Warmest Christmas Wishes

Hello!  Christmas is coming and I feel like I lost a month in my card making so I need to play catch up.  No complaints here as it's too fun to be a chore.  I've got a lot of new or not-yet-used crafty toys, and the current Christmas Kickstart challenge has inspired me to put the newest of them to work.  The theme is Embossing Folder Fun.

My card started with the new Memory Box Pinecone and Berries 3D embossing folder.  I embossed a panel of SU Always Artichoke cardstock and then, using a blending brush, rubbed it thoroughly with Always Artichoke ink.  It darkened the cardstock and brought out the embossed pattern.  I splattered with white acrylic paint and the rest fell in place after that.  I'll list everything in the recipe.

The bird, birdhouse, and sentiment are all Memory Box.  The branch in the foreground is Tim Holtz.  The post for the birdhouse comes from a Penny Black Wood Floors die.

The snow on the birdhouse and branch is part white acrylic paint, part Art Anthology Blizzard dimensional crystal with microfine glitter sprinkled over.  I did not do a good job of capturing the sparkle in the photo.  It looked good through the camera lens, sheesh.  Just imagine it a thousand times more sparkly than what you see here.

Today's challenges:

Christmas Kickstart Challenge #90 -- Embossing Folder Fun
NBUS Challenge #66 -- My never before use schtuffs are the Memory Box embossing folder, birdhouse, and sentiment set.

 

Thank you for taking the time to stop by.  Have a beautiful day!

Stamps:  Memory Box Holiday Wishes  Paper:  SU Always Artichoke, Cherry Cobbler, Neenah Classic Crest Super Smooth Solar White 110 lb for die cuts  Ink:  SU Always Artichoke, Real Red, Close to Cocoa, black and gray Copics  Dies:  Memory Box Woodgrain Birdhouse and Nestled Chickadee Duo, Tim Holtz Holiday Greens Mini, Penny Black Wood Floors (for birdhouse post)  Other:  Memory Box Pinecone and Berries 3D embossing folder, white acrylic paint, Art Anthology Blizzard dimensional crystal, Elizabeth Craft Warm Diamond microfine glitter, Scotch brand foam mounting tape under sentiment

Leafy Flourish

Hello and welcome, friends!

The Can You Handle the Pressure challenge is always anything goes using an embossing folder, but there's an optional twist if you so desire.  This time the twist is leaves, and it inspired me to stop dancing around this gorgeous Lisa Horton Leafy Flourish 3D embossing folder and actually use it on a card.

Leafy Flourish is a 6" folder, but I applied it to an A2 card and simply let it overlap to the back.  It comes with a matching die which I'll save for later.  I used sponge tipped applicators, similar to eye shadow brushes, to apply Stampin' Up inks -- River Rock, True Thyme, Really Rust, Bordering Blue.  The Impression Obsession For You sentiment is a double layer of SU's Bordering Blue cardstock.

I'm hurrying and scurrying to finish up tonight.  It's been a busy day, including a long walk with Sophie.  In the afternoon we met up with a friend and walked in a favorite city park, but first Sophie and I went into our woods.  The bees have abandoned their nest and I haven't seen the cougar in a while.  We explored for a bit and had just crested a little rise when I asked Sophie to look at me so I could snap a picture.  She seemed reluctant and distracted.  Well, I'm sorry to say it turns out she was bothered by the carcass of a very small fawn.  It had been there long enough for the forest critters to take care of it.  I can only guess what happened, but it's getting a little nerve wracking back there.  You know when you have the feeling that someone's watching you... well, that.

Back to the craft room...  Here are the two challenges I'm sending my leafy card to:

Can You Handle the Pressure -- Anything goes embossing with optional twist of leaves.
NBUS Challenge #66 -- Never before used schtuff.  First time use of the Leafy Flourish embossing folder.

 

 

Thank you for dropping in to share a day in the life of Sophie and me.  There's always something going on outside my stamp room window, and hopefully there will be a lot more going on inside my room, as well.  Hugs all around!

Double D Challenge: Sunflowers

Hello, friends!  I'm back to my Double D Challenge duties today.  The DDs and team were very patient with me while I dealt with life stuff and I appreciate them so much.

Diane has given us a cheerful challenge today -- sunflowers.  You just have to feel good looking at those bright yellow blooms.  Here's our inspiration board:

The team votes for creative winners, and a random winner will receive the prize pictured below.  Please see the Double D rules for more specific information.

Yellow sunflowers and blue butterflies... I think you can see which corner of the board inspired me.  I've crafted a simple design with crisp white layering on an embossed card base trimmed with a strip of polka dots.

I colored with Copics on Neenah white, added black pearls to the butterfly bodies.  All supplies are well loved and oft used.

Come join us at Double D with your sunflower creations.  We'd love to see them and we hope you'll be inspired by the team samples.  Great stuff over there!

Thank you so much for dropping in today.  Happy crafting!

Stamps:  Stampendous Pop Sunflower  Paper:  Neenah Classic Crest Super Smooth Solar White 80# & 110#, scrap SU Old Olive, scrap designer paper  Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black  Coloring:  Copics  Other:  Black pearls, Tim Holtz Lumber 3D embossing folder, Taylored Expressions Stitched Rectangle Stacklets