Two Old Bats Halloween Challenge -- December

Welcome back to the Two Old Bat's year 'round Halloween challenge!  Right in the middle of the busy holiday season... truth is, it was fun to take a break from Christmas cards after being up to my eyeballs in them for quite a while now.

We have an inspiration board, but not required to use it.

I love playing off the boards and my Halloween card o' the month was inspired by the bats and the 31 in the upper right of the board.  I paired a Deep Red Halloween Dress Form stamp with Impression Obsession's Halloween Stamp.  This eerily pretty party dress just needs the cobwebs brushed off and it's ready to wear!

I stamped in Versafine Onyx Black and clear embossed for the fine detail.  Brushed some color on the background, colored the bow and 31 with a Tombow marker.  Hand cut the postage stamp and popped it up on foam tape.  The papers are not Halloween, but I wanted some different colors for this card.  The fancy non-Halloween die frame worked out great when cut in black.  All in all I like it!

Come see us at Two Old Bats.  I know this is not an easy time to be making Halloween cards, but it's fun if you've got the time.  Challenge ends on the 28th.  Have a great day!

Stamps:  Deep Red Halloween Dress Form, Impression Obsession Halloween Stamp  Paper:  SU Whisper White, black card base (not visible in photo), years old Memory Box and 7 Gypsies designer paper  Ink:  Versafine Onyx Black, SU Crushed Curry and Going Gray  Coloring:  Tombow marker and SU inks brushed on backgrounds  Other:  Clear embossing powder, foam mounting tape, Spellbinders Divine Eloquence and Labels Twenty Eight

Four Seasons Challenge -- December

Hello, and welcome back to another Four Seasons Challenge!

Our challenge theme has switched to the winter months and there's a beautiful mood board to inspire you if you wish to use it, but anything winter goes.  See the challenge blog for more information.

We don't often see any of these snowy scenes in my backyard on the southern Oregon Coast, but it's a lovely dream... as long as I don't have to drive in it.

 

My focus today was the bird on a snowy branch, and since it's Christmas card-making time I went that route, too.  The bird is a die I cannot help but bring out for Christmas cards every year.  Two parts -- the bird and the snowflake branch.  The stitched frame and the "peace" sentiment are from my spare parts drawer (yay!).  Simple designer paper behind the frame, and all parts arranged on an embossed card base.

The embossed card base was done with a new-to-me favorite 3D Lumber embossing folder by Sizzix.  I embossed the whole folded card so the wood grain shows throughout.  I can't seem to get enough of all things wood grain.   I added Wink of Stella to the bird's body for some gentle shimmer.

Come join us with your winter-themed project now through Dec 25.   The team and our guest designer, Dottie, have some lovely samples at Four Seasons.

Happy holidays, and please stay healthy and safe!

Stamps:  SU Glad Tidings (retired)  Paper:  Neenah 110 lb white, red, Simple Stories Color vibe designer paper  Ink:  Versamark (sentiment)  Dies:  Memory Box Airin Bird Background and Snowflake Bird, MFT Die-namics Stitched Rectangle Frames  Other:  Sizzix Lumber 3D embossing folder, Wink of Stella, white embossing powder

Christmas Mouse

Hi!  My head is in the Christmas cards as I try to make progress.  How about something a little bit vintage today?  Goodnight Mouse is an older stamp I purchased a while back just so I could lay claim to a few of these Inkadinkado wood block art pieces before they disappear.

I stamped on watercolor paper and colored with Tombow markers -- no blender pen, just blending one marker into the other, light into dark.  I stippled white acrylic paint onto the pine bows and assembled with the bow and candy cane for decoration.

A lot went into the making of this card, but I'll limit the details here.  All info is in the recipe at the end.  I do want to mention the gold plaid background.  It's an oldie SU background stamp -- Flannel Plaid.  One day I sat with it and made several embossed backgrounds with different color cardstocks and embossing powders.  When the wet embossing had thoroughly cooled and set up I dry embossed with the SU Subtle folder for some additional texture.

Since Goodnight Mouse is new to me and it's a first-time use I'm going to share in Darnell's NBUS Challenge #32.

I hope all my US friends enjoyed a nice Thanksgiving in whatever way you spent it.  Now we head forward to Christmas.  Happy Holidays!

Stamps:  Inkadinkado Goodnight Mouse, Hero Arts From Our House sentiment, SU Flannel Plaid background (retired)  Paper:  Fabriano Artistico Extra White 140 lb hot press watercolor, SU Handsome Hunter, scrap red, gold glitter cardstock, Neenah 110 lb white for candy cane  Ink:  Palette Noir for mouse & sentiment, Versamark for plaid background  Coloring:  Tombow markers - no water or blender pen, red Copic on candy cane die cut, white acrylic paint applied to pine boughs with stipple brush  Dies:  Spellbinders Scored and Pierced Rectangles for plaid background, miscellaneous rectangle for main image, Poppystamps Lovely Gift Bow, Impression Obsession Pine Pair and Christmas Icons  Other:  Ranger Princess Gold embossing powder, SU Subtle embossing folder on card base and plaid background

Puppies Love Squeaky Stuff

Hello on a Monday, friends!  I'm squeaking into the CAS Christmas Challenge with just a couple of days to spare.  They're asking for critters and I just happened to have a new-to-me stamp featuring my favorite kind of critter.  It was the sentiment stamp that caught my eye first -- something new from Stampendous -- and then I had to go on a search for a Christmas pooch to go with it.

I stamped the puppy in Gina K Warm Glow amalgam ink and the coloring was done with Prismacolor pencils and Gamsol odorless mineral spirits.  Gamsol always lends a soft, chalky look to the pencils which sometimes is nice.  I tried to keep it clean and simple, but it didn't look festive until I added the tinsel garland so I'm hoping it's CAS enough for the challenge.  I'll play along anyway.

CAS Christmas -- Christmas Critters
NBUS #32 -- Never before used Schtuff -- Puppy and sentiment are fresh out of the package.

 

Thank you all for taking the time to stop in today.  I know many in the US are getting ready for the Thanksgiving holiday so it's a busy time.  In fact, it's going to be busy right up until Christmas.  Wishing everyone a happy day!

Stamps:  Stampendous Scarf Puppy and Squeaky Stuff  Paper:  Neenah Classic Crest Super Smooth Solar White, Memory Box Dill cardstock, olive glitter cardstock  Ink:  Gina K Warm Glow Amalgam, SU Close to Cocoa  Coloring:  Prismacolor pencils and Gamsol (odorless mineral spirits)  Other:  Echo Park enamel dots, Spellbinders Hemstitch Rectangles, Memory Box Tinsel Ropes

Peace on Earth, November -- Team Darlene

Hello again!  It's time for a new Peace on Earth Christmas Challenge.  Can you believe it's only a month till Christmas?  Heck, we haven't even had Thanksgiving yet here in the US.  Ah, well, some things we just cannot change, other than to learn not to stress.  I gave that up a long time ago!

The inspiration board today is focusing on a lot of blue, white, and silver.  Use it if you wish, or go your own way.

I've been trying to pull from my spare parts drawers as much as possible, and it just happens that I had a white card base stamped with blue snowflakes, so that was my starting point.  I pulled the white frame from the spare parts, too, and then the rest of the card was created new -- the die cut snowflakes, embossed panel, and sentiment banner.

The snowflakes started as bright blue cardstock, but they became much more special when I smooshed with Versamark and embossed with an iridescent embossing powder.  Mine is quite old -- called Iridescent Peacock -- but there are many others similar on the market.  I'll confess, I originally had a sequin and small gem in the middle of each snowflake, but they looked like hubcaps so I finally pulled them off and replaced with just the one gem.  Much better.

If you're already done with this year's cards, now is the time to start on next year's.  We can do it!  Come and see us at Peace on Earth for all the important info and inspiring team samples.  We'd love to have you play along.  Happy holidays!

Stamps:  Lawn Fawn Winter Wavy Sayings, SU Serene Snowflakes (retired)  Paper:  Neenah Classic Crest Super Smooth Solar White 80 & 110 lb, SU Brilliant Blue  Ink:  SU Brilliant Blue and Bashful Blue, Versamark  Dies:  Spellbinders Create-a-Flake Five, Lawn Cuts Fancy Wavy Banners  Other:  Iridescent Peacock embossing powder, blue gems, Sizzix Snowfall embossing folder

Polar Joy

Hi!  Just having fun with a favorite oldie Whipper Snapper today.  This guy is called Bear Delivery.  I've had him for years, used him many times, and he is still available here.  I stamped him in Versamark and embossed in black, then watercolored and cut out and placed him on the background.

The swirly arch behind him is a large snowflake circle frame die cut which was sent by a friend.  Too big for the kind of card I make for Christmas, so I cut it in half and used it like a stylized snow mound.  The card base was embossed with a Snowfall folder, then the sentiment and some extra snowflakes added.

After the parts were adhered to the card I started with the dressing up -- Wink of Stella on the Joy and snowflakes, Stickles Stardust glitter glue on the starry gift bag, pearl pen and microfine glitter on his hat trim.  I colored the snowflakes with a B00 Copic so they would stand out from the background.

I always have such fun with this guy!  Chances are I'll send him to someone I've sent him to before, but each time the card is different.  He's always sent with a grin and a giggle and I hope he's received that way, too.  Today the grins are for you!  Take care!

Stamps:  Whipper Snapper Bear Delivery  Paper:  Fabriano Artistico Extra White 140 lb hot press watercolor, Neenah Classic Cress Super Smooth Solar White 110 lb, other white for snowy mound, scrap red  Ink:  Versamark  Coloring:  Watercolor with Tombow markers, Copic B00 for snowflakes, grays for grounding  Dies:  Precious Marieke Snowflake Circle, Cottage Cutz Joy, Impression Obsession Small Snowflake Set  Other:  Black embossing powder, Sizzix Snowfall embossing folder, Wink of Stella, Viva Decor Ice White Pearlen Pen, Elizabeth Craft  Warm Diamond microfine glitter, Stickles Stardust glitter glue, foam mounting tape

CAS Mix Up Reminder -- Stencil Monoprint

It's reminder time at CAS Mix Up for Loll's stencil monoprint challenge.  This technique is the coolest thing!  There's no right or wrong with the outcome.  It's going to look watercolory and artsy pretty much no matter what you do.  There are video links on the challenge blog.  Quick to watch and quick to accomplish!

 

For today's card I used a stencil with a rather intricate pattern in it so I wasn't sure how this would turn out, but I actually like it quite a lot.  I made this as an anniversary card for a friend, but it would work for a wedding or Valentine, too.

The stencil is a Funky Fossil heart which was gifted by a lovely friend.  Hoping to keep it CAS enough I added just a border and a word.  All inks are Distress Oxide on watercolor paper -- Milled Lavender, Abandoned Coral, Seedless Preserves.  For the die cut border and word I pressed them into the ink pads, light to dark, then spritzed with water.  The distress oxide inks give an interesting look.

Come see us at CAS Mix Up for all the amazing team samples.  We'd love to see what you come up with, too.  Have a beautiful day!

Paper:  Fabriano Artistico Extra White 140 lb hot press watercolor, semi-gloss leather texture white  Ink:  Distress Oxide Milled Lavender, Abandoned Coral, Seedless Preserves  Other:  Funky Fossil Heart Stencil, Tutti Stitched Nesting Hearts, Poppystamps Heart Sprinkle Sash, Frantic Stamper Sending Love/hugs

Thankful and Grateful

Hello friends!  I'm afraid I fell short on Thanksgiving cards this year.  Just like always they were overshadowed by the need to finish the Christmas cards.  If I make any more Thanksgiving cards they'll be set aside for next year.

The two cards I'm sharing today are simply patterned paper and dies with only the green-embossed sentiments for stamping.  On the first card I used the SU Subtle embossing folder on the card base.  I put the whole card in the folder and ran it through vertically, then turned the card horizontally in the folder and ran it through again.  Instant textured cardstock!  I've been loving that and always on the lookout for more folders suitable for this whole-card embossing.  The Subtle folder is aptly named so it may not show well in the picture, but is effective in real.

The paper totally covers the card front on this next card.  So much quicker and easier than coloring and I do have a lot of paper to use, but it gives me a twinge of cheater's guilt.  You know what I'm saying... I shouldn't feel that way.  It's just that card making has become so sophisticated and these little ol' cards are so simple.  However, I will say they were fun to make and satisfying in the end.  So there (😊).

Even though the stamping is sparse on these cards, I'm going to play along at Sisterhood of Crafters:  Give Thanks.

Christmas cards are in the works, but fall isn't over yet so I'll see what I can do.  Life is busy!  Wishing you a beautiful day!

Stamps:  Crafter's Companion Thankful Words (#1), Impression Obsession Grateful (#2)  Paper:  Vanilla card base on each, green and rust cardstock scraps, Bo Bunny Autumn Song DP (#1), Studio Light Autumn DP (#2)  Ink:  Versamark, miscellaneous for sponging birds and leaves  Other:  Memory Box Finnegan Fronds die set (2015), green embossing powder, SU Subtle embossing folder (#1)