PTI Simply Chartreuse Cardstock
Metal Foil Tape
Anna Griffin Avery Embossing Folder
Tim Holtz Distress Paint, Blueprint Sketch and Citron Twist
PTI Scripted Die

After I embossed the foil tape, I used both the blue and green paint on the embossed image and then cleaned it with a cloth.  The excess stayed in the cracks.

Card Two Supplies:

Neenah Solar White Cardstock
Paintchips
PTI Cover Plate Circles
Avery Elle Simply Said Hello
Vellum
PTI Summer Sunrise Cardstock

—Create a new card from pieces of reject cards or alter a card from earlier today that you were not happy with.  It’s all about making it work!

Well I knew I was going to redo my first card.  Making that card was a constipated process and I just could not pull it together.  The redo was simple after a whole day of working on cards and stretching myself to create!

Here is the original card.  I did not like the overkill of Tropical teal.  I tried to emboss stars on the background that just did not work.   I did borders around the foiled card that make it look bulky.  The overall card looked unbalanced.

Here is my re-do

I like the cleaner look with more white and the statement more centered.  This is a more clean and simple look that I find more attractive.

Thanks for looking!!!

—Create a project based on one of the runway looks a team member provided above.  You can choose to focus on the colors, the style, the design or whatever other aspect inspires you!

Ohhh this is a hard one because I love all the color choices!!!!

But I settled on this adorable color combo and sweet dress.  I decided to make my card look like the dress…. flowers, pastels, ribbons.  Very Feminine and sweet.

I even dyed the ribbon with sweet blush and spring moss to bring in those colors.  I ended up using another pink for the flowers because my ink pad is so dry that you could not see the flowers.  But overall I like the card.

Supplies:

Kraft Cardstock
Anna Griffin Shimmer Paper
Anna Griffin Crowned Medallion Embossing Folders
PTI Vintage Linens Stamp and Die Set
Seam Binding
PTI Sweet Blush and Spring Moss Ink Pads
Simon Says Stamp Twirling Tutu Ink Pad
PTI Fine Linen Cardstock
PTI Tiny Tags
Stick Pin
Pearls

—Create a project featuring a stick pin.  Incorporate some of the tips that Melissa mentioned throughout her video!

I really liked making this one.  I was channeling my inner Melissa Phillips!  I really liked how my ribbon came out.  I used seam tape and made my own ribbon by using distress inks and water.   I tried to make the color the same as different apples and I think it worked.

Supplies:

PTI Enclosed It: Apple Die
Stampin Up! Cherry Cobbler Cardstock
PTI mini tag it dies
PTI Simply You Stamp Set
Crate Paper Farmhouse Paper
We R Memory Keepers Harvest Paper
PTI Fine Linen Cardstock
Seam Tape
Distress Ink: Barn Door, Mowed Lawn, Fossilized Amber, Peeled Paint
Stick Pin

—Your challenge is to incorporate machine stitching into a project. We’d love to see you use metallic thread if you have some! Don’t let this intimidate you if you’ve never done it before!  Just follow along with Amy’s tips and have fun getting crafty!

I have always wanted to pull out this die set from Papertrey Ink and when I saw the stitching I thought it was perfect for this challenge.    However my poor (and very expensive) sewing machine is giving me issues.  I was able to reset and reset the machine to get this card done.   The machine is headed off to the repair shop!     The nice thing about this stitching project was using some of my pretty thread.   This sulky thread was autumn colors and I thought would look nice on the card.

Supplies:

PTI Canyon Clay Cardstock
PTi Canyon Clay Patterned Paper
PTI Shape Up Series: Pumpkin
PTI Shape Up Series: Pumpkin Sections Die
PTI Tiny Tags Die
PTI Tag Its #7 Stamp Set
PTI Fine Linen Cardstock
PTI Rustic Jute Button Twine
Sulky 40 wt Rayon Variegated Thread – VAr-Lt Brown #943-2119

—Create a project that features some sort of stamped stitching.  Have fun experimenting with the fun techniques Heather outlined in her videos!

Now on to the faux stitches on the card.    Not sure the green embossing powder works, but lets move on!!!

Supplies:

PTI Tropical Team Cardstock
Basic Grey Tea Garden Pattern Paper
My Favorite Things Steel Blue Cardstock
My Favorite Things Stitched with Love Stamp Set
PTI Country Fair Quilt Die
Recollection Citron Embossing Powder
Versamark Ink

Thanks for looking at my creations

—Your challenge is to create a card or project that mixes at least three different patterned papers, keeping in mind the concepts that Betsy discussed in the video.  Have fun and step out of your box!

I used the paper from the kit and went for the soft pinks, oranges and yellows.  I really liked the flowers and decided that I wanted more flowers to add to the card.

The flowers do get a little lost on the card so I used Wink of Stella clear glitter on the flowers to help them pop (ok it pop a tiny bit)

Here is a close up of the flowers.  Still don’t think you can see the glitter.   Hmmmm  But you can see the gold color shine sprinkles on the card.

Supplies:

PTI Mix & Match Paper
PTI Cutting Garden Stamp Set
My Favorite Things Blueprints #14, #10
Clear Wink of Stilla
Versafine Onyx Black Inkpad
PTI Moonstones
PTI Hibiscus Burst Card Stock
PTI Inks Harvest Golden , Autumn Rose, Simple Chartreuse, New Leaf, Summer Sunrise
Heidi Swapp Gold Color Shine

—Create a project using a new-to-you color combination.  Your challenge is to come up with a unique color combination incorporating either a color you already love and use all the time, or one you rarely use, and create a project using those colors!

Well I noticed I never use Lemon Tart, I never opened the ink pad, never used the paper.  So I decided to try to incorporate it into the colors I use.   I generally like bright vibrant colors and using softer pastel colors are a stretch for me.  I also got the opportunity to use my new Zig Clean Color Real Brush set.

I decided to experiment with the ZIG Clean Color on vellum and I like the result.  I actually used them on the top of the vellum and they went on real nice and colored up quickly.  to show off the sheer vellum, I cut between the flowers and curled the leaves up.  Then I tucked the flowers underneath another flower to help them stay popped up.  If you look at the photo in the upper left corner, you can see the pink sheerness of the colored vellum over the other flower.  I did stick the vellum flowers over solid colored shapes cut from the same dies.

Supplies:

Tim Holtz Water Color Paper
Zig Clean Color Real Brush
PTI Happy for You Stamp Set
PTI You’ve Been Framed: Oval
Simon Says Stamp Set Artful Flowers  and Dies
Hero Arts White Embossing Powder
Vellum
Lemon Tart Card Stock
Simply Chartreuse Card Stock

Thank you so much for looking at my creations