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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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

November Rudolph Days

Hi everyone.  This card is for November's Rudolph Days.  I managed to play along each month this year - YAY!  The team is taking a much needed break for December, so this is there last challenge for this year.

I used a scrap of patterned paper for the main panel and popped up some fussy-cut poinsettias on top.  The poinsettia's were stamped in black and watercoloured with distress inks.  A sentiment finishes the card.

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Thanks for stopping by!

* * * * *

Jessie watching The National Dog Show on TV! :)

Stamps:  Poinsettias (AliExpress); Christmas sentiments (Penny Black)
Paper:  White card base (Neenah 110 lb.); festive & frosty patterned paper (Penny Black)
Ink:  Black (Versafine); Distress Inks:  Festive Berry, Picked Raspberry (Tim Holtz); green zig pen
Accessories & Tools:  Rectangle die-cut with stitched edging (Lil' Inkers)

Challenges:
November's Rudolph Days

Happy Birthday Susan!

Hi everyone.  Today is my dear friend, Susan's birthday.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY SUSAN!

The card above is done with Magicals and an AliExpress flower die.  I love how they turned out.  The shimmer from the Magicals is so pretty!!  I used a leftover piece for the birthday sentiment.

The background is a white embossing paste through a flourish stencil.  I only added it to the top 2/3's of the card.

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* * * * *

Jessie had surgery yesterday.

It's hard to see her like this.

She'll get lots of pampering over the next week.

Stamps:  Everyday Messages (Hero Arts)
Paper:  Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.); White card base (Neenah 110 lb.)
Ink:  Versamark
Accessories & Tools:  Flourish stencil (Tim Holtz); White Embossing Paste (Dreamweaver), stencil pal, flower dies (AliExpress), Lindy's Magicals, water mister, white embossing powder, heat tool

Autumn Leaves x 2

Hi everyone.  I'm going to take a break until January, so I will be posting cards that I made throughout the year that I couldn't fit into my post schedule.

Sharing two cards I made a while ago using the same stamp set.  The one above is coloured with Prismacolor pencils.

Stamped the leaf image a few times in soft brown on kraft paper for my main panel.  Stamped another leaf on a scrap of kraft and used my pencils to colours the leaves.  Fussy-cut leaf (it was a bit challenging) and adhered on top.  Stamped the sentiment in same ink as background leaves to pull it all together.

The second card ...

Started by adding white embossing paste through a tiny dot stencil for the background.  Stamped two leaves in kraft ink and heat embossed in clear.  Fussy-cut both leaves and smooshed in distress inks.  Cut a small strip of cork and stamped the sentiment on top.  Popped up the cork over the embossed background and tucked the stems of the leaves in behind.

Thanks for stopping by!

Stamps:  Leaves (AliExpress); Sentiment (unknown)
Paper:  White (Neenah 110 lb); Kraft (SU!)
Ink: Baked Brown Sugar (SU!)
Accessories & Tools: Prismacolour pencils, paper stump for blending

Playing with Gouache

Hi everyone.  A few months back I had a play day with Christine, Susan, and Trina.  Christine had purchased some gouache (pronounced gwash) paints and we had a play with them.  They are highly pigmented watercolour paints that can be used on any colour of card stock.  They can be used full strength (opaque) or be watered down (translucent).  Very versatile colouring medium.

Above is the first card I made with these paints.  The colours are opaque and look really nice with this wonderful image from Magenta.

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Below, I used the paints (with lots of water) to smoosh the background before stamping and painting the flower over top.  White gouache is especially good to have.  It's wonderful to have a white that will cover everything ... and also create wonderful splatters for Christmas cards. :)

I got a set of 24 colours and 12 metallics as an early Christmas present.  Hope to be sharing more cards with you soon.

Thanks for visiting!

Card #1 - Floral Collage
Stamps:  Floral Collage (Magenta); Sentiment (unknown)
Paper:  Mixed media (Strathmore 140 lb.); White card base (Neenah 110 lb.)
Ink:  Black (Versafine); Gouache paints
Accessories & Tools:  paint brushes

Card #2 - Creative Chaos
Stamps:  Creative Chaos (Visible Image); Noteworthy (STAMPlorations)
Paper:  Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb).
Ink:  Black (Versafine); Gouache paints
Accessories & Tools:  Water mister, paint brushes

Stencil Monoprint Ornament

Hi everyone.  Time for a reminder for the CAS Stencil November Challenge, hosted by Linda.  There's six days left before it closes.

This card uses a stencil monoprint from my stash.  It was made with a flourish stencil, using two shades of green distress inks.  I die-cut the snowflake ornament from both white card stock and from the piece of stencil monoprint.  I wanted to inlay the ornament with the design.  Before doing that, I sponged around the outside of the ornament to add more depth of colour.  It was then pieced (inlaid) into a white die-cut of a snowflake ornament.  Peace was stamped in matching ink before popping the snowflake die onto my card front.

It was easy to make, so I used the rest of the piece of monoprint and made two more. :)

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I hope you'll check out the challenge blog to see the new reminder cards from our GD and Designers.  Then come join us.  Only six days left before the challenge closes at midnight (PST) Nov. 24th.

* * * * *

Had a fun day with my dear friends Fran and Deb.

We celebrated Fran's belated birthday and

spent some time making cards.

Jessie wanted to hang with us! ;)

Stamps:  festive snippets (Penny Black)
Paper:  Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.); White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.)
Ink:  Distress Inks:  Evergreen Bough, Pine Needles (Tim Holtz)
Accessories & Tools:  Lavinia Snowflake Ornament die (Poppy Stamps), Layered Flourish stencil (Tim Holtz), water mister, sponge


Challenges:
CAS Stencil November challenge - Stencil Monoprint

Warm and Cozy Lake Cabin

Hi everyone.  Today is the reminder for CAS Christmas November Challenge - Warm and Cozy, hosted by the super talented Trina.

I used an old stamp I've had for at least 15-20 years, but haven't inked up for almost that many years.  This is from Stampscapes and it's such a lovely image to watercolour.  I added snow to the ground, cabin, and on the trees, as well as falling from the sky.  It looks so cold!!  I thought being inside with the fire roaring would definitely be warm and cozy.  I added a small chimney to the cabin and some smoke rising, but it's hard to see. :)  I was so surprised to find a sentiment stamp that matched the challenge. :)

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I hope you'll check out the challenge blog to see the reminder cards from our wonderful Guest Designer, Bobby ... as well as the lovely cards from our Designers.  There's still a week left to play along before the challenge closes on Nov. 24th.

Hope to see you in the gallery!

Stamps: Lake Cabin (Stampscapes); Merriment (Penny Black)
Paper:  Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.); White card base and frame (Neenah 110 lb.)
Ink:  Arcival Grey Shadow (Ranger): Distress Inks:  Peeled Paint, Forest Moss, Salty Ocean, Tumbled Glass, Squeezed Lemonade, Pumice Stone, Frayed Burlap, Barn Door (Tim Holtz)
Accessories & Tools:  Paint Brushes, White acrylic paint, Rectangle die (AliExpress)

Challenges:
CAS Christmas November Challenge - Warm and Cozy

Monochromatic Sympathy

Hi everyone.  Today is the reminder card for CAS Watercolour November challenge - Monochromatic, hosted by the lovely Karen.

Today is all about gray.  I used a beautiful Penny Black flower stamp called together, inked it lightly with smoky slate ink, spritzed with a little water, and stamped onto mixed media paper.  I repeated the process, this time using a darker shade of gray (basic gray) to give some contrast.  The watercoloured panel was adhered to a light gray card base and framed with the same gray.  I thought this would be a beautiful sympathy card, adding my sentiment in versamark and heat embossing in white.

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It's been fun trying out monochromatic designs, something I have rarely done.  I hope you enjoy it too!

Check out the reminder post for more inspiration from our Designers and Guest Designer, Birgit.  There's still over a week to play along before the challenge closes.

Hope to see you in the gallery!

Stamps:  together (Penny Black);
Paper:  Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.); Smoky Slate card stock (SU!)
Ink:  Smoky slate, basic gray (SU!); Versamark
Accessories & Tools: water mister, Rectangle frame die (Spellbinders), white embossing powder heat tool

Challenges:
CAS Watercolour November Challenge - Monochromatic

Oxidized Metal

Hi everyone.  Today is a reminder for the CAS Mix Up November challenge - Oxidized Metal, which is hosted by the super talented Susan (Cats Inkcorporated).

There are a couple of video tutorials on the challenge blog if you want to give one of them a try.

I started with a piece of plum mirror paper.  I cut a small panel and dry embossed with small tiles embossing folder.  I randomly sprinkled with silver and gold embossing powders on top, leaving lots of spaces without any powder.  I heat embossed to melt the powders and then ran Staz-On black ink over top, which caught the tops of the dry embossing.  I die-cut my maple leaf and inlaid it into my card front.  Stamped a simple sentiment to finish.

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I love the artsy look of this technique.  Makes a perfect masculine card.  Hope you'll check out the challenge blog to see the reminder cards from our amazing Designers, and our wonderful Guest Designer, Arlene.

Stamps:  Brushed Wishes (Stampendous)
Paper:  Midnight Plum Mirror Card Gloss Effect (Tonic); white card stock (Neenah 110 lb.)
Ink:  Versamark; Black (Memento); Staz-on Black
Accessories & Tools:  Mini tile embossing folder (Cuttlebug), Silver embossing powder, Gold embossing powder, heat tool, Maple Leaf Thanks die (Neat & Tangled)

Challenges:
CAS Mix Up November Challenge - Oxidized Metal