Evergreen Christmas

Hi everyone.  I was hoping to have this card done before the end of April, but life got in the way.  I'm playing along with SCS April Christmas Challenge - E is for Evergreen.  Thankfully there is no time limit on SCS challenges. :)

I'm hoping that the "Evergreen" element doesn't actually have to be green. :)  I created a mixed media background with watercoloured tissue paper, sponged colour, dry embossing, and brayering.  I love this combination that I used on a card last year.  I made good use of my time by creating three similar card fronts.  I split two of the card fronts to make four equal panels, and used the third card front to create strips for the inside of my cards. :)  

For the four focal panels, I added mostly the same elements ... evergreen dies cut from matte gold foil card stock and gold embossed white sentiment strips.  These all tie in with the gold metallic paint I brayered to highlight the dry embossed design (Pepperberry Embossing Folder - Simon Says Stamp), overtop of a watercoloured tissue paper mounted background.

Sending this card to the following challenges:

SCS April Christmas Challenge - Evergreen (CCC26APR)

Darnell's IDEAS Calendar - Week 1 - Inks - I used inks to W/C tissue paper, and sponge over top

Merry Little Christmas Challenge #68 - AG Christmas

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The other three cards ...

Thanks for stopping by!

Stamps:  Snowglobe Sayings (MFT - closed)

Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Matte Gold cardstock (SU!)
Ink:   Distress Inks:  Candied Apple, Lumberjack Plaid, Mowed Lawn (Tim Holtz); Versamark
Accessories:   Tissue paper, water mister, Pepperberry Embossing Folder (Simon Says Stamp), Brayer,

Gold Metallic Paint (Lumiere), Holly Branches dies (Penny Black), Inspired die (Reindeer) - Penny Black,  Holly & Berries die (Birch Press Designs); Mistletoe die (unknown)

Challenges:

SCS April Christmas Challenge - Evergreen (CCC26APR)

Darnell's IDEAS Calendar - Week 1 - Inks

Merry Little Christmas Challenge #68

Happy New Year!

Hi everyone - Happy New Year!!

I'm starting the year by sharing a few cards I made and sent out for Christmas, but didn't have time to post late last year.  These were all made with backgrounds I had in my stash.  Most times I will make multiple backgrounds when trying out a new technique.  I keep them handy to create cards later on.

For details about other supplies I've used on these cards, check out the Card Recipe at the bottom of this post.

Above is made with a brushos background ... the two cards below are made from a recent technique from Group of Cardmakers - Textured Tissue Paper with Dry Embossing.  Long name :) ... but a grouping of fairly simple techniques that together, create lovely backgrounds.

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Sending the above card to Stencil Fun December challenge - Winter related.  Closes Jan. 3, 2026.

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Card above is stenciled using Sticky powder and gold mica powders.  Again, made from my stash of technique samples. :)

Thanks for stopping by!

Card #1:

Stamps:  Shine Upon You (Penny Black)

Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Cold Press Watercolour Paper (Arches 140 lb.)
Ink:   Brushos:  shades of green and blue; Mowed Lawn distress ink (Tim Holtz)
Accessories:   Evergreen Window die - retired (Memory Box)

Card #2:

Stamps:  Snowglobe Sayings (MTF out of business); Merry Up (Penny Black)

Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Blue Metallic paper (Tonic)
Ink:   Distress Inks:  Broken China, Salty Ocean, Wilted Violet (Tim Holtz)
Accessories:   Tissue paper (watercolour with light light blue, dark blue, purple), sponges, Vine Canopy embossing folder (Simon Says Stamp), Brayer,Citrine metallic acrylic paint (Lumiere), Stitched Rectangle and Square Frames (AliExpress)

Card #3:

Stamps:  Jolly Snippets (Penny Blck)

Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Black card stock (SU!)
Ink:   Versamark; Black (Memento)
Accessories:   Layered Poinsettia Stencil (Tim Holtz), Sticky Embossing Powder (Ranger), heat tool, gold mica powder (Arteza), brush, Rectangle Frame (AliExpress)

Challenges:

Stencil Fun December challenge - Winter related

More Textured Tissue Paper with Dry Embossing

Hi everyone.  Today I'm sharing two more cards for Group of Cardmakers.  I am loving this combination of techniques!

This time I used the Rose embossing folder from Tim Holtz.  It is 3D, but not detailed with lots of open space around the roses.  Turns out the brayer is very attracted to the open spaces and I ended up with gold paint on the highlights of the embossing, plus a lot in the background.  The images still are beautiful, so I cut around the best parts and made two CAS cards. :)

I finished both cards the same ... simple white frame, and stamped sentiment (happy snippets - Penny Black) using Peeled Paint ink.

Thanks for stopping by!

Stamps:  Happy Snippets (Penny Black)

Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.)
Ink:  Distress Inks:  Peeled Paint, Picked Raspberry (Tim Holtz) 
Accessories:  tissue paper, Rose embossing folder (Tim Holtz), sponges, gold metallic paint (Lumiere), brayer, Rectangle Nestability die (Spellbinders - retired)

Challenges:

Group of Cardmakers - Textured Tissue Paper with Dry Embossing

Textured Tissue Paper with Dry Embossing - Group of Cardmakers

Hi everyone.  This month at Group of Cardmakers, we are making mixed media cards that include four techniques.  By combining these simple elements, you end up with a beautiful, mixed media card. :)

Please check out the details for this month's technique and link to video on the blog, along with more card samples from Christine, Pat, & Susan.

Group of Cardmakers

It all starts with tissue paper.  It needs to be a thick tissue paper (not the one for gift bags - although that might work ... I haven't tried it).  There is a Wet Tissue Paper that can be used to paint, glue, etc., which is a bit thicker, but I have not tried that either.  I will definitely get both of those and give them a try and then update my blog.  I used tissue paper that came from a package of acetate sheets I bought from Amazon.  This is a 12" x 12" package of acetate sheets with a piece of tissue paper between each layer.  This tissue paper is a bit thick and worked great for this technique.  Tissue paper is a wonderful way to add texture to you cards.  

I watercoloured the background first following this video - only the first 3 1/2 minutes, which tells you the how-tos, the rest is other options).

Once the tissue paper is watercoloured with base of colour and dry, I followed the steps on the Group of Cardmakers blog HERE to add sponging, dry embossing, and brayering.  We have added lots of tips and tricks if you want to give this combination of techniques a try ...

For details on what I used to make the cards in this post, check out the Card Recipes at the bottom of this post.

Close-up ...

Sending this card to the following challenges:

NBUS Challenge #79 - first time using this embossing folder

Seize the Birthday #316 - Anything Birthday Goes

 

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A Christmas card with lots of texture.  I scrunched tissue before smoothing out and gluing to card front ...

Sending this card to the Rudolph Days October Challenge.

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Here's another Christmas card ... this time I used a regular embossing folder.  The design is not as deep as 3D folders, and you'll see the brayer roller touched the background several times.  I'm still happy with how this card turned out. :)

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... and finally, one more Christmas card.  This time I used only half of my card front to create this card with foil cardstock die-cut. :)  You'll see the remaining half made into cards in the next few weeks. :)

Thanks for stopping by!

Card #1:

Stamps:  Birthday Blowout (Poppy Stamps - retired)

Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.)
Ink:   Distress Inks:  Mustard Seed, Ripe Persimmon, Wilted Violet, Vintage Photo (Tim Holtz); Versamark
Accessories:   Tissue paper (watercolour with light yellow, purple and pink), Fall Leaves embossing folder (Honey Bee), Brayer, Gold metallic acrylic paint, Princess Gold embossing powder (Ranger), heat tool, Leafy Branch die (AliExpress), sponges

Card #2:

Stamps:  n/a

Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Gold Metallic paper (Tonic)
Ink:   Distress Inks:  Candied Apple, Lumberjack Plaid, Mowed Lawn (Tim Holtz)
Accessories:   Tissue paper (watercolour with light red, dark red, green), sponges, Poinsettia embossing folder (Spellbinders), Brayer, Gold metallic acrylic paint (Lumiere), Line it up: Christmas dies (Papertrey Ink), Mistletoe die, gold half pearls

Card #3:

Stamps:  n/a

Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Silver Metallic paper (SU!)
Ink:   Distress Inks:  Broken China, Salty Ocean, Wilted Violet (Tim Holtz)
Accessories:   Tissue paper (watercolour with light light blue, dark blue, purple), sponges, Filigree Snowflakes embossing folder (Simon Says Stamp), Brayer, Silver metallic acrylic paint (Liquitex), Line it up: Christmas dies (Papertrey Ink)

Cards 4:

Stamps:  Snowglobe Sayings (MTF out of business)

Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Blue Metallic paper (Tonic)
Ink:   Distress Inks:  Broken China, Salty Ocean, Wilted Violet (Tim Holtz)
Accessories:   Tissue paper, sponges, Vine Canopy embossing folder (Simon Says Stamp), Brayer, Citrine metallic acrylic paint (Lumiere), Holly and Berries die (Birch Press Designs)

Challenges:

NBUS Challenge #79

Seize the Birthday #316 - Anything Birthday Goes

Rudolph Days October Challenge

Guest Designing at Rudolph Days August Challenge

Hi everyone.  Today I'm Guest Designing at Rudolph Days August Challenge.  Thanks so much to Helen for inviting me!

For today's card I have made another using the Immense Joy die (Penny Black).  Last year I made a series of cards using this amazing die, and I just had to pull it out again this year. :)

I brayered a piece of Bristol card with distress inks and cut out the "O" from the Joy die.  I also die-cut the Deers & Tree scene; then die-cut again for the "O".  These were layered together and then inlaid into the "O" opening.  I splattered diluted white acrylic paint for falling snow.  The completed JOY was placed over top of a snowflake embossed card front (Snowflakes - Cuttlebug).  Merry Christmas is stamped on the inside using the closest ink I had to kraft.

Close-up ...

Sending this card to a few other challenges besides Rudolph Days ...

Darnell's IDEAS Challenge - Week 4 - Anything Goes - Brayering

Sparkles Christmas Challenge #175 - Include a Tree - the tree is part of the winter scene inside the "O".  Hope that qualifies

Thanks for stopping by!

Stamps:  N/A

Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Bristol card; Kraft card stock
Ink:   Distress Inks:  Mustard Seed, Candied Apple, Wilted Violet (Tim Holtz); Sahara Sand (SU!)
Accessories:   Immense Joy die (Penny Black), Brayer, Deer & Trees die (AliExpress), Acrylic white paint, Snowflake embossing folder (Cuttlebug)

Challenges:

Rudolph Day August Challenge

Darnell's IDEAS Challenge - Weekly 4 - AG 

Sparkles Christmas Challenge #175 - Include a Tree 

Zoom with Crafty Friends - Brayering

Hi everyone.  Our Crafty group had our monthly Zoom a couple of days ago.  Brayering was on the agenda, with Brenda in IN (Inkspired to Stamp)  leading the technique.  

It was so much fun!  I used to brayer quite a bit about 10 years ago.  It's still a fabulous technique with a unique look.  I made two cards ... the one above is Sunset.  Using Mustard Seed, Carved Pumpkin, and Salvaged Patina distress inks, I brayered the background to look like the sun was rising for the day.  I stamped  the Pine Tree (Stampscapes) three times in black ink and clear heat embossed.  To finish, I stamped the sentiment (Smiles - Penny Black) in the same black ink with clear embossing.

Below is the Sunset version ...

Changing just one of the ink colours gives it a totally different feel than the first card.  This is the same coloured distress inks as the top card except for swapping out Salvaged Patina for Seedless Preserves.  Love it! :)

During the Zoom session, I made another card.  This time with Candied Apple and Wilted Violet distress inks for the brayering at the top.

I stamped a Penny Black image (Scarved Sweeties 30-758) and then watercoloured with more distress inks.  The sentiment is from Festive Snippets (30-387).  I thought the sentiment was perfect for the scene. :)

I'm sending the card above over to Jingle Bells - Not a Creature was Stirring Challenge.

Thanks for coming by for a visit!

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Card 1 & 2:  Sunrise / Sunset

Stamps:  Large Pine Tree (Stampscapes); Smiles (Penny Black)

Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Mixed Media paper (Strathmore 140 lb.)
Ink:   Distress Inks:  Mustard Seed, Carved Pumpkin, Salvaged Patina, Seedless Preserves (Tim Holtz); Black ink: Obsidian Pigment Ink (Altenew)
Accessories:   Brayer, clear embossing powder, heat tool

Card 3:  Time for Joy

Stamps:  Scarved Sweeties; Festive Snippets (both Penny Black)

Paper:  Bristol paper (Strathmore); White card base (Neenah 110 lb.)

Ink:  Distress Inks:  Candied Apple, Wilted Violet; Brushed Corduroy, Gathered Twigs, Ground Espresso, Mowed Lawn, Black Soot, Tumbled Glass (Tim Holtz)

Accessories:  Brayer, clear embossing powder, heat tool, paint brushes, white Posca pen

Challenges:
Jingle Bells - Not a Creature was Stirring

Brayered Christmas

Hi everyone.  Today I'm sharing another brayered card.  

I started with Bristol Paper.  I used Distress Oxide inks this time and they worked really well.  First I took a piece of torn copy paper to mask the snow at the bottom of the card.  Then I inked up the brayer, first with Candied Apple ink; second with Wilted Violet ink.

Next I used Mustard Seed Distress ink to add a sponged edge along the snow mask.  I stamped a row of pine trees (Pine Row - Stampscapes) in Black ink and then dried with my heat tool.  I used a white Posca pen to add snow to the trees and then splattered more diluted white acrylic paint for the snow falling.

I tore a few more masks and use them to add the hills in the snow, using Sahara Sand (SU!) ink to spong along the torn edges.  The sentiment was stamped in black ink.  The panel was popped up with foam onto a white card base.

Close-up ...

I'm sending this card over to Rudolph Days September Challenge - Anything Christmas Goes.

Thanks for coming by for a visit!

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Jessie

Out in the rain

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Stamps: Pine Row (Stampscapes)

Paper:   Bristol (Strathmore - 2 ply); White card base (Neenah 110 lb.)
Ink:   Distress Oxide Inks:  Candied Apple, Wilted Violet; Distress Ink:  Mustard Seed; Sahara Sand Dye ink (SU!); Black (Memento)
Accessories:   Speedball rubber brayer; copy paper for masking, sponges, White Posca pen, white acrylic paint, splatter brush

Challenges:

Rudolph Days September Challenge - Anything Christmas Goes

Penny Black - Mountain Magic, Part 2

Hi everyone.  Years ago I used to love brayering cards.  I followed Michelle Zindorf ... she is amazing with this technique and I learned a lot just reading how she made her cards.  

But then I started trying all different types of techniques and I left brayering behind for several years.  I have seen some cards using this technique lately, so thought I'd see if I could remember how to do it. :)  Here is my first attempt.  Overall I'm happy with the card, but I definitely need more practise brayering.  :)

I used glossy paper so that the brayer glides on the paper.  I started by sponging the center first with Mustard Seed ink and then on top of that with Abandoned Coral ink.  Next I inked up my brayer with Chipped Sapphire, which is a deep blue.  This looks like a night sky to me.  I did add some Wilted Violet at the top but it doesn't really show.

I stamped my silhouette mountains and bullrushes (Mountain Madness 40-751) in black ink to finish.  It takes a while for the ink to dry on the glossy paper so I set it aside.  Once dry, I stamped my sentiment (Good Wishes 30-541) in black ink onto my card front before adding the popped up, inked panel.

Close-up ...

Thanks for stopping by!

Product Links

Mountain Magic (40-751)

Good Wishes (30-541)

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Jessie's playday with Attalie

(First meeting and good friends already!)

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Stamps:  Mountain Magic, Good Wishes (both Penny Black)

Paper:   Glossy Paper (SU!); White card base (Neenah 110 lb.)
Ink:   Distress Inks:  Mustard Seed, Abandoned Coral, Chipped Sapphire, Wilted Violet (Tim Holtz); Black (Memento)
Accessories:   Sponges, Brayer

Happy Birthday Jer

Hi everyone.  Today I'm sharing a card I made for my son's birthday.  He is an artist and I always show him all the cards I make and he gives me valuable feedback.   I showed him this card I made a last week, using this watercolored background.  He loved it ... and I hadn't even thought that I should have kept it to myself to give to him for his birthday which is in a couple of weeks - duh!! :)

So today I made a second card very similar, but added some special effects.  This time, I made it look like a piece of art hanging on a wall ... at least that's what I was going for :)  I made a trip to an art store yesterday and picked up some new-to-me supplies, one that I used on this card.  It is a gel medium that is filled with tiny glass beads.  I used my palette knife to scrap it over top of the watercolored background (a leftover piece from my card from last week).  I LOVE how it looks.  It adds texture, sparkle and shine to the image.  It dries clear, so the colors show through - I just love it and look forward to experimenting more with this product.

I'm including a couple of close-ups so hopefully you can see the texture and shine from this glass bead coating.

I'm entering this card into three challenges ... CAS on Sunday (#32 - Sparkle and Shimmer), Simon Says Anything Goes, and CAS-ology (#93 - Electric) ... I think these colors are electric :)

Stamps:  A Little Sentimental (Clearly Besotted)
Paper:  Black (SU!); Watercolor
Ink:  Tempting Turquoise, Tangerine Tango (SU!); Versamark
Accessories & Tools:  Water Mister, White embossing powder, heat tool, Glass Beads Gel Medium (Golden)

Challenges:
CAS on Sunday #32
Simon Says Anything Goes
CAS-ology #93

__________________

Today I'm also sharing two more cards from my Dirty Dozen Design Team for last October - theme "It's about Time".

The sentiment is computer generated, so I printed that onto my card front first.  Then I splattered the background with a toothbrush loaded with diluted re-inker.  I didn't have a clock image or die, so I printed off this clock face from the internet, adding a bit of brown sponging around the edges to give it even more of an aged look, and then mounted it on a circle of heated copper.  I mounted the "clock" onto a banner cut from burlap ribbon.


The second card is celebrating "vacation time" ... now I would like to be in a place like this! :)  I brayered the sky and stamped a silhouette of palm trees.  I then mounted it behind a square cut-out so that it's like you are looking through a window at a beautiful sunset.

Lost in Time card:
Stamps:  computer generated
Paper:  White (Neenah)
Ink:  Early Espresso (SU!)
Accessories & Tools:  copper metal sheet .005 thickness (K&S Precision Metals), mini butane torch, burlap ribbon, toothbrush

Paradise card:
Stamps:  Palm Island (Stampscapes)
Paper:  White (Neenah); Whisper White (SU!)
Ink:  Black, Pumpkin Pie, Melon Mambo, Rich Razzleberry (SU!)
Accessories & Tools:  Big Shot, Square Nestabilities (Spellbinders), Rubber Brayer