Thank you!

Hi everyone.  I want to thank all that support me by visiting my blog.  I appreciate everyone who stops by for a visit.  I LOVE making cards and it makes me happy to share them with you!

I am going to sign-off my blog today and take a much needed break after a hectic year.  Before I go, I'm sharing three ornaments below.  These were so much fun to make and I hope to make more next year if time permits.

I will be back on January 1st, raring to go with the first CAS Mix Up challenge of the year.  I hope you'll be back to check it out.

To all that celebrate the season in one way or another,

Happy Holidays and Merry Christmas!

Please stay safe!  

Love,

Penny Black - Snow Charm

Hi everyone.  Today I'm sharing a card using the beautiful Snow Charm (30-772) stamp set from the Winter Wishes Release.

I pulled out a beautiful background that was made a little while ago using Lindy's Magicals.  I love these gorgeous pots of powdered colour with mica.  So vibrant and shimmery!!

I used all the snowflakes from the stamp set to cover the card front, heat embossing them in silver.  Doesn't really show up well in the photo above, better in the close-up.  Added a silver embossed, torn vellum sentiment banner using a sentiment from the same stamp set.

Close-up ...

Thanks for stopping by!

Penny Black Products

Snow Charm (30-772)

Stamps:  Snow Charm (Penny Black)

Paper:   Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.); Vellum
Ink:   Magical powders (Lindy's); Versamark
Accessories:   water mister, heat tool, silver embossing powder

The Flower Challenge #51 Reminder

Hi everyone.  We are already half way through December.  2020 is quickly growing to a close.  I'm sharing my reminder card for The Flower Challenge #51 - Add Embellishments.

A big thank you to Helen (Cards from Helen).  Helen has been our wonderful Guest Designer this month.  Thanks Helen!

This is a new-to-me stamp set from Simon Says.  I just love the florals on this one.  I stamped the images randomly on mixed media paper, heat embossing with princess gold.  The images were then watercoloured using Distress Inks (Abandoned Coral, Peeled Paint, Mustard Seed).  The sentiment (also part of the same stamp set) was heat embossed in princess gold onto a black card stock banner.  My embellishments to finish the card are some clear sequins and a line of gold cording under the sentiment banner.

Close-up ...

The overhead photo really shows off the shine of this gorgeous yellow-gold embossing powder.

There's still lots of time to play along at before the challenge closes on the 25th of the month.  Come join us!

Since this is the first time playing with these stamps, I'm heading over to add them to the gallery at NBUS #21.

Stamps:  Look for the Rainbows (Simon Says Stamp)
Paper:   Mixed Media (Stratmore 140 lb.); Black card stock (Stampin' Up!)
Ink:   Versamark; Distress Inks:  Abandoned Coral, Peeled Paint, Mustard Seed (Tim Holtz)
Accessories:   Princess Gold embossing powder (Ranger), heat tool, water brush, clear sequins, gold cording

Challenges:

The Flower Challenge #51 - Add Embellishments

NBUS #21

Penny Black - Cup of Joy

Hi everyone.  I'm back with two more cards using the newest Penny Black release - Winter Wishes.

The card above started by making a stencil using the one of the new die-cuts called Cozy (51-671).  I cut Yupo to use as the stencil, it works really well and holds up for a long time.

I placed the stencil at the bottom of my card front and sponged overtop with Weathered Wood distress ink.  I used a Weathered Wood marker to add a line at the top of the design.

The Cup of Joy (30-746) image is stamped in black ink and clear embossed onto mixed media paper.  I used a mix of Distress Inks and Dye inks to watercolour the image.  I fussy cut the main part and set aside.  Stamped the image again onto my card front and paper pieced the deliciously-filled cup.  Used markers to add in the gray steam and red hearts.  Finished touches include adding Clear Wink of Stella to the cup and marshmellows.  Glaze is added to the candy canes and hearts to make them shine.  The sentiment, Bright & Light (30-762), is stamped in black and clear heat embossed to make it stand out more over the patterned strip.

Close-up ...

A quick and easy card for the second, this design uses two die-cuts from the Wildwood set (51-657).

They are both watercoloured, one light brown, one dark brown; then layered to create a thicker frame.  The sentiment (Bright & Light 30-762) is stamped in black and clear embossed.  Two holly sprigs, (Holly Branches 51-662) are watercoloured, winked with clear Stella and glaze added to the berries before adhering to the side of the frame.  The frame and holly are placed over the sentiment and glued down randomly to give the frame some lift. 

Close-up ...

Thanks for coming by!

Penny Black Products

Cozy (51-671)

Cup of Joy (30-746)

Bright & Light (30-762)

Wildwood (51-657)

Holly Branches (51-662)

Card #1: Cup of Joy

Stamps:  Cup of Joy (Penny Black); Bright & Light (Penny Black)
Paper:   Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.); White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.)
Ink:   Black (Memento); Distress Inks:  Evergreen Bow, Pine Needles, Weathered Wood (Tim Holtz); Markers:  Real Red, Smoky Slate, Garden Green (SU!)
Accessories:   Clear embossing powder, heat tool, sponge, water brush, paint brush, Clear Wink of Stella, Crystal Glaze (Nuvo)

Card #2: Season of Gladness

Stamps:  Bright & Light (Penny Black)
Paper:   Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.); White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.)
Ink:   Black (Memento); Distress Inks:  Brushed Corduroy, Gathered Twigs, Walnut Stain, Evergreen Bow, Pine Needles, Candied Apple (Tim Holtz)
Accessories:   Clear embossing powder, heat tool, water brush, paint brush, Clear Wink of Stella, Crystal Glaze (Nuvo)

Penny Black - Hello Deer

This stamp set (Hello Deer 30-766) is from the new Winter Wishes Release.  The card above could be used for Christmas, Winter, or as a Thinking of You card.  Love the versatility!

Used a piece of paper towel background from my stash, stamped the deer with decorated antlers over top in black ink and clear heat embossed overtop.

Watercoloured with distress inks and added some white highlights with my Posca Pen.  Die-cut a circle from the card front to create an aperture; placed over image panel.  I love how the image fits a round cut-out, but would look great as a square or rectangle as well.  To finish, stamped sentiment (also from Hello Deer stamp set) in black ink with clear heat embossing to match the image.

Close-up ...

Thanks for stopping by!

Penny Black Products

Hello Deer (30-766)

Stamps:  Hello Deer (Penny Black)
Paper:    Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.); White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.)
Ink:   Black (Memento); Distress Inks:  Forest Moss, Fired Brick, Brushed Corduroy, Rusty Hinge (Tim Holtz)
Accessories:   Circle die (Spellbinders); water brush, Clear embossing powder, heat tool, White Posca pen

Penny Black - All Things Evergreen

Hi everyone.  Back with a few more Winter cards.  Card above uses All Things Evergreen (40-764 and the sweet deer from Cozy Winter (30-763) ...

      

Started by creating some freehand snow hills for the background.  Masked off the area below the first tree.  Placed tree in Misti, inked with Distress inks, spritzed lightly and stamped.  Opened up and used a waterbrush to move some of the excess ink around.  Repeated for trees two and three.

Stamped reindeer onto a separate piece of mixed media paper, watercoloured with distress inks, and fussy-cut.  Stamped the reindeer again on my card front and glued the fussy-cut reindeer over top.  Cut down the size of the panel and popped it up on the card front for added dimension.  Stamped sentiment, Hello Deer (30-766) to finish.

Close-up ...

For the second card, I used the same All Things Evergreen to create the tree background around some watercoloured snowhills.

Stamped, watercoloured and fussy-cut the sweet Cozy Cabin (40-760).  Placed it on my card front and added a torn snowhill to add snow around the bottom of the cabin.  Stamped the sentiment from Snowflake Season (30-779) in the same green as the trees. 

 

Close-up ...

Thanks for coming by for a visit!

Penny Black Products

All Things Evergreen (40-764)

Cozy Winter (30-763)

Hello Deer (30-766)

Cozy Cabin (40-760)

Snowflake Season (30-779)

Card #1:  For a deer friend

Stamps:  All Things Evergreen (Penny Black); Hello Deer (Penny Black)
Paper:   Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.); White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.)
Ink:   Black (Memento); Distress inks:  Broken China, Peeled Paint, Forest Moss, Gathered Twigs, Brushed Corduroy (Tim Holtz)
Accessories:   water mister, water brush

Card #2:  Happy Winter to all

Stamps:  All Things Evergreen (Penny Black); Cozy Cabin (Penny Black; Snowflake Season (Penny Black)
Paper:   Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.); White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.)
Ink:   Black (Memento); Distress inks:  Broken China, Peeled Paint, Forest Moss, Gathered Twigs, Brushed Corduroy (Tim Holtz); Yellow Zig;  Red marker (SU!)
Accessories:   water mister, water brush

Penny Black - Cozy Winter

Hi everyone.  I'm working on Penny Black's most recent release - Winter Wishes.

It is a mix of wonderful images that can be used for making Christmas cards or Winter cards.  

Both cards today are from the stamp set Cozy Winter (30-763).

I stamped my card image in black ink and heat embossed with clear before watercolouring with distress inks.  Finishing touches include splattering with white acrylic paint, adding frame Simple Stackers (51-613), and stamped sentiment, Snowflake Season (30-779).

Close-up ...

Next card is an adorable winter forest scene with some fun critters decorating a tree ...

Started the same way as the first card, stamped in black, clear embossed and watercoloured.  I used my waterbrush and some very diluted Broken China ink to create the snow hills and sky.  Sentiment, Christmas Sentiments (30-504) was stamped in black and clear heat embossed to match the image.

Close-up ...

Thanks for stopping by!

Penny Black Products

Cozy Winter (30-763)

Simple Stackers (51-613)

Snowflake Season (30-779)

Christmas Sentiments (30-504)

Card #1:  Snowflake Season

Stamps:  Cozy Winter (Penny Black);  Snowflake Season (Penny Black
Paper:   Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.); White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.)
Ink:   Black (Memento); Distress Inks:  Broken China, Mowed Lawn, Forest Moss, Fired Brick, Aged Mahogany (Tim Holtz); Yellow Zig
Accessories:   Clear embossing powder, heat tool, water brush, small paint brush, sponge, white acrylic paint, splatter brush, Simple Stacker Frames (Penny Black)

Card #2:  Oh What Fun!

Stamps:  Cozy Winter (Penny Black);  Christmas Sentiments (Penny Black)
Paper:   Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.); White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.)
Ink:  Black (Memento); Distress Inks:  Broken China, Mowed Lawn, Fired Brick, Aged Mahogany, Salty Ocean, Mustard Seed, Brushed Corduroy, Gathered Twigs, Frayed Burlap (Tim Holtz)

Accessories:   Clear embossing powder, heat tool, water brush, small paint brush, sponge

The Flower Challenge #51

Hi everyone.  It's the start of December's The Flower Challenge.  This month, we want you to Add embellishment(s) on your card.

We are thrilled to have Helen (Cards from Helen) as our Guest Designer this month.  Welcome Helen!

I kept my embellishment fairly simple by using some Autumn Flower Soft for the center of my stenciled dahlia.  Not only does it add some darker colours, but it has lots of texture as well.

The stenciling was done during a Zoom call I had with some crafting friends.  Julia (Create with Me) was sharing the shaving cream technique with re-inkers.  The twist was to use it through a stencil.  It was fun and messy all at the same time! :)  My stencil had two partial flowers on it, so I fussy-cut them and created two cards.  

Second card ...

Again, used Flower Soft for the center of my dahlia, with a copper embossed black sentiment border to complete the CAS design.

I hope you'll check out the challenge blog to see the amazing cards from the Designers and Guest Designer, Helen.  Then come join us!  Remember to use a floral image as your main design and include at least one embellishent.  See you in the gallery!

I used a beautiful Dahlia stencil from STAMPlorations, so I'm joining their December Stencil Challenge ...

Stamps:  ...everyday (Penny Black); Every Day Messages (Hero Arts)
Paper:   Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.); White card bases (Neenah 110 lb.); Black card stock (SU!)
Ink:   Distress Re-inkers:  Mustard Seed, Abandoned Coral, Candied Apple (Tim Holtz); Versamark
Accessories:   Peeking Dahlia stencil (STAMPlorations); shaving cream, palette knife, Crystal Glaze, Flower Soft (Autumn), copper embossing powder (Ranger), heat tool

Challenges:

The Flower Challenge #51 - Add Embellishments
December Stencil Challenge - STAMPlorations

Penny Black - Scarved Sweeties

Hi everyone.  Still playing with the awesome Christmas release from Penny Black called Season of Hope.  So many wonderful images and dies!  Today I had fun playing with an adorable stamp set called Scarved Sweeties (30-758).

Starting with the card above, I watercoloured one of the snow scenes from the set.  Isn't this adorable??  The two bears look warm and cozy as they snuggle together to watch the snow falling.  Watercoloured with distress inks and added some clear Wink of Stella to the snow for a little sparkle.  Used finger dauber to sponge a small circle of light from the street lantern, and then sponged two shades of blue for the sky.  Final touch was to splatter lots of "falling snow" using diluted white acrylic paint.

Close-up ...

For the second card I started with a piece of smooshed, magicals background from my stash  The colours just sparkle with the added mica powder.

Stamped the bear onto a scrap of mixed media paper, heat embossed, watercoloured and fussy-cut before popping it over top of my panel which has been die-cut with a center rectangle.  Added black frame and adhered the whole panel to my card front. The sentiment is stamped in black and heat embossed with clear powder to match the image.

Close-up ...

For the final card today, stamped snow scene image onto mixed media paper and watercoloured with distress inks.

Die-cut image with circle die and also added a circle die-cut frame.  Added the circle to my card front, popping it up for added dimension.  Added a white heat embossed sentiment banner (Christimas Sentiments 30-504) to finish.

Close-up ...

Thanks for stopping by for a visit!

Penny Black Products

Scarved Sweeties (30-758)

Christmas Moments (30-731)

Christmas Sentiments (30-504 

Card #1: Be Merry Be Bright

Stamps:  Scarved Sweeties (Penny Black);  Christmas Moments (Penny Black)
Paper:   Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.); White card base (Neenah 110 lb.)
Ink:   Black (Memento); Distress Inks:  Brushed Corduroy, Gathered Twigs, Fired Brick, Mowed Lawn, Black Soot, Mustard Seed, Broken China, Salty Ocean (Tim Holtz)
Accessories:   clear embossing powder, heat tool, water brush, sponges, white acrylic paint, Clear Wink of Stella

Card #2: Merry Little Christmas

Stamps:  Scarved Sweeties (Penny Black)
Paper:  Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.); Black card stock (Stampin' Up!) 
Ink:  Black (Memento); Distress Inks:  Brushed Corduroy, Gathered Twigs, Walnut Stain, Seedless Preserves, Salty Ocean (Tim Holtz) 
Accessories:   clear embossing powder, heat tool, water brush, Magicals (Lindy's), Clear Wink of Stella, White Acrylic Paint, Red Chalk

Card #3: Warmth, Joy, Happiness

Stamps:  Scarved Sweeties (Penny Black);  Christmas Sentiments (Penny Black)
Paper:   Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.); White card base (Neenah 110 lb.); Black card stock (Stampin' Up!) 
Ink:   Black (Memento); Zigs
Accessories:   clear embossing powder, heat tool, water brush, Circle die (Spellbinders), white acrylic paint, white embossing powder, Clear Wink of Stella