Peeking Snowmen

Hi everyone.  I recently bought this really fun die.  This just makes me happy! :)  There are lots of bits and pieces (a lot of the die sets these days are like this).  So it takes a while to figure it all out the first time you use it.  I was really happy with how mine turned out. That was until the last step of splattering white paint.  You know how it goes sometimes. :)

The dies were cut out twice, once from white card stock (for the faces and hands), and once from mixed media paper (all the other pieces).  Watercoloured the snowmen accessories with Distress inks, and outlined all the pieces in black (used the side of a black brush tip SU! marker for the edges of the dies, a fine (.05 tip) black pen for the details ... faces, trim on toque & hat, birds.  Adding the outline of black makes it seem as if I used a stamp ... I didn't. :)  Added red chalk for the cheeks.

Also cut out a wooden frame from The Greetery (Curio Cover die), swiped one of the longer pieces with Memento Toffee Crunch (direct from stamp).  The sentiment was stamped in Blueprint Sketch DOX ink to finish. 

Close-up ...

Sending the above card to the following challenges:

NBUS Challenge #80 - first time using both the snowman die and the curio cover die

Merry Little Christmas Challenge #65

  

Thanks for stopping by!

Stamps:  Christmas Sentiments (Penny Black)

Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.)
Ink:   Toffee Crunch (Memento); Distress Inks:  Brushed Corduroy, Gathered Twigs, Salty Ocean, Blueprint Sketch, Spiced Marmalade, Candied Apple, Black Soot (Tim Holtz)
Accessories:   Peeking Snowmen die (Temu), Curio Cover die (The Greetery), red chalk, black marker (SU!), fine black pen, white acrylic pen (Posca), diluted white acrylic paint, splatter brush

Challenges:

NBUS Challenge #80

Merry Little Christmas Challenge #65

Group of Cardmakers - Textured Tissue Paper with Dry Embossing

Hi everyone.  This month at Group of Cardmakers, we are making mixed media cards that include four techniques.  By combining these simple elements, you end up with a beautiful, mixed media card. :)

Please check out the details for this month's technique and link to video on the blog, along with more card samples from Christine, Pat, & Susan.

Group of Cardmakers

It all starts with tissue paper.  It needs to be a thick tissue paper (not the one for gift bags - although that might work ... I haven't tried it).  There is a Wet Tissue Paper that can be used to paint, glue, etc., which is a bit thicker, but I have not tried that either.  I will definitely get both of those and give them a try and then update my blog.  I used tissue paper that came from a package of acetate sheets I bought from Amazon.  This is a 12" x 12" package of acetate sheets with a piece of tissue paper between each layer.  This tissue paper is a bit thick and worked great for this technique.  Tissue paper is a wonderful way to add texture to you cards.  

I watercoloured the background first following this video - only the first 3 1/2 minutes, which tells you the how-tos, the rest is other options).

Once the tissue paper is watercoloured with base of colour and dry, I followed the steps on the Group of Cardmakers blog HERE to add sponging, dry embossing, and brayering.  We have added lots of tips and tricks if you want to give this combination of techniques a try ...

For details on what I used to make the cards in this post, check out the Card Recipes at the bottom of this post.

Close-up ...

Sending this card to the following challenges:

NBUS Challenge #79 - first time using this embossing folder

Seize the Birthday #316 - Anything Birthday Goes

 

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A Christmas card with lots of texture.  I scrunched tissue before smoothing out and gluing to card front ...

Sending this card to the Rudolph Days October Challenge.

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Here's another Christmas card ... this time I used a regular embossing folder.  The design is not as deep as 3D folders, and you'll see the brayer roller touched the background several times.  I'm still happy with how this card turned out. :)

* * * * *

... and finally, one more Christmas card.  This time I used only half of my card front to create this card with foil cardstock die-cut. :)  You'll see the remaining half made into cards in the next few weeks. :)

Thanks for stopping by!

Card #1:

Stamps:  Birthday Blowout (Poppy Stamps - retired)

Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.)
Ink:   Distress Inks:  Mustard Seed, Ripe Persimmon, Wilted Violet, Vintage Photo (Tim Holtz); Versamark
Accessories:   Tissue paper (watercolour with light yellow, purple and pink), Fall Leaves embossing folder (Honey Bee), Brayer, Gold metallic acrylic paint, Princess Gold embossing powder (Ranger), heat tool, Leafy Branch die (AliExpress), sponges

Card #2:

Stamps:  n/a

Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Gold Metallic paper (Tonic)
Ink:   Distress Inks:  Candied Apple, Lumberjack Plaid, Mowed Lawn (Tim Holtz)
Accessories:   Tissue paper (watercolour with light red, dark red, green), sponges, Poinsettia embossing folder (Spellbinders), Brayer, Gold metallic acrylic paint (Lumiere), Line it up: Christmas dies (Papertrey Ink), Mistletoe die, gold half pearls

Card #3:

Stamps:  n/a

Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Silver Metallic paper (SU!)
Ink:   Distress Inks:  Broken China, Salty Ocean, Wilted Violet (Tim Holtz)
Accessories:   Tissue paper (watercolour with light light blue, dark blue, purple), sponges, Filigree Snowflakes embossing folder (Simon Says Stamp), Brayer, Silver metallic acrylic paint (Liquitex), Line it up: Christmas dies (Papertrey Ink)

Cards 4:

Stamps:  Snowglobe Sayings (MTF out of business)

Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Blue Metallic paper (Tonic)
Ink:   Distress Inks:  Broken China, Salty Ocean, Wilted Violet (Tim Holtz)
Accessories:   Tissue paper, sponges, Vine Canopy embossing folder (Simon Says Stamp), Brayer, Citrine metallic acrylic paint (Lumiere), Holly and Berries die (Birch Press Designs)

Challenges:

NBUS Challenge #79

Seize the Birthday #316 - Anything Birthday Goes

Rudolph Days October Challenge

Snowman Choir

Hi everyone.  I had to buy these adorable singing snowmen after seeing them on Michele's blog, I Card Everyone.  Thanks for enabling me to shop, Michele! :)

This card makes me smile.  It did take me several hours to make this card because of all the teeny, tiny pieces (35 in all).  I'm hopeful my second card using the awesome dies will be made much faster. :)

Close-up:

Sending this card to Christmas Kickstart Challenge #103 - Snow Alert! ... just had to play along! :)

Thanks for stopping by!

Stamps:  n/a

Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Bashfull Blue (SU!) --- I've had this paper for about 20 years! :)
Ink:  Distress Inks:  Warm Lipstick, Salty Ocean, Shabby Shutters, Spiced Marmalade, Ripe Persimmon, Lost Shadow (Tim Holtz) 
Accessories:   The Snow Notes dies (Spellbinders), Small Snowflakes dies (Impression Obsession - out of business)

Challenges:

Christmas Kickstart Challenge #103 - Snow Alert!

Purple and Orange Birthday

Hi everyone.  I'm so happy to create another Fall-themed card using three challenges as inspiration.  I started with Just Us Girls - Fall Mood board, using the leaves.  Then I used the colours from Color Hues (Purple and Orange) to first smoosh, and then sponge colours to create vibrant colours.  And I finished by making it a birthday card for Seize the Birthday!  Thanks ladies!!

I die-cut my leaves twice from mixed media paper, then smooshed them with orange (Ripe Persimmon) and purple (Seedless Preserves) inks.  Once dry I sponged more of the same colours over top.  The sponged purple and orange together changed the purple to more of a purple/brown.  For the background, I used the paper towel from mopping up my leftover inks. :)  Love the texture it adds to the card.

To finish, I stamped a simple sentiment in more Seedless Preserves ink.

Close-up ...

Today's card is inspired by three challenges:

Just Us Girls #797 - Mood Board for my leaves;

Color Hues #120 - Purple and Orange for the colours; and

Seize the Birthday #315 - Anything Birthday Goes option. :)

Thanks for stopping by!

Stamps:  Many Everyday Messages (Hero Arts - retired)

Paper:  White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.)
Ink:  Distress Inks:  Ripe Persimmon, Seedless Preserves (Tim Holtz)
Accessories:  Abundant Leaves dies (Simon Says Stamp), sponges  

Challenges:

Color Hues #120 - Purple and Orange

Just Us Girls #797 - Mood Board Week

Seize the Birthday #315 - Anything Birthday Goes option

Reminder - Christmas Kickstart Challenge

Hi everyone.  I'm back as Guest Designer with a reminder of Christmas Kickstart Challenge # 103 - Snow Alert!  There's still lots of time to play along, we'd love for you to join us.

Today I'm using a new-to-me die.  It was so fun to make this Snowman Chain (similar to paper doll chains we used to make when I was a little girl). :)  So easy having a die that does all the cutting out! :)

I die-cut the base of the four snowman chain and all the accessories from white card stock.  Then I used Distress inks to sponge some of the accessories.

To finish, I added some red chalk for cheeks, highlights with a white pen, and stamped the sentiment in black ink.

Close-up ...

The challenges are open for another few weeks, so I hope you'll join us at Christmas Kickstart with your "Snow-inspired" card.  And if you are using something new for the first time, please join in at NBUS Challenge #79 as well.

Thanks for stopping by!

Stamps:  Merry Up (Penny Black)

Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Black card stock (SU!)
Ink:   Distress Inks:  Candied Apple, Aged Mahogany, Spiced Marmalade, Salty Ocean, Chipped Sapphire, Mowed Lawn, Rustic Wilderness (Tim Holtz); Black (Memento)
Accessories:   The Cool Crew die (Taylored Expressions); detail sponges, red chalk, white acrylic pen (Posca)

Challenges:

Christmas Kickstart Challenge #103 - Snow Alert!

NBUS Challenge #79

All the Trimmings

Hi everyone.  I'm back with another Christmas card.  I'll be posting lots of Christmas cards over the next couple of months and I am woefully behind with my stash of Christmas cards.

This time I used another beautiful image from Penny Black (All the Trimmings).  Stamped in black, heat embossed in clear and watercoloured with distress inks.  I taped it to my card front and popped up a card front over top with a rectangle aperture frame and simple stamped sentiment (Christmas Sentiments - Penny Black).

Close-up ...

Sending this card to the following challenges:

PBSC October Challenge - Anything PB goes

 

Thanks for stopping by!

Stamps:  All the Trimmings (Penny Black); Christmas Sentiments (Penny Black)

Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.)
Ink:  Black (Memento); Distress Inks:  Candied Red, Aged Mahogany, Mowed Lawn, Rustic Wilderness, Forest Moss, Brushed Corduroy, Gathered Twigs, Hickory Smoke (Tim Holtz) 
Accessories:   Clear embossing powder, heat tool, watercolour paint brushes, Rectangle Nestabilities (Spellbinders), white acrylic paint for splattering

Challenges:

PBSC October Challenge - Anything PB Goes

Guest Designing at Christmas Kickstart Challenge

Hi everyone.  I'm excited to be Guest Designing at Christmas Kickstart Challenge #103 - Snow Alert!  Thanks for inviting me JO!! :)

There are so many possibilities with Snow ... and I had tons of ideas running through my head.  I looked through my NBUS (never-before-used-schtuff) pile and found an adorable stamp and die set ... 

I stamped the image in black ink and heat embossed with clear on both mixed media paper and white card stock.  Then I watercoloured the mixed media image with Distress Inks.  The mixed media card is ivory, not white and I wanted to have the snowman, bear's hat cuff & pompom to be white, so I fussy-cut all the watercoloured pieces and paper pieced them onto the image stamped on white card.

I added some Clear Wink of Stella to the bear's hat cuff and pompom for some shimmer and red chalk for the cheeks.  I sponged my card front with two shades of blue ink and then splattered with diluted white acrylic paint for snow.

I popped up the image onto my background and added some torn snow hills and a simple sentiment to finish the card. 

Close-up ...

Also sending this card to NBUS Challenge #79.  This is the first outing for this stamp set :) 

Hope to see you in the gallery at Christmas Kickstart Challenge #103 - Snow Alert! 

Thanks for stopping by!

Stamps:  Fun Flurries (Penny Black)

Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.)
Ink:   Black (Memento); Distress Inks:  Brushed Corduroy, Gathered Twigs, Candied Apple, Aged Mahogany, Black Soot, Salty Ocean, Spiced Marmalade, Rusty Hinge (Tim Holtz)
Accessories:   Fun Flurries die (Penny Black), watercolour paint brushes, red chalk, white acrylic pen (Posca), diluted white acrylic paint, Clear Wink of Stella

Challenges:

Christmas Kickstart Challenge #103 - Snow Alert! 

NBUS Challenge #79

Maple Leaf Forever

Hi everyone.  Today's card is another celebrating this wonderful season. :)

I started by using embossed paste to create a rectangle in the center of my card front.  I used Wander & Find stencil (Carta-Bella - closed).  This is a lovely design of stylized leaves.  At least that's what I think they look like. :) 

I used Fall Foliage dies (Penny Black) to cut out a maple leaf with separate veins from a smooshed background in my stash (Spiced Marmalade, Mustard Seed, Seedless Preserves DOX inks).  I wanted to "bump" up the colour, so I sponged over top of the smooshing with more Spiced Marmalade, Seedless Preserves, Rusty Hinge, and Walnut Stain Distress Inks.  I sponged Walnut Stain DI onto the veins.  I attached the finished leaf overtop of the stenciled background and added a simple sentiment to finish (Super Day - Penny Black).

Close-up ...

Sending this card to the following challenges:

AAA Cards (CAS) Challenge #300 - Sketch Challenge.  I flipped the sketch to portrait.

NBUS Challenge #79 - first time using the maple leaf die

Edit:  Adding to the Just Us Girls #795 - Die Week - Leaves - perfect timing!

Thanks for stopping by!

Stamps:  Super Day (Penny Black)

Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.)
Ink:   DOX inks:  Spiced Marmalade, Mustard Seed, Seedless Preserves and DI inks:  Spiced Marmalade, Seedless Preserves, Rusty Hinge, and Walnut Stain (all Tim Holtz)
Accessories:   Fall Foliage dies (Penny Black); sponges, Wander & Find stencil (Carta Bella - closed); Embossing Paste (Dreamweaver), palette knife

Challenges:

AAA Cards (CAS) Challenge #300 - Sketch

NBUS Challenge #79

Just Us Girls #795 - Die Week - Leaves 

Inlaid Die-cutting - Group of Cardmakers

Hi everyone.  This month, Group of Cardmakers has been playing with Inlaid Die-cutting.  This technique is where you die-cut two of your images from different colours or textured card stock, and then basically paper piece some of the different papers into the design.  It's a great die-cutting technique which stretches the use of your dies.

Please check out the details for this month's technique and link to video on the blog, along with more card samples from Christine, Pat, & Susan.

Group of  Cardmakers

The first three cards follow the basic inlaid die-cutting technique, following this video.

The card above is a CAS(clean and simple) design, using a retired die (Evergreen Window - Memory Box).  It cuts out the background, leaving the trees intact as part of the card front.  I cut it a second time from a background, Cling Wrap Technique using Brushos.  I inlaid the background  I love the icy look of this winter sky. :)  A simple sentiment (Shine Upon You - Penny Black), stamped first in Mowed Lawn, then Salty Ocean ... finishes the card

Below is another example of basic inlaid die-cutting, using another wonderful background (Stencil Monoprint).  I'm happy how it turned out.  I know ... poppies aren't green. :)

To me, this design said sympathy card.  The background is a stencil monoprint I did ages ago with a flourish stencil and some shades of green powdered inks.  I die-cut the poppies from the stencil monoprint, and from white cards stock.  I sponged the second die-cut with Rustic Wilderness distress ink and then inlaid it into the aperture of poppies on the stenciled monoprint.  Added my sentiment at the bottom and popped up the panel onto my card front.

Third card using the basic inlaid die-cutting technique ...

This uses an older poinsettia ornament, which I cut three times from foil card (gold, red, green).  The foil adds a lovely shine to the ornament.  I added a piece of double-sided adhesive sheet to a white card panel before die-cutting the background ornament.  Then I simply removed the cover and had a sticky back to adhere the design pieces were inlaid on top.  I finished the card with gold cording to hang the ornament inside the rectangle aperture, embossed the background with snowflakes, and added a simple sentiment banner.

Sending this card to Rudolph Days September Challenge.

* * * * *

I followed this video to make the above card.  This is a different take on inlaid die-cutting as you end up with dimension.  To me, I think it would be easier to just add the die-cut on top of the background for the added dimension ...

I used the Fresh Foliage die (Memory Box - retired) that I have had for over ten years.  I LOVE this beautiful leaf die and have used it over and over again.  :)  I die-cut the leaf from a piece of Alcohol Ink / Yupo that was in my stash.  It's done in green, turquoise, and blue alcohol inks.  So pretty.  Also die-cut from white card stock and used the white die-cut to inlay the design, tacking the stem only and having the leaves free-flowing for adding dimension.

Thanks for stopping by!

Card #1:

Stamps:  Shine Upon You - Sentiment (Penny Black)

Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Coated Card stock
Ink:   Brushos:  (shades of green and blue); Mowed Lawn Distress Ink (Tim Holtz)
Accessories:   Cling Wrap, Evergreen Window die - retired (Memory Box), Packing tape

Card #2:

Stamps:  A Little Sentimental (Clearly Besotted - retired)

Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.)
Ink:   Brushos (shades of green); Rustic Wilderness Distress Ink (Tim Holtz)
Accessories:   Flourish stencil, Row of Poppies die (Memory Box - retired), sponges

Card #3:

Stamps:  Everyday Script Sentiments (AliExpress)

Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Yupo Card
Ink:   Alcohol Inks:  shades of blue, green, turquoise (Ranger); Pine Needles Distress Ink (Tim Holtz)
Accessories:   Fresh Foliage die - retired (Memory Box), 

Card #4:

Stamps:  Bright and Light (Penny Black)

Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Foil card stock:  Gold, Red, Green (Tonic)
Ink:   Versamark
Accessories:   Ornament die (Elizabeth Craft Dies); Gold Cording, Filigree Snowflake embossing folder (Simon Says Stamp), Princess Gold embossing powder (Ranger), heat tool

Challenges:

Group of Cardmakers - Inlaid Die-cutting

Rudolph Days September Challenge