Christmas Grunge (?!)

I've never made a grungy Christmas card before.  However, this one happened while I was playing around with the blackout embossing technique inspired by Loll's CAS Mix Up Challenge.  I linked the challenge, but I'm not linking my card to it because you can see it's totally not clean and simple.

Naturally I had to goof around and try something different.  I started out the usual way -- emboss, then add color to the debossed areas.  In this case I used SU inks and blending brushes for that.  Then I thought I'd try pink for the background -- thoroughly rubbed SU Pink Pirouette directly from the pad to the paper.  It was pretty enough, but not exactly what I was looking for.  So out came SU's Basic Gray ink pad.  It's very dark, almost black, and as I was rubbing it over the pretty pink this grungy look came about and I decided to go with it.

It might be a little odd for Christmas, but I like it.  It would be a good art journal page because with art journals it doesn't have to please anybody but the maker.  I hoped to lighten the mood with the gold sentiment and snowflakes and a fine mist of Sheer Shimmer Sparkle spray.  As usual it's prettier in hand, but maybe the photo below gives you a hint of the shimmer that covers it.

Total Christmas cards in the box:  33

I'd like to share here:

Christmas Kickstart Challenge #115 -- Gothic Christmas.  

Jo's guest designer, Carol, explained it thusly:

"Yes, [it's] a challenging theme but fun to do some thinking/crafting out-of-the-box, so to speak. Because Gothic Christmas doesn’t ‘have to’ equate to being sort of ‘creepy’ or gaudy or whatever people may ‘typically’ associate gothic as being."   Carol suggested we focus our ideas on "darker colours, ornate images, a degree of ‘elegance’."

I like that explanation!  They have provided an extra photo for inspiration.

 

The tree in the inspiration photo is galaxy themed and really very pretty.  Hmmmm... maybe I should have tried purple.  Next time.

Thanks for your patience with my experimentation.  Have a happy day!

Stamps:  None except inside sentiment, not shown  Paper:  Hammermill Premium 100 lb white, other black cardstock, mirror gold  Ink:  SU Pink Pirouette, Basic Gray, More Mustard, Old Olive  Other:  Tim Holtz for Sizzix Poinsettia 3D embossing folder, SU Subtle 3D EF used on card base, Cottage Cutz Peace on Earth sentiment die, Imagine Sheer Shimmer Sparkle spray

Southwest Greetings

Hello friends!

Moving right along to more not-yet-used supplies, in this case it's the Tim Holtz Funky Cactus set.  I thought the set was cute and different and, the fact is, I needed a thank you card for some friends who treated us to Mexican dinner.  So...

I reached into my drawerful of southwest style woodblock stamps that haven't been touched in ages.  I still love them a lot and that's why they haven't been purged.  The frame image here is an ancient Anita's stamp with no name on it.  It's all one big woodblock stamp and in order to make it a multi-color image I stamped in a light, but easily visible Copic-friendly ink, and then colored over the lines with Copics.  I think it makes a super cute frame for the cacti.

Here's an extra picture so you can see the before and after:

I've been wanting to play along with Amy Tsuruta's Woodblock Wednesday challenge which falls on the last Wednesday of each month and it's only open a few days (maybe 5?).  I'm not good with short term challenges, but I was ready for this one.

Woodblock Wednesday -- Must use a woodblock stamp.

Also:

Neglected Stuff Challenge -- All of my southwest stamps have been neglected far too long.
NBUS Challenge #87 -- My never before used schtuff is the Tim Holtz Funky Cactus die set.

 

I don't usually post two days in a row, let alone three, but tomorrow I'll be here again.  Sorry, not cards, but maybe you won't mind a few pics of Sophie and Ridley.

Enjoy your day!

Joyful Moose

Hi there!  I'm still working on Christmas cards.  It's a time consuming process and delightful, though I won't be sorry when I'm done with them for this year.  I need to simplify, but I have all these new toys yet to use, sigh.  Today I'm playing along in Jo's Christmas Kickstart Challenge:

I wanted to make something fun for the "Just Add Antlers" prompt, and use something from my NBUS basket in the process.  In this case it's the Tim Holtz Forest Shadows set (trees and stars), which made a good background for my previously enjoyed TH Merry Moose.

It's mostly retired Stampin' Up sandable cardstock.  Love that stuff and have a tendency to hoard it, tsk, but it's so fun!  The trees are plain cardstock, SU Basic Gray in the front, black in the back.  I wanted to make the very dark Basic Gray more interesting so I swiped the Basic Gray ink pad directly over the trees, bottom to top.  The darker patches are the ink.  I was pleasantly surprised at the result.

Patches of snow were added with sparkly flocking.  There is Stickles sparkle on the stars and on the moose accessories.  The "joy" is plain cardstock and also TH Sizzix.  I'm gradually adding to my Tim Holtz collection when it's on sale.

Many thanks to Christmas Kickstart for heading me in this direction.  I thoroughly enjoyed it!

I mustn't forget Darnell's NBUS Challenge #80, either.  She's a cheerleader in our efforts to reduce our piles of never before used schtuff.  As mentioned, my NBUS today is the Forest Shadows die.

I appreciate all of you for stopping by to visit.  It's nice to take a moment now and then.  Be well and stay crafty!

Stamps:  Only inside sentiment  Paper:  Various retired Stampin' Up sandable cardstock, black, other various scraps  Ink:  SU Basic Gray, Copics to color moos accessories  Dies:  Tim Holtz Sizzix Merry Moose, Forest Shadows, Holiday Words Script  Other:  Diamond Stickles, Sparkly Fluff (flocking)

Autumn Curio Tray

Hello, friends!  I didn't craft as much as I'd hoped this week, but I did make a card for my friend's October birthday.  I love fall cards and so I'm taking this opportunity to combine the two occasions.  Aside from that, I have two not-yet-used Tim Holtz die sets which have been lingering in the basket far too long:  Artsy Leaves and Papercut Cafe.  I figured I could combine the two.

The card base with Memory box Vintage Tray was in my collection of pre-prepped card bases which I  make up ahead and keep on hand.  Once in a while I actually use one of them.  In this case I decided I wanted to add another frame layer so I went to my die collection, frame category, and... it wasn't there.

I searched far and wide with no luck.

I freaked out a little.

After a worry-filled interlude I remembered it's an embossing folder/die combo and it's filed with the embossing folders.  I must be slipping.  I know you've had similar experiences, right?

Once I found it I was able to cut an extra frame and emboss in gold, and then get down to the business of filling my vintage/curio tray.  It started out simple and got curiouser and curiouser.  My friend likes glitter so I slathered on some Diamond Stickles.  It looks messy and grainy in the photo, but is very pretty in real life.

Since I combined apparently neglected stuff with never before used stuff I'll be sharing in the following two challenges: 

Neglected Stuff, October -- My neglected stuff is the Memory Box Vintage Tray.
NBUS Challenge #79 -- My never before used schtuffs are the Tim Holtz Sizzix Artsy Leaves and Papercut Cafe dies

 

I hope to see you again soon.  Thanks so much for stopping in to visit!

Dies:  Tim Holt Sizzix Artsy Leaves, Papercut Cafe, Holiday Greens Mini, Memory Box Vintage Tray 3D Embossing Folder and Die, Creative Expressions For You sentiment, Heartfelt Creations Delicate Asters, misc. stars that popped out of some die (?) saved in my magic jar
Other:  Ranger Princess Gold embossing powder, Stickles Diamond glitter glue

Blooms and Birds and Fixing Mistakes -- Four Cards

Hello there, and happy Monday!

My friend, Diane, inadvertently sent me on quite a creative journey when she posted this card for the Love Those Pretty Papers challenge.  Diane gives a link to a video and tells her story, saying it was a learning experience.  I'd say she's right about that.  I cut some pieces wrong, and then couldn't properly line up the ones I cut right.  However, I figured a way to fix my messes and piece together some different designs.  In the process I used four sheets from a 2009 BasicGrey 6x6 pad, as well as two not-yet-used Tim Holtz Sizzix die sets -- Bloom, Colorize and Feathered Friends.  I would not have thought of this paper/die combination, but one thing led to another.  You know how that happens, don't you?  I'll share in the order the cards were created.

In the first card I added a frame because my pieced papers came out with uneven edges.  The two ivory center panels helped separate the focal flowers from the busy background.

After I made the flower for the first card I was not eager to make that flower with its tiny parts again, so I pulled out one of the TH birds and combined it with foliage from the flower set.  I tried spacing the pieces as shown in the video, but ended up with too wide a space across the center of the card.  That's when I added one of the scalloped edges I'd cut from the paper.

For the third card I used another of the Feathered Friends combined with foliage from the flower set.  These patterned paper pieces were cut in the wrong direction (it's hard to explain) so I had to do a different design altogether.  I taped them together on the backside to create diagonal rows.  The prints don't line up, tsk tsk, but I'll live with that.  I added the crimped border to the card front and trimmed the patterned piece to fit.  This design is a little different, but it was Day 3 and maybe it's not so bad.

I was about to call it done, but I still had some pieces and I thought I really should have another go at the flowers.  That's my self discipline and waste not/want not philosophy nagging at me in unison.  It might be my favorite of the four.  Maybe I was just glad to be done.

The insides are all finished with bits of the paper to decorate.  Each card has Viva Cream Pearl Pen dots added.  Some I tapped the backside of the card to flatten the dots, some are left half-round pearl shape.

After all that... I'll be sharing in three challenges:

Love Those Pretty Papers -- Optional use red.
A Cut Above -- Anything goes with die cuts.
NBUS Challenge #71 -- Never before used schtuff.  That's my Tim Holtz Bloom, Colorize and Feathered Friends.

 

Thanks so much for bearing with me through all these cards and words.  I will see you again soon (I hope).  Take care and have a happy day!

Other dies:  Memory Box Wrapped Stitched Frames, Spellbinders Small Classic Ovals and Fluted Classics Rectangles, Creative Expressions Just for You set, Sue Wilson Creative Expressions Stacked Just Because

Noel Deer

Happy Friday, friends!  One last deer card today and then moving on.  Would you believe that at this late stage I still have 10 Christmas cards yet to make?  It's a personal challenge, but if I fail I won't be too hard on myself.

For today's card I brought out some of last years favorites -- Tim Holtz Papercut Christmas #2 and Big Tidings.  I arranged them on some favorite Christmas designer paper which I crimped with Spellbinders Fluted Classics Rectangles.

I made the deer and sentiment from colored cardstock and didn't even add any shading except on the lower part of the letters.  There are three sparkly stars for accent and a tree decorated with baubles made from punched circles and dimensional glaze.

I'll catch you here again next week.  Merry merry!

Guest Designing with A Cut Above Challenge: Anything Goes

Hello friends!  Today I have the privilege of guest designing with Vicki and team over at A Cut Above.  It's a die cut challenge blog which is fairly recently on the scene, but it's taken off and been a lot of fun for everyone.

The "anything goes" theme for December is nice and easy, no pressure in this busy time.  You can go straight to this month's challenge by clicking ---- HERE.

My card is die cuts all the way and I chose a Christmas theme because it was high time to get the cards done.  A few Tim Holtz products came together and played nicely.

The poinsettia is Holiday Brushstroke #3 and the big joy is from Big Tidings, stars included.  I used the TH Lumber 3D embossing folder on the card base.  It's nice to know I can have wood grain cardstock whenever I take a notion.  I do have a thing for wood grain on cards.  Stickles glitter glue added holiday sparkle to the stars.  As always, prettier than the picture.

Come play with us.   Vicki offers a prize, but I'll let you read more details on the A Cut Above blog.  Thank you for visiting today.  Happy holidays!

Stamps:  None  Paper:  Neenah Classic Crest Super Smooth Solar White, Memory Box Christmas Plaid designer paper  Ink:  Various Stampin' Up for brushing on color  Other:  Tim Holtz Sizzix Holiday Brushstroke #3 and Big Tidings, TH Sizzix Lumber 3D embossing folder, Stickles Stardust glitter glue

Bunny in a Wreath

Hi!  Back to Easter today.  I have to confess, I'm feeling a bit of Easter card fatigue.  I know!  This makes card #5 and I'm already burned out?  So typical of me.  That's another good reason to work ahead on the holidays.  I don't even feel compelled to send out a lot of Easter cards.  It's just that I had a few things not yet used.

On today's card the not-yet-used products are the Tim Holtz Carrot Bunny die set and Tree Rings 3D embossing folder.  I've had both for many months (a year maybe?).  To my eyes the Tree Rings background is the coolest thing.

The wreath here is Tim Holtz, the flowers are Heartfelt Creations, the big sentiment is Impression Obsession.  All colored with inks and blending brushes.  The TH Carrot Bunny set and, in fact, most of the stamps and dies I used for Easter this year can be used for other occasions as well.  I cut and colored more of these bunnies and carrots but will save them for something else.

Okay, friends, I'm hopping along to Darnell's NBUS Challenge #60 with Carrot Bunny and Tree Rings.

I'll see you again shortly.  Have a happy day!

Peace in the Neighborhood

Hello, friends!  Sneaking one more card in before Christmas.  I hope you're all ready to settle in.  Maybe you're traveling.  However you spend Christmas may it be a beautiful day.

Our week has been full.  Heck, the whole month has been non-stop.  Very little of it is Christmas activities because we keep that simple, but we enjoy the quiet time.  I see peace and quiet in the folk artsy simplicity of this last card I made for Christmas.

Tim Holtz Christmas Cutouts dies, kraft cardstock and retired Stampin' Up sandable cardstock.  Love that stuff and wish they hadn't retired it, so now I'm hoarding it, tsk tsk.  It looks like a sky draped in fabric.

I have bunches of never-been-used Christmas dies and stamps that will have to wait till next year.  Sales and temptation... but these things give me so many hours of happy time.  How can I feel bad about that?

Wishing you a Merry Christmas!

Snowman with a Sky Full of Happy

Hi, there, and welcome to this last day of November.  I'm back again with another Christmas card.  I keep trying to make up for lost time, but progress is slow.  Today's card was quicker than it looks.  The snowman was already made and waiting his turn.  The "happy" background was in my card parts drawer.  It's an old-timey woodblock stamp with a column of six "happies" which I stamped repeatedly.  I like a lot of happy so I think it made a cute sky for the snowman.

The bare tree is a branch die to which I added shimmery snowflakes and stars, all of which were already made up but rejected from another project.  Cloud dies for the snow.  The card is a mini-slimline at 3 1/2" x 6".

I have a few more cards made up but not yet photographed.  It's been way too much fun making Christmas cards when I have the time.  All the more precious when at a premium.

Take care my friends!  See you again soon!

Stamps:  Hero Arts Happy Happy Happy, Power Poppy Happy Holidays -- both retired  Paper:  Neenah Classic Crest Super Smooth Solar White 80 & 110 lb, shimmer white  Ink:  SU Cool Caribbean & Real Red  Coloring:  Copics  Dies:  Tim Holtz Sizzix Papercut Christmas #2, Poppystamps Stitched Cloudline (snow), Memory Box Hayden Twigs (tree), Impression Obsession Small Snowflakes Set  Other:  Stickles Stardust glitter glue

Double D Challenge: Christmas in July

Hi, friends!  It's time for Christmas in July at the Double D Challenge and Darlene has given us a darling inspiration board for a spark.

When you look at my card you can see I was drawn to the snowman.  My guy is perhaps not the most handsome snowman ever, but you can't judge a book by its cover.  I'm sure he has a good heart and he certainly looks friendly.  He's welcoming us with joy to his snowy alpine home.

The card is a 3 1/2" x 6" mini slimline.  I've combined Tim Holtz and Impression Obsession dies.  I'll list them all at the end.  It's my second time this season for the Alpine dies.  Not bad for me.  I think I'll be using them a lot.  It comes with the three trees on the left, but the other tree is built into the IO Tree Landscape Layers.  I cut the trees in both green and white, then offset the layers.

White acrylic paint for the snow splatters.  I smudged some up at the top, oops.  I'm not worrying about it much as it's overshadowed by all the other fun stuff on the card.  There's glitter, too, but I've not had an easy time getting it to show lately.  The sparkle is delightful in real life.  

You know the drill -- the team will vote on creative favorites, plus there's a prize for a random winner.

Treat yourself to a peek at the Double D blog to see all the team's samples.  I hope you'll be inspired to play along.  See you soon!

Paper:  Neenah white, SU Ballet Blue, other scraps of colored cardstock  Coloring:  Gray shadowed areas are Copics  Dies:  Tim Holtz Sizzix Papercut Christmas #2 (snowman), Alpine, Holiday Words: Script; Impression Obsession Tree Landscape Layers, Small Snowflake Set  Other:  White acrylic paint for snow, Stickles Diamond glitter glue for sparkle