Penguining Christmas

Hi everyone.  I was inspired by two challenges to create this card.  

The first is Christmas Craft Creations August Challenge - Winter Activities.

... and Peace on Earth Challenge #22.  I love the mood board and focussed on the penguin in the top right image. :)

I started with a background from my stash of Brushos smooshed onto mixed media paper.  I cut my panel to size and then added two strips of torn white card stock for my snowhills.  I used my new Penguin Pals stamps and dies (Sunny Studio) to stamp and watercolour my penguin, floating ice and North Pole sign.  The sentiment is from the same stamp set.

For finishing touches, I used my white pen to add "waves" in the water and also stripes on the penguins scarf and toque.  Clear Wink of Stella adds sparkle to the floating ice, penguin hat (cuff and pompom).  

Close-up ...

This is the first time using this stamp and die set, so I'm sending my card over to NBUS Challenge #41.

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Stamps:  Penguin Pals (Sunny Studio)

Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Mixed Media paper (Strathmore 140 lb.)
Ink:   Black (Memento); Brushos; Distress Inks:  Wilted Violet, Black Soot, Spiced Marmalade, Salty Ocean (Tim Holtz)
Accessories:   Clear embossing powder (Ranger); heat tool, watercolour brushes, Clear Wink of Stella, White acrylic pen (Posca)

Challenges:

Christmas Craft Creations August Challenge - Winter Activities.

Peace on Earth Challenge #22

NBUS Challenge #41

Kraft and White Winter Scene

Hi everyone.  Several months ago a group of us did a Zoom call and we sponged white onto kraft to create some vintage-style cards.  I posted several of the cards HERE, but this one was missed ... so I'm sharing now.

This card uses a beautiful image Country Chapel (Stampscapes), which works so well with this technique.  I stamped in Archival Coffee ink (Ranger) and then sponged around the image with white pigment ink, creating sky and hills (using torn masks).  I used some diluted white acrylic paint to add more snow to the church and trees and then also splattered to create falling snow.  The sentiment (Deco Christmas -  Tim Holtz) is stamped in the same ink.

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Stamps:  Country Chapel (Stampscapes); Deco Christmas (Tim Holtz)

Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Baked Brown Sugar card stock (SU!)
Ink:   Coffee (Archival ink - Ranger); White pigment (Unicorn by Hero Arts)
Accessories:   sponges, paint brushs, white acrylic paint, torn masks from post-it notes

Snowflake

Hi everyone.  Today's card is for the Rudolph Days August Challenge - Anything Christmas Goes. 

I'm sharing a card made from my stash of card fronts.  Over the years I have made several card fronts when crafting with friends (in-person or on-line).  I have been inspired by my sweet friend, Bonnie (Stamping with Klass) to finally make these card fronts into cards. :)  She has been working for months going through her box of unused items and has made so many amazing cards.  Thanks for inspiring me, Bonnie! :)

The card above was made using the stenciling monprint technique (ink'ing the stencil background (acetate cut with my Silhouette Cameo), spritzing with water, turning it over onto a piece of mixed media paper).  It's a great way to stretch the use of your stencils by getting a negative image.  You need to blot with paper towel to absorb any stray ink so that the stencil image is clean and shows the colour of your card front.  I used magicals to make this background ... you can see all the variations of colours.  Once dry, I used a permanent silver pen (Pilot) to outline the snowflake.  The panel is popped up on foam for added dimension and the sentiment Christmas Sentiments (Penny Black) is silver heat embossed on my card base.

Close-up ...

You can see the shimmer from the magicals in this photo, along with the shine from the silver pen.

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Stamps:  Christmas Sentiments (Penny Black)

Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Mixed Media paper (Strathmore 140 lb.)
Ink:   Magicals (Lindy's); Versamark
Accessories:   Snowflake stencil (cut file from Silhouette America), acetate sheet, Silhouette Cameo, water mister, silver pen (Pilot), silver embossing powder (Ranger), heat tool

Challenges:
Rudolph Days August Challenge - Anything Christmas Goes

Another Batik Card

Hi everyone.  Sharing one more card for the August CAS Mix Up Challenge - Emboss Resist.  This card uses the same technique of Faux Batik that I used on my DT cards for the launch of this challenge on Aug. 1st.  And I used the same background image stamp (Plant Background - The Stampin' Place - retired) that I used on my DT cards for the reminder post on Aug. 15.  The difference was sponging distress inks (Mowed Lawn, Salty Ocean) over the white embossed image.

Once I finished sponging, I wiped down my card panel with a paper towel to remove any ink that would have stuck to the embossed image.  This made the colours even brighter.  I added a popped up frame over the panel and stamped Happy Birthday (Endless Birthday Wishes - SU! - retired) in more of the Salty Ocean distress ink.

Close-up ...

The challenge is still open for a couple of days.  Come play along!

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Stamps:  Plant Background (The Stampin' Place - retired); Endless Birthday Wishes (SU! - retired)

Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Mixed Media paper (Strathmore 140 lb.)
Ink:   Versamark; Distress inks:  Mowed Lawn, Salty Ocean (Tim Holtz)
Accessories:   Clear embossing powder (Ranger), heat tool, sponges, Rectangle frame (Spellbinders)

Challenges:
August CAS Mix Up Challenge - Emboss Resist

Blue Daisy Birthday

Hi everyone.  Today I'm sharing a birthday card I made for a lovely friend ... I hope she's received it by now. :)  

I started with the Seed Catalog background stamp from The Greetery.  I admired my friend Marcia's cards she made using this background.  She kindly sent me a few stampings in different inks so I could have a play.  LOVE it ... so have already ordered the stamp for myself and it's on the way! :)

This background is stamped with Smoky Slate ink (SU!).  I love the soft gray and thought it would look pretty with a blue daisy.  I used the photo below as my inspiration.

I die-cut the Etched Layered Daisy (Simon Says Stamps) from a watercoloured blue background in my stash.  I wanted to intensify the blue, so sponged more blue ink (Salty Ocean) over top of the petals.  I die-cut a second top daisy (the one with texture on the center of the flower), cutting out the center separately and sponging with Mustard Seed distress ink.  I used my stylus to shape the petals slightly and round the center before attaching the flower to my card front.  To finish, stamped the sentiment (Technique Tuesday retired stamp) in black ink.

Close-up ...

I'm sending this card to the Seize the Birthday Challenge #245.  I'm entering it as an "Anything Birthday Goes" this time.

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Stamps:  Seed Catalog (The Greetery); Cosmos - retired (Technique Tuesday

Paper:   White card stock (PTI.); Mixed Media paper (Strathmore 140 lb.)
Ink:   Smoky Slate (SU!); Distress Inks:  Salty Ocean, Mustard Seed (Tim Holtz); Black (Memento)
Accessories:   Etched Layered Daisy die (Simon Says Stamp), sponges, stylus

Challenges:
Seize the Birthday Challenge #245 - Anything Birthday Goes

August CAS Christmas Reminder

Hi everyone.  We are over half way through the month and it's time for the CAS Christmas August Reminder.  This month Trina is our very talented host, and she'd like to see Pine included on your CAS Christmas card entries.

I started by using the Festive stencil (Tim Holtz), adding a layer of white texture paste.  Once I removed the stencil, I sprinkled over top of the wet paste with Kaleidoscope embossing powder.  I let the paste dry before heat embossing.  It adds a lovely sparkle to the background which is hard to see in the photo above, but you can see it more in the close-up photo below.

I die-cut pine branches and berries (AliExpress) from metallic card stock, gathering them into a swag and topping with a black sentiment banner which is stamped and heat embossed in gold.  I always happy when I have a chance to add a bit of sparkle to a Christmas card. :)

Close-up ...

I hope you'll check out the reminder post on the challenge blog to see the beautiful pine cards from our wonderful Designers.

Come join us ... the challenge is open for another week.

I've used snippets for the pine branches, berries and sentiment ... so I'm sending this card over to Snippets Playground Challenge #434.

Thanks for coming by!

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Stamps:  Snowglobe Sayings - retired (MFT)

Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Green and Red Foil card stock (Nuvo); Black card stock (SU!)
Ink:   Versamark
Accessories:   Festive stencil (Tim Holtz), white texture paste (Dreamweaver), palette knife, Kaleidoscope embossing powder (Stampendous), heat tool, Pine Branches and Berries dies (AliExpress), gold embossing powder

Challenges:
CAS Christmas August Reminder - Pine

Snippets Playground Challenge #434

August CAS Mix Up Reminder - Emboss Resist

Hi everyone.  We are half way through the month, so time for a reminder for our current challenge - Emboss Resist, hosted by the lovely and talented Nancy.

Today I'm sharing an emboss resist card using a background stamp which is white embossed and smooshed with Magical powders (Lindy's).  I stamped the Plant Background (The Stampin' Place - retired) in white pigment ink, then sprinkled with white embossing powder and heat set.  I sprinkled three colours of Lindy's Magicals onto my work mat and smooshed the embossed card front through the wet colours.  I let it dry and then lightly wiped with a damp paper towel to remove any ink that was sitting on top of the white embossing.

I ended up making two cards with this one piece and I'll include both in this post, although they are pretty much the same.  I cut the panels down and framed each card using rectangle die-cuts (retired).  The sentiments are both from Endless Birthday Wishes (SU! - long retired), stamped a couple of times with Salty Ocean distress ink.  Simple and CAS cards with Emboss Resist. :)

Close-up ...

... and second card ...

I hope you'll join us for this fun and easy technique.  Check out the challenge blog for more inspiration from our talented Design Team.  Hope to see you in the gallery!!

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Stamps:  Plant Background - retired (The Stampin' Place - closed); Endless Birthday Wishes - retired (SU!)

Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Mixed Media paper (Strathmore 140 lb.)
Ink:   Magicals (Lindy's); Salty Ocean distress ink (Tim Holtz)
Accessories:   White embossing powder, heat tool, Rectangle dies - retired (Spellbinders)

Challenges:
CAS Mix Up August Reminder - Emboss Resist

Have a Blue, Blue, Blue, Blue Christmas!

Hi everyone.  Today I'm playing along with the current challenge at Peace on Earth - #21.  I was inspired to join in after seeing the beautiful DT card made by my friend Susan.  Thanks Susan!

LOVE all the gorgeous images in blue, silver and white that are part of the mood board for the challenge ...

I've made two blue Christmas cards today.  The first one (above), started with a stencil (Layering Poinsettia - Tim Holtz), sponged with two shades of blue distress ink (Broken China, Chipped Sapphire).  I used a small sponge dauber to added colour to the poinsettias, and then a very small round brush to add colour to the holly leaves.  This helped to keep the colours separated.  Once finished, I used a permanent silver pen (Pilot) to outline both the poinsettias and holly leaves.  I die-cut a top piece using a curved and stitched die (Stitched Borders die - Pretty Pink Posh).  The sentiment (Season's Gifts - Penny Black) is stamped and heat embossed in silver.

Close-up ...

On to the second card ... very CAS (clean and simple) design ...

For this card, I used a NBUS (never-before-used-schtuff) stamp set from AliExpress of poinsettias.  I heat embossed the flowers in white before watercolouring in two shades of blue distress inks (Tumbled Glass, Broken China) ... this is Emboss Resist technique.

I added a thin white frame (Fine Frames Square Dies - Altenew) to my card base and then added the fussy-cut poinsettia's on top, layering them to create dimension.  I finished my CAS design with a die-cut Joy (also AliExpress) from blue watercoloured paper.

Close-up ...

I'm also sending this over to NBUS Challenge #41 (second entry). :)

And, I'm also sending this to CAS Mix Up August Challenge - Emboss Resist.

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Card #1:

Stamps:  Season's Gifts (Penny Black)

Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.)
Ink:   Distress Inks:  Broken China, Chipped Sapphire (Tim Holtz); Delicata Silver ink (Tsukeneko)
Accessories:  Layering Poinsettia stencil (Tim Holtz); sponges, silver pen (Pilot), Stitched Borders die (Pretty Pink Posh), silver embossing powder (Ranger), heat tool

Card #2:

Stamps:  Poinsettias (AliExpress)

Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Mixed Media paper (Strathmore 140 lb.)
Ink:   White Pigment ink (Unicorn by Hero Arts); Distress Inks:  Tumbled Glass, Broken China (Tim Holtz)
Accessories:   White embossing powder (Ranger), heat tool; w/c paint brushes, Joy die (AliExpress); Fine Frames Square (Altenew)

Challenges:
Peace on Earth #21 - Anything Christmas Goes

NBUS Challenge #41

CAS Mix Up August Challenge - Emboss Resist

Happy Birthday Dragonfly

Hi everyone.  My dear friend Christine (It's a Card Day's Night) is celebrating her birthday today.  Happy Birthday sweet friend!!

I wanted to make a mixed media card for Christine as that is her style.  And I made sure to include lots of blue, her favourite colour.  :)

I started by smooshing Distress Inks:  Salty Ocean and Wilted Violet.  I then stamped the Libellule Origami (or Origami Dragonfly in English) from Carabelle Studio (retired).  I stamped it in black and heat embossed with clear.  I masked the dragonfly before stamping the Different Dreams background (Unity Stamp Co.) in Versamark.  I heat embossed the background in clear as well.  After removing the dragonfly mask, I pressed more salty ocean and wilted violet inks into my mat with a spritz of water, and smooshed again to make the colours deeper.  Once dry, I watercoloured the dragonfly in the same two colours of ink.

I cut the panel down and added a white embossed sentiment (Simply Sentiments from Lawn Fawn) on a black card stock strip at the bottom.  The panel is popped up for added dimension.

Close-up ...

I'm so pleased with this card and I hope Christine likes it too!  If you have a time, please drop by Christine's blog to wish her a Happy Birthday!

I'm sending this over to the Seize the Birthday Challenge #244 ... no topping for me this time. :)

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Stamps:  Libellule Origami - retired (Carabelle Studio); Different Dreams (Unity Stamp Co.); Simply Sentiments (Lawn Fawn)

Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Mixed Media paper (Strathmore 140 lb.); Black card stock (SU!)
Ink:   Distress Inks:  Salty Ocean, Wilted Violet; Black (Memento), White Pigment (Hero Arts Unicorn), Versamark
Accessories:   water mister, Clear embossing powder (Ranger), heat tool

Challenges:

Seize the Birthday Challenge #244 - Anything Birthday Goes

Hello Sunshine

Hi everyone.  I'm back with a card using a new stencil (Random Triangle Stencil (That's Crafty!) that I received from a dear friend for my birthday.  I sponged through the stencil with Distress Inks: Ripe Persimmon and Picked Raspberry (my favourite colour combo).  I thought the background was fun and summery looking ... perfect to add a couple of summertime drinks.

I stamped two drinks (Stampendous Fruity Drinks) in black and heat embossed with clear before watercolouring.  I fussy-cut them out and popped them up over the stenciled background.  To finish, I added a cute sentiment (Stampendous Spring Sentiments) to the bottom of my main panel.

Close-up ...

Since this is a new stencil, I'm sending this over to the NBUS Challenge #41.  

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Stamps:  Fruity Drinks (Stampendous); Spring Sentiments (Stampendous)

Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Mixed Media paper (Strathmore 140 lb.)
Ink:   Black (Memento); Distress Inks:  Ripe Persimmon, Picked Raspberry, Mustard Seed, Wild Honey, Festive Berry) Tim Holtz)
Accessories:   Random Triangles stencil (That's Crafty!); sponges, Clear embossing powder (Ranger), heat tool, watercolour paint brushes

Challenges:

NBUS Challenge #41

August CAS Christmas Challenge - Pine

Hi everyone.  Welcome to the start of August's CAS Christmas challenge!  This month is being hosted by Trina (Phamtastic Design) ... and she would like to see Pine on our CAS Christmas cards.

I started with a large pine branch and pinecome background from Simon Says Stamp (Pinecone Background).  I inked up the pinecones using my mini archival inks Potting Soil and Leaf Green and stamped onto mixed media paper.  I stamped my image and then watercoloured over top with more colours ... this time using distress inks (Ground Espresso, Walnut Stain, Gathered Twigs, Brushed Corduroy, Peeled Paint, Forrest Moss).

Once the watercolouring was done, I used a finger sponge dauber to add more ink around the pine branches (Peeled paint DI), and pinecones (Gathered Twigs DI).  This made it so the background was not stark white.  To finish, I splattered with white acrylic paint and then also heat embossed with Chunky White Frantage for the falling snow.  I mounted my panel on a slightly longer panel, stamping my sentiment (Christmas Sentiments - Gina Marie Designs) in Peeled Paint DI to match.  The last part of the design was to add a final backing panel of dark brown card stock, slightly larger on one wide and in length to add framing.  I popped up the panel with foam.

Close-up ...

I love the versatility of this challenge.  You can use pine branches, pine needles, pinecones ... or pine coloured inks or paint!  :)

So excited to have two Guest Designers this month.  Welcome to Elizabeth (Paper Sweetness), and Lucie (Lucie G. cards).  Please check out the challenge blog to see the amazing CAS Pine Christmas cards from our fabulous Guest Designers and DT.  Then come join us!

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Stamps:  Pine Background (Simon Says Stamp); Christmas Sentiments (Gina Marie Designs)

Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Mixed Media paper (Strathmore 140 lb.); Early Espresso card stock (SU!)
Ink:   Archival ink:  Potting Soil, Leaf Green (Ranger); Distress Inks:  Brushed Corduroy, Gathered Twigs, Walnut Stain, Ground Espresso, Peeled Paint, Forrest Moss (Tim Holtz)
Accessories:   Paint brushes, sponge daubers, white acrylic paint, splatter brush, Chunky White Frantage (Stampendous)

Challenges:
CAS Christmas August Challenge - Pine