Christmas cards ...

Hi everyone.   Just a reminder of the CAS Christmas August Challenge - Sleigh.  The challenge is open until Aug. 31.

Smooshed a piece of mixed media paper and once dry, stamped my image in black pigment ink and heat embossed in clear.  Watercoloured using distress inks.

Two strips of torn white paper are added to the bottom for snowhills and a simple sentiment is stamped in black ink.  Splattered diluted white paint for falling snow.

Close-up ...

Sending this card to the follow challenges:

CAS Christmas August Challenge - Sleigh

Merry Little Christmas Challenge #69

SCS Christmas Challenge - August - CCC26AUG

Edited to add - entering below:

Christmas Kickstart #113 - A Friend is for Life and not just Christmas

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This is a reminder for the CAS Mix Up August Challenge - Stenciling over Patterned Paper.  The challenge is open until Aug. 31.

I used this beautiful background paper from Honey Bee, stenciling overtop with the Farmhouse Tree Stencil (Honey Bee).  I started with layers of distress Inks (Mowed Lawn, Rustic Wilderness) and let it dry thoroughly before stenciling overtop with Versamark and sprinkling with White embossing powder.  I heat set and also stamped and heat set the sentiment (Christmas Sentiments - Penny Black) as well.  To finish, I trimmed the panel down to size, allowing more white space on my card front.

Close-up ...

Sending this card to the following challenges:

CAS Mix Up August Challenge - Stenciling over Patterned Paper

Darnell's IDEAS Calendar - Week 3 - Embossing - I heat embossed the white snow on the tree

SCS Christmas Challenge - August - CCC26AUG

This card only took me about 10 minutes to make and I love how it turned out.  I have more of these papers, so made more of the same design, just swapping out the background paper and changing ink colours.  Great way to build my Christmas card stash! :)

Thanks for stopping by!

Card #1: (Sleigh)

Stamps:  Santa and his Reindeer (Stamping Bella); Christmas Sentiments (Penny Black)

Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Mixed Media (Strathmore)
Ink:   Black (Obsidian - Altenew); Distress Inks:  Mowed Lawn, Rustic Wilderness, Candied Apple, Mustard Seed, Salty Ocean, Brushed Corduroy, Gathered Twigs, Black Soot (Tim Holtz)
Accessories:   clear embossing powder, heat tool, watercolour paint brushes, white acrylic paint

Card #2: (Tree)

Stamps:  Christmas Sentiments (Penny Black)

Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Patterned Paper - Team Tie Dye (Honey Bee)
Ink:   Distress Inks:  Mowed Lawn, Rustic Wilderness (Tim Holtz); Versamark
Accessories:   Farmhouse Tree Stencil (Honey Bee), sponges, White embossing powder (Ranger), heat tool

Challenges:

August CAS Christmas Challenge - Santa's Sleigh

Merry Little Christmas Challenge #69

CAS Mix Up August Challenge - Stenciling over Patterned Paper

Darnell's IDEAS Calendar - Week 3 - Embossing - I heat embossed the white snow on the tree

SCS Christmas Challenge - August - CCC26AUG

August CAS Christmas Challenge - Santa's Sleigh

Hi everyone.  Today is the start of the August CAS Christmas Challenge, hosted by the talented Julia.  She has chosen the challenge ...

For today's card, I made a night sky background using Brushos Powdered Inks on mixed media card.

Once dry, I added black die-cut Santa, Sleigh and Reindeer, along with a row of houses.  The sentiment is stamped in black ink to finish the design.  Easy and fun card to make. :)

Close-up ...

Sending this card to the following challenges:

Darnell's IDEAS Challenge - Week 4 - Anything Goes - I used Powdered Inks

NBUS Challenge #89 - first time using the row of houses die

Merry Little Christmas Challenge #69 - second entry

SCS CCC26 AUG - SCS Christmas Challenge

Addicted to Stamps Challege #522 - Christmas

Thanks for stopping by!

Stamps:  Christmas Sentiments (Hero Arts)

Paper:   Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.); Black cardstock (SU!)
Ink:   Black Pigment (Obsidian - Altenew); Brushos:  Turquoise, Ultra Marine, Purple, Violet
Accessories:   Row of Houses die & Santa Sleigh (both from Spellbinders - Simon's Snow Globe Etched die set)

Challenges:

August CAS Christmas Challenge - Santa's Sleigh

Darnell's IDEAS Challenge - Week 4 - Anything Goes

NBUS Challenge #89

Merry Little Christmas Challenge #69

SCS CCC26 AUG - SCS Christmas Challenge

Addicted to Stamps Challege #522 - Christmas

Adding Dimension to Die-cuts - Group of Cardmakers

Hi everyone.  We are a small group now with several people moving on.  We decided that this will be our last post at Group of Cardmakers.  We appreciate those that have followed us, left wonderful comments, and shared their talents by playing along.

For out final technique this month at Group of Cardmakers,  we are playing with adding dimension to die-cuts.  There are several ways to do this ... layering, sponging edges, shaping, etc.

Group of Cardmakers - Adding Dimension to Die-cuts - Design Element

I started with a new-to-me die (Garden Cosmos Layering dies - Altenew), a gift from a very good friend ... thanks B!  I cut all the pieces from cold press w/c paper and watercoloured using distress re-inkers and distress inks.  I found it a challenge to put the pieces all together, but in the end it all worked.  I LOVE how my flowers turned out, even though I took creative license with the colour as Cosmos do not grow in a deep purple, but rather a pinky purple tone. :)

To create the card I started with the background.  I smooshed both Wild Honey and Spiced Marmalade distress inks with lots of water and smooshed my cold press w/c paper card front.  I used these colours for the centers of the flowers as well ... tying this together.  I watercoloured all the flower petals with wilted violet distress re-inker ... that's how the colour is so intense.  LOVE IT! :)  I used Villaneous Potion distress ink to add sponging around each petal, giving the flower visual depth.  After they were dry, I also shaped each petal using a stylus with my sponge mat ... adding even more depth.  For the stems / greenery, the pieces were watercolour with Mowed Lawn distress ink and sponged with Rustic Wilderness ink.  It's always good to have a variety of shades of green.

The flowers were assembled and then attached to the greenery.  I only used half the flowers from the set, so you will see another card with purple cosmos in the future.

The finishing touch is adding the stamped sentiment (SU - retired stamp - Endless Birthday Wishes), Villaneous Potion ink on white card.

Close-up ...

Sending this card to the following challenges:

Darnell's IDEAS Calendar - Week 4 - Anything Goes - Inks / Dies / Sponging / Smooshing

NBUS Challenge #88 - first time using this Cosmos Die set

Simply Clean and Simple July Challenge - Birthday

AAA Birthday Challenge #87 - For the Girls

   

Thanks for stopping by!

Stamps:  Endless Birthday Wishes (SU! - retired)

Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.)
Ink:   Distress Re-inkers:  Wild Honey, Spiced Marmalade, Wilted Violet (Tim Holtz); Distress Ink:  Villaneous Potion (Tim Holtz); Distress Inks:  Mowed Lawn, Rustic Wilderness (Tim Holtz)
Accessories:   Garden Cosmos Layering Dies (Altenew); watercolour brushes, stylus, foam mat

Challenges:

Darnell's IDEAS Calendar - Week 4 - Anything Goes

NBUS Challenge #88

Simply Clean and Simple July Challenge - Birthday

AAA Birthday Challenge #87 - For the Girls

Bleaching (with Bleach or Water) - Group of Cardmakers

Hi everyone.  This month at Group of Cardmakers, we are experimenting with Bleaching (with both Bleach or Water).  There are lots of variations, and some techniques are known by a variety of names such as Water Stamping, Ghosting, etc.

Please check out the details for this month's Bleaching (with Bleach or Water) Technique and link to videos on the blog, along with more card samples from Christine, Pat, & Susan.

Group of Cardmakers

My results were a mix.  I had success with using Bleach, but not much success with using Water for stamping.  I'll share what worked for me ...

The first three cards are done with the same technique ... smooshed background with Distress Inks, dry; stamp image and heat emboss; then bleaching the image with paint brush dipped in bleach and blotted with paper towel.

The card above is the Blooming Branch stamp (Pinkfresh Studio), stamped in Brushed Cordoroy and heat embossed with clear over smooshed background.  I used bleach to remove the image colour, left it for a day, and then watercoloured with Distress Inks.  I used a hot pink marker to add more colour to the center of the blooms.  I die-cut the center of the card front using the Semi-Circle Stacker Frame die (Penny Black) and then popped it up over top.  A simple sentiment from Happy Snippets (Penny Black) finishes the card.

Sending the card at the top of the post to:

Darnell's IDEAS Calendar - Week 4 - Anything Goes --- I used bleaching! :)

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I used the same method for the fuschsia card.  Smooshed distress inks for the background.  Image is Captivating (Penny Black), heat embossed with Liquid Platinum embossing powder.  I used distress inks to watercolour where I had removed the background colour with bleach.  A sentiment, Cosmos - retired (Technique Tuesday) was also added in Liquid Platinum Embossing.  Used a white paint pen on the stamens.

Sending above card to:

We Love Stamping March Challenge - Anything Goes.

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For my final card using the smooshing and bleaching technique, I used Christmas Birds - retired  (Northwoods).  Again used Liquid Platinum embossing.  The sentiment is from retired Snowglobe Sayings (MFT).

Sending this card to:

Merry Little Christmas Challenge #67 - Anything Christmas Goes

Rudolph Days March Challenge - Anything Christmas Goes

 

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Below I am sharing a card I made from 2016 using bleaching with water when stenciling (ghosting technique).  Ghosting is another name for Bleaching.  It is the same ... using a ink coloured background, and stenciling with water over top.  Below is a sample from a few years ago.  I have many more samples on my Pinterest Board - Ghosting (link HERE).

I hope you'll give one of the bleaching techniques a try.  There are a lot of options using bleach ... and a few using water.  It's worth trying them out to see what works best for you.  

Thanks for stopping by!

Card #1:

Stamps:  Blooming Branch (Pinkfresh Studio); Happy Snippets (Penny Black)

Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.)
Ink:   Distress Inks:  Brushed Corduroy, Saltwater Taffy, Abandoned Coral, Shabby Shutters (Tim Holtz)
Accessories: Clear embossing powder (Ranger), heat tool, water brush, bleach, watercolour paint brushes, Semi-Circle Stackers (Penny Black)

 

Card #2:

Stamps:  Captivating (Penny Black); Cosmos - retired (Technique Tuesday)

Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Hot Press Watercolour Paper (Arches 140 lb.)

Ink:   Versamark; Distress Inks:  Candied Apple, Lumberjack Plaid, Wilted Violet, Villanous Potion, Mowed Lawn, Rustic Wilderness (Tim Holtz)
Accessories:  Liquid Platinum embossing Powder (Ranger), heat tool, water brush, bleach, watercolour paint brushes, white acrylic paint pen (Posca)

Card #3:

Stamps:  Christmas Birds (Northwoods); Snowglobe Sayings - retired (MFT)

Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.)

Ink:   Versamark; Distress Inks:  Salvaged Patina, Wilted Violet, Salty Ocean (Tim Holtz); Arteza Watercolour Markers
Accessories:  Liquid Platinum embossing powder (Ranger), heat tool, water brush, bleach, watercolour paint brushes

 

Challenges:

Darnell's IDEAS Calendar - Week 4 - Anything Goes

We Love Stamping March Challenge - Anything Goes

Merry Little Christmas Challenge #67 - Anything Christmas Goes

Rudolph Days March Challenge - Anything Christmas Goes

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

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).

Close-up ...

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