Christmas Kickstart #43 - Twas The Night Before Christmas...

Hello friends.  Playing along with the Christmas Kickstart Challenge where the prompt is "Twas The Night Before Christmas" and I had fun with a Gina Marie Designs die and a glitter paper and alcohol ink technique from Jennifer McGuire.  Take a look...

Trust me when I say this card sparkles like crazy!!  I just used some silver glitter paper from Michael's and 3 different blue alcohol inks to make the background, and everything else is just white cardstock.  I thought this little scene in the Gina Marie Designs die was perfect for this challenge with Santa and his sleigh and reindeers flying through the sky!

You can catch a bit more of the sparkle in this close up and see the detail from the die cut better too!  My sentiment is from PTI's Snowfall Style.  Easy and fun and I think next time I will wear plastic gloves as I think my fingers are permanently stained from the inks...haha!!  Like Jennifer did, I made a bunch of the backgrounds while I had everything out, so you might be seeing some more SPARKLY cards soon!

Make sure you check out the inspiration from Jo and her special guest elf Liz, and then play along...especially if you need to get working on those Christmas cards!  You can find all the details to play along right HERE.

Thanks for stopping by today ... I love it when you do!

Spellbinders Merry Stitching

Hello friends.  In my younger years I did quite a bit of sewing/stitching, including counted cross stitch, but not so much in recent years.  Until now...and I happened upon the Spellbinders Large Die Of The Month club and their Merry Stitching Dies!  It comes as a set of 3 (a snowflake, a tree, and a border die), and I've become obsessed with stitching up the snowflake and Christmas tree dies!  They are so quick and easy to do and make amazing cards!!  Mine will probably have to be hand delivered or put in a padded mailer because of the gold and silver baubles (Trinity Stamp Co.) I added to mine, but they make the perfect finishing touch!  So this is a very picture heavy post, and I'm not going to write about every card and just show you the photos.  If you have any questions about how I did any of them or what additional products I used, just feel free to email me.

So lets get started with the Christmas tree cards...

  

And now for the snowflake cards...

Aren't they all SO pretty?!!  And seriously, SO easy and quick to do!  Just a matter of die cutting the shapes and all the holes and stitching lines are already there for you, so all you have to do is pick out your colors of embroidery floss (I used 2 strands) and I also used some gold and silver thread along with my floss too.  I kept all my backgrounds and sentiments very simple so as not to detract from the main stitching image.  

I hope all my American friends have a wonderful and blessed Thanksgiving tomorrow however you choose to celebrate it!  This year has been so tough, but there is still much to be grateful and thankful for, so I will be counting my blessings tomorrow!

Thanks for stopping by today ... I love it when you do!

Double D Challenge - Winter Blues

Hello friends.  Playing along with the Double D Challenge where they have an awesome mood board depicting WINTER BLUES for us to gain inspiration from for our cards.

I get together with a group of friends on ZOOM every 2 - 3 weeks where we take turns putting out a card sketch or different card fold for everyone to follow along with, and this past time we had a card fold that was soooo easy but different, and I just happened to use BLUE on the 2 cards I made, so perfect timing to join in this challenge!!

You take an 11 x 4 1/4 piece of cardstock and score in half (5 1/2) and then score again at 6 3/4.  Next you fold your card base in half and use adhesive on the inside inside the 1 1/4 score lines so that all that's left on the inside when you open the card is a square 4 1/4 x 4 1/4.  Hopefully this next picture shows it better...

Before you glue it shut though you should decorate the outside, and if you're going to put ribbon where I did, put that around the inside before you glue it shut too.  It really is just an ordinary A2 size card from the outside, but when you you open it up it's a 4 1/4 x 4 1/4 square card!  Just something different!!  I used SU!'s Snowflake Splendor DSP and Misty Moonlight cardstock for my layers and the snowman is from a older SU! set called We Woosh You that I stamped in Misty Moonlight ink.  I colored his nose with an orange Copic and added some WOS to certain areas of his body to look like glistening snow.  The polka dotted ribbon is also SU!.

And because the card was so easy and fun to make, I made a 2nd card with more of the DSP from the Snowflake Splendor pack and used the "oh joy" sentiment from the Watercolor Christmas stamp set (SU!) as my main image...

This one was made the same way and I just switched up my Misty Moonlight and white layers, added the embossed "oh joy" (silver) and a snowflake (Gina K) die cut from holographic cardstock.  

Two easy peasy cards that I think fit in beautifully with all the BEAUTIFUL blue cards from the DT and those already in the gallery!  Check it out HERE and play along...this challenge is open for the rest of this week.

Thanks for stopping by today ... I love it when you do!

Color Hues #6 - PINK & BROWN

Hello friends.  I'm playing along with the Color Hues Challenge where this time around they're looking for cards with PINK & BROWN.

I've been on such a Christmas kick lately that I've seriously neglected my birthday card stash, so I combined Winter and my favorite bear from Sugar Pea Designs (Hey Winter) to come up with this birthday card...

I started by stenciling my background using Sugar Pea's Geo Snowflake Stencil and Picked Raspberry Distress Ink, and then adhered it to a Soft Suede panel and a white card base.  I also stamped the bear, her hat, and the gifts in Soft Suede ink and then stamped again in Versamark and embossed with clear embossing powder before water coloring my images.  

 I die cut the images and then added them to a tag (Gina K) that I sponged Soft Suede ink to.  The hat (that is my favorite image in this set!!) and the present that she is holding are both pop dotted, and the sentiment strip too.  A little bit of ribbon and some clear gems finished off my PINK & BROWN birthday card!

You can check out all the FABULOUS inspiration from the DT in PINK & BROWN right HERE to play along.

Thanks for stopping by today ... I love it when you do!

Christmas Kickstart #42 & Let's Squash It #2

Hello friends.  Playing along with the Christmas Kickstart Challenge and a new challenge called Let's Squash It that's all about using embossing folders...and they are BOTH looking for a Christmas Embossing Folder and stamp on your cards.

I used a brand new 3D embossing folder from Simon Says Stamp called Forest Border and some Victorian Lace Distress Oxide ink to come up with this card...

I have to admit that this is almost a complete CASE of a card Jennifer McGuire did, and I just changed up the background color and placement of the sentiment...her card was so beautiful and I just couldn't bear to change it up much!  I started by inking up with a blending brush the inside of the embossing folder (the flat side...NOT the raised side) with Victorian Lace Distress Oxide ink.  I used a large Altenew blending brush that is flat and that makes it pretty easy to gently rub the ink along the flat side of the embossing folder.  Once I ran it through my machine I was left with the beautiful impression of the trees in white and the background in a very light pink.  You can't see it in the photo, but at this point I sprayed it with Sheer Shimmer Sparkle Spritz, so it really sparkles big time IRL!

I used some silver holographic cardstock to die cut my JOY (SSS - Chunky JOY) and a mat, and then used SSS Tiny Words Christmas that I stamped and heat embossed in white on a strip of black cardstock (Hope this qualifies for the "stamp" part of both challenges?!).  Everything was attached to a white card base.

Lot's of BEAUTIFUL examples for inspiration from both DT's, so check it out HERE and HERE to play along.

Thanks for stopping by today ... I love it when you do!

CAS Christmas Reminder - NON-TRADITIONAL COLORS

Hello friends.  Just a friendly reminder that you have until the 24th to play along with us at the CAS Christmas challenge and we are looking for NON-TRADITIONAL COLORS.

So how about a little Purple and Orange for NON-TRADITIONAL Christmas colors??!!  Here's what I came up with using a High Hopes Rubber Stamps called Waddlin' By...

Isn't he a cutie all bundled up in his purple scarf?!  I colored this little guy with my Copics using a V04 & V06 for the scarf, and then some peachy orange colors (YR01, YR09, & YR18) for his feet, heart, and beak.  Cool Grays were used for his body.

I die cut a top panel using a stitched rectangle and circle die from Lil Inkers and then inlaid a die cut circle of dsp from SU! (Feels Like Frost) with metallic snowflakes.  My sentiment is from Avery Elle's Brrring On The Joy stamp set, and the penguin was attached with a wobbler...I think my sweet Addy will like playing with this when I send it to her at Christmas (Purple is her favorite color!).

We hope you'll join us and finish up the last of those Christmas cards!  If you need more inspiration, check out all the FABULOUS (and colorful!) cards from our DT and our Special GD this month, and then play along right HERE.  Remember to keep your cards CAS and have FUN!  This challenge is open till the end of the day on the 24th.   

Thanks for stopping by today ... I love it when you do!

OFF THE EDGE WITH A SENTIMENT

Hello friends.  I'm playing along with two different challenges today...the CAS Mix Up Challenge where they are looking for a water colored image that is "OFF THE EDGE", and also The Flower Challenge where they would like us to include a "SENTIMENT" along with a flower on our card.  

I have two cards to share with you today because my first card was an "oops" card.  Yep, finished up the first card and then realized that the CAS Mix Up Challenge is supposed to be water colored, and I just stamped the image...well darn!!  Back to the drawing board!!  I really liked the first card I made, so I re-did it using a faux water color technique where after inking the stamp, you spritz it with water to give the look of water coloring.

So here is my 2nd card using the same Poinsettia stamp from Stamplorations (Layered Poinsettia's) where I inked up my stamp with Real Red ink and then spritzed with water, and then inked up just the edges of the stamp with Cherry Cobbler ink and then spritzed again.  Once it was dry I added the black outline stamp and then stamped again with Versamark and heat embossed with clear.

 In this close up you can see how beautifully the lighter and darker inks blended together with the water, and how pretty the yellow prills that were gifted to me by my sweet friend Bonnie look in the center of my flower.  I love the look of the flower being off the edge and do this quite frequently with larger flower images.  The sentiment is from Penny Black's Yuletide Wishes.

Here is the first card I made where I just stamped the Poinsettia image and didn't use any water.  I used the same color inks (Real Red and Cherry Cobbler) but with out the addition of the water, the color is much deeper.  I also stamped the center of the flower instead of using the prills, because, well, I forgot I had them until I started working on the 2nd card!  The sentiment on this first is also from Penny Black but from the Rejoice with Joy stamp set.

Here are both cards together where it's easy to see the lighter (left) water colored version next to the darker stamped version.  They're both pretty and I can't pick a favorite...can you??

You can check out all the beautiful "OFF THE EDGE" inspiration from the CAS Mix Up DT right HERE (challenge is open till the 24th) and all the floral inspiration (with a sentiment) from the DT at The Flower Challenge right HERE (challenge is open till the 26th). 

Thanks for stopping by today ... I love it when you do!

The Twofer Challenge #33 - STARS

Hello friends.  It's time for another Twofer Challenge, and this month the prompt is STARS, so dig out those STAR stamps, stencils, or dies and play along with us!  Remember to make 2 different designs for 2 different occasions and let's see how we can all challenge ourselves to stretch those stamps, stencils and dies this month!

**SPECIAL NOTE**  This month (and this month ONLY!) we will be waving the two different occasions rule if you'd like to make 2 Christmas cards...we know crunch time is coming and would love to help you out if you need to get more of those Christmas cards done.  You're welcome!!  Also, because this is our LAST challenge of 2020 (NO December Challenge), Darnell has to decided to end the year on a positive note of JOY and GIVING and is offering a couple prizes, so make sure you check out the main post HERE to read all about it!  

I came up with a Graduation card (1st time I've ever had one done this early in the season!!) and a Christmas card using the Gina Marie Designs Star Cover Plate Die.  Take a look:

  Let's start with the Christmas card since that holiday is FAST approaching and we can all use a few more of these in our stash, right??!!  

You may be looking at this card and thinking "Ummmm Marcia, where is the cover plate die on this card, like on your graduation card??"  Well, it's not there!  BUT, the little stars that came from the cover plate die for my graduation card are in the shaker part of my Christmas card.  In fact, I used the cover plate die 3 times...once from white card, once from holographic silver card, and once from a matte finish silver card!  I did add a few red stars from a sequin mix I have just to add a bit of color, and then framed in the shaker part of my card using MFT's Peek-A-Boo Stitched Rectangle Die and some gray on gray polka dotted DSP from The Paper Studio.  The little polar bear is from one of my favorite PTI sets called Warm Wishes and I used a red Copic to color in his festive Christmas sweater!  The sentiment is also from the Warm Wishes set.

My graduation card uses the actual panel that was die cut using the Star Cover Plate Die and I added a piece of Rainbow Glimmer Paper (SU!) behind the die cut panel so that all my stars are different colors and also very sparkly!  I added a little bunny from MFT's Snuggle Bunnies who I thought was perfect for this card as he's looking up into the star filled sky.  I colored his little shirt to match the colorful stars and then added my sentiment from Verve Visuals Sentiments stamp set.  Very CAS, but I really like how this turned out and am even more thrilled that I have a graduation card on hand now for when I need one!

Make sure you check out all the fabulous inspiration from Darnell and the rest of the DT, and also our Special GD's (Pia and Liz) and then play along with us right HERE.  This challenge is open till the 24th, and we can't wait to see you all in our gallery with your 2 different (or two Christmas) STAR cards.  

 

Thanks for stopping by today ... I love it when you do!

Christmas Kickstart #41 - FESTIVE FLORALS

Hello friends.  Playing along at the tail end of the Christmas Kickstart Challenge where they are looking for FESTIVE FLORALS on our Christmas cards. 

I've been hooked on making Double Z fold cards lately...they're a bear for me to photograph so you can get the idea of how they're put together, but they are so easy to do and look like you spent hours putting them together!  Take a look:

This card uses stamps and dies from SU!'s Poinsettia Petals and Heartwarming Hugs DSP.  I started with a piece of Real Red cs cut at 11 x 4 1/4 and then scored at 5 1/2 and 2 3/4 to make the "Z" fold.  The strip can be any width (I usually cut mine 1 1/2 wide) and then scored identically like the card base at 5 1/2 and again at 2 3/4.  

  You cut the DSP all 1/8 inch smaller than the card base and attach before adhering the strip (which gets adhered the opposite direction of the card base).

The die cut and stamped Poinsettia on the front and the stamped Poinsettia's on the inside right side were all stamped with Garden Green ink and then I used a WOS on all the leaves and it picked up some of the green ink, so it looks like you're water coloring the leaves.  They're also very sparkly in real life, however I wasn't able to capture that on camera!

This photo kinda shows the Double Z's a bit better.  These cards really are a lot easier to do than they look and provide a real WOW factor to the recipient.  

This challenge is open for 5 more days, so if you haven't even started on those Christmas cards or still need to make more, this challenge is a perfect way to get started!  You can check out Jo and her special guest elf Arlene Rose's beautiful cards HERE for inspiration and to play along. 

Thanks for stopping by today ... I love it when you do!

CAS Christmas Nov. 2020 - Non-Traditional Colors

Hello friends.  Time for another CAS Christmas challenge, and this month our hostess is the lovely Trina and she would like us to use Non-Traditional Colors on our Christmas cards.

I love using non-traditional colors for Christmas cards, and PINK and TURQUOISE are two of my favorite colors to create with at Christmas!  Here's what I came up with:

I used a new (to me) die from Memory Box called Delicate Pine Frame and die cut from white cardstock once and then die cut again from silver glitter cardstock.  I only used the outer frame from the silver glitter cardstock and the little birdies too.

I used my Copics to color over the silver on the birds (BG45 & RV06) and stamped my "joy" sentiment from a Concord & 9th set called Holiday Cheer Tags.  A very simple card but love the way it turned out!

This challenge is open till the 24th and we'd love to see the gallery flooded with all different NON-TRADITIONAL color combinations!  This would also be a perfect time to finish up those Christmas cards, so check out all the FABULOUS inspiration from the DT and our Special GD Vicky HERE and then play along with us!

Thanks for stopping by today ... I love it when you do!