Right as Rain - Cardmaking and Scrapbooking with Jean Manis

Art Impressions | Loungin’ Linda

Hello! I’m back with another card that combines a watercolor image from Art Impressions with one of the coordinating pre-printed backgrounds. After using this approach on a gardening-themed card, I wanted to try it again with Loungin’ Linda. The beach scene does much of the work of creating a setting, while Linda adds the personality. I cut the sentiment with a circle die and positioned it so the circle extends off the top edge of the card, creating a partial sun that covers the sun printed on the background.

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Penny Black Petals | Polaroid Frame

Hello! I’m continuing my adventure through Penny Black’s Petals stamp set with a third card, this time giving another sweet image a Polaroid-style frame (Penny Black 51-057 Polaroid die set). The sentiment (30-562 Golden Dance stamp set) is stamped directly onto the frame, with patterned paper tucked behind it and the watercolored girl popped up on the front for added dimension. A dry-embossed background (Penny Black Texture embossing folder) adds another layer of subtle texture. It’s been fun rediscovering the joy of using an entire stamp set and seeing how each image can inspire a different design.

You can see my other cards with the stamp set HERE and HERE.

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Circle Frame | Penny Black Petals

Hello! After enjoying my first card with Penny Black’s new Petals stamp set from the A Lovely Smile release, I wanted to play with another image from the collection. I experimented with a different frame design, this time creating a circle window to highlight the image. A sweet tag sentiment and a few thoughtful details completed the card while keeping the focus on the watercoloring.

You can see my first card with the Petals set HERE.

- To begin, stamp the Petals image onto watercolor paper and color it with the medium of your choice. Once dry, cut with the coordinating die.
- Stamp the Happy Snippets sentiment and cut with a tag die (I used one from My Favorite Things).
- Cut white cardstock (Bazzill Marshmallow) with the square die measuring 4-1/2″ square in the Penny Black 51-422 Stitched Square & Circles die set.
- Use a circle die in the 51-551 Stitched Circles set to cut a circle from the square.
- Stamp Script (similar cling stamp) onto blue cardstock (Spellbinders Malibu) with blue ink for a tone-on-tone background. Trim to fit behind the frame. Cut a sheet of vellum to put in front of the script background.
- Use a circle in the 51-422 Stitched Square & Circles die set to cut an inner mat from the same blue cardstock for the assembly.
- Assemble the frame and background pieces and attach to a card base.
- Add the focal image and sentiment with foam adhesive.

Early in my cardmaking journey, I would often devour an entire stamp set, inking up every image and finding a way to use each one. It’s fun to return to that feeling again with Penny Black’s Petals stamp set and let each image inspire a different card design.

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Art Impressions | Gardener Gail

Hello! Still playing with watercolor, and this adorable Art Impressions gardener stamp set was fun to color. I paired the image with one of their coordinating backgrounds, making it easy to create a charming scene with very little effort. A punny sentiment stamped on cardstock and die-cut with a cloud shape (from Memory Box) adds a playful finishing touch. It’s the kind of cheerful, garden-themed card that’s especially fun to make, and one I think will resonate with fellow cardmakers who appreciate a little humor.

- Attach the background to an A2-size card base.
- Stamp Gardener Gail onto watercolor paper and color with medium of choice. Once dry, cut with the coordinating die included in the set. (Note to self: cut vellum with the die and use as a guide when cutting the image as the tolerance around the image is tight).
- Stamp the sentiment in the Gardener Gail set and cut with a cloud die. Cut additional clouds.
- Add elements to the prepared card base with foam and dot adhesive.

Watercolored Penny Black Petals Card

Hello! As I ease back into watercoloring, I treated myself to Penny Black’s new Petals clear stamp set from the A Lovely Smile release. The charming girl image was just the inspiration I needed, and it gave me the perfect excuse to revisit a framed card design, something I haven’t created in quite a while. I love using frames because they create a window that showcases the focal image. Without the frame, the sweet image might get lost, while the framed design naturally draws the eye and provides an elegant place for the sentiment. An ink-blended, dry-embossed background shows through the oval opening, while die-cut butterflies complete the scene. It felt good to combine some favorite techniques with one of Penny Black’s newest releases.

- To begin, stamp the Petals image onto watercolor paper and color it with the medium of your choice. Once dry, cut with the coordinating die.
- Stamp the now-retired Friendship Flowers sentiment [#30-223] in black ink onto white cardstock. Cut to A2-size with a stitched rectangle die. Cut an oval from the center (I used a now-retired one from Spellbinders).
- Ink a panel with Tumbled Glass and Mowed Lawn Oxide inks. Dry-emboss with the Penny Black Encircle folder. Attach to the back of the frame. Add assembly to a card base.
- Cut butterflies (now-retired Flight of Fancy set) from watercolor paper that has been colored with the same pink as the shirt on the Petals image.
- Add the girl and butterflies to the card with foam adhesive.

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