Monochromatic - Group of Seven

Hi everyone.  This month the Group of Seven are showcasing another Design Element - Monochromatic.  Gof7 definition is shades of one colour, plus small accents of white, black, or metallic.

Please check out the many wonderful inspiration cards from members of the Group.

Group of Seven Cardmakers - Monochromatic

For the card above I used the Peony Bundle embossing folder (Simon Says Stamp) with mixed media paper.  I started by sponging lightly with small detail sponges over the raised design in shades of orange distress inks (Wild Honey, Spiced Marmalade, Ripe Persimmon, Crackling Campfire).  It turned out OK, but the colour was not smooth, so I went over the sponging with a wet waterbrush and more ink to get a smoother finish.  I did go outside the lines of the embossing a few times and used a small amount of bleach with a brush to clean them up --- worked great!

To finish, I used a white pen to add details for the flowers and leaves and then added a simple sentiment (Endless Birthday wishes - retired SU!), stamped in more Crackling Campfire.

Close-up ...

Sending the above card to Can You Handle the Pressure? - Anything Embossing Goes - I did not use the optional twist this time.

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This time I used different shades of gray, along with black and white card stock.  I decided to make a sympathy card, but this card could be used for many other occasions.

This was a very simple and easy card to make.  I started with a panel of black card stock and the lovely Vine Canopy embossing folder (Simon Says Stamp).  I inked the inside raised design (direct from stamp) with Lost Shadow Distress Oxide ink, placed my black panel inside and ran it through my Gemini Jr.  The ink transferred to the debossed side to create a lovely background panel for my leafy sprig (Dignified - Penny Black).  I popped up the panel onto my white card base and stamped a sentiment (Many Everyday Messages - retired - Hero Arts) in Hickory Smoke Distress Oxide ink.  

Close-up ...

Sending this card to Simply Clean & Simple June Challenge.

Thanks for stopping by!

Card #1

Stamps:  Endless Birthday Wishes - retired (SU!)

Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.)
Ink:  Distress Inks:  Wild Honey, Spiced Marmalade, Ripe Persimmon, Crackling Campfire (Tim Holtz) 
Accessories:   Peony Bundle embossing folder (Simon Says Stamp), detail sponges, watercolour brushes, bleach, white acrylic paint pen (Posca)

Card #2

Stamps:  Many Everyday Messages - retired (Hero Arts)

Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.)
Ink:   Distress Oxide Inks:  Lost Shadow, Hickory Smoke (Tim Holtz)
Accessories:   Vine Canopy embossing folder (Simon Says Stamp); Dignified die (Penny Black)

Challenges:

Group of Seven

Can You Handle the Pressure? - Anything Embossing Goes

Simply Clean & Simple - Anything CAS Goes

Multiple Makes #1 - Christmas

Hi everyone.  Today I'm starting a Multiple Makes self-challenge.  I'm inspired by my sweet friend, Darnell (djkardkreations.com), who ran the Twofer challenge for four years and continues to make multiples.  It's a great way to increase your stash of cards and I definitely need to do that with Christmas cards for this year.

I used Penny Black's Radiant Red stamp for all of today's cards.  I LOVE this large poinsettia stamp and I had fun creating eight cards over three days.  I'm sharing five of them on this post. :)

For the 1st card above, I was inspired by my sweet friend, Pat (Colourful Card Creations).  She made a stunning card with a partially fussy-cut image.  I used the same technique and am so happy with my card.  I used two colours of Arteza markers (Rose Red, Apple Green) to watercolour the poinsettia, and added a dry embossed background using the Variegated - Penny Black.  A sentiment (Season's Gifts - Penny Black) finishes the card.

Sending this card to Rudolph Days June Challenge.  Thanks Helen!

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The card above is multiple stampings.  I filled the background with the same poinsettia, stamped in black ink and watercoloured again with my Arteza Markers (same colours as above).  I finished it off with the large Joy Edger (Penny Black) die-cut sentiment.  

I'm sending the above card to Peace on Earth Challenge #66.  I didn't follow the mood board ... but it is AWESOME so hope to make another entry before it closes! :)

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I started by stamping the poinsettia and fussy-cutting to create a partial image.  I used a strip of black card stock with black and white striped washi tape, adding it to the bottom of my horizontal card base.  I watercoloured the poinsettia with Distress inks and then adhered it against the washi tape.  The sentiment (Merry Up - Penny Black) is stamped and white heat embossed to finish the card.

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The next card is Off-the-Edge design, which is a great way to use this large stamp.  I again used my Arteza markers, but used two shades of each colour (Rose Red/Ruby Red: Apple Green/Emerald Green) this time to get a deeper colour for the flower.  I finished with a black sentiment banner with white heat embossing sentiment (Believe - Penny Black).

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The last card is done using a technique we did at Group of Seven back in May 2023.  I started with Cherry Cobbler card stock, stamping and heat embossing the poinsettia in Princess Gold embossing powder.  Aged Mahogany distress ink was sponged around the image (fading toward the center).  A second layer of sponging was added along the outside edge of the card with Black Soot distress ink.  To finish the card, the sentiment (Merry Up - Penny Black) was stamped and heat embossed in more Princess Gold embossing powder and I used diluted gold gouache paint to splatter.

That's it for today.  Lots of cards added to my Christmas card stash! 

Thanks for stopping by!

Stamps:  Radiant Red (Penny Black);  Sentiments from Penny Black (Season's gifts; Merry Up; Believe) 

Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.); Black card stock (SU!)
Ink:   Black Obsidian Pigment ink (Altenew); Arteza Markers (Rose Red, Ruby Red, Apple Green, Emerald Green, Lemon Yellow); Distress Inks: Candied Apple, Fired Brick, Mowed Lawn, Mustard Seed (Tim Holtz)
Accessories:   Embossing Powders:  Clear, Princess Gold, White (Ranger); Watercolour paint brushes; Goucache paints:  Silver, Gold (Arteza); Variegated embossing folder (Penny Black); sponges, washi tape; Joy Edger die (Penny Black)

Challenges:

Rudolph Days June Challenge

Peace on Earth Challenge #66

IDEAS June - Anything Goes

Hi everyone.  Today's card is for the IDEAS Challenge with Darnell.  This week is "A - Anything Goes".

For my Anything Goes I'm using a new-to-me stamp, die, and stencil set (Nature's Magic -Altenew). I used a couple of the layering stencils to sponge my stamped flowers, adding shading as I went rather than using the detail stencils for the shading.  I like to have more control. :)  Next time I will try watercolouring these beauties. 

Distress Inks were used to add colour (Large flower:  Mustard Seed, Spiced Marmalade, Crackling Campfire; Smaller flower:  Saltwater Taffy, Abandoned Coral ... then Shabby Shutters and Peeled Paint for all the leaves and stems).  I die-cut the flowers and placed them over a dry embossed background (Layered Leaves - retired - SU!), popping up the flower heads for dimension.  

To finish I stamped the Happy Birthday that came with the stamp set ... I'm wish it was larger font, but wanted to just use the one stamp set to finish the card.  

A very fun card to make. :)

Close-up ...

I'm sending this card to three challenges:

IDEAS June - Anything Goes

NBUS #63 - first time using this stamp, die, stencil

Beautiful Blossom Challenge - with optional mood board #18 - LOVE the colours of the flowers and used them for my card above!

  

                       IDEAS                                        NBUS #63                                 Beautiful Blossoms #18

Thanks for stopping by!

Stamps:  Nature's Magic (Altenew)

Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.)
Ink:  Black Obsidian Ink (Altenew);  Distress Inks:  Mustard Seed, Spiced Marmalade, Crackling Campfire, Saltwater Taffy, Abandoned Coral, Shabby Shutters, Peeled Paint (Tim Holtz)
Accessories:   Clear embossing powder (Ranger), heat tool, Nature's Magic dies, Nature's Magic stencils, sponges, Layered Leaves embossing folder (SU!)

Challenges:

IDEAS Challenge June - Anything Goes

NBUS #63

Beautiful Blossoms Challenge - with optional mood board #18

Penny Black - Let's Garden

Hi everyone.  Today I'm sharing a couple of cards using the Let's Garden stamp set (40-928) from Penny Black.  I did a very light watercolouring with Distress Inks.  Sentiment (Gratitude 30-105 - Penny Black) is stamped in the same archival ink (Rich Cocoa - Memento) as the Let's Garden image.

Close-up ...

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I then created a second card using just a portion of the image to create a CAS card.  I watercoloured with Distress Inks, then added an octagon frame (All-in-One Octagon - Penny Black).  I cut around the bottom of the flowers and leaves so they could overlap the frame slightly.  A sentiment (Super Day - Penny Black) is stamped in black ink to finish the card.

Close-up ...

Sending the second card to The Paper Players #694 - CAS - Sympathy or Encourgagement.

Penny Black Products

  

                 Let's Garden (40-928)             All-in-One Octagon (51-816)            Super Day (31-044)

Gratitude (30-105)

Thanks for stopping by!

Card #1:

Stamps:  Let's Garden (Penny Black); Gratitude (Penny Black)

Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.)
Ink:   Rich Cocoa (Memento); Distress Inks: (Tim Holtz)
Accessories:   watercolour brushes

Card #2:

Stamps:  Let's Garden (Penny Black)

Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.)
Ink:   Black Obsidian (Altenew); Zigs
Accessories:   Clear embossing powder (Ranger), heat tool, watercolour brushes, All-in-One Octagon (Penny Black)

Challenge:

The Paper Players #694 - Sympathy or Encouragement

IDEAS June - Embossing Folders

Hi everyone.  It's time for the next IDEAS Challenge with Darnell.  This week is "E for Embossing Folders".

I used a new-to-me embossing folder, Gracious Floral (Memory Box).  I sponged colour over the image on the debossed side and then used a direct to stamp with Versafine Clair black ink to swipe across and cover the background.  Unfortunately, when the ink was added to the background, it showed cracks from the embossing.  So I fussy-cut the embossed image and placed it over a black embossed background (Weathered - Taylor Expressions - retired) with a distressed edge to match the distressed look of the image.  The two pieces were placed onto a black card base and a simple sentiment banner in white added over top (Simply Sentiments - Lawn Fawn).

Close-up ...

I'm sending the above card to a few challenges:

IDEAS - Week 3 - Embossing Folder

NBUS #63 (never-before-used-schtuff) - this was the first time I used the embossing folder

Can you Handle the Pressure? - The main image is embossed as well as the background

Thanks for stopping by!

Stamps:  Simply Sentiments (Lawn Fawn

Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.)
Ink:   Distress Inks:  Spiced Marmalade, Ripe Persimmon, Wilted Violet, Mustard Seed, Mowed Lawn (Tim Holtz); Versafine Clair nocturne ink
Accessories:   Gracious Floral embossing Folder (Memory Box), small sponges, Weathered embossing folder (Taylor Expressions) 

Challenges:

IDEAS Challenge June - Embossing Folders

NBUS Challenge #63

Can You Handle the Pressure?

More Bokeh for Gof7

Hi everyone.  Another card  for May's Group of Seven technique - Bokeh.

I sponged the background using Salty Ocean and Wilted Violet.  I added sponged circles using the same colours of ink and more from white pigment ink.  I believe the combination of coloured colours and white circles adds more depth ... I've added this to the Gof7 Bokeh post.

I paired it with a retired die-cut from Memory Box that I love and will never stop using. :)  The sentiment is also a retired, stamped in more Wilted Violet ink.

Close-up ...

Sending this card to the following challenge:

Merry Little Christmas Challenge #56

 

Edited to add:  sending this card to Die-Cut Divas June Challenge - Favourite Die-cut Shapes.  Thanks for the heads up Linda! :)

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A dog's life ...

Jessie daydreaming of being on vacation at the beach. :)

Thanks for stopping by!

Stamps:  Handy Christmas Sentiments (AmyR - retired)

Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.)
Ink:   Distress inks:  Salty Ocean, Wilted Violet (Tim Holtz); White Gouache paint
Accessories:   Sponges, Circle stencil (AliExpress), Sloping Hillside die (Memory Box - retired)

Challenges:

Merry Little Christmas Challenge #56

Die-cut Divas June challenge - Favourite Die-cut Shapes

Penny Black - Dignified, Refresh, Ascending

Hi everyone.  I had a play with three new Penny Black dies (from the latest release):  Dignified, Refresh (second time posting a card with this fun die!), and Ascending.  I made the cards with the same technique, print making with die-cuts (click link for Group of Seven post on this technique).

Starting with Dignified (51-821), I cut two of the leafy stems from mixed media paper.  I coloured both with Distress Inks: Mustard Seed, Twisted Citron, Mowed Lawn.  I misted one lightly with water and pressed the coloured side onto a mixed media panel, making a print with the die-cut.  A second panel with print was made for the inside of the card.  The second die-cut was added to my front panel over top of the print. 

I cut the front panel down and added it to a black card stock base.  I stamped "Happy Birthday to you" (Super Day (31-044) Penny Black) in black ink.  All three cards use sentiments from the same stamp set.

Close-up ...

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Next, I followed the same steps with Refresh (51-817).  This time I used Distress Inks:  Mustard Seed, Saltwater Taffy, and Abandoned Coral.  I added two prints to my card front, using just the flower heads.  I adhered the die-cut flowers to the front of my card panel over top of the print background.  A simple sentiment "Wishing You a lovely day" (Super Day - Penny Black) was stamped in Abandoned Coral distress oxide ink.  I used a white Posca pen to add white centers to the flowers.  And I used the extra cut and coloured flowers for the inside of the card. :)

Close-up ...

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For the third card I used Ascending (51-820), this time I used Distress Inks Salvage Patina and Wilted Violet; then misted with water and flipped it over, pressing it onto a mixed media panel to create a print.  I repeated the process to add a second print onto the same card front.  I stamped a simple "Have a beautiful Birthday" (Super Day - Penny Black) with Villanous Potion distress oxide ink.

Close-up ...

I'm sending the cards to the following challenges:

IDEAS Challenge - "D" is for Dies / Die-cuts - all three cards!

NBUS Challenge #63 - Cards 1 and 3 (first outing for both Dignified and Ascending dies)

Penny Black Saturday Challenge - June - Card 3

 

  

Thanks for stopping by!

Penny Black Products

  

Dignified (51-821)                       Refresh (51-817)                    Ascending (51-820)  

 

Super Day (31-044)

Stamps:  Super Day (Penny Black)

Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.)
Ink:   Distress Inks:  Mustard Seed, Twisted Citron, Mowed Lawn, Saltwater Taffy, Abandoned Coral, Salvaged Patina, Wilted Violet (Tim Holtz); Distress Oxides:  Abandoned Coral, Villanous Potion (Tim Holtz); Black ink (Memento)
Accessories:   Penny Black dies:  Dignified, Refresh, Ascending; water mister

Challenges:

IDEAS Challenge - "D" is for Dies / Die-cuts

NBUS Challenge #63

Penny Black Saturday Challenge - June