Christmas at Sweet Stampin' PSX tags

It's me! I'm back! (giggle)
Welcome to my little blog - And some Christmas tags! Every year I intend to make "to-from" tags, and I never do! So here are three, and if no other tags are made, at least I finally did three (chuckle).

Today begins a new challenge at

Christmas at Sweet Stampin'!

My marvelously brilliant teammates have fantastic samples to share! We hope to see your imaginative artwork each month in our "Anything Goes Christmas" Challenges. The challenge is for ANY Christmas theme craft project. March's Challenge is open until April 9.

This month I'm playing with a virginal "used" stamp gifted to me by friend Paula. Paula and I both went into deep mourning when PSX stopped producing.
Do you remember PSX? Do you have any of their beloved stamps in your stash?
This stamp has been in my stash for years, and I'm guessing that Paula had it for at least 10 years previously.

Sporting blue (for my cold northern friends):



Pretty in Pink for my girly-girl blogging friends:

And red-green for traditionalists:

All the products are "golden oldies" except for the colored pencils. It was fun making these sweet tags!

Some Products Used:
Image: PSX F1321 Christmas Bird House - Ebay has one here.
Dies: Darice Ornate Rectangles, Poppystamps Stitched Main Street Tags, Poppystamps Stitched Festival Tags, Spellbinders Labels 23, 
Colored With: Caran d'Ache Luminance 6901 Color Pencils and various inks.

Challenges I'd like to play in please:

• ABC Christmas Challenge (March) E-F-G (E embellishment, F fabric, G glitz) lots of embellies, fabric ribbons/fibers, glitter & Gold glossy 4/1 (sep post)

• The Holly and Ivy Christmas Challenge #45 AG Christmas 3/26 (sep post)

• Merry Little Christmas Challenge #8 AG Christmas 4/1 (sep post)

• Crafting from the Heart #238 AG 3/18

• Incy Wincy Designs #16 Let's Use Ribbon 3/18

• Colouring in Scrapland (Mar 4) "Critters" 4/1

• Happy Little Stampers (March 5) Christmas Tags 4/2 (winners tag right bar)

On A Personal Note:

(if reading directly from blog post, click photos to enlarge)
Are you familiar with a tropical plant called Platycerium (commonly known as a Staghorn Fern)? Most people see a "pup" in a nursery:


We moved ours from Tampa back in the 1980s and they were already 15 years old. Because our climate has frequent freezes and frosts, we used to "cover them" with many king-size quilts and blankets for weeks at a time to keep them warm enough through the winter. But they have grown considerably, and we have grown not quite as energetic, so they are no longer covered during freezes and frosts. Apparently they have acclimated because these photos were taken last month after 2 days of freezing temperatures (and other frosty-freezing days prior to that):



Hanging in homemade wire baskets that are about 4 feet across with long quadrupled lengths of 1 inch "mule tape", the fronds (leaves) are rather "pale" and beat up from cold northern winds at this time. The fronds are between 2-3 feet long each.

The "shield fronds" cover the base of the plant where the lengthy fronds come out. If a knife or ice pick is used to puncture a green shield frond, more "pups" will emerge. Then the pups can be cut out later and transplated, or left to grow in place, as we have done here. They are about 8 feet across (2.5 meters) and seem quite happy with their home. We never dreamed they would survive here.

In the following photo the bright green trees in the background are wild NON-indigenous cheery trees (no fruit) which are, SADLY, taking over the native oak habitat. Those are on someone else's property. We remove all non-indigenous trees on our property.

We call the oak trees "Live Oaks", although there are several varieties of oaks in our hammock. There are 2 squirrel-proof bird feeders (to the extreme right a box, and left, a cylinder). The one on the left is a dream at keeping the heavier birds and squirrels out of the feed. The right feeder is 30 years old and needs to be replaced. The squirrels can "hang" from the top because of the rust (giggle).

The azaleas in the far back right are twice the height of a person:



At the top left (below) are some white and pale pink azaleas, again, twice the height of a person. Azaleas require shade in Florida due to the hot, sunny summers, and enjoy an acid soil:



thanks for visiting!
hugs,

No Cards! Moving Along With The Times

Hi, Everyone!
Here is my last post of the year, with the very best wishes to all my friends and visitors. May Peace, Good Health, and Safe Times be with you all.

And now... 

It's time to share a Project for the new Moving Along With The Times Challenge!

Challenge #87's theme is ANYTHING BUT A CARD - for the next 2 weeks!

I "corrugated" a piece of white cardstock with my wavy crimper and rubbed VersaFine Clair Tulip Red on the raised portions. Then Stampendous Shabby White embossing enamel was heat set. Actually, I thought it was going to have white elements with a touch of gold, but the gold really shows off, and is quite glittery!

The background is dry embossed with a Cuttlebug 5x7 folder, distressed with VersaFine Clair Tulip Red, dredged with SNS White Detail EP, and heat set.

An old SU greetings stamp was stamped on vellum with VersaFine Clair Tulip Red and heat set with SNS Red Apple Detail EP.

Sigh. I always have fun playing with embossing powders! It's what got me into stamping in the very beginning!

Thanks for stopping by, and don't forget to play in our challenge this fortnight!
Moving Along With The Times Challenge.

Products Used:

• Dies: Spellbinders Big Scallop Ovals, SB Tear Drop Circles (ribbon)
• Image: Penny Black "Snowy", SU Christmas Wishes
• Embossing Powder: SNS White Detail, Stampendous Shabby White embossing enamel, SNS Red Apple Detail
• Copics and Prismacolor Markers
• MS Starlight Border Punch, Red Ribbon
• Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, VersaFine Clair Tulip Red
• White Flocking (hat)
• Cardstock: Red, White, Aqua, Vellum, Gold Glossy

Stamping Hugs,

Cracked Glass Pet Puns by MHK Designs for 2 Crafty Critter Crazies!

Hello, Critter Loving Friends!
Hoping you are doing well and enjoying Life.

A new 2 Crafty Critter Crazies Challenge begins today!

MKH Designs is sponsoring October's challenge, which ends October 31.

A random winner is selected, and a guest designer for the upcoming month is chosen.

My three cards feature this fun "Pet Puns" Digital Set which contains 3 images and 6 sentiments!

All three cards use the fish bowl and fishy sentiments. The prize will be the "Pet Puns" Digital Set.

There are some interesting ideas for using the set on the MHKDesigns blog here.

MHKDesigns "Pet Puns"

ENJOYING MY STASH

My first card utilizes the digital image printed in blue, colored with Copic Markers, and distressed with Tumbled Glass ink. The dry embossed tag also features two washi tape designs, hand-made papers, hand-stamped background, dry embossing, cheesecloth and glittery die cuts. Products listed below.

Years ago, I enjoyed making paper on a small scale, and still have many of my pieces. (HINT: "years ago" means 15 years ago (giggle).

Then I met Lis Robson of Paper Creator. Now here is a real talent! She makes handmade papers IN BULK in all kinds of colors, textures and a variety of "additives" like seeds, confetti, flower petals and more. 

My tag card uses a fibrous white piece from Lis, and a pale tangerine piece from my own stash. Lis had pressed her paper prior to it drying, whereas I used an embossing folder. I should have photographed them prior to adhering, right? Sheesh!

CRACKED GLASS (aka CRACKED ICE) TECHNIQUE

This video shows how to use digital stamps with the cracked glass technique, and reveals how to use it in one specific portion of your digital stamp image, or over the entire digi stamp image, as I have done.

Here is the YouTube link for my email followers:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wDgJaWn6XaU

For the Cracked Glass (aka Cracked Ice) technique, I printed the sentiment and colored image, die cut them, used distress inks around the stencils, and then smooshed with VersaMark ink and dredged with SNS Clear Detail Embossing Powder, heating repeatedly for a glossy smooth coat. After plunging them in the freezer for 25 minutes, the pieces were "cracked", then smeared with Walnut Distress ink. That did not achieve the vintage flavor I hoped for, so I applied some Tonic Acorn Brown Hybrid ink with a Q-tip and lightly heated the pieces to meld the brown ink into the melted embossing powder.



The stamped panels resemble vintage glass when the light shines on them:



I loved using some of this sequined trim from my Mom's stash. This was purchased back in the early 1970's for some of her Krewe of Venus designs for the Swashbuckling Gasparilla parade and events in the Tampa Bay Area each year. Too bad the black sequins don't show up in the photography.




Lastly, I have a simple and sweet card using the same sketch as the Cracked Glass creation above:



Colored with Copic Markers and Blue Print and Tumbled Glass Distress Inks, the frame has 3/4" Double Stick Tear-ific Tape on the back to adhere the pretty Blue Lightning Ultrafine Glitter.

On A Personal Note:

Just had to share this amazing video of a giant manta asking for help from a diver.

Linda's Peaceful Place always has several uplifting goodies on her blog:

Don't forget! Any project featuring a creature is eligible at the 

2 Crafty Critter Crazies Challenge!

___________________________________________________________

Products Used:

MHK Designs - "Pet Puns" set colored with Copic Markers.

White-Blue Card: Blue Lightning Ultrafine Glitter (around frame), Spellbinders Decorative Labels 46, Labels 46, Labels 4, Lace, Satin Ribbon, Blueprint and Tumbled Glass Distress Inks.

White-Teal-Aqua Cracked-Glass Card: Spellbinders Labels 4, Vintage Trim from my Mom's stash, Peacock and Walnut Distress Ink, Tonic Acorn Brown Hybrid ink, SNS Clear Detail Embossing Powder, SNS VersaMark.

Tag Card:

• Dies: Spellbinders Diamondessence Circles, Dee's Distinctively Flourish, PoppyStamps Mainstreet Tags
• Embellishment Mousse: Orange Blush, Pacific Teal, Aquamarine
• Embossing Folders: We R Memory Keepers Dotted #1, Embossialiscious Regency Swirls
• Embossing Powders: Cerulean Star, Mediterranean Blue Star
• Glitter: Ocean
• Cardstock: Aqua, Neenah White, 2 handmade papers
• Inks: Distress, VersaMark
• Turquoise Punchinella, assorted brads

___________________________________________________________

Challenges I'd like to play in please:

1. Crafty Friends Challenge #67 Ribbon and Lace (my last white-blue card has both) 10/8
2. Love to Craft Challenges #15 Anything Goes 11/1
3. MHKDesigns by Mynn October 1 Anything Goes with MHK Design 11/1
4. A Bit More Time to Craft #53 Anything Goes 11/1
5. Crafts Galore Encore Oct Anything Goes 11/1 (tab)
6. Crafty Animals (Oct #7) Anything Goes with Animals 10/30 (sep post)
7. Crafty Girls Creations #40 Anything Goes 11/1 (sep post)
8. Creatalicious Challenges #124 "Anything Goes with Make your Own Background" (my TAG CARD has my hand made paper, hand stamped and heat embossed paper, dry embossing and punchinella) (sep post) 10/14
9. Create and Inspire #66 Anything Goes 11/10
10. Creative Ladybirds Creations #30 Anything Goes 11/1

Stamping Hugs,

Butterfly Challenge {Fred She Said} {Cardz 4 Galz}

Welcome, friends and visitors! It's great to see you this morning, and I hope you are doing well.

Time for a new challenge at Cardz 4 Galz Challenges today!

Badges are awarded for the Spotlight Winner and Top Picks.

Challenge #51 is chosen by teamie Babs -and the theme is:

  BUTTERFLIES  

Show us your projects using any technique and medium!
All paper-crafting projects are welcome.
Challenge ends on July 19.

My cards today feature Fred She Said's fabulous new Butterfly and Background sets.
The colors are so brilliantly happy, that I chose the artist's amazing precolored images, and simply could not limit myself to one card - but tried using the same images in different ways, with the same color schemes. Not too much glitter, though, so that the artist's pretty coloring shows through.

Buy Now

Each card is a 5"x7" design. The sentiments are also available at the FSS store (Fred She Said "Butterfly Dreams" Sentiment Set).

While the same color butterfly is used on each card, 
the backgrounds are an assortment from the many being offered at Fred She Said's collection.

First, an oval with blue and green, using one of the pretty watercolor backgrounds:



Next, a pretty blue garden with a less detailed background. The backgrounds are also available preformatted in an oval and look fantastic cut in an A2 rectangle shape:



I added a touch of orange to the pretty precolored images. this sentiment comes in solid black as well as blue highlights. The butterfly also is available in a magical rainbow color scheme!

A simple green card with some gems. flowers have been added to the background. The flowers are available in a number of colors, and can be used with or without the backgrounds! (click on the image below for a better view):

And LASTLY, a fun pocket card - using glossy card stock on the pocket.
A belly band accompanies pocket card "just because":

Click on the image below for the dimensions to make a pocket 5" x 7":

Tag is inside, and the belly band adorns the outside:



Back side of the tag:



Front side of the tag uses the pretty very detailed distressed watercolor sketch background with added flowers. The butterfly, bottom left leafy twig, and the right flower are all popped up for dimension::




Don't forget to upload your Butterfly Creations to the
Cardz 4 Galz Challenge.

Products Used:

• Fred She Said Store    Buy Now

• Fred She Said Distressed Butterfly and Blossoms Colored Set
• Fred She Said Watercolor Backgrounds for the new butterfly set
• Fred She Said "Butterfly Dreams" Sentiment Set
• 1/4" Tear-ific Tape
• NUVO Crystal Drops Wedgewood Blue (butterfly body)
• Cerulean Star EP433 glitter embossing powder (coating the leaves)
• Sue Wilson Double Pierced Rectangles
• Spellbinders Detailed Scallops, Fleur de Elegance, Fancy Tags Sets
• Memory Box Chloe Stem die
• Quickuts Scallop Oval die set
• MS Bangle Chain Trim, Craftwell embossing folders, DLR ribbon
• Lace, Copic Markers, Distress Inks, Glossy and Matte card stocks, sticker rhinestones

ON A PERSONAL NOTE:

The weeds are abundant during our hot and steamy summer weather in Florida - mulching helps, but certain tiny seeds have a way of making big plants everywhere!

I suppose it is like that in our lives, too. We try to keep unwanted "weeds" from taking root, but they are always finding new ways to sneak in.
On the plus side, that gives us lots of opportunities for personal growth, right?
Your encouragment helps me pull those "weeds" out and plant beautiful "flowers".
Hopefully, I do the same for you (smile).

Our pool area, with caladiums (they are our summer color in the humid heat).

Jack's barn and workshop is in the background:

Part of the old cow corral (we have retired from the cow business LOL). All the cross fencing is gone, too:

The hummingbirds, butterflies, and all sorts of bees and wasps cherish the blooms from the lowly coleus - again, one of the few colorful plants that grow in the humid heat. In the background is our front yard, front pasture. To the far left is our driveway:

The front grew crazily with the colorful caladiums and coleus. A few volunteer pentas and periwinkles help feed the hummers, but it quickly became an overgrown jungle:

Challenges I'd like to Support:

• Crafty Card Makers #192 Tic Tac Toe (SHOWN BELOW) 7/16 (diagonally gems-digital stamps-die cuts) 

• Creates and Makes Challenges #13 Anything Goes Plus Create a Sentiment (I created all the sentiments shown on these cards) 7/25
• Crafting By Designs (July) Anything Goes 8/2
• World Wide Open DT Challenge #23 anything from a DT post (7-15)
• Scrapy Land #69 Anything with Dies Scrapy Land sells (listed above in ingredients) 7/19
• Creative Sketchy Girls Challenge #13 Bingo Card (below) middle row BUTTERFLIES-YELLOW-RIBBON for my blue card and my pocket card  7/16

• Craft Rocket Challenges (#39) Anything Goes 8/3
• Crafting With An Attitude #29 Anything Goes 8/3
• Crafty Girls Creations Challenge #38 Anything Goes 8/1
• The Alphabet Challenge (July 7) "I is for Insects" 7/21
• Tic Tac Toe Challenge #TTTC005 (chart below) horizontally middle row PEARLS-DIECUTS-BUTTERFLY (my green card with oval center) 7/12

hugs,

Tis the Season!

Waving a hearty welcome to you, lovely crafting friends!

Hoping you and your special loved ones are doing well.
Alas, this is my final post for the DRU team - I'm sad to leave my very talented teamies,
but... 

looking forward to sharing wonderful news with you next month!
(It is always difficult to sit on a secret for several months, don'tcha think?)

Let's do a little Christmas Dies R Us Inspiration today!

Several layers of the same die cut can achieve texture, richness and color.
Here's what I did:

click below for:
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CHALLENGE BLOG
FACEBOOK
INSPIRATION BLOG

The following Dies R Us Products were used:

Sue Wilson Mini Christmas Scene Background

Sue Wilson's Faux Quilled Leaves

Poppy Stamps Main Street Stitched Tags

Spellbinders Classic Circles

Die Versions "Snow Flurries" DWP-004 (I love these snowflakes!)

The glittery full moon has a piece of sticker paper behind (hand cut after adhering it).
The glitter is sparkly in person, but on camera, Velvet (Microfine) glitter is more like a velvety with only a little glitter showing.

TIP:

The larger the glitter grain size, the more area for the light to reflect the sparkle.
The smaller the glitter, the more "movement" of the card is needed to show the glitter.
In this instance, I wanted the reindeer details to show up clearly, and not be covered up with the sparkly glitter to which we are all accustomed. SO--
I HAVE  LEARNED--
The larger the glitter grain, the more likely to get a blurry photo, or have part of the card elements/details covered up by the grains.
Hence, SNS Cloud Nine Velvet Microfine glitter was my choice:

The square card sports a timeless white embossed Anna Griffin sentiment:

Tip:

To grace your projects with unexpected elegance and use the "left-overs" in your stash:

1. Use opulent scraps of paper in the layers.

2. Wet emboss sentiments, background panels, or layer edges.

3. Find that odd, left-over brad, eyelet (remember those?) or other metal embellishment. Heat it up, dip it into your embossing powder, and make it new for your current project:

Love the detailed stitching on the Poppy Stamps Main Street Stitched Tags:

The Pearly Vellum in gold and white lends an unexpected elegance!
Wishing the photos showed it better (sigh):

Tip:

Use tones of the same color that work well together, without clashing.
In this case, it was all about the golds:

• The heavier pearlescent circular frame is beautifully crisp - it was made by using the round die that came with the Sue Wilson Mini Christmas Scene Background set, and a Spellbinders Classic Circle that was just a tad larger.
• The intricate brad has been heated and dipped into Detail Gold embossing powder.
• Non-metallic, true-gold-hue printed in the pretty in the Anna Griffin papers sets the stage for the other golds, not taking away from their textures.
• The Gold Galaxy Brilliance Ink accentuates the dry embossed green panel, and red tag under the white.

NOTE: to answer Becky's comment question below - the EP will usually not completely melt into the container. The brad gets very hot, so use tweezers, of course. When you dip it, the EP will not completely melt. It mostly sticks to the brad head like glitter on glue. Seldom does it actually melt all the way. Most of the time, I have to use the heat tool on it again to finish the melting process. I hope that helps explain it a little better!

Hope you enjoyed today's ideas. 
If you did not notice, I have a little gift offering for my followers.
Just click on the link under the "tabs" of my blog photo for details.

Products:

• Sue Wilson Mini Christmas Scene Background
• Sue Wilson's Faux Quilled Leaves
• Poppy Stamps Main Street Stitched Tags
• Spellbinders Classic Circles
• Die Versions "Snow Flurries" DWP-004 (I love these snowflakes!)
• Anna Griffin Christmas Stamp Set
• Anna Griffin Christmas Papers
• Papers: Pearly Gold Vellum, Pearly White Vellum, Pearlescent Gold cardstock, White, Red, Mossy Meadow
• Sparkle N Sprinkle: VersaMark Ink, White Detail embossing powder #298, Gold Detail EP (on brad), Cloud Nine Velvet Microfine glitter, Sticker Paper
• Craftwell Sophisticated embossing folder (on green panel, red tag)
• Brilliance Galaxy Gold ink

My card is supporting the following challenges:

1. A Snowflake's Promise #28 "Anything Christmas Goes" 9/21
2. Christmas Card Challenges #40 "Anything Christmas" (hanging head in shame that I did not use the optional challenge). 9/18
3. Christmas at Sweet Stampin' Challenges  (Sept 14) Christmas Dies 10/15
4. Classic Design Team Open Challenge #6 (Sept) Anything from a DT 10/1
5. Crafty Gals Corner Challenges #89 - Freestyle! 9/21
6. Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas Extra (Sept) Anything christmas 10/1
7. Crafty Hazelnut's Patterned Paper (Sept) Anything with PP (my background) 10/1
8. Merry Monday Christmas Challenge #213 Inspiration Board - I was inspired by the red and white color combination, the snowflakes, the opulent setting, the magical decor for the meal) 9/19 (sep post)
9. Paper Creators Crafts Challenges #51 Christmas 10/1
10. ScrapyLand #49 Anything Goes with dies 9/19
11. The Twelve Months of Christmas Link Up #21 Anything Goes with Optional Theme Nature of Christmas - I'm not sure if the icy white leaves count as flora or not LOL 10/1 (sep post later)
12. World Wide Open Design Team Challenge Blog #14 (Sept 15th-Oct 15th) Anything from a DT

happy hugs,