Hi everyone. Today I'm playing along with the Merry Monday Challenge #192 - Berries. My good friend Bonnie (Stamping with Klass) is hosting this fun challenge. Great job picking the theme, Bonnie!! :)
I used my Twigs & Berries die from Memory box to make the card above. The sand colour tag was heat embossed with white, using a Christmas word background. The twig, leaves and berries were die-cut and sponged with the coordinating colour of ink to add depth. The leaves where shaped with a stylus and mat, and the berries were coated in glossy accents. Once everything was dry, snow texture was added all along the branch, leaves and berries.
While I was waiting for things to dry, I decided to make a second card with the same die-cuts. :)
The second card has an embossing folder stamped background and then the same twigs and berries over top.
Tip: When I stamp with early espresso (dark brown ink) onto Neenah card stock, it ends up looking black. So by accident, I found a great way to get brown. Using complementary colours (opposites on the colour wheel), you can make your own brown ink. I first stamped the sentiment below in red ink, then again in green and I ended up with a reddish brown sentiment. A couple more stampings on top with green, and I ended up with this lovely shade of brown. :) You need to use a Misti to get the stampings to be lined up perfectly, but I was really surprised that the inks would blend so nicely. :)
These two cards are both examples of CAS Mix Up cards (stamping, heat embossing, die-cutting, embossing folder stamping). First challenge starts on March 1st!
I'm also going to enter this into the Snippets Playground. I used a lot of snippets for my branch, leaves and berries. :)
Thanks for coming by for a visit! I always appreciate you stopping by. :)
Stamps: Tag card: Christmas Story (Penny Black); Woodgrain card: Beautiful Season (SU!)
Paper: White (Neenah)
Ink: Versamark; Early Espresso, Real Red, Olive Green (SU!)
Accessories & Tools: Stitched Tag Die (Lil' Inkers), white embossing powder, heat tool, Twigs & Berries Die (Memory Box), glossy accents, Sparkle Texture Effects (Martha Stewart), white-stitched red ribbon, thin red satin ribbon, Woodgrain embossing folder (Sizzix)
Challenges:
Merry Monday #192 - Berries
Snippets Playground - Week 216
Love both these cards, particularly like that sentiment background stamp. Looks brilliant on the tag. And love how you made the right colour for the front of your card sentiment. Gotta love that little ole Misti.
ReplyDeleteboth cards are so pretty Loll - but the simplicity of the second is my favorite - the woodgrain background is perfect.
ReplyDeleteOhhh, the snow on your leaves and berries is fantastic. I can feel the cold snow.:)
ReplyDeleteBoth cards are lovely~ awesome job
ReplyDeleteWOW - these are two fantastic CAS cards using up snippets. LOVE THEM. Thanks for bringing it along to the Snippets Playground.
ReplyDeleteHugs, Sarn xxx
LOVE the faux snow Loll!!!
ReplyDeleteLovely card, Loll! My favorite part - the snow on the leaves and berries! Thanks for the tip on the brown!
ReplyDeleteBoth tag and straight up card are gorgeous! I love the snow and gloss!
ReplyDeleteBoth are just stunning. Love the color tip too! So pleased to see you jumped over to join in the Snippets Playground. It's wonderful uses of your snippets. Loved #1 very much, but really liked #2's cool background design! TFS
ReplyDeleteThese are beautiful, Loll. Really beautiful... X
ReplyDeleteLOVE both of these Loll! That fake snow looks so real! Have a lovely weekend! Hazel xx
ReplyDeleteMy Card Attic
Both of these are beautiful. Great ink tip too .
ReplyDeleteBoth of these cards are just beautiful Loll! I love the berries and the branch, your inking on them looks so pretty as does the snow. Who knew about the inks, thanks so much for the tip. Hugs, Brenda
ReplyDeleteLove the snow and the subtle woodgrain in the background, Loll! What a sweet design!
ReplyDeleteLove both of these, Loll! The stamping on the tag makes such a beautiful background for your gorgeous twigs and berries! Just the right touch of snow on both...so, so lovely!
ReplyDeleteThese are both so incredibly beautiful - I love them! Thank you for the "brown" tip too.
ReplyDeleteFabulous cards Loll, love the touches of snow x
ReplyDeleteTwo great cards Loll and love the little branch with the touch of frost
ReplyDeleteAnne
Two lovely card Loll,
ReplyDeletelilian
These are beautiful Loll!! I love your berry sprig and the added snow and glitter is just so festive! Great tip about the colour wheel! hugs :)
ReplyDeleteOh Loll!!! I do wish you would STOP IT!!! I simply adore these and once again have had to put the 'green envy monster' back in his jar...how can you just do these so perfectly - life is so unfair! I was last in the line when CAS inspiration was handed out!
ReplyDeleteSeriously - thanks for your encouragement (and am really excited about the new challenge blog - mightn't manage it every month with the summer commitments I have but will visit as much as I can!) xx
Both of these are SO pretty Loll! I love the shading on the leaves...so realistic looking. And I love the look of the embossing folder background...I am SO hooked on that technique!! I use Gine K cardstock and the Early Espresso ink looks black on that too, so thanks for the tip with the red and green inks...I will definitely be trying that!! :0)
ReplyDeleteThis is flawless! I love everything about it! The simplicity is wonderful...right down to the frosting on the berries! Congrats!
ReplyDeleteI'm still not used to your white background, Loll, and had to double check I was in the right place. lol Your cards are amazing. I've always loved how you manage to get so much dimension with your stylus. I bought one but don't have the technique down quite yet. Adding the snow was like the cherry on top.
ReplyDeleteTwo gorgeous cards Loll. Love the holly and berries - they look so real especially with the glossy accents and snow. Thanks for the tip on the colour mixing to get your brown - I find the Versafine Sepia a really good brown.
ReplyDeleteHugs.
Karen xxx
I thought the first card was stunning - until I saw the second one! It's spectacular, love it!
ReplyDeleteI love your snowy winter berries and that embossed tag, Loll! The red ribbon and bow are the perfect finishing touch! The berries are equally pretty on the woodgrain embossing folder stamping. Thank for sharing these beauties with us at Merry Monday!
ReplyDeleteI love both of these cards ..... the twig and berries die is so pretty and both of the backgrounds look amazing, its hard to choose a favourite xx
ReplyDeleteBoth cards are lovely! I couldn't pick a favorite.
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely love those berries and leaves. Great texture on them. Gorgeous colours and gorgeous layouts on both cards. Thanks for the tip on the brown ink. Love your cards today and thank you for the inspiration x I have 'just' got my Misti and already loving it x
ReplyDeleteBeautiful both of them the berries and twigs look so realistic Loll thanks for the tip about the colouring too.
ReplyDeleteMarie
Ooooh, I reached through my monitor to touch those leaves, Lolly, and they are incredible! I was very gentle so as not to know any snow off! And what a tip that is (and how BRAVE are you, even with a Misti?!) for making pretty brown ink!! Enjoy your day! Hugs, Dolly
ReplyDeleteOh, Loll ... these leaf and berry sprigs are stunning ... such gorgeous texture and depth ... positively touchable! Hugs, Anita :)
ReplyDeleteI just love the depth and texture on your stem - it looks so real with the colors, gloss and snow! Two beautiful cards Loll! I got my Merry Monday card all done yesterday - but found I had missed the deadline - so bummed!! Need to pay more attention to due dates!!
ReplyDeleteCongrats on being an honorable mention at MM!
ReplyDeleteTwo gorgeous cards, Loll! I love how you added such beautiful details to the stem, holly leaves and berries, and of course your designs are amazing! Thanks so much for your tip on stamping your brown sentiment :)
ReplyDelete