Merry Christmas Poinsettias

Hi everyone.  Today is my last post before Christmas.  I wanted to share a few poinsettia cards I made back in November, using the beautiful layered Poinsettia Bloom Etched dies from Spellbinders (designed by Yana Smakula).

My friend Christine has this die, which she brought to one of our crafting sessions in early Fall.  It's so beautiful, I had just to get it! :)  And I wanted to try making a few cards using different colours.  First up, the traditional red. 

The Poinsettia Bloom Etched die (Spellbinders) was die-cut from gold foil card stock and white card stock.  I sponged the white Poinsettia pieces in two shades of red Distress Inks (Candied Apple, Aged Mahogany), using detail brushes.  Then the pieces were inlaid into the framing and leaves background die-cut from gold.  This is such a beautiful flower that I didn't want to add too much to finish.  A simple gold foil, die-cut sentiment and a few gold pearls. 

Close-up ...

Sending the card above to the following challenges:

Christmas Kickstart #105 - If it's Christmasy, Link it Up!

Sparkles Christmas Challenge #179 - Poinsettia

 

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Next, I made one using shades of blue (Christine's favourite colour --- hopefully she has already received this card in the mail). :)

I was inspired by this photo ...

Same as the first card above, substituting silver foil for the gold, Salty Ocean Distress Ink for the reds, and silver pearls.

Close-up ...

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I'm going to sign-off my blog until next year.  As always, I truly appreciate your support through the year.  Thank you so much for your visits and comments!

Have a very Merry Christmas!

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Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Gold Foil card stock (SU!); Matte Silver card stock (SU!)

Ink:   Distress Inks:  Candied Apple, Aged Mahogany, Salty Ocean (Tim Holtz)

Accessories:   Poinsettia Bloom Etched dies (Spellbinders), Line it up: Christmas dies (Papertrey Ink), Gold pearls / Silver pearls (Studio Katia)

Challenges:

Christmas Kickstart #105 - If it's Christmasy, Link it Up!

Sparkles Christmas Challenge #179 - Poinsettia

Penny Black - Radiant Red

Hi everyone.  Today's cards feature a stamp from the Penny Black Christmas release (Radiant Red - 40-903).  This is a gorgeous poinsettia image that is fun and easy to watercolour.

This is my first time using this stamp, so I'm sending the above card to NBUS Challenge #55.

... and I'm also sending it to Penny Black Saturday Challenge - September, where Anything Penny Black Goes.

For the card above, the outline image is stamped off-the-edge onto mixed media paper.  I heat embossed the image in white and watercoloured using Distress Inks:  Mowed Lawn, Rustic Wilderness, Fired Brick, and Aged Mahogany.

The sentiment (Full of Christmas 30-734)  is stamped with black ink.  To finish the card, I splattered with diluted white acrylic paint ... there's a bit of a snow storm going on with this card. :)

Close-up ...

And I've created a second card using the same inks and white embossing, but this time I used vellum.  The embossed image is on the front with the watercolouring done on the back of the image.  I have sandwiched the vellum between two pieces of white card stock, both with a circle die-cut in the center.  

I added a foiled sentiment using the Xmas Classics (15-004)  and some silver foil.  You simply rub the design onto your card, burnishing the sticky design, lay your foil over top and burnish again.  So simple and quick to do! :)  The sentiment looks black in the photo above.  I wasn't able to get a photo, but trust me, it's lovely and shiny silver foil. :)

I'm sending this card to Merry Little Christmas Challenge #52.

Penny Black Products

Radiant Red (40-903)

Full of Christmas (30-734)

Xmas Classics (15-004)

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Just a quick note that I added a new tab (Sketches) at the top of my blog of some of my favourite sketches I use when making my cards.  These sketches are Clean & Simple designs and I use them a lot (with slight variations to keep things more interesting).  I've also included small photos of several cards that I've made using each sketch with links to the original blog posts.  I hope you find this useful. :)  

Thanks for stopping by!

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Card #1:

Stamps:  Radiant Red (Penny Black); Full of Christmas (Penny Black)

Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.)
Ink:   Versamark; Distress Inks:  Mowed Lawn, Rustic Wilderness, Fired Brick, and Aged Mahogany (Tim Holtz); Black (Memento)
Accessories:   White Embossing Powder, heat tool, watercolour paint brushes, diluted white acrylic paint, splatter brush

Card #2:

Stamps:  Radiant Red (Penny Black); Xmas Classics (Penny Black)

Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Vellum
Ink:     Versamark; Distress Inks:  Mowed Lawn, Rustic Wilderness, Fired Brick, and Aged Mahogany (Tim Holtz)
Accessories:   White Embossing Powder, heat tool, watercolour paint brushes, diluted white acrylic paint, splatter brush, Circle die (Spellbinders - retired), silver foil (decofoil)

Challenges:

NBUS Challenge #55

Penny Black Saturday Challenge - September

Merry Little Christmas Challenge #52

Just Us Girls #627

Hi everyone.  This week is Trend Week at Just Us Girls - #627 Use Foil on your Alcohol Inked Cards. 

My talented friend Ina is hosting and my dear friend Mac is Guest Designing.  I just had to play along!  I haven't used my AIs for ages and so this challenge was the perfect prompt for me to pull them out.  

Have to say that I stuck with my favourite combination of colours (Wild Plum - Ranger; Sunset Orange and Sunbright Yellow - Pinata alcohol inks).  I first squirted some blending solution on a piece of Yupo and then added my inks, moving them around by tilting my panel.  I added more as they dried and was able to get a few sticky areas where the ink pooled and dried so my silver foil would stick.

I added a silver foil card stock die-cut (Leafy Branch - Simon Says Stamp), along with one of the All Things Happy Sentiment Strips - also Simon Says Stamp).    

Close-up ...  It's difficult to photograph yupo and AIs with all the shine.  This was the best close-up I could get.

I hope you'll pull out your AIs and foil and give this a try.  Then come join in the fun at JUGS Challenge #627.

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A few new pics of Jessie and Violeta.

They were busy playing for a few hours and then this happened ...

Thanks for stopping by!

If you would like to subscribe by email,

please fill out the subscription form in the upper right sidebar.

Make sure to add "subscribe" to the message.

It is also important to add sw1subscribers@gmail.com to your contact list

so Google recognizes the address and delivers the updates.

To unsubscribe, please use the same form on the right sidebar, making sure to add

"unsubscribe" to the message.

Thank you.

Paper:   Yupo; White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Silver Foil Card Stock

Ink:   Alcohol Inks:  Wild Plum (Ranger); Sunset Orange, Sunbright Yellow (Pinata)
Accessories:   Blending Solution, Silver Foil (DecoFoil); Leafy Branch die (Simon Says Stamp), Sentiment Strip (Simon Says Stamp)

Challenges:

Just Us Girls #627 - Use Foil on Your Alcohol Inked cards

Foil Christmas Cards

Hi everyone.  Today I'm sharing a few of the Christmas cards I've made in the past week.  I fell well behind making my cards in advance this year.  Most of the ones I have made went to charity, so I thought I would take advantage of the large stash of beautiful foil card stock I had and make quick cards using embossing folders and die-cuts.

These are just a few of the 40 I have made so far. :)  My goal is to make a total of 75, so I'm over half way there and will be working to get the rest finished within the next couple of weeks so I have time to write and address them for mailing at the beginning of December.  Whew!!  Where did this year go??!!

I have used a variety of embossing folders and die-cuts.  I tried to make each of them unique, mixing and matching foil colour, dies, and colour of dies.  If you have any questions about what I used on a particular card, please email me using the form on the sidebar.  Make sure to mention which card you are referring to for more details.  

This one is different.  I used red foil and a poinsettia stencil with Glass Bead gel for the background (hard to see details).  The two silver poinsettia dies for on top.

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Zoom Session - Embossing with Foil Card Stock

Hi everyone.  Yesterday we had our regular monthly Zoom call.  This month Bonnie shared a new-to-us technique following one of Jennifer McGuire's videos.  

Bonnie graciously mailed each of us a package of different coloured foil card stock to use.  Love happy mail! :)  Thanks Bonnie!  Each of us made several cards from the foil card stock ahead of time and then shared our finished cards on our Zoom call.

Technique is simple.  Dry emboss foil card stock and embossing folders (regular or 3D EFs both work well).  As an added element, use a sanding block to highlight the raised design.  It removes the colour to reveal silver underneath.  Then make your card.

I tried several of the colours so there are lots of photos below.  I cut the pieces to make two cards from each of an A2 Foil card front (5 1/2 x 4 1/4).

My favourite is the card at the top of this post.  I LOVE the rose coloured foil with black and white accents.

Sending the first card to NBUS Challenge #29.  Actually every one of these cards uses a new product. :)  Yay!

All products I used are listed at the bottom of this post.

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Love the blue foil paired with white die-cuts ...

 

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The bright green makes beautiful Christmas cards.  Three more for my stash! :)

  

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Last, but not least, gold foil card stock with a beautiful flower embossing folder.  No sanding on the butterfly card (gorgeous butterfly die-cut gifted to me by Bonnie)

  

I hope you like this technique and will give it a try.

Product Links

Card 1:

Blossom Field Embossing Folder (Simon Says Stamp) 

Fresh Foilage die-cut (Memory Box)

Greetings (Cavallini & Co)

Card 2:

Blossom Field Embossing Folder (Simon Says Stamp) 

On the Edge Thank You (Simon Says Stamp)

Card 3:

Gracious Leaves embossing folder (Memory Box)

Frieda Curve die (Poppy Stamps - retired)

Simple Sentiments (Lawn Fawn

Card 4:

Gracious Leaves embossing folder (Memory Box)

Berry Branch die-cuts (Penny Black)

Happy Messages (Stampendous)

Card 5:

Holiday Greenery Embossing Folder (Simon Says Stamp)

holly vine die (retired)

Inspired (Penny Black) - reindeer die

Art Deco Celebrate Christmas - Poppy Stamps - retired

Card 6:

Holiday Greenery Embossing Folder (Simon Says Stamp)

JOY die (AliExpress)

Card 7:

Holiday Greenery Embossing Folder (Simon Says Stamp)

Blooming Poinsettia die (Poppy Stamps)

Snowglobe Sentiments (My Favorite Things - retired)

Card 8:

Tim Holtz Botanical 3D Embossing Folder

Dreamy die (Memory Box) - butterfly die-cut gifted to me by Bonnie

Brushed Wishes (Stampendous - retired)

Card 9:

Tim Holtz Botanical 3D Embossing Folder,

Two flowers die (AliExpress)

A Little Sentimental (Clearly Besotted)

Challenges:

NBUS Challenge #29

More Foiling Fun

Hi everyone, sharing one more simple way to foil that I shared at my Zoom group meeting on Apr. 14th.  This time I used a piece of double-sided adhesive sheet on foam and then burnished my foil over top.  Adding the foam to the foil gives it added dimension.  I die-cut this sweet leafy sprig (AliExpess).  It not only cut out beautifully, but it also has the embossing on the leaves.  I used the Gold Shattered Glass Decofoil again and you can see how the reflection gives you lots of different colours.  So pretty!!

I used a piece of alcohol ink'd Yupo in the background that I had in my stash.  Not positive of the colours but believe they are my favourite combo of Wild Plum, Sunet Orange, and Sunshine Yellow (Ranger).  Die-cut a frame from white card stock (Spellbinders - retired) and popped the frame over top of my card front, adding the gold foiled leave inside the window aperture.  Stamped a Simple Sentiment (Lawn Fawn) and heat embossed in Princess gold embossing powder.

Close-up ...

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Jessie had some pampering from Alejandro ... Mani/Pedi.

Even though she doesn't like having her nails clipped,

she adores Alejandro and took the opportunity to steal a kiss. :)

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Blogger has notified blog owners of a change to their service.  They will no longer be providing the Feedburner email subscription service.  This means for all of you that receive my new posts via email, that subscription will no longer be working as of July.

In the meantime, I will be downloading your email addresses and forwarding them to a new subscription service.  Right now, I'm not sure which service that will be but will have that settled shortly.  Hopefully there won't be any disruption of subscribers receiving my updates.

Thanks for visiting!

Product Links

Simple Sentiments

Stamps: Simple Sentiments (Lawn Fawn) 

Paper:   Yupo; White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.)
Ink:   Alcohol Inks:  Wild Plum, Sunset Orange, Sunshine Yellow (Ranger); Versamark
Accessories:   Blending Solution (Ranger), Leaf die (AliExpress), Sookwang Double-sided adhesive sheets, Gold Shattered foil (Decofoil), Rectangle Nestabilities - retired (Spellbinders), Princess Gold embossing powder (Ranger), heat tool, 

CAS February Challenge Reminders

Hi everyone.  We have reached the middle of the challenges, so time for a reminder for all four (CAS Mix Up, CAS Watercolour, CAS Christmas, and CAS Stencil).  I hope you'll come play along in any (or all)!

I used a lily of the valley circle die to cut a stencil from thin card stock.  The stencil was placed over a background of Lindy's magicals and white embossing paste was added to the stencil.  Once dry, the image was mounted to a white card base and topped with a card front which had a small circle aperture, along with a debossed larger circle around it (hard to see in photo).  A delicate sentiment was stamped to match the delicate image.  For my CAS Mix Up card there is Stencil from die-cut, smooshing, embossing paste, debossing and stamping.

TIP:  when using embossing paste over an ink coloured background, some of the colour will soak through the paste.  Use white acrylic paint (or in my case white gouache) to paint over top of the dried paste to make it bright white.

Thanks to Joanna ... I now look at my dies in a whole new way!

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Isn't this cat the cutest??!!  I stamped with permanent black ink onto mixed media paper, watercoloured with different inks and fussy-cut. Added white paint dots to the large heart, covered with sparkle and then coated with crystal glaze.  I used a small stitched rectangle for the background, adding different-sized (and intensity of colour) dots to create a bokeh background.  White pigment ink was also used to add a few very light coloured dots.  Sentiment is stamped in black and the stitched panel is popped up on foam as well as the cat bing popped up for added dimension.

Thanks Marcia for a very fun challenge!

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I used a sweet wreath from Avery Elle.  Stamped in permanent black ink and watercoloured with distress and SU! inks.  Added a little sparkle to the berries before adding the die-cut sentiment, which is two layers thick and coated with sparkled and then glaze.  I dabbed off most of the glaze with a paper towel to leave a shiny, but textured surface.

Thanks to Lin for this very fun challenge ... our gallery is filled with JOY!

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I started with a piece of lightly smooshed magicals in my stash ... leftover ink from another project.  I added transfer gel through the Barley Stencil (STAMPlorations) and foiled in copper.  I mounted my panel onto a card base and added a card front with a loop frame.  The sentiment is stamped in Vintage distress ink.

I struggled with this challenge for some reason.  I've used foil before, so not sure what I was doing wrong.  My first attemps were for large areas of foil, which may have been the problem.  But in the end, I was happy with both my launch and reminder cards.  Patience was needed. :)

Thanks to Barb for this challenge.  I learned a lot about what not to do. :)  But when it turns out, there's nothing like foil --- so beautiful!

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I hope you'll check out the challenge blogs to see the amazing cards from our Designers, Guest Designers, and participants.  If you haven't had time to play along, there's over a week left before all four challenges close on 24th at midnight PST.  Come join us!

CAS Mix Up Reminder - Lily Thanks
Stamps:  Sentiment - Peony Stems & Blossoms (Poppy Stamps)
Paper:  Mixd Media (Strathmore 140 lb.); White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.)
Ink:  Magicals:  Prima Donna Purple, Tiffany Bue, Sassy Sapphire (Lindy's);
Accessories & Tools:  Circle Nestabilities (Spellbinder); Lily of the Valley Sprigs Circle (Memory Box), Pixie Spray, White embossing paste (Dreamweaver); White Gouache (Arteza)

CAS Watercolour Reminder - With Love
Stamps:  so loved (Penny Black), sentiment - it's your day (Penny Black)
Paper:   Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.); White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.)
Ink: Obsidian (Altenew); Real Red (SU!); Zig (light gray); Candied Apple distress ink (Tim Holtz)
Accessories & Tools:  Water brush, White Paint Pen (?); Glitter Pen (Spectrum Noir clear), Crystal Glaze (Nuvo); Circle stencil (MFT), sponges, chalk, Stitched die (Lil' Inkers)

CAS Christmas Reminder - Love, Peace and Joy
Stamps:  Festive Wreath (Avery Elle)
Paper:  Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.)
Ink:  Versafine Black; Peeled Paint distress ink (TH); Real Red ink (SU!)
Accessories & Tools:  water brush; Peace, joy and love die (Penny Black); Sparkle Pen (Spectrum Noir), Crystal Glaze (Nuvo)


CAS Stencil Reminder - Copper Foiled Oats
Stamps:  Sentiment - Thank You (Lil' Inkers)
Paper:  Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.); White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.)
Ink:  Lindy's magicals (autumn maple); Vintage Photo distress ink (TH)
Accessories & Tools:  water mister, Barley stencil (STAMPlorations); Transfer Gel (Decofoil); Copper Foil sheet (Decofoil), Laminator, Stitched Loops Frame die (Penny Black)


Challenges:
CAS Mix Up February - Stencil from Die-cuts 
CAS Watercolour February Challenge - Red & Black
CAS Christmas February Challenge - Joy
CAS Stencil February Challenge - Foil