Art Journal: Let It Snow

Hello, friends! Welcome to another ART JOURNAL collaboration with a very dear and special blog friend - VICKI PARSON of Stamp Smiles. We are both passionate about art journalling and decided to inspire and encourage each other a monthly show and tell.

This month we are a little late with our projects. I blame the weather which, has been awful the past week - frost, ice, hail, snow, fog - the works! Still, it did provide me with the inspiration for my Art Journal page to create this wintery scene.

I have to admit, I wasn't too keen on the finished page at first but it's growing on me. For the sky, I dabbed on layers of Folk Art Acrylic Paint and embossed snowflakes with WOW Brilliant White EP. It's barely visible with the splatters of white gesso. The mountains are diecuts using MFT Stitched Mountain Range. I added the snow caps with Tim Holtz Distress Grit Paste  and slapped on the "trees" with Folk Art Acrylic Paint. The row of trees are diecuts using Lawn Fawn Forest Border layered with Stitched Hillside Borders Lawn Cuts.

On the second half of the page is a wintery cottage with more Folk Art Acrylic Paint on the background. For the swirls I applied Ranger Texture Paste over Tim Holtz Flourish stencil. The snow mound at the bottom of the page is a diecut using Lawn Fawn's Stitched Hillside Borders Lawn Cuts.

I stamped the cottage from Chocolate Baroque's Hearth and Home stamps sheet with Ranger Archival Jet Black ink and coloured it with Copics. Then I dumped a lot of snow on it using Faber-Castell Gesso and the aptly named Nuvo Glitter Drops White Blizzard.

By this stage of the game, I my brain froze and could not come up with an interesting quote. So I went with something obvious and simple using Lawn Fawn Riley's ABC and Claire Brennan (Waltzing Mouse) Victorian Alphabet, stamped with Ranger Archival Jet Black ink.

So, here's another look at this extra snow-laden page. It really is the heaviest I've created to date. The Tim Holtz Distress Grit Paste by Ranger is super stuff if you like chunky dimensional stencilling.

Challenges:
Addicted To Stamps #140: Baby It's Cold Outside
Fashionable Stamping #119: Winter / Spring
Crafting From The Heart #145: AG
Alphabet Challenge: W - Winter Walk
PDE Linky Party #157: No Cards Allowed

Now please head on over to VICKI PARSON of Stamp Smiles and check out what she has made. I have no doubt she would have created a fabulous page... she always does!

Thank you so much for stopping by and have a beautiful day!

x Beijinhos x

ATSM #226: Anything Goes

Hello again and welcome to another challenge over at Addicted To Stamps and More. This week the theme is an easy one - Anything Goes. Absolutely no excuse not to play along!

My card for this challenge is inspired by my wee doggie: Peanut. She is a Dachshund-Podengo mix. Here in Portugal, backyard breeders carry out such "experiments" under the misguided notion that 2 hounds with excellent hunting skills will produce a super-hunter of small tunnelling animals, namely rabbits and hares.

Unfortunately, Peanut did not make the grade. She turned out to be a hopeless hunter: afraid of rabbits, guns, people, falling leaves, large birds, small insects and everything in between. She was dismissed from employment before her first birthday and was found on a nearby beach, pregnant and malnourished, when a good Samaritan handed her over to a local shelter.

That's where we found her! As soon as the adoption papers were signed we raced home with our new pup, convinced that she will be OK. Now let me tell you that rehabilitating an abandoned pet is a challenging journey, a labour of love, a test of patience and a counsellor of compassion. It can take 2 days or 2 years or 12 ... you never know. But it is a rewarding and enriching experience. That same terrified pup now rides at the back of a motorbike in a pink helmet!

And yet, unbeknownst to her, little Peanut has seen me through the deaths of 2 of our dogs. She has given me strength in my moments of weakness. She has made me laugh. And she continues to work her magic everyday. Without a doubt she has been, and still is, good for my heart.

My card features stamps by MFT: You Have My Heart. It's perfect for animal lovers.

I coloured the image with Copics. The clouds are diecuts using Spring Showers Lawn Cuts by Lawn Fawn.

Challenges:
Artistic Impression #171: AG
Create & Make #7: AG
Handstamped Sentiments #256: Sketch



So now it's your turn to link up your project for the Anything Goes challenge. Let your imagination run wild and be creative.

Thanks for stopping by and have fun with this challenge. 

Beijinhos!

Peanut, chillin' at home with Richard Parker and Charlie. Look who's top dog now!

Chocolate Baroque: Infinite Love

Good morning, friends. I'm back with another romantic creation using the lovely Harlequin Rose A4 stamp sheet by Chocolate Baroque. I haven't been posting much lately because life is a little hectic at the moment, not to mention Mr Mojo is a little flaky.

Anyway, on to today's project - I started by inking the background with Distress Inks: Chipped Sapphire, Dusty Concord, Seedless Preserves and Fossilised Amber and used the Chicken Wire by The Crafters Workshop stencil to add some interest.

Then I stamped the image on the with VersaFine Onyx Black, applying VersaFine Crimson Red on the bold letter. I added colour to the rose with Faber Castell Polychromos and lashings of Wink of Stella Clear Glitter on the word "love". To finish the project - a few burgundy pearls. Truth be told, those pearls are hiding inky smudges!

Challenges:
TTCRD Jan 24: AG
Colour Inspiration Monday #9: Hand coloured Only
Dream Valley #148: It's All About Love
Create With TLC #7: AG

I enjoyed making this card and it turned out way better than I expected. The colours certainly add a touch of drama. Thank you so much for stopping by today. I really do appreciate your kind comments. Have a LOVEly day!!!

Beijinhos!

Tuesday Throwdown #326: Your Favourite Medium

Good morning, friends! Time for a new challenge over at Tuesday Throwdown. This week we want you to use " Your Favourite Medium " on your projects. Our sponsor for this challenge is Bugaboo Stamps.

My card features the delightfully caustic Stella. LOVE the ol' gal. I've used Stella Love - Wake Up Call on a simple card layout. Extra embellies: LF Aqua Lawn Trimmings and Mint Liquid Pearls.

If I had to pick one medium for my cards, it would be alcohol markers. They are so versatile and perfect for quick cards. I've used Copics to colour Stella.

Challenges:
TTCRD Jan 17th: AG

Now it's your turn to create a project based on this week's theme: "Your Favourite Medium". For ideas and inspiration, take a peek at what the rest of the DT members have made. Remember to link up your project at the Tuesday Throwdown Challenge Blog by 3pm Pacific / 11pm UK on Monday, January 23rd. And the most important requirement: Have Fun!

Have a beautiful day, friends!

x Beijinhos x

Chocolate Baroque: Leafy Hearts of Gold

Hello, there! It's Friday the 13th.... eeeek!

It's been a week since I posted anything. Mr Mojo is not back from his Christmas back... probably drunk in a ditch somewhere. I'm flying solo here. :)

If your mojo needs a little nudge, make sure you catch our lovely Lesley Wharton on Hocahnda TV. She'll be showcasing the stamps I used for my project today and many more gorgeous Chocolate Baroque stamps you'll recognise.

Today's card is a big one at 5½" square. I started by inking the card with Aged Mahogany Distress Ink and stamping Big Bold Background Belle Flowers with the same ink.

Next I heat embossed the leafy heart from Harlequin Rose with WOW Gold Rich Embossing Powder onto burgundy card stock  Then I fussy cut the hearts and adhered them to the card base.

In order to make the leaves pop, I used Faber Castell Polychromos to lift the gorgeous design. And yes... there are a few little green blings. Couldn't help myself!

Challenges:
Making Memories Crafting #1: AG
The Crafty Addicts #32: AG
Deep Ocean #146: Anything New - new stamps

Thank you so much for stopping by. I hope Friday the 13th brings you only the best of luck today and all year long. Big hugs to all.

Beijinhos!


p.s. The more I look at this card, the more I think of cabbage! Am I the only one?! :)

MHKD: Make A Joyful Noise

Welcome the first in our series of MHKDesigner Inspiration for 2017. Every month the MHKDesign Team will showcase a project featuring products by available in the MHKDesigns Etsy Store.

Here is my project - a fun yet simple card using a stamp and sentiment from Stitched Sunflower and papers from the Sunflower Sampler digi pack.

 

I coloured the image with Copic markers, added droplets of Daffodil Liquid Pearls and finished the card with some ribbon. A quick and easy card with a beautiful sentiment. Perfect start to the New Year.

Here's a close-up of the sunflower. It is so easy to colour, no fancy strokes shading. I threaded the ribbon through the design panel and tied it in a simple knot.

Well, that completes my marathon blog posts for today. Excuse me while I take a moment to make a JOYFUL noise! :) Thank you so much for stopping by and have a beautiful day!

Beijinhos,

Tuesday Throwdown #324: Winter Critters

Good morning, friends! Time for a new challenge over at Tuesday Throwdown - the first one of 2017. We are starting the year with a seasonal theme "Winter Critters", sponsored by Kitty Bee Designs.

I couldn't decide which one of Kitty Bee's darling critter images to use for my DT project ... so I picked both: Snow Bun and Snow Penguin. In keeping with the wintery theme, I added a few die cut snowflakes.

I coloured the little critters with Graph'It markers. Simple strokes, no fancy shading.

Now it's your turn to create a project based on this week's theme: "Winter Critters". For ideas and inspiration, take a peek at what the rest of the DT members have made. Remember to link up your project at the Tuesday Throwdown Challenge Blog by 3pm Pacific / 11pm UK on Monday, January 9th. And the most important requirement: Have Fun!

Thank you so much for stopping by and wrap up warm, friends!

x Beijinhos x

Chocolate Baroque: Garden of Love

Talk about corny titles! I just could not help it!

Hello, everyone. Hope the New Year is treating you well. I'm  kicking of the year with a busy blog - 3 posts in 5 hours!

For my first DT post of 2017 for Chocolate Baroque I'm going floral with this card using the gorgeous Big Bold Background Belle Flowers stamp. The inspiration for my card came from the various colouring books so widely available today.

I stamped the image with VersaFine Onyx Black and coloured it with Caran d'Ache Supracolor Soft Aquarelle pencils. I finished the card with a few sequins. I think this card will do nicely for Valentines Day. It will also make a lovely cover page for a notebook.

The sentiment is from Words of Love, heat embossed in red with WOW Red EP onto a strip of vellum.

Thanks for stopping by today. I have another post coming up in an hour... something more seasonal. Wrap up warm and I'll see you in a bit!

Beijinhos!