It's a Purple Kind of Day

I put together some cards from some die cuts and colored pieces I had sitting around and I noticed they all have a purple and blue theme. And they all have wings. Must've just been that kind of day when I sorted through my stuff and put them together. 

This card uses the butterfly die from Stamplorations. I swiped this Mermaid Ombre Hero Arts ink pad on coated paper (slightly shiny paper for laser printers) and die cut the solid butterfly. Then the intricate die is cut from black. If you don't have layered bg dies, Jennifer McGuire has a way to do the layered look anyway here.

This card base is light blue and I've added a Unity Stamp angel that I colored and fussy cut. She takes up the whole card! The background I die cut from a piece of painted and doodled art that I didn't like, but it works just fine here.

That's if for today, but next week I'll have more glittery goodness to share when I guest design for a2z Scrapbooking!

Happy Fridsy!

Chark

Watercoloring Makes Me Happy

Since watercoloring has become so popular in cardmaking, I've been having a ball with it. I never liked oil paints and acrylic painting can be fun but watercolors are so forgiving and that makes it a fun medium for me. Plus, you never quite know what it's going to do. With acrylics, you put the paint on the page and it stays right there. Watercolor paints creep and blend and sometimes surprise you.

I also love that you can get watercolor looks with inks, paints, sprays and markers.

Here's an Adornit watercolor card I painted for my aunt's birthday. So easy and fun to do. I tried not to get too sparkly, but I did add some stickles to the cake.

Have your tried the Adornit watercolor panels? I think I need more!

Happy Friday!

Chark

The Hop To Stop 2016

Becca Cruger, artist and stamp designer, is hosting The Hop to Stop, a blog hop intended to raise awareness of domestic violence. Herself a victim, she knows how important it is to get out and get help so that you realize you're worthwhile and important and safe. 

While I have been blessed with amazing people in my life and never heard those words, "you're worthless," I have family members and friends who have, my mother and sister have been affected and been strong and reached out for help. My mom didn't get much help back in the 1950s...men weren't censured for violence against their wives then. But she set her own limits and left when they were crossed. My sister asked us for help and we gave it, and she was strong in asking. There's no shame in being abused and no shame in asking for help. We all deserve to be safe.

In fact, you, too, probably know someone affected by domestic violence...33% of women in this country have been abused in some way by people they love. That's unacceptable.

It saddens me that home, which should always be a safe harbor and a place to get away from the slings of the world can be a hostile, angry and frightening place for women, men and children. 

If you'd like to help in a crafty way, Becca will be collecting birthday, thank you and encouragement handmade cards (left blank inside) for a nonprofit agency that provides emergency shelter and lots of services for victims of physical and sexual abuse in her town. God bless them for doing this important work. Read more on Becca's blog here. 

My purple project (purple is the color for National Domestic Violence Awareness month) is made with Distress inks and water, along with Dylusions spray inks, a star die cut and silver glitter, because glitter to me means happy and I want everyone to get a chance to feel happy on their birthday.

If you or a loved one is in need of help, you can call this hotline for someone who understands. You are not alone.

1.800.799.SAFE (7233) 1.800.787.3224 (TTY) 

God Bless, and I hop you'll join in the hop all week by linking a purple project to bring awareness and help to others!
Chark

Pretty Little Thank You Card

I used my colorful and vintage images from Pretty Little Studio to make a thank you card for my aunt. She loves purple, so I thought I'd go all purple. For my card, I punched circles from their Neapolitan collection. I used some Darice glitter tape and a white gel pen for "stitching." I added some heart stickers I got for 50 cents at Michael's today.

I used the inspiration sketch from PLS too, so I can enter it in their monthly contest to win a goodie bag. If you're like me, you'll love these new blue sequins they offer. You gotta check Pretty Little Studios out on Facebook to see the previews of new collections.

Join me in the challenge to try to win, and just see if you can resist their wonderful (made in the USA) papers, tags and stickers. Love the gold word stickers.

Happy Wednesday!
Chark

It's Neon! It's Purple! It's Neon Purple!

I purchased some neon ink cubes from a2z Scrapbooking Supplies and have enjoyed trying them out. I wouldn't call the purple neon so much as saturated. It's rich and deep and distinctly purple, but it doesn't have that glow-in-the-dark feel that the neon yellow has.

I used it straight to paper on this flower and then fussy cut it out. What do you think? Neon or just really good Purple? I think it's perfect with this flower from the Antique Gratitude Bouquet set from Hero Arts.

 

Here's the full card. I used the My Mind's Eye Chalk Studio card kit that I got on clearance (my favorite thing to do—save money on crafty stuff) at Jo Ann's. The background paper and sentiment came from the kit. The leaves are done in Faber-Castell's Stamper's Big Brush Chrome Green.

Public Service Announcement: Tomorrow is Peanut Butter Fudge Day, so you probs want to eat some fudge tomorrow...just to join in the celebration...and support Peanut Butter Fudge...or whatever. You're welcome.

 

Happy Wednesday,

Chark

This One's For the Chicks

It's National Chicken Month in September, and I don't know if that means, "yay for fried chicken" or "yay for animals" so I'll celebrate by posting this picture of the sweetest little felted chicks ever. It came from this etsy shop if you're looking for more cuteness.

(Shhh! Don't tell them I like fried chicken too!)

Here's a quick birthday card for my Aunt Katie, who actually belongs to my husband, but since I've known her since I was 16, I get to claim her now too. She loves purple, so I added some lavender printed paper behind the coolest die cut I found. I added the flowers and the silver embellies and ta da! Fini! I'm so international.

Can you guess what the flower is made from? Take a peek at a close-up.

It's paper towel with spray inks. I noticed that the colors looked fabulous on the paper towel I was using during a project, so I added some more spray, let it sit til almost completely dry and then hand cut different-sized flowers. The towel stays flexible enough that you can crinkle and fluff them up to resemble a flower.

It came out soft and floofy. (yep, that's a word I got from the kids) I love when discoveries happen in the midst of creating, don't you?!

Happy Chicken Month!

Chark