Lovely As A Tree

Hi everyone.  This is one of the first stamp sets I bought when I started this amazing hobby (Lovely as a Tree - Stampin' Up!). :)  I still love this set.

A little inking directly to my tree stamp in different shades of green ink; then lightly misting with water and stamping onto my card panel.  Repeated these steps until I was happy with the results.  I finished with one last stamping, this time Versamark ink and then heat embossed to protect the tree image.

I used a few shades of blue to sponge the sky.  Added a torn snowhill at the bottom of my focal panel, stamped with a Christmas sentiment (retired).  For the finishing touch, sprinkled Chunky White Frantage and heat embossed to melt.  The whole panel is popped up onto the white card base.

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Sending this card to the following challenges:

Rudolph Days October Challenge

Darnell's IDEAS Calendar - Week 5 - Anything Goes - lots of inking, sponging, heat embossing  :)

SCS CCC26OCT - Christmas Card Challenge

Stamps:  Lovely as a Tree (Stampin' Up!); Snowglobe sentiments (MFT retired)

Paper:   White cardstock (Neenah 110 lb.); Mixed Media paper (Strathmore 140.lb)
Ink:   Distress Inks:  Shabby Shutters, Peeled Paint, Tumbled Glass, Broken China (Tim Holtz)
Accessories:   water mister, sponges, Frantage Chunky White embossing powder (Stampendous), Clear embossing powder (Ranger), heat tool and griddle

Challenges:

Rudolph Days October Challenge

Darnell's IDEAS Calendar - Week 5 - Anything Goes - lots of inking, sponging, heat embossing  :)

SCS CCC26OCT - Christmas Card Challenge

Falliday Fest Fun

Hi everyone.  Today I'm sharing several cards I made for Falliday Fest at Splitcoaststampers.  This is an annual event over 10 days (it ran Oct. 7 - 17).  It's a fun Fall / Winter / Christmas themed card making event with over 40 challenges.  The participants have until Oct. 31st to post their cards on the SCS website.

Here's what I made so far ... 

I hand watercoloured this tree using distress reinkers on cold press w/c paper (arches 140 lb.).  I diluted white acrylic paint and splattered lots of falling snow.  I used some old patterened paper that I've been hoarding to create the wood frame. :)  Thanks to SCS for the fun challenges!!

The card above is for three challenges:

1) FF26annsforte3 - Snow Challenge (create a snowscene with lots of falling snow);

2) FF26janemomA - Holiday Tree (Do it Yourself) Challenge - make a Christmas tree card without using tree stamps, dies, stencils or patterned paper;

3) FF26sleepyinseattle - Woodwork Challenge - include wood in your card

I watercoloured my own Christmas tree using Gansai Tambi paints and Princeton brushes on cold press w/c paper.  I framed the image with a piece of wood dsp.  Sentiment is from Love Bug Christmas (Unity Stamp co.).  :)

* * * * *

I was inspired by the poinsettias and vintage style of the postcard ... 

I used the stamp/stencil/die set from Simon Says (Holiday Sprigs) to create my pieces for the cards.  I stamped all the images in black pigment ink (Altenew Obsidian) and heat embossed in clear.  Using distress inks candied apple, aged mahogany, shabby shutters, and peeled paint, I sponged through the stencils and then die-cut the pieces using the matching die set.  I used some older patterned paper for the background strips and squares and added the elements on top (including the sentiments from the same set).  I made four cards (two of each design).

The card above is for the FF26CAKath Challenge - Christmas postcard inspiration.

Thanks for the fun challenge Kathy!

* * * * *

Next card ... A Seasonal Animal ... 

I LOVE this artsy image from Studio Light (A Reindeer with Text).  A prize from a challenge I entered. :)  Out of my leftovers from previous cardmaking sessions, I found this smooshed background.  I don't remember the colour, but believe it is Peeled Paint Distress Ink.  It seemed perfect for this artsy image.  I stamped in black and added a torn snowhill at the bottom.  Sentiment is on the inside.

Thanks for the great challenge Ann!

The card above is for the FF26Dockside Challenge  - A Seasonal Animal.  I used a reindeer as I'm focussed on creating Christmas cards right now. :)

* * * * *

For my card below, I used the print making technique to create the background.  

I die cut the holly sprig twice from mixed media paper and watercoloured both with distress reinkers to create saturated colours.  I used one of the sprigs to make the background paper, misting with water and pressing onto a piece of mixed media paper.  Pulled it up and repeated three times to get partial prints of the holly sprig.  Once dry, I mounted onto my card base and added the other holly sprig on top.

This card above is for my dear friend, Susan's Challenge (FF26susanbri Challenge - Holly and/or Mistletoe).

Thanks for stopping by!

Challenges:  Splitcoaststampers Falliday Fest

FF26annsforte3 Challenge - Snow

FF26janemomA  Challenge - Holiday Tree (Do it Yourself) Challenge 

FF26sleepyinseattle Challenge - Woodwork Challenge

FF26CAKath Challenge - Christmas Postcard Inspiration

FF26Dockside Challenge - A Seasonal Animal

FF26susanbri Challenge - Holly and/or Mistletoe

More Blackout Embossing ...

Hi everyone.  I created a CAS card using the challenge from CAS Mix Up.  Blackout embossing is debossing, watercolouring, and the swiping ink pad direct to paper.  Each of the three elements is easy to do, adding them together gives a unique design.

For today I took it one step further and added heat embossing over my final panel.  I used a dabber to add clear distress ink and then sprinkled with antique linen distress ink.  I heat embossed two layers to ensure each area was thoroughly covered.  I love the result of the thick and shiny embossing overtop of my panel.

I added a simple sentiment and popped the panel up on my card base.  I have more pieces from the large panel that I can make into more cards later.

Close-up ...

Sending this card to the following challenges:

CAS Mix Up October Challenge - Blackout Embossing

Inkspirational Challenge #378 - Clean and Simple

Darnell's IDEAS Calendar - Week 3 - Embossing

SCS CAS920 - Autumn Birthday

Thanks for stopping by!

Stamps:  Tiny Sentiments (Clearly Besotted)

Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.)
Ink:   Distress Inks:  Mowed Lawn, Rustic Wilderness, Crackling Campfire, Spiced Marmalade, Mustard Seed, Gathered Twigs, Ground Espresso (Tim Holtz)
Accessories:   Fall Leaves embossing folder (Honey Bee), watercolour paint brushes, gold acrylic paint (Lumiere), Distress Ink Dabber (Tim Holtz), Antique Linen Distress Glaze (Tim Holtz), heat tool

Challenges:

CAS Mix Up October Challenge - Blackout Embossing

Inkspirational Challenge #378 - Clean and Simple

Darnell's IDEAS Calendar - Week 3 - Embossing

SCS CAS920 - Autumn Birthday

Gilding Flake Poinsettia

Hi everyone.  I made this card for the CAS Christmas October challenge - Poinsettia.

I have lots of poinsettia stamps, dies, stencils, and embossing folders.  The hard part was to decide which one I would use for today.  I went with an older die that I've had for many years (Blooming Poinsettia - long retired).  I only used the smallest flower from the set to die-cut two out of two different snippets of card stock that are covered with different gilding flakes (Cosmic Shimmer - Warm Sunshine and Mulled Wine).

I used my stylus and foam mat to shape the petals before gluing together slightly off-setting, and gluing just at the center.  For the background, I used a small piece of black cardstock, which I splattered with gold watercolour paint.  The panel is popped up on foam for some added dimension, with the flower added to the middle.  A simple sentiment (Festive Snippets - Penny Black) is stamped in black to finish the card.

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Also sending this card to the following challenges:

Darnell's IDEAS Calendar - Week 2 - Dies - dies used to cut out poinsettia

Snippets Challenge #543 - everything on the card is made with snippets (except base)

CCC26OCT - Splitcoaststampers Christmas Challenge

I hope you'll check out the CAS Christmas Challenge blog to see the beautiful CAS cards from our Designers, wonderful Guest Designer, Fabiola, and the entries so far this month.  Come join us!

Challenges:

CAS Christmas October Challenge - Poinsettia

Darnell's IDEAS Calendar - Week 2 - Dies

Snippets Challenge #543

CCC26OCT - Splitcoaststampers Christmas Challenge

Fall Flowers

Hi everyone.  Today's card is Dahlias.  I LOVE these flowers.  The designs are beautiful and the colours are gorgeous.

The background is a stencil monoprint of tiny circles done with Peeled Paint ink.  Dahlia image is stamped over top in black pigment ink and heat embossed with clear embossing powder.  Used my watercolour paint brushes and distress inks to colour the image.  

Cut the panel down and popped it on my Old Olive card base, adding a white embossed sentiment on the right hand side. :)

This card was relaxing and fun to make. :)

Close-up ...

Sending this card to the following Challenges:

We Love Stamping October Challenge - Shades of Autumn

SCS F4A868 - Orange and Purple

Thanks for stopping by!

Stamps:  Beautiful Dahlia Bouquet (WPlus9); Technique Tuesday Cosmos (sentiment)

Paper:   Old Olive (SU!); Mixed Media Paper (Strathmore 140. lb.)
Ink:  Black pigment (Altenew Obsidian); Distress Inks:  Peeled Paint, Carved Pumpkin, Crackling Campfire, Seedless Preserves (Tim Holtz); Versamark
Accessories:  Clear embossing powder (Ranger), heat tool, Tiny Circles Stencil (The Crafter's Workshop), mister, watercolour paintbrushes, White embossing Powder (Ranger)

Techniques:  Stencil Monoprint, Heat Embossing, Watercolouring

Challenges:

We Love Stamping October Challenge - Shades of Autumn

SCS F4A868 - Orange and Purple

Watercoloured Mountain Range

Hi everyone.  I'm back with another watercoloured card following a video.  I recently started following a talented US Artist, Alyssa Whetstone.  She has a LOT of videos with easy to follow instructions.  She also includes a lot of tips on watercolouring.  The above card is my attempt at following one of her videos on Complementary Colours (opposites on the colour wheel).  This range is done with only two colours of watercolour paints (yellow and purple).  All the mountain ranges in-between the top and the bottom, are done combining the two colours, each with different values of both colours to allow the ranges to darken as they come forward in the painting. :)  

This is my first attempt.  Hopefully I will improve as I practise more. :)  The yellow at the top is much lighter in real life, but my camera seems to have trouble capturing the true yellow.

This is also my first attempt at adding linework.  Another thing I tried from the video.  It is so much fun! :)  I hope you like the card. 

Close-up ...

Sending this card to the following challenges:

Darnell's IDEAS Calendar - Week 1 - Inks / Paints

Thanks for stopping by!

Stamps:  N/A

Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Cold Press W/C Paper (Arches 140 lb.)

Ink:   Liquid Concentrate Watercolor Paints (Blick Art Materials); Black Pigment (Obsidian - Altenew)
Accessories:   Watercolour Paint Brushes, Uni Pin Black Fineliner Size 1.0

Challenges:

Darnell's IDEAS Challenge - Week 1 - Inks / Paints

October CAS Mix Up Challenge

Hi everyone.  The challenge at CAS Mix Up this month is Blackout Embossing (also known by other names).  It's a combination of dry embossing, colouring, and direct to stamp inking.

To create my card above, I dry embossed with Layered Leaves Embossing folder (SU!) with a piece of Cold Press Watercolour paper (Arches).  I smooshed the debossed side with Liquid Concentrate Watercolours (Blick Art Materials) randomly with three colours (yellow, orange, pink).

Once my panel was dry, it was placed inside the same folder, lining up the images.  You can feel by pressing lightly that they fit back into position.  Ran it through my embossing machine to redefine the embossing that might be lost when watercolouring.  

I used a Walnut Stain Distress Oxide pad to swipe over the raised areas.  The colour looks more gray/brown to me and I love how it works with the colours of the leaves.  I believe using black ink would have made the colours pop even more.  Next time ... :)

Out of a single card front, I was able to get three CAS cards ... the one above, and two more below. :)

 

Sending this card to the following challenges:

Darnell's IDEAS Challenge - Week 4 - Anything Goes

NBUS Challenge #91 - first time using my Walnut Stain Distress Oxide Ink 

I hope you'll come join us for this fun technique.  Hope to see you in the CAS Mix Up gallery!

Thanks for stopping by!

Stamps:  Heartfelt (Penny Black); Cosmos (Technique Tuesday); Heartfelt (Penny Black)

Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Cold Press W/C  (Arches 140 lb.)
Ink:   Liquid Concentrate Watercolours (Blick Art Materials); Walnut Stain Distress Oxide Ink (Tim Holtz)
Accessories:  Layered Leaves Embossing folder (SU!), water mister

Techniques:  Dry Embossing, Smooshing, Direct to Paper Inking

Challenges:

CAS Mix Up October Challenge - Blackout Embossing

Darnell's IDEAS Challenge - Week 4 - Anything Goes

NBUS Challenge #91

October CAS Christmas Challenge

Hi everyone.  This month the CAS Christmas Challenge is hosted by Colleen.  And she has chosen Poinsettia. :)

This card is the made with the Penny Black 3D Poinsettia embossing folder.  I ran it through my embossing machine with a piece of cold press watercolour paper.  Watercoloured the Poinsettia with Distress Reinkers and die cut using the matching die.  It's such a large image that I split it into two and made two cards.  It's a great way to build your stash of Christmas cards. :) 

I used a snowflake embossing folder for the background panel, popping it up on my card front and adding a sentiment banner (Penny Black - Christmas Sentiments).

Close-up ... 

Sending the above card to the following challenges:

Darnell's IDEAS Challenge - Week 4 - Anything Goes - I watercoloured an embossed image

CCC26OCT - SCS Christmas Challenge

Thanks for stopping by!

Stamps:  Christmas Sentiments (Penny Black)

Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Cold Press W/C paper (Arches 140 lb.)
Ink:   Distress Reinkers:  Candied Apple, Aged Mahogany, Mowed Lawn, Rustic Wilderness, Mustard Seed, Wild Honey (Tim Holtz); Distress Oxide Inks:  Candied Apple (for stamping sentiment)
Accessories:   3D Poinsettia embossing folder (Penny Black), 3D Poinsettia cut out (Penny Black), watercolour paint brushes, Snowflake embossing folder (Cuttlebug)

Techniques:  Dry Embossing, watercolouring, die-cutting

Challenges:

CAS Christmas October Challenge - Poinsettia

Darnell's IDEAS Challenge - Week 4 - Anything Goes

CCC26OCT - SCS Christmas Challenge

Guest Designing at AAA Birthday Cards

Hi everyone.  I'm thrilled to be Guest Designing at AAA Birthday Card Challenge:  Game #90 - Big and Bold.  Thanks so much Jane and team!

  

 

I do love this time of year.  Fall cards are fun to make. :)

For today's card I started with a background I had in my stash (smooshed liquid concentrate watercolours in Pink and Orange - Blick Art Materials).  I used a large stamp overtop, Crackle Background (Simon Says Stamp), stamping in Vintage Photo Distress ink.  To add the last layer, I used the Peeking Sunflower stencil from STAMPlorations.  I pressed my versamark ink pad over the stencil, sprinkled with Fired Brick Distress Glaze, and then heat set.  You can still see the stamped design in the background, even with the glaze heat embossed over top.  It's awesome!  To finish, I added "on your birthday" sentiment on the inside. :)

Close-up ...

I hope you'll join us for at AAA Birthday Cards Challenge:  Game #90 - Big & Bold.  The challenge is open all month, so there's lots of time to play along.  Hope to see you in the gallery!

Thanks for stopping by!

Stamps:  Crackle Background (Simon Says Stamp)

Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.)
Ink:   Pink and Orange Liquid Watercolor Concentrate (Blick Art Materials); Vintage Photo Distress Ink (Tim Holtz); Versamark
Accessories:   Peeking Sunflower sencil (STAMPlorations), Fired Brick Distress Glaze (Tim Holtz), heat tool

Challenges:

AAA Birthday Challenge:  Game #90 - Big & Bold