Christmas Love and Magic

Hi everyone.  Today I'm working on building my stash of Christmas cards for sending out to family and friends in December.

I'm starting with this new-to-me image of a sweet bear with a bouquet of holly (Love & Magic - Penny Black).  I stamped him in black ink and heat embossed with clear on mixed media paper before watercolouring using distress inks.  I fussy-cut him, added gloss to the holly; once dry, I splattered diluted white acrylic paint for falling snow.  He is then popped up overtop of the background panel, which is dry embossed with Allover Stitches EF (Penny Black) ... first time using this embossing folder. :)  I stamped the sentiment banner (Shine Upon You - Penny Black), adhering at the bottom of the panel before adding it to my card front.

I hope you like this quick and easy CAS design.

Close-up ...

I'm sending this card to the following challenges:

1)  Darnell's IDEAS - Week 3 - EFs

2)  NBUS Challenge #75 - first time using this sweet image :)

3)  Christmas Kickstart Challenge #99 - Christmas Critters

Thanks for stopping by!

Stamps:  Love & Magic; Shine Upon You (both from Penny Black)

Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.)
Ink:   Black (Memento); Distress Inks:  Brushed Corduroy, Gathered Twigs, Lumberjack Plaid, Aged Mahogany, Mowed Lawn, Rustic Wilderness, Squeezed Lemonade, Lost Shadow (Tim Holtz)
Accessories:   Allover Stitches Embossing Folder (Penny Black), Watercolour brushes, crystal glaze (Nuvo), diluted white acrylic paint

Challenges:

Darnell's IDEAS - Week 3 - EFs

NBUS Challenge #75

Christmas Kickstart Challenge #99 - Christmas Critters

Penny Black - Thriving - Part 2

Hi everyone.  I'm back with Penny Black's Thriving Stamp set (30-811) again.  This is a second image I've used from the four that come with the set.  I love this sweet flower.  To me, it looks like a Gerbera Daisy, so I watercoloured it to look similar to a pot of Gerbera's I received as a gift last weekend.  Aren't they pretty??

I kept this very CAS, letting the flower be the star.  I stamped the image onto my card front, and again two more times on mixed media paper (which were heat embossed in clear).  I watercoloured both the flowers and leaves on the mixed media paper and fussy-cut them out.  I cut down through the petals of the flowers just a little ways towards the center so that I could shape the flower a little.  Did this with both flowers, then used my stylus and mat to add some shaping.  Glued the first set of flower head and leaves to my card front, pressing down firmly.  Then added the second flower head and leaves, slightly off center to give the flower lots of depth.

Added a small shadow of gray at the bottom of the flower and stamped the sentiment Smile (Happy Snippets 30-358) in black.  Popped up the card front on foam and adhered to my white card base.

Close-up ...

Thanks for stopping by!

To my New Email Subscribers

Thank you so much for subscribing to my blog through the new format.  

I have received so many wonderful messages of support.  You really made me feel special!

Thank you!!

Penny Black Product Links

Thriving (30-811)

Happy Snippets (30-358)

Stamps:  Thriving, Happy Snippets (both Penny Black)

Paper:   Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.); White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.)
Ink:   Black (Memento); Distress Inks:  Abandoned Coral, Ripe Persimmon, Mustard Seed, Mowed Lawn (Tim Holtz); Smoky Slate (Stampin' Up!)
Accessories:   Clear embossing powder (Ranger); paint brush

Penny Black - For You

Hi everyone.  Happy Valentine's Day!!  Hope you are all having a wonderful and relaxing day.  

Penny Black has a new release "Daydream" with went live yesterday.  This is the first image I'm playing with (...For You).  These mice are so adorable carrying the beautiful rose.  Smiled the whole time I was making this card! :)  I wanted to have the mice standing on something fun, so added a chain of hearts (heart image from Huggable) for them to run across.   Both cards are watercoloured with a mix of Distress Inks and Dye Inks.

Close-up ...

You can see the shimmer of clear Wink of Stella on the hearts to add a little sparkle. :)

Next card is super CAS.  I just used the rose from the same image above ...

This rose is so gorgeous, I wanted to show it all by itself.  I then fussy-cut and popped up on my card front that has a wonderful sentiment from one of the other new sets - Smiles.

I'm sending this card over to The Flower Challenge #53.

Thanks for stopping by for a visit!!

Product Links

... For You (30-801)

Huggable (30-588)

Smiles (30-802)

Stamps:  For You (Penny Black); Smiles (Penny Black); Hearts (Huggable - Penny Black)

Paper:   Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.); White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.)
Ink:   Black (Memento); Distress Inks:  Antique Linen, Brushed Corduroy, Worn Lipstick, Picked Raspberry, Rustic Wilderness (Tim Holtz); Granny Smith Apples, Real Red (Stampin' Up!)
Accessories:   Clear embossing powder, heat tool, water brush, Clear Wink of Stella

Challenges:

The Flower Challenge #53 - Use your latest stamps and/or dies

Santa Making a Delivery

Hi everyone.  Today I've had fun with another of my new Stamping Bella stamps.  This is called "Sneaky Yeti" because originally where was a Yeti peeking out from behind the cottage.  I masked him out.  I wanted to focus more on Santa, even though it's a small part of the image. :)

I'm playing along with Christmas Craft Creations this month where they want to see Christmas Characters.

I started by stamped my image onto mixed media paper in permanent black ink.  Heat set to make sure the ink was dry before watercolouring with distress inks.  My main colours are Evergreen Bough, Pine Needles, and Mowed Lawn.  Once I had finished watercolouring with those colours, I used the leftover ink to create a smooshed background for my card.  An easy way to tie the colours all together.

I finished watercolouring and then fussy-cut the image.  I stamped the sentiment in red before assembling the card.  The main panel is popped up for dimension, as well as the fussy-cut image.  To finish I splattered with diluted white gouache paint, and even though I masked off my sentiment, it managed to get underneath and blur the lettering a bit.  Grrr!  I'm just going with it! :)

I've added a few finished touches such as gray shadows on all the snow area, followed by clear wink of stella --- love the shimmer of the snow!  Also added crystal drops to the Christmas lights and the windows to make them shine.

Close-up ...

Since this is a new-to-me stamp, I'm entering this card into the NBUS #17 Challenge gallery.

This was so much fun to make!

* * * * *

Sharing a couple of Jessie photos :)

Jessie loves sticks! (photo by Alejandro Garcia)

Jessie's so dog-tired she didn't notice her head was on the floor :)

Products
Sneaky Yeti (Stamping Bella)
Merry Messages (Lawn Fawn)
Strathmore 400 Series Mixed Media paper (140 lb.) - Blick Art Materials

Stamps:  Sneaky Yeki (Stamping Bella); Merry Messages (Lawn Fawn)
Paper:  Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.); White card base (Neenah 110 lb.)
Ink:  Black (Versafine); Distres Inks:  Evergreen Bough, Pine Needles, Mowed Lawn, Candied Apple, Aged Mahogany, Mustard Seed, Wild Honey, Rusty Hinge, Brushed Corduroy, Gathered Twigs (Tim Holtz); Smoky Slate (SU!)
Accessories & Tools:  Water mister, water brush, Clear Wink of Stella, Crystal Drops (Nuvo)

Challenges:
Christmas Craft Creatons July Challenge - Christmas Characters
NBUS #17

Penny Black - Layered Leaves and more ...

Hi everyone,  Today's cards use a few of the new stand-alone dies from the new release.  First, I'm sharing a CAS (clean and simple) masculine birthday card made with Layered Leaves die 51-633.

I die-cut the leaves from white card stock.  I used a watercoloured piece from my stash ... this has a bit of sparkle, so I'm pretty sure it is a mix of Lindy's magicals on watercolour paper.  I placed the die-cut leaves over the watercolour piece and traced with a pencil, then fussy-cut.  Adhered the white over top of the watercoloured background and then adhered to my card front.  I stamped a happy birthday sentiment (smile today! 30-461) in weathered wood distress ink.  It matched pretty well! :)

Close-up ...

My second card uses the beautiful die, Creative Curves 51-611.  This makes a lovely backdrop for any image.

The bright white card front and black die-cut panel create a lot of contrast in this design.  A pretty stamped butterfly (Wings and Vases 30-704), coloured with zigs and fussy-cut is all that's needed to complete this design, along with a simple black stamped sentiment, Good Wishes 30-541.

My third card uses the new Bench (51-621) die.

Created a very loose watercolour wash for the background from green and blue inks.  Stamped a leafy branch from the Country Charisma stamp set 30-690, watercolouring in two shades of green ink.  Popped up the die-cut bench, which was sponged in two shades of brown ink. Finished with a blue ink stamped sentiment, Good Wishes (30-541).

Thanks so much for dropping by!

Penny Black Products

Layered Leaves die 51-633
smile today! sentiment set 30-461

Creative Curves 51-611

Wing and Vases 30-704
Good Wishes 30-541

Bench die 51-621

Country Charisma 30-690

Good Wishes 30-541

Card #1:  Layered Leaves
Stamps:  smile today! (Penny Black)
Paper:  Watercolour paper (Arches cold press 140 lb.); White (Neenah 110 lb.)
Ink:  Lindy's magicals
Accessories & Tools:  Layered Leaves die (Penny Black)

Card #2:  Butterfly Curves
Stamps:  Wings and Vases; Good Wishes (both Penny Black)
Paper:  Black card stock (SU!); White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Mixed Media paper (Strathmore 140 lb.)
Ink:  Zigs
Accessories & Tools:  Creative Curves die (Penny Black), waterbrush

Card #3:  Enjoy every moment
Stamps:  Country Charisma; Good Wishes (both Penny Black)
Paper:  Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.)
Ink:  Distress Inks:  Twisted Citron, Mowed Lawn, Tumbled Glass, Broken China, Antique Linen, Brushed Corduroy (Tim Holtz)
Accessories & Tools:  Bench die (Penny Black), waterbrush

Twofer and Puppy Videos

Hi everyone.  Playing along with Twofer Card Challenge #23 - Hearts.  Twofer is also celebrating it's 2nd Blogaversary and there's lots of prizes to be won.  Congrats to Darnell and my wonderful teammates for two years of amazing challenges!

  

I used a stencil to create my two heart cards above.  The first card I used magicals through the open hearts.  Love the shimmer in real life.  I then did a light pink wash for the background and added a die-cut sentiment - Love.  The main panel is popped up.

For the second card.  I again used magicals to create a colourful background.  I used the stencil to outline three hearts (different sizes) using a black marker.  I fussy-cut the hearts and added them to the card front, popping up the top (smallest) heart balloon.  I stamped and watercoloured the sweet bear and also fussy-cut, popping it up and drew in the strings of the balloons to wrap around the wrist.  A sentiment was stamped in black to create a fun birthday card.

There's still lots of time to play along.  Challenge closes midnight Jan. 24 (PST).  We'd love to see your cards in the gallery!

* * * * *

Four videos (taken by Alejandro) of Jessie playing with Violeta in the snow ...

Challenges:
Twofer Card Challenge #23 - Hearts

Autumn Leaves x 2

Hi everyone.  I'm going to take a break until January, so I will be posting cards that I made throughout the year that I couldn't fit into my post schedule.

Sharing two cards I made a while ago using the same stamp set.  The one above is coloured with Prismacolor pencils.

Stamped the leaf image a few times in soft brown on kraft paper for my main panel.  Stamped another leaf on a scrap of kraft and used my pencils to colours the leaves.  Fussy-cut leaf (it was a bit challenging) and adhered on top.  Stamped the sentiment in same ink as background leaves to pull it all together.

The second card ...

Started by adding white embossing paste through a tiny dot stencil for the background.  Stamped two leaves in kraft ink and heat embossed in clear.  Fussy-cut both leaves and smooshed in distress inks.  Cut a small strip of cork and stamped the sentiment on top.  Popped up the cork over the embossed background and tucked the stems of the leaves in behind.

Thanks for stopping by!

Stamps:  Leaves (AliExpress); Sentiment (unknown)
Paper:  White (Neenah 110 lb); Kraft (SU!)
Ink: Baked Brown Sugar (SU!)
Accessories & Tools: Prismacolour pencils, paper stump for blending

Wedgwood Blue

Hi everyone.  It's time for the reminder post for the CAS Stencil October Challenge - Patterned Paper, hosted by me!

I dug through my many containers of patterned paper and came across an "old-fashioned" look of designer paper.  I love the soft blue and cream.  I wanted to have the look of "Wedgwood Blue" china which has a very dry look to it.  I used embossing paste, coloured with distress ink Stormy Sky.  I didn't have the re-inker, so smooshed the ink pad on my palette several times, mixing with the white paste until I got the colour I wanted.  Worked great.  I used my Stencil Pal to spread the paste evenly and you can easily scrape the leftovers off to use again later.  Once dry, I fussy-cut the heart and popped it up on my card front with a simple sentiment stamped below.

Everytime I mix up paste with colour I always end up with way too much (better than too little). :)  So this time I used it all up and ended up with three pretty cards.

Second card - using another stencil cut with my silhouette cameo.

For the last card I used a large piece of the designer paper so there isn't very much white space on my card, so it's not for the CAS challenge, but wanted to share with you.  I used the Layered Roses stencil from Tim Holtz.  Works perfectly with this old-fashioned looking patterned paper.

Please check out the reminder post to see new cards from our talented Designers, and this month's wonderful Guest Designer Gundi.

Challenge is still open for another six days.  Come play along!

Stamps:  Fond Expressions (STAMPlorations); Large Fancy Sentiments (Just Write Stamps)
Paper:  White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Patterned paper ?
Ink:  Black (Memento); Stormy Sky Distress Ink (Tim Holtz)
Accessories & Tools:  White embossing paste (Dreamweaver); palette knife, stencil pal, Stencils: Layered Roses (Tim Holtz); Leafy Heart and Tulips - Silhouette America cut files, Silhouette Cameo, Acetate sheets

Challenges:
CAS Stencil October Challenge - Patterned Paper

Smiles for Patti

Hi everyone.  Today I'm sharing a card for my sweet blogging friend, Patti (Stationery Styles).  Patti and her hubby have been working hard to find a new place to live in New Mexico.  They finally found the perfect place, only to have the owner's circumstances change and it is no longer available. :(

Patti has asked her blogging friends to send her some much needed smiles.  My card is hopefully going to provide a smile for Patti today. :)  She set up a Linky party on her blog for friends to play along.

I used the Penny Black ... so loved set.  This dog is totally adorable, I was smiling the whole time I was colouring.  Not only smiles for Patti, but for me too! :)

Stamped in black and then watercoloured using zigs.  Simple, right!  Not quite, a little glitch when I was adding the wash for the sky ... touched the heart and red everywhere.  Not to fear, fussy-cut the dog (which I was happy with), stamped the image again and just coloured the background.  Paper pieced the fussy-cut dog on top, popping up his ears.  Added clear wink of stella and glossy accents to give the heart some umph!  And then framed all with a simple white frame.  I was even able to get the zig to work on my sentiment stamp.  First time trying that.

Here's a close-up ...

Dear Patti ... sending smiles, hugs and lots of love your way!

Stamps: ... so loved (Penny Black); happy snippets (Penny Black)
Paper:  Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb. 400 series); White (Neenah 110 lb. card stock)
Ink:  Black (Versafine); Zigs
Accessories & Tools:  water brush, clear wink of stella, glossy accents, Rectangle Nestabilities (Spellbinder)

Challenge:
Patti's Linky Party - bring smiles!

Penny Black - Framed Irises

Hi everyone.  I love these beautiful irises from Penny Black.  I stamped in Versamark and heat embossed in Liquid Platinum embossing powder onto Hot Press Watercolour paper.  I used a water brush and distress inks to watercolour and then fussy-cut the image.  It was a little delicate with some of the thin stems, but I got it worked out. :)

I die-cut a rectangle frame, popping it up over top of my card base and tucking the bottom of the iris stems in-behind.  I added a few pop dots and glue dots to secure the flower heads in place.  A sentiment was stamped several times (using the Misti) to get a clear image.  The inside sentiment says:  Have fun and smile today!

Here's a close-up ...

If you get a chance, pop over to the Simplicity at it's best blog to see some inspiring cards from my Simplicity Sisters.

Penny Black Products:
40-610 summer glow

30-461 smile today!

Stamps:  summer glow, smile today! (Penny Black)
Paper:  Watercolour paper (Arches 140 lb. hot press); White (Neenah 110 lb.)
Ink:  Dye ink markers:  (light green, dark green, light pink, dark pink, dark brown)
Accessories & Tools:  Liquid platinum embossing powder (Ranger), heat tool, water brush, white gel pen, Rectangle Nestabilities (Spellbinders)

A Small Hello

Hi everyone.  Today sharing another zig watercoloured card.  I heat embossed the image in white, watercoloured and then decided to fussy-cut to pop it up on top of a beautiful die-cut card front.  I borrowed this die from Nancy last May at our craft retreat.  'bout time I got around to using it! :)  I think they look great together.

The zigs are so vibrant.  This flower almost looks fluorescent, it's so bright.  Definitely need to wear sunglasses with this card! :)

Here's a close-up

Thanks for coming by for a visit!

Stamps:  Beautiful Blooms (SU!); Sentiment - Chit Chat (Paper Smooches)
Paper:  Mixed Media paper (Strathmore 140 lb. 400 Series); White card base (Neenah 110 lb.)
Ink:  White Pigment Ink (Hero Arts); Zigs
Accessories & Tools:  White embossing powder, heat tool, water brush, die-cut card front from friend (sorry, don't know name of die).