Two More for Christmas

Hello and happy day to all!  In spite of the new order of things due to COVID, this is still a busy time of year.  I've been totally focused on getting the Christmas cards finished and in the mail (I waited too long!), but I believe they're all done now.  Today's cards are the last of them.

Altenew emperor penguins with a Power Poppy sentiment is up first.  I made three of these.  I dearly wanted to add white snow splatters, but then I thought about how rarely it snows on Antarctica, so I left them off.  Silly of me because it would have been so much prettier, I think, and when you're the card maker you can do anything you want, right?  Next time they're getting snowflakes!

(Stamps:  Altenew Warm Hear, Power Poppy Simple Joys sentiment  Paper:  Neenah Super Smooth Solar White  Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black, Wendy Vecchi Archival Watering Can, DOX Abandoned Coral and Salty Ocean  Coloring:  Copics  Other:  Elizabeth Craft Warm Diamonds microfine glitter, 1" circle punch, Poppystamps Snowflake Ribbon die)

I'd planned on making multiples of the next card, but in spite of letting the designer paper do a lot of the work, the die cut sentiment made it far too time consuming.  I'll come back to this paper with a different idea later.  Turns out this is one of my favorite cards this year.  Love that Mintay designer paper!

(Paper:  Mintay Christmas Stories designer paper, Neenah 110 lb white  Other:  Amber gems, Wink of Stella on snowflakes  Dies:  Memory Box Warm Christmas Wishes and Bauble Snowflakes, Impression Obsession Small Snowflake Set, Marianne Designs Anja's Oval)

I'll be playing in my room, making cards and backgrounds and just generally having fun... when I have time... so I may pop in again before Christmas.  After all, there are still 11 days left...  Happy holidays, everyone!

Cottage Cutz Christmas

Hi, there, and welcome back for more Christmas cards today!  I'm showing two different cards, both made with Cottage Cutz dies.  The first was the easy peasiest thing ever because I pulled the smooshed watercolor background from my stash.  It was not so pretty as a whole sheet, but as a cut down piece I love it.  I made two of the first design.  Note to self:  Make lots more backgrounds for my stash.

(Cottage Cutz Moose & Pine Trees)

I made only one of the next card as it was a little more involved.  I wanted it to be simpler, but it just didn't happen.  Minimal coloring, ancient designer paper, Wink of Stella for shimmer (not that you can see it in the photo).  The frame is a spare part -- a negative left over from cutting an oval.

(Cottage Cutz Snowman w/Animals, Impression Obsession Small Snowflake Set and Let it Snow)

I hope to be back by Friday with a batch of Christmas cards, but it remains to be seen.  I'm getting cards in the mail each day, but US mail has been iffy so I sure hope they arrive by Christmas.  I've been receiving cards -- thank you, friends.  One of the cards took 12 days to travel from the midwest to here (west coast), which is a trip that previously took only 4 days.

Take care, be safe, hang in there, things will get better.  Merry everything!

Bentley's Joyous Wishes

Hello on a Monday, friends!  You're probably doing way better than me, but I feel as though I can't get another single thing done until I finish my Christmas cards.  By day I create, by night I address and write up cards for the mail.  Actually, I don't spend all day and all night on cards, but it's on my mind a lot.

Today's card is Bentley by Whipper Snapper.  I made four of these, all the same, inspired by two challenges which I'll list at the end.

Super easy and quick coloring with Tombow markers, no water.  These markers blend so easily when using marker on marker.  Much easier than Copics and just the ticket when I'm in a hurry.  Bentley's hat is trimmed with Viva Decor Ice White Pearlen Pen (similar to Liquid Pearls), then sprinkled with microfine glitter.  The one gold glittery star completes my nod to holiday sparkle.

It was Double D's Santa Hats Challenge and their cute mood board that made me think of Bentley, so he's heading over there to spread holiday cheer.

Bentley and I are also playing along with Retro Rubber Challenge #149.  Older stamps are required, and Bentley and the sentiment are both several years old.  For the current challenge we are to use the photo for inspiration (see below).  I made sure to include red and green as well as pine boughs, plaid stars, and a stitched mat. 

  

I'm listing card ingredients below, but a lot of these things are no longer available.  We're all just having fun, playing with our stuff, right?

That's all for today!  I'll be back with more Christmas cards this week.  Happy holidays!

Stamps:  Whipper Snapper Bentley, Hero Arts Wishing You a Joyous Christmas  Paper:  Neenah Super Smooth white, Fabriano Artistico Extra White 140 lb hot pressed watercolor, textured green, SU Real Red, gold glitter, Memory Box Christmas Plaid designer paper  Ink:  Palette Noir for Bentley, Memento Tuxedo Black for sentiment  Coloring:  Tombow Markers no water  Other:  Viva Decor Ice White Pearlen Pen, Elizabeth Craft Warm Diamonds microfine glitter, Taylored Expressions Stitched Rectangle Stacklets and Ric Rac Borders, Sizzix Primitive Stars, Impression Obsession Pine Pair

A Birthday Linky Party for Susan

Don't fall out of your chair!  I do not have a Christmas card or even a fall card today.  Instead I have a very springy-looking card for the lovely Susan (Cardmakers Garret) in celebration of her 70th birthday.  Hey, it's a milestone so Loll has organized a linky party on her blog.  All are invited to send a virtual birthday greeting to Susan by linking up a card.

My card is simple and quick.  Stamped and embossed the flowers first, then stenciled an area which I'd masked off with tape.  I did not mask the flowers, but carefully applied ink through the stencil with a very small brush.

The next step was to watercolor with Twinkling H2Os.  Maybe you can see some of the twinkle in the next photo.

I think this sentiment is just the nicest thing to say.

Since this is a first time use of the flowers, sentiment, and stencil I'm also sharing at Darnell's NBUS Challenge #21.

See a quick supply list below my signature.  Wishing everyone a happy day, and Susan a very happy birthday month!

Rubbernecker Brushed Flower #7 and Smiles and Thinks of You
Altenew Ombre Stripes Stencil
SU Inks Barely Banana, Bashful Blue, Certainly Celery
Watercolor with Twinkling H2Os on Fabriano Artistico Extra White 140 lb hot press watercolor paper