Evergreen Christmas

Hi everyone.  I was hoping to have this card done before the end of April, but life got in the way.  I'm playing along with SCS April Christmas Challenge - E is for Evergreen.  Thankfully there is no time limit on SCS challenges. :)

I'm hoping that the "Evergreen" element doesn't actually have to be green. :)  I created a mixed media background with watercoloured tissue paper, sponged colour, dry embossing, and brayering.  I love this combination that I used on a card last year.  I made good use of my time by creating three similar card fronts.  I split two of the card fronts to make four equal panels, and used the third card front to create strips for the inside of my cards. :)  

For the four focal panels, I added mostly the same elements ... evergreen dies cut from matte gold foil card stock and gold embossed white sentiment strips.  These all tie in with the gold metallic paint I brayered to highlight the dry embossed design (Pepperberry Embossing Folder - Simon Says Stamp), overtop of a watercoloured tissue paper mounted background.

Sending this card to the following challenges:

SCS April Christmas Challenge - Evergreen (CCC26APR)

Darnell's IDEAS Calendar - Week 1 - Inks - I used inks to W/C tissue paper, and sponge over top

Merry Little Christmas Challenge #68 - AG Christmas

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The other three cards ...

Thanks for stopping by!

Stamps:  Snowglobe Sayings (MFT - closed)

Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Matte Gold cardstock (SU!)
Ink:   Distress Inks:  Candied Apple, Lumberjack Plaid, Mowed Lawn (Tim Holtz); Versamark
Accessories:   Tissue paper, water mister, Pepperberry Embossing Folder (Simon Says Stamp), Brayer,

Gold Metallic Paint (Lumiere), Holly Branches dies (Penny Black), Inspired die (Reindeer) - Penny Black,  Holly & Berries die (Birch Press Designs); Mistletoe die (unknown)

Challenges:

SCS April Christmas Challenge - Evergreen (CCC26APR)

Darnell's IDEAS Calendar - Week 1 - Inks

Merry Little Christmas Challenge #68

Stenciled Springtime

Hi everyone.  For today's card, I had fun using one stencil three different ways. :)  Sorry about the blurry sentiment ... it looks fine in real life.

I started with Fading Florals Stencil (Simon Says Stamp), creating a watercoloured background using the stencil monoprint technique.  Once dry, added the stencil back over top, lining up the image and sponging with distress inks.  Using small brushes and detail sponges to colour the stencil allowed me to do it without masking anything.

I cleaned off the stencil and added it back over top, lining up the image.  A Frayed Burlay distress marker was used to outline the images.

Close-up ...

Sending this card to the following challenges:

Just Us Girls #816 - Stencil Week - AG Stenciling

Darnell's IDEAS Calendar - Week 5 - Stencils

  

Thanks for stopping by!

Stamps:  Happy Snippets (Penny Black)

Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.)
Ink:   Distress Inks:  Scattered Straw, Worn Lipstick, Shabby Shutters, Peeled Paint, Kitsch Flamingo, Picked Raspberry; Frayed Burlap Distress Marker (Tim Holtz)
Accessories:   Fading Florals stencil (Simon Says Stamp), water mister, sponges, detail sponges

Challenges:

Just Us Girls #816 - Stencil Week - AG Stenciling

Darnell's IDEAS Calendar - Week 5 - Stencils

Peace on Earth

Hi everyone.  Today I'm sharing my latest Christmas card.  It is a CASE (copy and share everything) of a beautiful card made by my friend, Hilary.  I just loved her card and the technique she used for making the beautiful night sky (Direct to Paper Inking).  Here's a link to Hilary's card post.  Thank you for the inspiration, dear friend!

I used the stamp pad to go direct to paper with three colours for the background (Mowed Lawn, Rustic Wilderness, Unchartered Mariner).  Because of the saturated ink colours, this background is very bold and dramatic.  Adding in the black die-cut trees and white die-cut sentiment creates even more contrast.  I finished the card with simple white acrylic ink splatters.  This was so much fun and easy to do. :)

Close-up ...

Sending this card to the Peace on Earth Challenge #100.

Thanks for stopping by!

Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Black card stock (SU!)

Ink:   Distress Inks:  Mowed Lawn, Rustic Wilderness, Unchartered Mariner (Tim Holtz)
Accessories:   Row of Trees die (Memory Box - retired); Peace on Earth sentiment die (gift from a friend many years ago), White acrylic paint (diluted) for splattering

Challenges:

Peace on Earth Challenge #100

Stenciling with Mica Powders - Group of Cardmakers

Hi everyone.  This month at Group of Cardmakers, we are stenciling with mica powders.  I have a few different kinds in my studio - Perfect Pearls, Pearl-Ex, Arteza.  I've used the Arteza Mica Powders for all of today's cards. :)  This was a lovely gift from my dear friend, Barb.  Such beautiful colours!!

Please check out the details for this month's technique and link to video on the blog, along with more card samples from Pat, Susan, and Guest Designer Robyn.

Group of Cardmakers - November

Arteza Mica Powders have no binding agent.  Which means you have to add some sort of adhesive to get them to stick to card stock.  For this first card I added Versamark ink through my stencil and then sprinkled with Sticky Embossing Powder (Ranger).  I heat set the image (it melts really fast), which leaves the stenciled images sticky so the mica powders can adhere.  To make clean-up easier, I cleaned the stencil after adding the versamark ink and then added it back over top of the image, lining it up carefully.  I used a medium brush to add my Mica Powders (Lettuce Green, Tangerine Orange, Royal Orange, Caramel Brown).  I removed the stencil and tapped my card front onto a scrap piece of paper to catch the excess powders.  Then I heat set again (just for a few minutes) to reactivate the gluey embossing powder so it traps the mica powders.

To finish, I used a small piece of dry swiffer cloth to wipe off the excess powder in the background.  A torn vellum sentiment banner stamped with versamark and heat embossed with copper embossing powder is added over top.  I wrapped around the excess vellum and taped to the back of my card front before adhering to the base. :)

Close-up ...

Sending the above card to Stencil Fun November Challenge - Anything Stenciling Goes

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Next, I made a set of cards using the same stencil on black card stock.  One uses the Essential Glue Pad (Tsukineko), pressed over top of my stencil.  The second using Versamark ink followed by Sticky Embossing Powder (Ranger).  Both versions turned out really well and both images are set and don't rub off.  I outlined them using a silver metallic pen (Pilot) and added a simple sentiment banner to finish.  You'll see below the texture of the images is different.  The first is flat, the second has texture.  Both are very shimmery from the Mica Powders, but it doesn't show in the photos.

Using Glue Pad - no texture

 

                

Using Versamark and Sticky Powder - texture

Sending the above card to Rudolph Days November Challenge - Anything Christmas Goes.

Thanks for stopping by!

Card #1:

Stamps:  Gratitude (Penny Black)

Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Vellum
Ink:   Versamark
Accessories:   Mini Joyful Sunflower stencil (Crafter's Workshop); Sticky Embossing Powder (Ranger), heat tool, Arteze Mica Powders, medium brush, swiffer cloth, Copper embossing powder (Ranger)

Card #2 & #3:

Stamps:  Merry Messages (Lawn Fawn)

Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Black card stock (SU!)
Ink:   Essential Glue Pad; Versamark
Accessories:   Berry Branch - TM 48  stencil (Magenta), Sticky Embossing Powder (Ranger), heat tool, Arteze Mica Powders, medium brush, swiffer cloth, Silver embossing powder

Challenges:

Stencil Fun November Challenge - Anything Stenciling Goes

Rudolph Days November Challenge - Anything Christmas Goes

Guest Designing at AAA Colourful

Hi everyone.  I'm happy and excited to be posting my card as Guest Designer for AAA Colourful Challenge #20.  Thanks to the wonderful team at AAA Colourful for having me this month!

These colours were so fun to play with.  I love the vibrancy of purple, lime green and orange together, complimented by black and gold. :)

I started by gluing a piece of white tissue paper over white card stock, which adds a lovely texture to the panel.  Once the glue was dry, I die-cut Falling Leaves (Penny Black) twice, giving me lots of leaves.  I randomly sponged purple, green, and orange, using my Distress Inks which were closest to the colours above (Seedless Preserves, Mowed Lawn, Crackling Campfire).

To add the gold element, I used a fine gold marker to hand-draw veins on the leaves.  The leaves were placed overtop of a black card base and then glued in place.  Gold embossing powder was used to heat emboss the sentiment and a thick gold marker to draw an edge around the sentiment banner so it stands out a bit from the busy background.  I popped up the banner to add some dimension.

Close-up ... this shows a bit of the texture from the tissue paper ...

There are some amazing and fun cards from the Designers at AAA Colourful.  I hope you'll check it out and play along!

Thanks for stopping by!

Stamps:  Simply Sentiment (Lawn Fawn)

Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 65 lb.); Black card stock (SU!)
Ink:   Distress Inks:  Seedless Preserves, Mowed Lawn, Crackling Campfire (Tim Holtz); Versamark
Accessories:   Tissue Paper, detail sponges, Falling Leaves Cut Out (Penny Black), gold metallic markers (Pilot); gold embossing powder (Ranger), heat tool

Challenges:

AAA Colourful Challenge #20

Guest Designing at Rudolph Days August Challenge

Hi everyone.  Today I'm Guest Designing at Rudolph Days August Challenge.  Thanks so much to Helen for inviting me!

For today's card I have made another using the Immense Joy die (Penny Black).  Last year I made a series of cards using this amazing die, and I just had to pull it out again this year. :)

I brayered a piece of Bristol card with distress inks and cut out the "O" from the Joy die.  I also die-cut the Deers & Tree scene; then die-cut again for the "O".  These were layered together and then inlaid into the "O" opening.  I splattered diluted white acrylic paint for falling snow.  The completed JOY was placed over top of a snowflake embossed card front (Snowflakes - Cuttlebug).  Merry Christmas is stamped on the inside using the closest ink I had to kraft.

Close-up ...

Sending this card to a few other challenges besides Rudolph Days ...

Darnell's IDEAS Challenge - Week 4 - Anything Goes - Brayering

Sparkles Christmas Challenge #175 - Include a Tree - the tree is part of the winter scene inside the "O".  Hope that qualifies

Thanks for stopping by!

Stamps:  N/A

Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Bristol card; Kraft card stock
Ink:   Distress Inks:  Mustard Seed, Candied Apple, Wilted Violet (Tim Holtz); Sahara Sand (SU!)
Accessories:   Immense Joy die (Penny Black), Brayer, Deer & Trees die (AliExpress), Acrylic white paint, Snowflake embossing folder (Cuttlebug)

Challenges:

Rudolph Day August Challenge

Darnell's IDEAS Challenge - Weekly 4 - AG 

Sparkles Christmas Challenge #175 - Include a Tree 

Happiest of Birthdays

Hi everyone.  I was inspired by three challenges for today's card - YAY! :)

I wanted to make a dainty, feminine card. :)  A layer of dry embossed vellum is added overtop of my card front.  I was hoping it would show more in the photo, but it looks as though I simply dry embossed my card front.  In real life, you can see the difference.  My card front this time is ivory ... not my usual white. 

The vase of flowers is stamped twice in black and heat embossed with clear before cutting out with matching die.  I watercoloured the flowers only on one of the images and cut out around the bottom of the flowers.  I popped the flowers up over top of my vase of flowers to add some extra dimension and then placed it inside a frame.

To finish, the sentiment is stamped in black ink and heat embossed in clear to match the rest of the stamping on the card front.

Close-up ...

Sending this card to the following challenges:

1)  We Love Stamping August Challenge - Flowers - hosted by my dear friend Hilary

2)  Penny Black Saturday Challenge - August - Optional:  Embossing (Heat or Dry) - 2nd entry - used both Heat and Dry Embossing

3)  Just Us Girls #787 - Die Week - Florals

Thanks for stopping by!

Stamps:  Wings and Vases (Penny Black); Watching Bloom Sentiment (Memory Box - retired)

Paper:   White card stock base (Neenah 110 lb.); Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.); Vellum
Ink:   Black (Memento); Distress Inks:  Peeled Paint, Picked Raspberry, Festive Berries, Mustard Seed (Tim Holtz)
Accessories:   Clear embossing powder, heat tool, watercolour brushes, Wings and Vases Cut Out (Penny Black), Whirl Frame Cut Out (Penny Black), Dots & Dashes embossing folder (Penny Black)

Challenges:

We Love Stamping August Challenge - Flowers

Penny Black Saturday Challenge - August - Optional:  Embossing (Heat or Dry)

Just Us Girls #787 - Die Week - Florals

Northern Lights - Group of Cardmakers

Hi everyone.  I tried out a new-to-me technique ... Northern Lights.  I have never seen Northern Lights in person, but have seem them on TV and in photos.  They are spectacular!

I've made three cards following the same video, Ink Blended Northern Lights by Lydia Fiedler (7:17).  For my card above, I randomly sponged areas of Mowed Lawn and areas of Wilted Violet Distress inks, trying not to have them overlap, which would give me brown ink. :)  I used Villaneous Potion distress ink for the dark part of the sky, sponging over top of my colours, but leaving areas where the colours in the background showed through.  

I masked off the sky and then used SU! inks for the silhouette of the mountains.  First used Basic Gray ink, and then finished along the top of the mountains with Basic Black.  I found SU! inks covered the Distress Ink colours better to give the mountains a consistent darkness.  I removed the mask and stamped Pine Row (Stampscapes) along the top of the mountain (first and second generation stamping).  To finish, I stamped a retired sentiment stamp in Versamark and heat embossed with white embossing powder.

Sending this card to Darnell's IDEAS Challenge - Week 4 - Anything Goes

* * * * *

Second card follows the same video ...

I followed Understand Blue's video using the same colours she did (Distress Inks: Mustard Seed, Twisted Citron, Mowed Lawn, Chipped Sapphire).  I added a die-cut scene (Winter Village - Penny Black) and a torn hill, stamped with sentiment (Bright & Light - Penny Black) to finish.  I'm happy how it turned out. :)

Sending this card to the Rudolph Days July Challenge and Merry Little Christmas Challenge #63.

.. and one more ...

This time I sponged Mustard Seed and Picked Raspberry distress inks before sponging Chipped Sapphire ink over top, leaving areas where the colour underneath showed.  I used the Pine Row Stamp (Stampscapes) to create a forest ... I'm obsessed with this stamp lately! :)  Again, I used first, second, and third generation stamping to create depth to my forest. :)  To finish, I used a stamp gifted from a friend to white heat embossed the sentiment and then splattered with diluted white acrylic paint to depict stars.

* * * * *

My friend Susan (Cardmaker's Garret) is also posting Northern Lights cards today ... click HERE.  Aren't they AMAZING??!!  

Link to other recommended videos:

2) Beautiful Northern Lights by Ciara T. Designs (16:19)

3) Northern Lights Demo by Marilyn G. (31:19)

4) Quick Northern Lights by Kevin Nakagawa (19:32)

Thanks for stopping by!

Card #1:

Stamps:  Pine Row (Stampscapes); Birthday Blowout (Poppy Stamps - retired)

Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Black card stock base (SU!)
Ink:   Distress Inks:  Mowed Lawn, Wilted Violet, Villaneous Potion (Tim Holtz); Basic Black & Basic Gray (SU!); Versamark
Accessories:  Sponges, White embossing powder (Ranger), heat tool, diluted white acrylic paint for splattering

Card #2:

Stamps:  Bright and Light (Penny Black)

Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.)
Ink:   Distress Inks:  Mustard Seed, Twisted Citron, Mowed Lawn, Chipped Sapphire (Tim Holtz); Basic Black & Basic Gray (SU!); Versamark
Accessories:  Sponges, Winter Village die (Penny Black), diluted white acrylic paint for splattering

Card #3:

Stamps:  Pine Row (Stampscapes); Signature Greetings (Memory Box)

Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.)
Ink:   Distress Inks:  Mustard Seed, Pink Raspberry, Chipped Sapphire (Tim Holtz); Basic Black & Basic Gray (SU!); Versamark
Accessories:  Sponges, White embossing powder (Ranger), heat tool, diluted white acrylic paint for splattering

Challenges:

Darnell's IDEAS Challenge - Week 4 - Anything Goes

Rudolph Days July Challenge

Merry Little Christmas Challenge #63

Birthday Wishes for Bonnie!

Hi everyone.  Today's card is for my sweet friend, Bonnie (Stamping with Klass).  It's her birthday and I made a special card to celebrate.  HAPPY BIRTHDAY BONNIE!!

I was inspired by an earlier challenge at Seize the Birthday - Fancy Folds, to dig out this fun Box Card die from Honey Bee that I've had for probably two years.  It's the first outing!! :)  Unfortunately, I didn't get the card made in time for the challenge ...

I started by cutting my pieces from white card stock.  I then stenciled the outside of the main box layer with Wander & Find Stencil (Carta Bella - retired).  I used Shabby Shutters and Peeled Paint distress inks with sponges.  I love how it turned out.  It gives me a base of stylized "leaves" to show off the flowers inside.  The flowers are an older set from PoppyStamps (Peony Stems & Blossoms).  I stamped in black, clear heat embossed, and then watercoloured with more distress inks.  I used the matching die to cut them out.  The sentiment (gift from a dear friend), was stamped in more of the Peeled Paint ink and then cut out with a matching die.

I then assembled the box card following this wonderful video.  It was pretty easy to put together, but I did fuss a lot with where to place the flowers and sentiment. :)

Close-up ...

I'm also sharing a photo straight on and one with it folded up for mailing (creates a card that fits a standard A2 envelope).

I'm sending this card to the following challenges:

1)  Seize the Birthday #309 - Anything Birthday Goes

2)  Darnell's IDEAS - Week 2 - Dies.  2nd entry.  Used dies for the box and for all the flowers.

3)  NBUS Challenge #76 - first time using this box die

 

Thanks for stopping by!

Stamps:  Peony Stems & Blossoms (PoppyStamps - retired); Signature Greetings (Memory Box) - gift from a dear friend

Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.)
Ink:   Distress Inks:  Shabby Shutters, Peeled Paint, Mustard Seed, Wild Honey, Spiced Marmalade, Ripe Persimmon, Candied Apple, Aged Mahogany (Tim Holtz)
Accessories:   Box Card die (Honey Bee); Wander & Find Stencil (Carta Bella - retired); Clear embossing powder (Ranger), heat tool, sponges, watercolour paint brushes, Signature Greetings die (Memory Box)

Challenges:

Seize the Birthday #309 - Anything Birthday Goes

Darnell's IDEAS - Week 2 - Dies

NBUS Challenge #76