Cold Winter's Night

Hi everyone.  Today I'm sharing a card with a background I made quite a while ago.  It's done on coated card stock that my friend Christine gave me.  It's a very thick card stock with a sort of plastic finish.  The ink doesn't absorb into the paper, instead it sits on top.  I think that's why I got such a wonderful finish with the Cling Wrap technique.

I first used spray starch over my card stock, then sprinkled with a few shades of Brushos.  I took a piece of cling wrap that was larger than my card, placed it on top and moved the colours around with my hands and then firmly pressed the cling wrap down.  I left it overnight, but I understand about 30 mins. will do.  I love how the creases leave such a beautiful pattern.

I heat embossed my trees image in white embossing powder, added a die-cut snow hill and stamped the sentiment in bright blue.

This will be my last post until the new year.

I want to thank all of you for supporting me over the past year.  I appreciate your visits, and always appreciate hearing from you either through comments or email.

Wishing you and your family a wonderful Holiday Season.  Merry Christmas!

Love,

Stamps:  Snow Dust (Penny Black); Frosty Sentiments (Amy R - retired)
Paper:  Coated card stock; White card base (Neenah 110 lb.)
Ink:  Brushos:  Turquoise, Ultra Marine, Violet; Salty Ocean Distress Ink
Accessories & Tools:  Spray starch, cling wrap, white embossing powder, heat tool, Snowdrifts die (My Favorite Things)

Flowery Thanks

Hi everyone.  I created another card for the CAS Watercolour December Challenge - Anything Goes.

Having more fun playing with DOX inks.  I do love how the inks layer to create beautiful backgrounds.

This combination of red and purple makes me happy. :)  I created a regular A2 size smooshed background and was able to use it for both the flowers and the piece behind the honeycomb aperture.  I stamped a sentiment banner in the same purple ink and adhered it to the bottom of my card front.  Quick and easy card!

Here's the close-up.

There's still a few days left for the CAS Watercolour challenge, so come play along.  Challenge closes Dec. 24th at midnight (PST).

Stamps:  Sentiment - Bouquet of Thanks (Simon Says Stamp)
Paper:  White card base and front (Neenah 110 lb.); Mixed media (Strathmore 140 lb.)
Ink:  DOX inks:  Wilted Violet, Fired Brick (Tim Holtz)
Accessories & Tools:  water mister, heat tool, Shall We Dance Flower die (Penny Black); honeycomb die (AliExpress)

Challenges:
CAS Watercolour December Challenge - Anything Goes

Sponged Sunset and Exciting News!

Hi everyone.  Having fun getting inky with sponging.  I do love this easy technique.  I started by sponging three colours of distress inks on an angle to be my sunset.  I stamped with a silhouette image from Penny Black (Sprigs) and then framed the image.  This CAS card has stamping plus my two items of choice - sponging, and die-cutting.  I'm adding it to the gallery at CAS Mix Up for December - Anything Goes.

Here's a close-up ...

I loved this design so much that I decided to make a second card.  This time changing out the frame for a peek-a-boo window die from AliExpress.  Also used an AliExpress stamp (wildflowers).  A few people have mentioned that they would like to check out the dies and stamps I use from AliExpress, so click on the links provided if you're interested.

Here's the card ...

* * * * *

I'm excited to announce that I am on a new Design Team!

Darnell is launching a new challenge starting

January 10th!

Check out all the information about this

fun new challenge by clicking HERE!

And hope to see you on January 10th.

Stamps:  Sprigs (Penny Black); Wildflowers (AliExpress); Hello - Where the Heart is (Simon Says Stamp); just for you - A Little Sentimental (Clearly Besotted
Paper:  White (Neenah 110 lb. card stock)
Ink:  Distress Inks:  Mustard Seed, Spiced Marmalade, Peacock Feathers (Tim Holtz); Black (Memento)
Accessories & Tools:  Sponges, Rectangle Nestabilities die (Spellbinders), Peek-a-boo Rectangle window die (AliExpress)

Challenges:
CAS Mix Up December Challenge - Anything Goes

Beautiful Blooms

Hi everyone.  Today is the reminder that December is half over and there's just over a week left to play in the CAS Watercolour December Challenge - Anything Goes.  Make sure to keep your card CAS and include watercolouring.

I'm sharing a NBUS (never before used schtuff) stamp, as Dolly would say. :)  This beautiful flower is new to me.  Bought several months ago ... my first time buying Unity Stamps.  I'm so happy with them.

This is another watercolouring with my Zigs card,  I find them so easy to work with.  And they are great for traveling as they don't take up a lot of room. :)  This is one of the heat embossed images I watercoloured when I was on holidays in September.

I started by heat embossing in liquid platinum, then watercoloured with zigs.  A heat embossed sentiment was added once I was home.  And I also added a bit of stenciling to the background just to give it a little somethin' extra.

Here's a close-up ...

I was so happy with how it turned out that I did a second one, just changing up the colours of the flowers.  Everything else is the same.

My CAS Watercolour card has stamping, heat embossing, watercolouring and stenciling ... so I'm adding it to the CAS Mix Up December Challenge - Anything Goes, as well.

Thanks for coming by for a visit!

Stamps: Remembering You Blooms (Unity); Lots of Thanks (Simon Says Stamp)
Paper:  Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.)
Ink: Versamark; Zigs; Wild Honey Distress Ink for stenciling (Tim Holtz)
Accessories & Tools:  Liquid Platinum embossing powder (Ranger); heat tool, Textured Mesh Stencil (Memory Box), sponge


Challenges:
CAS Watercolour December Challenge - Anything Goes
CAS Mix Up December Chalelnge - Anything Goes

Tree of Thanks

Hi everyone.  Just a reminder that we are half way through December already.  There's still just over one week left to play along with the CAS Mix Up December Challenge - Anything Goes.

Haven't had a play with Brushos for a while, so it was time!

I created this background using a few different shades of green and blue ... and a touch of yellow.  This was all on watercolour paper.

First time using this beautiful tree die from AliExpress.  Cut it out of white and popped it on top of my dry Brushos panel that was cut down to size.  Added a simple sentiment banner with a staple.

Check out the challenge blog to see the reminder cards from our Guest Designer Hideko, and the rest of our talented team.

Since this is has a watercoloured background, I'm entering it into the CAS Watercolour December Challenge - Anything Goes, as well.

Stamps:  Sentiment - Where the Heart Is (Simon Says Stamp)
Paper:  White card base (Neenah 110 lb.); Watercolour (Arches 140 lb. cold press)
Ink:  Brushos; Peacock Feathers Distress Ink (Tim Holtz)
Accessories & Tools:  water mister, Stencil Tree die (AliExpress), staple

Challenges:
CAS Mix Up December Challenge - Anything Goes
CAS Watercolour December Challenge - Anything Goes Watercolouring

In the Studio with Susan, Christine, and Trina

Hi everyone.  Last month I had three friends over to make some cards.  We had a great time watercolouring.  I borrowed this beautiful Penny Black stamp from Susan.  Watercoloured with distress inks and then added a soft watercolour wash to the background.  To finish, I added a bit of clear Wink of Stella for a little shimmer on the berries, leaves and bits of the pine cone (doesn't show in photo).

Here's a close-up.

Here's another card I made that same day ... again with no-line watercolouring.

Another Penny Black stamp.  This one I've had for quite a few years.  Watercoloured with distress inks.

Thanks for stopping by!

Card #1
Stamps:  Cones & Berries (Penny Black); Greetings Sentiment (believe stamp set - Penny Black)
Paper:  Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.)
Ink:  Distress Inks (Tim Holtz)
Accessories:  water brush, Clear Wink of Stella

Card #2:
Stamps:  Red Star (Penny Black)
Paper:  Mixed Media card stock (Strathmore 140 lb.)
Ink:  Distress Inks (Tim Holtz)
Accessories:  waterbrush

Challenges:
CAS Mix Up December Challenge - Anything Goes
CAS Watercolour December Challenge - Anything Goes

Pink and Yellow Blooms

Hi everyone.  Another new stamp for me.  This time from AliExpress.  I heat embossed in liquid platinum and coloured with my zigs.  The pink and yellow combination on the flowers is so pretty!  I added a small, heat embossed sentiment banner to finish.  I thought the flowers were so beautiful, that I didn't want to add anything else that might take away from them. :)

I'm adding this to the gallery of the CAS Watercolour December Challenge - Anything Goes.  Hope to see you there! :)

Stamps:  Celebrate (AliExpress); Lots of Thanks (Simon Says Stamp)
Paper:  Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.); Black (SU!)
Ink:  Versamark; Zigs
Accessories & Tools:  liquid platinum embossing powder, heat tool, water brush

Challenges:
CAS Watercolour December Challenge - Anything Goes

Sweet Winter Wishes

Hi everyone.  Sharing another Christmas card today.  This was quick and easy to make as I had a piece of alcohol ink paper in my stash.  I just die-cut this sweet tree die (on loan from my dear friend, Susan) and stamped the sentiment in Delicata silver.  QCAS (quick and clean and simple) as Darnell would say! :)

Adding this card to the CAS Mix Up December gallery.  Come join us!

Here's a close-up.

I love this die so much that I went and bought one for myself.  :)

Edited to add:  Sorry, I missed adding the info about the die.  It's called Evergreen Window and is made by Memory Box.

Stamps:  Snowglobe Sentiments (My Favorite Things)
Paper:  Yupo for Alcohol ink background; White card base (Neenah 110 lb.)
Ink:  Alcohol inks (Ranger / Pinata); Delicata Silver (Tsukineko)
Accessories & Tools:  Blender solution in a spray bottle, Evergreen Window die (Memory Box)

Challenges:
CAS Mix Up December Challenge - Anything Goes

More Green and Blue

Hi everyone.  I do love this colour combo.  Made a quick card using a new-to-me tree die that I just got from AliExpress.  Had a piece of smooshed blue and green watercoloured paper in my stash.  Die-cut the trees and then added a bit of "snow".  I globbed it on too thick and it covered up a lot of the colour, so I picked some of it off before it was dry.  Then took an emery board to sand down the rest.  Was left with just a thin "dusting of snow", which I like much better.  For the background, used a falling snow stencil and more of the Glitter Snow paste that I used on the trees.  The glitter is very subtle, but I do love the dimension that the paste adds to the background.  Tore a snow hill and stamped a sentiment.  Tried to match the colour of the trees with my sentiment and think it worked out pretty well.  Stamped it first with turquoise and then green on top.

Here's a close-up ...

Thanks for stopping by!

Stamps:  Retired --- Snowman Sayings (Amy R)
Paper:  White (Neenah 110 lb. card stock); Hot press Watercolour paper (Arches 140 lb.)
Ink:  Watercolour sprays in Turquoise, Green, and Lime Green (Dick Blick): Distress Ink (Peacock Feathers, Mowed Lawn)
Accessories & Tools:  Tree die (AliExpress), Falling Snow stencil (Simon Says Stamp), Glitter Snow Paste (Aleene's)

CAS Watercolour December Challenge

Hi everyone.  Welcome to the CAS Watercolour December Challenge.  This is the last challenge of a year that has gone by so quickly.  We have an easy one for you this month.  Anything goes as long as it's a CAS card with Watercolouring.  Come play along!

I do love this pretty stamp from Simon Says.  I've got a lot of use from it these past few months.

This card is actually a "save".  I stamped and heat embossed the outline image in white.  I watercoloured with zigs and when I was finished the flower, I tried adding a background of gray watercolouring.  It turned out OK, not great, but the sad part was the gray made everything else seem dull.  I was disappointed and didn't want to throw away my pretty bouquet.  So I fussy cut and added to a card front that has a partial die-cut honeycomb pattern.  I've since bought the matching die for this flower bouquet. :)

I stamped my sentiment and popped up the flower heads for dimension, while gluing the stems flat to the card front.

Here's a close-up.

We are excited to have Hideko (Papercraft Boutique) as our Guest Designer this month.  She won the October Fall Leaves challenge.  Welcome to the team Hideko!!

Please check out the challenge blog to see Hideko's beautiful watercoloured CAS card, along with the amazing cards from our Design Team.  And then come play along.  The challenge is open until Dec. 24th at midnight.

I'm also adding this card to the CAS Mix Up December Challenge (Anything Goes) as I have die-cutting, heat embossing, watercolouring and fussy-cutting.

Edited to add:  A few people have asked about the corner die used for the above card.  It comes as a set of four from AliExpress.  The seller I bought from at AE no longer carries these dies, but they are still available HERE.  I don't have any experience with this seller, but AE does provide good customer service if there is a problem.

Stamps:  Bouquet of Thanks (Simon Says Stamp); Lots of Thanks (Simon Says Stamp)
Paper:  White card base (Neenah 110 lb.); Mixed media for flowers (Strathmore 140 lb.)
Ink:  Versamark; Zigs;--- Distress Inks Mowed Lawn and Twisted Citron for sentiment (Tim Holtz)
Accessories & Tools:  White embossing powder, heat tool, water brush, honeycomb die (AliExpress)

Challenges:
CAS Watercolour December Challenge - Anything Goes
CAS Mix Up December Challenge - Anything Goes

CAS Mix Up December Challenge

Hi everyone.  Today is the start of the CAS Mix Up December Challenge.  We've made it an easy one for you this month.  Anything Goes as long as the card is CAS, includes stamping plus two mixed media techniques and/or products (listed on the challenge blog sidebar).

Today I'm sharing a card using a new-to-me tree die.  I just love it!

I die-cut the tree from white card stock, coated with gilding flake glue, and then pressed on lots of Red Blaze gilding flakes.  I burnished the flakes to remove the excess.  LOVE the shimmer from the gilding flakes.  Isn't it pretty??!!

A stitched snowhill was die-cut then stamped with sentiment and heat embossed in gold.  My CAS Mix Up card has stamping, die-cutting, heat embossing, and gilding flakes.

We are excited to have Ina (Little Bits of Craft) as our Guest Designer this month.  Please check out the challenge blog to see Ina's card and the cards from the rest of our Design Team.  Then play along.  We'd love to see you in the gallery!

I'm entering this card into the Less Is More Challenge #356 - Let it Shine. 

Stamps:  Christmas Messages (Hero Arts)
Paper:  White card base (Neenah 110 lb.)
Ink:  Versamark
Accessories & Tools:  Alpine Trees die (Memory Box), Red Blaze gilding flakes (Cosmic), gilding glue, scrubby brush for burnishing, Stitched Curves die (AliExpress)

Challenges:
CAS Mix Up December Challenge - Anything Goes
Less Is More #356 - Let it Shine

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