Two Cards ...

Today's "Ways to Use It" Challenge is Leaves (WT346).  Have leaves somewhere on your card ... a little or a lot.  I choose a little.  I made another Christmas card, stamping the border (so this qualifies for "Try a New Technique Challenge TLC348 - Stamp the border") which has a small leaf on each stem.  I also used the sketch layout from last week (SC355) with a slight modification.  I used all SU! products for this card.  Hope you like.

"Patterned Christmas Pine Trees"

Stamps:  Patterned Pines, Autumn Days (SU!)

Paper:  Whisper White, Garden Green, Real Red (SU!)

Ink:  Garden Green; Stampin' Write markers: Real Red, Garden Green (SU!)

Accessories & Tools:  Sizzix "Square Lattice" embossing folder, Big Shot, 1/4" Real Red grosgrain ribbon, sticky strips, adhesives, glue dot, and dimensionals

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I stamped the main image in Garden Green ink onto Whisper White cardstock.  I mounted the image on a thin frame of Real Red cardstock.  I wrapped Real Red ribbon around the image near the bottom, and tied a knot in the center.

I inked the berry branch with Stampin' Write markers Garden Green and Real Red and stamped along the edge of a Whisper White piece of cardstock.  I kept re-inking and stamping until the border was full.  I mounted the background stamped panel onto a thin frame of Real Red cardstock.

I ran a large piece of Garden Green cardstock through my Big Shot with the embossing folder and then mounted it onto a larger panel of Whisper White (card front).

I mounted all the pieces as shown in the picture above, popping up the main panel with dimensionals to add depth.  The whole front panel was mounted onto a card base of Garden Green cardstock.

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I made the following card for my SIL for her birthday (which is today! - Happy Birthday Moe!!).  I used a digital image from Beccy's Place.  Beccy is an artist who shares her drawings for free - you just download them from her blog.  Thanks Beccy!!

Moe loves orchids and I bought her one for her birthday and wanted to also put one on her card.  I printed from Beccy's file right onto my watercolor paper and then added the color with watered-down re-inkers and a paint brush.  It was a lot of fun!  Hope you like.

"Happy Birthday Moe"

Stamps:  Digital Stamp (Beccy's Place); Happiest Birthday Wishes (SU!)

Paper:  Perfect Plum, Elegant Eggplant, watercolor paper (SU!)

Ink:  Old Olive, Elegant Eggplant; Re-inkers:  Elegant Eggplant, Whisper White; Stampin' Write markers:  Early Espresso, More Mustard, Perfect Plum (SU!)

Accessories & Tools:  Computer / Printer, small paint brush, water, palette, sponge,  1/4" Old Olive grosgrain ribbon, sticky strips, adhesives, and dimensionals

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I printed the image onto watercolor paper.  I put a couple of drops of Elegant Eggplant re-inker onto my palette and added some water.  I dipped my brush in the ink, took off the excess on a paper towel and then filled in the petals of the flowers, leaving some white spaces on the petals to make them appear more realistic.  After all the flowers were watercolored, I used my Early Espresso Stampin' Write marker to fill in the stems and branches.  I used the More Mustard Stampin' Write marker to fill in the centers of the flowers.  I used the Perfect Plum Stampin' Write marker to fill in the two small petals on either side of the center and make them dark.  Then I added dots onto the petals with the Perfect Plum marker, adding mostly near the center of the flowers.

I placed a couple of drops of Whisper White re-inker onto a toothbrush, added lots of water and pushed the bristles into a piece of paper towel to mix the ink and water.  I pulled my thumb along the bristles and sprayed drops of white paint over the flowers (hard to tell in the photo, but it adds something!).

To finish the image, I lightly sponged Old Olive ink around the outside of the orchid branch.  I took a very wet brush and diluted the ink to create a wash.

I framed the image on Elegant Eggplant cardstock and wrapped Old Olive ribbon around the bottom of the main image, tying a knot off center.

I stamped the sentiment in Elegant Eggplant ink onto a card base of Perfect Plum.  I mounted the framed main image, popping it up with dimensionals to add depth.