January Rudolph Days

Hi everyone.  Today is the start of Rudolph Days.  The challenge runs from the 25th to end of month and it's anything goes - Christmas.

Today's card uses one of my favourite poinsettia images.  I LOVE this spray from Avery Elle.  There are a few different stamps in the set and there's matching dies too!

Watercoloured the poinsettia spray with Stampin' Up! inks and Distress Inks on mixed media paper; then splattered with diluted white acrylic paint.  Cut out with the die and popped it over top of a dry embossed snowflake background that I received AGES ago from my dear friend Susan.  Finished the card with the white heat embossed black banner.

Close-up ...

Thanks for coming by for a visit!

Stamps:  Holiday Bouquet (Avery Elle); Snowglobe Sentiments (My Favorite Thngs)
Paper:  Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.); White Card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Black card stock (SU!)
Ink:  Versafine Black; Real Red (SU!); Distress Inks:  Mowed Lawn, Salty Ocean, Mustard Seed (Tim Holtz); Versamark
Accessories & Tools:  Paint brush, diluted white acrylic paint, matching die for Holiday Bouquet (Avery Elle), white embossing powder, heat tool, snowflake embossing folder (unknown)

Challenges:
Rudolph Days - January

Twofer and Puppy Videos

Hi everyone.  Playing along with Twofer Card Challenge #23 - Hearts.  Twofer is also celebrating it's 2nd Blogaversary and there's lots of prizes to be won.  Congrats to Darnell and my wonderful teammates for two years of amazing challenges!

  

I used a stencil to create my two heart cards above.  The first card I used magicals through the open hearts.  Love the shimmer in real life.  I then did a light pink wash for the background and added a die-cut sentiment - Love.  The main panel is popped up.

For the second card.  I again used magicals to create a colourful background.  I used the stencil to outline three hearts (different sizes) using a black marker.  I fussy-cut the hearts and added them to the card front, popping up the top (smallest) heart balloon.  I stamped and watercoloured the sweet bear and also fussy-cut, popping it up and drew in the strings of the balloons to wrap around the wrist.  A sentiment was stamped in black to create a fun birthday card.

There's still lots of time to play along.  Challenge closes midnight Jan. 24 (PST).  We'd love to see your cards in the gallery!

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Four videos (taken by Alex) of Jessie playing with Violeta in the snow ...

Challenges:
Twofer Card Challenge #23 - Hearts

Dahlia Collage

Hi everyone.  I am wanting to try playing with more mixed media products this year, so I bought this new-to-me stamp, Dahlia Collage as an incentive ... isn't it beautiful??!!

The image was stamped with versamark and heat embossed with white.  I used Liquid Watercolour Concentrate to watercolour.  First I made up sprays with Violet and Turquoise, using lots of water to dilute.  Spray over the heat embossing and quickly blotted with paper towel to create a soft background.  Then used Violet and Turqoise, along with Green, watercolouring with full strength concentrate the dahlias and leaves.

To finish I stamped a large sentiment in black and then heat embossed in black so it would stand out over the busy background.  It didn't look great, so I lined the stamp up again and stamped a second time, heat embossing in black embossing powder as well.  This really helped to give the sentiment some umph! :)

Close-up ...

I'm entering this card into the Craft Stampers - Take it Make it challenge for January.

Stamps:  Dahlia Collage (Stampendous); Happy Messages (Stampendous)
Paper:  Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.)
Ink:  Liquid Watercolour Concentrate:  Violet, Turquoise, Green (Blick Art Materials); Obsidian Black (Altenew)
Accessories & Tools:  white embossing powder, heat tool, paint brush, black embossing powder

Challenges:
Craft Stamper - Take It Make It Challenge for January

CAS Challenge Reminders

Hi everyone.  We are changing things up a bit for the CAS Challenges.  The reminder posts will all be on the 15th of the month (CAS Mix Up, CAS Watercolour, CAS Christmas, CAS Stencil).  This is so it's a bit easier for us.

The above card is a reminder for CAS Mix Up - Partial Die-cutting, hosted by our wonderful Designer, Hideko.  The spray of flowers is heat embossed in gold, partially die-cut, watercoloured and placed over a black card base.  Simple gold embossed sentiment finishes the card.

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Here's a sampling of colours:

The above card is for CAS Watercolour - Cool Colours challenge hosted by Bonnie.  This time I used the colours from the colour swatches Bonnie provided.  So fun!!  The large sentiment is on the inside that matches this image (too big for the front of the card).  It says "When life gives you a rainy day, wear cute boots and dance in the puddles."

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This card is a reminder for the CAS Christmas - Tag challenge hosted by Christine.  I used a beautiful die-cut ornament gifted to me by a friend.  Die-cut, watercoloured, added sparkle and gloss, and added a hanger.  A sweet little tag with sentiment and twine bow finishes the card.

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The above card is for CAS Stencil - Use a New Stencil, hosted by Nancy. We are also celebrating our 1st birthday!  I used a new-to-me stencil from Funky Fossil (Knitted Background).  I sponged in rainbow colours, blending as I went.  Stamped the dog twice, watercoloured, fussy-cut one and just the paws on the second.  Stamped the sentiment in the background, popped up a frame overtop, added the dog at the bottom, and popped up his paws so they are hanging over the edge.

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I hope my cards have inspired you to take a look at the challenge blogs to see the amazing cards from our Designers, Guest Designers, and participants.  If you haven't had time to play along, there's over a week left before all four challenges close on January 24th at midnight PST.  Come join us!

CAS Mix Up Reminder - Flower spray
Stamps:  Kind Soul (W Plus 9); sentiment - Bouquet of Thanks (Simon Says Stamp
Paper:  Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.); Black card stock (SU!)
Ink:  Versamark; Distress Inks:  Abandoned Coral, Barn Door, Shabby Shutters, Peeled Paint, Squeezed Lemonade, Mustard Seed (Tim Holtz)
Accessories & Tools:  Matching die to kind soul flower spray (W Plus 9); Princess Gold embossing powder (Ranger), heat tool, water brush

CAS Watercolour Reminder - Cute Boots
Stamps:  Puddle Boots; Cute Boots (Stampendous)
Paper:  Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.)
Ink:  Versamark; Distress Inks:  Crushed Olive, Salty Ocean, Wilted Violet, Gathered Twigs (Tim Holtz)
Accessories & Tools: Clear embossing powder, heat tool, water brush


CAS Christmas Reminder - Cardinal Ornament
Stamps:
Paper:  Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.); Real Red card stock (SU!)
Ink:  Distress Inks:  Peeled Paint, Fired Brick (Tim Holtz)
Accessories & Tools:  Cardinal Ornament die (Cottage Cutz); water brush, glitter pen (Spectrum Noir - also gift from friend); Crystal Glaza (Nuvo)


CAS Stencil Reminder - Use a New Stencil
Stamps:  Dog (Impression Obsession - retired)
Paper:  Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.)
Ink:  Distress Inks:  Candied Apple, Carved Pumpkin, Mustard Seed, Mowed Lawn, Salty Ocean, Wilted Violet (Tim Holtz); Obsidian Black permanent (Altenew - gift from friend); Zig - light gray for dog
Accessories & Tools:  Knitted Background Stencil (Funky Fossil), Stitched frame die (AliExpress), waterbrush


Challenges:
CAS Mix Up - Partial Diecutting
CAS Watercolour - Cool Colours
CAS Christmas - Tag
CAS Stencil - Use a New Stencil