Glitter Wishes

Hi there!  Hope you're having a great weekend!  I always say this every year, but I can't believe Thanksgiving is this week and Christmas not too far around the corner.  Crazy how the last part of the year always seems to speed by.  And with that comes the need for Christmas cards and I have one to share today that was made using the fun sketch at Freshly Made Sketches.  I'm also entering this into the current CAS Christmas Card challenge at The Paper Players.

FMS 263

PP322

I knew I wanted to use snowflakes for the circles but I couldn't decide how I wanted to do the background.  Then I saw a video on the Internet just yesterday where the person sprinkled glitter over embossing paste before it dried and I had my plan.  I pulled out the Seasonal Decorative Masks from the current holiday catalogue and used the mask with the different size circles to create the "snow" fall on half of the Whisper White panel.

The snowflakes were popped out of Dazzling Diamonds Glimmer paper with an old Martha Stewart punch, with foam tape then adhered underneath to layer them above the glittery dots.  For the fourth circle on the sketch I made a tag for the sentiment, using a Tags and Labels Framelit along with the banner Framelit included in the Circle Card Framelit set.  The Emerald Envy ribbon and silver cording finished it off.

This card came together in less than an hour - I love the efficiency of clean and simple cards (when everything works the first time, that is ha ha!).

Thanks for visiting today!  I've added a links to both challenges above, so be sure to head over there and see all the amazing inspiration!

Stef

Product details

Stamps:  Endless Wishes

Paper:  Thick Whisper White, Emerald Envy, Dazzling Details Glimmer paper

Ink:  Emerald Envy, Versamark

Other:  Seasonal Decorative Mask, Tags & Labels and Circle Card Framelits, Silky Taffeta Ribbon Combo, Silver Cording Trim, Dazzling Diamonds Glitter, Snowflake punch (MS), Dreamweaver Embossing Paste

CAS Christmas

Hello friends!  Today I have a fun card that was an experiment which I think turned out nice.  I wanted to make a CAS Christmas card with a watercolor background.  I started out trying to use Koi Watercolors but I wasn't thrilled with the results (read:  Need More Practice!) so I opted to use some Distress inks and I was much happier with that.

I was inspired to make this card by three different challenges.  I used the sketch from Fusion Card Challenge, the colors from Just Us Girls, and the CAS concept from Stamp Ink Paper.

Fusion - Joy

JUGS #370

SIP #74

I swooned when I saw the JUGS colors of purple, teal and gold - perfect for a rich looking but untraditional Christmas card.  To start I heat embossed the snowflake and sentiment with gold embossing powder on a panel of water color paper.  Then, for the background, I mixed some Dusty Concord with Seedless Preserves, and used a nice wet brush to add it to the paper.  Next I added Peacock Feathers for my teal color and worked the middle of the two colors to get a really cool blending of colors.  I let the water carry the inks a bit and before it dried I added water droplets and splatters of both colors.

I took a gold gel pen and added gold dots to the background, then finished the panel with sequins, enamel circles and a couple of pearls.  I added foam tape to the back of the panel and mounted it to a base of Taken With Teal card stock.

That's it!  As always, your visit and comments are so appreciated!  I've added links to the challenges above, so be sure to visit each one and enjoy all the beautiful inspiration by the respective DTs.

Stef

Product details

Stamps:  Tin of Tags, Endless Wishes

Paper:  Taken With Teal, Watercolor

Ink:  Versamark, Peacock Feathers, Seedless Preserves and Dusty Concord (Ranger)

Other:  Gold Stampin' Emboss powder, Metallic Sequins, Metallic Enamel Shapes, Pearl Basic Jewels, Sparkling Clear Sequins (Pretty Pink Posh)

Fairy Birthday

Hello again!  Tonight I'm sharing a birthday card made for a soon to be 2 year old.  I used the sweet Fairy Celebration stamp set and went about coloring a couple of the images in the set.  I used the current challenge at Freshly Made Sketches for my design inspiration.

FMS 262

I began with a 4 1/8 x 5 3/8 inch panel of Shimmer card stock and stamped the larger of the two images on the left side of the panel.  After coloring her with reinkers and a Blender pen, I stamped the second fairy on a scrap of the same card stock, also colored and then fussy cut and added to the panel on the right of the first fairy.  I have to give credit to Ann Schach who inspired me by using similar colors (Soft Sky, Sweet Sugarplum and Pear Pizzazz among others) with this stamp set on her delightful card for Pals Paper Arts (Stampin Chic Fairy Celebration)

After wrapping the panel with the lovely Sweet Sugarplum Glitter ribbon, the scallop circles with the sentiment was popped up on dimensionals and the entire thing added to a Shimmer card stock base. I would have added some sequins for additional interest but with the recipient so young I didn't want to add anything that could be a swallowing hazard.  While the paper has such a nice shimmer to it, some Wink of Stella was painted on the wings and clothes of the fairies for some additional sparkle.

Thanks for dropping by!  I've added a link to the challenge above, so be sure to use it and check out all the incredible inspiration by the design team!

Stef

Product details

Stamps:  Fairy Celebration

Paper:  Soft Sky, Shimmer paper, Dazzling Diamonds Glimmer paper

Ink:  Basic Black, Soft Sky, Sweet Sugarplum, Old Olive, Pear Pizzazz, So Saffron, Delightful Daffodil, Soft Suede, Crumb Cake, Chocolate Chip

Other:  3/8" Glitter Ribbon Combo Pack, Clear Wink of Stella, Layering Ovals, Paper Snips, Blender pen

Count Your Blessings

Hello again!   Today I'm sharing a card made with the current sketch at Mojo Monday.  I'm also joining the challenges at The Paper Players and Stamp Ink Paper, where the theme is being thankful or grateful, certainly appropriate for this time of year and works perfectly for my card, where I've put together my final Thanksgiving card.  I don't send many but I do send them to immediate family members. 

MOJO 473 

 PP 320

SIP 73

Last month I made a number of fall scenes using the Happy Scenes stamp set that were then cut out with a Leaflet framelit, and I've used them with various card designs to create the Thanksgiving cards I needed  this year.

Having previously water colored the leaf scene with reinkers, putting together this card was pretty quick.  Probably the most tedious part was layering the die cut sentiment (I cut it twice then glued one on top of the other), which was cut from Pumpkin Pie card stock.  Initially I had it to the right where the oval is in the sketch, but it just looked like an orphan up there, so after trying various things, I finally landed on anchoring it with the wood element.

The More Mustard layer under the die cut leaves was embossed with the Petal Burst embossing folder, cut out with the largest Scallop Layering Square framelit, then ever so lightly sponged with More Mustard ink to bring out the texture.  The Early Espresso card base was layered with a piece of Spice Cake dsp and then the remaining elements were attached.

Thanks for visiting!  I've included links to all the challenges above, so please be sure to use them to check out all the amazing inspiration.

Stef

Product details

Stamps:  Happy Scenes

Paper:  Pool Party, More Mustard, Early Espresso, Cajun Craze, Pumpkin Pie, Spice Cake dsp

Ink:  Pumpkin Pie, Pear Pizzazz, Cajun Craze, More Mustard, Soft Sky, Stazon Timber Brown

Other:  Leaflets Framelit, Seasonal Frame Thinlit, Petal Burst embossing folder, Pool Party Thick Baker's Twine, Into the Woods Element

Holiday Trim

Hi there!  Well, those cute little Merry Mice made it back onto my desk so I just had to use them for the card I made for the current sketch challenge at Fab Friday.

Fab Friday 99

I started out by stamping the trio of mice on a panel of Strathmore Mixed Media paper, then masking the one on the right before stamping a tree from the Foxy Friends stamp set so it appears to be behind him.  Next I used reinkers and a watercolor paint brush to color the mice.  Once dry, I added some Smoky Slate to the "floor" and added shadows, then lightly painted So Saffron in the background.

I was a little unsure what element to use for the star in the sketch then I remembered I had a whole unused package of wood snowflakes so I added one along with a double bow of Baker's Twin.  Since I left the sentiment to the last, I was a bit nervous about stamping it right on the panel, so I played it safe and heat embossed it on a piece of Garden Green card stock then cut it out with one of the trims from the Gift Envelope and Trims Framelits.

When the panel was complete, I mounted it on a couple of layers of card stock, popped it up on Dimensionals and added to the card base covered with a piece Warmth and Cheer dsp.

Thanks for visiting!  I've added a link to Fab Friday above, so be sure to head over there and see all the wonderful inspiration.

Stef

Product details

Stamps:  Merry Mice, Foxy Friends

Paper:  Cherry Cobbler, Garden Green, Warmth and Cheer dsp, Strathmore Mixed Media

Ink: Versamark Watermark and Black Onyx, Cherry Cobbler, Garden Green, Early Espresso, Dapper Denim, Soft Sky, Smoky Slate, Crumb Cake, So Saffron, Encore Gold

Other:  3/8" Silky Taffeta Ribbon Combo, Snowflake Element, Cherry Cobbler Baker's Twine, Regal Candy Dot, Gift Envelope and Trims Framelit

Deck the Halls

Hi there!  I have a card to share with you tonight that I made with the current sketch challenge at Stamp Ink Paper.  I'm bumping up against the deadline to upload to the challenge, so this will be an abbreviated post.

SIP #72

I've used this great sketch to make another Christmas card with the Merry Mice stamp set.  I'm having a lot of fun with these cute little critters!

After stamping the mouse on watercolor paper, he was colored with reinkers (inks listed below).  When complete, the circle was mounted on a slightly larger scallop circle cut from Cherry Cobbler card stock.  Here's a close up.

Thanks for visiting today!  I've added a link to the challenge above, so be sure to check out all the wonderful inspiration.

Have a great week!

Stef


Product details
Stamps:  Merry Mice
Paper:  Thick Whisper White, Cherry Cobbler, Garden Green, Watercolor, Warmth & Cheer dsp
Ink:  Archival Basic Black, Garden Green, Cherry Cobbler, Dapper Denim, Crumb Cake, Flirty Flamingo, Sahara Sand, Soft Sky, Versamark, Encore Gold
Other:  Baker's Twine Trio Pack, Layering Circle Framelits, Gift Envelope and Trims Thinlit, Gold Stampin' Emboss powder, White Gel Pen

Mountains and a Mallard

Hello and welcome back!  Today I'm sharing a couple of masculine cards I made with Stampin' Up! stamp sets.  The first was one I was asked to make for our office to send to a co-worker who had heart valve replacement surgery.  Fortunately, all went well and he is recovering nicely.  I made the card a larger 5 x 7 inches so the entire group could sign and send personal get well wishes.

The image from In the Meadow was stamped on watercolor paper with Basic Gray ink then colored with reinkers.  I used the Cloudy Background technique I found on Splitcoaststampers not too long ago (Cloudy Backgrounds Tutorial) for the sky (although it doesn't show up super well in the photos because the blue sky is so light).  Once the panel dried it was adhered to a longer piece of Delightful Dijon card stock.  The sentiment was stamped below using a Stampamajig.  I wrapped a piece of Dapper Denim Ruched Ribbon around the panel then it was mounted to the card Dapper Denim card base that was covered with a piece of 2016-2018 In Color Envelope Paper since I didn't have any designer paper with that color, plus I thought it was a great design for this card, nice and subtle so as not to take away from the focal point.

The next card was made for my Father-In-Law's birthday yesterday.  I stamped the duck image from The Wilderness Awaits on watercolor paper with Basic Black ink, then water colored with various reinkers after studying my bird book so I could try to get an accurate look of a male Mallard duck.  The green head is a mixture of Garden Green and Emerald Envy, and the copper color on the neck and chest was created by mixing Cajun Craze and Chocolate Chip.

This card also uses Dapper Denim but this time it's teamed with Cajun Craze, one of my favorite color combinations.  The panel behind the main image was run through my Big Shot with the Woodlands embossing folder - I really love how that looks behind the water colored panel!  The sentiment was heat embossed on a piece of Dapper Denim card stock with the beautiful Copper Stampin' Emboss powder then cut with one of the trim Thinlits included with the Gift Card Envelope Thinlits.

That's it for today.  As always, your visit and comments are so appreciated!  I've listed the products used below but be sure to let me know if you have any questions.

Thanks and have a great weekend!

Stef

Product Details

Meadow Thoughts

Stamps:  In the Meadow, Thoughts & Prayers

Paper:  Dapper Denim, Delightful Dijon, watercolor, 2016-2018 In Color Envelope Paper

Ink:  Basic Gray, Soft Sky, Crumb Cake, Pear Pizzazz, So Saffron, Soft Suede, Delightful Dijon, Dapper Denim

Other:  Dapper Denim 3/8" Ruched Ribbon, watercolor paint brushes

Mallard Birthday

Stamps:  The Wilderness Awaits, Four You

Paper:  Cajun Craze, Dapper Denim, Watercolor

Ink:  Basic Black, Garden Green, Emerald Envy, Pumpkin Pie, Daffodil Delight, Dapper Denim, Chocolate Chip, Cajun Craze, Sahara Sand, Smoky Slate, Old Olive, So Saffron, Tip Top Taupe, Soft Sky

Other:  Woodlands embossing folder, Very Vanilla Thick Twine, Copper Stampin' Emboss Powder, Gift Card Envelope and Trims Thinlit, Layering Squares Framelits

Persian Motifs Sympathy

Hi there!  I was working with Persian Motifs, a new-to-me stamp set from Altenew, when Freshly Made Sketches posted their current challenge, and it was perfect for the design I had in mind.

I started by using Versamark to stamp one of the flower images on two edges of a panel of Strathmore Mixed Media paper and heat embossing with white embossing powder.  Using a number 3 round water color paintbrush, I went petal by petal, first wetting the entire petal, then adding ink and letting the water move it around, with some assist from me, of course.  I first added some light pink Victorian Velvet ink in a light layer, then came back in at the bottom of each petal with the darker Seedless Preserves, letting the water carry it up the sides of the petal.  When dry, the lighter pink color had a warm tone that I really like.  Here's a close up.

 

I've recently acquired some Ranger Distress Inks for water coloring, as they react to water really well in that you can move them around longer than other water based inks.  The limited selection of greens I currently have are of a more blue tone, so I had to add a bit of Scattered Straw to Evergreen Bough to get a color that better complemented the flowers.  After letting those images dry, I added some Tumbled Glass Distress Ink to the background.  When that dried, I stamped the sympathy sentiment from Painted Greetings (also from Altenew) with Archival Basic Gray ink.

Trying to match up card stock to the water colored images I fortunately discovered that Sweet Sugarplum, one of the current In Colors from Stampin' Up!, went well with the ink colors used on the flowers.  I used a retired script embossing folder to give the horizontal strip some texture, mounted everything on the card base, then added the enamel dots and sequins. 

Thanks for taking time to visit and of course I'd love to hear from you if you have a moment to leave a comment!  I've added a link above to the current sketch challenge, so be sure to pop over there and enjoy all the amazing inspiration from the design team.

Stef

Product details

Stamps:  Persian Motifs, Painted Greetings (both Altenew)

Paper:  Thick Whisper White, Basic Gray, Sweet Sugarplum, Strathmore Mixed Media

Ink:  Archival Basic Gray (SU); Seedless Preserves, Victorian Velvet, Scattered Straw, Evergreen Bough, Tumbled Glass (Ranger); Versamark

Other:  White Stampin' Emboss powder, Script embossing folder (sorry, I don't remember the name), Frosted Sequins, In Color Enamel Shapes