Multiple Makes #3 - Christmas

Hi everyone.  Welcome to my third post on multiple makes.  My Christmas stash of cards is building and I'm really happy with the progress, thanks to my multiple makes. :)  I'm sharing six CAS (clean and simple) cards today. :)

I'm featuring the Festive Finesse die from Penny Black.  I've had this for over a year and have only used it once --- shame on me!!  

For the card above, I watercoloured the Festive Finesse die with Distress re-inkers, adding shaping with a mat and stylus.  I also stamped and die-cut a watering can from the Country Charisma set (Penny Black), watercolouring with Rusty Hinge Distress Re-inker.  A extacto knife was used to cut a slit in the watering can lid so I could slip the stem through to the back.  The lower leaf and berries were cut from the die-cut and then added back into the bouquet mix.  A simple stamped sentiment (Christmas Sentiments - Penny Black) is stamped in more red ink and the bouquet was popped up for added dimension.

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The next card is very CAS, with just a simple sponged rectangle using the Background Basics Stencil - 25-21 (Penny Black) with Mowed Lawn and Peacock Feathers Distress inks.  I diluted white gouache paint and splattered over top, along with splattering over the Festive Finesse die-cut from mixed media paper.  I stamped "peace" from the Full of Christmas stamp set (Penny Black) in versamark and heat embossed in white.  I adhered the sprig to the top right corner of the sponged rectangle to finish the card. 

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This time I dry embossed (Dots & Dashes - Penny Black) a piece of vellum and adhered onto my card base.  I cut a rectangle frame, stamped the sentiment (Believe - Penny Black) in Versamark and heat embossed with Princess Gold embossing powder.  I adhered the frame over top of the embossed vellum card front, adding the Festive Finesse sprig die-cut from gold metallic paper in the rectangle frame.  Very simple card to make that doesn't really look simple! :)  For some reason the camera doesn't show how pretty the vellum is ... it looks very dreamy in the background in real life. :(

Sending the above card to the following Challenges:

Die-cut Diva's August Challenge.  I used dry embossing on my card.

Can you Handle the Pressure - twist of leaves

 

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For the next card I pulled out my Gilding Flakes that I haven't used for a while (Red Blaze - Cosmic Shimmer).  I used double-sided tape to adhere to a piece of card stock, then die-cut the Festive Finesse.  Removed the cover and sprinkled gilding flakes over top.  I used a Rub 'n Scrub pad to remove excess flakes and burnish the remainder to my die-cut.

I layered it over top of a white die-cut to give it more texture and depth and then added a black sentiment border which has been foiled in copper, using the Stick & Shine - Xmas Classics (Penny Black).  To finish, I added a very thin piece of copper glitter paper.

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For the card above, I die-cut two of the Festive Finesse sprigs and watercoloured them with Distress Re-inkers.  I cut them up into individual stems and layered them on my card front, placing the (NBUS - never-before-used-schtuff) basket die (Berry Basket - Penny Black) over top.  The basket was die-cut from kraft card stock and pounced lightly with my Gathered Twigs stamp pad to add highlights to the embossed design.  A simple sentiment (Full of Christmas - Penny Black) is stamped three times in Candied Apple Distress ink.  I splattered white paint to finish the card.

Sending the above card to NBUS Challenge #65:

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For my last card I used the Immense Joy die (Penny Black).  I die-cut two of the Festive Finesse die from mixed media paper and then watercoloured with Distress Re-inkers.  I used one whole die, plus I cut one up for pieces, and arranged them together to fill the "O".  

The card base is black card stock, with the black JOY secured in place.  I die-cut a second JOY from brown buffalo plaid and glued it on top of the black.  I splattered white for snow over top.  I love how the greenery and berries pop against the black. :)

Thanks for stopping by!

Card #1:

Stamps:  Country Charisma (Penny Black); Christmas Sentiments (Penny Black)

Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.)
Ink:   Distress Inks:  Shabby Shutters, Peeled Paint, Candied Apple, Aged Mahogany, Rusty Hinge (Tim Holtz)
Accessories:   Paint brushes, exacto knife, White acrylic pen (Posca)

Card #2:

Stamps:  Full of Christmas (Penny Black)

Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.)
Ink:   Distress Inks:  Mowed Lawn, Peacock Feathers (Tim Holtz); Versamark
Accessories:   Festive Finesse die (Penny Black); Rectangle Mask (Penny Black); sponges, White embossing powder (Ranger), white gouache paint

Card #3:

Stamps:  Believe (Penny Black)

Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Thick Vellum (Oplymio); Gold Metallic Paper (Tonic)
Ink:   Versamark
Accessories:  Festive Finesse die (Penny Black); Dots & Dashes embossing folder (Penny Black); Rectangle die (Spellbinders),  Princess Gold embossing powder (Ranger)

Card #4:

Stamps:  Xmas Classics - Stick & Shine(Penny Black)

Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Black card stock (SU!); Copper Glitter Paper (SU!)
Ink:   n/a
Accessories:  Festive Finesse die (Penny Black); Copper Foil

Card #5:

Stamps:  Full of Christmas (Penny Black)

Paper:  White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.); Kraft Card Stock (Carta Bella)

Ink:  Distress Re-inkers:  Cracked Pistacio, Pine Needles, Candied Apple, Aged Mahogany; Distress Ink:  Gathered Twigs (Tim Holtz)

Accessories:  Festive Finesse die (Penny Black); Berry Basket die (Penny Black), watercolour brushes

Card #6:

Stamps:  n/a

Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.); Black card stock (SU!); Buffalo Plaid Designer Paper (Carta Bella)
Ink:   Distress Re-inkers:  Mowed Lawn, Candied Apple (Tim Holtz)
Accessories:   Immense Joy (Penny Black); Festive Finesse die (Penny Black); watercolour brushes, white acrylic pen (Posca)

Challenges:

Die-Cut Diva's August Challenge

Can you Handle the Pressure?

NBUS Challenge #65 

Vellum - Group of Seven

Hi everyone.  For this month at Group of Seven Cardmakers, we are focussing on a product ... Vellum.  Specifically for this month, we are using Vellum with Embossing:  Dry, Heat, and Wet (embossing pastes or gels).  Vellum gives a wonderful dreamy look, but can also be used in many different ways.

Please check out the details for the product focus and link to videos on the blog ...

Group of Seven Cardmakers

Here's what I learned when I experimented with this technique ...

• I found using a thick vellum much easier, especially for Dry embossing.  Thinner vellums have a tendancy to crack and tear.
• The thicker vellum also helps limit the curl of the paper with heat embossing and wet embossing (embossing pastes or gels).
• When dry embossing with vellum, the design usually turns white when the paper is "stretched" by the embossing folder.  You can enhance the white using a stylus and mat if you want it more pronounced.
• Vellum is a bit tricky to adhere to cards because of it's semi-translucent nature.  Cut the vellum piece larger than needed and used the excess to folder over the sides to secure at the back.  Another way is to add a frame over top of the vellum, hiding the adhesives under the frame.  I found if you have a busy pattern (see card #4 below), you will not notice small lines of adhesive (it gets lost in the pattern).

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For my first card in today's post, I used a simple technique of dry embossing Vellum with an embossing folder (Gracious Leaves - Memory Box).  It's simple and quick, and the results are always beautiful with the embossed vellum.  I added a white die-cut of deers and torn hills for the snow.  The sentiment is Merry Messages (Lawn Fawn) stamped in Delicata Silver pigment ink.

Close-up ...

Then I made the same card, this time adding sponging of Distress Inks (Cracked Pistacio, Evergreen Bough, Pine Needles), to the back of the vellum before mounting it onto my card front.  Simply adding sponging completely changes the look of the card. :)

Sending the above card to Rudolph Days August Challenge.

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For this next card, I followed this video, which shows how to emboss vellum using a stylus and mat. 

I stamped my image in permanent ink onto thick vellum, flipped it over and placed on top of a sponge mat.  I used different sizes of stylus tips to add pressure in a circular motion to shape the two flower heads and one bud.  I went over the areas several times unti they were smooth and they image changed to white.  I fussy-cut my image and then placed it over a background from my stash (peacock blue re-inker with inka gold).  To finish, I popped up my panel and stamped a happy birthday sentiment in black ink.

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Next, I'm sharing a card using Heat Embossing on Vellum.  This is an awesome technique, created by the wonderfully talented Chrissie Stokes (Simply One of a Kind).  She has a few videos showing variations of this technique using vellum and heat embossing.  I followed this video.

Using the cling stamp Bejeweled (Penny Black), I stamped the image on the front of my vellum and heat embossed with white embossing powder.  I added more random bits of the image (always heat embossing in white), leaving lots of open space in the background.  I flipped the vellum over and stamped the same image several times (one of the whole image and more of bits and pieces).  This time the stamp was inked with Distress Inks:  Carved Pumpkin, Candied Apple, Lucky Clover.  After each stamping, I sprinkled the image with clear embossing powder and heat set.

The panel was mounted onto a card base, with a sentiment banner at the bottom.  Happy Birthday (Special Sentiments - Penny Black) was stamped in more of the Carved Pumpkin, with dashes of Candied Apple over top.  This card makes me happy.  It's so bright and cheerful. :)

Sending the above card to Seize the Birthday #290.

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And my last card uses Embossing Paste on Vellum.   I used the thick vellum again, and it warped slightly even though I taped it down well.  I think the texture adds to the overall design of the card, so I'm happy with it and will definitely use paste on vellum again.

I used an older stamp set from Simon Says Stamp (Bouquet of Thanks - retired), stamped in black ink and clear heat embossed.  I watercoloured with Distress Re-inkers (Picked Raspberry, Shabby Shutters) and die-cut with the matching die.  I placed it over the vellum, which is secured to my card base with sticky strips along the edge of the four sides of my base.  It doesn't show very must in real life because of the pattern of the stenciling and the texture of the vellum.  I added a simple white embossed sentiment (Endless Birthdays - SU! - retired) on black banner; then dots of black ink for the flower centers using micro pens.

Sending the above card to Die-cut Diva's August Challenge.  I've used Wet Embossing on this card. :)

Thanks for stopping by!

Card #1 & 2:

Stamps:  Merry Messages (Lawn Fawn)

Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Vellum - Thick (Oplymio)
Ink:   Distress Inks:  Cracked Pistacio, Evergreen Bough, Pine Needles (Tim Holtz)
Accessories:   Gracious Leaves Embossing Folder, sponges, 

Card #3:

Stamps:  Retired (Clearly Besotted); Everyday Messages (unknown)

Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.); Vellum - Thick (Oplymio)
Ink:   Peacock Feathers Distress Re-inkers; Black Archival (Ranger)
Accessories:   Stylus, Sponge Mat, Inka Gold Wax

Card #4:

Stamps:  Bouquet of Thanks (SSS); Endless Birthdays (SU! - retired)

Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.); Black card stock (SU!)
Ink:   Nocturne (VersaFine Clair); Distress Re-inkers:  Picked Raspberry, Shabby Shutters (Tim Holtz); Versamark
Accessories:   Wander & Find stencil - retired (Carta Bella); Embossing Paste (Golden), palette knife, Clear embossing powder (Ranger), watercolour paint brushes, White embossing powder (Ranger), micro black markers

Challenges:

Group of Seven - Vellum

Rudolph Days August Challenge

Seize the Birthday #290

Die-cut Divas August Challenge

IDEAS Aug. - Anything Goes

Hi everyone.  Today's card is for the IDEAS Challenge with Darnell.  This week is "A - Anything Goes".

For my Anything Goes, I'm using a long neglected starfish and fun octopus die, along with an underwater scene. :)  Jer asked me to make a birthday card for his friend's daughter who is turning 5.  She loves the sea and this is to go with some beach toys she is getting as a gift. :)  She also loves the colour purple, so it is prominent on the card. 

I started by adding some drops of blending solution and alcohol inks (sailboat blue, stream, raspberry) to create the water behind the die-cuts.  I then die-cut the underwater scene (x 2), octopus, and starfish from mixed media paper and watercoloured using distress re-inkers.  I added a few details with a white acrylic pen.

I layered up the underwater scene to make a thicker die and secured it to the aperture for my card front.  I slipped in the starfish and taped it to the back and added the octupus on top.  I finished with a simple stamped sentiment from a retired set from Stampin' Up!  This card makes me happy and I hope Eve will love it too. 

Close-up ...

Sending the above card to Seize the Birthday #290 - Retro - no toppings this time. :)

Thanks for stopping by!

Stamps:  Endless Birthday Wishes (SU! - retired)

Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.)
Ink:   Alcohol Inks:  Sailboat blue, Stream, Raspberry (Ranger); Distress Re-inkers:  Wilted Violet, Flamingo, Brushed Corduroy, Cracked Pistacio, Mustard Seed (Tim Holtz); Black (Versafine Clair)
Accessories:   Underwater Scene (Memory Box); Octopus and Starfish dies (AliExpress), blending solution (Ranger), watercolour brushes, White acrylic pen (Posca)

Challenges:

IDEAS Challenge - August - Anything Goes

Seize the Birthday #290 - Anything Birthday Goes

Happy Birthday Alejandro!

Hi everyone.  My son-in-law, Alejandro is having a birthday in a couple of days.  I wanted to make a card that reminded him of home in Mexico ... and his love of food. :)

I saw this adorable "Build-a-Taco" die from Simon Says Stamp and had to have it.  I'm so happy how it turned out. :)

Sending this card to NBUS Challenge #65 - first time using this die.

Thanks for stopping by!

Stamps:  Computer generated (Curlz MT font)

Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.)
Ink: Distress inks:  Wild Honey, Ripe Persimmon, Candied Apple, Mowed Lawn, Rustic Wilderness, Gathered Twigs, Seedless Preserves (Tim Holtz)  
Accessories:   Build-a-taco die (Simon Says Stamp), watercolour brushes

Challenges:

NBUS Challenge #65

Penny Black - Man's Best Friend

Hi everyone.  I'm back with another card using one of Jill Foster's sketches from her video Permission to Play #3.  This is such a great sketch and I had a lot of fun watercolouring these new-to-me adorable stamps (Man's Best Friend - Penny Black).  I was smiling the whole time. :)

I stamped in black Versafine Clair ink, heat embossing in clear on mixed media paper; then watercoloured using Distress Inks.  A silver pen was used for the dog's tag and name on his dish.  I used the Diagonals (65-019) embossing folder with Real Red card stock, highlighting the raised design with more of the Candied Apple ink.  The sentiment is from the same stamp set, stamped in Evergreen Bough several times until I got the depth of colour I wanted.  A little red chalk for his rosy cheeks, and a dot of white for highlighting. :)

Close-up ...

Sending the above card to:

IDEAS Challenge August - Embossing Folder

NBUS Challenge #65 - first time using this stamp set. :)

Seize the Birthday #289 - cute critters

 

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Using the same stamp set as above, I made a second card using the same colours of ink and Diagonals embossing folder.  This sketch is from Jill's Permission to Play video #6.  Adorable!!  Thanks Jill.

Close-up ...

Sending the above card to:

Can you Handle the Pressure August Challenge - Anything Embossed Goes.

Thanks for stopping by!

Penny Black Products

 

                                        Man's Best Friend (30-120)           Diagonals (65-019)

Stamps:  Man's Best Friend (Penny Black)

Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.); Real Red card stock (SU!)
Ink:   Black (Versafine Clair); Distress Inks:  Brushed Corduroy, Gathered Twigs, Evergreen Bough, Pine Needles, Candied Apple (Tim Holtz)
Accessories:   Clear embossing powder (Ranger), heat tool, Diagonals embossing folder (Penny Black)

Challenges:

IDEAS Challenge - August - Embossing Folder

NBUS Challenge #65

Seize the Birthday #289 - cute critters

Can You Handle the Pressure August Challenge

Guest Designer at PBSC - Reminder

Hi everyone.  I'm back with a second card as Guest Designer at Penny Black Saturday Challenge - August (optional:  Flowers).

Today I've used a lovely tulip image called Overflowing (31-062) from Penny Black.  I have paired with the Geometric Frames (51-649) die.  I like how this frame looks like a window box when it's filled with flowers. :)

I used the Diagonals (65-019) - Penny Black embossing folder with light green card stock for the background.  I then stamped the pretty tulips in black and heat embossed with clear before watercolouring with Distress inks.

I popped up the box of flowers to add dimension and added a simple sentiment (Happy Snippets 30-358) in black ink.

Close-up ...

I hope you'll check out the challenge and play along, if you haven't already done so.  Thanks again to Helen and the team for choosing me to Guest Design this month!!

Thanks for stopping by!

Stamps:  Overflowing; Happy Snippets (both Penny Black

Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.); pale green card stock
Ink:   Black Pigment (Obsidian - Altenew); Distress Inks:  Mustard Seed, Spiced Marmalade, Shabby Shutters, Peeled Paint (Tim Holtz)
Accessories:   Diagonals embossing folder (Penny Black); Geometric Frames die (Penny Black), Overflowing Cut Out (Penny Black), watercolour brushes

Challenges:

PBSC August 

More Kaleidoscope for Gof7

Hi everyone.  Another card for July's Group of Seven technique - Kaleidoscope.

I tried a few alternatives to the Kaleidoscope technique we shared last month.  I stamped the image (Kind Soul - WPlus 9 - closed) in Versamark and heat embossed with Gold.  I used Distress Re-inkers to watercolour the flowers, leaves, sky before cutting up the image into different widths.  I lined up the strips in random order and adhered to my card base, leaving a narrow space between strips.  To finish, I stamped the sentiment in Versamark and heat embossed in Gold to match the image.  I love how this card turned out.  Again, you can use all types images or backgrounds for this technique.

Close-up ...

Sending this card to the Simply Clean & Simple August Challenge.

Thanks for stopping by!

Stamps:  Kind Soul (WPlus9); Happy Messages (Stampendous)

Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.)
Ink:   Versamark; Distress Re-inkers:  Wilted Violet, Saltwater Taffy, Abandoned Coral, Mustard Seed, Shabby Shutters, Salvaged Patina (Tim Holtz)
Accessories:   Gold embossing powder (Ranger), heat tool, watercolour brushes, white acrylic paint pen (Posca)

Challenges:

Group of Seven - Kaleidoscope

Simply Clean & Simple August Challenge

IDEAS Aug. - Dies / Die-cuts

Hi everyone.  It's time for the next IDEAS Challenge with Darnell.  This week is "D for Dies / Die Cuts".

Today's card is super CAS and only took me a few minutes to make. :)  Love when things come together so easily.  I used a NBUS item from my stash that I've had for ages.  This is the Wildflower Circle die (Memory Box), that I won for a challenge I entered a few years back.  It somehow got lost in my die box!  :)

I sponged three colours of Distress Inks (Mustard Seed, Ripe Persimmon, Wilted Violet) for the background sky and then added the Wildflower Circle on top.  A simple sentiment, stamped with more Ripe Persimmon ink, finishes the card.

Close-up ...

I'm also entering this card into the NBUS Challenge #65 - never-before-used-schtuff.  First time using the circle die. :)

Thanks for stopping by!

Stamps:  Everyday script sentiments (unknown)

Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.)
Ink:  Distress Inks:  Mustard Seed, Ripe Persimmon, Wilted Violet (Tim Holtz) 
Accessories:  Wildflower Circle die (Memory Box), sponges  

Challenges:

IDEAS Challenge - August week 2 - Dies

NBUS Challenge #65