Inspiring Iris

Hi everyone.  Before I get to today's card, I will be signing off for a few of weeks as we move to our new home.  I'll be back before you know it! :)

Today's card is a CAS design using a lovely stamp set from SU (Inspiring Iris).  I've had this stamp in my NBUS (never-before-used-schtuff) box for a LONG time! :)

I started by masking a rectangle using Background Basics stencil (Penny Black) and a sponge brush with Salvaged Patina Distress Ink to create an ombre background.  Then I stamped the outline image of the irises.  There is a matching stamp for the flower heads, but I couldn't get it to line up, so I watercoloured with more Distress Inks (Milled Lavender, Wilted Violet, Mustard Seed, Mowed Lawn).

To finish, I stamped the sentiment (Super Day - Penny Black), in black ink.

Close-up ...

I'm sending the above card to the following challenges:

1) NBUS Challenge #71

2) CAS on Friday - Challenge #301 - Flowers

3) We Love Stamping February Challenge - CAS

  

Thanks for stopping by!

Stamps:  Inspiring Iris (SU!); Super Day (Penny Black)

Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.)
Ink:   Distress Inks:  Salvage Patina, Milled Lavender, Wilted Violet, Mustard Seed, Mowed Lawn (Tim Holtz); Black (Memento)
Accessories:   Background Basics stencils (Penny Black), sponges, watercolour paint brush

Challenges:

NBUS Challenge #71 

CAS on Friday - Challenge #301 - Flowers

We Love Stamping February Challenge - CAS

Happy New Year!!

Hi everyone.  I hope you had a wonderful Holiday season and are starting off 2025 happy and healthy!!

Last year was a tough year for me.  I had more medical issues to deal with and ended up having surgery near the end of July.  It's taken most of the remainder of 2024 for me to recovery, but I am now feeling much better. 

On a positive note ... we found our forever home and get the keys a few days ago! YAY!  We sold in May last year and weren't able to find what we wanted so leased a rental house for a year.  Thankfully, we now can take our time moving into our new house since we still have the rental house until the end of March.  It all worked out in the end!! :)

On to today's card ...

I was inspired a three challenges to create this card using some new-to-me Christmas gifts. :)

I started by sponging the background of my card front panel with distress inks (Salvaged Patina, Wilted Violet), then ran it through my Gemini with the Comfy embossing folder (Penny Black).  I used my white pigment ink pad to lightly tap over top of the embossing, which left white ink on the highlights of the texture.  I tore two strips of white card stock to create the snow hills at the bottom and added a die-cut reindeer, (Antlers - Penny Black), cut twice and glued together to create a thick die-cut.  The sentiment (Festive Snippets - Penny Black) is stamped at the bottom in more Salvaged Patina ink.

This card is made with all Penny Black products. :)  Speaking of Penny Black, I have been a contributor for them since 2018, along with many other talented card makers.  This year they have switched things up and are not using most of the past contributors.  I'm a little sad that I won't be designing for them.

Close-up ...

Sending this card to the following challenges:

1)  NBUS Challenge #70- never-before-used schtuff

2)  Can you Handle the Pressure - Anything Goes Embossing with a Twist of Winter

  

Thanks for stopping by!

Stamps:  Festive Snippets (Penny Black)

Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.)
Ink:   Distress Inks:  Salvage Patina, Wilted Violet (Tim Holtz); Unicorn pigment ink (white) - Hero Arts
Accessories:   Comfy embossing folder (Penny Black), Antlers die (Penny Black), sponges 

Challenges:

NBUS Challenge #70

Can you Handle the Pressure

Ombré - Group of Seven

Hi everyone.  This month we are working with the Ombré Technique (shades of colour) to create a light to dark background or main focal point.  There are a variety of ways to create theOmbré look in card making ... sponging, die-cutting, watercolouring, stamping, or stenciling.  I have done Ombré before on cards, but when experimenting this month, I realized that I need to do this technique more often!! :)

Please check out the details for the Design Element - Ombré and link to videos on the blog ...

Group of Seven Cardmakers

Here's what I learned when I experimented with this technique ...

• Ombré is achieved in many different ways, so it is very versatile.  You can stamp, sponge, stencil, watercolour, and die-cut to create the look.
• Shades of one colour is most common for Ombré.  However, shades of a few colours that are in the same colour family (Anagolous), also work well.  You can check you the Anagolous Colours HERE.

For the card above, I created an Ombré background by sponging four colours on distress inks onto vellum.  I flipped it over to so that the front of the card doesn't have the exposed ink, which can rub off.  I layered the vellum between two snowglobe frames and then added the deer/tree die-cut.  I also used the snowglobe die to out my card base, making sure to have the top of the snowglobe well above the fold, leaving the fold intact.

To finish, I splattered diluted white gouache paint and also added silver drops using a metallic pen.  The sentiment (long retired) is stamped in Delicata Silver to match.

Sending this card to Rudolph Days December Challenge. :)  Thanks Helen!

* * * * *

I then created three more Ombré backgrounds using smaller pieces of card stock (1/8 of a sheet) ...

The card below is sponged in shades of blue (Tumbled Glass, Salty Ocean, Chipped Sapphire) distress inks.  The blue background is topped with a black die-cut, framed tree.  I cut two and glued them together to create a thicker die-cut.  The main panel is popped up over top of a black card base.

Sending the above card to the Simply Clean & Simple December challenge.

The card below is sponged with Saltwater Taffy, Abandoned Coral, Candied Apple distress inks.  The coral background is stamped in black with a silhouette stamp (Just Because from Uniko).  The sentiment (Happy Messages - Stampendous) is stamped at the bottom and a thin piece of black card stock is added to separate the image from the sentiment, as well as grounding the image so it doesn't look like it's floating on the panel.  The main panel is popped up over top of a black card base.

 

For the third and last card for this post, using a smaller ombre background, I used three colours instead of shades of one colour; yellow (Mustard Seed); orange (Carved Pumpkin); and red (Candied Apple).  I adhered the background to my black card front, popping up a black die-cut (Birch Tree Window - Simon Says Stamp) that cuts out the background, letting the Ombré sky show through.  I stamped the sentiment in Silver Delicata Ink.  I think this sunset is so pretty!! :)

Thanks for stopping by!

Card #1:

Stamps:  Christmas Sampler (Paper Smooches - closed)

Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Vellum
Ink:   Distress Inks:  Tumbled Glass, Broken China, Salty Ocean, Chipped Sapphire (Tim Holtz); Delicata Silver (Tsukineko)
Accessories:   Snow Globe dies (Honey Bee); Deer & Tree die (AliExpress), sponges, splatter brush, White Gouache Paint, Silver Metallic Pen

Card #2:

Stamps:  Many Everyday Messages (Hero Arts) 

Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Black card stock (SU!)
Ink:   Distress Inks:  Tumbled Glass, Salty Ocean, Chipped Sapphire (Tim Holtz); Black (Memento)

Accessories:  Sponges, Framed Tree die (AliExpress)

Card #3:

Stamps:  Just Because (Uniko); Happy Messages (Stampendous) 

Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); 
Ink:   Distress Inks:  Saltwater Taffy, Abandoned Coral, Candied Apple (Tim Holtz); Black (Memento)
Accessories: Sponges

Card #4:

Stamps:  Cosmos (Technique Tuesday)

Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Black card stock (SU!)
Ink:   Distress Inks:  Mustard Seed, Carved Pumpkin, Candied Apple (Tim Holtz); Silver Delicata (Tsukineko)
Accessories:  Sponges, Square Tree Frame die (AliExpress), White embossing powder, heat tool

Challenges:

Group of Seven - Ombre

Rudolph Days December Challenge

Simply Clean & Simple December challenge

Penny Black - The Star

Hi everyone.  Today I'm sharing a card made with an adorable, new image from Penny Black called The Star (31-182).  I watercoloured the image with distress inks and used the matching die (The Star Cut Out - 51-845) to cut out and pop up over top of my background.

The background is done on vellum, stamped multiple times with three different snowflakes from Snow Charm (Penny Black).  I stamped them in Versamark and heat embossed in white.  I flipped the vellum over and sponged Salvaged Patina randomly over the background.  The background was splattered with white ink to create falling snow and heat embossed to dry before mounting it between two frames (Semi-Circle Stackers - 51-706) from Penny Black. The Star image was adhered to the front of the vellum and a simple sentiment (Full of Christmas - 30-734) Penny Black, was stamped in black.

The whole panel was popped up with 1/4" adhesive foam strips on the back of the frame.  This allows the dreaminess of vellum to show.

Close-up ...

Sending card #1 to the following challenges:

1) NBUS Challenge #67

2) Merry Little Christmas Challenge #58 - Anything Christmas Goes

Thanks for stopping by!

Penny Black Store

 

                                            The Star (31-082)                       The Star Cut Out (51-845)

                                            Snow Charm (30-772)            Semi-Circle Stackers (51-706)

Full of Christmas (30-734)

Stamps:  The Star (Penny Black); Snow Charm (Penny Black); Posted (Penny Black)

Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.); Thick Vellum (Oplymio - Amazon)
Ink:   Black Pigment (Versafine Claire Nocturne); Shadow Grey (Archival - Ranger); Distress Inks:  Candied Apple, Aged Mahogany, Mowed Lawn, Rustic Wilderness, Brushed Corduroy, Gathered Twigs, Mustard Seed, Spiced Marmalade, Salvaged Patina, Black Soot (Tim Holtz); Zigs (Flesh Colour)
Accessories:   White embossing powder (Ranger), heat tool, watercolour brushes, sponges, diluted white ink, Semi-Circle Stackers (Penny Black)

Challenges:

NBUS Challenge #67

Merry Little Christmas Challenge #58 - Anything Christmas Goes

Penny Black - Messenger

For the above card I started with stamping the main image, Messenger (Penny Black) onto mixed media paper using black pigment ink.  The image was heat set before watercolouring with Distress Inks and Zig markers.  The small rectange stencil from Background Basics (Penny Black) was placed over top before sponging with Brushed Corduroy Distress Ink around the inside edges.  The Double Frames (Penny Black) were cut from red card stock and patterned green card and layered over top of the image.  To finish, the sentiment (from the same stamp set) was stamped in more black ink.  The sponging and double frames give this a vintage look.

Made a second card using everything the same as above, except for reversing the order of the card used for the double frames ...  

... and one more using this beautiful image ...

I fussy-cut the bird and pinecone after watercolouring with Distress inks on mixed media paper.  The full image was stamped again onto a patterned paper leftover cut from the center of the frame in card one.  The fussy-cut cardinal and pinecone were adhered over top of the bottom image to add depth (paper piecing).  I used my zig markers to add colour to the pine branch.  The sentiment from the same stamp set was stamped in Candied Apple Distress ink to finish the card.

Sending the above card to:

1) Rudolph Days Challenge - September.  Thanks Helen!

2) Simply Clean & Simple Challenge - September

 

Thanks for stopping by!

Penny Black Products

Messenger (31-085)

Background Basics (25-021)

Double Frames (51-825)

Stamps:  Messenger (Penny Black)

Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.); Real Red card stock (SU!); Always Artichoke patterned paper (SU!)
Ink:   Black pigment ink (Versafine Clair Nocturne); Distress Inks:  Candied Apple, Aged Mahogany, Black Soot, Brushed Corduroy, Gathered Twigs (Tim Holtz); Zig watercolour markers
Accessories:   Watercolour paint brushes, Background Basics (Stencils - Penny Black); Double Frames dies (Penny Black)

Challenges:

Rudolph Days Challenge - September

Simply Clean & Simple Challenge - September

Multiple Makes #3 - Christmas

Hi everyone.  Welcome to my third post on multiple makes.  My Christmas stash of cards is building and I'm really happy with the progress, thanks to my multiple makes. :)  I'm sharing six CAS (clean and simple) cards today. :)

I'm featuring the Festive Finesse die from Penny Black.  I've had this for over a year and have only used it once --- shame on me!!  

For the card above, I watercoloured the Festive Finesse die with Distress re-inkers, adding shaping with a mat and stylus.  I also stamped and die-cut a watering can from the Country Charisma set (Penny Black), watercolouring with Rusty Hinge Distress Re-inker.  A extacto knife was used to cut a slit in the watering can lid so I could slip the stem through to the back.  The lower leaf and berries were cut from the die-cut and then added back into the bouquet mix.  A simple stamped sentiment (Christmas Sentiments - Penny Black) is stamped in more red ink and the bouquet was popped up for added dimension.

* * * * *

The next card is very CAS, with just a simple sponged rectangle using the Background Basics Stencil - 25-21 (Penny Black) with Mowed Lawn and Peacock Feathers Distress inks.  I diluted white gouache paint and splattered over top, along with splattering over the Festive Finesse die-cut from mixed media paper.  I stamped "peace" from the Full of Christmas stamp set (Penny Black) in versamark and heat embossed in white.  I adhered the sprig to the top right corner of the sponged rectangle to finish the card. 

* * * * *

This time I dry embossed (Dots & Dashes - Penny Black) a piece of vellum and adhered onto my card base.  I cut a rectangle frame, stamped the sentiment (Believe - Penny Black) in Versamark and heat embossed with Princess Gold embossing powder.  I adhered the frame over top of the embossed vellum card front, adding the Festive Finesse sprig die-cut from gold metallic paper in the rectangle frame.  Very simple card to make that doesn't really look simple! :)  For some reason the camera doesn't show how pretty the vellum is ... it looks very dreamy in the background in real life. :(

Sending the above card to the following Challenges:

Die-cut Diva's August Challenge.  I used dry embossing on my card.

Can you Handle the Pressure - twist of leaves

 

* * * * *

For the next card I pulled out my Gilding Flakes that I haven't used for a while (Red Blaze - Cosmic Shimmer).  I used double-sided tape to adhere to a piece of card stock, then die-cut the Festive Finesse.  Removed the cover and sprinkled gilding flakes over top.  I used a Rub 'n Scrub pad to remove excess flakes and burnish the remainder to my die-cut.

I layered it over top of a white die-cut to give it more texture and depth and then added a black sentiment border which has been foiled in copper, using the Stick & Shine - Xmas Classics (Penny Black).  To finish, I added a very thin piece of copper glitter paper.

* * * * *

For the card above, I die-cut two of the Festive Finesse sprigs and watercoloured them with Distress Re-inkers.  I cut them up into individual stems and layered them on my card front, placing the (NBUS - never-before-used-schtuff) basket die (Berry Basket - Penny Black) over top.  The basket was die-cut from kraft card stock and pounced lightly with my Gathered Twigs stamp pad to add highlights to the embossed design.  A simple sentiment (Full of Christmas - Penny Black) is stamped three times in Candied Apple Distress ink.  I splattered white paint to finish the card.

Sending the above card to NBUS Challenge #65:

* * * * *

For my last card I used the Immense Joy die (Penny Black).  I die-cut two of the Festive Finesse die from mixed media paper and then watercoloured with Distress Re-inkers.  I used one whole die, plus I cut one up for pieces, and arranged them together to fill the "O".  

The card base is black card stock, with the black JOY secured in place.  I die-cut a second JOY from brown buffalo plaid and glued it on top of the black.  I splattered white for snow over top.  I love how the greenery and berries pop against the black. :)

Thanks for stopping by!

Card #1:

Stamps:  Country Charisma (Penny Black); Christmas Sentiments (Penny Black)

Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.)
Ink:   Distress Inks:  Shabby Shutters, Peeled Paint, Candied Apple, Aged Mahogany, Rusty Hinge (Tim Holtz)
Accessories:   Paint brushes, exacto knife, White acrylic pen (Posca)

Card #2:

Stamps:  Full of Christmas (Penny Black)

Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.)
Ink:   Distress Inks:  Mowed Lawn, Peacock Feathers (Tim Holtz); Versamark
Accessories:   Festive Finesse die (Penny Black); Rectangle Mask (Penny Black); sponges, White embossing powder (Ranger), white gouache paint

Card #3:

Stamps:  Believe (Penny Black)

Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Thick Vellum (Oplymio); Gold Metallic Paper (Tonic)
Ink:   Versamark
Accessories:  Festive Finesse die (Penny Black); Dots & Dashes embossing folder (Penny Black); Rectangle die (Spellbinders),  Princess Gold embossing powder (Ranger)

Card #4:

Stamps:  Xmas Classics - Stick & Shine(Penny Black)

Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Black card stock (SU!); Copper Glitter Paper (SU!)
Ink:   n/a
Accessories:  Festive Finesse die (Penny Black); Copper Foil

Card #5:

Stamps:  Full of Christmas (Penny Black)

Paper:  White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.); Kraft Card Stock (Carta Bella)

Ink:  Distress Re-inkers:  Cracked Pistacio, Pine Needles, Candied Apple, Aged Mahogany; Distress Ink:  Gathered Twigs (Tim Holtz)

Accessories:  Festive Finesse die (Penny Black); Berry Basket die (Penny Black), watercolour brushes

Card #6:

Stamps:  n/a

Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.); Black card stock (SU!); Buffalo Plaid Designer Paper (Carta Bella)
Ink:   Distress Re-inkers:  Mowed Lawn, Candied Apple (Tim Holtz)
Accessories:   Immense Joy (Penny Black); Festive Finesse die (Penny Black); watercolour brushes, white acrylic pen (Posca)

Challenges:

Die-Cut Diva's August Challenge

Can you Handle the Pressure?

NBUS Challenge #65 

My Favourite Colours

Hi everyone.  When I saw the challenge at Just Us Girls #738 (orange and hot pink), I just had to play along as this is my favourite colour combo! :)   I also am playing along with Seize the Birthday #288 - Tic Tac Toe (I chose the right column ... stencil-dots-sentiment without the word "birthday").  My sweet friend Bonnie is Guest Designing at both challenges --- congrats dear friend!!  

And it's Monday, which means it's a new IDEAS Challenge - Inks with Darnell. 

 

I started by sponging the Honeycomb Stencil (Penny Black) with Spiced Marmalde ink.  I just wanted a bit of pattern at the bottom and up one side.  Next, I stamped my flower (Nature's Magic - Altenew) in black onto mixed media paper and heat embossed in clear.  I added dashes of colour from my Distress Markers (Picked Raspberry and Carved Pumpkin) to each petal and then used a wet paint brush to spread the ink.  I used Lost Shadow Distress ink for the leaves and then die-cut the flowers and set them aside.  

A simple sentiment (Super Day - Penny Black) is stamped in black and heat embossed in clear on the stenciled card front.  I then used more Carved Pumpkin ink (diluted) to splatter the background (dots!). :)  I popped up the flowers over top.

Close-up ...

Thanks to all three of these challenges for inspiring me to make this card.  I had fun! :)

 

And thank you for stopping by!

Stamps: Nature's Magic (Altenew); Super Day (Penny Black) 

Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.)
Ink:  Black (Memento); Distress Markers:  Picked Raspberry, Carved Pumpkin, Lost Shadow 
Accessories:   Honeycomb stencil (Penny Black), sponge, Clear embossing powder (Ranger), heat tool), watercolour brushes, Nature's Magic die-cut (Altenew)

Challenges:

Just Us Girls #738 - orange and hot pink

Seize the Birthday #288 - Tic Tac Toe

IDEAS Challenge - Inks