Hello There Birthday

Hi everyone.  Here's a birthday card I made last month for another of my sweet friend (lots of friends have birthdays in December!).  :)  I met Cindy at work in 1994 and we have remained in touch.  We always have so much fun when we get together; she is hilarious! :)  

This is a CAS (clean and simple) winter birthday card and the sentiment on the inside says "Have a Beary good birthday". :)

I've seen this polar bear stamp set around for a while and thought it was so adorable; finally bought it (Polar Pals - My Favorite Things).  I started by masking the snow at the bottom of my panel and than sponging lightly above with Salvaged Patina (one of my favourite colours of inks) distress ink.  I added more of the same ink to the sky.  The polar bear was stamped in black ink and clear heat embossed.  I hadn't thought my design through before starting, so had the blue sponged snow right across my bear.  I took a small paint brush with the tiniest bit of bleach and applied until it disappeared.  I stamped the sentiment in black and heat embossed in clear and then splattered diluted white acrylic paint for falling snow.

Close-up ...

I should have photographed the inside, because I had the sentiment, plus the same bear, just partial of him off the left side so you could see his face and waving hand ... it turned out really cute!

Another NBUS stamp set used for this card, so heading over to join the NBUS #34 Challenge.  I hope they aren't sick of seeing me there! :)  

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Stamps:  Polar Pals (My Favorite Things)

Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Mixed Media paper (Strathmore 140 lb.)
Ink:   Black (Memento); Distress Inks:  Salvaged Patina, Candied Apple, Aged Mahogany (Tim Holtz)
Accessories:   Clear embossing powder (Ranger); post-it notes for masking, sponge brush, diluted white acrylic paint, splatter brush, paint brushes

Challenges:

NBUS Challenge #34

Merry Little Christmas

Hi everyone.  Today's card features a beautiful snowflake frame (Snowflake Frame from Nostalic Christmas by Amy Design) that I recently won from Rudolph Days --- thanks again Maureen!!  It's so pretty!  And with only a very small image (Scarved Sweeties from Penny Black), the border makes the perfect pairing to create a cute Christmas card.

This card was a save. :)  I originally stamped and watercoloured the hedgie on mixed media paper and inlaid it into the snowflake frame.  The last step was to add the sentiment once everything was in place.  Of course, it blurred.  Uggghhhh!  I ended up cutting out the hedgie and paper piecing it onto a new card front with just a swipe of blue for the snow and then adding the snowflake frame over top.  This time I used my memento black ink to stamp the sentiment ... perfect! :)

Close-up ...

I love the sparkly bits on the hedgie's hat ... glitter snow embossing paste! :)  I used my white Posca pen to add details to the scarf, hat, and presents.

I'm sending this card over to Rudolph Days January Challenge - Anything Christmas Goes.

Also sending the card to Peace on Earth Challenge #18 - Anything Goes.

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Stamps:  Scarved Sweeties (Penny Black)

Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Mixed Media paper (Strathmore 140 lb.)
Ink:   Black Permanent (Versafine); Distress Inks:  Salvaged Patina, Candied Apple, Barn Door, Mowed Lawn, Rustic Wilderness, Salty Ocean, Blueprint Sketch, Brushed Corduroy, Gathered Twigs; Black (Memento)
Accessories:   Paint Brushes, Glitter Snow Embossing Paste (Aleene's), White acrylic paint pen (Posca), Red Chalk, Snowflake Frame (Nostalgic Christmas Amy Design)

Challenges:

Rudolph Days January Challenge

Peace on Earth Challenge #18

Penny Black - Panoramic

Hi everyone.  Today I'm using Panoramic (40-814) from the Hello Winter release at Penny Black.  I love this large background stamp which would look amazing over any background.  The background from today is from my stash and I believe it is magicals on Yupo.  One of my experiments that worked. :)  I stamped the image in Archival Black, adding a small bush off to the side, partly hidden by the snow hill (also part of the same stamp set).  There's also an awesome fence with gate that I was going to add, but decided to save it for another time.

I took a scrap of white card stock and tore it to create the snow hill at the bottom; then added the sentimet from Happy Snippets (30-358).

Close-up ...

I'm sending this card over to the Penny Black Saturday Challenge - Anything Goes or Something New.  This is a new stamp for me.

Penny Black Products

Panoramic (40-814)

Happy Snippets (30-358)

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Stamps:  Panoramic; Happy Snippets (both Penny Black)

Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Yupo
Ink:   Magicals (Lindy's); Black Archival (Ranger)
Accessories:   water mister

Challenges:
PBSC - Anything Goes or Something New

Happy Birthday!

Hi everyone.  Another birthday card for a wonderful friend that I met at work way back in 1979.  We still keep in touch to this day, mostly by phone since Covid happened.  

This card background is a piece of alcohol ink'd paper in pinks and oranges (from my stash of backgrounds).  I die-cut the flower oval and placed over top of the coloured piece.  Added a simple black silhouette flower die-cut with two silver beads for the flower centers.  I placed it over to the side so I didn't cover up too much of the pretty background.  Stamped the sentiment at the bottom in black ink.

Close-up ...

Always great when I can use some of the MANY pieces from my stash! :)  

This is also a new-to-me die, so sending this card to NBUS #34 Challenge.

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Stamps:  Birthday Blowout (Poppy Stamps - retired)

Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Black card stock (SU!)
Ink:   Black (Memento)
Accessories:   Alcohol inks (Ranger); Shimmer Oval die (Simon Says Stamp - retired); Flower die (gift from a friend); silver beads (Studio Katia)

Challenges:
NBUS Challenge #34

CAS Christmas January Reminder

Hi everyone.  Back with a reminder card for this month's CAS Christmas Challenge - Silver and Gold, hosted by Julia.

I'm loving the elegant look of this colour combination.  The card above started with die-cuts, Pine Needle Sprigs and Pine Cones (both from Gina Marie Designs).  The pieces were cut from scraps of leftover white card stock, pressed into a versamark pad and heat embossed in either silver or silver tinsel, and princess gold or gold tinsel embossing powders (Ranger).  It's hard to see the difference in the photo, but they definitely give a different look, one shine and one glittery.

The pieces are arranged into a swag and adhered to the front of the card.  Joy (retired sentiment) is stamped and heat embossed in Princess Gold embossing powder to finish.  Easy and quick CAS design.

Close-up ...

I hope you'll check out the challenge blog to see the reminder cards from our Designers.  If you haven't played along yet, hope you'll join us.  Making Christmas cards throughout the year makes it so much easier when the busy time of November / December rolls around.

Another two NBUS from my stash (pinecone and pine sprig dies), so heading over to enter this card into NBUS Challenge #34.

And because I used snippets for everything except the card base, I'm over to visit Di and Dudley at the Snippets Playground Challenge #419 ... where the sun is always shining!! :)

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Stamps:  Art Deco Celebrate Christmas - retired (Poppy Stamps)

Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.)
Ink:   Versamark
Accessories:   Pine Needle Sprigs dies (Gina Marie Designs); Pine Cones dies (Gina Marie Designs); Embossing powder:  Princess Gold, Gold Tinsel, Silver, Silver Tinsel (Ranger); heat tool

Challenges:
CAS Christmas January Reminder - Silver & Gold

NBUS Challenge #34

Snippets Playground #419

CAS Mix Up January Reminder

Hi everyone.  I'm back with a reminder card for this month's CAS Mix Up Challenge - Loose Watercolouring, hosted by Jenny.  I'm a "colour inside the lines" kinda gal, so Loose Watercolouring is a little bit of a stretch for me.  The best thing was to find a technique that worked for me, and I did on YouTube (see link below).

Click HERE to see Simple Misty Loose Watercolouring.  I think it's a great way for a beginner (like me) to try Loose Watercolouring.  I did change it up a little, using a stamp for my trees (Stampscapes Pine Row) and not hand painting them.  I then used re-inkers to colour my trees, brushing the highly pigmented inks directly onto my tree stamp (Mowed Lawn, Rustic Wilderness, and Blueprint Sketch re-inkers).   I still added water to the watercolour paper before stamping, with a little at the top and heavier water at the area that would become the bottom of the trees.  A simple sentiment  and die-cut frame finishes the card.

Close-up ...

I'm so happy how my card turned out and look forward to making more cards using this very easy technique for Loose Watercoloured cards.  Thanks for this great challenge Jenny!

Please check out the challenge blog to see the amazing cards from our Designers.  Then come play along if you haven't already.  Hope to see you in the gallery!

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Stamps:  Pine Row (Stampscapes); Greetings - retired (Cavallini & Co.)

Paper:   Watercolour Paper (Arches 140 lb. Hot Press)
Ink:   Distress Re-inkers:  Mowed Lawn, Rustic Wilderness, Blueprint Sketch;  (Tim Holtz)
Accessories:   Paint Brushes, Rectangle Frame die (retired)

Challenges:
CAS Mix Up January Reminder - Loose Watercolouring

Happy Birthday to You!

Hi everyone.  I made this card last month for a dear friend's birthday.  We worked together for several years and still keep in contact, even though I retired over 10 years ago.  She LOVES birds.  :)

I started by choosing a beautiful die given to me by a very, sweet friend.  It's a NBUS (never-before-used-schtuff), so I'm sending this card over to the NBUS #34 gallery.

I die-cut the bird from mixed media paper and watercoloured with distress inks:  Brushed Corduroy, Gathered Twigs, Candied Apple, Ground Espresso, Mowed Lawn, Mustard Seed,and Black Soot.

I tried to make it look like a Robin ... hope it does. :)  I added a small eye with black ink and a tiny white dot.  It gave him some personality. :)  I also added white veins to the leaves, and to the leaves of the stenciled background.

Close-up ...

The camera could not pick up the orangey-red colour of the bird's breast.  The colours look better IRL.

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Stamps:  Birthday Blowout (Poppy Stamps - retired)

Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Mixed Media paper (Strathmore 140 lb.)
Ink:   Distress Inks:  Twisted Citron, Mowed Lawn, Brushed Corduroy, Gathered Twigs, Candied Apple, Ground Espresso, Mustard Seed, Black Soot (Tim Holtz)
Accessories:   Bird & branch die (gift from a friend); Leaves Stencil (Simon Says Stamp - retired), sponge brushes, paint brushes, white acrylic pen (Posca)

Challenges:

NBUS Challenge #34

Cozy Cabin

Hi everyone.  Today I'm sharing a no-line watercoloured card using a beautiful winter scene from Penny Black (Cozy Cabin).

I started by stamping the image onto Hot Press watercolour paper in Antique Linen distress ink (very light).  Then used a variety of other distress ink colours to watercolour the image and add a light blue to the sky.  Finished the card by using white acrylic paint to add snow to the trees, cabin and splattered over the whole card.  The sentiment (Snowflake Season by Penny Black) is stamped in brown.

Close-up ...

I'm entering this card into the Christmas Craft Creations Challenge - Make a Scene.

* * * * *

We have had a lot of snow over the past week.

Jessie has enjoyed hopping through the deep snow and as always,

finding the biggest stick she can carry makes her happy.

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Stamps:  Cozy Cabin; Snowflake Season (both Penny Black)

Paper:   Watercolour Paper (Arches 140 lb. Hot Press)
Ink:   Distress Inks:  Antique Linen, Rusty Hinge, Gathered Twigs, Ground Espresso, Mowed Lawn, Rustic Wilderness, Fired Brick, Tumbled Glass (Tim Holtz)
Accessories:  paint brushes, splatter brush, white acrylic paint

Challenges:

Christmas Craft Creations Challenge - Make a Scene.

Penny Black - Hug a Snowman Part 2

Hi everyone.  I'm back with a couple of cards using the Hug a Snowman (30-887) stamp set from the new Penny Black release.

The first card I posted HERE uses the largest of the images.  This time I'm using two smaller images that are so darn cute! :)  They are both stamped in black ink and heat embossed in clear, then watercoloured using distress inks:  Salvaged Patina, Barn Door, Black Soot, Carved Pumpkin.  To finish, I die-cut them into circles, added Chunky White Frantage by melting in my griddle and dots of white to the Snowman's hat and scarf, and stripes to the bunny's sweater.  The circle is popped up on foam and adhered to my coloured card stock (unknown colour from SU!) ... it matches perfect with the Barn Door ink.

I smiled the whole time I was making these quick, clean and simple cards that celebrate winter. :)

Close-up ...

Next up is the other smaller image from the set, and how cute is this with the bunny running to get a big hug from the snowman??!!

Close-up ...

I'm entering the second card (with bunny) into Merry Little Christmas Challenge #42 - Anything Christmas Goes.

Thanks for coming by for a visit!

Penny Black Products

Hug a Snowman Stamps (30-887)

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Stamps:  Hug a Snowman (Penny Black)

Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Mixed Media paper (Strathmore 140 lb.); red card stock (SU!)
Ink:   Black (Memento); Distress Inks:  Salvaged Patina, Barn Door, Carved Pumpkin, Black Soot (Tim Holtz)
Accessories:  Clear embossing powder (Ranger), Paint Brushes (#4, #2 Round), Chunky White Frantage (Stampendous); Circle die (Spellbinders-retired)

Challenges:

Merry Little Christmas Challenge #42 - Anything Christmas Goes

CAS Christmas January Challenge

Hi everyone.  Hope you had a wonderful and restful holiday and are excited about the New Year ahead.  Let's hope life will be easier in 2022!

Our team is so happy to get started with this year's CAS Christmas challenge.  First up is a challenge hosted by Julia.  I had so much fun figuring out what to make ... so many options to create with these colours!

This is a fairly easy card to make, although it did take me a couple of tries until I figured out what products I wanted to use to get a subtle look of silver. :)

Starting with an A2 white card panel, lightly wet both sides before embossing with the Tim Holtz Poinsettia Embossing Folder.  This helps avoid cracking along the edges.

Diluted Delicata Silver Re-inker and brushed over the poinsettia flowers; diluted Delicata Gold Re-inker and brushed over the flower centers.  To add even more shine and a bit of sparkle, I brushed over the flowers again with Silver Stickles and Gold Stickles for the flower centers.

To finish the card, gold heat embossed a simple sentiment on black card stock to create a sentiment banner.  Die-cut oval card front, popping up over the main panel with foam for added dimension.  

Close-up ... wish you could see the sparkle ... it's beautiful!

While I was on a roll, I made a second card with the same supplies, but different design ...

We are so excited to have Lisa (My Paper Tales) as our Guest Designer for this month.  Please check out the challenge blog to see Lisa's and the Designer's CAS Silver & Gold cards!  Come play along and build your Christmas card stash throughout the year.

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Stamps:  Snowglobe Sayings - retired (My Favorite Things)

Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Black card stock (Stampin' Up!)
Ink:   Delicata Silver re-inker, Delicated Gold re-inker, Versamark
Accessories:   3D Poinsettia Embossing Folder (Tim Holtz), water mister, paint brushes, Silver Stickles, Gold Stickles, Princess Gold Embossing Powder (Ranger), heat tool, oval die - retired (Spellbinders)

Challenges:
CAS Christmas January Challenge - Silver & Gold

CAS Mix Up January Challenge

Hi everyone and Happy New Year!!  We are starting 2022 with a fun CAS Mix Up challenge from our host, Jenny.  She wants us to try out Loose Watercolouring.  This means that you can go outside the lines and not have to worry about it! :)  Jenny has provided several links to video tutorials on the CAS Mix Up challenge blog if you need some guidance.

The card above is a pretty stamp from Penny Black (Full of Glee).  I used markers to add ink to the outline image, pink for the flowers, green for the leaves and stems.  I then used a water brush to move that ink around the image, adding more ink if needed.  This is a fun and easy way to do loose watercolouring.  The main panel was cut at an angle and mounted onto a Pear Pizzazz (SU!) card baes.  The sentiment (Lawn Fawn's Simply Sentiments) is stamped in Versamark and heat embossed in white.  

Close-up ...

We are thrilled to have Karen (Random Reflections) as our Guest Designer this month.  Please check out the challenge blog to see the rest of the CAS Mix Up Designer's Loose Watercolouring cards, along with the beautiful card from Karen.

Then come play along.  Hope to see you in the CAS Mix Up gallery!

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Stamps:  Full of Glee (Penny Black); Simply Sentiments (Lawn Fawn)

Paper:  Mixed Media paper (Strathmore 140 lb.); Pear Pizzazz card stock (Stampin' Up!)
Ink:   Distress Inks and markers:  Picked Raspberry, Peeled Paint (Tim Holtz); Versamark
Accessories:   water brush, splatter brush, white embossing powder, heat tool

Challenges:
CAS Mix Up January Challenge - Loose Watercolouring