I love the look of words intertwined with flowers. Rather than use my usual two stamps that incorporate this kind of design, I decided to branch out and combine the two designs onto one card on my own. I stamped the floral image from Magenta with VersaFine in Onyx Black onto smooth white card stock. After heat setting it, The sentiment was then stamped over the floral image with VersaFine Clair in Nocturne (hello) and Morning Mist (a warm). By using the MISTI for the stamping

I know I don't use my Magenta Stamps as often as I'd like to. Every one of their stamps is beautifully and artfully designed; and the quality of the rubber is the best. I'm so fortunate to have been introduced to Magenta's line of stamps and other art supplies in my beginning days of stamping. Birthday card 5" wide & 6.5 high This is a Christmas poinsettia stamp that I used as a non-seasonal flower. All of the watercoloring is done on Strathmore 140 lb. hot press watercolor p

Last night, I started watching "Homeland" from the very beginning. I had to color something during some of the tense scenes that I couldn't just sit and watch. I quickly stamped this floral bouquet from Magenta and colored it with watercolor markers. Today, I figured out how I wanted to finish the card design. Magenta: Beautiful Bouquet 14.598.N May Life Always Allow You to Fly High 14.598.N Peel-off's in black (0751) Spellbinders' "Fleur de Elegance" Nestabilities S4-475 Mem

Lisa Yang, the creator and owner of Local King Rubber Stamps, always inspires me. Her stamps and dies are easy to work with, at Lisa's design. I worked with this stamp a little differently. Usually, Lisa works on white KromeKote® glossy card stock. I didn't have a background stamp that I wanted to use, so I chose to work with a designer paper that has a very light background design. I used the water-based markers that Local King sells. The colors stamped just fine on the deco

While beginning the 'serious' clean out of my studio, I rediscovered my Zig Clean Color Real Brush water-based markers from Kuretake. It's been quite some time since we've known each other, so it was a quick learning curve that I delighted in. I'm not saying I'm totally back but I felt we made some progress in our relationship. This Penny Black stamp was shouting at me, so I paired them up. Layer the colors, starting with the lightest and then the darkest; blend with the mid-

A leap year day! Mine started with a trip to the veterinarian because our soon-to-be 15 year-old puppy has developed a yeast infection in her ear. She was so relieved to be back in her car seat for the return trip home. And the day ended with a birthday celebration for my oldest granddaughter! I love it when a day ends on such a happy note. Birthday cards can be quite simple. Stamp from Magenta: Multilingual Happy Birthday (07.907.L) -- inked with VersaMark and embossed with

At the suggestion of a friend, I ordered Caran d'Ache Luminance colored pencils; they're made in Switzerland. I only ordered a set of 20 because they're a little spendy. They're a permanent pencil with a smooth lead and exceptional lightfastness, according to their literature. I had purchased 11 of them earleir but I think I left them in LaQuinta; of course, the resort cannot find anything left behind in our room. I'm so glad I re-ordered because I like the smoothness. The co

I've always loved the stamp designs from Magenta. Luckily, Art 'n Soul has been Magenta's Retailer of the Year for the past several years, which means there is always a fresh inventory of their stamps and other quality products available at the store. A while back, I purchased this vase stamp. I pulled it out again today and I combined it with Magenta's Nuance powdered watercolors. Magenta "Potted Plant" 0723.O Magenta word stamp: 07.818.H Magenta's Nuance in Raspberry (MNU0

The last of the 3 birthday cards features an older stamp from Hero Arts that I've always loved embossing with. Hero Arts Background Stamp Impression Obsession "You Can Do This" B14347 on Twinchie Square from Inchie Arts in White Ranger Mini Distress Ink Pad Kit #13 (TDPK46738) (Fossilized Amber; Abandoned Coral; Cracked Pistachio; Mermaid Lagoon) Tombow Marker #173 Corner Peel-offs and border trim (discontinued) from Magenta on Twinchie Square Queen & Co. Droplets VersaMark w

More fun making Christmas cards! This first one was very easy. I used the Hero Arts' Ombre`Ink (Pool to Navy -- AF3008) on 118# Conqueror Card Stock in Diamond White. by Debbie Gaetz IMPRESSION OBSESSION Holiday Row Houses E16124 MAGENTA There is Magic 07807.I Versamark & White Embossing Powder by Stampendous Dark Red Sakura Glaze Pen for lights on Christmas trees & wreaths Silver Glitter Pen for Star on house Yellow Glitter Pen for candle lights Sentiment stamped with VersaF

Exciting! Exciting! Each month, Tim Holtz has offered up a Tag of the Month for the entire year. Now that the 12th Tag has been revealed, he is offering a digital download of tutorials for all 12 months -- over 80 pages and 400+ photos through his Etsy Shop. It's quite reasonably priced, too, at $15. Click on this link to go to the product description: https://www.etsy.com/listing/258765484/download-tim-holtz-12-tags-of-2015?ref=shop_home_active_1 for the details. Dianne Joh

One of the fun artsy activities is to stroll around the internet and see what folks are up to by looking at the various blogs. I've always had my favorite "route", and occasionally I would discover a new site. You'll never be disappointed. You just have to be careful how long your stroll takes; sometimes, you'll find hours have passed. One of my favorite blogs to visit each and every day is Magenta's blog . . . Magenta Style. I love this Christmas card by Carole Dion. by Caro

Card #2 in my collection of Christmas cards for the nursing home patients. My niece and a good friend both love dachshunds, so I couldn't resist this Hero Arts stamp. I stamped it onto a white Swatch art square from Inchie Arts, that was then layered onto a scrap piece of hot pink paper and a scrap piece of black paper. I colored with Spectrum Noir Aqua Markers, and used special glitter pens for the ribbons and bows. HERO ARTS: Holiday Dachshund G6108 MAGENTA: Merry Christm

Thank you for stopping in to visit my new blog now that I'm on my own. Does it seem possible that Christmas cards will soon go out in less than a month's time? The stamping group that I belong to, Olympia Paper Dolls, is continuing its tradition of making handmade Christmas cards for residents in a local nursing home. Each of us will make 20 cards. Here's my start . . . Spellbinders Holiday Die: Candy Cane Card Front S4-556 Magenta Stamp: "There is magic all around us . . . "