Season's Greetings

Hi everyone.  A quick and easy card made today to play along with two challenges.  I'm just slipping in under the wire for JUGS #628 - Red, Black and White.

I really wanted to play along with this classic colour combination.  And to start me off is the wonderful challenge this month from Christmas Craft Creations April Challenge - Tartan / Plaid.  They are celebrating their 2nd birthday!  Congrats to the team!!

I started with some lovely buffalo plaid paper.  I added a simple white die-cut of snowy trees (AliExpress) on top and a die-cut sentiment, Season's Greetings Line Border from Lawn Fawn as the bottom.  The main panel is popped up on the card base for added dimension.

Simple but oh-so perfect for Christmas!

Close-up ...

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Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Buffalo Plaid patterned paper (Carta Bella); black card stock (SU!)

Accessories:   Tree border die (AliExpress), Season's Greetings Line Border (Lawn Fawn)

Challenges:
JUGS #628 - Red, Black and White

Christmas Craft Creations April Challenge - Tartan / Plaid

CAS Mix Up November Challenge

Hi everyone.  It's the start of the final challenge for CAS Mix Up for 2021!  This month I'm hosting and I've picked my very favourite stencil technique ...

This is a fairly easy technique.  You pick a stencil (one with some open spaces works best), ink up the stencil (not the paper!).  Spritz your inked stencil with a bit of water and then turn it over onto a piece of card that can handle water (watercolour paper, mixed media, bristol, etc.)  Make sure to have a couple of paper towels handy to mop up any excess ink that squirts out from under the stencil.  The point is to colour the background and keep the image on the stencil clean with no colour.  The challenge is getting the right amount of water.  Not too much, and not too little.  Practice helps! :)

I started the background using a Gear Stencil (AliExpress) and inking it with Bister Powders (brown, blue).  I spritzed, turned over onto a piece of mixed media paper, and blotted with a paper towel.  I ended up with a full A2 card front of my design.  I cut off 1 3/4" to add to my card front (also added a piece to the inside).  I stamped the sentiment (Birthday Blowout - Poppy Stamps) in Gathered Twigs distress ink ... it's a good match for the brown bister on the strip.  I used some gear dies (AliExpress), die-cut from white, heat embossed with Verdigis embossing powder (turquoise), and then added a bit more random embossing with Frantage Aged Copper.  I'm happy how they turned out.

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and inside ...

We are happy to have Steph (My Paper Corner) as our Guest Designer this month.  Welcome Steph!

Please check out the challenge blog to see the Stencil Monoprint cards from our Designers and wonderful Guest Designer, Steph.  Then come play along.  Hope to see you in the gallery!

* * * * *

Every year Alex takes a portrait of Jessie and of Violeta in our front yard, under the red maple tree.

The dogs always enjoy playing in the fallen leaves. :)

Jessie

Violeta (Jessie's cousin)

Photographs by Alejandro Garcia

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Stamps:  Birthday Blowout (Poppy Stamps)

Paper:   Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.); White card base (Neenah 110 lb.)
Ink:   Bister Powders:  Brown, Blue; Gathered Twigs Distress Ink (Tim Holtz); Versamark
Accessories:   Gear Stencil (AliExpress), water mister, gear dies (AliExpress), Verdigris embossing Powder (Ranger); Frantage Aged Copper embossing powder (Stampendous), heat tool

Challenges:
CAS Mix Up November Challenge - Stencil Monoprint

Zoom Session - Embossing with Foil Card Stock

Hi everyone.  Yesterday we had our regular monthly Zoom call.  This month Bonnie shared a new-to-us technique following one of Jennifer McGuire's videos.  

Bonnie graciously mailed each of us a package of different coloured foil card stock to use.  Love happy mail! :)  Thanks Bonnie!  Each of us made several cards from the foil card stock ahead of time and then shared our finished cards on our Zoom call.

Technique is simple.  Dry emboss foil card stock and embossing folders (regular or 3D EFs both work well).  As an added element, use a sanding block to highlight the raised design.  It removes the colour to reveal silver underneath.  Then make your card.

I tried several of the colours so there are lots of photos below.  I cut the pieces to make two cards from each of an A2 Foil card front (5 1/2 x 4 1/4).

My favourite is the card at the top of this post.  I LOVE the rose coloured foil with black and white accents.

Sending the first card to NBUS Challenge #29.  Actually every one of these cards uses a new product. :)  Yay!

All products I used are listed at the bottom of this post.

* * * * *

Love the blue foil paired with white die-cuts ...

 

* * * * *

The bright green makes beautiful Christmas cards.  Three more for my stash! :)

  

* * * * *

Last, but not least, gold foil card stock with a beautiful flower embossing folder.  No sanding on the butterfly card (gorgeous butterfly die-cut gifted to me by Bonnie)

  

I hope you like this technique and will give it a try.

Product Links

Card 1:

Blossom Field Embossing Folder (Simon Says Stamp) 

Fresh Foilage die-cut (Memory Box)

Greetings (Cavallini & Co)

Card 2:

Blossom Field Embossing Folder (Simon Says Stamp) 

On the Edge Thank You (Simon Says Stamp)

Card 3:

Gracious Leaves embossing folder (Memory Box)

Frieda Curve die (Poppy Stamps - retired)

Simple Sentiments (Lawn Fawn

Card 4:

Gracious Leaves embossing folder (Memory Box)

Berry Branch die-cuts (Penny Black)

Happy Messages (Stampendous)

Card 5:

Holiday Greenery Embossing Folder (Simon Says Stamp)

holly vine die (retired)

Inspired (Penny Black) - reindeer die

Art Deco Celebrate Christmas - Poppy Stamps - retired

Card 6:

Holiday Greenery Embossing Folder (Simon Says Stamp)

JOY die (AliExpress)

Card 7:

Holiday Greenery Embossing Folder (Simon Says Stamp)

Blooming Poinsettia die (Poppy Stamps)

Snowglobe Sentiments (My Favorite Things - retired)

Card 8:

Tim Holtz Botanical 3D Embossing Folder

Dreamy die (Memory Box) - butterfly die-cut gifted to me by Bonnie

Brushed Wishes (Stampendous - retired)

Card 9:

Tim Holtz Botanical 3D Embossing Folder,

Two flowers die (AliExpress)

A Little Sentimental (Clearly Besotted)

Challenges:

NBUS Challenge #29

Twofer Challenge #33

Hi everyone.  This is the last Twofer Challenge for the year (#33).  I have had fun playing along all year with Darnell's card challenge.  It really makes me think outside the box! :)

Please follow the rules ...

For today's cards it's all about the shine.  I made two cards using the same star stencil (Shooting Star - Funky Fossil).  It's also an extra challenge to photograph metallic embossing, so they look a little blurry, especially the first card (below).  

Close-up ...

I started by using four colours of distress inks direct-to-paper, adding colour randomly.  Spritzed with water and tilted to let the colours blend and move.  Dried and repeated to get deeper colours.  Once dry, I used silver glitter paste through the stars stencil.  I finished by stamping the sentiment (Thoughtful Greetings - Pretty Pink Posh) in silver ink and heat embossing with iridescent powder.

For the next card, I used a background from my stash of blended purple and blue inks.  I used the same stencil as above to create a canopy of stars over my deer and tries die-cut (die from AliExpress).  The stars are inked with silver ink and heat embossed in iridescent powder.  The sparkle of the iridescent glitter really show on this card.  Added a sentiment (Christmas Messages - Hero Arts) in silver ink to finish.

I hope you'll come join us for the last Twofer Challenge for 2020.  So much fun!  Hope to see you in the gallery!

Card #1 -  Thank my Lucky Stars
Stamps:Thoughtful Greetings (Pretty Pink Posh)
Paper:  Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.); Black card stock (Stampin; Up!)
Ink:  Distress Inks:  Cracked Pistacio, Peacock Feathers, Mermaid Lagoon, Black Soot (Tim Holtz); Silver Delicata (Tsukineko)
Accessories & Tools: Water mister, Shooting Star stencil (Funky Fossil), Silver embossing powder (Ranger), heat tool

Card#2 - Sparkling Christmas
Stamps:  Christmas Messages (Hero Arts)
Paper:  Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb); White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.)
Ink:  Distress Inks:  Salt Ocean, Chipped Sapphire, Wilted Violet (Tim Holtz); Silver Delicata (Tsukineko)
Accessories & Tools:  Sponges, Deer & Trees die (AliExpress), Shooting Star stencil (Funky Fossil), iridescent embossing powder, heat tool

Challenges:
Twofer Challenge #33 - Stars

Zooming with Friends

Hi everyone.  A couple of weeks ago, a group of us got together on Zoom to have a crafting session.  We followed Kathy Racoosin's video Print Making with Die-cuts.

The group of us are all posting our cards today.  Would love for you to check out the links to the other's blogs and leave them a comment as well.

Bonnie
Brenda

Christine
Darnell
Susan

I believe you get the best results from this technique using watercolour paper (Cold or Hot Press).  I used Arches 140 lb. Cold Press for both cards

For the card above I used a Penny Black die-cut, along with watercolouring with distress inks (rather than markers like Kathy used in her video).  Added a frame and stamped sentiment to match the colour of the leaves.  Happy how it turned out.

Second card ...

This time I used a fern die from AliExpress.  I found when using die-cuts with lots of openings, it's best to just add the prints from the die-cuts.  If I watercoloured the fern on top of my main panel, because of all the openings, I would end up with blobs of colour that distract from the design.  Ask me how I know this. :)  I cut my panel down and added the black sentiment border.  I'm really happy how this turned out as well.

I hope you'll give this technique a try.  It's fun and easy to do.  With it being more free flowing it always turns out to be a beautiful and arsty card.

Products

Flower Flourish Die (Penny Black)
Gratitude (Penny Black)

Fern die (AliExpress) *

Many Everyday Messages (Hero Arts)

* AliExpress links are temporary

Card #1 - Have a Wonderful Day
Stamps:  Gratitude (Penny Black)
Paper:  Watercolour paper (Arches 140 lb. cold press)
Ink:  Distress Inks:  Twisted Citron, Mowed Lawn, Abandoned Coral, Fired Brick, (Tim Holtz); Versamark
Accessories & Tools:  Flower Flourish die (Penny Black); paint brushes, water mister, Rectangle die - retired (Spellbinders), white acrylic paint pen (Posca)

Card #2 - You're the Best
Stamps:  Many Everyday Messages (Hero Arts)
Paper:  Watercolour paper (Arches 140 lb. cold press); White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Black card stock (Stampin' Up!)
Ink:  Distress Inks:  Crushed Olive, Forest Moss (Tim Holtz); Versamark
Accessories & Tools:  Fern die (AliExpress); paint brushes, water mister, white embossing powder, heat tool

Smile!

Hi everyone.  One more stencil tracing card for the CAS Mix Up Challenge before it closes in 2 days.

You may recognize this stencil. :)  I used it for my reminder card.  It's one of my favourite large flower stencils.  This card looks totally different than my reminder card.  Changing up the colours of the flower and the colour of the pen for outlining makes a big difference

This is such a simple technique that gives a whole new look to the image.  Thanks for this fun challenge Nancy!!

Close-up ...

I hope you had time to try this technique.  As always, I'd love to see your cards in our gallery.  Hope to see you there!

Products
Bloom Stencil (Mayco) - Blick Art Materials

Stamps:  Smile (AliExpress)
Paper:  Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.); White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Black card stock (SU!)
Ink:  Distress Inks:  Mustard Seed, Spiced Marmalade, Ripe Persimmon (Tim Holtz); Versamark
Accessories & Tools:  Bloom stencil (Mayco), sponges, Black Micropen, white embossing powder, heat tool

Challenges:
CAS Mix Up July Challenge - Stencil Tracing

Twofer Challenge #28

Hi everyone.  Today I'm playing along with the Twofer Challenge #28.  The Designers cards are awesome, make sure to check them out on the Twofer Challenge blog.

This really is a challenge for me because I do get stuck on certain designs / layouts, so I have to think outside the box.  Plus this challenge allows me to also go outside my CAS style.

I used the same circle stencil on both cards.  The first card is a CAS design, Christmas card with a bokeh sky make using the stencil, along with peacock feathers and white inks.

I die-cut the hillsite scene and stamped a sentiment using the same ink as used for the bokeh sky.

Edited to Add:  Entering this into the Christmas Craft Creattions - Christmas Tree Challenge.  Thanks Trina!

The second card is an encouragement card.  I started by masking a border and sponging gold ink through the circle stencil, using only the smaller circles and not filling in completely.  I die-cut and watercoloured my hollyhocks, adding a bit of gold acrylic paint and splattering more over top and over the black panel.  The sentiment is heat embossed in Princess Gold embossing powder which is a perfect match of the yellow gold of the Delicata ink used for the circles.

I had a lot of fun creating these two totally different designs.  I hope you'll come play along and have some fun with the Twofer Challenge as well.

Products
Sloping Hillside die (Poppy Stamps)
Christmas Messages (Hero Arts)
Family Sentiments (Penny Black)

Card #1 - Peace of Earch
Stamps:  Christmas Messages (Hero Arts)
Paper:  White card stock (Neenah)
Ink:  Peacock Feathers Distress Ink (Tim Holtz); White Pigment ink (?)
Accessories & Tools:  Circle stencil (AliExpress), sponges, Sloping Hillside die (Poppy Stamps)

Card #2 - Big Hugs
Stamps:  Family Sentiments (Penny Black)
Paper:  White card stock (Neenah); Black card stock (SU!); Watercolour paper (Arches 140 lb.)
Ink:  Delicata Gold (Tsukineko); Abandoned Coral, Picked Raspberry, Mowed Lawn Distress Inks (Tim Holtz); Real Red ink (SU!); Versamark
Accessories & Tools:  Circle stencil (AliExpress), sponges, Hollyhocks die (AliExpress), paint bruses, Gold Acrylic paint (Lumiere), Princess Gold embossing powder (Ranger), heat tool

Challenges:
Twofer #28 - Circles / Bubbles
Christmas Craft Creations Challenge - Christmas Trees

Distressed Window Box

Hi everyone.  Today's card started by receiving a lovely gift from my friend, Julia (Create with Me).  She sent me these wonderful dies for the distressed brick.  I used them to make a stencil and then sponged through onto my card front.  Thanks Julia!

I added a die-cut window with a flower box filled with watercoloured, spring flowers.  To match the disressed look of the exposed brick, I tried (not very successfully) to add some distressing to the window and box as well.  Thankfully, the flowers are pretty and hopefully distract from my feeble attempt. :)

Close-up ...

Thanks for stopping by!

Stamps: Script Sentiments (AliExpress)
Paper:  White Cardstock (Neenah 110 lb.); Mixed Media paper (for watercoloured flowers) Strathmore 140 lb.
Ink:  Distress Inks:  Pumuce stone, Broken China, Abandoned Coral, Picked Raspberry, Mustard Seed, Mowed Lawn (Tim Holtz)
Accessories & Tools:  water mister, paint brushes, sponges, Brick Layer Die (The Greetery), Cherry Blossom die (Penny Black), Small Madison Arched Window die (Poppy Stamps), Small Flower Box die (Poppy Stamps)

CAS Mix Up March Challenge

Hi everyone.  Welcome to the start of March's CAS Mix Up Challenge - Acrylic Paint.  This month is being hosted by the very talented, Jenny (My Paper Epiphany).

Our Guest Designer this month is Betty (created by bjk).  So happy to have you joining us this month Betty!  Welcome!

We're CELEBRATING this month!

It's our 4th Birthday!

Prizes

(must follow rules to be eligible for prizes)

$25 Gift Certificate to Simon Says Stamp for Challenge Winner.

$25 Gift Certificate to Simon Says Stamp for 

one random draw of all eligible entries

I started with a background from my stash.  I actually made this at one of the retreats almost two years ago. :)  It's a dirty pour with acrylics.  It's such a fun technique.  Messy, but so worth it.  I used the dirty pour for my ocean scene background.  I added a few die-cuts of reeds, coral, and fishes.

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I hope you'll help us celebrate our 4th birthday.  Create a CAS card using acrylic paint and add to our gallery.  Hope to see you there! :)

Stamps:  Ocean Wise sentiment (Stampendous)
Paper:  Canvas Paper (gift from Christine) ; White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.)
Ink:  Distress Inks:  Abandoned Coral, Squeezed Lemonade, Mowed Lawn (Tim Holtz); Silver Delicata
Accessories & Tools:  Acrylic paints in blue, green, purple; shaped outline die (AliExpress), Fish, reeds, and coral die (Memory Box)

Challenges:
CAS Mix Up March Challenge - Acrylic Paint