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

Happiest of Birthdays

Hi everyone.  I was inspired by three challenges for today's card - YAY! :)

I wanted to make a dainty, feminine card. :)  A layer of dry embossed vellum is added overtop of my card front.  I was hoping it would show more in the photo, but it looks as though I simply dry embossed my card front.  In real life, you can see the difference.  My card front this time is ivory ... not my usual white. 

The vase of flowers is stamped twice in black and heat embossed with clear before cutting out with matching die.  I watercoloured the flowers only on one of the images and cut out around the bottom of the flowers.  I popped the flowers up over top of my vase of flowers to add some extra dimension and then placed it inside a frame.

To finish, the sentiment is stamped in black ink and heat embossed in clear to match the rest of the stamping on the card front.

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Sending this card to the following challenges:

1)  We Love Stamping August Challenge - Flowers - hosted by my dear friend Hilary

2)  Penny Black Saturday Challenge - August - Optional:  Embossing (Heat or Dry) - 2nd entry - used both Heat and Dry Embossing

3)  Just Us Girls #787 - Die Week - Florals

Thanks for stopping by!

Stamps:  Wings and Vases (Penny Black); Watching Bloom Sentiment (Memory Box - retired)

Paper:   White card stock base (Neenah 110 lb.); Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.); Vellum
Ink:   Black (Memento); Distress Inks:  Peeled Paint, Picked Raspberry, Festive Berries, Mustard Seed (Tim Holtz)
Accessories:   Clear embossing powder, heat tool, watercolour brushes, Wings and Vases Cut Out (Penny Black), Whirl Frame Cut Out (Penny Black), Dots & Dashes embossing folder (Penny Black)

Challenges:

We Love Stamping August Challenge - Flowers

Penny Black Saturday Challenge - August - Optional:  Embossing (Heat or Dry)

Just Us Girls #787 - Die Week - Florals

Sleding Sweetness

Hi everyone.  I pulled out a fairly new Penny Black set to play with (Sleding Sweetness) - my first time using this set.  Their critters are so adorable, especially the winter bears.  I had fun colouring these adorable images. :)

I started by sponging the card front with Distress inks (Mustard Seed, Salvaged Patina).  I stamped the branches in the background (Refined - Penny Black) in Hickory Smoke ink and added a torn snowhill at the bottom.  The bear and mouse are stamped in black and clear heat embossed on mixed media paper, before cutting them out with the matching dies (Sleding Sweetness Cut Out).  More Distress inks were used to watercolour.  I splattered the background and the images with diluted white acrylic paint before putting them all together.  A simple "JOY" sentiment (Full of Christmas - Penny Black) finishes the card.

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Sending this to Darnell's IDEAS Challenge - Week 1 - Inks.  And I'm also sending it to Darnell's other challenge - NBUS Challenge #77.  Both these challenges help to keep me making cards and using a variety of my supplies, along with NBUS items that might normally languish in the cupboards for years!  Thank you, dear friend!!  :)

Also sending this to PBSC August Challenge - Optional:  Embossing.  I used heat embossing for my images and sentiment. :)

Thanks for stopping by!

Stamps:  Sleding Sweetness (Penny Black); Refinded (Penny Black; Full of Christmas (Penny Black)

Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.)
Ink:   Black (Memento); Distress Inks:  Salvaged Patina, Mustard Seed, Brushed Corduroy, Gathered Twigs, Lumberjack Plaid, Candied Apple, Aged Mahogany, Hickory Smoke, Salty Ocean (Tim Holtz)
Accessories:   Clear embossing powder, heat tool, sponges, watercolour paint brushes, Sleding Sweetness Cut Outs (Penny Black), diluted white acrylic paint

Challenges:

Darnell's IDEAS Challenge - Weekly - 1) Inks

NBUS Challenge #77

PBSC August Challenge - Optional:  Embossing

Northern Lights

Hi everyone.  I tried out a new-to-me technique ... Northern Lights.  I have never seen Northern Lights in person, but have seem them on TV and in photos.  They are spectacular!

I've made three cards following the same video, Ink Blended Northern Lights by Lydia Fiedler (7:17).  For my card above, I randomly sponged areas of Mowed Lawn and areas of Wilted Violet Distress inks, trying not to have them overlap, which would give me brown ink. :)  I used Villaneous Potion distress ink for the dark part of the sky, sponging over top of my colours, but leaving areas where the colours in the background showed through.  

I masked off the sky and then used SU! inks for the silhouette of the mountains.  First used Basic Gray ink, and then finished along the top of the mountains with Basic Black.  I found SU! inks covered the Distress Ink colours better to give the mountains a consistent darkness.  I removed the mask and stamped Pine Row (Stampscapes) along the top of the mountain (first and second generation stamping).  To finish, I stamped a retired sentiment stamp in Versamark and heat embossed with white embossing powder.

Sending this card to Darnell's IDEAS Challenge - Week 4 - Anything Goes

* * * * *

Second card follows the same video ...

I followed Understand Blue's video using the same colours she did (Distress Inks: Mustard Seed, Twisted Citron, Mowed Lawn, Chipped Sapphire).  I added a die-cut scene (Winter Village - Penny Black) and a torn hill, stamped with sentiment (Bright & Light - Penny Black) to finish.  I'm happy how it turned out. :)

Sending this card to the Rudolph Days July Challenge and Merry Little Christmas Challenge #63.

.. and one more ...

This time I sponged Mustard Seed and Picked Raspberry distress inks before sponging Chipped Sapphire ink over top, leaving areas where the colour underneath showed.  I used the Pine Row Stamp (Stampscapes) to create a forest ... I'm obsessed with this stamp lately! :)  Again, I used first, second, and third generation stamping to create depth to my forest. :)  To finish, I used a stamp gifted from a friend to white heat embossed the sentiment and then splattered with diluted white acrylic paint to depict stars.

* * * * *

My friend Susan (Cardmaker's Garret) is also posting Northern Lights cards today ... click HERE.  Aren't they AMAZING??!!  

Link to other recommended videos:

2) Beautiful Northern Lights by Ciara T. Designs (16:19)

3) Northern Lights Demo by Marilyn G. (31:19)

4) Quick Northern Lights by Kevin Nakagawa (19:32)

Thanks for stopping by!

Card #1:

Stamps:  Pine Row (Stampscapes); Birthday Blowout (Poppy Stamps - retired)

Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Black card stock base (SU!)
Ink:   Distress Inks:  Mowed Lawn, Wilted Violet, Villaneous Potion (Tim Holtz); Basic Black & Basic Gray (SU!); Versamark
Accessories:  Sponges, White embossing powder (Ranger), heat tool, diluted white acrylic paint for splattering

Card #2:

Stamps:  Bright and Light (Penny Black)

Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.)
Ink:   Distress Inks:  Mustard Seed, Twisted Citron, Mowed Lawn, Chipped Sapphire (Tim Holtz); Basic Black & Basic Gray (SU!); Versamark
Accessories:  Sponges, Winter Village die (Penny Black), diluted white acrylic paint for splattering

Card #3:

Stamps:  Pine Row (Stampscapes); Signature Greetings (Memory Box)

Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.)
Ink:   Distress Inks:  Mustard Seed, Pink Raspberry, Chipped Sapphire (Tim Holtz); Basic Black & Basic Gray (SU!); Versamark
Accessories:  Sponges, White embossing powder (Ranger), heat tool, diluted white acrylic paint for splattering

Challenges:

Darnell's IDEAS Challenge - Week 4 - Anything Goes

Rudolph Days July Challenge

Merry Little Christmas Challenge #63

Inlaid Die-cutting

Hi everyone.  I've been playing with inlaid die-cutting.

I started with die-cutting the Floral Heart (Simon Says Stamp) four times: once from my card front, discarding the white die-cut pieces as they aren't needed; then three more times from metallic paper (pink, orange, silver).

Packing tape was added to the back of my card front, and the metallic pieces were placed into the open spaces.  I used the pink paper for half the flowers, and orange for the rest.  The silver was used for the leaves and dots that fill in the design.  I finished by stamping the sentiment (Simply Sentiments - Lawn Fawn) in black.

* * * * *

I had several pink and orange die-cut pieces left because I only used half for the card above.  So I die-cut another card front, but this time I left the white pieces in place, securing on the back with more packing tape.  And another Floral Heart was die-cut from silver for the leaves and dots.

Since the white die-cut pieces were already there, this time the matching pieces cut from the metallic papers were glued over top.  This adds a little dimension and is a variation of inlaid design.

Thanks for stopping by!

Stamps:  Simply Sentiments (Lawn Fawn)

Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.); Metallic Orange card stock and Metallic Pink card stock (Ranger); Metallic Silver card stock (gift from a friend); Black card stock (SU!)
Ink:  Black (Memento); Versamark
Accessories:  Heart of Flowers die (Simon Says Stamp),  Packing tape, glue, Pokey Tool, Pick-up Stick, dimensional double-sided tape, Silver embossing powder (Ranger), heat tool