Sunday Watercolors - WOOHOO - I kept my New Year's Resolution!!!

WOW! This is the last Sunday of the Year and I can happily tell you that I kept my New Year's resolution - to start painting watercolors again. For those of you who are new to my blog, I used to paint and draw a lot when I was younger, but somehow I stopped. Last year my dear bloggie friend Angela Fehr inspired me, through her beautiful paintings, to take it up again and on New Yaers eve last Year I made a resolution to start painting more regularly and try to get back to where I was 10-15 years ago. And to put some pressure on myself I promised to share the journey here on the blog.

I don't think I am back yet,  but watercolor is a difficult medium to work with - it is hard for a teacher like me to let go of control and let the color behave the way it wants to. "No fiddling" is key to success - but oh so difficult to live by.

(This one was inspired by a watercolorpainting I had cut out from a Magazine long ago, unfortunately, I hadn't noted the artist's name. )

If you want to see more of my watercolors you can either click the "My Watercolors" button in the top list or in my Watercolors file on Pinterest; http://www.pinterest.com/peppermint42/watercolors

 (OBS - the paintings there are not only by me, though I wish because I've collected some favorites)



Here are some older paintings;

Plein air painting from NZ

 

Wishing you all a very HAPPY NEW YEAR!!! Hugs, Karin

Merry Christmas with Giddy Gingerbread Cookies

Merry Christmas Everyone!

I'm just popping in here to share a card I made for Paper Smooches SPARKS "Anything Goes"challenge.

For my card I used the following sets;

Giddy Gumdrops

Merry Motifs

Have a great day, hugs, Karin

Last minute gift - A gift card!

It is my day on the WMS TEAM TALK blog and today I'm sharing something I'll be using a lot of this year - gift cards . WMS  Has the perfect stamp and die set combo for this - It is called; Gift Card It. I just LOVE this set because it is soooo useful - all year round!
The papaers I used are from Basic Grey (Birch), MME (Brown) and October Afternoon

 

Have a great day! Hugs, Karin

Publication CardMaker Happy Holidays

I'm bad at sharing cards I've had published but here is one; lots of Purple Onion goodies on this one!

Hope you are enjoying a really good day, hugs, Karin

WMS Pajama Party

I'm here to invite you to our monthly Pajama Party at the Waltzing Mouse Stamps. It is super easy and fun to party ; You have sveral different challenges to inspire you!  If you haven't seen them already Pop over to check them out right away! When you have your project ready upload it to the WMS blog before  the 15th at 11.45 pm Central European Time = 5.45 am the 16th EST.


I am sharing a card for the Old Pajama where you are challenged to use the old, but oh so beautiful set; Country Labels. This set is so versatile - I LOVE it!!!

Here I used the cute little house to make a "Congrats to Your new Home" card:

Make sure to check out what my super talented teamies created with this set - you'll find them as entries to the last of the three challenges or by clicking their names in the DT list.

BUT please note - You don't have to use Waltzingmouse Stamps to play along, but of course it will make us especially happy if you do! The prize is beyond awesome:
For all the details; Waltzingmouse Stamps.

Hope to see you at the party! 

Hugs, Karin

Lawnscaping #96 Christmas themed

Hi Everyone!
I'm here to introduce a new challenge at Lawnscaping. This time we challenge you to make a Christmas card .
This is my sample;

For my card I used stamps from these wonderful Lawn Fawn sets; Into the woods, making frosty friends , Critters down under and Pa-rum-pa-pum-pum.

Our fabulous sponsor this week is; Lawn Fawn!!! You can win a stamp set of your choice YEAH!!!

 

Pop over to Lawnscaping for all the info you need and to join!

Have a great day, Hugs, Karin

Sunday Watercolors- Practising from the masters!

It's Sunday and I'm here to share a watercolor with you:

This time I was lazy and made a "practise from the masters" painting. Unfortunately I haven't been able to find out who the painter of my reference painting is. If someone knows, - please let me know!

If you want to see more of my watercolors you can either click the "My Watercolors" button in the top list or in my Watercolors file on Pinterest; http://www.pinterest.com/peppermint42/watercolors/

 (OBS - the paintings there are not only by me, though I wish because I've collected some favorites)

Have a great Sunday, Hugs, Karin

Last Day: PURPLE ONION DESIGNS SALE!!!

Hi Everyone!
I'm here to remind you that Purple Onion Designs has a great sale which ends Tonight.  All stamps are 25% off.  
To inspire you I've made some more Purple Onion cards; 

For this card I used the Santa stamp and the Seasons Greetings sentiment.

Have a great day! Hugs, Karin

Purple Onion Design sale - 25% off everything!

Hi Everyone!

I'm here to remind you that the sale at Purple Onion Designs ends on Wednesday. Michele has a generous 25% discount on everything in the store! Hurry to get what you've longed for - or perhaps get some crafty friends some early Christmas gifts!

Have a great Sunday, hugs, Karin

Guest designing for All Dressed Up - Little star

Today I'm guest designing for All Dressed Up and sharing a card I made using one of Wendy's super sweet new images; Little Star. Isn't she just ADORABLE???

To see the other cute All Dressed Up stamps and for more inspiration visit:

Have a great Sunday, hugs, Karin

Sunday Watercolors; Clouds, Tuscany and Dreams of a Lottery Win

It's Sunday and I'm here to share two watercolors with you:

Even if I wanted the clouds to be the main "attraction", they were what I was fascinated with when I strted tha painting,  but it is funny how you, by composition can lead the viewers eye in a certain direction .  In the top picture your eye will automatically be drawn towards the house because the lake shore will take you there (-:

The second one is just a fast sketch of a tuscan scene - oh my would I want to live there... If I ever win the lottery I'd buy an apartment on Beacon Hill in Boston, a and a small Winery in Tuscany and summerhouse on Martha's Vineyard ...

If you want to see more of my watercolors you can either click the "My Watercolors" button in the top list or in my Watercolors file on Pinterest; http://www.pinterest.com/peppermint42/watercolors/

 (OBS - the paintings there are not only by me, though I wish because I've collected som favorites)

Have a great Sunday, Hugs, Karin

Merry Christmas!

Hi!

I'm here to isnpire you to start making your Holiday Cards!

 

This card will be on the Inspiration Journal where I and my super talened Inspiration Emporium teamies share  inspiration. If you haven't been already make sure to visit right away  - lots of amazing and inspiring projects !

Most of the supplies I used for this card can be found at ;  Inspiration Emporium.

Follow the links below and use my code peppermint to save 10% .

Paper:  Basic Grey
Dies: Spellbinders Nestabilities
Stamps:   Paper Smooches 
Ink;  Archival Jet Black
Paints or markers; Winsor Newton water colors    Gelly Roll Glitter 
Adhesive; Plus Glue tape  Glue Dots   Foam adhesive; EK tools

I also want to point out that US shipping is always just $5 and international shipping is ONLY $10! I just LOVE that!!!!

 

 

 

 

I'm entering this card for the  Anything goes challenge at PaperSmooches SPARKS and the Christmas challenge at Stamp and Create

I'm also entering this for the Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge  and Scandinavia Paperfun

Have a great day, hugs, Karin

With Love; Paper Crafts and Scrapbooking - Beautiful and Original!

Hi !

Today I'm taking part in the bloghop to honour one of my favorite sources of inspiration, the wonderful magazine; Paper Crafts & Scrapbooking. How I will miss this beautiful and original (!) Magazine!

You should have arrived here from Penny Ward and should now continue to my super talented friend and Lawnscaping teamie:

Yainea

Have a great day and a great hop, hugs, Karin

WMS : Release Day and a Pin it To Win Competition!

Hi Everyone!

I am so excited today because finally you can go and buy the WMS November sets that we have previewed the last couple of Days! But Before you go to the shop I have one more card to share :

For this card I also used WMS's newest dies - Pretty Panel #2 Die set  - a musthave!!!!

Click to go tho the WMS shop!

Now make sure to stop by at my talented teamies' blogs to view and perhaps pin their cards! You should have come here from super talented 

Jeanne Jachna

And should hop forward to equally talented; 

 

Tosha Leyendekker

You can also wisit the WMS DT inspiration blog TEAM TALK for more previews!

 

We are running a Pin it Competition for this release - we want you to Pin your favourite samples created by the WMS Design Team or myself for this release to your own Pinterest boards. You can pin samples from any of the 3 preview days on any of the DT blogs or from today's blog hop. Use this hashtag - #waltzingmouse, then come back and leave us a link to the pin in the comments on this post. on the Waltzing Mouse Blog - not my post For each project you Pin just leave a separate comment.

One random Pinner will be chosen and will receive a lovely £30GBP store code!

For those of you who don't have Pinterest, just leave a little comment telling us what your favourites are. A random commenter will also be chosen and will receive a free set of Flurries Stamps

 

Have a great day, !

Hugs, Karin

WMS Release previews Day 3 ; Old Country Roses and Vintage Postcards

Hi Everyone!

I am here to share the third day of previews for Waltzing Mouse Stamps November/December release. Today we are showcasing both the Country Roses and the Vintage Postcards sets:

 Yesterday I shared actual sized postcards made from the Vintage Postcards set and today I'm back with an even sweeter use of this set. Super fast you can change any Journaling card into an adorable mini postcard - I think this is fantastic and so adorable!!!

The second card is one where I've once again played with the country roses - I am in LOVE!!!!

Click Image to go to
the WMS blog

Now check out what my talented teamies have created with this set:

Anya Schrier

Becca Feeken

Jeanne Jachna

Julia Aston

Karin Akesdotter

Laurie Schmidlin

Lynn Mercurio

Sandie Dunne

Tosha Leyendekker

You can also wisit the WMS DT inspiration blog TEAM TALK for more previews!

Have a great day, see you tomorrow!

Hugs, Karin

Mama Elephant and ME # 6 December

Hi Everyone!!!

Today I'm here to introduce another fun challenge at   Mama Elephant and ME. 

This time we challenge you to make a card or paper project on the theme LOVE

For my card I used stamps from the ME sets called In My Heart and Just Hatched

 It is super easy to play along, just create something inspired by the picture above using stamps from Mama Elephant. You can play along as many times as you want to before the deadline which is  for your chance to win a ME stamp set of your choice - YIPPIE!!!

Be sure to check out what my super talented teamies have created for more inspiration of how to interpret this picture! Hope to see you at ME and ME!

Today's card will also be shared on the Inspiration Journal where I and my super talened Inspiration Emporium teamies share  inspiration. If you haven't been already make sure to visit right away  - lots of amazing and inspiring projects !
And if you haven't seen it yet Inspiration Imporium sells lots of wonderful Mama Elephant goodies;

Follow the links below and use my code peppermint to save 10% .

Paper:   Lawn Fawn      Fancy Pants
Dies: Mama Elephant,  Lawn Fawn  
Stamps:  Mama Elephant
Ink; Distress Ink and Archival Jet Black  Hero Arts
Tools; Rangers Inkblenders
Paints or markers; Derwents watercolor pencils
Adhesive; Plus Glue tape  Glue Dots   Foam adhesive; EK tools


I also want to point out that US shipping is always just $5 and international shipping is ONLY $10! I just LOVE that!!!!

Have a great day, hugs, Karin