Sunday, November 30, 2014

Joyful Poinsettia


Hi everyone.  Second post for today! ;)  Click HERE to see my first post for the December Sketch Challenge at Happy Little Stampers.

I used cling wrap, versamark and gold glitter embossing powder to create my background.  I scrunched the wrap up and then pounced it into a versamark ink pad and then pounced it onto the card front before adding the gold embossing powder and heat setting.  Love the look!

The poinsettia is watercoloured with distress inks (Barn Door, Fired Brick, Aged Mahogany) using the wet-on-wet technique (click HERE to see a video tutorial on how I do this wet-on-wet watercolouring).  I added some mustard seed distress ink to the center of the flower for background colour, and then coated it with gold stickles.  So pretty!!

I'm entering this card (second entry) for the Time Out challenge (#19 - embossing with an optional twist of sparkle).  I used heat embossing to make my golden, sparkly background.



Stamps:  Warm Wishes (Penny Black); Joy sentiment (Michael's)
Paper:  White (Neenah); Gold foil (SU!); Watercolour (Arches 140 lb. cold press)
Ink:  Real Red (SU), Versamark, Archival Black (Ranger); Distress inks:  Barn Door, Fired Brick, Aged Mahogany, Mustard Seed (Tim Holtz)
Accessories & Tools:  water brushes, water mister, heat tool, cling wrap, gold embossing powder, clear embossing powder, gold cording, gold stickles


Elegant Ornament


Hi everyone.  Time for December's Sketch Challenge at Happy Little Stampers.  I know, it's Nov. 30 ... but our blog is run by the fabulous Kylie (from Australia) ... and it's already Dec. 1st there. :)

Here's December's sketch challenge ...





Fabulous CAS sketch that has loads of possibilities for any style of card making.  I kept mine CAS (my favourite style!), using a stamped ornament that I borrowed from my friend Susan.  I went over the black outlines with a gold metallic pen, coloured the poinsettia with Copics, sprayed the whole thing with a golden frost finish, and then coated the poinsettia with red glitter glue, adding clear drops over the center buds.  I punched a whole in the top and added a silver jump ring, threading my red metallic cording through and knotting at the end.  Adding all these little details really makes for a pretty ornament.  The sentiment is stamped with gold ink ... it looks lighter in the picture than real life.  In hindsight, it would have been better if I heat embossed it in gold. :)

Here's a close-up so you can see the sparkle a bit better ...


____________________


I will be working with Kylie at Happy Little Stampers Blog and Happy Little Stampers Forum.

I hope you'll come check out the forum and join.  Membership is free, and it's a great place to find tutorials, ask questions about products, and start your own gallery of cards (you can use the gallery to enter challenges if you don't have a blog).  Hope to see you there!

In the meantime, I hope you'll play along with our December Sketch Challenge.  The challenge runs for the whole month, so there's lots of time to join in.  There's two ways to enter ... on HLS Blog  ... or on HLS Forum (or both!). :)

If you upload your entry to the forum, you will be in the running for a randomly drawn prize --- don't miss out! :)



Stamps:  Poinsettia (borrowed from a friend and don't have the info); sentiment is from Beautiful Season (SU!)
Paper:  White (Neenah)
Inks:  Gold (Colorbox), Copics: R27, R29
Accessories & Tools:  Gold Metallic pen, Red Glitter Glue, Dazzling Details (clear glitter glue) from SU!, paint brush, red metallic cording, jump ring, paper piercing tool, glue dot, Stamp-a-ma-jig, gold spray mist made with gold acrylic paint and rubbing alcohol


Saturday, November 29, 2014

Winking Reindeer


Hi everyone.  Time for a new challenge at Addicted to CAS (#53).  The challenge this time is being hosted by me :) ... and I choose this code word ...



So fun, right??!! :)


Prize:  $20 gift voucher



I think this image is so sweet ... just makes me smile! :)

The dots are the red rhinestones that I used to decorate the antlers.  Adds sparkle and shine too.  I stamped the image in black onto my card front.  I stamped it a second time on white card stock, coloured it with my gray and brown/gray markers (I have a limited supplies of Copics, so I used what I had), and fussy-cut the body of the reindeer.

I added two pieces of ripped, thick white card stock for the snow banks (using thick card stock produces a large ripped edge, which is coated with clear glitter glue), and then glued the fussy-cut body of the reindeer on top of my stamped image on the card front. I took my clear Wink of Stella and outlined the antlers for some added sparkle (doesn't show in the photo), and then added the rhinestones.

Simple CAS design that is fun, quick and easy to make! :)

Linda L is our guest designer this month ... I hope you'll click HERE to check out her fabulous "Dots" card, along with the rest of the amazing designs by our talented team.

The challenge is open for two weeks, so there's lots of time to enter. :)

There's also a Design Team call at ATCAS ... make sure to add DT after your name when you enter your card into the challenge, and you'll be in the running for one of the openings.  Good luck to those that enter!







Stamps:  Winking Reindeer (Hero Arts); Sentiment (Joy by Kollette Hall)
Paper:  White (Neenah)
Ink:  Black (Memento); Copics W4, E44
Accessories & Tools:  Red rhinestones, clear glitter glue




Friday, November 28, 2014

Brushos and Butterfly


Hi everyone.  This card is for my good friend Susan.  It is her birthday today --- Happy Birthday Susan!! :)  I sent her this card a few days ago and she's already received it, so I'm sharing with you.  Blue is Susan's favourite colour, so I made sure to include it in her card. :)

Another fun time experimenting with my Brushos.  Today I'm sharing a tip I learned through playing ...

I find that I need to add a LOT of water to get them to blend and spread.  I was soaking up the excess water with paper towel and thinking it was a shame because lots of ink was being soaked up as well.  Then I had an "AH-HA" moment.  Instead of using paper towel, I placed a second piece of watercolour paper on top, pressed down, and then pulled the two apart.  Ended up with two pieces of beautiful watercoloured background paper; the second one being a lot lighter in colour.  Love how they turned out and ended up with twice the backgrounds I would have --- so I was HAPPY, HAPPY, HAPPY! :) Used the lighter one for the die-cut of the solid butterfly and the darker one for the background.

I'm loving the white accents with the deep, saturated colours of the Brusho crystals. Vellum works great too as it doesn't cover up all the gorgeous colour.  I added in a little turquoise leafy branch die-cut with turquoise Add A Little Dazzle metal sheets, and my card was done.  I've been totally obsessed with watercolouring over the past couple of months ... and had a lot of fun.  Alway learning new things, every time I pull out the watercolour paper. :)

I'm entering this card for the Time Out challenge (#19 - embossing with an optional twist of sparkle).  My sentiment is heat embossed ... and the leafy sprig is very sparkley! :)  Thanks Sandie!

Hope you all have a great weekend!



Stamps:  The Big, the bold and the Happy (Winnie & Walter)
Paper:  White (card base); Watercolour (Arches 140 lb. cold press); vellum (Bazzill - 40 lb.)
Ink:  Brushos:  turquoise, ultra marine, purple, leaf green; Versamark
Accessories & Tools:  white embossing powder, heat tool, water mister; Moonlight butterfly, Kaleidoscope Butterfly and Fresh Foliage dies (Memory Box), Add A Little Dazzle turquoise metal sheet

Wednesday, November 26, 2014

Snowflake Ornament


Hi everyone.  Today's card is based on the November Sketch challenge at Happy Little Stampers.



I have joined the Happy Little Stampers Forum and will be working on creating a new and fun challenge for them, starting January 2015 ... stay tuned for more info! :)

For now I wanted to join in the sketch challenge ... it's closing in a just over three days.

As for the card above, I don't like taking my photos of my cards facing left ... it just seems wrong to me :)  But I added a very thick coat of glossy accents over top of the snowflake ornament, and my lights were bouncing off of it when it was facing the other way.  So, sorry for the bad photo.

I used a piece of Smooshed background that I found in my UFO box (as Bonnie call's it --- love that!).  Smooshing is a technique that I learned from Bonnie as well, and I love how it looks for the orrnament.  I simply added a die-cut snowflake (used white glimmer paper from SU!), and coated it with GA.  The silver wired cord is a gift from Bonnie (she has had a big hand in making this card!!) :) ... and the embossed snowflake background I borrowed from my friend Susan.  So I have to say that this card was made with the help of my friends!  Thank you Bonnie and Susan! :)

The sentiment is cut with my Silhouette Cameo from silver foil paper.

If you have a little time, this sketch is so easy to work with and can fit a range of styles of card making ... come join in the fun at the Happy Little Stampers blog.  And come take a look around the Happy Little Stampers Forum as well.  Membership is free ... and there's all kinds of tutorials and chats where you can ask questions about techniques, supplies, etc.  It takes a little while to get comfortable with navigating around the forum, but there's already lots of information available even though it's only a few months old. Would love to see you there! :)







Paper:  White (Neenah); White glimmer and Silver Foil (SU!)
Ink:  Baja Breeze, Bermuda Bay, Tempting Turquoise (SU!)
Accessories & Tools:  Circle Nestability (Spellbinders); Maryanne Snowflake die (Simon Says), glossy accents, silver wire, Silhouette Cameo, merry christmas cut file, snowflake embossing folder


Tuesday, November 25, 2014

Thank you Marina


Hi everyone.  Continuing on with my watercoloured cards ... and again using the oak leaves from Gently Falling stamp set (Stampin' Up!) --- I never get tired of this stamp set!

I sent this to my friend Marina a while back and she has received it, so I'm sharing with you.  This is the last of the twelve thank you watercoloured cards that I made.  I sent one to each of the twelve friends that were Guest Designers for my Christmas Tag event.  I wanted to thank them for all their efforts to make the event so special.  They are all so wonderful!

This time I watercoloured the oak leaves similar to my youtube video tutorial, but left the leaves with the bright colours of fall (not as aged as in the tutorial).  I again used masking with the oak leaves, so one appears behind the other ... I'm getting the hang of it! :)








Stamps:  Gently Falling (SU!); Lots of Thanks (Simon Says))
Paper:  White card base (Neenah); Watercolor (Arches 140 lb. cold press)
Ink:  Archival Black - waterproof (Ranger); Distress Inks:  Antique Linen, Brushed Corduroy, Spiced Marmalade, Ripe Persimmon, Fired Brick
Accessories & Tools:  waterbrush, water mister, heat tool, paint brush for splattering



Sunday, November 23, 2014

Happy Birthday Evan


Hi everyone.  Sharing a card I made a little while ago to celebrate my oldest son's birthday.  I wanted to make a CAS card for him, and I thought he'd love the crackled oak leaves.  The strip of cork adds lots of texture.

Also thought I'd share a recent photo of Cooper (Evan's son).  He's eleven month old now ... time is flying by! :)  This was taken at the end of October .... :)






Hope you're all having a great weekend!  :)



Stamps:  Gently Falling (SU!); A Little Sentimental (Clearly Besotted)
Paper:  White (Neenah); Watercolour (Arches 140 lb. cold press)
Ink:  Black Archival (Ranger);  Spiced Marmalade, Ripe Persimmon, Fired Brick, Vintage Photo, Walnut Stain (Distress Inks - Tim Holtz); Early Espresso (SU!)
Accessories & Tools:  Water brushes, Cork, Rock Candy Clear Crackle Paint (Tim Holtz), paint brush


Thursday, November 20, 2014

Twelve Tags of Christmas ... Wrap-Up


Hi everyone.  Back today with the winner of the Twelve Tags of Christmas event.  I have to say that it turned out better than I could have imagined.  So many fabulous entries from many different crafters.

Every tag is a winner to me ... each uniquely creative and I enjoyed visiting each and everyone one of you to find out how you made your tags.  Thank you for sharing your creative gift with all of us!! :)

Here's a few words from Judge Jeremy ...

"All of the entries for the 12 Tags of Christmas event are stunning.  I am especially impressed by how all of the participants have embraced and experimented with mixed media techniques.  With so many exceptional entries, it was certainly a challenge to select a winner for Mom's 12 Tags of Christmas Event.  Congratulations go to ... "

Top Tag

Linda (LindyLou's Tag 3)



"Linda's tag is a sophisticated twist on the traditional red, green and gold Christmas palette.  Her tag is well-blanced, perfectly composed, and exceeds the mixed media requirements with the layering of modelling film, frosted film, stain spray, chunky embossing powder, gemstones and organza ribbon.  Well done, Linda!!"

"Honourable mentions go to the following participants for their noteworthy entries ..."

Honourable Mentions
(in order of entry)

Bonnie (#5)



Nancy (#7)



Pamellia (#69)



Pam (#78)



Congratulations to everyone!! :)

Linda, please email me at stampingwithloll@gmail.com to claim your prize of $40 gift certificate to STAMPlorations!


Thanks to everyone that entered.  I hope you had fun making your mixed media Christmas tags.  There's so much amazing inspiration in the gallery and from my guest designers and hope that you'll find yourself wanting to make more tags for this upcoming holiday season.  As I mentioned before, I have created a board on Pinterest. It's a great visual to see all the tags displayed together ... hope you'll check it out.

I hope to be back next year with the "Twelve Tags of Christmas" 2015 edition! :)








Wednesday, November 19, 2014

Happy Belated Birthday Debbie


Hi everyone.  I bought a set of 12 Brusho colour crystal pots a few weeks ago and have been having fun experimenting.  I made several backgrounds with this size panel ... not only is this a great size to experiment with, but this is my #1 layout as I'm sure you've noticed. :)

This background was created using turquoise, ultra-marine and purple.  LOVE the saturated colours.  To activate the crystals, you spray with water, but by mistake I grabbed the wrong mister that was filled with diluted shimmer mist ... love that it gives the watercolours a tiny bit of sparkle. I do love happy accidents!! :)

This card is made for my good friend Debbie.  Not only is she a good friend and talented card maker, but she is so understanding!  I was so wrapped up with my tag event that I completely missed her birthday! Yikes --- felt terrible and emailed her as soon as I realized.    I told her she'd get something in the mail soon that was very special ... I was excited to share my first Brusho card with her. :)  She received it yesterday ... so I'm sharing with you today.  Happy Belated birthday Debbie!! :)

I am having fun playing and learning about my new Brushos.  I had seen them on many blogs from the U.K (shirley-bee, ingrid, kathyk) ... and wanted to give them a try.  They aren't available in Canada (at least I couldn't find them), but did manage to order them through Dick Blick in the U.S.

They are so fun to play with ... the teeny, tiniest specks just burst with colour when sprayed with water.  You'll be seeing more of these fun backgrounds in the near future. :)







Stamps:  A Little Sentimental (Clearly Besotted)
Paper:  White card base (Neenah); Watercolour (Arches 140 lb. cold press)
Ink:  Versamark; Brusho colour crystals (turquoise, ultra-marine, purple)
Accessories & Tools:  water mister, shimmer mist, white embossing powder, Madera corner die (Memory Box); Hydrangea punch (Martha Stewart), stylus and mat, glossy accents for adhering blooms


Tuesday, November 18, 2014

Finding the Perfect Christmas Tree



Hi everyone.  Today is the start of the next ATS&M Challenge (#122 - Make Your Mark). Any style of card is welcome, just make sure to use some sort of marker on your card (markers, pencils, chalks, etc.).





Prize:  3 digital images


I'm continuing to add to my stash of Christmas cards ... I'm almost done! :)

I have used a digital image for my card today.  Even though it is one layer (one layer of design on the card front, which is popped up on the card base), I have added a lot of dimension to the image with glossy accents, clear glitter glue and white flower soft.  And even though this is a CAS design (in my mind, CAS is a style of card ... a look of clean and simple) ... it still has a lot going on with the added elements.

The image is coloured with Copics, glossy accents are added to the penguin's nose, feet ... and the Christmas lights.  Clear glitter glue adds sparkle to the falling snow ... and along the snowline at the bottom.  And white flower soft adds texture to the cuff and pom-pom of the Santa hat.  I used a white gel pen to add dots to Percy's scarf.

I hope you'll play along with our latest challenge at ATS&M (#122 - Make Your Mark). Click HERE to check out the challenge and to see the other cards from the talented Design Team.








Stamps:  Percy and Christmas Tree (DigiStamp Boutique), Christmas Sampler - sentiment (Paper Smooches)
Paper:  White (Neenah)
Ink:  Real Red (SU!); Copics:  R27, R29, G43, YG67, YR24, BG57, E44, W4, O
Accessories & Tools:  glossy accents, dazzling details (clear glitter glue - SU!), white flower soft, white gel pen





Sunday, November 16, 2014

Thank you Shery



Hi everyone.  Sharing another watercoloured card ... this one was sent to my friend Shery (one layer, CAS and mixed media cards).  She has already received the card, so I'm sharing with you. :)

The gorgeous stamp used on this card is part of a set that Shery created through her company STAMPlorations.  LOVE IT!  ... and so is this beautiful, bold sentiment. :)












Stamps:  Bloom Sketches (STAMPloration); Sentiment Builders Thank You (STAMPlorations)
Paper:  White card base (Neenah); Watercolor (Arches 140 lb. cold press)
Ink:  Archival Black - waterproof (Ranger); Distress inks: Antique Linen, Crushed Olive, Peeled Paint, Spiced Marmalade, Ripe Persimmon (Tim Holtz)
Accessories & Tools:  waterbrush, water mister, heat tool, paint brush for splattering


Saturday, November 15, 2014

Snowy Christmas


Hi everyone.  Not only is it time for the next ATCAS Challenge (#52) ... but we're celebrating 2 years at ATCAS.  Happy Birthday to us!! :)  And congrats to Kylie and the team on this happy milestone ... can't believe how quickly the two years have flown by! :)

The challenge this time is picked by the wonderful and talented Karen (Serendipity Dragonfly).  She has chosen ...


I think this is the first sketch challenge we've had at ATCAS.  I hope you'll play along!!



Prize:  3 images


I followed the sketch fairly closely :)  I had a heck of a time photographing this card ... this was the best I could get after many, many tries :)

The card front is stamped with a large snowflake background and heat embossed in "Ice" embossing powder.  You can just make out all the sparkle in the photo, but it's hard to see the snowflake shapes ... so pretty in real life! :)

For the main panel, I used a snowflake stencil (cut with my Cameo), and sprayed it with my own mix (mini mister with few drops of Tempting Turquoise re-inker, few drops of Frost White paint, and then filled up with rubbing alcohol).  It gives a love soft turquoise colour with a bit of shimmer.  I was channeling my friend Karen (Snippets), when I designed this card, using my new stitched mat die and stitched snowflake die from Lil' Inkers (bought because I love Karen's series of cards with similar dies).  I added some silver cording and a clear rhinestone to the center of the snowflake for even more sparkle.  I stamped the sentiment onto a banner (second generation stamping so the colour matches the sprayed background).  Fun card to make!

We have Linda L as our guest designer this month ... and she's done an amazing job with this sketch!!  I hope you'll check out Linda's card, along with the rest of the talented Design Team cards ... click HERE.

As always, there's two weeks to play along, so lots of time.  Hope to see you in the gallery!



Stamps:  Snowflake Background (Hero Arts); Snowman Sayings (Amy R)
Paper:  White (Neenah), Silver foil (SU!)
Ink:  Tempting Turquoise, Versamark
Accessories & Tools:  Ice embossing powder, heat tool, snowflake background cut file, silhouette cameo for cutting stencil, Stitched Mat die and Stitched Snowflake die (Lil' Inkers), silver cording, clear rhinestone, frost paint, mini mister, rubbing alcohol


____________________


Just a reminder that even though my tag event is over ... the linky is still open  --- until Nov. 16, for those that still want to enter.  Click HERE to enter.











Friday, November 14, 2014

Twelve Tags of Christmas ... Day Twelve




Hi everyone.  Can't believe that it's time for my last tag for my "Twelve Tags of Christmas" Event.  I have really enjoyed sharing my tags with you and have LOVED having my wonderful friends join me as Guest Designers for this event.  I hope we have inspired you to make some tags for your Christmas.  The link will remain open for a couple more days, so there's still time to play along.  Come join in the fun and link up your Mixed Media* Christmas tags below

* For this event, Mixed Media is defined as stamps + ink, plus two other elements which add texture and/or dimension.


Tag #12



How I made Tag #12:

I started with the faux mother-of-pearl technique (love this technique and can't get enough of it!!) :)  Click HERE to see my video tutorial on this fun technique.  I sponged over top with two shades of brown distress inks (Antique Linen / Brushed Corduroy).  I then inked my En Francais script stamp with dark brown ink (Vintage Photo), stamped onto a scrap of paper first, and then stamped my tag.  Love the softness of second generation stamping.  I die-cut three holly from olive card stock and then sponged more ink around the edges to make it darker.  The holly leaves have been coated with green glitter glue, and once dry, shaped with my stylus and mat.  Three small red glitter covered balls are the berries.  I cut out the "PEACE" from my Cameo ... once in dark red card stock and twice more in white and layered them together with glue to make a thick embellishment.  I sponged the edges with a dark red ink and then coated it in red glitter glue.  Again I've used seam binding for the ribbon, dying it with Brushed Corduroy ink misted with water, scrunching, and letting it dry - love it!


* * * * *


Today's special Guest Designer is Deepti ... she is a constant source of inspiration for me.  Deepti is a true artist --- she sometimes includes hand-drawn elements on her projects.  She has a wonderful sense of colour, design and balance. She is another busy person!  We are Design Teammates at Addicted to Stamps & More, Addicted to CAS, and Mixed Media Card Challenge blogs and she designs for the Fusion Challenge as well. Deepti is also on the design team for STAMPlorations and CAS-ual Friday's Stamps.  Take some time to check out her blog, Dee’s Art Utopia … you’ll be glad you did!

Details on how Deepti made this gorgeous tag below, can be found by clicking HERE.

Here's Deepti's tag ...




Beautiful Deepti!!!

* * * * *


I hope you'll join us and link up your mixed media Christmas tags below.

Here's how to play ...
  • Make a Mixed Media Christmas tag (any size)
  • Upload to your blog or favorite gallery (Flickr, Splitcoast Stampers, etc.)
  • Include a link to this post on your blog or gallery
  • Add your link below to join the event
  • Enter as many times as you'd like --- new creations only please (no backlinking)

The event is open until Nov. 16, so there's still of time to play along.


Prize:  $40 gift certificate from STAMPlorations for Top Tag

Everyone who enters a mixed media Christmas tag(s) is eligible to win. The Top Tag will be picked by an independent judge.



Meet the Judge ---



This is my youngest son, Jeremy.  He has a degree in Visual Arts and a Master of Arts Education.  He currently works as an Art teacher at a Secondary High School in the Lower Mainland.  Jer is excited to look through all the amazing entries and pick the top tags and winning entry.  The winners will be posted on Nov. 20 on this blog.  Thanks to all that entered ... there's still a few more days for anyone who is still wanting to join in. :)

* * * * *

Again, I want to thank you for joining me for my Christmas Tag event.  I really appreciate those that took the time to share their wonderful tags ... they are all so creative!  And thanks to those that left messages of support ... it means so much! :)  If you didn't hear back from me, that's because I wasn't able to find your email address ... one of these days I'll figure things out :)  Just to let you know that I read ALL the comments and appreciate each and every one!

If you want to check out the whole selection of tags (mine, guest designers and entrants), I've created a Pinterest board --- click HERE.

And a big thank you to all my Guest Designers --- Susan, Kylie, Shirley, Nancy, Ingrid, Lee-Anne, Bonnie, Shery, Julia, Marina, Vicki and Deepti ... you all did an amazing job. The tags are so creative and all very unique and I know that you've inspired many ... you girls are the BEST!! :)





Come join our mixed media Christmas tag party!




Thursday, November 13, 2014

Twelve Tags of Christmas ... Day Eleven



Hi everyone.  Welcome to Day Eleven of my "Twelve Tags of Christmas" Event.  We're getting down to the last few days of tags for this event.  It has gone so quickly!!  Each day of the event, I'm posting two mixed media Christmas tags (one made by me; one made by a friend).  Each Guest Designer has a unique and creative style ... and I hope that our tags inspire you to show us your style!  Come join in the fun and link up your Mixed Media* Christmas tags below.

For those of you that are interested, I have set up a Pinterest Board with the tags from this event.  So fun to look at them all together!!  Check it out HERE.  If I've missed adding your tag, please let me know :)

* For this event, Mixed Media is defined as stamps + ink, plus two other elements which add texture and/or dimension.


Tag #11



Here's how I made Tag #11:

This tag (2 1/8" x 3 5/8") has a raised brick background made with a stencil and Sparkle Texture Effect (Martha Stewart) ... the bricks are very sparkly IRL.   Several pine sprig die-cuts were "frosted" with the same sparkle texture and glued onto a circle frame.  "Merry" was die-cut from red glitter paper and mounted on top of the wreath, and small red rhinestones were added for the berries.  A simple banner with "christmas" was added to the bottom and a misted and scrunched ribbon was added to the top to finish.


* * * * *

Today's special Guest Designer is Vicki (All I Do is Stamp) ... perfect blog name for Vicki!! :)  I first saw Vicki’s cards on SCS (yes, many of my friends are from there --- it’s a wonderful crafting community).  I was drawn to her bold style with her mix of saturated colors and her keen eye to balance and design.  She is so talented and also a very prolific crafter, making cards almost every day … and sometimes several cards a day.  Vicki is currently on the design teams for the following companies:  Inspired by Stamping, STAMPlorations, Add A Little Dazzle, Dare 2B Artsy, and A Walk Down Memory Lane.  And she is on the Design Teams for the following challenges:  Just Us Girls, Addicted to CAS, AAA Card, Cardabilities, Muse, The Male Room … and she is part of the team that organizes colour challenges at Splitcoast Stampers.  Whew!!  She is one busy lady!!

All the details on how Vicki made this gorgeous tag below can be found by clicking HERE.

Here's Vicki's tag ....





Beautiful tag ... thanks Vicki!!

* * * * *


I hope you'll join us and link up your mixed media Christmas tags below.

Here's how to play ...
  • Make a Mixed Media Christmas tag (any size)
  • Upload to your blog or favorite gallery (Flickr, Splitcoast Stampers, etc.)
  • Include a link to this post on your blog or gallery
  • Add your link below to join the event
  • Enter as many times as you'd like --- new creations only please (no backlinking)

The event is open until Nov. 16, so there's lots of time to play along.



Prize:  $40 gift certificate from STAMPlorations for Top Tag

Everyone who enters a mixed media Christmas tag(s) is eligible to win. The Top Tag will be picked by an independent judge.



See you tomorrow with another Christmas Tag and special Guest Designer!



Come join our mixed media Christmas party!




Wednesday, November 12, 2014

Twelve Tags of Christmas ... Day Ten




Hi everyone.  Welcome to the tenth day of my "Twelve Tags of Christmas" Event.  I am amazed at the gorgeous tags that have been entered into this event.  Each one is so beautifully creative and unique!  I hope you enjoy the two tags in today's post (one made by me; one made by a friend) ... and I hope our tags inspire you to add your Mixed Media* Christmas tags to the growing gallery below.

* For this event, Mixed Media is defined as stamps + ink, plus two other elements which add texture and/or dimension.


Tag #10


Here's how I made Tag #10:

First I stamped the Christmas Story background (Penny Black stamp) and heat embossed in white onto my white tag (2 1/8" x 3 5/8").  Distress Inks were sponged on top (Barn Door over the whole tag, Fired Brick around the edges).  I die-cut two trees (Sizzix dies) from green glitter and brown glitter paper and also from white card stock.  They were glued together in layers to make the trees thick and sturdy.  I ripped two pieces of white card stock for the snow banks and stamped the sentiment in Barn Door ink.  Everything was then mounted on top of my embossed background, and the trees were popped up for added dimension.  A double red-stitched white ribbon was added to the top to finish.

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Today's special Guest Designer is Marina.  She is one of my newest teammates on Addicted to Stamps & More Design Team.  I love Marina’s style … she does both CAS and mixed media and her projects are always so creative and fun.  She has recently started providing videos of some of her projects and you can tell how much fun she has getting messy with mixed media!!  Marina has a lot of enthusiasm, which she shares on her blog as well as at the new craft forum Happy Little Stampers.  She has taken on a large role of introducing new topics for discussion each week at HLS and really gets everyone engaged.  Check out her blog, Marina’s Craft Space and take a look around --- you’re going to have fun! :)  She currently designs for Lawnscaping Challenge and ATS&M, and soon will be designing for Canvas Corp Brands Creative Crew for Tags & Papers Category for 2015.

Details on how Marina made this fun and creative tag below, can be found by clicking HERE.  And as an added bonus, Marina has made a "how to" video for this tag ... make sure to check it out!

Here's Marina's tag ....




Awesome tag!!  Thanks so much Marina!!

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I hope you'll join us and link up your mixed media Christmas tags below.

Here's how to play ...
  • Make a Mixed Media Christmas tag (any size)
  • Upload to your blog or favorite gallery (Flickr, Splitcoast Stampers, etc.)
  • Include a link to this post on your blog or gallery
  • Add your link below to join the event
  • Enter as many times as you'd like --- new creations only please (no backlinking)

The event is open until Nov. 16, so there's lots of time to play along.



Prize:  $40 gift certificate from STAMPlorations for Top Tag

Everyone who enters a mixed media Christmas tag(s) is eligible to win. The Top Tag will be picked by an independent judge.



See you tomorrow with another Christmas Tag and special Guest Designer!



Come join our mixed media Christmas party!