Saturday, October 24, 2026

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
FF26susanbri Challenge - Holly and/or Mistletoe

Monday, October 19, 2026

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:


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:

Thursday, October 15, 2026

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.

Close-up ...
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!


Monday, October 12, 2026

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:

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: