Santa in September

Hi everyone.  Today I'm playing along with Christmas Kickstart Challenge #102 - Santa in September.  I don't have many Santa stamps or dies, but I have kept this older stamp from Wild Rose ... loved their sweet images, but sadly, they are no longer in business.

I stamped the Santa / reindeer image onto mixed media paper in black ink and heat embossed with clear before watercolouring with distress inks (I'll list them below --- so many colours!!). :)  I fussy-cut the image and set aside.  Sponged the sky in two shades of blue, tore snowhills for the bottom, and paper pieced my watercoloured image on top.  Finished the card off by adding a simple sentiment and a splattering of white diluted acrylic paint for falling snow.

Close-up ...

Thanks for stopping by!

Stamps:  Santa with Rudolph (Wild Rose Studios); Christmas Sentiments (Penny Black)

Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.)
Ink:  Black (Memento); Distress Inks:  Antique Linen, Brushed Corduroy, Gathered Twigs, Ground Espresso, Candied Apple, Aged Mahogany, Mowed Lawn, Rustic Wilderness, Salty Ocean, Black Soot (Tim Holtz)  
Accessories:   Clear embossing powder, heat tool, watercolour paint brushes, sponges, white acrylic paint for splattering

Challenges:

Christmas Kickstart Challenge #102 - Santa in September

More Ombré for Gof7

Hi everyone.  More cards for December's Group of Seven - Ombré - Design Element.  Today I'm sharing two Winter / Christmas cards that use stenciling with the Ombré technique. 

Group of Seven Cardmakers

I used DOX inks for sponging the Ombré background ... they go on so smoothly and create more of an opaque look.  I used three shades of purple inks (Shaded Lilac, Wilted Violet, Villaneous Potion) over top of the stencil I made from a Tree Frame die (Gina Marie Designs), cut from Yupo paper.  Yupo makes great stencils ... it doesn't tear and you can use it many times; plus any water soluable ink will wipe off with a damp paper towel. :)

I cut my panel down a bit and then added a stamped sentiment in Wilted Violet ink to match the sponging.  Very quick and easy card to make!

Sending the above card to CAS on Friday Challenge #300 - Winter ...

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For the next card, I used a lovely tree stencil from STAMPlorations called Christmas Trees.  I created a sponged Ombré background for the branches using only one colour of distress ink - Mowed Lawn.  The star is also Ombré using Wild Honey distress ink.  Once the sponging was dry, I placed the clean stencil back over top and used a palette knife to add a layer of Glass Bead Gel (Golden).  It's so beautiful when it dries, showing off the colour below and creating a sparkly finish on top with lots of texture.   A simple sentiment vellum banner, heat embossing with gold glitter powder, finishes this CAS design.

Sending the above card to Merry Little Christmas Challenge #60 - Anything Christmas Goes.

Thanks for stopping by!

Card #1:

Stamps:  Christmas Sampler (Paper Smooches - closed)

Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.)

Ink:   Distress Oxide Inks: Shaded Lilac, Wilted Violet, Villaneous Potion (Tim Holtz)
Accessories:   Sponges, Tree frame die (Gina Marie Designs) for creating stencil, Yupo Paper

Card #2:

Stamps:  Christmas Sampler (Paper Smooches - closed)

Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.)

Ink:   Distress Inks: Mowed Lawn, Wild Honey (Tim Holtz)
Accessories:   Sponges, Christmas Tree stencil (STAMPlorations), Glass Bead Gel (Golden); palette knife

Challenges:

Group of Seven - Ombré - Design Element

CAS on Friday Challenge #300 - Winter

Merry Little Christmas Challenge #60 - Anything Christmas Goes

Winter Storm

Hi everyone.  I had fun playing with Brushos yesterday.  It's been a while.  I forgot how messy they can be. :)  Next time I will definitely wear protective gloves. :)

But, you can't deny, that the colours are so amazing.  I used just Black Brushos over top of the Aspen Tree Stencil (The Crafter's Workshop) on mixed media paper.  I spritzed with lots of water, quickly removed the stencil and let the water sit for a few seconds before carefully blotting with a paper towel.  I LOVE the gorgeous mix of colours you get.  Very simple card to make too!!  I added two snowhills by tearing my white card stock for the bottom; splattered diluted white acrylic paint for falling snow, and added a simple sentiment.  Done! :)

Close-up ...

I made this specifically for the January Stencil Fun challenge - Hello and/or Winter.  Thanks for the great challenge Darlene & Diane!!

Thanks for stopping by!

Stamps:  Snowglobe Sayings (retired - MFT)

Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.); Black card stock (SU!)
Ink:   Black Brushos; Black (Memento)
Accessories:   water mister, Aspen Tree stencil (The Crafter's Workshop), white acrylic paint, splatter brush, Deer Trio die (IO)

Challenges:

January Stencil Fun challenge - Hello and/or Winter. 

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

Penny Black - Mistletoe

Hi everyone.  I'm sharing a CAS (clean & simple) card using an adorable image from PB's Christmas release, Mistletoe (31-084).  I stamped in black ink and watercoloured with Distress Inks.  I cut out the image using the matching die-cut, Mistletoe Cut Out (51-846).

The background is debossed using Geometric (65-007), a Penny Black embossing folder, adding a torn snow hill at the bottom and popping the image up over top of the embossing.  A simple sentiment (Shine Upon You (30-928), Penny Black finishes the card.

Close-up ...

Sending this card to the following challenges:

1) Darnell's IDEAS October Challenge - Dies - used dies to cut out the two images

2) NBUS Challenge #67

  

Thanks for stopping by!

Stamps:  Mistletoe (Penny Black); Shine Upon You (Penny Black)

Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.)
Ink:  Black Pigment (Versafine Clair Nocturne); Distress Inks:  Unchartered Mariner, Rustic Wilderness, Mowed Lawn, Black Soot, Candied Apple, Aged Mahogany (Tim Holtz)  
Accessories:   Mistletoe Cut Out (Penny Black), watercolour brushes, Geometric EF (Penny Black), red chalk

Challenges:

IDEAS Oct. Challenge - Dies

NBUS Challenge #67

Penny Black - Merry Days

Hi everyone.  Today I'm sharing another image from the new Christmas release from Penny Black.  This stamp set is called Merry Days (31-075).

I stamped the image in black pigment ink onto mixed media paper.  I heat set the image before watercolouring using Distress Inks (see below card recipe for list).  Red chalk was added to the bear's cheeks.  The image was die-cut using the matching die (Merry Days Cut Out 51-836).

I used a second piece of mixed media paper, adding a watercolour wash to the background with Salvaged Patina ink.  Once dry, I splattered with diluted white gouache paint and then added some torn snowhills at the bottom.

Stamped the sentiment (from the same stamp set) in black pigment ink and then adhered the image flush at the bottom, popping up the top for added dimension.  The panel was adhered to a card base.

Close-up ...

Sending this card to the Penny Black Saturday Challenge - October - Anything PB Goes. 

Thanks for stopping by!

Penny Black Products

Merry Days 31-075

Merry Days Cut Out (51-836)

Stamps:  Merry Days (Penny Black

Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.)
Ink:   Black Pigment (Versafine Clair Nocturne); Distress Inks:  Candied Apple, Aged Mahogany, Brushed Corduroy, Gathered Twigs, Mowed Lawn, Rustic Wilderness, Salvaged Patina, Unchartered Mariner (Tim Holtz)
Accessories:  Merry Days Cut Out (Penny Black), diluted white Gouache Paint for splattering

Challenges:

PBSC - October

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 (Kuretake)
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

Vellum - Group of Seven

Hi everyone.  For this month at Group of Seven Cardmakers, we are focussing on a product ... Vellum.  Specifically for this month, we are using Vellum with Embossing:  Dry, Heat, and Wet (embossing pastes or gels).  Vellum gives a wonderful dreamy look, but can also be used in many different ways.

Please check out the details for the product focus and link to videos on the blog ...

Group of Seven Cardmakers

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

• I found using a thick vellum much easier, especially for Dry embossing.  Thinner vellums have a tendancy to crack and tear.
• The thicker vellum also helps limit the curl of the paper with heat embossing and wet embossing (embossing pastes or gels).
• When dry embossing with vellum, the design usually turns white when the paper is "stretched" by the embossing folder.  You can enhance the white using a stylus and mat if you want it more pronounced.
• Vellum is a bit tricky to adhere to cards because of it's semi-translucent nature.  Cut the vellum piece larger than needed and used the excess to folder over the sides to secure at the back.  Another way is to add a frame over top of the vellum, hiding the adhesives under the frame.  I found if you have a busy pattern (see card #4 below), you will not notice small lines of adhesive (it gets lost in the pattern).

* * * * *

For my first card in today's post, I used a simple technique of dry embossing Vellum with an embossing folder (Gracious Leaves - Memory Box).  It's simple and quick, and the results are always beautiful with the embossed vellum.  I added a white die-cut of deers and torn hills for the snow.  The sentiment is Merry Messages (Lawn Fawn) stamped in Delicata Silver pigment ink.

Close-up ...

Then I made the same card, this time adding sponging of Distress Inks (Cracked Pistacio, Evergreen Bough, Pine Needles), to the back of the vellum before mounting it onto my card front.  Simply adding sponging completely changes the look of the card. :)

Sending the above card to Rudolph Days August Challenge.

* * * * *

For this next card, I followed this video, which shows how to emboss vellum using a stylus and mat. 

I stamped my image in permanent ink onto thick vellum, flipped it over and placed on top of a sponge mat.  I used different sizes of stylus tips to add pressure in a circular motion to shape the two flower heads and one bud.  I went over the areas several times unti they were smooth and they image changed to white.  I fussy-cut my image and then placed it over a background from my stash (peacock blue re-inker with inka gold).  To finish, I popped up my panel and stamped a happy birthday sentiment in black ink.

* * * * *

Next, I'm sharing a card using Heat Embossing on Vellum.  This is an awesome technique, created by the wonderfully talented Chrissie Stokes (Simply One of a Kind).  She has a few videos showing variations of this technique using vellum and heat embossing.  I followed this video.

Using the cling stamp Bejeweled (Penny Black), I stamped the image on the front of my vellum and heat embossed with white embossing powder.  I added more random bits of the image (always heat embossing in white), leaving lots of open space in the background.  I flipped the vellum over and stamped the same image several times (one of the whole image and more of bits and pieces).  This time the stamp was inked with Distress Inks:  Carved Pumpkin, Candied Apple, Lucky Clover.  After each stamping, I sprinkled the image with clear embossing powder and heat set.

The panel was mounted onto a card base, with a sentiment banner at the bottom.  Happy Birthday (Special Sentiments - Penny Black) was stamped in more of the Carved Pumpkin, with dashes of Candied Apple over top.  This card makes me happy.  It's so bright and cheerful. :)

Sending the above card to Seize the Birthday #290.

* * * * *

And my last card uses Embossing Paste on Vellum.   I used the thick vellum again, and it warped slightly even though I taped it down well.  I think the texture adds to the overall design of the card, so I'm happy with it and will definitely use paste on vellum again.

I used an older stamp set from Simon Says Stamp (Bouquet of Thanks - retired), stamped in black ink and clear heat embossed.  I watercoloured with Distress Re-inkers (Picked Raspberry, Shabby Shutters) and die-cut with the matching die.  I placed it over the vellum, which is secured to my card base with sticky strips along the edge of the four sides of my base.  It doesn't show very must in real life because of the pattern of the stenciling and the texture of the vellum.  I added a simple white embossed sentiment (Endless Birthdays - SU! - retired) on black banner; then dots of black ink for the flower centers using micro pens.

Sending the above card to Die-cut Diva's August Challenge.  I've used Wet Embossing on this card. :)

Thanks for stopping by!

Card #1 & 2:

Stamps:  Merry Messages (Lawn Fawn)

Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Vellum - Thick (Oplymio)
Ink:   Distress Inks:  Cracked Pistacio, Evergreen Bough, Pine Needles (Tim Holtz)
Accessories:   Gracious Leaves Embossing Folder, sponges, 

Card #3:

Stamps:  Retired (Clearly Besotted); Everyday Messages (unknown)

Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.); Vellum - Thick (Oplymio)
Ink:   Peacock Feathers Distress Re-inkers; Black Archival (Ranger)
Accessories:   Stylus, Sponge Mat, Inka Gold Wax

Card #4:

Stamps:  Bouquet of Thanks (SSS); Endless Birthdays (SU! - retired)

Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.); Black card stock (SU!)
Ink:   Nocturne (VersaFine Clair); Distress Re-inkers:  Picked Raspberry, Shabby Shutters (Tim Holtz); Versamark
Accessories:   Wander & Find stencil - retired (Carta Bella); Embossing Paste (Golden), palette knife, Clear embossing powder (Ranger), watercolour paint brushes, White embossing powder (Ranger), micro black markers

Challenges:

Group of Seven - Vellum

Rudolph Days August Challenge

Seize the Birthday #290

Die-cut Divas August Challenge

Multiple Makes #2 - Christmas

Hi everyone.  I'm back with another multiple makes self-challenge for building my Christmas card stash.  I'm sharing five cards today.

Today's feature is a stamp and die set from Gerda Steiner - Little Reindeer.  I've had this for a few years and have already made several cards using it.  I'm always smiling when I colour this image ... it's so darn CUTE! :)  

For the first card, I followed Jill Foster's video, Permission to Play video #1 and used her sketch.  This is so sweet.  Love the embossed background (Snowflake embossing folder - retired - Cuttlebug).

All the reindeers for these cards are watercoloured the same.

Sending the above card to the Merry Little Christmas Challenge #57:

 

                * * * * *

For the next card I sponged the sky with Distress Inks, fading out to white about 2/3 of the way down the card front.  The sentiment (Merry Messages - Lawn Fawn) is stamped with Candied Apple Distress Oxide Ink.  For the finishing touch, I splattered diluted white gouache paint for falling snow.

* * * * *

For the third card, I used a piece of patterned paper (gifted from a friend) for the card front, cutting a circle aperture for the reindeer to poke his head through. :)  The sentiment is an oldy, but a goody from Paper Smooches, stamped in Candied Apple DOX ink.

* * * * *

The above card is another of Jill Foster's sweet sketches from her Permission to Play video #8.  I used a curved stitch die (gift from a friend) to cut my main panel, adhering over top of my card front which is dry embossed with the same embossing folder as card #1 above.  I stamped the sentiment in Candied Apple DOX ink, added a small grounding (Pumice Stone), and added my reindeer over top.  So simple and makes a sweet card. :)

* * * * *

The last card uses an older tag die, cut from snowflake patterened paper.  I added a torn piece of white card stock for a snow bank and adhered the reindeer on top.  Another Paper Smooches sentiment stamped in Candied Apple DOX ink, finishes the card.

Thanks for stopping by!

Stamps:  Little Reinder (Gerda Steiner); Merry Messages (Lawn Fawn); Christmas Sampler (Paper Smooches - closed)

Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.); Patterened paper (gift from a friend)
Ink:   Black Pigment ink (Obsidian - Altenew); Distress Inks:  Salty Ocean, Broken China, Frayed Burlap, Pumice Stone, Mowed Lawn, Candied Apple, Mustard Seed, Ground Espresso (Tim Holtz)
Accessories:   Little Reinder die (Gerda Steiner), Snowflake embossing folder - retired (Cuttlebug), watercolour brushes, Crystal Glaze (Nuvo), diluted white gouache paint

Challenges:

Merry Little Christmas Challenge #57