Winterberry Background x 2

Hi everyone.  I've had this stamp (Pinkfresh Studio's Winterberry Background) for a while, so happy to finally be inking it up for Christmas!  I used no-line watercoloring this time, although you can see some of the lines with the lighter green leaves.  That's another thing ... I do love twisted citron distress ink, but it DOES NOT photograph well.  It always looks yellow.  Trust me, the lighter leaves are green! :)

Started by inking up the image with antique linen distress ink.  Used distress re-inkers and watercolour paint brushes (#4, #2 round) to watercolour this background.  To finish, I used my white Posca pen to add highlights to the berries and some of the leaves.  I used a new-to-me die-cut sentiment banner from Simon Says (Holiday Words On a Line) and cut it from red card stock.  It was lost in the busy pattern, so I anchored it with a strip of white.  Worked great! :)

Close-up ...

I really like this background and wanted to try it with my new-to-me fine tec watercolours ...

LOVE the shimmer of these amazing watercolours!

I cut out a small strip to add in the sentiment banner.  You can just see it peeking out from the inside of the card.  It's small, but adds a nice little somethin' somethin' to the inside. :)

Close-up ... this really shows the shimmer of the paints!

I'm heading over to NBUS Challenge #32.  I used three new NBUS on this card (stamp, die, watercolours).  I'm having fun working my way through my new schtuff!

And I'm entering this pearly card into Peace on Earth Christmas Challenge #4.  I went with the Anything Goes for this challenge.  The mood board is AMAZING, so I might be back with another card inspired by it! :)

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Stamps:  Winterberry Background (Pinkfresh Studio)

Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Mixed Media paper (Strathmore 140 lb.); Real Red card stock (SU!)
Ink:   Antique Linen Distress Ink; Distress Re-inkers:  Candied Apple, Twisted Citron, Mowed Lawn (Tim Holtz)
Accessories:   Watercolour Paint brushes (#4, #2 round) - Blick Art Materials; White Posca pen; Liquid Platinum

Stamps:  Winterberry Background (Pinkfresh Studio)

Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Black card stock (SU!)
Ink:   Versamark; Pearlescent Watercolours (Fine Tec)
Accessories:   Watercolour Paint brushes (#4, #2 round) - Blick Art Materials; Liquid Platinum Embossing Powder, heat tool, CZ Design Sentiment Strips Reverse Christmas (Simon Says)

Challenges:
NBUS Challenge #32

Peace on Earch Christmas Challenge #4

Happy Birthday Susan!

Hi everyone.  Today is my dear friend Susan's birthday.  She loves blue and so when I saw this beautiful flower set from Honey Bee (Framed Anemones), I had to buy it to make her card.  I'm so happy how it turned out.  It's bright, bold, and a great birthday card for her.

Started by stamping in black ink and clear heat embossing.  I used only one shade of blue distress ink (Blueprint Sketch) for the flowers, two shades of green re-inkers (Mowed Lawn, Rustic Wilderness) for the leaves.  I've now added the Blueprint Sketch re-inker to my wish list ... there's always something to add! :)  Here's the photo that I saw that helped me pick my shade of blue ink ...

The image comes with it's own frame, which I originally watercoloured in Black Soot distress ink.  I didn't like how it looked, so fussy-cut out my image and placed it over top of a hemstitch dotty border, which has been lined with black card stock.  Much happier with the design.

Close-up ...

I'm sending this card over to Seize the Birthday - Challenge #228.  I didn't play along with my hobby, but the card is for Susan and she is an AMAZING gardener!! :)

Also to Simon Says Stamp Wednesday, where the challenge is Anything Goes.

And sending to NBUS Challenge #32.  This is the first inking of this pretty stamp!

Thanks for stopping by ... and if you have a moment, why not stop by Susan's blog (Cardmaker's Garret) and leave her some birthday love.  Thank you!!

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Stamps:  Framed Anemones (Honey Bee); Sentiment - Cosmos (Technique Tuesday - retired)

Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Mixed Media paper (Strathmore 140 lb.); Black card stock (SU!)
Ink:   Obsidian (Altenew); Blueprint Sketch distress ink, Mowed Lawn and Rustic Wilderness Distress Re-inkers (Tim Holtz)
Accessories:   Clear embossing powder, heat tool, Watercolour Paint brushes (#6, #4) Blick Art Materials, Hemstitch Rectangles (Spellbinders), White embossing powder

Challenges:

Seize the Birthday #228

Simon Says Wednesday Challenge - Anything Goes

NBUS Challenge #32

Berry Wreath

Hi everyone.  I have another new stamp set that I had fun playing with, Memory Box's Berry Wreath. :)  I started by stamping the wreath with Versamark and heat embossing with Liquid Platinum embossing powder.  I watercoloured using Distress Re-inkers (Twisted Citron, Mowed Lawn, Candied Apple), and shaded the berries with a bit of Aged Mahogany distress ink.  

To finish, I stamped the sentiment (also from the same set) onto a vellum banner and heat embossed with the same Liquid Platinum embossing powder used on the wreath.  I added a few white highlights with my Posca pen.

Close-up ...

This wreath comes with a matching die, so maybe next time I'll use that.  

I'm sending this over to NBUS Challenge #32.  Happy to be using some of my HUGE stash of new stamps! :)

I'm also playing along with the final challenge of the year for Rudolph Days.  I happy to say that I played along in every challenge this year!!  Thanks to Maureen and her Designers for all their wonderful inspirational cards!

* * * * *

Jessie went for a sleepover with Violetta a couple of days ago

while I was resting to get over the flu.

Jer snapped this photo of her staring out the window, looking for squirrels. :)

* * * * *

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Stamps:  Berry Wreath (Memory Box)

Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Mixed Media paper (Strathmore 140 lb.); Vellum (SU!)
Ink:   Versamark; Distress Reinkers:  Twisted Citron, Mowed Lawn, Candied Apple; Aged Mahogany distress ink (Tim Holtz)
Accessories:   Liquid Platinum embossing powder (Ranger), heat tool, Watercolour Brushes (#4, #2, #1 round), white Posca pen

Challenges:

NBUS Challenge #32

Rudolph Days November Challenge - Anything Christmas Goes

Star Ornaments

Hi everyone.  I've made a few more ornaments to donate to my friend Susan's charity fundraiser.  Not sure if I mentioned, but this will be the first time we are making ornaments to sell.  Usually there is cards and shortbread.

I used wooden star ornaments that I bought from AliExpress.  All five of these ornaments in this post were painted with red acrylic paint for the bases.  Three of them have a crackle finish over top, which shows a little of the red peaking through.  The rest are a mix of watercoloured and card stock die-cuts, along with stamped and heat embossed sentiments.  It was a lot of fun making these.

I used a lot of snippets on these ornaments, so sending them over to the Snippets Playground - Challenge #416.

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Challenges:

Snippets Playground Challenge #416

Foil Christmas Cards

Hi everyone.  Today I'm sharing a few of the Christmas cards I've made in the past week.  I fell well behind making my cards in advance this year.  Most of the ones I have made went to charity, so I thought I would take advantage of the large stash of beautiful foil card stock I had and make quick cards using embossing folders and die-cuts.

These are just a few of the 40 I have made so far. :)  My goal is to make a total of 75, so I'm over half way there and will be working to get the rest finished within the next couple of weeks so I have time to write and address them for mailing at the beginning of December.  Whew!!  Where did this year go??!!

I have used a variety of embossing folders and die-cuts.  I tried to make each of them unique, mixing and matching foil colour, dies, and colour of dies.  If you have any questions about what I used on a particular card, please email me using the form on the sidebar.  Make sure to mention which card you are referring to for more details.  

This one is different.  I used red foil and a poinsettia stencil with Glass Bead gel for the background (hard to see details).  The two silver poinsettia dies for on top.

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CAS Challenges November Reminder

Hi everyone.  Time for the reminder cards for the current CAS Challenges.  These are the last of the CAS Challenges for 2021.  Thanks to all who played along and supported us this year!  We appreciate YOU!

Starting with CAS Mix Up - Stencil Monoprint.

I'm your host.

This time I've added some crackle paste over top of my monoprint.  I used the Flower stencil from Mayco (retired) to create a large flower image with the background coloured with Lindy's Magicals.  Monoprints are the perfect opportunity to add paste to the white image that is left, with no ink, there is no bleed into the paste.  It keeps it clean and white.  To keep my card CAS, I cut down the flower print and just used over 1/4 of the original design.

I added a thin frame of black and then stamped the sentiment in black to pull it all together, Lawn Fawn's Simply Sentiments.

Close-up ...

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Here is my final card for the CAS Christmas challenge for 2021.

Barb is our host.

I used a sweet Christmas critter from Penny Black called Hopping by (30-626).  I stamped in black ink onto mixed media paper and heat embossed with clear embossing powder.  Then I watercoloured the image with distress inks.  Once dry, I used the matching die, Hopping cut out (51-577) to cut it out.  I set it aside.

Sponged the background of my card front using Evergreen Bough distress ink.  Took another piece of white card and tore it to create a snowhill and glued it in place.  Splattered the sponged background with water and then with diluted white gouache paint (also splattered the paint on the bunny).  Used Hickory Smoke distress ink to watercolour some shadows in the snow and then winked them with Clear Wink of Stella.  Used the same clear WOS to add shine to the ribbons and bow on the presents.  

Stamped the sentiment (Christmas sentiments 30- 504) in black and heat embossed in clear to match the image.  Finish the card by adding a 1/4" satin red ribbon tied in a knot near the top.  Haven't used ribbon for AGES!

Close-up ...

I'm entering this into the Merry Little Christmas Challenge #40 - Anything Christmas Goes.

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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!

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CAS Mix Up Reminder - Just for You
Stamps:  Simply Sentiments (Lawn Fawn)
Paper:  Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.); White card base (Neenah 110 lb.); Black card stock (SU!)
Ink:  Black (Memento)
Accessories & Tools:  Flower Stencil (Mayco - retired), water mister, Magicals (Lindy's Stamp Gang), Crackle Paste (Liquitex), palette knife


CAS Christmas Reminder - Hopping By
Stamps:  Hopping By; Christmas Sentiments (both from Penny Black)
Paper:  Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.); White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.)
Ink:  Black (Memento); Distress Inks:  Evergreen Bough, Brushed Corduroy, Gathered Twigs, Candied Apple, Aged Mahogany, Antique Linen, Hickory Smoke (Tim Holtz)
Accessories & Tools:  Clear embossing powder, heat tool, paint brushes, splatter brush, Clear Wink of Stella, White Posca pen, red chalk, 1/4" red satin ribbon


Challenges:
CAS Mix Up November Challenge - Stencil Monoprint
CAS Christmas November Challenge - Christmas Critters

MLCC #40 - Anything Christmas Goes

Penny Black - Christmas Blush - Part 2

Hi everyone.  Today I'm back with another card using the beautiful Christmas Blush (40-794) stamp from Penny Black.

This time I used Cherry Cobbler card stock for my card front.  I stamped the image in Versamark and heat embossed in Princess Gold embossing powder.  I then sponged around the outside edges of all four sides with Cherry Cobbler ink to darken the edges.

I used Fine Tec Metallic Pearlescent inks to paint in the flower and leaves.  I've had these paints for a while, but it's my first time trying them out. :)  They are fabulous!  Wish I had tried them earlier!  I used gold for the flower, but it wasn't enough of a different from the gold embossing so added a layer over top of Bronze, and then gold for some of the leaves and silver for the rest.  

The sentiment is from the Holly Days (30-869) stamp set, stamped in Versamark and embossed in gold to match the flower.  To finish, I splattered more gold pearlescent paint.

Close-up ...

I'm sending this card over to the Penny Black November Saturday Challenge - Anything Christmas Goes.

Thanks for coming by for a visit!

Penny Black Products

Christmas Blush (40-794)

Holly Days (30-869)

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Stamps:  Christmas Blush; Holly Days (both Penny Black)

Paper:   Cherry Cobbler card stock (Stampin' Up!); White card base (Neenah 110 lb.)
Ink:   Versamark; Metallic Pearlescent Paints (Fine Tec)
Accessories:   Princess Gold embossing powder, heat tool, paint brushes, splatter brush

Challenges:

PBSC November - Anything Christmas Goes

Joyful Poinsettia

Hi everyone.  I'm quite a bit behind on getting my Christmas cards done this year.  Not sure where the year went, but we are now down to the crunch.  I'm going to be sharing mostly Christmas cards over the next month, starting with this lovely stamp from WPlus9 - Joyful Poinsettia.  

I started by stamping this image in black ink onto mixed media paper and heat embossing in clear.  I watercoloured the first poinsettia and wasn't happy with the look.  So I moved to the other side of the image and tried a little different way of watercolouring (experimenting).  Happy with how it turned out.  I used re-inkers for the poinsettia (Candied Apple) and leaves (Rustic Wilderness).  I didn't have Aged Mahogany re-inker for the berries, so just pressed some ink onto a palette to use.  I tried to keep more lighter areas and even some specs of white on my poinsettias and leaves.  I will definitely do this again.

Close-up ...

I finished watercolouring by adding squeezed lemonade to the flower centers.  I used my white Posca pen to add highlights and then cut my panel down to size.  I stamped my sentiment on black card stock and heat embossed in white.  The panel is popped up on foam for added dimension.

I'm sending this to Peace on Earth Christmas Challenge - Challenge #3 - Anything Christmas Goes.  I didn't work off the provided mood board (but it IS fantastic).  

Also sending this to NBUS Challenge #32.  So happy to be using some of my new-to-me stamps!

Thanks for stopping by!

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Stamps:  Joyful Poinsettia (WPlus9)

Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Mixed Media paper (Strathmore 140 lb.); black card stock (SU!)
Ink:  Pigment Ink:  Obsidian (Altenew); Re-inkers:  Candied Apple, Rustic Wilderness; Distress Inks:  Aged Mahogany, Squeezed Lemonade (Tim Holtz)
Accessories:  Clear embossing powder (Ranger), heat tool, Watercolour Paint Brushes:  #6, #4, #2 Round (Blick Art Materials); White embossing powder, White acrylic pen (Posca)

Challenges:
Peace on Earth Card Challenge #3 - Anything Christmas Goes

NBUS Challenge #32

Mini Retreat Ornaments

Hi everyone.  Last week I spent three days with my good friends, Susan and Christine.  We got together at Christine's house, creating Christmas Ornaments to sell at Susan's annual Fundraiser Sale.

It was a lot of fun.  Very relaxing just creating and chatting.  There were no new techniques to learn, no set schedule.  Just craft, eat, craft some more, and eat a lot more. :)  It was a fun three days after being cooped up at home for the past two years.

Today all three of us are sharing photos of some of our ornaments.  I hope you enjoy seeing what we created.

Here they are ... 

The round wooden ornaments are all covered on the front with patterned paper (Craft Consortium Ink Drops - Dusk and Craft Consortium - Vivid) that I recently bought.  It looks like alcohol inks and makes lovely backdrops for the variety of dies that I used to decorate.  I used a gold gel pen to follow along some of the veining on the paper, which added a bit of shimmer.  The star ornament is painted with gold acrylic paint, as well as the backs of all the ornaments and the hangers are either gold or silver.

I hope you'll check out the ornaments made by Susan and Christine.  The ornaments really show how different our style of creating is ... lots of beautiful ornaments to see! 

Mostly used scraps for all the ornaments.  So sending this over to Snippets Playground - Challenge #415.