Christmas Reindeer

Hi everyone.   I do really love this sweet image of a reindeer decorated and ready for Christmas! :)  He looks so happy! :)

I added some embossing paste snow using Falling Snow stencil from Simon Says Stamp for the background, along with die-cut stitched snow hills.  The stamp (Little Reindeer Stamp (Gerda Steiner)) is watercoloured using distress inks and used the same red distress ink to stamp the sentiment (two times to get it dark enough).  Added a little spattering of snow on the reindeer with diluted gouache paint.  The image was then die-cut using the matching die, Little Reindeer Die (Gerda Steiner) and then popped up on the card front.

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Playing along with Rudolph Days, which is an Anything goes Christmas challenge running from the 25th of the month to month-end. 

I'm also playing along with the Jingle Belles.  Haven't managed to play along much this year, but happy to join in this fun challenge - Not a Creature was Stirring!

Stamps:  Little Reindeer (Gerda Steiner); Merry Up (Penny Black)
Paper:  White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.)
Ink:  Black (Memento); Distress Inks:  Pumice Stone, Frayer Burlap, Black Soot, Coffee Espresso, Mustard Seed, Wild Honey, Mowed Lawn, Candied Apple, Fired Brick (Tim Holtz)
Accessories & Tools:   Little Reindeer die (Gerda Steiner), Clear embossing Powder, heat tool, water brush, Falling Snow stencil (Simon Says Stamp), embossing paste, pallette knife, Clear Wink of Stella, Posca Pen, Crystal Drops (Nuvo), White Gouache paint, paint brush, Stitched Snow hill die (AliExpress)

Challenges:
October Rudolph Days
Jingle Belles - Not a Creature was Stirring

Penny Black - Falling Leaves Cut Out

Hi everyone.  Today I'm sharing a clean and simple design using one of the lovely die sets called Falling Leaves Cut-Outs (51-680).

I started by smooshing a mixed media panel with saturated distress inks (carved pumpkin, mustard seed, peacock feathers, seedless preserves).  All 12 of the leaves from the Falling Leaves Cut Out set (51-680) were die-cut from the colourful panel.  I used a white Posca pen to add the veins of the leaves.

I wanted to create a floating frame, which means the images float above the background frame.  All leaves where temporarily taped down tightly together and then die-cut with an oval die.  I then removed each piece one-at-a-time and placed them back with pop dots underneath so they pop off the background.  This is the easiest way for me to do the floating frame technique.

The sentiment (Happy Snippets  30-358) was white embossed on a black banner and adhered directly over the oval.

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Thanks for coming by for a visit!

Penny Black Products

Falling Leaves Cut-Out (51-680)

Happy Snippets (30-358)

Stamps:  Happy Snippets (both Penny Black)
Paper:   White card base (Neenah 110 lb.); Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.); Black card stock (Stampin' Up!)
Ink:  Distress Inks:  Mustard Seed, Carved Pumpkin, Peacock Feathers, Seedless Preserves (Tim Holtz)
Accessories:   Water mister, Falling Leaves Cut Out (Penny Black), Oval die - retired (Spellbinders), white embossing powder, heat tool, Posca white acrylic paint pen

Christmas Gnomes

Hi everyone.  I recently bought this really fun image from Polkadoodles (Snow Ho Ho - at Simon Says Stamp) and had to ink it up! :)  Watercoloured with distress inks, cut my panel to size and popped it up on foam over my card base.  I was smiling the whole time I was working on this card.  I had so much fun, I made two!

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Since this is a new-to-me stamp, I'm heading over to join in the NBUS #19 gallery.

And I'm going to enter this into the Merry Little Christmas Challenge for October - Anything Christmas Goes!  This is my second entry.

Thanks for coming by for a visit!

Stamps:  Snow Ho Ho (Polkadoodles)
Paper:   Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.); White card base (Neenah 110 lb.)
Ink:   Archival Black (Ranger); Distress Inks: Fired Brick, Candied Apple, Aged Mahogany, Stormy Sky, Hickory Smoke, Crushed Olive, Forest Moss, Gathered Twigs (Tim Holtz)
Accessories:   Water brush, Posca White Arcylic paint pen, Clear Wink of Stella, Crystal Glaze (Nuvo), red chalk

Challenges:

NBUS #19 Challenge

Merry Little Christmas October Challenge - Anything Christmas Goes!

Poinsettia Embossing Folder

Hi everyone.  I just HAD to buy this amazing 3-D embossing folder (Poinsettia - Tim Holtz) after my friend Christine sent me a link to it.  It's gorgeous and I had fun making three versions, all watercoloured.  The card above is my favourite of the three.

I started with a smooshed background from my stash of light pink and green.  I embossed the poinsettia and then watercoloured over top using distress inks (worn lipstick, shabby shutters, peeled paint).  I added a bit of shading to the leaves, but not the poinsettias.  I just left them the one colour.  You'll see dots of red ink that was leftovers in the folder from my other cards.  Should have washed it, but it all worked out as I love the little bits of contrast.

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I didn't add a sentiment, which I think was the right decision for this card.

On to the second card using the same embossing folder.  This started out as a fail.  I inked the inside of the folder with distress inks (fired brick, peeled paint, mustard seed), spritzed with water and ran it through my embossing machine.  The deep 3-D embossing is amazing, but my ink only left an outline of the images.  I set it aside for a while.  I had a thought to watercolour freehand over top of the embossing ... so that's how this design came about.  You can see bits of the outlining as well as my watercolouring of the images.  Happy with how it turned out ... although there are a couple of boo-boos.  :)  This was the first card I made with this embossing folder.

Stamped a simple sentiment (Big Scripty Greetings Holiday - Simon Says Stamp) using the same green on my leaves and stems, but stamped several times to get a clean image, which made it darker.  Also found it hard to figure out where to put the sentiment, so it ended up on the bottom.  I'm OK with it! :)

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Last card ... this time watercoloured with zigs which are bright and clean.  Totally different look than the distress inks used above.

Once I finished watercolouring the main panel, I cut it down to create an "off-the-edge" design for something different.  Stamped and heat embossed in white Christmas Sentiments (Penny Black) to finish the card.

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I hope you've enjoyed my three ways of watercolouring this amazing embossing folder.

* * * * * 

Jessie's latest toy - 3 Squirrels in a tree trunk

 

  

Stamps:  2)Big Scripty Holiday Greetings (Simon Says Stamp); 3) Christmas Sentiments (Penny Black)
Paper:  Mixed Media Paper (Strathmore 140 lb.); Real Red card stock (Stampin' Up!) 
Ink:   Distress Inks:  1)  Worn Lipstick, Shabby Shutters, Peeled Paint; 2)  Fired Brick, Aged Mahogany, Peeled Paint; 3) zigs
Accessories:   Poinsettia 3D embossing folder (Sizzix for Tim Holtz), water brush, white embossing powder, heat tool

And now for something completely different ...

Hi everyone.  Today I'm playing with some watercolour paints that I bought quite a while ago.  They are made in Japan and are called "Shadow Black inks".  There are six colours and they are all mixed with black so the colours have (in my opinion), a "mixed media" look.

I started by stamping my flower (Radiant - Penny Black) in Versamark ink and heat embossing with Liquid Platinum embossing powder.

The center of the flower is watercoloured with Yellowish Black and leaf with Greenish Black.  Then watercoloured the flower petals in Purplish Black.  I thought it looked a bit dull, so added a layer of Reddish Black ink on top of the petals.  Much happier with the colour.  I used the same two colours of the petals (Purplish Black and Reddish Black) to smoosh my background.

I love the smoky look of these colours.  I wanted to keep a monochromatic look so tested out my gray distress inks to find the colour that worked best.  Pumice Stone was very close to Liquid Platinum embossing powder, so used it to stamp the background (Script - Penny Black) on my smooshed card stock.  Used the matching flower die to cut out my flower (Radiant cut out - Penny Black) and popped it up on top, adding foam for dimension.

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Since this is my first try with Shadow Inks, I'm adding my card to the NBUS #19 Challenge.

Stamps:  Radiant (Penny Black); Script (Penny Black)
Paper:   Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.)
Ink:   Versamark; Shadow Inks (boku-undo.co); Pumice Stone Distress Ink (Tim Holtz)
Accessories:   Liquid Platinum embossing poweder (Ranger); Water mister, Water brush, Radiant Cut-Out (Penny Black)

Challenges:

NBUS #19 Challenge

Another Zoom Session with another Zoom Group

Hi everyone.  I'm playing along with another group of crafting friends, meeting up once a month.  We had our first session on Sept. 30th and it was all about using embossing folders.  I have lots, but rarely remember to pull them out.

It was a lot of fun and we all got some samples done and have made some into cards.  We are all sharing our finished cards today, so check below for links to the other girl's blogs.  I hope you'll take a look.  I know you'll be inspired! 

For the card above, the technique was double embossing.  I had never done this before.  It's so easy and the results are awesome!  First I dry embossed white card stock with the Pinewood Planks embossing folder.  I then took the dry embossed card stock and placed it into a second embossing folder, Layered Leaves (both are 3D folders from Stampin' Up!).  I love the design I got with the woodgrain planks in the background and the leaves in the foreground.  So cool!  The card front was sponged with Antique Linen distress ink to highlight the embossed design.

I cut a flower die that was a gift from a sweet friend.  I watercoloured the leaves in shades of brown; the flower petals in red with brown in the center and sponged brown on the outer edges.  I used the same brown marker to add details to the center of the two flowers and finished with a brown half pearl.  The sentiment is stamped in the same brown and then restamped in red.  The colour works perfectly with the flower!

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The next card is a bit of a surprise.  At least I was surprised making it.  The dry embossed panel is made from toilet paper!  Four layers held together with a light spritz of water and then embossed with a leaves folder (Spring Leaves - retired - Elizabeth Craft Designs).  I love how it looks like handmade paper.  

I tore the edges to create a square, adding a die-cut leaf sprig (Little Leaves die - retired - Sizzix for SU!) on top that is watercoloured with bright green ink and coated with glass bead gel.  It's backed with black card stock to add some contrast with a white heat embossed sentiment.

For my last card, I dry embossed a piece of silver foil card stock and then added drips of three colours of alcohol inks.  I used blending solution to thin out the inks so they would flow down the card.  I always use a piece of aluminum foil to protect my work surface and catch any extra ink.  I also wear vinyl gloves, and used my fingers to pick up some extra ink off the foil and press it onto my card stock.  Worked great ... and then I'll use the aluminum foil to make a card as well! :)

I used my favourite combination of alcohol inks for this (all Ranger); Wild Plum, Sunset Orange, Sunshine Yellow.  I added a black die-cut of Flower Flourish (from Penny Black) and stamped my sentiment (Noveau Flowers - retired- Clearly Besotted at the bottom.  The panel is popped up on foam to add a bit of dimension.

Hope you enjoyed my embossing folder cards.  It was fun to learn new ways to use my EFs.

Check out the wonderful cards from the other members of the group:

Colleen

Julia

Linda

Marcia

Nancy

Thanks for stopping by!

Card #1 - Double Embossing

Stamps:  Scripty Sentiments (AliExpress)
Paper:   Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.); White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.)
Ink:   Distress Inks:  Antique Linen, Fired Brick, Gathered Twigs (Tim Holtz)
Accessories:   Pinewood Planks embossing folder (SU!); Layered Leaves embossing folder (SU!), sponge, water brush, brown marker, brown pearls

Card #2 - Handmade Paper

Stamps:  Essential Messages (Maker's Movement)
Paper:   Toilet paper, White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Black card stock (SU!)
Ink:   Bright Green; Versamark
Accessories:   Little Leaves die (Sizzix), Glass Bead Gel (Golden), white embossing powder, heat tool

Card #3 - Foil and Alcohol Inks

Stamps:  Noveau Flowers - sentiment only (Clearly Besotted)
Paper:   Silver Foil card stock (SU!); White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Black card stock (SU!)
Ink:   Alcohol Inks:  Wild Plum, Sunset Orange, Sunshine Yellow (Ranger); Black (Memento)
Accessories:   Courrier embossing folder (Carabelle Studios), blending solution, Flower Flourish die (Penny Black)

A day making Christmas cards

Hi everyone.  Sharing three cards that I made a while back while having a day of play in my studio. :)

I do love to make Christmas cards and I made some that were fairly quick and easy.  For the above card, I die-cut the snowflakes (sensational snowflake collage die - Simon Says Stamp) and then trimmed off the excess to create framed snowflakes.  I backed it with a panel of smooshed inks that was in my stash.  I coated the frame and snowflakes with crystal glaze to add some shine.  The sentiment is from a fun stamp set from Lawn Fawn called Merry Messages.

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Next up is another pretty Christmas die and background from my stash ...

I started with a panel of stencil monoprint (Snowflake Stencil - Paper Artsy) done with blue and purple inks) that I had in my stash.  I die-cut the trees (In the Winter die - Penny Black) from white card stock and sprayed with shimmer spray.  I wanted more sparkle to sprinkled glitter over top while still wet.  The glitter didn't stick all over the die-cut, so I coated it with crystal glaze to seal.  The sentiment (Christmas sentiments - Penny Black) was stamped in matching ink.

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Changing it up completely with a masculine Christmas card for my last make of the day.. 

This is a very easy and quick card to make.  I had this wonderful patterned paper (ho ho ho Christmas - Polkadoddles) and used a piece of the beautiful plaid just big enough to fit my silhouette stenciled reindeer (Christmas Reindeer stencil - STAMPlorations), done in black ink.  I popped up the panel over top of a red card base and stamped the sentiment (Snow globe sentiments retired - My Favorite Things) to finish.

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Card #1: Sending Joy

Stamps:  Merry Messages (Lawn Fawn)
Paper:   White card base (Neenah 110 lb.); Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.)
Ink:   Distress inks:  Peacock Feathers, Cracked Pistachio, Broken China (TimHoltz)
Accessories:     Sensational Snowflake die (Simon Says Stamp); Crystal Glaze (Nuvo)

Card #2: Peace, Love and Joy
Stamps:  Christmas sentiments (Penny Black)
Paper:   White card base (Neenah 110 lb.); Mixed Media paper (Strathmore 140 lb.)
Ink:   Distress inks:  Broken China, Wilted Violet (Tim Holtz)
Accessories:   Snowflake stencil (Paper Artsy), In the Winter die (Penny Black), Shimmer spray, Glitter (SU!), Crystal Glaze (Nuvo)

Card #3: Christmas Reindeer

Stamps:  Snow globe sentiments (My Favorite Things)
Paper:   Real Red (Stampin' Up!); ho ho ho Christmas (Polkadoodles)
Ink:   Black (Memento)
Accessories:   Christmas Reindeer stencil (STAMPlorations)

Penny Black - Falling Leaves

Hi everyone.  I'm back with a stamp and matching die-cut from the new release called Falling Leaves (30-716) and Falling Leaves Cut Out (51-680).

I stamped and die-cut the set of leaves (12) and watercoloured them before deciding what I was going to make. :)

I ended up using only five of the leaves for my CAS design, along with a small piece of cork  The sentiment is from another new stamp set called Bounty Beauty (30-719).

Fun and easy card to make. :)

Close-up ...

Thanks for coming by for a visit!

Penny Black Products

Falling Leaves stamp set (30-716)

Falling Leaves cut out (51-680)

Bounty Beauty (30-719)

Stamps:  Falling Leaves, Bounty Beauty (both Penny Black)
Paper:   White card base (Neenah 110 lb.); Mixed Media (Strtahmore 140 lb.)
Ink:   Archival Rich Cocoa (Ranger); Distress Inks:  Peeled Paint, Mustard Seed, Ripe Persimmon, Candied Apple (Tim Holtz)
Accessories:   Falling Leaves cut out dies (Penny Black); water brush, cork

CAS Challenges October Reminder

Hi everyone.  We are now halfway through October so it's time for our reminders for our two challenges.  First up, CAS Mix Up October Challenge - Tone on Tone Stenciling, hosted by Viv.

Stencil Challenge

I really like how this tone on tone stenciling turned out.  I started with a piece of Island Indigo card stock (SU!).  I placed my stencil over top and sponged with Island Indigo ink.  I love the impact of the stenciling, even though it's a subtle tone-on-tone stenciling.  I wanted to try something different, so cut my stenciled piece into difference widths and adhered them to the bottom of my card front.

Over top I placed a die-cut large snowflake (top layer silver, 2 layers white underneath for added dimension).  I heat embossed the sentiment in silver to match.  It went bubbly.  Not sure why that happens some times.

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Christine is our host.

Above is my CAS Christmas reminder card. I love this beautiful stamp that I received from a wonderful friend a long time ago.  It was orginally wood mounted, but I pulled it off so I could use it with my Misti.

I stamped the image in Versafine Black ink (waterproof).  I heat set to make sure it was dry before colouring with my zigs.  I was going to do that background wash first, but I was so excited to start painting that I completely forgot and was almost finished before I realized. :)

I knew that painting the background would be tricky, especially when there's red ink involved.  I tried to carefully add the blue, but right away I got red ink bleeding.  I decided to just go with it and make the whole image have a bit of bleed.  I'm really happy with how it turned out.  Another happy accident!

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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 both challenges close on 24th at midnight PST.  Come join us!

CAS Mix Up Reminder - Silver Snowflake
Stamps:  Big Scripty Sentiments - Holiday (Simon Says Stamp)
Paper:  White card base (Neenah 110 lb.); Island Indigo card stock (SU!); Silver Foil card stock (SU!)
Ink:  Island Indigo (SU!); Versamark
Accessories & Tools:  Large Snowflake die (AliExpress), Wander and Find stencil (?), sponge, silver embossing powder, heat tool


CAS Christmas Reminder - Christmas Birds
Stamps:  Christmas Birds (Northwoods); Christmas Sentiments (Penny Black)
Paper:  Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.); White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Black card stock (SU!)
Ink:  Zigs
Accessories & Tools:  water brush, Circle Nestabilities (Spellbinders), white embossing powder, heat tool


Challenges:
CAS Mix Up October Challenge - Tone on Tone with Stencils
CAS Christmas October Challenge - Christmas Birds

The Flower Challenge #49 Reminder

Hi everyone.  Back with a reminder that we are over half way through our challenge this month  - The Flower Challenge #49 - Circle / Circles.  We are thrilled to have Colleen Balija (Irish Rose Creations) as our Guest Designer this month.

And don't forget that we are celebrating our 4th birthday!

Lots of Prizes up for grabs - check out the challenge blog for details.

I'm having fun working with circles this month.  For by above card, I used a circle die-cut that I've had for ages, but never used.  I added a smooshed purple and blue inked background behind the circle die-cut and then added a sweet Cherry Blossom sprig from Penny Black over top, popped up for dimension.  I wanted to watercolour with blue, so I'm not sure what type of flower this is now, but it's not Cherry Blossoms. :)  Thank goodness we have artistic license! :)  Added some green for the stems and leaves and stamped the sentiment (Happy Messages - Stampendous) in the same blue ink used for the flowers.

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Please check out the challenge blog to see the amazing circle floral designs from our Designers and wonderful Guest Designer, Colleen.

Come play along!  It's a birthday celebration!!

Since I used my never-before-used circle die, I'm adding this card to the NBUS #19 gallery.

Stamps: Happy Messages (Stampendous)
Paper: White card base (Neenah 110 lb.); Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.)
Ink: Distress Inks:  Broken China, Mowed Lawn, Wilted Violet (Tim Holtz)
Accessories:   Cherry Blossom die (Penny Black), Woven Circle Ring (Poppy Stamps), Circle Nesabilities - retired (Spellbinders), water brush, Posca Pen

Challenges:
The Flower Challenge #49 - Circle / Circles

NBUS #19 Challenge