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

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

Birthday Celebration

Hi everyone.  Today's card was inspired by Seize the Birthday Challenge #309 - Food and/or drink.  I've had this sweet birthday cake image for a long time and haven't used it on a card yet.  I stamped the cake with black ink and heat embossed in clear before die-cutting using the matching die.  Then I lightly watercolour using Zigs.

I placed it over a paper towel background (leftover ink mopped up with a paper towel, spritzed with water and then pressed into card stock).  The background looked great behind the cake, but I felt it needed a little more, so I doodled confetti, streamers, and stars using a fine black pen.  The card was finished with a white embossed sentiment (Simply Sentiments - Lawn Fawn) on black cardstock, with the cake popped up over top.  Easy, peasy and fun card to make! :)

Close-up ...

Sending this card to the following challenges:

1)  Seize the Birthday #309 - Food and/or drink

2)  Darnell's IDEAS Challenge - Week 2 - Dies

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

Thanks for stopping by!

Stamps:  Birthday Cake (Gemini by Crafter's Companion)

Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.); Black cardstock (SU!)
Ink:  Black (Memento); Zigs (light yellow, dark yellow, light pink, red); Versamark
Accessories:   Clear embossing powder, heat tool, watercolour paint brushes, white embossing powder, fine black marker

Challenges:

Seize the Birthday #309 - Food and/or drink

Darnell's IDEAS Challenge - Week 2 - Dies

NBUS Challenge #76

Happy Birthday Dolly!

Hi everyone.  Today is Darnell's (aka Dolly's) birthday.  HAPPY BIRTHDAY, my dear friend!! :)

I'm sharing the card I made for her ... hopefully it arrived in time!

This is from a stamp, die, stencil and embossing folder set that Dolly gifted to me when she came for a visit in May.  This is such a beautiful set and I had so much fun making this card for her.  I used teal for the main flowers on the card, which I believe is one of her favourite colours.  The stamp/stencil set made this a quick and easy card, even though it looks complicated. :)  I added my own shading rather than using the stencil, because I like to control the blending of the colours.  And I used the fabulous sentiment from the set too. :)  I finished by adding a few dots and dashes of white with a posca paint pen.

Close-up ...

I'm sending this card to the following challenges:

1)  Darnell's IDEAS June Challenge - Week 5 - Stencils

2)  Seize the Birthday #308 - I used the Anything Birthday Goes option. :)

 

Thanks for stopping by!

Stamps:  Fragrant Florals (Altenew)

Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.)
Ink:  Black (Memento); Distress Inks:  Evergreen Bough, Pine Needles, Squeezed Lemonade, Mustard Seed, Wilted Violet, Shabby Shutters, Peeled Paint (Tim Holtz) 
Accessories:   Clear embossing powder, heat tool, sponges, white paint pen (Posca)

Challenges:

Darnell's IDEAS June Challenge - Week 5 - Stencils

Seize the Birthday #308

Colourful Hello

Hi everyone.  Today I'm sharing a fun card I made, inspired by AAA Colourful #17 challenge.  Here's the colours of the challenge ... it closes July 14.

I just love these colours together.  They made a bright and happy card. :)

I started with a stencil (Textured Mesh - Memory Box), randomly sponging each of the colours over the background.  I die-cut two of the flowers (Refresh - Penny Black) from black card stock, shaping them with a stylus and mat before adding them to the card front.  The sentiment (Hello Builder - Penny Black) is stamped in black ink to finish the card.

Close-up ...

This was a very easy and quick card to make ... you gotta' love that! :)

I'm sending this card to the following challenges:

1)  AAA Colourful #17

2)  Darnell's IDEAS Challenge - Week 4 - Anything Goes

3)  PBSC June Challenge - Anything Penny Black Goes - I used Penny Black die and sentiment.

 

Thanks for stopping by!

Stamps:  Hello Builder (Penny Black)

Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Black card stock (SU!)
Ink:   Distress Inks:  Mustard Seed, Spiced Marmalade, Ripe Persimmon, Picked Raspberry, Wilted Violet (Tim Holtz); Black (Memento)
Accessories:   Textured Mesh stencil (Memory Box), Refresh flower dies (Penny Black), sponges

Challenges:

AAA Colourful #17

Darnell's IDEAS Challenge - Week 4 - Anything Goes

PBSC June Challenge - Anything Penny Black Goes

In the Studio with Dolly, Susan, and Christine

Hi everyone. Recently, my friend Dolly (aka Darnell) came for a visit.  She stayed for three days and we had so much fun visiting, playing with ink, and eating! :)  Our good friends Susan and Christine, joined us for two of the days ... it was great!!

Dolly showed up with a beautiful set of images from Altenew for me ... Fragrant Florals.  It included matching stamp, die, embossing folder, and layering stencils.  I made the card above using just the embossing folder and layering stencils and I'm looking forward to playing soon with the stamp and die! :) 

After I finished sponging through the stencils onto the embossed image, I took a SU! marker (early espresso) and drew in the branches and stamens.  And I used diluted distress ink (Mowed Lawn) and a fine paint brush to draw in the embossed veins on the leaves.  These little additions made a big difference. :)

Thank you Dolly, for this beautiful set.  I am going to have loads of fun making many cards with it!!  And thank you for the visit, I had such a great time!! :)

Close-up ...

Sending this card to the following challenges:

1)  IDEAS Challenge - Week 1 - Inks (sponged with distress inks)

2)  NBUS Challenge #75 - new folder and stencil sets

 

Thanks for stopping by!

Stamps:  Fragrant Florals (Altenew); Many Everyday Message (Hero Arts - retired)

Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.)
Ink:   Distress Inks:  Abandoned Coral, Mustard Seed, Wilted Violet, Mowed Lawn; SU! marker - Early Espresso
Accessories:  Fragrant Florals embossing folder (Altenew), sponges, fine watercolour paint brush,  

Challenges:

IDEAS Challenge - Week 1 - Inks

S Challenge #75

Orange Roses

Hi everyone.  Today's card is the second image from the stamp set, Enchantingly (Penny Black).  Here's a link to the first image I used.  

I stamped the flowers in Toffee Crunch ink and then watercoloured with Distress Inks.  I used a circle stencil to add dots to the background using a light green.  The sentiment (Super Day - Penny Black) is stamped in more Toffee Crunch to finish the card.  

Close-up ...

Imspired to make this card by the following challenges:

1) The Flower Challenge #102 - Add Spots or Stripes

2) Penny Black Saturday Challenge - May - Anythng PB Goes

3) Just Us Girls #776 - Stencil week - Edited to add, thanks to Lisa! :)

 

* * * * *

My friends Fran & Deb were over for a visit recently.

Fran snapped this photo of Jessie chill-axing. :)

 

Thanks for stopping by!

Stamps:  Enchantingly; Super Day (both Penny Black)

Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.)
Ink:   Toffee Crunch (Memento); Distress Inks:  Shabby Shutters, Peeled Paint, Ripe Persimmon (Tim Holtz)
Accessories:   Watercolour paint brushes, Circle Stencil (Silhouette America cut file); sponges

Challenges:

The Flower Challenge #102

Penny Black Saturday Challenge - May

Just Us Girls #776 - Stencil week