RELAX!

Hello dear crafters!

It really seems as if I had disappeared lately! The last few weeks were so soaked up with business & leisure travel, but now I'm back & very keen on getting my fingers inky again!!

To start my mojo again, I just had to create a relaxing summer themed card – look what came out:

And here is a close-up of that cute little kitty snoozing in the hammock:

This little kitty is a single wood mounted stamp which I have in my stash since quite a while & I absolutely adore it! Not sure who's the designer though, but it's so super cute I find.

If you look carefully at Lawnfawn's "Life Is Good" hammock, then you'll see that it is actually a little smaller than here on my card. TRICK: Just stamp half of the hammock to one side, stamp the other half with a little distance apart (as big as you want the hammock to be, although I think stretching it for an inch or more won't look very good anymore), take a fine black marker & connect the dots. Voila, here you have a larger hammock for larger critters ;-)

Watercolor is still very much in fashion, and I love it as much as most of you, so I've created a very simple background by simply drawing 3 soft colored lines to mimic the sky, the ocean & the beach.

Lot's and lot's of foam squares make this card really POP!

supplies used:

- Lawnfawn "Life Is Good"

- Paper Smooches "Get Outta Town"

- Distress Inks: Wind Honey, Peacock Feathers, Tumbled Glass, Spiced Marmelade (hammock)

- Watercolor Pencils (Caran D'Ache) for the kitty, & the palm trees

Thanks for stopping by & I hope to see you again soon!

Yours,

Steph

P.S.: I am participating in the following challenges with this card:

>> SSS Wednesday Challenge *Anything Goes*

>> SSS Monday Challenge *Make a Plan* (the plan is definitely self-addressed to take more time off & to RELAX - just like this kitty!)

>> Stempelküche Challenge *Sommerzeit*

>> Paper Smooches *Anything Goes*

>> I just stumbled over a (new to me) adorable challenge blog where I thought my card would fit perfectly: 4 Crafty Chicks with their current *Anything Goes* Challenge

I love stencils!

Welcome back,

Today I would like to share another favorite technique of mine:  
working with stencils!

I loved stencils ever since I was a child, because they give you the precise outlines without being a particularly gifted painter - yet it always looks perfectly hand-drawn or hand made.
What an awesome product!! = )

What I particularly like when using stencils for backgrounds is the fact that you can really go wild and essentially create your own patterned paper - only custom made!

This is exactly what I've been doing for this card here: The intention was to create a very powerful background, yet combined with a little bit of green to "ground" my little fury friend without any extra fuzz. 

I'm a great fan of Simon Says' stencils and that's why I would like to dedicate this card to the latest "Simon Exclusives Challenge". 

Material's used:
- SSS stencil
- Stacey Yacula stamps (Purple Onion Designs)
- Ranger Distress Inks (barn door, wild honey, shabby shutters) 
- Watercolor pencils (for the bunny, check out how I drew the fur, I'm so proud of the result)
- Wink of stellar (inside of the ears)
- Glossy accents (on the flower)

Happy crafting & see you again soon!
Yours, Steph