Merry and Joy - Hopping By and Dainty Doves

Hi everyone.  Today I have three quick and easy CAS cards featuring two of the new stamp sets from Penny Black's Merry and Joy release.

First up is hopping by (30-626), and hopping by cut-out (51-577).  This bunny is such a cutie, I just couldn't wait to ink him up. :)

I started by stamping the image in black ink and heat embossing in clear.  I used distress inks (Spun Sugar, Candied Apple, Evergreen Bough, Pine Needles) and dye ink (smoky slate from SU!) to colour the bunny and packages.  I die-cut using the matching die (hopping by cut-out 51-577) before adding the white polka dots to the scarf with a gel pen.

The background polka dot paper is from Penny Black's festive and frosty paper pad (80-017).  I cut the panel to size, added a torn piece of white card stock for a snowhill, stamped the sentiment which is part of the hopping by stamp set in Candied Apple ink and then popped the panel up on foam on my card base.  I added some foam to the back of the die-cut bunny before placing him on the panel, with his feet just slightly buried in the snow.

Close-up ...

* * * * *

And I'm sharing two cards from dainty doves (30-604) ...

Two CAS cards using the same design with different dove images.  Started by stamping each dove design onto white card stock with black ink and clear heat embossing.  Fussy-cut the images and sprayed with a glimmer mist.  Heat set to dry.

Using a piece of the patterned paper from festive & frosty (80-017), cut the 6"x6" paper in half and then in half again, creating four 3" square pieces.  Just using two with these cards, keeping the remainder for another project.  Stamped each of the doves onto the 3" square patterned papers in black ink, again heat embossing in clear.

Used Pine Needles and Candied Apple distress inks to add some details to the branches on the patterned paper pieces, and some highlighting on the white doves.  Pieced the white doves over top of the patterned paper, popping them up with pop-dots for added dimension.  I wanted to have just a little of the tail of the dove to go outside the square aperture.  Stamped a sentiment (christmas sentiments stamps set 30-504),  at the bottom with black ink and heat embossed in clear so it matched the rest of the stamping.

Close-up ...

Second card using a different dainty dove ...

... and close-up ...

... and I'm going to share a side view so you (hopefully) can see the dimension of the doves ...

 

I hope you enjoyed my quick and easy CAS designs using these adorable stamps.

Penny Black Products:
hopping by (30-626)
hopping by cut-out (51-577)
festive & frosty (80-017)
dainty doves (30-604)
christmas sentiments (30-504)

September Rudolph Days

Hi everyone.  I'm entering this card into September's Rudolph Days over at Maureen's blog.  I've been playing along all year and it has helped me build my stash of Christmas cards.

The above card was an experiment.  It didn't turn out exactly as I had hoped, but it's pretty.

I received a few pieces of this gorgeous dry embossed image from my sweet friend, Bonnie.  This was ages ago.  I forgot I had them and came across them the other day.

I lightly ran my versamark over top, hoping to catch the highlights of the design, and then heat embossed in white.  It's a bit tricky using a stamp pad for this.  I should have tried my brayer - it might have worked better.

I cut a strip off one side and then smooshed with brushos.  I found that the colour seeped into the raised design as it wasn't heat embossed well enough to resist.  I ended up going over the design with a white gel pen.  It took a while. :)

Attached the two pieces of the snowflake to my card front and added a simple white heat embossed black banner for some contrast.

Close-up ...

Stamps:  Snowglobe sentiments (My Favorite Things)
Paper:  Mixed Media; Black (SU!)
Ink:  Versamark
Accessories & Tools:  White embossing powder, Brushos, heat tool

Challenges:
September's Rudolph Days

Happy Birthday Nancy!

Hi everyone.  Today, my sweet friend Nancy, is celebrating her birthday!  Happy Birthday to you Nancy.  Have a wonderful day!!

I sent this to her a while back and she received it early (bonus!).  I had fun making this card following Jennifer McGuire's video technique - Floating Frames.  It's better to watch the video and follow the steps rather than me try to list them.

I didn't use the frame part as I didn't have a large enough sentiment at the time to fill it.  Maybe later. :)  I see more shopping in my future.

You really need to have stamps with matching dies for this.  The second version I tried, I used just stamps and fussy-cut everything.  Then it didn't turn out ... what a lot of wasted time!  Lesson learned! :)

I really do like how the images float above the card base.  I used zigs to colour the images so it's a happy, bright, birthday card.

Close-up ...

If you'd like to wish Nancy a Happy Birthday, you can leave her a comment on her blog HERE.

Thanks for stopping by!  

Stamps:  Spring Flowers (AliExpress)
Paper:  Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.; White card base (Neenah 110 lb.)
Ink:  Zigs
Accessories & Tools:  Matching dies (AliExpress); water brush

Penny Black New Release - Merry and Joy

Hi everyone.  Today I'm sharing three cards all made from the same stamp (poinsettia poem 40-700), which is part of the newest release from Penny Black.  I'll be sharing more cards over the next few months using many of the new, beautiful Christmas images.

For my first card I've heat embossed the image in white.  Used distress inks and dye inks to watercolour the image, adding a wash of soft gray in the background.  The sentiment "NOEL" is from a different stamp set in the new release (all the trimmings 30-618).  I framed the panel with a new frame die set (stitched loops 51-573).

Close-up ...

Second card uses a portion of the image ...

For this card I smooshed blue and green distress inks to create a colourful background.  The same poinsettia poem image was stamped over top and heat embossed in silver.  I used a small paint brush and bleach to remove the colour from the image.  Soft gray dye ink was used to add some definition to the petals and leaves.  A sentiment, "MERRY", which is from another stamp set of the new release (merry builder 30-619), was heat embossed in silver to match the image.  The panel was popped up on foam for added dimension.

Close-up ...

Third card uses just a small portion of the image ...

This time I coloured the stamp with distress markers, adding one colour at a time, stamping, and then using a water brush to move the colour from the outline to fill the image.  It gives a very delicate, light look to the watercolouring.  This has been done expertly by my dear friend Bonnie for years, and I finally gave it a try.  LOVE the look!

Only a portion of the image was die-cut with a circle.  The circle was popped up on foam for added dimension and a small red card stock banner was added with white embossing of the sentiment "Greetings of the Season", which is part of another new stamp set (merry up 30-622).

Close-up ...

I hope you've enjoyed the three different techniques I've used with this gorgeous poinsettia image.

Penny Black Products:
poinsettia poem 40-700
all the trimmings 30-618
stitched loops frame die 51-573
merry builder 30-619
merry up 30-622

Things with Wings Inchies

Hi everyone.  One more Inchie card before the CAS Mix Up September challenge closes in three days.

These small butterflies are part of a larger stamp set called "Winged Things".  I stamped them in black and heat embossed in clear ... over top of a stencil monoprint that was in my stash.  I used distress inks to colour the butterflies and then added thin white frames and popped them up on my card front.  Rather than having the four squares layout, I opted to use my sentiment in place of one of the squares.

Close-up ...

Thanks for coming by for a visit!

Stamps:  Winged Things (STAMPlorations); Brushed Wishes (Stampendous)
Paper:  Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.); White card base (Neenah 110 lb.)
Ink:  Black (Memento); Distress Inks:  Mustard Seed, Ripe Persimmon, Picked Raspberry (Tim Holtz)
Accessories & Tools:  Clear embossing powder (Ranger), heat tool, water brush, Square Nestabilities (Spellbinder), Mini Dots stencil (The Crafter's Workshop)

Challenges:
CAS Mix Up September Challenge - Inchies

... a little help from my friends ...

Hi everyone.  Another card for the CAS Stencil October challenge - Baby Wipes, hosted by the uber talented Julia!

I sponged Squeezed Lemonade and Worn Lipstick distress inks onto mixed media paper.  A flourish stencil was placed over top and colour removed using a baby wipe.  Die-cut with a stitched hexagon and stamped the silhouette image in black and added the sentiment.  I thought the hexagon looked better as a square card, so cut it down.  Fun card to make.

As I mentioned in my title ... a little help from my friends ...  This card was possible because of the generosity of two of my lovely friends.  Christine gave me a set of stitched hexagon dies, and Barb gifted me the lovely Uniko stamp set. :)  Thank you so much Christine and Barb!!


Close-up ...

I also had a small panel of the stenciled flourish left, so I create this quick and easy card ...

Cut the panel to size and stamped a NBUS image from Stampendous.  Watercoloured the flower and bee, then added crystal glaze to the flower's center for a little shine and dimension.  Popped up the panel on my card base and it was done.  Rather than adding this panel to my huge stash of leftover pieces, it's done and dusted, with a fun card to boot! :)

Close-up ...

I hope you'll join us for this fun challenge.  There's just under a week left before it closes.  For more inspiration, check out the challenge blog to see the reminder cards from the rest of our wonderful Designers and from our fabulous Guest Designer, Sarah.

Stamps:  Just Because (Uniko); Window Messages (Stampendous)
Paper:  Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.); White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.)
Ink:  Distress Inks:  Squeezed Lemonade, Worn Lipstick (Tim Holtz); Black (Memento);

Black (Versafine);  More distress inks for 2nd card (Mustard Seed, Picked Raspberry, Mowed Lawn)
Accessories & Tools:  Sponges, Flourish Layering Stencil (Tim Holtz), Baby wipe; water brush, crystal glaze (Nuvo)

Challenges:
CAS Stencil September Challenge - Baby Wipes

Christmas Doggie Treats

Hi everyone.  Today's card is a reminder for this month's CAS Christmas challenge, hosted by Nance.

I don't have a lot of "people treat" stamps, but I did buy this stamp last year and made several cards with it.  I pulled it out again as it is perfect for the challenge.

This time I used a Christmas background to stamp in green.  Stamped the doggie with candy cane bone, watercoloured with distress inks, and fussy-cut.  I popped a white stitched frame over the background and placed the image popped up on top.  I didn't think it needed a sentiment.

I had a lot of fun making this card. :)

Close-up ...

We are so happy to have Birgit as our Guest Designer this month.  Come check out the reminder post to see Birgit's Holiday Treats card, along with the cards from our wonderful Designers.

I hope you'll join us if you haven't already played along.  Still one week left before the challenge closes on September 24th at midnight!

* * * * *

Jessie & Violeta

(Becoming best of friends)
Photo by Alex

Stamps:  Dog Candy Bone (Whipper Snappers); Christmas Story (Penny Black)
Paper:  Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.); White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.)
Ink:  Black (Memento); Gumball Green, Real Red (SU!); Distress Inks: Twisted Citron, Mowed Lawn, Rusty Hinge, Black Soot (Tim Holtz)
Accessories & Tools:  Clear embossing powder, heat tool, Stitched frame (Lil' Inkers), white gel pen

Challenges:
CAS Christmas September Challenge - Holiday Treats

Orange and Blue

Hi everyone.  It's already more than half way through the month, which means it's time for a reminder for the CAS Watercolour September Challenge - Complementary Colours, hosted by Jenny.  The challenge is open for just over a week, so hope you'll play along if you haven't had a chance yet.

  

I started by creating a smooshed background with Magicals (I LOVE THESE POWDERS!).  I die-cut a flower branch from mixed media paper and slooshed just the flowers with bright orange distress ink.  A simple sentiment stamped in matching orange finishes this very CAS design.

Close-up ...

I hope you'll check out the challenge blog to see the reminder cards from our fabulous Guest Designer, Anita, along with the beautiful cards from our Designers.  Come join us for this fun challenge!

Stamps:  Essential Sentiments (Maker's Movement)
Paper:  Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.); White card Stock (Neenah 110 lb.)
Ink:  Magicals:  (Time Travel Teal); Distress Inks:  Spiced Marmalade, Ripe Persimmon (Tim Holtz)
Accessories & Tools:  water mister, cherry blossom die (Penny Black)

Challenges:
CAS Watercolour September Challenge - Complementary Colours

Golden Inchie

Hi everyone.  Today's card is a reminder for the CAS Mix Up September Challenge - Inchies, which is being hosted by our wonderful Designer, Joanna.

The inchie is a piece of chipboard that has been "encrusted jeweled" with gold embossing powder, gold glitter, and a little gilding flakes added for good measure.  It is so sparkly and shiny in person.  I acetate smooshed a background using Evergreen Bough and Pine Needles distress inks as well as splattering gold acrylic paint.  I thought the Pine Needles was a good match to bring out the greeny-blue in the gilding flakes.  A simple sentiment was stamped and heat embossing in gold to match.

Close-up ...

We're so thrilled to have Stephanie as our Guest Designer this month.  Come check out the reminder post to see Stephanie's fabulous inchies card, along with the cards from our amazing Designers.  There's still nine days left to play along before the challenge closes.

Hope to see you in the gallery!

* * * * *

Jessie

(Falling asleep waiting for me to shut down the computer for the night)

Stamps:  Happy Messages (Stampendous)
Paper:  Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.); white card stock (Neenah 110 lb.)
Ink:  Versamark; Pine Needles Distress Ink (Tim Holtz)
Accessories & Tools:  chipboard, gold embossing powder, heat tool, seed beads, gilding flakes (Cosmic Shimmer), water mister, gold acrylic paint (Lumiere), peek-a-boo window die (AliExpress)

Challenges:
CAS Mix Up September Challenges - Inchies

Wisteria

Hi everyone.  Today's card has a new-to-me stamp that I bought recently.  I think wisteria is so beautiful and romantic.

It didn't take me long to watercolour this.  The most time was spent on what colour my card stock would be. :)  I used wisteria wonder from Stampin' Up!  The colour in the photo above is not exactly as it is in real life, but as close as I could get.

The wisteria is stamped in archival shadow gray (light gray) and is painted with a mix of two distress inks:  wilted violet and broken glass.  I mixed them on my palette so it was easy to do.  Added just a little bundled sage for the leaves (love this colour, which I have never used before!).  And some brushed cordoroy was used for the branch at the top.  The sentiment is stamped with Versamark and heat embossed in white.

Here's a close-up ...

I'm entering this into The Flower Challenge #36 - Anything Goes.

Stamps:  Wisteria Circle (Stampendous); Many Everyday Messages (Hero Arts)
Paper:  Mixed media (Strathmore 140 lb.); Wisteria Wonder (Stampin' Up!)
Ink:  Archival Shadow Grey ink (Ranger); Distress Inks:  Wilted Violet, Broken Glass, Bundled Sage, Brushed Corduroy (Tim Holtz); Versamark
Accessories & Tools:  water brush, Circle nestabilities (Spellbinder); white embossing powder, heat tool

Challenges:
The Flower Challenge #36 - Anything Goes