Christmas Tags

Hi everyone.  Today I'm sharing a few Christmas tags I made last minute.  They were really fun to make, and quick too!  I pulled out a few of my Penny Black Christmas stamps and sentiments and got to work. :)

Most of the images are Penny Black, stamped in black and heat embossed in clear.  Then I used a variety of Distress Inks to watercolour the images.  I sponged more colour around the edges of the tags before stamping the sentiment to finish.  The only exception are the first two tags that are window tags.  I used a die-cut arched window to create the frame for the winter scene, which is simply sponged with two colours of inks for the background and then splattered with white for falling snow.

To finish, I cut lengths of seam binding and died them with matching distress inks, looped them through the top and tied a bow.

For the last two tags, I used fun, whimsical images from Penny Black. :)

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Wishing you a happy and healthy 2024!!

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Torn Edges - Group of Seven

Hi everyone.  This month the Group of Seven are highlighting another Design Element - Torn Edges.  There are so many ways you can add a torn edge to your card designs.  

Please check out the details for the technique and link to videos on the blog, as well as many wonderful inspiration cards from members of the Group.

Group of Seven Cardmakers

The card above uses Poppies Background from Simon Says Stamp.  I LOVE the large flowers that are so much fun to watercolour.  I stamped the image in black ink and heat embossed with clear before watercolouring with my favourite colour combo of distress inks:  Saltwater Taffy and Abandoned Coral.  This card makes me so happy. :)

The vellum banner has a torn edge, which adds something special to the design, as well as not covering up the background.  It's a win/win. :) 

Close-up ...

* * * * *

The next card shows how using a torn edge for masking can create added dimension, while keeping the card one layer.

A torn mask was added to the top and bottom of the card and then sponged over top with distress inks: Salvaged Patina, then a small border of Mowed Lawn near the edges, and then more Salvaged Patina on top, leaving the center area without sponging.  This created varying colours for my background.  The masks were removed.

The Slimline Gentle Leaves stencil (The Crafter's Workshop) was placed over the sponged area.  More distress inks (Mowed Lawn, Rustic Wilderness) were sponged over the stencil using detail sponges bought from AliExpress.  They were really inexpensive but they are so great at getting into small areas. :)  A sentiment was stamped in more Rustic Wilderness ink to finish the card.

Close-up ...

Sending the above card to Stencil Fun December Challenge.

... and one more ...

I used mixed media paper to stencil (Winter Snowflake Lace - retired) using Salvaged Patina distress ink.  The stenciled panel was torn on an angle at about half way down the card front, then the ends were cut off a bit to create open space when I added the two pieces to the top and bottom of my card base.

Snowy (Penny Black) is stamped, heat embossed and watercoloured using Weathered Wood and Mowed Lawn distress inks.  I used a tiny bit of red chalk for his rosy cheeks before die-cutting using the matching die (Frosty's snow - Penny Black).  Sentiment (Christmas Sentiments - Penny Black) is stamped in black ink to finish the card.

* * * * *

There's a linky party at Group of Seven Cardmakers blog if you'd like to play along this month.  Hope to see your torn edge cards in the gallery!

Before I go, I'm sharing Jessie's Christmas portrait taken by my SIL, Alex.  This was taken at their place just after Alex gave Jessie a "spa day". :)  Thanks again Alex!!

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Card #1:

Stamps:  Poppies Background (Simon Says Stamp); 

Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.); Vellum
Ink:   Black (Memento); Distress Inks:  Saltwater Taffy, Abandoned Coral, Shabby Shutters, Peeled Paint, Black Soot (Tim Holtz)
Accessories:   Clear embossing powder (Ranger), heat tool, watercolour brushes, Permanent Fine tip Black Marker (Sharpie)

Card #2:

Stamps:  Everyday Script Sentiments (AliExpress)

Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.)
Ink:  Black (Memento); Distress Inks:  Salvaged Patina, Mowed Lawn, Rustic Wilderness (Tim Holtz)
Accessories:   Slimline Gentle Leaves stencil (The Crafter's Workshop); Torn Masks, Sponge Brushes

Card #3:

Stamps:  Snowy (Penny Black); Christmas Sentiments (Penny Black)

Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.)
Ink:  Black (Memento); Distress Inks:  Salvaged Patina, Mowed Lawn, Weathered Wood (Tim Holtz)
Accessories:   Winter Snowflake lace stencil (Memory Box - retired); Sponge Brushes, Clear embossing powder (Ranger), heat tool, watercolour brushes, red chalk, White Acrylic paint pen (Posca)

Challenges:

Group of Seven Cardmakers - Torn Edges

Stencil Fun December Challenge

CASEing Linda

Hi everyone.  My friend Linda (Life in the Craft Lane) made a beautiful Christmas tree card with inlaid design.  I have the same die and was inspired to CASE (copy and share everything) Linda's card. :)

Linda used green and red glitter papers, which I didn't have.  So I substituted green and red metallic papers and I love how it turned out.  This die is called Corbel Tree Collage (Simon Says Stamp) and I paired it with a sentiment from Love Bug Christmas (Unity).  I stamped the sentiment in black pigment ink and then added silver embossing powder.  This gave it a slightly darker silver than embossing over Versamark.

It's hard to photograph metallic papers.  The close-up below shows truer colours.

Close-up ...

While I had my metallic papers out, I went through my Christmas dies and made another card using my green and red metallic paper.  

Close-up ...

The CAS design that really shows off this gorgeous Berry Branch die (Penny Black).

I'm sending the above card to Simply Clean & Simple December Challenge - Red and Green.

And also sending the card to Penny Black Saturday Challenge - December (2nd entry).

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I'm going to sign-off my blog until late December when I will be back with my Group of Seven technique on Dec. 28th.

Thanks for all your support this year with visits and wonderful comments.  I appreciate all of you!

Have a Merry Christmas everyone!

* * * * *

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Card #1:

Stamps:  Sentiment - Love Bug Christmas (Unity)

Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Green metallic and red metallic papers (Tonic)
Ink:   Black Obsidian Pigment ink (Altenew)
Accessories:   Corbel Tree Collage die (Simon Says Stamp), Silver embossing powder (Ranger), heat tool

Card #2:

Stamps:  Christmas Sentiments (Penny Black)

Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Green metallic and red metallic papers (Tonic)
Ink:   Black Obsidian Pigment ink (Altenew)
Accessories:   Berry Branch die (Penny Black), Silver embossing powder (Ranger), heat tool

Challenges:

Simple Clean & Simple December Challenge - Red and Green

Penny Black Saturday Challenge - December

More Smooshing with Cling Wrap

Hi everyone.  A few more cards for October's Group of Seven technique - Smooshing with Cling Wrap.

For the card above, I used hot press watercolour paper and Distress Re-inkers (peacock feathers, wilted violet) following the instructions on the Group of Seven Cardmakers blog.  I do love the background, but you can see that it's more subtle then when I used mixed media paper (click here).

To finish the card, I cut the panel in two (making two small panels for two cards), splattered with diluted white acrylic paint to mimic snow falling, added a torn snow hill, and added a snowman die-cut that I received from a friend many years ago (he's popped up for added dimension).  I stamped the sentiment (Christmas Sentiments - Gina Marie Designs) in Villainous Potion distress ink.  The panel is popped up on the card base for added dimension.

Sending this card to Peace on Earth Challenge #53 - inspired by the mood board top left ...

Close-up ...

... and one more, this time using alcohol inks on coated card stock ...

This is the second pull from the cling wrap.  I set aside my first piece that turned out beautiful, to be used at a later time.  I took the cling wrap with leftover ink and added a few drops of rubbing alcohol before smooshing it on top of a piece of coated card stock.  Weighted it down for several hours (the cling wrap didn't want to stick to this paper, probably because it's coated and a bit slippery).  Removed the cling warp and I just LOVED the soft colours of the second pull.  Added a die-cut reindeer (Inspired - Penny Black) over top with torn snowhills below.  Used my Clear Wink of Stella pen to add some sparkle on the reindeer's antlers and the tops of the snow hills.  

Sorry for the poor quality photos ... my camera needs replacing.

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Card #1:

Stamps:  Christimas Sentiments (Gina Marie Designs)

Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Hot Press Watercolour Paper (Arches 140 lb.)
Ink:   Distress Re-inkers:  Peacock Feathers, Wilted Violet; Villainous Potion Distress Ink (Tim Holtz)
Accessories:   Water mister, cling wrap, diluted white acrylic paint, splatter brush, Snowman die (gift from a friend)

Card #2:

Stamps:  Merry Up (Penny Black)

Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Coated card stock
Ink:  Alcohol Inks:  Mermaid, Botanical (Ranger); Black Memento
Accessories:   Rubbing Alcohol, Cling Wrap, Inspired die (Penny Black), Clear Wink of Stella

Challenges:

Group of Seven Cardmakers - Smooshing with Cling Wrap

Peace on Earth Challenge #53

Two Quick Christmas cards

Hi everyone.  Today I'm sharing two quick and easy cards I made last week, using the Penny Black Birch Grove image.  I'm now finished making my Christmas cards and they are in the mail! :)  They have not all been posted on my blog, so you'll be seeing a few more before the end of the year. :)

For both cards, the image was inked in black and clear embossed onto mixed media paper and then randomly sponged distress ink over the background (Mustard Seed, Wild Honey, Salvaged Patina). I used a wet paint brush to go over the tree trunks and then blotted with a paper towel.  That removed most of the random colour from the trunks.  It's not perfect, but I'm happy with how it turned out.

Diluted white acrylic paint was splattered over top to create falling snow.  I placed a die-cut window (Viewpoint from Penny Black) over top and stamped a simple "Joy" in black ink to finish the card.

Sending the above card to NBUS Challenge #57.  First time using the Birch Grove stamp. :)

* * * * *

For the next card, randomly sponged distress inks (Salvaged Patina and Kitsch Flamingo).  Love these colours together! :)  To finish, I stamped the sentiment onto a black card stock banner and heat embossed in white before attaching at the bottom of my card front.  Hard to see in the photo, but I did splatter white paint for some falling snow.

Sending the above card to Penny Black Saturday Challenge - December.

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Stamps:  Birch Grove; Card 1 - Festive Snippets; Card 2 - Bright & Light (all Penny Black) 

Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.); Card 2 - Black card stock (SU!)
Ink:   Black (Memento); Distress Inks:  Salvaged Patina, Mustard Seed, Wild Honey, Kitsch Flamingo (Tim Holtz)
Accessories:  Clear Embossing Powder (Ranger), heat tool, sponge brushes, small paint brush, Viewpoint die (Penny Black),  white acrylic paint, splatter brush, White Embossing powder (Ranger) 

Challenges:

NBUS Challenge #57

Penny Black Saturday Challenge - December

Christmas cards using Elegant Writer

Hi everyone.  A couple of months ago I posted a card using Elegant Writer to create the background behind my pine branch.  It's an interesting pen that contains dye ink (mix of green and red) to create a black marker until you add water.  Then the other colours appear. :)  Magical!  I used the pen for my three cards for today ...

I kept the colour palette simple by using red and green inks, along with one that uses just the writer pen to colour my main image.  It was so much fun!  

Close-up ...

The above card uses a Magenta stamp (floral holiday trio),stamped in shadow grey archival ink (very light colour) onto cold press watercolour paper.  I outlined the squares and main images of each panel using my Elegant Writer.  I added water to activate the outline of the three images and carried that colour to the background of each square.  Once dry, I used Distress Inks (Fired Brick, Mowed Lawn) to add colour to the images.  I splattered with diluted white acrylic paint and set the panel aside.

I stamped the sentiment (Believe from Penny Black) in white pigment ink and heat embossed in white onto my black card panel.  I used this same sentiment on all my cards today. :)

I tore a second piece of black card stock and popped it up on the black card front before fussy-cutting the three squares and popping them on top of the torn strip.  I love how it turned out.

Sending the above card to Peace on Earth Challenge #53.

And then ...

Repeated the same technique using Berry Wreath (Memory Box - already retired - haven't had it very long) on cold press watercolour paper.    I tried to leave more white space, but I definitely need practise with that. :)

And last, an interesting poinsettia using just the Elegant Writer.

I stamped the poinsettia (Radiant Red by Penny Black) with vintage photo distress ink and then outlined with the Elegant Writer.  I added a poinsettia dry embossed background (Scenic Poinsettia Embossing Folder - Spellbinders) and black sentiment banner to finish.

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Card#1:

Stamps:  Floral Holiday Trio (Magenta); Believe (Penny Black)

Paper:   Cold Press Watercolour Paper (Arches - 140 lb.); Black card stock (SU!)
Ink:   Shadow Grey Archival Ink (Ranger); Distress Inks:  Fired Brick, Mowed Lawn (Tim Holtz)
Accessories:   Elegant Writer pen, watercolour paint brushes, fine mister

Card#2:

Stamps:  Berry Wreath (Memory Box - retired)

Paper:   Cold Press Watercolour Paper (Arches - 140 lb.); Black card stock (SU!)
Ink:   Shadow Grey Archival Ink (Ranger); Distress Inks:  Fired Brick, Mowed Lawn (Tim Holtz)
Accessories:   Elegant Writer pen, watercolour paint brushes, fine mister

Card#3:

Stamps:  Radiant Red (Penny Black); Believe (Penny Black)

Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Cold Press Watercolour Paper (Arches - 140 lb.); Black card stock (SU!)
Ink:   Distress Inks:  Vintage Photo (stamping image); Fired Brick, Mowed Lawn (Tim Holtz)
Accessories:   Scenic Poinsettia Embossing Folder (Spellbinders); Elegant Writer pen, watercolour paint brushes, fine mister

Challenges:

Peace on Earth Challenge #53

Happy Birthday Susan!

Hi everyone.  Happy Birthday to Susan (Cardmaker's Garret).  Hope you have a wonderful day, my sweet friend!!

Blue is Susan's favourite colour, so I took artistic license today and painted my peonies blue. :)  I started by randomly inking a script background (En Francais from SU!) with Shadow Grey Archival ink.  I didn't want it solid because I knew I was going to watercolour over top, so I just added light inking here and there before stamping onto mixed media paper.  The great thing about Archival ink is that it's permanent, so I can watercolour overtop without loosing the background image.

I then embossed my panel using Peony Bundle Embossing Folder (Simon Says).  I misted the back of my panel lightly before embossing, preventing cracks that you sometimes get when using a 3D embossing folder.  Worked like a charm. :)

I watercoloured the embossed image with Distress Inks:  Salvage Patina, Mowed Lawn, Mermaid Lagoon, Mustard Seed, and Wild Honey.  I added a few layers of each colour to create depth and to add to the dimension of the image.  To finish, I stamped the sentiment (Endless Birthday Wishes - SU retired) in Distress Oxide ink.

Close-up ...

If you know Susan, I hope you'll take a few minutes to wish her a happy birthday!

I'm sending this card to the Can You Handle the Pressure challenge - Anything with Embossing Folders Goes.  I didn't use the optional twist this month of Christmas.

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Stamps:  En Francais & Endless Birthday Wishes (SU! - both retired)

Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.)
Ink:   Shadow Grey Archival Ink (Ranger); Distress Ink:  Salvage Patina, Mowed Lawn, Mermaid Lagoon, Mustard Seed, Wild Honey (Tim Holtz); Mowed Lawn Doxide Inks (Tim Holtz)
Accessories:   Peony Bundle Embossing Folder (Simon Says Stamp); watercolour brushes

Challenges:

Group of Seven Pinterest - Colouring Dry Embossing

Can You Handle the Pressure - Anything Embossing Goes

Smooshing with Cling Wrap - Group of Seven

Hi everyone.  This month Group of Seven Cardmakers is Smooshing with Cling Wrap.  This is an older technique that most of us have tried.  But fast forward several years and there are so many new products on the market that would work with this easy technique that gives amazing results.  I hope you'll give it a try using a variety of substraits and mediums from your stash.  :)

Please check out the details for the technique and link to video on the blog ...

Group of Seven Cardmakers

Here's what I learned when I experimented with this technique with different substraits and mediums ...

• The card used made the most difference.  Mixed media paper, coated card stock or Bristol worked the best for me, giving me the most "cells" that really make this technique special.  Watercolour paper came in next with mixed results.  Regular card stock gave the least amount of "cells" and is better suited for just smooshing, in my opinion.

• When smooshing with powdered inks, the easiest way to get the card wet with colour is to let the misted powdered inks sit on your work mat for a couple of minutes so the crystals start to dissolve before smooshing with card and then adding cling wrap.  Brushos and Bister powdered inks gave me the most beautiful backgrounds.  Powdered inks with mica powders (shine) like Magicals and Perfect Pearls, usually let the shine ingredient show in the creases, which in most cases, resulted in a subtler look which is so pretty!  Everyone will have different results depending on their method of adding water and how much water ... so experiment to find what works best for you! :)  

For the card above, I used Bister powders (powdered inks with walnut stain).  Because of the walnut stain added to the colours, they all have a warmth about them.  I used Bister Blue, Bister Green, and Bister Dark Brown for my card above.  I sprinkled them onto my work mat, misted with water and let the crystals activate before smooshing with mixed media paper.  I flipped the card over and placed a piece of cling wrap over the wet ink, scrunching up the cling wrap to create lots of creases.  I left it to dry for a couple of hours before removing the cling wrap and then left the card to completely dry before finishing.

I stamped with a silhouette stamp I received from Maureen through the Rudolph Days Challenge --- isn't it fabulous??!!  I stamped in Black Memento ink and added a torn snowhill at the bottom before splattering with white acrylic paint for snow.  LOVE IT!

Close-up ...

I'm sending the above card to the Rudolph Days November challenge.  Thanks again Maureen!

... and here's more cards I made using this awesome technique.  Again I used mixed media card with Bisters (Red, Yellow, Natural).  I LOVE the natural colours of these powders.  I got two cards from the one panel. :)

I'm sending the above card to Seize the Birthday Challenge #274 - Fall Items (food, flowers, or leaves).  

I hope you'll check out the Group of Seven Cardmaker's blog to see the other beautiful cards from our group.  Come join us!

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Card #1:

Stamps:  Stamp #391 (Studio Light Essentials)

Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Mixed Media paper (Strathmore 140 lb.)
Ink:   Bister Powders:  Bister Blue, Bister Green, Bister Dark Brown; Versamark; Black (Memento) 
Accessories:   Water mister, cling wrap, clear embossing powder (Ranger), heat tool, diluted white and black acrylic paint, splatter brush

Card #2 & #3:

Stamps:  Birthday Blowout (Poppy Stamps - retired); A Little Sentimental (Clearly Besotted - retired)

Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Mixed Media paper (Strathmore 140 lb.); Black card stock (SU!)
Ink:  Bister Powders:  Bister Red, Bister Yellow, Bister Natural; Versamark; Black (Memento) 
Accessories:   Water mister, Cling Wrap, Freida Curve Die (Poppy Stamps), Black acrylic paint (diluted), Flower Frolic die (Penny Black), diluted black acrylic paint, splatter brush

 

Challenges:

Group of Seven - November - Smooshing with Cling Wrap

Rudolph Days November Challenge

Seize the Birthday Challenge #274 - Fall Items