CELEBRATE!

Hi everyone!  Today I'm happy to be celebrating 10 years at stampingwithloll.com!  When I started this blog I had no idea what it would bring.  I know now it was a good decision.  I have met and become friends with so many amazing people.  And it's so fun to share the love of card making with them.

I have been blessed with being able to meet several of my crafting friends in person.  Some local friends that I see regularly, and some farther away, but still able to get together once a year (with the exception of 2020).  And some that I have a strong connection to with monthly Zoom calls or "talking" through email.

There are giveaways to celebrate the 10th birthday.  Just leave a comment on this post before the end of February to be entered for the draw.

Thanks to all of you who support me and follow my blog.  I appreciate YOU!

Also to honour the 10th year, I have changed my blog design.  It may be familiar to you.  This is the header that I used for the CAS Stencil Challenge that is now part of the CAS Mix Up Challenge.  I just love this background with the white crackle paste through a stencil, along with distress inks, seedless preserves and mustard seed.  I had a lot of fun making this background and I love it, so thought I'd use it for my 10th year make-over! :)

* * * * * 

For the card above, I wanted to make something special to celebrate 10 years of blogging.  I used the same flourish stencil (Flourish Layering - Tim Holtz) as my banner in the background of the card, and a new flower stencil using the colours of my banner. :) 

Close-up ...

Since this is new-to-me stencil - Floral Sprays (Sweet Poppy Stencils), I'm entering my card into the NBUS Challenge #23, run by my dear friend, Darnell (aka Dolly).  

Thanks for stopping by for a visit.  Don't forget to leave me a comment below before the end of February to be entered into the prize draw (one comment per person please).

Stamps:  Cosmos - retired (Technique Tuesday); Script (Penny Black)

Paper:   Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.)
Ink:   Smoky Slate (SU!); Distress Inks:  Mustard Seed, Seedless Preserves, Hickory Smoke (Tim Holtz); Black (Memento)
Accessories:   Masking tape, Flourish stencil (Tim Holtz); Blending Brushes, Floral Sprays Stencil (Sweet Poppy Stencils)

Challenges:

NBUS #23 Challenge

More Mixed Media Play Time

Hi everyone.  I had so much fun following Eileen Godwin's techniques last week, that I have continued to play with layering stamps and stencils to create mixed media cards.  Eileen really helped me get out of my comfort zone of CAS design.  

Today's card uses three stencils and one stamp to create a fun and bold card for a friend.  I started by doing a stencil monprint on mixed media paper with a crackle stencil (retired) in Distress inks Brushed Corduroy and Gathered Twigs.  I then used the beautiful STAMPlorations Peeking Dahlias stencil to add flowers to the corners.  I LOVE this stencil ... it reminds me of my Great Uncle Fred who always had a huge garden of dahlias each year ... all different colours, shapes and sizes.  I used several Distress inks to sponge the dahlias (Abandoned Coral, Candied Apple, Fired Brick, Aged Mahogant, Black Soot).  It really adds so much depth with the shading.  I used my black thick POSCA pen to add the "seeds" in the center and a fine liner black to add some details to the petals.  The center is covered in Crystal Glaze to give it shine and depth.  

I added a little stenciling of some beautiful vines (Twisted Vines from Sweet Poppy Stencils - gift from a sweet friend). Used Brushed Corduroy again so that it shows over the crackle background.  The vines are outlined with Clear Wink of Stella for some sparkle.

Finally, stamped the sentiment Friend (Happy Messages from Stampendous) to finish the card.

Close-up ...

I'm entering this card into the STAMPlorations January Stencil Challenge.

Thanks for stopping by!

Stamps:  Happy Messages (Stampendous)

Paper:   Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.)
Ink:   Distress Inks:  Brushed Corduroy, Gathered Twigs, Abandoned Coral, Candied Apple, Fired Brick, Aged Mahogany, Black Soot
Accessories:   Water mister, Crackle stencil - retired (Prima); Peeking Dahlias stencil (STAMPlorations), Twisted Vines Stencil (Sweet Poppy Stencils), sponges, Black Posca Pen, Fine Black Liner (Sharpie), Clear Wink of Stella, Crystal Glaze (Nuvo)

Challenges:
STAMPlorations January Stencil Challenge

September Rudolph Days

Are you looking for Nancy Littrell's linky Birthday Party?  Click HERE.

Hi everyone.  It's time for the September Rudolph Challenge that runs Jan-Nov. from 25th to end of month with Anything Goes Christmas.

I made this card last month while having a Zoom play day with my friends Susan and Christine.  We wanted to learn about how to use the new Embossing Glazes from Tim Holtz.  The card above uses a new-to-me stencil Christmas Snowflake Stencil (Sweet Poppy), with embossing paste swiped over top.  While the paste was still wet, I added the Speckled Egg Embossing Glaze and heat set.  When wet and heated, embossing paste bubbles and bursts to create a different look.  I love how the snowflake ended up being both speckled egg and white.  And I love the shine from the glaze.  I added a tiny black sentiment banner with rubbed on white sentiment.  The ying and the yang of large image and small sentiment really work together well!

Close-up ...

Since this is the first time using my Sweet Poppy stencil, I'm heading over to NBUS #18 to join in the fun.

Paper:  White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Black card stock (Stampin' Up!)
Accessories & Tools:   Christmas Snowflake stencil (Poppy Stamps), Dreamweaver White Embossing Paste, palette knife, Speckled Egg Embossing Glaze (Tim Holtz); heat tool, rub on sentiment

Challenges:
September Rudolph Days

NBUS #18 Challenge

Experimenting with Embossing Glazes

Hi everyone.  I have three cards to share with you today.  They are all the same design.  The only difference is the colour of the bell.

These cards are from a play day with Susan and Christine, using embossing glaze.  I started by stamping Christmas Story in a soft gray for the background.  I used a new Sweet Poppy Stencil - Bell to add embossing paste over top.  Then sprinkled embossing glaze (broken china for above card) and heat set while the paste was still wet.  It adds some lovely texture as the paste bubbles and bursts.

The next card uses fired brick embossing glaze ...

It wasn't until I was cropping my photos, that I noticed the bell above is a reverse the first blue bell.  The stencils are made of steel and I hadn't noticed that I turned it over. :)  I like it both ways. :)

For the final bell I used speckled egg embossing glaze. This is a very subtle colour so it doesn't show up as much at the above two, but it is pretty (even more so in real life).

I'll be making more of these bells in the different colours. :)

Check out the embossing glaze cards done Susan and Christine during our session.  You'll be inspired!

Since this is a new-to-me never-before-used-schtuff I will be heading over to the NBUS #17 gallery ...

Thanks for stopping by!

Products

Bell Stencil (Sweet Poppy)

Christmas Story (Penny Black)
Strathmore 400 Series Mixed Media paper (140 lb.) - Blick Art Materials

Stamps:  Christmas Story (Penny Black)
Paper:  White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.)
Ink:  Smoky Slate (Stampin' Up!)
Accessories & Tools:  Bell stencil (Sweet Poppy), White embossing paste (Dreamweaver), Stencil Pal, Embossing Glazes: Broken China, Fired Brick, Speckled Egg, Hickory Smoke (Tim Holtz), heat tool

Challenges:
NBUS #17 Challenge