Christmas Joy

Hello friends!  It's time for a new Color Challenge at Splitcoaststampers!  Mary is hosting and has chosen the colors Cherry Cobbler, Shaded Spruce and Gold, with a dessert option to make a Christmas or winter birthday card.  Because I still have a number of holiday cards to make, I went with Christmas for my dessert option.

I'm also joining the current Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge where the theme is Anything Goes.

I went back to the beautiful Pines and Berry background stamp to create my card.  It was stamped in a Copic friendly ink and colored in colors similar to the challenge colors.  Since the stamp makes a 5.5" square image (or thereabouts), after coloring, I cut the panel in half so I could create 2 cards with it.

After the panel was trimmed down, Versamark ink was used around the edge of each side then heat embossed with gold embossing powder.  I was going to add it to a white card base after that but it was just too plain, so I took an A2 sized panel of white card stock and ran it through my Big Shot with a long retired SU snowflake embossing folder, then adhered to the card base before layering on the colored panel.  The sentiment was gold embossed on Cherry Cobbler card stock and die cut.  I used a hand punch to put a hole at the top to add the gold cord, then it was added to the card front with thin foam squares.  A few gold sequins finished things off.

Thanks so much for visiting, it's always appreciated!  Have a great week!

Stef


Stamps:  Holiday Sentiment Mix 1, Pines and Berries Background (both SSS)
Paper:  Neenah Solar White, Cherry Cobbler
Ink:  Gina K Chocolate Truffle Amalgam, Versamark
Other:  Snowflake embossing folder (long retired SU, sorry not sure of the name), Lots of Labels framelit, Antique Gold embossing powder (Altenew), gold sequins, gold thread
Copics:  R39, 37, G28, 17 03

Happy Christmas

Well, I'm back with another card to share!  Today my card is for the current challenge at The Paper Players, where Joanne has given us a wonderful sketch to create with, plus I am also adding this to the 30 day Coloring Challenge!

PP469

I'm enamored with the super cute Gnome card kit (for December) from Simon Says Stamp that I received last Friday, so I decided to use one of the 20 or so gnomes I put together yesterday for this card.  I used the Lil' Gnome die included in the set to die cut all the parts, then employed Copic markers to color the nose and beard, with the remainder paper pieced from card stock plus patterned paper included in the set.

Once the gnomie was put together I worked on the card base and background.  I used white embossing powder to heat emboss snowflakes and the word Christmas on the red card base, then added the rest of the sentiment that was stamped and die cut with a label die.  The snow hill was die cut from white card stock previously sprayed with a shimmer spray, added to the base, then the patterned paper strips and the cute gnomie layered on top.

Then I decided the card needed something more, so I lightly sponged white pigment ink around the corners of the red card.  I also smooshed a corner of the white stamp pad on an acrylic block, added a small bit of water and used a small watercolor brush to add white in the open letters of the embossed sentiment, in order to make it a bit more pronounced.  I wasn't sure if that method would work with pigment ink versus acrylic or watercolor paint or gouache, but I was happy with how it turned out.

Thanks so much for visiting, I appreciate it so much!  I hope all of my US visitors have a wonderful Thanksgiving!!

Stef


Stamps:  Gnome For the Holidays (Simon Says Stamp)
Paper:  Neenah Solar White, Slate, Schoolhouse Red (SSS), PhotoPlay Kringle & Co. patterned paper
Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne, Versamark
Other:  Alabaster embossing powder (Brutus Monroe), Sentiment Labels die (SSS), Stitched Hillsides die (Lawn Fawn), Lil' Gnome die (SSS), Mini Red Pom Poms (Darice)
Copics:  E13, 11, 00, C3, 1, 00

Thanksgiving Scene

I'm back with a sweet Thanksgiving card I made for the new Color Challenge at Splitcoaststampers!  Chris is hosting this week and has chosen the lovely combination of Pretty Peacock, Lipstick Red and Crushed Curry, with the dessert option to add a fourth color of Pumpkin Pie.  Pumpkin Pie for dessert?  Yes please!

I used the darling mini stamp set from Pretty Pink Posh that included this cute scene and the sentiment.  Everything was stamped in Gina K Chocolate Truffle Amalgam ink, then the scene was colored with Copic markers in colors similar to those for the challenge plus lots of neutrals for all the critters.  I created a simple background then die cut the panel, adding to a piece of Pumpkin Pie card stock.  The sentiment was also layered on Pumpkin Pie and both added to the peacock card base.

For the base, I employed the Autumn Leaves stencil and Versamark ink to create the subtle background. When dry, the scene and sentiment were added with thin foam tape.

Thanks so much for visiting, it's always appreciated!!

Stef


Stamps:  Thanksgiving Scene (PPP)
Paper:  Neenah Solar White, Pumpkin Pie (SU), Peacock (Simon Says Stamp)
Ink:  Gina K Chocolate Truffle Amalgam, Versamark
Other:  Autumn Leaves Stencil (PPP), a million Copic markers LOL!

Gnome Better Holiday!

Hi there and welcome back!  I'm now heavy into making Christmas card (10 down, 40 to go...yikes!) and I have a fun one to share that I made for the current challenge at Freshly Made Sketches.  Jen B has created a great sketch with lots of design options.

FMS 412

I received my December 2019 Simon Says Stamp card kit on Friday and was excited to use it to create some Christmas cards and this is the first of many.

I was going to resist buying this kit but became so charmed by this utterly cute die cut gnome and the fun sentiments in the stamp set that I succumbed LOL!  It also has some great patterned papers, but for this card I decided to use papers from last month's SSS card kit, with lots of great patterns mainly multiple shades of green.

The gnome base, nose and beard were die cut from white card stock, with patterned paper used for the gnome hat and coat.  I used Copic markers to color the nose and beard, then adhered all of the pieces to the die cut base.  The presents, also part of the stamp set, were stamped, colored and fussy cut.  I die cut the green card stock scallop rectangle, added a layer of patterned paper and adhered to the white card base.  Next I layered on the presents, then popped up the gnome and sentiment on thin foam squares to keep it good for mailing.

Thanks for visiting, it's always appreciated!  I'll be back tomorrow evening with my card for the SCS Color Challenge, so I hope you'll come back and check it out!

Stef

Stamps:  Gnome for the Holidays (Simon Says Stamp)

Paper:  Neenah Solar White, Frayed Leaf (SSS), Forever Green pp (Moda Scraps)

Ink:  Cherry Cobbler, Gina K Chocolate Truffle Amalgam

Other:  Lil' Gnome die, A2 Scallop Rectangle die (Honey Bee), Infinity Nesting Rectangle die (Hero Arts)

Copics:  E13, 11, 00, G46, 43, R39, 37, W3, 1, 0

The Moon, the Stars...and Santa!

Hello friends, I hope you're having a wonderful weekend!  I'm sharing a card today that was made for the current Teapot Tuesday Challenge at Splitcoaststampers.  This week the challenge is the 12 days of Christmas, with 12 items to try to fit on your card; I didn't do too well, I only got 6 on mine.  The recipient is the mother of one our SCS Dirty Dozen alums who has had to move to an assisted living right before the holidays, so we are sending our Christmas cards to cheer her up!

I'm also joining the current Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge where this week's theme is "Starry, Starry Night".  Well, my card has stars and more!

I used a retired Hero Arts monthly kit that has fabulous silhouette dies (along with tons of cute North Pole images) and thought it would made a great nighttime scene.  I started by ink blending Distress Inks to create the night sky on a panel of Bristol paper, masking the spot for the moon.  While that panel dried, I die cut the mountain silhouette from navy card stock, the trees from green card stock and the town from black.  I used Distress inks on the mountain and tree silhouettes to darken them up and when that ink was dry, used a white gel pen to simulate the reflection of the moon on the silhouette die cuts.

When the sky panel was dry, the sentiment was heat embossed and Santa was stamped flying across the sky with black pigment ink.  After the dies were layered across the bottom of the panel, I used the white gel pen to add all the "stars" in the sky

Thanks so much for visiting, I always appreciate it!  I'll be back on Monday with a card for the new Color Challenge on SCS, so I hope you'll swing back by and check it out!

Stef


Stamps:  Hero Arts October 2017 Monthly Card Kit, Merry Christmas sentiment (unknown)
Paper:  Black, Soft Navy (SSS), Shaded Spruce (SU), Strathmore Bristol, Neenah Solar White (card base)
Ink:  Versamark, Versafine Clair Nocturne, Tumbled Glass, Salty Ocean, Chipped Sapphire, Black Soot, Pine Needles
Other: White Alabaster embossing powder (Brutus Monroe), Sakura White Gelly Roll pens 05, 08, 10

Naughty or Nice?

Hello again!  I have a card to share that I made for the current challenge at The Paper Players, where Jaydee has asked us to make a CAS card with a North Pole theme.

PP 468

I had a very cute print from Suzy's Watercolor Prints with Santa and Rudolph that I've previously colored but never made into a card or shared, so I thought it would work for this challenge.  I just love Rudolph peeking over Santa's shoulder and the fun sentiment.

While printed on watercolor paper, one can color these prints with various mediums including colored pencils, watercolor paints or markers, or Copic markers, the later of which I chose to use (no surprise to those familiar with my work LOL!).  I did a bit of ombre on the letters of the sentiment and used a silver gel pen for the package bows.  After die cutting and adhering the panel to an A2 card base I decided to add a bit of sparkle on all of Santa's "fur" and Rudolph's nose.

Thanks so much for visiting, I always appreciate it!

Stef


Paper:  Suzy's Watercolor Prints (Simon Says Stamp), Neenah Solar White
Other:  Wonky Rectangle die (SSS), Copic Markers, Tonic Nuvo White Blizzard Glimmer Drops

Pinecone Christmas

Hello friends!  It's time for a new Color Challenge at Splitcoaststampers!  Holley is hosting this week and has chosen a great combo of Real Red, Mossy Meadow and Early Espresso, with a dessert option to add sponging.

As I was writing this post I realized 1) I mistakenly used Cherry Cobbler rather than Real Red and 2) forgot to add the sponging for dessert I was going to put around the edge of my main image.  Totally bummed!  However, I still love how my card turned out and I think I'll be making a few more of these to send out for Christmas!

The pinecone image is from a large background stamp and was stamped using Copic friendly Gina K Chocolate Truffle Amalgam ink onto white card stock.  The artist gives lots of clear indication where the shadows lie on the pinecones, so I used 3 shades of brown similar to Early Espresso, making a few highlights but not worrying too much about blending as I knew it wouldn't be too visible after creating a snowy effect with White Gouache.  I used a Pale Moss marker for the background and the darker Moss for the pine needles.

I used a fairly thick application of the White Gouache on the outer pinecone tips, then heavily splattered a more watered down version to create the look of snow.  While that panel dried, I die cut the Merry sentiment from both white and cherry card stock, then layered them together.  The word Christmas was also stamped in Chocolate Truffle and die cut.  Once the main panel was dry, the card was assembled and, while a bit hard to see,  I added some iridescent jewels around the sentiment.

Thanks so much for visiting, as always it's so appreciated!  I hope you'll use the link above and check out the Color Challenge at SCS!

Stef


Stamps:  Pinecone Background, Holiday Sentiment Mix 1 (both Simon Says Stamp)
Paper: Neenah Solar White, Cherry Cobbler
Ink:  Gina K Chocolate Truffle Amalgam 
Other:  Lucy's Iridescent Jewels, Merry Frame die (SSS), White Gouache
Copics:  YG61, 67, E47, 44, 43, 42