Merry Christmas!

Hi everyone,

Wanted to take this time to wish all of you a very Merry Christmas, Happy Holdays, Happy Hanukkah!

This is the most wonderful time of year.  Hope you all get to spend time with your loved ones and enjoy the season.

Thank you for all that support me and/or follow my blog.  See you in the New Year!

Jessie also wishes you a wonderful holiday!

Congratulations Alex!!

I'm sharing some exciting news about my SIL Alex (and the cards I made him to celebrate).  He has been working very hard over the past year and a half and just graduated with his Graphic Arts Certificate.  The grad show was earlier this week and it was amazing to see all the students displaying their talent.  We are so proud of Alex to follow his dream of working in a creative industry!!  Congrats Alex!

And if that wasn't exciting enough ... Alex also passed his Canadian citizenship test and was sworn in as a new Canadian yesterday.  It's been a whirlwind time for Alex and he has shone through it all!  Again, we are so proud of him.

Happy Birthday Cooper!

Hi everyone.  Yesterday was our oldest grandson's 6th birthday.  I had a lot of fun making this card for him.  We were told he is really into puzzles right now, so this card was designed to go with part of his gift, which is a space puzzle.  I think he'll like the card. :)

I created the background with smooshing salty ocean and chipped sapphire distress inks.  I did about three layers to get the depth of colour I wanted.  I then splattered with diluted white acrylic paint for the stars.  I don't have a rocket stamp, so I googled an image, printed, fussy-cut and coloured it with zig markers.  I added crystal drops to the windows for some shine.  The sentiment is heat embossed in white.

Close-up ...

Stamps:  Noteworthy (Stamplorations)
Paper:  Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb); White card base (Neenah 110 lb.)
Ink:  Distress Inks:  Salty Ocean, Chipped Sapphire (Tim Holtz); Zigs; Versamark
Accessories & Tools:  water mister, white acrylic paint, paint brush for splattering, white embossing powder, heat tool

Time to Celebrate

Hi everyone.  Today I'm sharing a card using Penny Black's Winter Branch die.  I just love this pretty die that is so versatile.

I used two colours of Lindy's magicals, sprinkled onto my craft mat, spritzed with water and smooshed with a small panel of mixed media paper. I left it to air dry.

Stamped the sentiment in black ink and then popped up the main panel with foam to add dimension.  Die-cut winter branch in black card stock and glued just in the center area to the main panel, leaving the branches loose.  This adds even more dimension  and movement to the card.

Close-up ...

Stamps:  heartfelt (Penny Black)
Paper:  Mixed media (Strathmore 140 lb.); White (Neenah 110 lb. card stock); Black (SU!)
Ink:  Black (Memento)
Accessories & Tools:  winter branch die (Penny Black), Lindy's magicals (cattail copper brown, autumn maple crimson), water mister

Jar of Hope

Hi everyone.  This is an artsy image from Unity so I thought I'd do more "sloshing" of ink.  I used bright colours for the flowers (picked raspberry / candied apple).  The jar is coated with Crystal Glaze to give it some shine.

Close-up ...

Stamps: Jar of Hope (Unity); happy day sentiment (unknown)
Paper:  Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.)
Ink:  Archival Shadow Gray (Ranger); Distress Inks:  Picked Raspberry, Candied Apple, Mowed Lawn, Tumbled Glass, Broken China (Tim Holtz); Black (Memento)
Accessories & Tools:  water brush, Crystal Glaze (Nuvo)

At Grace

Hi everyone. Sharing a card I made a while ago.

I started by using a paper towel transfer for the background.  Click HERE to check out my quick video on YouTube.  I inked up just the flowers with watercolour markers, spritzed wth a little bit of water and stamped onto the card panel.  I repeated this until I was happy with the depth of colour.  I repeated the same procedure with brown ink to stamp the stems and leaves.  To finish, the same brown ink was used to stamp the scrolly sentiment which really mimics the flowers.

Close-up ...

Thanks for the visit!

Stamps: at grace (Penny Black); Good Wishes (Penny Black)
Paper:  Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb. 400 Series)
Ink:  Distress Inks:  Picked Raspberry, Gathered Twigs (Tim Holtz)
Accessories & Tools:  water mister

From the Garden

Hi everyone.  Another card that I made a while ago.  This CAS design has stamping, paper piecing, watercolouring, masking and sponging.  All of those techniques in this single CAS design. :)

Masked my card front and then sponged with Rusty Hinge distress inks.  Stamped and watercoloured the flowers before die-cutting with matching die.  Paper pieced the vase with crinkle paper that adds lots of texture.

Popped the flowers over top of the sponged background and stamped a simple sentiment to finish.

Close-up ...

Stamps: from the garden (Penny Black); sentiment - flower teddy (Penny Black)
Paper: Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb. 400 Series); White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.)
Ink:  Versafine Black ink (permanent); Zigs; Rusty Hinge Distress Ink (Tim Holtz)
Accessories & Tools:  water brush, crinkle paper (gift from Mac), masking tape, sponge