Autumn Tree

Hi everyone.  I love the colours of autumn, and here they are again in a background from my stash.  This was a very quick and easy card, simply adding a new-to-me tree die (cut in white), over top of my smooshed background.  A simple sentiment (Memory Box Signature Greetings - gift from friend) is stamped in brown ink to finish.  This literally took me less than 5 minutes to make. :)

Congrats to Just Us Girls Design Team on reaching their amazing milestone of 800 Challenges!!  WAY TO GO!! :)

Close-up ...

Sending this card to:

Just Us Girls Challenge #800 - Special Week - Anything Goes

NBUS Challenge #80 - using a new-to-me tree die for the first time (second entry)

Thanks for stopping by!

Stamps:  Signature Greetings (Memory Box - retired)

Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Watercolour Paper (Arches 140 lb.)
Ink:   Yellow, orange, pink spray watercolours; Ground Espresso DOX inks (Tim Holt)
Accessories:   Tree die (Temu Canada)

Challenges:

Just Us Girls Challenge #800 - Special Week - Anything Goes

NBUS Challenge #80

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.

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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

Purple and Orange Birthday

Hi everyone.  I'm so happy to create another Fall-themed card using three challenges as inspiration.  I started with Just Us Girls - Fall Mood board, using the leaves.  Then I used the colours from Color Hues (Purple and Orange) to first smoosh, and then sponge colours to create vibrant colours.  And I finished by making it a birthday card for Seize the Birthday!  Thanks ladies!!

I die-cut my leaves twice from mixed media paper, then smooshed them with orange (Ripe Persimmon) and purple (Seedless Preserves) inks.  Once dry I sponged more of the same colours over top.  The sponged purple and orange together changed the purple to more of a purple/brown.  For the background, I used the paper towel from mopping up my leftover inks. :)  Love the texture it adds to the card.

To finish, I stamped a simple sentiment in more Seedless Preserves ink.

Close-up ...

Today's card is inspired by three challenges:

Just Us Girls #797 - Mood Board for my leaves;

Color Hues #120 - Purple and Orange for the colours; and

Seize the Birthday #315 - Anything Birthday Goes option. :)

Thanks for stopping by!

Stamps:  Many Everyday Messages (Hero Arts - retired)

Paper:  White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.)
Ink:  Distress Inks:  Ripe Persimmon, Seedless Preserves (Tim Holtz)
Accessories:  Abundant Leaves dies (Simon Says Stamp), sponges  

Challenges:

Color Hues #120 - Purple and Orange

Just Us Girls #797 - Mood Board Week

Seize the Birthday #315 - Anything Birthday Goes option

Maple Leaf Forever

Hi everyone.  Today's card is another celebrating this wonderful season. :)

I started by using embossed paste to create a rectangle in the center of my card front.  I used Wander & Find stencil (Carta-Bella - closed).  This is a lovely design of stylized leaves.  At least that's what I think they look like. :) 

I used Fall Foliage dies (Penny Black) to cut out a maple leaf with separate veins from a smooshed background in my stash (Spiced Marmalade, Mustard Seed, Seedless Preserves DOX inks).  I wanted to "bump" up the colour, so I sponged over top of the smooshing with more Spiced Marmalade, Seedless Preserves, Rusty Hinge, and Walnut Stain Distress Inks.  I sponged Walnut Stain DI onto the veins.  I attached the finished leaf overtop of the stenciled background and added a simple sentiment to finish (Super Day - Penny Black).

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Sending this card to the following challenges:

AAA Cards (CAS) Challenge #300 - Sketch Challenge.  I flipped the sketch to portrait.

NBUS Challenge #79 - first time using the maple leaf die

Edit:  Adding to the Just Us Girls #795 - Die Week - Leaves - perfect timing!

Thanks for stopping by!

Stamps:  Super Day (Penny Black)

Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.)
Ink:   DOX inks:  Spiced Marmalade, Mustard Seed, Seedless Preserves and DI inks:  Spiced Marmalade, Seedless Preserves, Rusty Hinge, and Walnut Stain (all Tim Holtz)
Accessories:   Fall Foliage dies (Penny Black); sponges, Wander & Find stencil (Carta Bella - closed); Embossing Paste (Dreamweaver), palette knife

Challenges:

AAA Cards (CAS) Challenge #300 - Sketch

NBUS Challenge #79

Just Us Girls #795 - Die Week - Leaves 

Flower Teddy

Hi everyone.  Today I'm sharing another fall card.  This time I was inspired by the We Love Stamping September Challenge ...

****Make it Cute****

or Anything Goes

I started with an adorable Penny Black bear, holding a bouquet of flowers.  I stamped the image in black ink and clear heat embossing before watercolouring and then fussy-cutting.  I set it aside.

Onto the background ...  I placed a honeycomb stencil over my card front, masking off the bottom.  I sponged first with Mustard Seed Distress Ink, followed by Wild Honey ink, fading to light as I worked my way up from the bottom.  I stamped the image again in black ink onto my sponged card front; then paper pieced in the image I fussy-cut on top.  I added a simple sentiment to finish the card.

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Sending this card to the following challenges:

We Love Stamping September Challenge - Make it Cute

Seize the Birthday #314 - CAS with a Stencil

Just Us Girls #794 - Stencil Week - Anything Goes

Thanks for stopping by!

Stamps:  Flower Teddy (Penny Black); Birthday Blowout (Poppy Stamps - retired)

Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.)
Ink:  Black (Memento); Distress Inks:  Brushed Corduroy, Gathered Twigs, Spiced Marmalade, Crackling Campfire, Mustard Seed, Wild Honey, Mowed Lawn, Ground Espresso (Tim Holtz)
Accessories:   Clear embossing powder (Ranger), heat tool, Honeycomb stencil (Penny Black), sponges, red chalk

Challenges:

We Love Stamping September Challenge - Make it Cute

Seize the Birthday #314 - CAS with a Stencil

Just Us Girls #794 - Stencil Week - Anything Goes

Guest Designing at AAA Colourful

Hi everyone.  I'm happy and excited to be posting my card as Guest Designer for AAA Colourful Challenge #20.  Thanks to the wonderful team at AAA Colourful for having me this month!

These colours were so fun to play with.  I love the vibrancy of purple, lime green and orange together, complimented by black and gold. :)

I started by gluing a piece of white tissue paper over white card stock, which adds a lovely texture to the panel.  Once the glue was dry, I die-cut Falling Leaves (Penny Black) twice, giving me lots of leaves.  I randomly sponged purple, green, and orange, using my Distress Inks which were closest to the colours above (Seedless Preserves, Mowed Lawn, Crackling Campfire).

To add the gold element, I used a fine gold marker to hand-draw veins on the leaves.  The leaves were placed overtop of a black card base and then glued in place.  Gold embossing powder was used to heat emboss the sentiment and a thick gold marker to draw an edge around the sentiment banner so it stands out a bit from the busy background.  I popped up the banner to add some dimension.

Close-up ... this shows a bit of the texture from the tissue paper ...

There are some amazing and fun cards from the Designers at AAA Colourful.  I hope you'll check it out and play along!

Thanks for stopping by!

Stamps:  Simply Sentiment (Lawn Fawn)

Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 65 lb.); Black card stock (SU!)
Ink:   Distress Inks:  Seedless Preserves, Mowed Lawn, Crackling Campfire (Tim Holtz); Versamark
Accessories:   Tissue Paper, detail sponges, Falling Leaves Cut Out (Penny Black), gold metallic markers (Pilot); gold embossing powder (Ranger), heat tool

Challenges:

AAA Colourful Challenge #20

Celebrating Fall

Hi everyone.  I LOVE Fall ... the colours, the crisp air ... it's magical.  And I love making fall cards.  I'm back with another Fall Birthday card using a beautiful leaf stencil.  

I started by randomly sponging the background with Distress inks:  Mustard Seed, Cracking Campfire, Gathered Twigs.  I dried my card panel and then placed the Tumbling Leaves stencil (Simon Says Stamp) overtop.  I pressed down over the stencil with my Versamark pad and then removed the stencil, sprinkling with clear embossing powder and heat set.  I wiped the panel down to make sure there was no anti-static powder left and then sponged over the whole thing with Gathered Twigs ink.  I used a dry paper towel to wipe off any excess ink that remained on top of the heat embossing (emboss resist technique).  For the last step, I splattered the panel with yellow gold Fintec watercolour paint.

I mounted the panel onto my card base, which had the top corners rounded.  Stamped the sentiment (Endless Birthday Wishes - SU!) at the top with Crackling Campfire ink.

Close-up ...

Sending the above card to the following Challenges:

1) Seize the Birthday #292 - Use the word Celebrate

2) Darnell's IDEAS Oct. Challenge - Inks / Colour Mediums

3) Stencil Fun Challenge Sept. - Anything Stenciling Goes

Thanks for stopping by!

Stamps:  Endless Birthday Wishes - retired (SU!)

Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.)
Ink:   Distress Inks:  Mustard Seed, Crackling Campfire, Gathered Twigs (Tim Holtz); Versamark
Accessories:  sponges, Tumbling Leaves Stencil (SSS), Clear embossing powder (Ranger), heat tool, Fintec Yellow Gold Watercolour Paint 

Challenges:

Seize the Birthday #292 - Celebrate

IDEAS Oct. Challenge - Inks

Stencil Fun Challenge Sept.

Autumn Birthday

Hi everyone.  Today's card was made at the same time as the Stencil Monoprint card I posted a couple of days ago ...

I used brushos on mixed media paper with the Joyful Sunflower stencil to create 1) a positive print --- my card for today; then 2) flipping the wet stencil over onto a second piece of mixed media paper to create the negative (background) print for the stencil monoprint recently posted for Group of Seven.

I'm really happy with both cards. :)  I haven't done many prints with stencils recently and Group of Seven inspired me to get inky. :)  

The top card uses the print, along with a small black sentiment banner with Happy Birthday heat embossed in copper.  Simple, quick, and easy card to make, celebrating fall's colours.  

Close-up ...

Sharing at the following challenges:

1) Darnell's Sept. Challenge - Stencils

2) Beautiful Bloosoms Challenge - Sept. - Mood Board #21

3) Seize the Birthday #292 - Anything Birthday Goes

  

Thanks for stopping by!

Stamps:  Many Everyday Message - retired (Hero Arts)

Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.); Black card stock (SU!)
Ink:   Brushos: Terra Cotta, Orange, Leaf Green, Light Brown; Versamark
Accessories:  Joyful Sunflower (The Crafter's Workshop); water mister, Copper embossing powder (Ranger), heat tool

Challenges:

IDEAS  Sept. Challenge - Stencils

Beautiful Bloosoms Challenge - Sept. - Mood Board #21

Seize the Birthday #292