Christmas Love and Magic

Hi everyone.  Today I'm working on building my stash of Christmas cards for sending out to family and friends in December.

I'm starting with this new-to-me image of a sweet bear with a bouquet of holly (Love & Magic - Penny Black).  I stamped him in black ink and heat embossed with clear on mixed media paper before watercolouring using distress inks.  I fussy-cut him, added gloss to the holly; once dry, I splattered diluted white acrylic paint for falling snow.  He is then popped up overtop of the background panel, which is dry embossed with Allover Stitches EF (Penny Black) ... first time using this embossing folder. :)  I stamped the sentiment banner (Shine Upon You - Penny Black), adhering at the bottom of the panel before adding it to my card front.

I hope you like this quick and easy CAS design.

Close-up ...

I'm sending this card to the following challenges:

1)  Darnell's IDEAS - Week 3 - EFs

2)  NBUS Challenge #75 - first time using this sweet image :)

3)  Christmas Kickstart Challenge #99 - Christmas Critters

Thanks for stopping by!

Stamps:  Love & Magic; Shine Upon You (both from Penny Black)

Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.)
Ink:   Black (Memento); Distress Inks:  Brushed Corduroy, Gathered Twigs, Lumberjack Plaid, Aged Mahogany, Mowed Lawn, Rustic Wilderness, Squeezed Lemonade, Lost Shadow (Tim Holtz)
Accessories:   Allover Stitches Embossing Folder (Penny Black), Watercolour brushes, crystal glaze (Nuvo), diluted white acrylic paint

Challenges:

Darnell's IDEAS - Week 3 - EFs

NBUS Challenge #75

Christmas Kickstart Challenge #99 - Christmas Critters

CAS Birthday

Hi everyone.  I made this CAS birthday card the other day, using a sweet frame that I adore from Penny Black (Sewing Stackers).  It's just the perfect compliment to the flowery panel. :)

The flowers are stamped in Memento Toffee Crunch and then sponged using matching stencils, although I only used three out of the five layering stencils, opting to add the shading myself instead of using their two shading stencils.  I used distress inks (Saltwater Taffy, Abandoned Coral, Candied Apple, Shabby Shutters, Peeled Paint) to colour the flowers and leaves, then added a simple sentiment and the little scalloped frame cut from kraft paper.  The panel is popped up for added dimension.

Close-up ...

I'm sending this card to the following challenges:

1)  Darnell's IDEAS Challenge - Week 2 - Dies challenge.  Thanks for the inspiration!

2)  We Love Stamping - June - Nature or Anything Goes

3)  Color Hues #111 - Coral and Green - used shades of coral and green for the flower and leaves.  Light brown is my neutral.

3)  Die-cut Divas - June - Colour Challenge - use three of the colours + die-cut.  I've used light brown, light coral, dark coral, green from the colour palette and die-cut frame. :)

Thanks for stopping by!

Stamps:  Blooming Branch Stamp (retired); Super Day (Penny Black)

Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.); Kraft card stock
Ink:  Toffee Crunch (Memento); Distress Inks:  Saltwater Taffy, Abandoned Coral, Candied Apple, Shabby Shutters, Peeled Paint
Accessories:   Blooming Branch Stencils (retired), detail sponge brushes, Sewing Stackers Frames (Penny Black)

Challenges:

IDEAS Challenge - Week 2 - Dies

We Love Stamping - June - Nature or AG

Color Hues #111 - Coral and Green

Die-cut Divas - June - Colour Challenge

In the Studio with Dolly, Susan, and Christine

Hi everyone. Recently, my friend Dolly (aka Darnell) came for a visit.  She stayed for three days and we had so much fun visiting, playing with ink, and eating! :)  Our good friends Susan and Christine, joined us for two of the days ... it was great!!

Dolly showed up with a beautiful set of images from Altenew for me ... Fragrant Florals.  It included matching stamp, die, embossing folder, and layering stencils.  I made the card above using just the embossing folder and layering stencils and I'm looking forward to playing soon with the stamp and die! :) 

After I finished sponging through the stencils onto the embossed image, I took a SU! marker (early espresso) and drew in the branches and stamens.  And I used diluted distress ink (Mowed Lawn) and a fine paint brush to draw in the embossed veins on the leaves.  These little additions made a big difference. :)

Thank you Dolly, for this beautiful set.  I am going to have loads of fun making many cards with it!!  And thank you for the visit, I had such a great time!! :)

Close-up ...

Sending this card to the following challenges:

1)  IDEAS Challenge - Week 1 - Inks (sponged with distress inks)

2)  NBUS Challenge #75 - new folder and stencil sets

 

Thanks for stopping by!

Stamps:  Fragrant Florals (Altenew); Many Everyday Message (Hero Arts - retired)

Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.)
Ink:   Distress Inks:  Abandoned Coral, Mustard Seed, Wilted Violet, Mowed Lawn; SU! marker - Early Espresso
Accessories:  Fragrant Florals embossing folder (Altenew), sponges, fine watercolour paint brush,  

Challenges:

IDEAS Challenge - Week 1 - Inks

S Challenge #75

Batik - Group of Seven

Hi everyone.  This month's technique is Batik.  This is a type of artform that uses wax to create a resist before dyeing fabric.  The best way to replicate the art is to start with Emboss Resist and then add folds and sponging.  

Please check out the details for the Batik technique and link to video on the blog ...

Group of Seven Cardmakers

For the above card I used a retired stencil from The Crafter's Workshop, sponging the leaves in two shades of green distress inks (Mowed Lawn, Rustic Wilderness).  I pressed my Versamark pad over top of the stencil and then sprinkled with Clear Embossing Powder, heat setting to melt the powder.

I then added a few random creases, both horizontally and vertically.  I used my bone folder to help make the creases sharper, although you will always end up with jagged edges when folding card stock.  I flattened out my card panel as best as I could and then randomly sponged two colours of Distress inks (Mowed Lawn, Salty Ocean) over top of my entire panel.  I took a piece of paper towel to wipe the excess ink that was sitting on top of the embossed stenciling.  

The card was finished with stamping a simple sentiment in more Rustic Wildness ink. 

Inspired to play along with the above card in the IDEAS Challenge - Week 4 - Anything Goes.  I chose stenciling for my AG.  Thanks Dolly!

Here's what I learned when I experimented with this technique ...

• Silhouette images are best for this technique
• The creases add to the artistic look of this technique
• Thinner paper worked better for me with folding, but the creases are more subtle.  My friend Susan used very light paper (a heavy printer paper) and instead of folding, she crunched the paper up, flattened it and then sponged over top.  It looks great!!

Another Batik Technique card ...

This time with more of a masculine look.  I stamped the image (Wild Flora - Inkylicious) in Versamark and stamped onto kraft card stock (thinner than my regular card stock used above).  I heat embossed with clear and then repeated the steps above.  A simple sentiment was stamped in black ink and the card was popped up over a black card base.

Close-up ...

Sending this card to Seize the Birthday #306 - Use a Frame or Anything Goes Birthday.  I opted for AG Birthday. :)

Thanks for stopping by!

Card #1:

Stamps:  Many Everyday Messages (Hero Arts - retired)

Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.)
Ink:   Distress Inks:  Mowed Lawn, Rustic Wilderness, Salty Ocean (Tim Holtz)
Accessories:   Slimline Gentle Leaves stencil (TCW - retired); sponges, bone folder

Card #2:

Stamps:  Many Everyday Messages (Hero Arts - retired)

Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.)
Ink:   Distress Inks:  Mowed Lawn, Rustic Wilderness, Salty Ocean (Tim Holtz)
Accessories: 

Challenges:

Group of Seven - Batik

IDEAS Challenge - Week 4 - Anything Goes - I chose stenciling

Seize the Birthday #306 - Use a Frame or Anything Goes Birthday