Thursday, December 28, 2017

Wreath for Season of Cheer

The holiday season keeps everyone so busy! Here is the last of my cards for this year. Mailed in plenty of time, I just never got these added to my blog until today.

Another quick and easy card using stamped die cut elements adhered to patterned cardstock. I used elements from a kit, making five of them. It seems as if I always have junky stuff leftover that goes unused but I was able to use everything except a strand of sequins that I elected not to use.


The die cut tag was stamped and then adhered with foam tape onto the red cardstock strip and the patterned cardstock. The inside was stamped with "Merry Christmas" and decorated with some hand drawn holly leaves and berries to coordinate with the wreath.

My card is being submitted to a random drawing at:

Color My Heart Color Dare Challenge #272 (Use red, green and white. Gold and silver are optional.)



Materials
Stamps: Stampin' Up! "Watercolor Christmas" (front) and "Christmas Bliss" (inside)
Inks: Memento Tuxedo Black, Emerald Envy, Real Red & coordinating markers for inside decoration
Cardstock & Papers: SU! Whisper White, Real Red, patterned card stock from kit
Misc.: Foam tape & red sequins from stash

Festive Trees for Season of Cheer

My cards were all mailed in plenty of time for the holiday season but I have been too busy to get them posted. As mentioned in a couple of my previous posts this is another card design that I mailed a few weeks ago.

Another quick and easy card using stamped die cut elements adhered to shaded cardstock. I used elements from a kit, making five of them. It seems as if I always have junky stuff leftover that goes unused but I was able to use almost everything except a strand of sequins that I elected not to use.


All it took was some stamping onto a rectangle and sponging the edge. Foam tape was used for dimension. The inside was stamped with "Merry Christmas" and decorated with some little trees to coordinate with the front.

My card is being submitted to:

Color My Heart Color Dare Challenge #272 (Use red, green and white. Gold and silver are optional.)



Materials
Stamps: Stampin' Up! "Watercolor Christmas" (front) and "Christmas Bliss" (inside)
Inks: Memento Tuxedo Black, Emerald Envy, Real Red & coordinating markers for inside
Cardstock & Papers: SU! Whisper White, Emerald Envy (shaded), Real Red from kit
Misc.: Foam tape & sequins from stash

Monday, December 25, 2017

All Is Calm, All Is Bright


After making a prototype of this card, I changed a few things and made a batch of 20 of them. I gifted 10 to a friend and I used 10 of them with my own stash of cards.
Using white cardstock, I stamped the tree image with Versamark and added a type of embossing powder that gives a rough texture. To achieve maximum texture, I used the heat tool on the back of the card first. Next, the snowflake images and sentiment were stamped using Versamark ink and heat embossed using a silver pearl powder.
The inside of the card was decorated with a die cut scalloped oval from white glitter paper and a plain oval that had been heat embossed with a sentiment using the silver pearl powder. The bow on the top of the tree was die cut from white glitter paper as well. The card front was backed with foam tape and adhered to the white card base.

I found a couple of challenges not yet closed so decided to add the card to these blogs:

1. Color My Heart Color Dare #273 (Use non-traditional colors or white on white.)







2. Dies R Us #85 (Use white on white.)





Techniques: Stamping, heat embossing, die cutting
Size: A2

Materials
Stamps: Paper Trey "In the Meadow", Stampin' Up! Christmas Bliss (inside)
Inks: Versamark
Cardstock: Stampin' Up! Whisper White
Paper: Stampin' Up! White Glimmer
Dies: Peachy Cheap Bow, Spellbinders Classic Ovals & Scalloped Ovals
Misc.: Fun foam, WOW! Silver Pearl EP, Stampendous Sparkle & Puff 3-D EP, CTMH Shimmer Trim (white)

Monday, December 18, 2017

Oh, Joy!


As mentioned in a previous post found HERE, this is another card design that I mailed a few weeks ago. Another quick and easy card using die cut elements adhered to patterned cardstock. I used elements from a kit. It seems as if I always have stuff leftover that goes unused so this way I was able to use almost everything.
The label was stamped then adhered using foam tape over the banner onto the front of the patterned card base. The red sequins were added. The inside was stamped with "Merry Christmas" and decorated with a smaller red banner.

My card is being submitted to:

Color My Heart Color Dare Challenge #272 (Use red, green and white. Gold
and silver are optional.)





Materials
Stamps: Stampin' Up! "Watercolor Christmas" (front) and "Christmas Bliss" (inside)
Inks: Memento Tuxedo Black
Cardstock: SU! Whisper White, Real Red, Emerald Envy Stripe
Misc.: Foam tape & sequins from stash

Merriest Christmas Wishes


My Christmas cards were mailed about two weeks ago but it has taken until now to add them to my blog. I usually make a few of each design and add them to whatever I have made throughout the year.
This card was quick and easy to make - just a little stamping and sponging plus adhering the sequins. I used elements from a kit. I used elements from a kit. It seems as if I always have stuff leftover that goes unused so this way I was able to use almost everything. The circle was adhered using foam tape for dimension. The inside was stamped with a sentiment and decorated with coordinating holly & berries colored to match the front.

This card is being submitted to:


Color My Heart Color Dare Challenge #272 (Use red, green and white. Gold
and silver are optional.)




Materials
Stamps: Stampin' Up! "Watercolor Christmas" (front) and "Christmas Bliss" (inside)
Inks: Memento Tuxedo Black
Markers: SU! Emerald Envy, Real Red
Cardstock: SU! Whisper White, Real Red
Misc.: Foam tape & sequins from stash

Thursday, December 14, 2017

Where's the Elf?

Santa dropped by and was in such a hurry that he left his little helper behind...

My challenge, as a new DT member at The Crafter's Café, was to use the "Elf Boots" image with a Christmas or color (red and green) theme for Challenge #187. This little elf was left behind by Santa because he was hiding in a box. Perhaps he was being naughty but I'm sure Santa will be back for him!

Although challenges usually occur semi-monthly, this challenge is open for one month, beginning Dec 15.
I find photographing foiled cardstock to be tricky. I tried all kinds of light sources, indoors and outdoors, and was unable to achieve the look for which I was hoping. Perhaps if I had Photoshop software I could adjust it but my tools are limited. The foil is holographic - the green has a variety of circles and dots and the red has star bursts. The card is quite colorful when seen with the naked eye.
The Elf Boots image was downloaded from the challenge sponsor, Scribbles Designs, resized, printed and colored with Copic alcohol markers. The gifts were stamped and colored. The elements were fussy cut and layered onto the embossed brick background. Santa and his reindeer can be seen flying away. Clear Wink of Stella was added to the elf boots and golden gems were adhered to the curled boot toes to appear as bells. The green velvet ribbon was adhered and a few red sequins were added. The inside was stamped with "Naughty and Nice" and an array of stamped gifts were colored and added for decoration.

Join in the fun of semi-monthly card challenges on the 1st and the 15th of each month by visiting The Crafter's Café challenge blog. There are prizes!

My card is being entered into the following challenges:


1. Color My Heart Color Dare #272 (Use reds & greens, opt: silver or gold)






2. Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas Challenge #363


3. Crafting from the Heart #187 (Anything Goes)







Techniques: Stamping, coloring, dry embossing
Size: A2

Materials
Stamps: Scribbles Designs "Elf Boots" (digital image); Stampin' Up! "Cozy Christmas" (inside sentiment) & "Christmas Bliss" (Santa & reindeer); Stampendous (gifts)
Inks: Memento Tuxedo Black, Copic Markers (G05, G82, R24, R29)
Cardstock: Stampin' Up! Whisper White, Spectrum Noir white for alcohol ink
Paper: Red stripe & foil from stash
Embossing Folder: Spellbinders (brick)
Misc.: ZIG Wink of Stella, foam tape, gems, sequins, velvet ribbon, googly eyes from stash

Thursday, November 30, 2017

Let the Heavens Rejoice...


A friend of my husband's recently asked me if I would make a few Christmas cards for him so I showed him a few photos of cards to get an idea of his style and this card is the result. I made two of these with a few others in a different design.
The card was assembled in keeping with a sketch. I made the card with a portrait orientation rather than landscape and omitted a bow because it detracted from the poinsettia.
The poinsettia flower is actually only the tiny yellow center. The rest are the leaves, which turn color as the plant matures. A strip of paper was dry embossed and sanded. The poinsettia was die cut and sponged then assembled. Clear Wink of Stella was added to the poinsettia and clear foam tape was added to give the leaves a lift. The sentiment was stamped, matted and adhered. The inside was decorated with die cuts and a candy dot. After the photo was taken, I dotted the letter i in Merry Christmas on the inside with a marker.

I am submitting my card to:

The Paper Players Sketch Challenge #372







Techniques: Die cutting, stamping, sponging, stenciling, dry embossing
Size: A2

Materials
Stamp: Stampin' Up! "Rejoicing with You"
Inks: SU! Crisp Cantaloupe, Cajun Craze, Mossy Meadow
Marker: SU! Cajun Craze
Cardstock: SU! Very Vanilla, Mossy Meadow, Hello Honey
Paper: Graphic 45 "St. Nicholas Collection"
Dies: Dee's Distinctively Die/Stencil Poinsettia & Peachy Cheap (inside sentiment)
Misc.: SU! TIEF "Garden Trellis", Kool-Tac clear foam tape, Wink of Stella (clear), ribbon from stash

Sunday, November 19, 2017

Christmas in the Desert


While attending a crop yesterday, I decided to make a few Christmas cards. This is one of them. I was drawn to the sketch I had seen at a challenge and decided to use it for my layout.
A panel of red cardstock was adhered to a white card base. The panel of green with the large sentiment was from paper given to me by a fellow crafter. I like the hand-painted look of the brush script. A strip of paper with strung lights was adhered across the top of the card front. In keeping with the sketch, the row of cacti were die cut, colored with Copics and popped up across the top portion by die cutting fun foam to use as backing for the cacti. The inside was decorated with more of the cacti. Instead of a bow, two tiny banners were added and three candy dots finished the card.

I have submitted the card to the following challenges:

1. Hand Stamped Sentiments #277








2. Aud Sentiments #193




3. Crafty Creations #354




4. Three Amigos November Challenge #8 (Use CTMH Beary Christmas
paper packet.)



Techniques: Stamping, coloring, die cutting
Size: A2

Materials
Inks: Copic Alcohol Markers
Cardstock: Stampin' Up! Whisper White, Real Red
Paper: CTMH "Beary Christmas" Collection
Die: Frantic Stamper "Cactus Chorus Line"
Misc.: Fun foam, Stampin' Up! Candy Dots

Triangle Tree


Attending crops is always a learning experience. I attended a crop yesterday and one of our members taught us about using Gelli Plates. I have owned a gelli plate for a white but had never used it before. The blue and white background on the card was created using a gelli plate. The background was trimmed to size and adhered to a white card base. I like the way the blue paint combined with the white paint to create slate undertones in the background.
The card has no red tones... the red in the above photo is the reflection of the red shirt I wore while taking the photograph.
The tree was die cut from silver patterned foil paper covered in stars then adhered to a triangular panel of blue foiled cardstock. Notice how the cut triangles are folded outward to show the darker blue foil. The tree unit was backed with foam tape for dimension. The star was die cut from silver foil cardstock and adhered with foam tape. The tree was added to the card base with the background paper. The inside was decorated with a matching strip of the background paper and stamped with a holiday greeting. I see the card as masculine so purposely avoided adding glitter, sequins or gems.

My card has been submitted to the following challenges:

1. Cardz 4 Guyz #182 (Create an interesting masculine Christmas tree.)



2. Color Throwdown #469







3. Watercooler Wednesday #145







4. Crafty Hazelnut Christmas Challenge #360 (Option: Use the color blue.)



Techniques: Stamping, die cutting, Gelli Plate painting
Size: A2

Materials
Inks: Folk Art acrylic paints in blue and white; Delicata silver ink for inside sentiment
Cardstock: Stampin' Up! Whisper White, DCWV Foiled Cardstock
Paper: Darlee Holographic
Dies: Paper Smooches "Triangle Tree"
Misc.: Stampin' Up! Dimensionals (foam tape); Gelli Plate, brayer

Thursday, November 16, 2017

Snowflakes Sparkle - CAS


I found plenty of inspiration for my white Christmas Tree card at four challenges. On a panel of white cardstock, after using the anti-static powder tool, the tree image was stamped using Versamark ink and 3-D embossing powder. The snow and sentiment were stamped using Versamark ink and a pearl finish embossing powder. The panel was backed with a layer of fun foam and adhered to a white card base. The white shimmer trim ribbon was added to enhance the sparkle. The bow at the treetop is heat embossed and die cut.
Where's the Soft Sparkle on the Tree? I wish I knew the secret to successfully capturing the soft sparkle with my camera. The 3-D EP used for the tree provides texture because it's puffy and has super-fine glitter scattered throughout. The pearl effect from the WOW! EP used for the snow and sentiment photographs a little dark. I tried several types of lighting - these photos are okay but not what I was going for.
 
This card is being submitted to:

1. The Paper Players #370








2. Tic Tac Toe #024 (bow, elegant, heat emboss)











3. Inspired by... All the Little Things #72














4. Addicted to Stamps and More #268



Techniques: CAS, Stamping, Heat Embossing
Size: A2

Materials
Stamps: Paper Trey "In the Meadow"
Inks: Versamark, Memento Tuxedo Black (inside)
Cardstock: Stampin' Up! Whisper White
Die: Bow from Lil' Inker Designs Easter Basket Set
Misc.: Fun foam, WOW! Pearl EP, Stampendous Sparkle & Puff 3-D EP, CTMH Shimmer Trim (white)

Red Poinsettia

11/21/2017 Update: Winner of the Ruby Award at Color Dare Challenge #268.







The poinsettia flower is actually the yellow/gold center. The leaves are green, turning color as the plant matures. When I lived in Central Florida I had beautiful poinsettia shrubs in my garden in a variety of colors. They grew beautifully in the humid climate and brightened my yard until the first frost.
Another Christmas card completed! I still have more to go but I made four of these so this is progress. The image was stamped onto white cardstock and colored with Copic markers. The ovals were die cut and the other panels were trimmed to size. One of the panels was dry embossed with a holly motif. The card was assembled.
The image with ovals and the sentiment banner were adhered using foam tape for dimension. In place of traditional banners, two gold foil tabs were added. The center of the poinsettia was painted gold and Glossy Accents was added to the poinsettia. The inside was decorated with a strip of coordinating paper.

This card is being submitted to:

1. Sketch Saturday #489







2. Color My Heart Color Dare #268





3. Addicted to Stamps and More #268



4. Three Amigos Monthly Challenge #8 (Inspired by Beary Christmas Paper Collection.)



Techniques: Stamping, coloring, dry embossing, die cutting
Size: A2

Materials
Stamps: Stampin' Up!  "Reason for the Season" & computer generated sentiment
Inks: Memento Tuxedo Black; Copic Alcohol Markers; Folk Art Metallic Paint "Pure Gold 660E"
Cardstock: Stampin' Up! Whisper White & Crumb Cake; CTMH New England Ivy & Cranberry; DCWV Gold Foiled Cardstock
Paper: CTMH Beary Christmas Collection
Die: Gina Marie Designs
Misc.: Stampin' Up! TIEF & Dimensionals (foam tape); Glossy Accents