Christmas and Autumn

October is coming to a close, so better get my cards into the challenge galleries.  First up is the card I made with leftovers from the Poppystamps Twirly Whirly Tree in my previous post.  

I spritzed a white cardstock negative with Distress Mica Stain Tree Lot.  The outline glitter cardstock tree was then glued in place.  The gorgeous sparkle and shimmer can be seen in my IG post.  The very old wood mounted sentiment was popped up.  Super simple, but I love the result.  I'm entering Poppystamps Make it Magic October challenge to add sparkle and WAW via IG.

Next is my card for the Pinkfresh Studio October challenge.  I had fun using all the dies in their Blanket Stitched Rectangles, along with a flower from Dainty Blossoms--a much loved PFS die set.  

To get Fall colors, I pulled out 3 ink cubes from Altenew's Warm & Cozy set:  Orange Cream, Autumn Blaze and Firebrick.  The largest frame was glued flat to the card front.  The next largest was stacked 2 high and the rectangle was stacked 3 high.  It really makes a difference in real life.  The flower was die cut from gold metallic cardstock and the sentiment from Sweet Friend Floral (another favorite PFS set) was gold embossed on black.  I added a few black enamel dots to finish it off.  I'm sending it to a friend instead of a traditional Thanksgiving card.

Last is my entry for the Altenew October Inspiration Challenge, JUGS stencil challenge and WAW.  It's been awhile since I used Altenew's White Cap Peonies stencil set and I do love it.  Wasn't sure how it would look in the colors for this month, so was happy to see they actually looked beautiful once the stenciling was done.  These are the Altenew inks:  Pale Mauve, Amethyst, Grape Agate, Sunkissed, Firebrick, Silver Sprout and Sagestone.  

Love what adding some gold splatters does to a panel!  Altenew's Sparkled Frame die is one of my favorite products from when I was a guest designer.  I used matte gold cardstock for it and the word die from Floral Acanthus.  Glad I have quite a few enamel dot sets that match my Altenew inks, including these.  I got brave and added both purple and orange.  I considered skipping this month's challenge, but I'm really glad I didn't.  Ended up with a card I really love and I think it will be perfect for a Fall birthday.  

Thanks so much for taking time to stop by.  If your blog address is in your profile or comment, I will visit you.

Stamplorations, PTI, PFS

I'm really good at putting off housework, so I can make cards!  Here are 3 more that I recently completed.

First is another card for the new Caffeinated Christmas Card Challenge using the colors for Just Us Girls.  I love the sweet images in Stamplorations Coffee for All Seasons, but don't think I've made a Christmas card until now.  

I silver embossed on a light blue scrap, die cut it into a square & matted it with the gorgeous Spellbinders Fleur de Lis die cut from silver metallic cardstock.  Decided to "color" the cup with a shimmer pen which helps it stand out a bit & is so pretty in person. 

Love this sentiment from Winnie & Walter which I stamped in Versafine Clair Morning Mist.  Hard to see in the pictures, but love the look in person of the snowflake from PTI What the Doodle: Snowflake stamped on the card front in Hero Arts Soft Pool.  The splatters are Distress Stain Tarnished Silver & the focal point is stacked 3 high.  I'm also entering Stamplorations Theme & Photo Prompt, Stamplorations Never-Ending Anything Goes & DRU.

I'm enjoying using my old products & for this card I pulled out PTI Friendship Jar Flowers.  I stamped the stems image in Prairie Grass, a darker green I thought would be good for a winter floral card. 

I changed my mind & didn't use the flowers in the set.  Instead, I used one of the small dies from Into the Blooms II with some rose colored felt.  It's meant to be part of a larger flower, but I like the look of it alone with a white felt center.  

The sentiment is from one of my newest PTI sets, Just Sentiments: Hugs.  I stamped it in Versafine Clair Acorn.  The splatters are Prairie Grass & I finished off with Rainstones & brown hemp.  I'm entering the PTI challenge to make a flower bouquet card.

I've had 5 gold embossed PFS Small Butterflies on my table for weeks.  You stamp & die cut 9 butterflies at once.  I had used 4 of them & wanted to make a wreath with these last 5.  Decided to finally sit down & do it for the PFS January challenge.  

You can pick any of the 2021 challenges & I picked the April gold challenge.  However, my card also fits May, June, July & November!  I also had a card made from PTI Rustic Cream on my table & liked the butterflies on it.  For the background I stamped Nested Diamond in Delicata Golden Glitz.  It's so beautiful in person, but doesn't show up in the photos very well.  I wanted a mostly neutral color palette, but decided to add just a bit of color using a rainbow of Memento markers on the butterfly bodies.  Gold Pico Embellisher covers the colored areas giving gloss & texture.  I played around with making the butterfly wreath & decided it would be better to attach the butterflies to the Layered Wreath, one of my favorite PFS products!  I die cut it from white cardstock to go with the butterflies, but painted the tips of the foliage with Gansai Tambi Starry Colors Yellow Gold watercolor--love the look!  

Just for fun I wrapped gold thread around the wreath between the butterflies.  The sentiment from one of my newest sets called Sweet Friend Floral was stamped in Versafine Clair Pinecone & I finished off with yellow jewels.

Thanks so much for taking time to stop by.  If your blog address is in your profile or comment, I will visit you.

Ink to Paper Project Reach Out

I'm so glad ITP is doing the Project Reach Out challenges to inspire us to create & spread some joy.  It's a lot more fun than leaving a bunch of comments to be in the running for a gift certificate--at least for me!
Wreaths of all kinds are some of my favorite images, so decided to use PTI Twig Wreath & ITP Bold Blooms for a little different look.  This card is for Project Reach Out: Sending Love.

I used a scrap of PTI Classic Kraft & PTI inks Classic Kraft, Ocean Tides, Aqua Mist, Lovely Lady, Autumn Rose, Scarlet Jewel, Winter Wisteria & Vintage Cream.  I used the Rock & Roll inking method for the leaves & big blooms.  At first I thought it might end up in the trash, but I just kept going.  I added splatters of Distress Stain Antiqued Bronze & brown Zig.

The sentiment from PTI Take 3 Summer was stamped in Versafine Clair Acorn.  Then the PTI love die was cut from the panel & attached to 2 more die cuts before being glued into place.  I used Vintage Cream cardstock for the mat & added a few dots of Stickles Rose Gold for a bit of sparkle.  Gotta say--I love how how this turned out!  I'm also entering The Snippets Playground.

For Project Reach Out: Gratitude, I began by masking the bottom of a white panel & blending the exposed area with DO faded jeans & cracked pistachio.  I also added splatters of each color, but they are pretty subtle.  Then I stamped foliage images from ITP Bold Blooms & Twig Wreath in Versafine Clair Morning Mist--a dark gray.

The sentiment from Bold Blooms was also stamped in Morning Mist & I used a white gel pen for the little dots.  I really like the muted, chalky look contrasted with the white strip.  I'm also entering Addicted to CAS.

Thanks so much for taking time to stop by.  If your blog address is in your profile or comment, I will visit you.

JUGs GD Take 5

Hard to believe--March is almost over!  It's time for my last card as the Guest Designer at JUGs.  This week the challenge is embossing folders--something I love.

I resisted getting a die cutting machine when they first became available, as I thought dies were too expensive.  However, I've always loved dry embossing.  My local stamp store showed me how the machines work with embossing folders which cost a lot less than most dies.  That did it--got a machine when I saw one for 1/2 price & said "I'm only using it for embossing."  Famous last words--haha!  That same store had a sample with a stamped panel that was also embossed.  I still love that look, so brought it back for this card.

I stamped images from PTI Meadow Greens & Gathered Garden using PTI inks Simply Chartreuse, Ripe Avocado, Spring Moss, Limeade Ice & Cocoa Bean.  The embossing folder is from a WRMK set of 2 that I got for $4 at Tuesday Morning long ago.

Green & gold is one of my favorite color combos, so had to use my Distress Stain burnished brass to add splatters & little streaks.  Nice to have a card that works for a guy or a gal.  I'm entering SSS Wednesday & WAW.

I can't thank the JUGs DT enough for choosing my card & inviting me to join them this month.  It's been a great honor & lots of fun!

Thanks so much for taking time to stop by.  If your blog address is in your profile or comment, I will visit you.

Guest Designing

I'm so honored to be the March Guest Designer at Just Us Girls.  This is Word Week and bet you'll want to play along.  Who doesn't need another birthday card?!

With Spring around the corner, I pulled out the beautiful Penny Black tulips called First Waltz & a panel of watercolor paper.  It's been ages since I used markers to color directly onto a rubber stamp.  I love the ability to put the color just where you want it. 

The Distress Markers I used are aged mahogany, worn lipstick, spun sugar, peeled paint, bundled sage & wild honey.  I used a stamp positioner so I could color, spritz & stamp over & over until I was happy with the result.  I added script in opposite corners using Distress Ink pumice stone & a very old stamp.  The gold splatters were done with my favorite tarnished brass Distress Stain & I lightly distressed the panel edges.

The sentiment from Impression Obsession's Greetings Top Edgers was stacked 3 high & colored with Faber-Castell Nougat PITT Big Brush.  I added the panel to a green textured mat & decided against any embellishments.  I'm looking forward to seeing your creations in the gallery.  I'm entering SSS Wednesday.

Thanks so much for taking time to stop by.  If your blog address is in your profile or comment, I will visit you.

I Don't Color, But I Did!

Hard to find a card on my blog that's been colored--other than messy watercoloring with Zigs.  But yesterday I did a bit of coloring for my one layer Christmas card. 

PTI Botanical Blocks IV was heat embossed on a kraft card.  I used a new bright pink gel pen to color the dots & an old green gel pen for the leaves.  Debated a long time & finally thought of watercoloring the poinsettias with Distress Stain antiqued bronze--so beautiful & just what this card needed.  I'm entering the 30 Day Coloring Challenge, Time Out Challenges, CAS on Sunday, HLS Christmas & WAW.  Thanks so much for taking time to stop by. 
     

The Challenge Guest Designer Finale

I've had so much fun designing with the great team at The Challenge this month.  The 4th Monday's theme is always masculine & we have a great photo to inspire you.  

I began by pressing a watercolor panel onto an embossing folder inked & spritzed with water.  Then I randomly swiped on some Distress Stain brushed pewter & dripped some black spray ink which I blotted with a paper towel.  The panel was dry embossed with Tim Holtz stripes.  Winnie & Walter's hello die was cut from self adhesive fun foam & covered with the beautiful pewter foil.  

Hope I've inspired you to play along--always good to have a guy card ready!
I'm also entering CropStop, Dies R Us & The Mixed Media Monthly Challenge. Thanks so much for all your support & sweet comments.
Edited to add: also entering SSS Monday.