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:   Snowman Chain and Accessories die (AliExpress); 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

Flower Teddy

Hi everyone.  Today I'm sharing another fall card.  This time I was inspired by the We Love Stamping September Challenge ...

****Make it Cute****

or Anything Goes

I started with an adorable Penny Black bear, holding a bouquet of flowers.  I stamped the image in black ink and clear heat embossing before watercolouring and then fussy-cutting.  I set it aside.

Onto the background ...  I placed a honeycomb stencil over my card front, masking off the bottom.  I sponged first with Mustard Seed Distress Ink, followed by Wild Honey ink, fading to light as I worked my way up from the bottom.  I stamped the image again in black ink onto my sponged card front; then paper pieced in the image I fussy-cut on top.  I added a simple sentiment to finish the card.

Close-up ...

Sending this card to the following challenges:

We Love Stamping September Challenge - Make it Cute

Seize the Birthday #314 - CAS with a Stencil

Just Us Girls #794 - Stencil Week - Anything Goes

Thanks for stopping by!

Stamps:  Flower Teddy (Penny Black); Birthday Blowout (Poppy Stamps - retired)

Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.)
Ink:  Black (Memento); Distress Inks:  Brushed Corduroy, Gathered Twigs, Spiced Marmalade, Crackling Campfire, Mustard Seed, Wild Honey, Mowed Lawn, Ground Espresso (Tim Holtz)
Accessories:   Clear embossing powder (Ranger), heat tool, Honeycomb stencil (Penny Black), sponges, red chalk

Challenges:

We Love Stamping September Challenge - Make it Cute

Seize the Birthday #314 - CAS with a Stencil

Just Us Girls #794 - Stencil Week - Anything Goes

Sunflower Birthday

Hi everyone.  Today's card was inspired by my dear friend Robyn, Waterlily Cards by Robyn ... with this beautiful card (photo below).  

Robyn's card

Isn't it gorgeous???

I recently got this beautiful sunflower die in the mail and just had to play.  I wanted to create a red sunflower, so looked at Google images and found this to work from ...

The die-cuts were cut from Watercolour paper (1 of the stem and leaves; 3 of the sunflower bloom); then watercoloured with Distress inks and layered together.  I simply pulled the petals of the top flower forward slightly to add dimension to the flower. :)  

I love how Robyn embossed the edge with a curved die ... I don't have any curved border dies like that (need to go shopping!) ... so I used what I had and cut the curve with a die and then dry embossed the panel.  I also love the soft sponging in the background and how the flower is tucked into the embossed panel.  Thanks so much for this amazingly, inspirational card, my friend!

Close-up ...

Sending the above card to the following challenges:

Seize the Birthday #313 - Embossing

NBUS Challenge #78 (never-before-used-schtuff) - 3rd entry - first time using this sunflower die

 

Thanks for stopping by!

Stamps:  Super Day (Penny Black)

Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Cold Press Watercolour Paper (Arches 140 lb.)
Ink:   Distress Inks:  Candied Apple, Aged Mahogany, Ground Espresso, Mowed Lawn, Rustic Wilderness, Saltwater Taffy, Abandoned Coral (Tim Holtz)
Accessories:   Sunflower Serenade die (Spellbinders), Snowhills die for curve (MFT - closed), Layered Leaves EF (SU! - retired), sponges

Challenges:

Seize the Birthday #313 - Embossing

NBUS Challenge #78 (never-before-used-schtuff)

Guest Designing at AAA Colourful

Hi everyone.  I'm happy and excited to be posting my card as Guest Designer for AAA Colourful Challenge #20.  Thanks to the wonderful team at AAA Colourful for having me this month!

These colours were so fun to play with.  I love the vibrancy of purple, lime green and orange together, complimented by black and gold. :)

I started by gluing a piece of white tissue paper over white card stock, which adds a lovely texture to the panel.  Once the glue was dry, I die-cut Falling Leaves (Penny Black) twice, giving me lots of leaves.  I randomly sponged purple, green, and orange, using my Distress Inks which were closest to the colours above (Seedless Preserves, Mowed Lawn, Crackling Campfire).

To add the gold element, I used a fine gold marker to hand-draw veins on the leaves.  The leaves were placed overtop of a black card base and then glued in place.  Gold embossing powder was used to heat emboss the sentiment and a thick gold marker to draw an edge around the sentiment banner so it stands out a bit from the busy background.  I popped up the banner to add some dimension.

Close-up ... this shows a bit of the texture from the tissue paper ...

There are some amazing and fun cards from the Designers at AAA Colourful.  I hope you'll check it out and play along!

Thanks for stopping by!

Stamps:  Simply Sentiment (Lawn Fawn)

Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 65 lb.); Black card stock (SU!)
Ink:   Distress Inks:  Seedless Preserves, Mowed Lawn, Crackling Campfire (Tim Holtz); Versamark
Accessories:   Tissue Paper, detail sponges, Falling Leaves Cut Out (Penny Black), gold metallic markers (Pilot); gold embossing powder (Ranger), heat tool

Challenges:

AAA Colourful Challenge #20

Santa in September

Hi everyone.  Today I'm playing along with Christmas Kickstart Challenge #102 - Santa in September.  I don't have many Santa stamps or dies, but I have kept this older stamp from Wild Rose ... loved their sweet images, but sadly, they are no longer in business.

I stamped the Santa / reindeer image onto mixed media paper in black ink and heat embossed with clear before watercolouring with distress inks (I'll list them below --- so many colours!!). :)  I fussy-cut the image and set aside.  Sponged the sky in two shades of blue, tore snowhills for the bottom, and paper pieced my watercoloured image on top.  Finished the card off by adding a simple sentiment and a splattering of white diluted acrylic paint for falling snow.

Close-up ...

Thanks for stopping by!

Stamps:  Santa with Rudolph (Wild Rose Studios); Christmas Sentiments (Penny Black)

Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.)
Ink:  Black (Memento); Distress Inks:  Antique Linen, Brushed Corduroy, Gathered Twigs, Ground Espresso, Candied Apple, Aged Mahogany, Mowed Lawn, Rustic Wilderness, Salty Ocean, Black Soot (Tim Holtz)  
Accessories:   Clear embossing powder, heat tool, watercolour paint brushes, sponges, white acrylic paint for splattering

Challenges:

Christmas Kickstart Challenge #102 - Santa in September