Christmas Time

Hello again!  It's time for a new Color Challenge at Splitcoaststampers!  Mary is hosting this week and she has chosen a beautiful combination of Tranquil Tide, Lemon Lime Twist and Gold, with a dessert option to use enamel or Nuvo drops.  I totally forgot about dessert as I was making my card, so no additional embellies this week.

I decided to make my own background on the Tranquil Tide panel and gold heat emboss the images.  I used a variety of little stamps from the October 2017 My Monthly Hero kit, all of them centered around fun little Christmas images.  Using a Misti, I laid out about 2/3rds of the design on the panel, stamped and heat set, then rearranged the remainder of the design.  After adhering the completed panel to the Lemon Lime Twist card base, the word Merry was die cut and the word Christmas stamped and heat embossed.  Both were added to a vellum circle to finish things off.

Thanks for visiting, it's always so appreciated!  I've added a link to SCS above, so I hope you'll check out this week's Color Challenge!

Stef


Product details
Stamps:  My Monthly Hero October 2017
Paper:  Neenah Solar White, Tranquil Tide, Lemon Lime Twist, Vellum, Tonic Gold Mirror
Ink:  Versamark
Other:  Hero Arts Gold embossing powder, Stitched Shapes Circle Framelit (SU), Merry die (SSS)
 

Sketch Lotus Flowers for Ellen

Hello friends and thanks for visiting!  I'm sharing a card made for a fellow card maker on Splitcoaststampers.  She has gone through medical treatments that have resulted in her inability to participate in the hobby she once enjoyed so much. 

One of the things I love about SCS is the caring and kindness extended to the entire community of stampers, especially a weekly "challenge" to extend a little love and kindness to someone in need.  This week it is Ellen.  She loves pink and gold, and dramatic backgrounds, so I gave it my best with this card.  I've also used the weekly SCS Sketch Challenge for my card design.

I began by making the background for the floral image by ink blended Tattered Rose, Worn Lipstick and Festive Berried Distress Ink on Bristol paper.  After spritzing with water droplets, I used a heat tool to dry the ink, then splattered the panel with gold paint and used the same around the edges.  I set it aside to dry while I used Copic markers to color the floral image.  Once dry it was adhered to a white card base with a fun foam backing for dimension.

I used a Misti to initially stamp the floral image with Copic friendly ink, leaving the stamp in the Misti after cleaning it off, so when the coloring was complete, I put the panel back in the stamp positioner, inked up the stamp with Versamark, then heat set the image with gold embossing powder.  After this was complete, I die cut the image and used foam tape to mount it on the ink blended panel and the last step was to add the sentiment circle to the base of the floral image.

Thanks so much for visiting and I hope you'll use the links below to check out both challenges!

Tea Party for Ellen

SCS Sketch Challenge #724


Stef


Product details
Stamps:  Sketch Lotus Flowers, Tiny Words (both Simons Says Stamp)
Paper:  Neenah Solar White, Strathmore Bristol
Ink:  Gina K Amalgam, Versamark, Distress Ink-Tattered Rose, Worn Lipstick, Festive Berries
Other:  Gold Sequin Mix, Stitched Rectangle die (SSS), Stitched Shapes Circle (Stampin' Up), Altenew Antique Gold embossing powder, Gansai Tambi Starry Colors Gold watercolor paint
 

Moose in Search of Snow

Hi there and welcome back!  It's time for a new Color Challenge at Splitcoaststampers!  Pam is hosting this week and has chosen the combination of Merry Merlot, Shaded Spruce and Very Vanilla, with the dessert option to add sparkle or shimmer.

It seemed like there was something everyday recently that prevented me from working on my card for this weeks challenge.  I finally made time yesterday, had it all finished then realized my moose in his charming Nordic attire was standing on bare ground, not snow.  Oops and too late to make a new card!  So, I decided he was just a moose still in search of the snow, kind of like here in the Pacific NW where it has been unseasonably dry this fall.

I did add some sparkle with White Blizzard Crystal Drops on his string of lights along with the "fur" on his hat and boots.  I also used a White Gelly Roll Pen to add polka dots to his blanket and stripes to his neck scarf.

Thanks for visiting, it's always so appreciated!  I've added a link to SCS above, so I hope you'll head over there and check out the challenge!

Stef


Product details
Stamps:  Nordic Christmas (Crafter's Companion), Tiny Words Christmas (Simon Says Stamp)
Paper:  Neenah Solar White, Thick Very Vanilla, Merry Merlot, Shaded Spruce
Ink:  Gina K Amalgam, Versamark
Other:  Stitched Rectangle Frame (MFT), Tonic Nuvo White Blizzard Crystal Drops, Copic Markers, Hero Arts White embossing powder, White Gelly Roll pen
 

Holly Jolly Snowman

Hello friends!  I'm posting a couple of cards made for the Online Card Classes Clean and Simple Holiday class.  The last live class ended Friday but the class galleries are open for a few more days, so I thought I would upload what I've completed thus far.  When I signed up for the class my week looked wide open, but you know how that goes, right?  Life gets in the way of crafting, so I didn't get as many cards done for class as I wanted.  The nice thing is that once the class is purchased, you have lifetime access, so I can continue to mine all that great inspiration for additional cards!  Here's a link to OCC, I encourage you to check it out if you haven't before.

This first card was made for the Day One where various inking techniques were shared.  I used Laurie Willison's technique using painters tape to mask.  After drying the blended strips I used a stencil to add "snowflakes" with white pigment ink.  The final touch was to add the cute snowman, sentiment and embellishments.  Super fun and would be easy to replicate.  In fact, I did make a couple others but didn't have a chance to edit the photos.  Maybe I'll have a chance to share later this week.

The second card (Day 2 - die cuts) uses a shaker design shared by Jennifer McGuire.  Rather than use acetate for the window, this technique uses white tulle, which eliminates the need for foam tape, thus making the card more mail friendly.  I made a stencil from vellum with a snowflake cover die then pounced white pigment ink through it with an ink blending tool, then added some additional ink around the edges.  I tended to make these CAS designs a bit more complicated but it still wasn't super time consuming to make this card, so making multiples would be possible.

My final card was for Day 3 - Glitter and Foil.  Kristina Werner showed us a beautiful example of added glitter paste with a stencil then mounting a sentiment when the paste was dry.  This card was quicker to put together than the last one once the glitter paste was dry.  The sentiment was die cut from gold mirror card stock adhered to the vellum strip then adhered to the back of the panel before adding to the card base.  I LOVE all the glitter plus the elegance of the gold sentiment.

Thanks for taking time to visit, I sure appreciate it! 

Stef

Product details
Card 1
Stamps:  Winter Woodland Wonders (Avery Elle), Halftone Holidays (sentiment/Altenew)
Paper:  Neenah Solar White, Cherry Cobbler (SU)
Ink:  Gina K Amalgam, Distress Oxide Mermaid Lagoon, Hero Arts Unicorn White
Other:  Companion dies to stamp sets, Snowflake embellies, Tonic Nuvo White Blizzard Glitter Drops and Glitter Gloss Aqua Shimmer pen (used on snowman), Copic markers

Card 2
Stamps:  Tiny Words Christmas (SSS)
Paper:  Neenah Solar White, Schoolhouse Red, Slate, Silver Foil
Ink:  Hero Arts Unicorn White, Versamark
Other:  Merry die (SSS), Ornate Ornaments die (SSS), Snowflake Confetti Fancy Die (HA), Lucy's Iridescent Jewels, sequins from my stash, Silver Gelly roll pen

Card 3
Paper:  Midnight Green, Vellum
Other:  Holiday Tree Medallion stencil (SSS), Tonic Nuvo Moonstone Glimmer paste, Merry Christmas Flourish die (Impression Obsession)
 

Bamboo Rose Birthday

Hi there and welcome back!  I have a quick post with my card for Mojo Monday, joining the current challenge just under the deadline. 

Mojo 502

I took some liberties with the sketch, adding a layered circle under the primary circle just to get the offset look, because I added my little bamboo rose bouquet too high up.  But it also gave me a place to add some sparkly jewels, so I was okay with that!

The flowers and butterfly are from the Bamboo Rose stamp set from Altenew.  I really like the stylized look of the images, but I do find coloring these type of floral images a bit tricky to get the shading right.  But when it was all done I was happy with how it turned out. 

Thanks so much for taking time to visit my little corner of the blogosphere!  I've added a link to the current Mojo challenge above, and if you check out Julee's blog tomorrow the new challenge should be posted.

Stef


Product details
Stamps:  Bamboo Rose (Altenew), Petite Pairs (sentiment/ret.SU)
Paper:  Neenah Solar White, Rich Razzleberry, BoBunny "Early Bird" patterned paper
Ink:  Versafine Onyx Black, Gina K Amalgam
Other:  Flutter embossing folder (SU), Stitched Shapes Circle Framelit (SU), Paper Snips, Tonic Nuvo Aqua Shimmer pen

Copics:

Butterfly:  Y17,13,00
Leaves:  G00,02,09
Roses:  V01,05,06,09
 

Merry & Bright

Hi there and welcome back!  It's time for a new Color Challenge at Splitcoaststampers!  Barbara is hosting this week and she has chosen the fun combination of Balmy Blue, Berry Burst, Pineapple Punch and Granny Apple Green, with a dessert option of NBUS (Never Before Used Stamp).  For my card I used a never before used Suzy's Paintable Print, so I may have squeaked by with dessert!

This fun print of various stocking caps was colored with multiple Copic markers in colors similar to the challenge colors.  I varied the color mixes for each hat then used a white gelly roll pen to add additional patterns.  It took some time to color but it sure was fun!  The panel had a winter themed sentiment but I wanted more of a Christmas sentiment, so I stamped one on white card stock die cut it along with the Berry Burst layer, then popped up in the middle of the card with foam tape.

The main panel was also trimmed down and mounted on a longer Berry Burst panel then adhered to the white card base.  A few iridescent jewels were scattered about as a final sparkly touch.

Thanks for visiting, it's always so appreciated!  I've added a link to the Color Challenge above, it would be great if you were able to join us this week!

Stef


Product details
Stamps:  Nordic Christmas (sentiment/Crafter's Companion)
Paper:  Neenah Solar White, Berry Burst, Suzy's Paintable Prints
Ink:  Versafine Onyx Black
Other:  Layered Scallop Square Framelits, White Gelly Roll pen, Black 0.3 Copic Multiliner pen, Lucy's Iridescent Jewels, Copic Markers

Full of Thanks

Hi there and welcome back!  Each year we send out just a few Thanksgiving cards to close family and for this year I used an image from the fun Full of Thanks stamp set from Art Impression. I kept the cards super simple so they would be easy enough to duplicate, the Copic coloring taking up the most time.

Isn't he cute in his Groucho Marx disguise?  The Ai packaging always has colored examples, so I basically used their shading to help speed up the coloring time.  Also, it's such a small image, it's tough to get too many color blends, so for the tail feathers I used only one or two colors.

The panel had already been die cut with a stitched rectangle die before stamping and coloring, so all that remained to do when the coloring was complete was to adhere it to a card base, add the burlap ribbon with a bit of liquid glue with the sentiment popped up with a bit of foam tape.

I'm entering this card in the Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge for this week's theme of Thanks or Thanksgiving.  I've added a link below so you can check out the challenge.

SSS Wed Challenge

Thanks for visiting, it's always appreciated!  I'll be back with a card for Mojo Monday sometime this weekend plus I will post my DT card for the latest Splitcoaststampers Color Challenge Monday night, so drop by and take a peek!

Stef


Product details
Stamps:  Full of Thanks (Ai)
Paper:  Neenah Solar White, Pumpkin Pie (SU), Burnt Orange (SSS)
Ink:  Gina K Amalgam, Versafine Onyx Black
Other:  5/8" Burlap Ribbon, 1" square and 1 1/4" Postage Stamp punches (both ret. SU), Stitched Rectangle die (SSS), Black Glaze Gelly Roll Pen, Copic Markers

Nose:  E 51, 00, 13
Snood:  R27, 39
Glasses: YR27
Body:  E21, 23, 25, 27, 29
Tail:  E25, 27, 29 YR23, 27
Legs:  Y35, 38
Shading:  C2,00
 

Ornate Ornaments

Hi there and welcome back!  It's time for a new Color Challenge at Splitcoaststampers!  I'm hosting this week and have chosen the combination of Coastal Cabana, Pool Party, Mossy Meadow and Silver, with the dessert option of using heat embossing.  I'm also joining the current Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge where the theme is Anything Goes. 

SSS Wed Challenge

I love light blue and blue green colors for Christmas cards and decided to use them with the beautiful Ornate Ornaments stamp set from Simon Says Stamp.  I left the stamps in my Misti after inking up on Neenah Solar White card stock to color with Copic markers similar to the challenge colors.  Once the coloring was complete I reinserted the panel into the Misti, stamped with Versamark ink, heat embossed with silver embossing powder, the die cut with the coordinating dies.

The background was created on a piece of watercolor paper that I splashed with water using a #12 round paintbrush then dropped in Mossy Meadow ink.  Once dry, a stiff paintbrush was used to flick Mossy Meadow ink then Copic Opaque white (hard to see) on the panel, then it was sprayed with Sparkle Shimmer Spray.  It was then die cut once it dried the second time.  The ornaments were adhered with Silver Cord taped on the back then wrapped around the reverse side of the panel.  After the sentiment was added, the panel was adhered first to a Pool Party panel with fun foam then the entire thing to a white card base.

Thanks so much for visiting, it's always so appreciated!  I've added a link to the challenges above and I hope you'll check them out!

Stef


Product details
Stamps:  Ornate Ornaments (SSS), Birdie Brown Greetings Galore (sentiment/MFT)
Paper:  Neenah Solar White, Coastal Cabana, Pool Party, watercolor
Ink:  Mossy Meadow, Versamark
Other:  Ornate Ornaments companion dies and Stitched Rectangle die (both SSS), Silver Cord (ret.SU), Hero Arts Silver embossing powder, Copic Opaque white, Tsukineko Sparkle Sheer Craft Spray, Copic Markers