Christmas Star

Hi everyone.  I'm back with another Christmas card using the Posted stamp and die set (Penny Black).

I stamped the postage outline in soft gray and then masked off the outside border.  The sweet image (The Star - Penny Black) was stamped on the inside of the masked area with black ink and clear heat embossed before watercolouring with distress inks.  Diluted white paint was splattered for falling snow before popping up the panel onto my card front, which is covered in dark green paper.  A simple white embossed sentiment finishes the card.

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Sending this card to:

Merry Little Christmas Challenge #64 - Anything Christmas Goes

Thanks for stopping by!

Stamps:  Posted (Penny Black); The Star (Penny Black); Jolly Snippets (Penny Black)

Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.); Green paper (unknown)
Ink:   Shadow Grey Archival Ink (Ranger); Black (Memento); Distress inks:  Salvaged Patina, Candied Apple, Lumberjack Plaid, Shabby Shutters, Peeled Paint, Mustard Seed, Wild Honey, Brushed Corduroy, Gathered Twigs (Tim Holtz)
Accessories:  Posted die (Penny Black), masking tape, Clear embossing powder (Ranger), watercolour paint brushes, White embossing powder (Ranger), heat tool, diluted white acrylic paint

Challenges:

Merry Little Christmas Challenge #64

Smiles and Hugs

Hi everyone.  Today's card is inspired by AAA Colourful Challenge #19.  Gorgeous colours and I LOVE the photo of the beautiful fall leaves, but went a totally different way. :)

I recently got this adorable doggy die in the mail, and couldn't wait to play with it.  The colours of the challenge work perfectly for him.  Don't you love that patch over one eye! :)

To finish, I added sponging of two shades of pink and then framed it up in a "window".  I love that the paws are hanging over the edge, like he is ready to jump out and give a big, slurpy kiss to the recipient of this card. :)  Simple sentiment finishes the card.

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Sending this card to the following challenges:

AAA Colourful #19

Darnell's IDEAS - Week 1 - Inks.  There's a whole lot of ink sponging on this card. :)

NBUS #78 (never-before-used-schtuff) - Doggy die is new.

      

Thanks for stopping by!

Stamps:  Banner Sentiments (Penny Black)

Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Coloured Card stock:  More Mustard, Chocolate chip, Natural (SU!); Rust Card stock (unknown)
Ink:   Distress Inks:  Antique Linen, Rusty Hinge, Ground Espresso, Vintage Photo (Tim Holtz)
Accessories:   Doggy Die (AliExpress), Rectangle Nestabilities (Spellbinders - retired), sponges, white acrylic paint pen (Posca)

Challenges:

AAA Colourful #19

Darnell's IDEAS Challenge - Week 1 - Inks

NBUS #78

Embossing with Dies - Group of Cardmakers

Hi everyone.  Today at Group of Cardmakers, we are sharing our experimenting of Embossing with Dies.  This is a super simple technique that uses your dies and makes them into an embossed image. :)

Check out the post at Group of Cardmakers for links to wonderful videos and more sample cards from Christine, Pat, & Susan.

First up, my fav card of this post ... a pretty Peace Rose.  I watercoloured the rose in colours of a Peace Rose that I had in my garden at my last house.  The bloom was a delicate pink.  The edges turn to soft yellow when it opens.  I stamped my flower in black ink, heat embossed in clear; then watercoloured using Distress inks.  I used the matching die to cut it out before mounting it on my debossed background of a pretty leaf die.

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Sending the above card to:

Darnell's IDEAS Challenge - Week 4 - Anything Goes - Embossing with Dies (2nd entry)

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A Christmas card featuring a holly die.  I created a deboss of the holly image for the background, then die-cut the same die from Mixed Media paper and watercoloured, placing it over top.  A simple sentiment is added to finish the card.

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I've made two cards using a postage frame die.  And I used it two ways, embossed with the cut side of the die showing a thin outline; and debossed with the backside of the die recessed (thicker outline).  That is a bonus to this technique.  With most dies, you can use either side of the embossed image depending on the look you want.  See below two cards using the same die but different sides of the embossed impression. 

Thin outline of die (embossed)

Thick outline with die (debossed)

One more card with a different way of doing this technique.  Sorry for the long post, but as you can tell, I had a lot of fun playing! :) 

This time I used a stamp and matching die to stamp the flower onto mixed media paper, heat embossing in silver.  Then I watercoloured the image using Distress re-inkers.  I finished by placing the matching die over top of the image, but instead of cutting it out, I embossed the image so that my stamped image has it's own outline.  This also adds texture and a bit of dimension to my otherwise flat card. :)  It's subtle in the photo above, but so pretty IRL. :)

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Bonus ... you can take a lot of your dies and turn them into embossed images, then use the same die to cut matching stencils to use over top of your images.  Lots and lots of options!

Thanks for stopping by!

Card #1:

Stamps:  Enchantingly (Penny Black)

Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.)
Ink:   Black ink (Memento); Disttress Inks:  Mowed Lawn, Mustard Seed, Picked Raspberry (Tim Holtz)
Accessories:  Delicate Leafy Branch die (Simon Says Stamp); Clear embossing powder (Ranger), heat tool, Enchantingly die (Penny Black), watercolour paint brushes

Card #2:

Stamps:  Happy Snippets (Penny Black)

Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.)
Ink:   Distress Inks:  Wild Honey, Spiced Marmalade, Ripe Persimmon, Crackling Campfire, Mowed Lawn, Rustic Wilderness, Ground Espresso (Tim Holtz)
Accessories:   Posted die (Penny Black), Autumn Decor dies (Penny Black), sponges 

Card #3:

Stamps:  Love & Magic; Jolly Snippets (both Penny Black)

Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.)
Ink:   Black (Memento); Distress Inks:  Candied Apple, Aged Mahogany, Mowed Lawn, Rustic Wilderness, Brushed Corduroy, Gathered Twigs, Salty Ocean (Tim Holtz)
Accessories:  Posted die (Penny Black), watercolour brushes, red chalk

Card #4:

Stamps:  Handy Christmas Sentiments (Amy R - long retired)

Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.)
Ink:   Distress Inks:  Mowed Lawn, Rustic Wilderness, Candied Apple, Aged Mahogany, Gathered Twigs (Tim Holtz)
Accessories:  Holly and Berry Branch die (Penny Black), watercolour brushes, Clear Wink of Stella, Crystal Glaze (Nuvo)

Card #5:

Stamps:  Amazing Things (Pinkfresh Studios)

Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.)
Ink:   Versamark;  Distress Re-Inks:  Saltwater Taffy, Abandoned Coral, Shabby Shutters, Peeled Paint (Tim Holtz)
Accessories:  Silver embossing powder (Ranger), heat tool, watercolour paint brushes, Amazing Things die (Pinkfresh Studios)

Challenges:

Darnell's IDEAS Challenge - Week 4 - Anything Goes - Embossing with Dies (2nd entry)

Guest Designing at Rudolph Days August Challenge

Hi everyone.  Today I'm Guest Designing at Rudolph Days August Challenge.  Thanks so much to Helen for inviting me!

For today's card I have made another using the Immense Joy die (Penny Black).  Last year I made a series of cards using this amazing die, and I just had to pull it out again this year. :)

I brayered a piece of Bristol card with distress inks and cut out the "O" from the Joy die.  I also die-cut the Deers & Tree scene; then die-cut again for the "O".  These were layered together and then inlaid into the "O" opening.  I splattered diluted white acrylic paint for falling snow.  The completed JOY was placed over top of a snowflake embossed card front (Snowflakes - Cuttlebug).  Merry Christmas is stamped on the inside using the closest ink I had to kraft.

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Sending this card to a few other challenges besides Rudolph Days ...

Darnell's IDEAS Challenge - Week 4 - Anything Goes - Brayering

Sparkles Christmas Challenge #175 - Include a Tree - the tree is part of the winter scene inside the "O".  Hope that qualifies

Thanks for stopping by!

Stamps:  N/A

Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Bristol card; Kraft card stock
Ink:   Distress Inks:  Mustard Seed, Candied Apple, Wilted Violet (Tim Holtz); Sahara Sand (SU!)
Accessories:   Immense Joy die (Penny Black), Brayer, Deer & Trees die (AliExpress), Acrylic white paint, Snowflake embossing folder (Cuttlebug)

Challenges:

Rudolph Day August Challenge

Darnell's IDEAS Challenge - Weekly 4 - AG 

Sparkles Christmas Challenge #175 - Include a Tree 

Summer Ride

Hi everyone.  Today's card is inspired by the latest challenge at Seize the Birthday #311 - No Flowers. :)  I pulled out a bicycle die after seeing a card on-line (sorry, don't know who made it), using this wonderful colour combination.

I die-cut the bike from mixed media paper and watercoloured with Distress Inks.  I created the background using the Acetate Smooshing technique and the same colours.  I stamped the sentiment (Signature Greetings - Memory Box), and then added a little more ink to ground the bike.  Very simple card that was fun to make!

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Thanks for stopping by!

Stamps:  Signature Greetings (Memory Box)

Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.)
Ink:   Distress Inks:  Antique Linen, Brushed Corduroy, Worn Lipstick (Tim Holtz)
Accessories:   Bicycle die (AliExpress), Acetate sheet, watercolour paint brushes

Challenges:

Seize the Birthday #311 - No Flowers

Lovely Iris

Hi everyone.  Today I'm sharing a CAS Mixed Media card.  I started by using a background that's been in my stash for a long time.  The background is coloured using blue powdered inks.  Once dry, I placed a flourish stencil over top and used glitter paste to fill in the design.  It's so pretty in real life ... but glitter is almost impossible to photograph.

I added a die-cut Iris, that is watercoloured using Distress Inks.  A simple rectangle frame was popped up over top with the sentiment stamped in purple ink.

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Sending this card to:

Darnell's IDEAS Challenge - Week 3 - Embossing - this time I used Wet (glitter paste)

Inkspirational Challenge #348 - CAS - Optional: Flowers

AAA CAS Cards #297 - Anything CAS Goes

Thanks for stopping by!

Stamps:  Super Day (Penny Black)

Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.)
Ink:   Distress Inks:  Peeled Paint, Mustard Seed, Wilted Violet (Tim Holtz)
Accessories:   Powdered Inks, Flourish stencil, Glitter Paste, Palette knife, Iris die (Penny Black), watercolour paint brushes

Challenges:

Darnell's IDEAS Challenge - Week 3 - Embossing - this time I used Wet (glitter paste)

Inkspirational Challenge #348 - CAS - Optional: Flowers

AAA CAS Cards #297 - Anything CAS Goes

Christmas Wreath

Hi everyone.  Today's card is again inspired by several challenges.  I just received a new twig wreath die in the mail ... so perfect timing to use it right away for the Christmas Kickstart challenge.  I die-cut the wreath four times (2 from both light and medium gray card stock), and also did a little sponging around the outside edges with Basic Gray ink (SU!).  A simple hole punch was used to create the berries from Cherry Cobbler card stock.  The wreath is placed on top of an embossed card front (Snowflake Oval Frame - Simon Says Stamp embossing folder).  To finish, I added a die-cut sentiment in matching Basic Gray ink.

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Sending this card to the following challenges:

Christmas Kickstart Challenge #101 - Let's Wreath it Up!

NBUS Challenge #77 - first time using wreath die and snowflake embossing folder

Cut it Up Challenge #336.  

Thanks for stopping by!

Stamps:  N/A

Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Basic Gray, Smoky Slate, and Cherry Cobbler card stock (SU!)
Ink:   Basic Gray (SU!)
Accessories:   Wreath die, Snowflake Oval Frame Embossing folder (Simon Says Stamp), sponges, Handy Christmas Sentiments (Amy R - retired)

Challenges:

Christmas Kickstart Challenge #101 - Let's Wreath it Up!

NBUS Challenge #77

Cut it Up #336 - Add a Sentiment

Summer Flowers

Hi everyone.  Today's card is inspired by four (now five!) challenges and I'm so happy that I was able to make a card that fits all of them - it's a first for me. :)

Starting off with We Love Staming - Flowers, couldn't resist making another card for this challenge. :)  The colours from AAA Colourful just scream summer.  I stamped the images in black ink, then die-cut using the matching die to the set.  The matching stencil was used to add the colours from the challenge (see below).  And then, used a new-to-me background die (for both IDEAS and NBUS Challenges) to cut a pretty design to use as the "lattice" for my summer garden. :)

I had lots of fun making this card.  That's what this hobby is all about! :)

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Here's the links to the challenges I'm entering with this card - thanks to all who take the time to run these challenges.  I know how much effort and energy it takes --- I appreciate YOU!

Edited to add:  Lisa let me know that my card fits the Just Us Girls Challenge #787 - Die Week - Florals.  Perfect.  Thanks Lisa!! :)

We Love Stamping - Flowers - 2nd entry

AAA Colourful #18

Darnell's IDEAS - Week 2 - Dies

NBUS Challenge #77 - 2nd entry this month

Thanks for stopping by!

Stamps:  Nature's Magic (Altenew)

Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.)
Ink:   Black (Memento); Distress Inks:  Picked Raspberry, Ripe Persimmon, Mowed Lawn, Mustard Seed (Tim Holtz)
Accessories:   Nature's Magic dies (Altenew); Nature's Magic Stencils (Altenew); brushes, Geometric die (Background)

Challenges:

We Love Stamping - Flowers

AAA Colourful #18

Darnell's IDEAS - Week 2 - Dies

NBUS Challenge #77

JUGS #787 - Die Week - Florals