Twofer Challenge #33

Hi everyone.  This is the last Twofer Challenge for the year (#33).  I have had fun playing along all year with Darnell's card challenge.  It really makes me think outside the box! :)

Please follow the rules ...

For today's cards it's all about the shine.  I made two cards using the same star stencil (Shooting Star - Funky Fossil).  It's also an extra challenge to photograph metallic embossing, so they look a little blurry, especially the first card (below).  

Close-up ...

I started by using four colours of distress inks direct-to-paper, adding colour randomly.  Spritzed with water and tilted to let the colours blend and move.  Dried and repeated to get deeper colours.  Once dry, I used silver glitter paste through the stars stencil.  I finished by stamping the sentiment (Thoughtful Greetings - Pretty Pink Posh) in silver ink and heat embossing with iridescent powder.

For the next card, I used a background from my stash of blended purple and blue inks.  I used the same stencil as above to create a canopy of stars over my deer and tries die-cut (die from AliExpress).  The stars are inked with silver ink and heat embossed in iridescent powder.  The sparkle of the iridescent glitter really show on this card.  Added a sentiment (Christmas Messages - Hero Arts) in silver ink to finish.

I hope you'll come join us for the last Twofer Challenge for 2020.  So much fun!  Hope to see you in the gallery!

Card #1 -  Thank my Lucky Stars
Stamps:Thoughtful Greetings (Pretty Pink Posh)
Paper:  Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.); Black card stock (Stampin; Up!)
Ink:  Distress Inks:  Cracked Pistacio, Peacock Feathers, Mermaid Lagoon, Black Soot (Tim Holtz); Silver Delicata (Tsukineko)
Accessories & Tools: Water mister, Shooting Star stencil (Funky Fossil), Silver embossing powder (Ranger), heat tool

Card#2 - Sparkling Christmas
Stamps:  Christmas Messages (Hero Arts)
Paper:  Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb); White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.)
Ink:  Distress Inks:  Salt Ocean, Chipped Sapphire, Wilted Violet (Tim Holtz); Silver Delicata (Tsukineko)
Accessories & Tools:  Sponges, Deer & Trees die (AliExpress), Shooting Star stencil (Funky Fossil), iridescent embossing powder, heat tool

Challenges:
Twofer Challenge #33 - Stars

Eileen Godwin Background Technique

Hi everyone.  I have seen a few of my blogger friends trying out this technique from Eileen Godwin, so I wanted to give it a try myself.  So cool and fun to do.  Click HERE for a link to Eileen's video.  This is my first try and it turned out pretty good.  I do need to have a lighter touch when blending the inks.

I used the same combination of distress inks as Eileen (Festive Berries, Faded Jeans, Mustard Seed) and the soft blending tools with the handles that I received as a gift from a sweet friend.  I used a spare piece of card stock as my straight edge.  I love the geometric, artsy look of the background.

I stamped Live Life Now (Visible Image) in black ink, along with the sentiment (AliExpress stamp).

Close-up ...

I'm sending this card over to the Just Us Girls #561 Challenge - Triangle.  The background has several sponged triangles.

Stamps:  Live Life Now (Visible Image); Dream (AliExpress)
Paper:   Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.)
Ink:   Distress Inks:  Festive Berries, Faded Jeans, Mustard Seed (Tim Holtz); Black (Memento)
Accessories:   blending brushes, 

Challenges:

Just Us Girls #561 - Triangle

Joy and Berries

Hi everyone.  I'm sharing two more Perfect Pearls cards that I started on last month's zoom call.  The Holday Floral Trio (Magenta) is stamped in Versamark and heat embossed in Liquid Platinum.  The small images were watercoloured using a mix of distress inks with pearl coloured Perfect Pearls.  The watercolouring really shimmers.

I wanted to try them in a different layout so cut apart the three squares (they stamp in a horizonal row). I stamped "joy" (Christmas Sentiments - Penny Black) in the blank space to balance the design (it's also heat embossed in Liquid Platinum).  The squares are popped up on foam to add dimension.

Close-up ... you can see the pearl shimmer in this photo ...

The second card uses the same ink colours mixed with pearl Perfect Pearls, along with Liquid Platinum embossing.

All the Trimings (Penny Black) was used, along with Season's Gifts (Penny Black) for the sentiment.  Fun and easy way to bring shimmer to your holiday cards!

Close-up ...

My Christmas stash of cards has been growing a lot lately! :)  Still more to make - YAY!  I do love making Christmas cards! :)

Card #1:  Joy

Stamps:  Holiday Floral Trio (Magenta); Christmas Sentiments (Penny Black)
Paper:   Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.); White card base (Neenah 110 lb.)
Ink:   Distress Inks:  Peeled Paint, Mustard Seed (Tim Holtz); Real Red ink (Stampin' Up!)
Accessories:   Liquid Platinum embossing powder (Ranger); heat tool, water brush, Pearl coloured Perfect Pearls

Card #2:  

Stamps:  All the Trimmings (Penny Black); Season's Gifts (Penny Black)
Paper:   Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.); White card base (Neenah 110 lb.)
Ink:   Distress Inks:  Peeled Paint, Mustard Seed (Tim Holtz); Real Red ink (Stampin' Up!)
Accessories:   Liquid Platinum embossing powder (Ranger); heat tool, water brush, Pearl coloured Perfect Pearls

The Flower Challenge #50

Hi everyone.  Welcome to the start of The Flower Challenge for November.  The challenge this month is "Use a Sentiment".  Remember to ensure flowers are the main part of your design.  We are thrilled to have Enna (Ritzy Baubles) as our Guest Designer this month.  Welcome Enna!!

We are getting close to the holiday season so I took the opportunity to create another Christmas card.  I still need to make a few more cards, but I'm almost there! :)

This is a beautiful image from Penny Black (Poinsettia Poem) which is stamped in archival black ink and watercoloured with a mix of distress and dye inks.  I found they don't blend that well on mixed media, so will stick to one or the other next time.  Always learning.  The sentiment is also from Penny Black (Believe).  I love how the sentiment filles the space below the corner floral spray.

Close-up ...

Please check out the challenge blog to see the amazing floral cards from our Designers and Guest Designer, Enna!  Then come join in with your floral card at our gallery.  Hope to see you there!

Also want to include our new team graphic designed by Viv!  Great work Viv!  

Since this watercoloured design is "off the edge", I'm sending this over to the CAS Mix Up November gallery.

Stamps:  Poinsettia Poem (Penny Black); Believe (Penny Black)
Paper:   Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.)
Ink:   Archival Black (Ranger); Distress Inks:  Candied Apple, Aged Mahogany, Mustard Seed; Real Red (SU!); Green Watercolour paint (Tambi Gansai)
Accessories:   Water brush, White Posca acrylic paint pen

Challenges:

The Flower Challenge #50 - Use a Sentiment

CAS Mix Up November Challenge - Off the Edge