Let it Snow

Twelve Tags of Christmas Wrap-Up

announcing winner, top tags and honourable mentions - click HERE!

Hi everyone.  Today I'm playing along with the latest Merry Monday Challenge (#267 - green, blue, white/silver/vellum ), run by my friend Colleen.  So happy that I had time to join in.  I LOVE this colour combo!

I used the green, blue and white colour combo for my snowman card.  I received this adorable snowman die-cut (actually several of them) from a sweet friend.  And it's the first time using a new die from a set of Christmas word dies that I received from another sweet friend.  Card makers are very generous!  I guess you could say that I had "a little help from my friends" to make this card! :)  I know I'm going to be humming that song all day long! :)

Stamped and heat embossed the background in clear on white card stock.  Sponged a light ray in lime green across the card and then blended turquoise over the rest of the snowflakes and blended into the lime green a bit too.  Ripped a piece of thick white card stock for my snowbank, glued the snowman in place, popping up to add dimension.  I sponged an extra piece of white card stock with lime green and used it to die-cut my sentiment.  Fun and easy card to make.  In fact, I made two! :)

Check out the challenge at Merry Monday.  There's just over two days before it closes.  Come play along!

Stamps:  Snowflake Background (Hero Arts)
Paper:  White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.)
Ink:  Versamark:  Distress Inks:  Twisted Citron, Peacock Feathers (Tim Holtz)
Accessories & Tools:  Clear embossing powder, heat tool, snowman die (gift from friend), Christmas word dies (Little B), sponges

Challenges:
Merry Monday #267 - green, blue, white/silver/vellum

Twelve Tags of Christmas Wrap-Up

Hi everyone.  I'm excited to announce the winner, top tags, and honourable mentions for the Twelve Tags of Christmas 2017.  I'm so pleased that there were 120 entries this year.  THANK YOU for sharing your beautiful works-of-art!

Meet the Judge ---

Jeremy with Vi

About Judge Jeremy:  He has a degree in Visual Arts and a Master of Arts Education.  He teaches art classes at a Richmond high school.

Here's a few words from Jeremy about this year's tag event.

"It was a joy to review the tag designs this year -- I was blown away by the caliber of skills and abundance of creativity.

With such a wide variety of techniques and styles, selecting the top tags was an especially challenging task this year.  I carefully considered the parameters of the challenge (mixed media) and the building blocks of design (creativity, craftsmanship, composition, and colour) when choosing the winner, top tags, and honourable mentions."

Winning Tag

Robyn

Congratulations Robyn!!

Jeremy:  "My pick for the winning design goes to Robyn.  This tag shows a unique point of view and a willingness to take risks.  The combination of the asymmetrical tag shape and the offset focal image is one of a kind.  As well, the royal purple and yellow-gold colour combination and exquisite watercolouring highlight Robyn's advanced design sensibility.  What a stunning creation!"

Make sure to grab your Winner's badge.

Top Tags

(in order of entry#)

Nancy #8

Marcia #85

Cathy #120

Congratulations Nancy, Marcia, and Cathy!!

Jeremy: "Congratulations to these three participants for their top designs.  I am always captivated by tags such as these that offer new design perspectives."

Make sure to grab your Top Tags Badge.

Honourable Mentions

An InLinkz Link-up

Make sure to grab your Honourable Mention Badge.

Random Winner

(picked by random number generator)

is

Jenny

23

Send to phone
Generate  random numbers between  and 

* * * * *

Thanks to everyone that played along or left messages of support.

I hope you enjoyed the fourth addition of the 

Twelve Tags of Christmas!
See you again next year!

CASEing Susan

Hi everyone.  Today I'm sharing a card that I CASEd (copy and share everything) from my dear friend, Susan (Cardmaker's Garret).

It's also Susan's birthday!  I sent her the card above a week ago, but she hasn't received it yet.  Hopefully today!! Happy Birthday, Susan!!

Click on the link below to check out her gorgeous card that I CASEd.  And please leave her some happy birthday wishes!! :)

Susan's card

I started by die-cutting my partial circle die from regular card stock.  Don't do all the colouring and adding gel paste before die-cutting --- it will stick to your cutting plate.  Ask me how I know!! :)

This is my second time making this card front! :)  I placed my stencil over top, masking and sponging the different colours.  The stencil needs to be washed and dried for the next step.  Placed the stencil back over the image, lining up and taping to secure.  Then spread a layer of heavy gel medium over top (I used matte gel so it doesn't really show in the photo).

The gel adds dimension to the image, helps to intensify the colours, and has the side benefit of protecting the image if further work is being done on the card (example, adding a watercolour wash background).  Bonus!  

I popped up the die-cut with foam for more dimension and then added a black sentiment banner with white heat embossing.  Love this technique.  Have not used heavy gel (clear) for this before.  Usually use it to add colour when wanting to stencil with coloured gel.  You can mix with ink, paint, mica powders, etc. to create a beautiful coloured gel.  Another great way to use this product!

Stamps:  Many Everyday Message (Hero Arts)
Paper:  Neenah White card stock (110 lb.); Black card stock (SU!)
Ink:  Distress Inks:  Broken China, Salty Ocean, Spiced Marmalade, Fired Brick, Mustard Seed, Wild Honey, Peeled Paint, Forest Moss (Tim Holtz); Versamark
Accessories & Tools:  Flower stencil (cut with my Silhouette Cameo), sponges, Heavy matte gel (Golden), palette knife, white embossing powder, heat tool

November Rudolph Days

Hi everyone.  Today's card is for the last challenge of the year at Rudolph Days.  I've had lots of fun playing along this year and it's helped build my Christmas cards throughout the year.  Thanks to Maureen (Scraps of Life for Scrappymo!) for all her hard work running this challenge.

If you want to play along, the challenge is open from Nov. 25 - 30 and it's an "Anything Goes Christmas" challenge.

I bought this die a few months ago and have gotten a lot of use from it this year for my Christmas cards.  Makes for an easy card by just adding a white die-cut over a colourful background.  For today's rainbow background I sponged DOX inks onto white Neenah card stock.  The inks blend so beautifully.  I splattered with diluted white acrylic paint for the falling snow.  The panel was then cut down to size to match the die-cut.  A silver stamped sentiment finishes the card.

Thanks for coming by for a visit!

Stamps:  Festive Snippets (Penny Black)
Paper:  White (Neenah 110 lb. card stock)
Ink:  Distress Oxides:  Salty Ocean, Picked Raspberry, Ripe Persimmon, Mustard Seed, Peacock Feathers; Silver Delicata (Tsukineko)
Accessories & Tools:  Sponges, Deer & Trees die (AliExpress), white acrylic paint, paint brush for splattering

Challenges:
November Rudolph Days

Last Day for Tags

Hi everyone.  Just a reminder that the link (below) for the Twelve Tags of Christmas closes today at midnight.

It's been a great challenge and I appreciate all that joined me.  So many beautiful and creative tags in the gallery!

I'll leave you with this last tag I made using the tissue paper watercolouring technique.  All done in neutrals, this tag is out of the norm for me. :)  The tissue paper was watercoloured with distress inks (antique linen, brushed corduroy, vintage photo) and then dried.  I scrunched  the tissue and glued it to a piece of card stock, swiped Versamark gently over top, heat embossing the highlights in copper before die-cutting a tag.  A wooden snowflake was pressed into my Versamark pad and heat embossed with copper, as well as the sentiment on the black banner at the bottom of the tag.  The finishing touch was to dye the crinkle ribbon with rusty hinge distress ink.

Please come back on Nov. 30 to find out the Top Tags for the event.  Jeremy "The Judge" is going to have a difficult time picking from all the beauties that have been entered!

Stamps:  Festive Snippets (Penny Black)
Paper:  Mixed Media paper (Strathmore 140 lb.);  White tissue paper; Black (SU!)
Ink:  Distress inks:  Antique Linen, Brushed Corduroy, Vintage Photo, Rusty Hinge (Tim Holtz); Versamark
Accessories & Tools:  Pinpoint Main Street Tag die (Poppy Stamps), Copper embossing powder (Ranger), heat tool, wooden snowflake (AliExpress), crinkle ribbon (Tim Holtz)

An InLinkz Link-up

Tissue Paper Watercolouring Video on SCS

Looking for the Twelve Tags of Christmas event??

Click here to link up your tags.

Hi everyone.  I'm so excited that my Tissue Paper Watercolouring Video is being added to the video tutorials at Splitcoast Stampers!  It's such an honour!  Thanks so much Dina!

I wanted to make a tissue paper watercolouring card to launch at the same time.  I used one of the tissues left from when I made the video several months ago.  Makes a fast and easy card having a stash on hand. :)

I actually made two cards and they are from the same piece of tissue.  One I paired with white die-cuts, the other with gold.  They look SO different!!

The white diecut flower with frame lets the watercoloured background be the star.  Love this combination of purple, yellow, orange, green, and a bit of gold.  I added a simple gold stamped sentiment banner at the bottom to finish.  If you want to know how I made the watercolour background using tissue paper, please watch the video ... everything is explained.

Here's the second card I made ... using a piece of the same watercoloured background, but this time adding a gold flower and frame.  This pretty Wildflower die is a gift from a dear friend.

I used Delicata Gold reinker to add a bit of gold to the tissue paper, so wanted to match that with the rest of the elements of my card.  A frame was cut from white card stock and swiped with the same gold (using an ink pad this time), as well as stamping the sentiment.

I hope you'll give this fun technique a try.  Makes great backgrounds without having to use watercolour paper.  I have also stenciled over tissue paper backgrounds using two different techniques --- sponging with ink and embossing paste.  Both work great with these backgrounds.

I'm adding both of these cards to The Flower Challenge #14 - CAS.

Thanks for stopping by!

Stamps:  Happiest Birthday Wish (SU! - retired)
Paper:  White Tissue Paper, White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.)
Ink:  Distress Oxide Inks:  Wilted Violet, Spiced Marmalade, Fossilized Amber, Peeled Paint; Delicata Gold (Tsukineko)
Accessories & Tools:  water mister, Floral Stem Collage die (Poppy Stamps), Wildflowers die (AliExpress)

Challenges:
The Flower Challenge #14 - CAS

Watercolour Christmas for charity

Looking for the Twelve Tags of Christmas Event??

Click here to link up your tags.

Hi everyone.  I'm adding a few more cards to the CAS Watercolour November Challenge before it closes in three days.

I've done three smaller cards (square) with no-line watercolour.  I will be donating these cards to charity.

The cards are all done with the same technique, stamping the image in a pale colour and then watercolouring over top with distress inks.  I borrowed a beautiful stamp from my friend Susan, for the first card (above) and it has a little extra with heat embossing over the image in clear, adding a watercolour wash background, and white splattering.

Here's the second card using a Stampin' Up! image that I've had for several years, but this is the first time inking it up. :)  I need a LOT of practice colouring birds! :)  The background is sponged.

Third card is same technique.  I shared a card with this image earlier HERE.  I think I like this one better with the orange berries.  I'm happy with the shading and highlighting. :)

Stamps:  berry merry christmas (card 1); berry kissed (card 3) - both from Penny Black; Beautiful Season (card 2) - Stampin' Up!
Paper:  Mixed Media paper (Strathmore 140 lb.)
Ink:  Sahara Sand (SU!); Distress Inks (Tim Holtz)
Accessories & Tools:  water brush, Watercolour pencils (Derwent), white gel pen, white acrylic paint for splattering

Challenges:
CAS Watercolour November Challenge - Holiday

Christmas Greetings

Looking for the Twelve Tags of Christmas Event??

Click here to link up your tags!

Hi everyone.  Thanks to all that have entered The Twelve Tags of Christmas event with Loll & Friends ... it's been AMAZING!!  The linky will remain open until midnight (PST) on Nov. 24th if you want to join in.  Top Tags will be announced on Nov. 30th.

Also wanted to say that I got WAY behind on my visiting my friend's blog during the tag event and I hope to catch up soon with all that everyone has been making over the past couple of weeks.

Today I'm sharing a card for the CAS Watercolour November Challenge.

To make the above card, I placed my stamp in my misti, coloured the leaves using Old Olive Stampin' Write Marker, and stamped onto mixed media paper.  I then used my waterbrush to move colour around.  I repeated these steps with red for the berries and dark brown for the branches.  I then added shading to the leaves and berries using markers with darker shades of the same colours.  Once I finished, I used the narrow end of the Stampin' Write markers to outline the images and add veining to the leaves.  The finishing touches were to splatter diluted green ink over the panel and adding a few highlights to the berries with a white gel pen.

I hope you'll check out the challenge blog and then play along!

* * * * *

A few weeks back I ran a mini challenge on Splash Watercolouring.
The winner was randomly drawn - #6

Jeannie (Lv2grdn at SCS)

Beautiful card with your Splash Watercolour background Jeannie!  I'll be in touch shortly.

Thanks to all that participated!!

Stamps: berry kissed (Penny Black); festive snippets (Penny Black)
Paper:  Mixed media main panel (Strathmore 140 lb.); White card base (Neenah 110 lb.)
Ink:  Stampin' Write Markers:  Old Olive, Always Artichoke, Real Red, Cherry Cobbler, Early Espresso (Stampin' Up!)
Accessories & Tools:  Misti, water brush, paint brush for splattering, white gel pen

Challenges:
CAS Watercolour November Challenge - Holiday

Twelve Tags of Christmas - Day Twelve

Welcome to Day Twelve!

I can't believe how quickly the twelve days has gone!

Lots of amazing tags in the gallery - make sure to check them out.

The linky will remain open for another week so keep those tags coming!

The rules and dates for this event are listed in the sidebar.

* * * * *

Welcome to the final day of tags.  I have saved my favourite tag for last.
Today's Guest Designer is my dear friend, Nancy S. and she has made
an elegant tag for you today!

Below the photo of my tag I have listed the techniques and products that I've used.  If you want more information, please email me using the email contact form in the sidebar.  Nancy's tag information is available in her gallery on Splitcoast Stampers (link provided).

Loll

Techniques:  Embossing paste stenciling, heat embossing, watercolouring, splattering, fussy-cutting, stamping
Products:    Mixed Media paper, Pinpoint Main Street Tags die (Poppy Stamps), Poinsettia Layering Stencil (Tim Holtz), embossing paste, palette knife, Warm Wishes stamp (Penny Black), Liquid Platinum embossing powder (Ranger), heat tool, distress inks, water brush, white acrylic paint, Gold Perlen-Pen (Viva), Festive Snippets stamp (Penny Black), Black card stock (SU!), crinkle ribbon (Tim Holtz)

Nancy S.

Guest Designer

Click HERE for the link to Nancy's card in the SCS gallery.
SCS members, please leave her some love on her gallery post!
Non-SCS members are welcome to leave a comment
on this blog for Nancy.  Thank you!

Thanks to my incredibly talented friends for Guest Designing this year,
Susan, Nancy L., Mac, Bonnie, Christine, Marcia, Karen,
Julia, BozenA, Darnell, Linda, and Nancy S.
You have all outdone yourselves!


The linky will remain open for another week, closing at end of day Nov.24th, so there's still lots of time to play along.  Come join in!

The top tags will be announced on Nov. 30th.

An InLinkz Link-up

Twelve Tags of Christmas - Day Eleven

Welcome to Day Eleven!

The rules and dates for this event are listed in the sidebar.

* * * * *

Great to have you back again today!!  Today you'll find my latest tag, and one
made by my talented friend, Linda.

Below the photo of my tag I have listed the techniques and products that I've used.  If you want more information, please email me using the email contact form in the sidebar.  Linda's tag information and how to's are listed on her blog (link provided).

Loll

Techniques:  Watercolouring with Zigs, die-cutting, stamping

Products:  Mixed Media paper, Pinpoint Main Street Tag dies (Poppy Stamps), zigs for watercolouring, Holiday Bouquet Stamp (Avery Elle), Sentiment stamp (Amy R - Retired), corner die (AliExpress), Cherry Cobbler card stock (SU!) for back tag, Chery Cobbler ribbon (SU!)

Linda

(Life in the Craft Lane)
Guest Designer

Click HERE to be redirected to Linda's blog.
Make sure to leave a comment about her beautiful tag!
Thank you!

2017 Twelve Tags of Christmas Pinterest Board
Lots of inspiration!  Click to take a look of all the tags from me, my Guest Designers, and participants.
Check out the boards for TTofC 2014, 2015 & 2016 as well!

Come join the fun!  Enter your Mixed Media Christmas Tag in the linky below.

An InLinkz Link-up

Twelve Tags of Christmas - Day Ten

Welcome to Day Ten!

The rules and dates for this event are listed in the sidebar.

* * * * *

Today it's all about snowflakes! :)  I hope you enjoy the tag made by me and
the bright and beautiful tag made by my dear friend, Darnell.

Below the photo of my tag I have listed the techniques and products that I've used.  If you want more information, please email me using the email contact form in the sidebar.  Darnell's tag information and how to's are listed on her blog (link provided).

Loll

Techniques:   Brushos through stencil (click on link for video how-to), Embossing paste stenciling, die-cutting, heat embossing,  stamping

Products:  Mixed Media paper, Pinpoint Main Street Tags die (Poppy Stamps), Snowflake die cut with my Silhouette Cameo, Falling Snow stencil (Simon Says Stamp), embossing paste, palette knife, Snowflake die (Lil' Inkers), silver glimmer paper, snowflake gem (AliExpress), vellum, Merriest stamp set (Avery Elle), silver embossing powder, heat tool, crinkle ribbon (Tim Holtz)

Darnell

(djkardkreations)
Guest Designer

Click HERE for the link to Darnell's blog post.
She would love to hear your comments!
Thank you!

2017 Twelve Tags of Christmas Pinterest Board
Lots of inspiration!  Click to take a look of all the tags from me, my Guest Designers, and participants.
Check out the boards for TTofC 2014, 2015 & 2016 as well!

Come join the fun!  Enter your Mixed Media Christmas Tag in the linky below.

An InLinkz Link-up

Twelve Tags of Christmas - Day Nine

Welcome to Day Nine!

The rules and dates for this event are listed in the sidebar.

* * * * *
Hello and welcome!  Two more tags for today, one made by me and one made by
my sweet friend, BozenA!

Below the photo of my tag I have listed the techniques and products that I've used.  If you want more information, please email me using the email contact form in the sidebar.  BozenA's tag information and how to's are listed on her blog (link provided).

Loll

Techniques:   Smooshing with Alcohol Inks (click on link for how-to video), die-cutting, stamping, heat embossing
Products:  Yupo paper, alcohol inks, blender solution, stitched snow hills die (AliExpress), gold foil paper (SU!), reindeer die (inspired by Penny Black), crinkle ribbon (Tim Holtz)

BozenA

(ArtCardBox)
Guest Designer

Click HERE to be forwarded to BozenA's blog post.
There you will find out how she made this amazing tag!
Make sure to leave her some love. :)
Thank you!

2017 Twelve Tags of Christmas Pinterest Board
Lots of inspiration!  Click to take a look of all the tags from me, my Guest Designers, and participants.
Check out the boards for TTofC 2014, 2015 & 2016 as well!

Come join the fun!  Enter your Mixed Media Christmas Tag in the linky below.

An InLinkz Link-up