Snowflake Ornament

Hi everyone.  Today's card is for the current challenge at Festive Friday (FFC24).  I love the inspiration photo and used it to create a snowflake ornament.  Here's the photo ...

I received a beautiful Christmas card last year from my friend Frances.  It was a card with the circle aperture on the front, filled with an round ornament stamped with a world map.  The sentiment was "peace on earth".  I thought it was so creative and I wanted to try to reproduce that beautiful design.

Unfortunately, I wasn't able to get a good photo that shows the sparkle and shine of the snowflake ornament.  I glued three snowflakes together to make one thick die-cut, then I coated it with two layers of dazzling diamonds and finally a coat of crystal effects (glossy accents).  It's so sparkly and shiny in real life ... you'll have to take my word on that :)

I love how it hangs in the cut-out and has movement (another thing that makes it difficult to photograph) :)

I do love this layout and design and realized that it totally fits with the CAS(E) this sketch! (#63) from today - isn't that a happy accident! :)

I'm also entering this into the current Addicted to Stamps and More - #81 - Anything Goes.

Stamps:  Traditional Christmas Sentiments - digital (Pink Petticoat)
Paper:  White (Neenah)
Accessories & Tools:  Big Shot, Circle Nestabilities (Spellbinders), Marianne snowflake die (Simon Says), dazzling diamonds, crystal effects, silver jump ring

Love You Valentine

Hi everyone.  Time for the latest challenge at Addicted to CAS.  Our host for this challenge is the amazingly talented Jaydee (Stampin' with Jaydee), and she chose this timely code word:

This challenge's sponsor is

Prize:  5 free digis
(please follow the rules to be eligible to win)

____________________

Such a perfect word for this time of year ... so I made a Valentine's card for my sweet hubby, Gord.  It is also our 35th wedding anniversary in a few weeks, so the card could be for either occasion.

I used one of the techniques I learned in my recent stenciling class.  I die-cut a heart and used the negative space to create a 3-D heart on my card front by adding crackle embossing paste.  After it dried, I sponged the heart with red ink and then added lots and lots of Crystal Effect (Glossy Accents).  It's hard to see the detail in the picture above, so I'll include a close up.  The paper looks gray in the photo below ... I had to take it in shadows because the light pounces off the Crystal Effects and it was the only way to show the crackle finish.

I cut out the "love you" sentiment with my Cameo.  Definitely starting to use it more and more and learning lots along the way.

We also have a treat for you over at Addicted to CAS ... we have a new guest designer for February.  Please welcome Anni (Annikarten) to our team!  Anni has a wonderfully fun and creative style and I know you're going to be inspired by her cards.  Welcome Anni!

And there's another treat!  Michelle Lupton (Handmade by Michelle) has joined our Design Team.  You are going to love her creative style.  Welcome Michelle!

Just a reminder that the ATCAS challenge (#31 - code word:  Love) runs for two weeks, so you have lots of time to join in the fun !  Hope to see you in the gallery!

Paper:  White, Black

Ink:  Real Red

Accessories & Tools:  Big Shot, Heart die (Simon Says), crackle embossing paste (Dreamweaver), palette knife, sponge, Silhouette Cameo

Copper Birthday

Hi everyone.  Back with another stenciled card using embossing paste - can't get enough of this technique! :)  Today I paired it with heated and die-cut copper for a masculine birthday card.

I discovered something by accident when making this.  I have very worn cutting plates for my Big Shot, and when I cut the copper, the back side took on the "design" of the cuts from my plate ... I loved the look - almost like a "hammered" metal.  I wanted that texture on the right side of my die-cut leaves, so I placed it back in my big shot, with the right side facing down on my worn cutting plate, placed the top cutting plate and ran it through.  This transferred the pattern ... and it totally flattened my sprig.  Awesome ... not only did I get the texture I wanted ... but all the sharp edges that I always worry about on my cards disappeared - a happy accident!  Then I just used my stylus and mat to add the dimension back into the leaves.

More about the card.  I masked off a strip on my stencil and filled with embossing paste.  Once dry, I mounted my copper sprig on top and added a small gray banner with an embossed sentiment.  Easy and fun card to make!

I'm entering this into the Less Is More Challenge (#156 - sketch).  Love this sketch!

Stamps:  Bitty Birthday (SU!)
Paper:  White (Neenah); Basic Gray (SU!)
Ink:  Versamark
Accessories & Tools:  Big Shot, Little Leaves die (Sizzix), Mini Cubist stencil (Crafter's Workshop), copper metal sheet .005 thickness (K&S Precision Metals), mini torch, white embossing powder, heat tool

Star of Wonder

Hi everyone.  Back with more homework from my stenciling class.  The class is now finished, but I have lots of technique that I haven't gotten to yet.  Today's card uses the stencil for adding embossing paste, and then covering the paste with embossing powder while it's still wet.  Once everything is dry, the embossing powder is heated until it melts.  Love the look of these raised stars for the backdrop.

I used the sketch from CAS(E) this sketch #61 for my card today (it is one of my favorites layouts and I use it A LOT!) :)

I added a large gold foil star for the focal with a star center of DP and a red rhinestone for a little color.  Some gold cording and Merry die-cut from gold foil finishes the card.  I LOVE gold!  I started using it a lot on my Christmas cards last year.

I'll be back tomorrow with more "homework".  For now, I'm in my studio playing and trying to stay warm as there are big, gaping holes in my house right now.  Our windows are being replaced.  It all started yesterday (and went very smoothly) ... so hopefully it will all be done by the end of tomorrow.  For now sweaters and more sweaters :)

Edited to add:  Just found out that this qualifiess for the Moxie Fab Challenge (Consellations:  Trendy Star Power Challenge) - thanks Bridget!

Paper:  White (Neenah); Gold Foil (SU!), Silver and Gold Collection (Bo Bunny)
Accessories & Tools:  Silhouette Cameo (for cutting my star template). embossing paste, palette knife, gold embossing powder, heat tool, Stacking star die (MFT), Merry die (Simon Says), gold cording, red rhinestone