February Rudolph Days

Hi everyone.  Here's my entry for the February Rudolph Days challenge.

I used a NBUS image from Whipper Snapper called "All Tangled Up Reindeer".  Isn't it cute??!! :)  Stamped in permanent black ink and watercoloured with distress and SU! inks.  Masked off the bottom and sponged with brown to ground the image.  Added crystal glaze on the lights and Reindeer's nose and a bit of white detailing on his hooves.  Heat embossed the red sentiment at the bottom and mounted onto a square red card base.  This image makes me smile and definitely brings me joy. :)


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Rudolph Days is open until Feb. 28th.  Come join the fun!

Stamps:  All Tangled Up Reindeer (Whipper Snapper); Sentiment - Merry Delight (Penny Black
Paper:  Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.); Real Red card stock (SU!)
Ink:  Versafine Black; Distress Inks; SU! inks
Accessories & Tools:  water brush, sponge, Crystal Glaze (Nuvo)

Challenges:
February Rudolph Days - Anything Goes Christmas

Experimenting with Black Mixed Media Paper

Hi everyone.  I bought some black mixed media paper (along with a gray/blue version).  Had some fun experimenting the other day with different mediums.  Only opaque mediums will show up on the black.  Made a card for this month's CAS Watercolour - Red and Black challenge.

The above card is done with Pearl-Ex powders.  They are a mica powder and come in gorgeous colours.  There is no binder in these powders, so you need to mix them with another product to make them set.  I mixed them with gum arabic (1 part gum arabic to 4 parts pearl-ex powder) and then used a wet brush to apply.  When I was finished I took a metallic silver pen and went over the silver embossing that was shaded from the powders being on top.  The pen was a little thicker than I would have liked, especially for the stamens, but it turned out pretty well.

Thanks for coming by for a visit!

Stamps:  Delicate Beauty (Penny Black)
Paper:  Black Mixed Media Paper (Strathmore 140 lb.)
Ink:  Versamark
Accessories & Tools: Silver embossing powder (Ranger); heat tool, Pearl-Ex Powders (interference red, red russet); gum arabic, water brush, silver metallic pen (Pilot)

Challenges:
CAS Watercolour February Challenge - Red and Black

Citrus Birthday Card

Hi everyone.  Today is my friend's (Anita in France) birthday.  I hope that she has received this card in time. :)  Happy Birthday Anita!!

I dug through my stash of partly started cards.  I have several of them, including this beauty that I made during last May's retreat.  My friend Bonnie brought some Nuvo Mousse to share with the group and I just couldn't resist playing with this gorgeous Citrus Green colour.  I spread it with a spatula through a flower stencil and sprinkled with chunky glitter while it was still soft.  I wish you could see the sparkle --- it's awesome.

I had a few areas where the mousse went under the stencil, so I fussy-cut it out and glued it onto a fresh card base ... problem solved. :)  I added a simple black sentiment banner with white heat embossing.

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Thanks for coming by for a visit!

Stamps:  Simply Sentiments (Lawn Fawn)
Paper:  White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Black card stock (SU!)
Ink:  Versamark
Accessories & Tools:  Bloom stencil (Mayco); Citrus Green Mousse (Nuvo), palette knife, Diamond Dust glitter (Twinklets); white embossing powder, heat tool

CAS February Challenge Reminders

Hi everyone.  We have reached the middle of the challenges, so time for a reminder for all four (CAS Mix Up, CAS Watercolour, CAS Christmas, and CAS Stencil).  I hope you'll come play along in any (or all)!

I used a lily of the valley circle die to cut a stencil from thin card stock.  The stencil was placed over a background of Lindy's magicals and white embossing paste was added to the stencil.  Once dry, the image was mounted to a white card base and topped with a card front which had a small circle aperture, along with a debossed larger circle around it (hard to see in photo).  A delicate sentiment was stamped to match the delicate image.  For my CAS Mix Up card there is Stencil from die-cut, smooshing, embossing paste, debossing and stamping.

TIP:  when using embossing paste over an ink coloured background, some of the colour will soak through the paste.  Use white acrylic paint (or in my case white gouache) to paint over top of the dried paste to make it bright white.

Thanks to Joanna ... I now look at my dies in a whole new way!

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Isn't this cat the cutest??!!  I stamped with permanent black ink onto mixed media paper, watercoloured with different inks and fussy-cut. Added white paint dots to the large heart, covered with sparkle and then coated with crystal glaze.  I used a small stitched rectangle for the background, adding different-sized (and intensity of colour) dots to create a bokeh background.  White pigment ink was also used to add a few very light coloured dots.  Sentiment is stamped in black and the stitched panel is popped up on foam as well as the cat bing popped up for added dimension.

Thanks Marcia for a very fun challenge!

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I used a sweet wreath from Avery Elle.  Stamped in permanent black ink and watercoloured with distress and SU! inks.  Added a little sparkle to the berries before adding the die-cut sentiment, which is two layers thick and coated with sparkled and then glaze.  I dabbed off most of the glaze with a paper towel to leave a shiny, but textured surface.

Thanks to Lin for this very fun challenge ... our gallery is filled with JOY!

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I started with a piece of lightly smooshed magicals in my stash ... leftover ink from another project.  I added transfer gel through the Barley Stencil (STAMPlorations) and foiled in copper.  I mounted my panel onto a card base and added a card front with a loop frame.  The sentiment is stamped in Vintage distress ink.

I struggled with this challenge for some reason.  I've used foil before, so not sure what I was doing wrong.  My first attemps were for large areas of foil, which may have been the problem.  But in the end, I was happy with both my launch and reminder cards.  Patience was needed. :)

Thanks to Barb for this challenge.  I learned a lot about what not to do. :)  But when it turns out, there's nothing like foil --- so beautiful!

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I hope you'll check out the challenge blogs to see the amazing cards from our Designers, Guest Designers, and participants.  If you haven't had time to play along, there's over a week left before all four challenges close on 24th at midnight PST.  Come join us!

CAS Mix Up Reminder - Lily Thanks
Stamps:  Sentiment - Peony Stems & Blossoms (Poppy Stamps)
Paper:  Mixd Media (Strathmore 140 lb.); White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.)
Ink:  Magicals:  Prima Donna Purple, Tiffany Bue, Sassy Sapphire (Lindy's);
Accessories & Tools:  Circle Nestabilities (Spellbinder); Lily of the Valley Sprigs Circle (Memory Box), Pixie Spray, White embossing paste (Dreamweaver); White Gouache (Arteza)

CAS Watercolour Reminder - With Love
Stamps:  so loved (Penny Black), sentiment - it's your day (Penny Black)
Paper:   Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.); White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.)
Ink: Obsidian (Altenew); Real Red (SU!); Zig (light gray); Candied Apple distress ink (Tim Holtz)
Accessories & Tools:  Water brush, White Paint Pen (?); Glitter Pen (Spectrum Noir clear), Crystal Glaze (Nuvo); Circle stencil (MFT), sponges, chalk, Stitched die (Lil' Inkers)

CAS Christmas Reminder - Love, Peace and Joy
Stamps:  Festive Wreath (Avery Elle)
Paper:  Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.)
Ink:  Versafine Black; Peeled Paint distress ink (TH); Real Red ink (SU!)
Accessories & Tools:  water brush; Peace, joy and love die (Penny Black); Sparkle Pen (Spectrum Noir), Crystal Glaze (Nuvo)


CAS Stencil Reminder - Copper Foiled Oats
Stamps:  Sentiment - Thank You (Lil' Inkers)
Paper:  Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.); White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.)
Ink:  Lindy's magicals (autumn maple); Vintage Photo distress ink (TH)
Accessories & Tools:  water mister, Barley stencil (STAMPlorations); Transfer Gel (Decofoil); Copper Foil sheet (Decofoil), Laminator, Stitched Loops Frame die (Penny Black)


Challenges:
CAS Mix Up February - Stencil from Die-cuts 
CAS Watercolour February Challenge - Red & Black
CAS Christmas February Challenge - Joy
CAS Stencil February Challenge - Foil

Collage Birthday

Hi everyone.  Today I've used a beautiful floral collage stamp to create a birthday card.  I stamped the image in Versamark and heat embossed in silver onto a light smooshed background.  I then watercolouring the flowers with distress inks so they stood out.  I added a 2-sided thin frame from perfect plum card stock and stamped the sentiment in a couple of shades of purple to get the right colour.  The main image is popped up on foam for added dimension.

This was a quick CAS card to make (QACAS ... ala Darnell).  I sent it to a friend for their birthday which was yesterday, but with the mail to Australia being super slow from Canada, it most likely won't get there in time. :(

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I'm adding this to the Seize the Birthday Challenge #183 - Show me your White Space.  I'm all about white space. :)

Thanks for coming by for a visit!

Stamps:  Floral Collage (Magenta)
Paper:  Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.); White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Perfect plum card stock (SU!)
Ink:  Distress inks
Accessories & Tools:  Silver embossing powder (Ranger), heat tool, water brush

Challenges:
Seize the Birthday #183 - show me your white space

With Sympathy

Hi everyone.  Unfortunately, there are times for all of us when we need sympathy cards.  I wanted to share this one I made for a special friend this week.

I used a stamp set from AliExpress.  It's got two parts to the leaf sprig (outline and solid).  I stamped the outline first with Versamark onto my black card base.  I heat emboss in Princess Gold (Ranger).  It's a yellow gold that I really like.  I then did the solid leaves, again stamping in Versamark and this time heat embossing with copper.  I added a heat embossed sentiment to match.  A very simple yet elegant sympathy card.

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Jessie helped herself to my warm chair when I got up to a few minutes.

This happens all the time. :)

Thanks for stopping by for a visit!

Stamps:  Leaf Sprig (AliExpress); Sentiment - Bouquet of Thanks (Simon Says Stamp)
Paper:  Black card stock (SU!)
Ink:  Versamark
Accessories & Tools:  Princess Gold embossing powder, Copper embossing powder (both from Ranger)

CAS Stencil February Challenge

Hi everyone.  This month's challenge is being hosted by the very talented Barb (Barb's Studio Creations).  And we are so happy to have Steph (My Paper Corner), as our Guest Designer this month.  Welcome Steph!

Barb wants us to Stencil using Foil.  Luckily, I have lots of foil and a laminator, but for those who don't have a laminator, there are several ways to add foil without one.  Check out the videos on the challenge blog to see some samples.

I played around with foiling a heart, using a die to make the stencil.  I placed a card front over top with the same heart shaped aperture, letting the foil show through.  I then added the inside design of the heart, die-cut from white card stock.  A simple stamped sentiment in black finishes my card.  It was so hard to photograph this shimmer and shine.  You'll have to trust me that it looks better in real life. :)  I'm going to give this to hubby for our 41st anniversary later this month.

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As well as making a card for this challenge, my above card also works for this month's CAS Mix Up Challenge - Stencil with Die-cuts.  :)

I hope you'll come join us and try foiling in a new way.

Stamps:
Paper:  White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Black card stock (SU!)
Ink:  Versamark
Accessories & Tools:  Heart Collage die (Gina Marie Designs), Transfer Gel (Deco Foil); Red foil (Deco Foil), palette knife, Stencil Pal; white embossing powder, heat tool

Challenges:
CAS Stencil February Challenge - Foil
CAS Mix Up February Challenge - Stencil from Die-cuts

CAS Christmas February Challenge

Hi everyone.  Welcome to the start of the CAS February Christmas challenge.  This month's challenge is being hosted by the wonderfully talented, Linda (Lin's Craft Corner).  Our Guest Designer this month is Claire (String Bows).  Welcome Claire ... so happy to have you join us!

Make a CAS Christmas card and include joy in your design.  It's that easy!  Then come play along.

I watercoloured and die-cut this beautiful Christmas frame that I got from AliExpress.  I used a mix of SU! inks and Distress inks.  The Joy is a die-cut from a sentiment stamp set by Poppy Stamps.  The joy is adhered to the card base with glue, the frame is popped up on foam.

Close-up ... you'll see that I went outside the lines a few times but I'm not going to worry about it. That's a breakthrough for me!:)

I hope you'll check out the challenge blog to see the beautiful JOY Christmas cards by our amazing Designers and Guest Designer, Claire!

Come join the fun and get a head start on your Christmas cards.  Making them throughout the year means that by December, you'll have a good stash of cards already done!

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More Jessie pictures ...

her latest toy - an 18 foot tunnel

Box arrived and hubby brought it inside and left in front hallway.

Jessie just knew it was for her, so she dragged it into the family room!

Box got hung up between the sofa and coffee table.  No problem for Jessie.

Now it was stable and she could get to work on opening it.

It only took Jessie 5 minutes to get it to this point!

I had to stop her before she started chewing the tunnel!

Jessie's first time in the tunnell --- no hesitation!

Jessie loves her new toy!

Stamps:  Merry Christmas Frame - stamp and matching die (AliExpress)
Paper:  Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.); White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.)
Ink:  SU!:  Real Red, Distress Inks:  Mowed Lawn, Salty Ocean (Tim Holtz)
Accessories & Tools:  Paint brushes, Tiding of Joy die (Poppy Stamps)

Challenges:
CAS Christmas February Challenge - Joy

CAS Watercolour February Challenge

Hi everyone.  It's the start of the CAS Watercolour February Challenge.  This month is hosted by the lovely Marcia (Marcia's Stampin' Pad).  We are excited to have Michele (I Card Everyone) as our Guest Designer this month.  Welcome Michele!

I wanted to make more of a dramatic looking card so started with the black card base.  I stamped my image in black onto white mixed media paper and watercoloured with Distress Inks (Festive Berries, Mahogany, Black Soot).  I added a thin, striped black and white washi tape to the left side and heat embossed the sentiment in white.  It wasn't until I went to write my post that I realized I used this same flower for last month's challenge.  I really do like this stamp!!  And having a matching die makes it so easy to use. :)

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Please check out the challenge post to see the gorgeous cards from our Designers, and Guest Designer Michele.  I hope to see you in our galley!!

Stamps:  Perfect Peony (Clearly Besotted); thank you (unknown)
Paper:  Black card stock (SU!), Mixed media (Strathmore 140 lb.)
Ink:  Obsidian Black (Altenew); Distress Inks:  Festive Berries, Mahogany, Black Soot (Tim Holtz); Versamark
Accessories & Tools:  waterbrush, matching die for image, stripe washi tape, white embossing powder, heat tool

Challenges:
CAS Watercolour February Challenge - Red & Black

CAS Mix Up February Challenge

Hi everyone.  It's Feb. 1st, which means it's time for the start of a new CAS Mix Up Challenge.  This month is hosted by the talented Joanna (Jo-Jo's Spot).  And we are so happy to have Ina (Little Bits of Craft) as our Guest Designer this month.  Welcome Ina!

Joanna wants us to use a die-cut to create our own stencil, and then make a card using that stencil.  It's a great way to stretch the use of your dies.

I used the Heart of Flowers die from SSS to create my stencil.  I love this image and it worked perfectly as a stencil.  I sponged different colours of distress inks and then coated the sponged image with clear sparkle (Spectrum Noir clear  --- an awesome gift from a friend!)  I added a simple, black, heat embossed sentiment to finish, using a fabulous black pigment/permanent ink that was another gift from friend!). :)

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I hope you'll come play along with us this month!  You'll want to take a look at the inspirational cards from our wonderful Deigners, and Guest Designer, Ina.  Click HERE to see!

Stamps:  Lots of Thanks (Simon Says Stamp)
Paper:  Neenah (110 lb.)
Ink:  Distress Inks:  Mustard Seed, Peeled Paint, Spiced Marmalade, Picked Raspberry (Tim Holtz); Obsidian Black (Altenew)
Accessories & Tools:  Heart of Flowers die (Simon Says Stamp), small brushes for sponging; Clear Sparkle (Spectrum Noir), clear embossing powder, heat tool

Challenges:
CAS Mix Up February Challenge - Stencil from Die-cuts