Challenges

Challenges are ending, so a quick post with my entries.

First is my card for Pinkfresh Studio Thanks challenge.  I've had the same great physical therapist for several courses of treatment over the past several years.  Decided to make a card for him, as hopefully he won't see me again! 

I used my favorite PFS Layered Wreath die cut from a panel of paper watercolored with Lindy's Magicals.  There's a short video in my IG post showing the beautiful shimmer.  The bottom wreath was die cut from a light green shimmer cardstock I've had for years.  The sentiment is from PFS Perfect Sentiments & the wooden dots are MME.

I mopped up the beautiful red shimmer mist I spilled with a panel of watercolor paper.  After it was dry, I embossed it with Altenew Perfect Poinsettias folder. 

For more definition, I rubbed the raised edges with Memento Rhubarb Stalk DewDrop ink pad & oh what a difference that made--love it!  I used my finger to add gold rush Lunar Paste to the flower centers. 

The Winnie & Walter Noel die was cut from a scrap also spread with the Lunar Paste.  I added red sequins with a dot of Christmas Red Stickles.  You can see the shimmer & sparkle in the video in my IG post.  I'm entering Color Hues: Red & Metallic Gold.

My last card is for the November Alex Syberia challenge.  I used the colors to make a birthday card with Spring Garden stamps, stencils & dies. 

The inks are CN9 Poppy, Cranberry, Clover & Evergreen.  For the blue I found an old textured cardstock & for the pink I used a marker to color the flower centers.  Star Dust Stickles & PFS gems add some sparkle. 

Thanks so much for taking time to stop by.  I'm working on catching up my blog reading.  

Three Cards

My October CCC card went to the UK, so I used my first Alex Syberia (a UK company) stamp/die set called For You.  

The background was made with Lindy's Magicals & the frame is Reverse Confetti.  Since it's Fall, I used more peachy pinks for the 3 layers of the bloom: CN9 Nectar & Grapefruit plus PTI Pale Peony.  The top layer of dots was silver embossed.  Versafine Clair Morning Mist & Lawn Fawn Manatee were used for the stem, leaves & sentiment from the set.

The gallery for Coffee Lovers Blog Hop is about to close.  There are hundreds of entries & now there's one more--haha!  It's not my usual style, but I had fun making it & like the final result.  

I began by stamping Stamplorations Coffee for All Seasons Autumn image 3 times in Versafine Clair Pinecone.  I used the same ink, randomly applied to a Precious Remembrance Shop Fall Colors image--purposely not inking it entirely.  I picked up watered down spiced marmalade & peeled paint Distress Oxides with a piece of acetate & added it to my panel, repeating until I was happy with the look.  I used molding paste through Tim Holtz Splatters stencil, added Stampendous Moonstone ep & heated for a wonderful textured effect.  

The sentiment from SSS Full of Thanks was stamped in the Pinecone ink.  It just needed something more & finally I decided to add the Elizabeth Craft pumpkin diecut brushed with the same DOs.  The edges were darkened with DO vintage photo before adding the panel to a PTI Classic Kraft card base.  

My last card was made for JUGs Color Week: Red & Green.  I like some non-traditional Christmas color combos, but not to the exclusion of red & green.  I'm not one of the people who can never have enough floral images, but I am a sucker for poinsettias.  I keep telling myself I don't need another one.  However, last year I finally gave in & got CN9 Fresh Cut Florals Edition 4 before it was gone for good.  The sprigs that come in the set are beautiful, too. 

I used 2 red shimmer mists & 2 green ones on panels I then die cut.  A recent Altenew order included the Deck Planks embossing folder which I used with a panel of cream cardstock.  I lightly rubbed over the raised areas with a Delicata Golden Glitz ink pad & brushed the edges with DO antique linen.  

The Birch Press sentiment die is a new favorite I'll use over & over.  I cut the words from the same cream cardstock & stacked them 2 high.  The shadow was cut from vellum.  The flower center was covered in Champagne Stickles & I added a TE matte gold enamel dot.  Hopefully the recipient will love this card as much as I do.    

Thanks so much for taking time to stop by.  If your blog address is in your profile or comment, I will visit you.  I'm continuing with my post-op shoulder therapy, but am able to function quite well even if I don't gain additional range of motion.  Thanks for all the caring thoughts.

Alex Syberia Floral

After not posting for over a month, I have 2 in 2 days!  I was fortunate to win a couple Alex Syberia gift certificates recently.  You'll see the first card in a few days, but here's the one I made for the October challenge using the embossing powder option.  

I used the beautiful Spring Garden stamp/stencil set.  Gotta say, the image stamped perfectly the first time!  I gold embossed with SSS Antique Gold powder & used CN9 Ballet Slipper, Sorbet, Buttercup, Sumflower, Sprout & Parsley to add color through the stencils.  I also embossed the accent layers of the floral centers with HA Sparkle ep.  You can never go wrong with gold splatters, in my book!  

The sentiment from the set was stamped in Sorbet & I embossed the mat with the gold ep.  I tried a black mat, but in the end decided on a gold embossed one.  Gold sequins were too bright, but fortunately I also have Altenew matte gold ones.  Can't wait to use this set with other colors.  I'm also entering SSS Monday & 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 as soon as I can.

My Monthly Blog Post

Boy have I gotten lazy--haha!  Didn't even realize it's been over a month since I posted here.  I have been making cards & they're on IG.  My shoulder no longer interferes with cardmaking or doing my hair--yay!  My home exercises & therapy sessions do take up a fair amount of time.  Hopefully it will be worth my efforts.  Strength & range of motion have a long way to go, but pain is not an issue.

I had fun making a Halloween card with Poppystamps Whittle Flamingo.  They're trick or treating in orange & purple costumes--haha! 

I've had the DCWV foil paper pad a long time.  The shine is really pretty in person.  

Memory Box Parker Lowercase Alphabet letters were die cut from MB black glossy cardstock & stacked 2 high.  Good to use some more of my old Echo Park Halloween paper pad.  I'm entering Poppystamps Get Your Boo On challenge.

Next is my entry for Pinkfresh October Ombre or Tone on Tone challenge.  I stamped on kraft to make the card have more of a Fall feel to it & stamped in multiple green Distress Oxides.  

It looks much prettier in person than in the pictures.  One of my favorite uses of the MISTI is to use multiple colors one at a time on an image like the PFS Delicate Wreath.  

I added brown splatters, stamped the sentiment from the same set in Versafine Clair Pinecone & added a mix of green sequins.  I'll use this as a Thanksgiving card for a friend.

So fun to pull out Hero Arts 2005 solid & outline Watercolor Holly stamps.  Good thing I kept my old stamp positioner tool for woodblock stamps.  The inks are CN9 Clover, Evergreen, Poppy & Cranberry.  I tried to leave the white space, but splatters won out--haha! 

The very old PrintWorks sentiment was stamped in Evergreen.  Card could have been done, but decided it'd be fun to add The Stamp Market Holly & Berries.

Luckily, I had red & green cardstock in my stash that matched the inks.  Love Christmas Red Stickles which I added to the berries.  I'm entering ABNH, Rudolph Days & Woodblock Wednesday.  

My final card is for Die Cut Divas & Memory Box.  I got MB Layered Narrow Pines too late to use for last years cards.  I die cut the full tree in DCWV green foil cardstock & the top layer in light green glitter tape I've had forever.  

I wasn't sure about using foil & glitter together like this, but oh boy do I love it!  Hard to tell, but the trees are attached to a MB woodgrain panel.  

I carefully used my MISTI & was able to stamp the old HA sentiment in Versafine Clair Pinecone, even with the cardstock texture.  

Thanks so much for taking time to stop by.  My goal is to begin again visiting blogs & leaving comments starting in November.  

Be Merry

Last minute entry for the Pinkfresh Studio September Challenge, Layer it Up.  I used some of my favorite PFS products: Christmas Wishes printed paper, Layered Wreath die set & Classic Holiday Words die set.  Felt can be used for lots of images, but I tend to get mine out for Fall & Winter cards. 

This wreath die cut beautifully from the white TE felt.  The little layering pieces were die cut from a white cardstock scrap & then brushed with InkOn 3 Liquid Pixie Dust.  I think this is the first time I've used the word die without the shadow.  Love having that option.  Here I die cut the words 3 times from a white scrap, inked the top layer with an aqua pad & covered it with glaze.  The little red gems tie in with the red stars in the background.  I'll have a short video on IG showing the sparkle & shine. So fun when a card turns out to be one you love!  I'm also entering Rudolph Days, The Snippets Playground, SSS Monday & DCD. 

Thanks so much for taking time to stop by.                                                                 

Update and two cards

I'm happy to report that I'm no longer in the sling & have begun physical therapy twice a week.  It's wonderful to be able to use my left hand, although I'm not allowed to have anything in my hand when it's above shoulder level.  Long way to go before I have the strength & range of motion I need. 

The September Poppystamps challenge theme is Old School.  I went OLD old school!  

Years ago I loved to use Liquid Applique instead of ink with leaf stamps.  This time I used what was left in my tubes to color the 2016 Poppystamps Majestic Maple diecut.  The texture is very unique when you carefully use your heat gun.

Then I sprayed the leaf with adhesive & used my old Tim Holtz Glitter Duster filled with Distress Glitter Dust Vintage Platinum.  So pretty in real life & it doesn't rub off.  I stamped the very old PTI Text Style on a Rustic Cream card front & trimmed down a couple 2011 Memory Box Woodland Branch diecuts to attach behind the leaf.  The sentiment from SSS Full of Thanks was stamped in Versafine Clair Pinecone.  I finished off with gold sequins.  I'm also entering FMS 604. 

I also made a Fall birthday card using CN9 Give Thanks branches stamped in Distress Oxides aged mahogany, fossilized amber & prize ribbon. 

The veins were gold embossed & I added gold splatters.  You can see the shine in my IG post.  SSS Happy Birthday Brush Script was die cut from vellum and gold metallic cardstock.  I'm entering Seize the Birthday & DCD.

Thanks so much for taking time to stop by.  I hope to soon begin again to regularly read blogs & leave comments.  Thanks for your patience & understanding.

Alex Syberia Designs

I was fortunate to win a gift certificate for Alex Syberia Designs before my shoulder surgery.  I've mostly used diecuts to make my one handed cards, so this time I decided to see if I could make something with my new stamp set using the MISTI.  I'm not great at layering stamps, but these fun blossoms are pretty forgiving, I think. 

The CN9 inks are Ballet Slippers, Sweet Pea & Dragonfly.  I used the coordinating dies, lightly inked the edges & stacked them 3 high.  I added silver Stickles & shimmer which you can see in my IG post.  The gray ink is Versafine Clair Morning Mist, the pink scalloped rectangle is Elizabeth Craft Designs & the silver dotted rectangle is AJVD.  Instead of using the inside leaf stamps, I stamped the outside image on gray cardstock.  Made a big difference to brush the edges with gray ink.  I wasn't happy with the plain background, so added gray splatters & silver gems.  The sentiment is from the same set.  I'm entering Die Cut Divas.

Thank you so much for taking time to stop by.  I really appreciate it & will hopefully soon be back to commenting on your blogs.