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)

Ho! Ho! Go!

I've had my eye on Katzelkraft stamps and when I went shopping I put this one on my wish list.  I mean, it was a no brainer that I had to have this stamp.  Seriously, a Golden Retriever on a bicycle... really.  Well, lo and behold, I received it for my birthday in October!  Somebody knows what I like!

I stamped in Versamark and embossed in black so I could have a vivid watercolored image.  I used a combo of Tombow markers and SU reinkers for the watercolor.  After coloring I splattered with diluted white acrylic paint.  The pine needle corner covers up some of the image that shows my Golden is delivering packages of dog treats and toys.  I debated over the corner, but I honestly love it on there.  I can always color another dog.

The close up shows how the watered down white acrylic paint caused the image color to bleed through.  If I had not diluted the acrylic paint or if I had colored with Copics it would not have bled.  However, I don't feel the image was too compromised.

Okay, friends, Thanksgiving cards are next on the to do list and I'll fit them in between design team projects when time allows.  You have a lovely day and we'll meet again soon!

Stamps:  Katzelkraft Dog Cycle, Power Poppy Action Santa (retired)  Paper:  Fabriano Artistico Extra White 140 lb hot press watercolor, green cardstock for pine corner, 65 lb Neenah card base, Graphic 45 'Twas the Night Before Christmas designer paper  Ink:  Versamark, various for watercolor  Coloring:  Tombow markers and SU reinkers for watercolor, white acrylic paint for snow flurries  Other:  Black embossing powder, Poppystamps Wispy Pine Needle Corner

Peace on Earth Challenge, November - Team Diane

Hello, again!  It's time for another Peace on Earth Christmas Challenge.  These challenges happen with Team Diane on the first Sunday of the month, and Team Darlene on the third Sunday, but it's hard for me (Team Darlene) to resist the pull of the inspiration boards, especially since it's crunch time for Christmas cards, so I'm playing along today as well.

With dies and inks, gold paint, glitter, and gingham paper I made a few of these:

Inspired by the gingham and red in this board:

Four more cards ready to mail:

I should have been more serious about my Christmas cards earlier in the year.  I made a few, but then slacked off.  Whether you're done or working on next year's, come and make some Christmas cards with us at Peace on Earth.  Team Diane and Team Darlene have some fine samples to share with you.

I'll list everything I used on these cards in the recipe below.  Thank you for your time today!

Paper:  Neenah Classic Crest Super Smooth Solar White 80 lb for card base and 110 lb for layering dies, red, watercolor paper for leaf and bird dies, Memory Box Christmas Plaid designer paper  Ink:  Greens and yellows for leaves, gray and peachy tone, black fine point marker for eyes  Dies:  Memory Box Wooden Alpha, Spellbinders Long Classic Rectangles, Poppystamps Sylvan Spril and Whittle Birds  Other:  Gold Twinkling H2Os paint, Viva Decor Glass Effects Gel sprinkled with glitter on berries

Two Old Bats Halloween Challenge -- November

Hey there!  Halloween is behind us now, but we're still playing at Two Old Bats.  A card a month for me is just enough!  As always, there's a mood board which we can use for inspiration, but it's not required.

I love the brooms on this month's board, but do I have a broom?  Nope.  So I used a witch instead.  She wobbled down the hill on her wild ride, a couple of bats flying along behind her.  We'll imagine she was captured mid-bounce here, seeing as how I forgot to add a simple little bit of grounding under the tires, sheesh.  

I stamped the witch first and worked around her.  I used a curved die to trace the hillside.  Made stars with a stencil and Versamarker (pen), then embossed the stars with clear powder before blending the background with Distress Oxide inks.

Her outfit is glittered head to toe with Wink of Stella.  The stars by the sentiment are cut from orange glitter cardstock.

Well, that was fun!  I don't know how many times I say that after I make a card.  It is fun.  That's why we do it, right?  This one made a mess in my room because I pulled supplies from all over.  Everything is back in its place now and ready for the next mess!

Come visit us at Two Old Bats.  The turn out was phenomenal last month.  I didn't realize there could be so many Halloween projects!  Stephanie Lanzalotto is guesting with us this month.  Lots of cute and fun things to see!  Enjoy, and have a happy day!

Stamps:  Stampendous Wobbly Witch, Power Poppy Move the Soul sentiment, Penny Black Haunted Halloween (bats)  Paper:  X-Press It Blending Card, purple textured card base (SU?), orange glitter cardstock  Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black, SU Lovely Lilac, Versamark pen, gray marker, Distress Oxide inks Chipped Sapphire, Milled Lavender, Pumice Stone, Black Soot  Coloring:  Copics  Dies:  Spellbinders Scored and Pierced Rectangles, Spellbinders Blossom Nestabilities, MFT Die-namics Star Stax, Spellbinders Curved die for tracing hillside  Other:  Wink of Stella, clear embossing powder, Simon Says Stamp star stencil

CAS Mix Up, November -- Stencil Monoprint

We've come back around to another CAS Mix Up Challenge, friends!  This month's challenge is hosted by Loll and is a focus on stencils.  She has chosen the stencil monoprint technique for us to try.  Now, if you don't know what that is, do be sure and see the video links on the challenge blog.  It's super easy and gives you a fabulous smooshy watercolor.  Beware... it's hard to stop once you get started.

I now have two more of these horses and multiple other stencil monoprints in my bag o' backgrounds.  For me it was best to think outside the box for the colors.  For this one I used Distress Oxide inks and have decided I love them for this type of watercolor.

As Loll explains, in this technique you are getting a negative image.  Ink the back of the stencil, spritz with water and then turn your stencil over onto watercolor paper.  After you remove the stencil blot your paper with a rag or paper towel to remove excess water.  It works every time.  Must watch a video to see how easy and cool it is.

Steph (My Paper Corner) is guesting with us this month and she has a lovely card to share along with the rest of the team's cards.  Everyone got different and interesting results.  Hope you'll play along!

Paper:  Fabriano Artistico Extra White 140 lb hot press watercolor, Neenah Classic Crest Super Smooth Solar White 80 lb, black  Ink:  Distress Oxide Peacock Feathers, Scattered Straw, Rusty Hinge  Other:  Stencil Girl Touching Noses stencil, MFT Die-namics #captions, Spellbinders squares, Dee's Distinctively Small Pair of Leaves