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

Saturday, November 11, 2017

Red Rocks Birthday - Masculine

11/12/2017 Update: Triple Winner of Favorite of the Week at Splitcoast Stampers for the week ending 11/11/2017.

Over the past few months I have taken a few Copic classes. Here is a card that I made using some of the new techniques that I have learned. It reminds me of Sedona, Arizona, only a few hours from where I live. I have already addressed an envelope to the recipient - a friend of ours who plays poker with my husband will be celebrating a birthday in a few days.
The card was easy to assemble. The image was stamped and colored. The brads were added then the panels were adhered to a white card base.

This card is being submitted to:

1. Addicted to Stamps and More #267



2. Color Throwdown #468







3. AAA Cards #102 (Ink Blending)







Techniques: Stamping, Ink Blending w/Copics
Size: A2

Materials
Stamp: C. C. Designs
Inks: Copic Alcohol Markers
Cardstock: White (made for alcohol ink); Kraft, green, orange from stash
Misc.: Brads from stash

Thursday, November 9, 2017

Make A Wish

11/14/2017 Update: Artist's Pick at HSS Color Challenge #276.


I was inspired to create a card today in response to a few challenges. I have a new set of dies (String Flowers) that I was eager to use and I wanted to use the fall colors.
In keeping with the sketch, two scalloped rings, an eyelet circle and a plain circle were die cut. They were adhered to a panel of white cardstock. The sentiment was stamped on the plain circle, adhered to the eyelet circle and backed with foam tape. I had no Pumpkin Pie cardstock remaining so used the ink pad with white cardstock to create enough for this card. The flowers were die cut, sponged with Pumpkin and Fig inks and popped up with foam tape. Black gems were adhered to the flower centers. The card was assembled with other panels of cardstock onto a card base. The inside was lined with white cardstock and decorated with a die cut flower.

My card is being submitted to the following challenges:

1. Watercooler Wednesday #144










2. Dies R Us #84 (Anything Fall)









3. Hand Stamped Sentiments #276







4. Sweet Sketch Wednesday 2 #125







5. Seize the Birthday (Use circles)




Techniques: Stamping, sponging, die cutting
Size: A2

Materials
Stamp: Studio G "Wish"
Inks: Stampin' Up! Pumpkin Pie, Fresh Fig; Memento Tuxedo Black
Cardstock: Stampin' Up! Whisper White, Fresh Fig, Lemon Lime Twist
Dies: Gina K Designs Stacking Circles, Spellbinders Eyelet Circles, Sue Wilson String Flowers
Misc.: Stampin' Up! Dimensionals (foam tape); gems from stash

Wednesday, November 8, 2017

Autumn - A Second Spring

11/14/2017 Update: Diamond Award at the Color Dare Challenge #267.

Challenges... gotta love 'em! It's what keeps me inspired to create cards. My card is the result of four challenges.
Using a scrap of yellow cardstock, I used a green dye ink to water color, hoping it would not turn blue. I kind of smooshed it and tried a brayer for texture. Once dry, I ironed it to keep it from warping and to soften it. I die cut the double-stitched rectangle. The leaf was stamped three times. One was ink blended, one was colored and one was left plain. They were all die cut. The sentiment was die cut twice. I do not have a "Thankful" die so used "Grateful" instead.
The card was assembled, using the plain leaf as a shadow for the ink blended leaf. The colored leaf was backed with foam tape for dimension. The two sentiments were also attached and popped up with clear foam tape, one providing a shadow for the other. The inside of the card was stamped with a verse and decorated with three stamped and colored leaves.

My card is being submitted to:

1. CAS(E) This Sketch #246









2. Just Us Girls #418








3. Dies R Us #84





4. Color My Heart Color Dare #267



Techniques: Stamping, coloring, ink blending, die cutting, watercoloring
Size: A2

Materials:
Stamps: Dare 2 B Artsy "Tangle Leaves"
Inks: Stampin' Up! Chocolate Chip, CTMH Fern, Goldrush; Copics
Cardstock: Stampin' Up! Whisper White; CTMH Goldrush
Dies: Paper Smooches "Grateful"; Gina Marie Designs Double Stitched Rectangles; Dare 2 B Artsy "Leaf Dies 15"
Misc.: Stampin' Up! Aquabrush, Dimensionals (foam tape); Kool-Tac clear foam tape