Hero Arts and Pinkfresh Studio

I intended to make a Christmas card using Hero Arts Christmas Rose embossed in HA gold powder.  

I scribbled several colors of Altenew Watercolor Brush Markers & spritzed with water.  The flowers were too orangey, so I gold embossed the birthday sentiment from HA Find Joy on a vellum strip.  Never tire of Gansai Tambi gold watercolor splatters & gold Stickles.  You can see the shine in my IG post.  

I used gold metallic cardstock for a narrow mat & covered the card front with orange cardstock from my stash that was the right shade.  I'm entering Stay Crafty with Hero via IG, Inkspirational, Die Cut Divas & Word Art Wednesday.  

Several years ago a friend sent me some PFS diecuts.  Decided it was time to make a card with the 2 Merry Days diecuts. 

I embossed the green one, without the little images, using Hero Arts Sparkle powder.  Then I attached it over the light pink tree which still had the images in place.  The background is a PTI Classic Kraft panel debossed with an old TH snowflakes folder.

The sentiment from PFS Classic Holiday Words was covered with Nuvo Glaze.  You can see the sparkle & shine in my IG post.  Luckily, the PFS December challenge is still open.  I'm also entering Christmas Kickstart.

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

Pinkfresh, Memory Box, Altenew

My card for Pinkfresh December Holiday Vibes challenge is made with PFS Delicate Wreath stamped in CN9 Evergreen ink.  I never get tired of using this wonderful wreath image!

I dry embossed the panel with SSS Leaf Tumble folder & added dots of Star Dust Stickles to the wreath. 

Vellum was layered over white cardstock for the sentiment shadow from PFS Classic Holiday Words.  It's amazing what a big difference that made, compared to just using white cardstock.  Fresh, clean look--one of my favorite cards this year.  Hopefully, the recipient likes it, too.  I'm also entering Christmas Kickstart.

I entered the Memory Box Patterned Paper challenge via IG.  Thought you might like to see my card.  

Cecile Ribon is one of my favorite designers.  Her recent cards using small diecuts inspired me to get out my old Memory Box Paper Angel.  I die cut her from silver shimmer paper & from an old favorite MME paper pad called Merry Little Christmas.  

Vellum was used for the face, the wings were brushed with shimmer & both her gown & wings were covered in Nuvo Glaze. There's a short video in my IG post that show the shimmer & shine a lot better than the picture.  The wreath from PTI A Wreath for All Seasons was stamped multiple times in Soft Stone to get the intensity I wanted.  My gray inks ( I have many!) were all too dark.  The little branches are Impression Obsession.

My last card is for the Altenew Year in Review challenge.  I didn't get a card entered for the September challenge, as I didn't like my attempt using the colors.

My first try this time wasn't good either, but I turned over the panel I'd embossed with Altenew Floral Acanthus folder.  The debossed side is beautiful!  I cut it down & brushed on Altenew white metallic watercolor.  That was too bright for my background of candied apple over aged mahogany, spiced marmalade & fossilized amber Distress Oxides.  Decided to see how it'd look after brushing lightly with Brilliance Graphite Black.  I actually liked it better toned down & with more definition. 

Essential Sentiment Strips sentiment was die cut from black glossy cardstock, which I also used for the mat.  CN9 black enamel dots finish it off.  I'm also entering SSS Wednesday, Snippets Playground (used white & black glossy cardstock scraps) Die Cut Divas & Word Art Wednesday.

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

Birthdays and Christmas

Sometimes I make wintry themed cards for December birthdays, but here's one that looks more summery. 

Thought my friend might enjoy a break from the weather--in a card, at least!  I gold embossed Alex Syberia's Spring Garden & used the coloring stencils with PTI Summer Sunrise, Harvest Gold, Honey Nut, Simply Chartreuse & Ripe Avocado.  The PTI Essential Sentiments word fit perfectly.  I made the card from PTI Classic Kraft & splattered with gold Gansai Tambi watercolor.

I like the softness from the kraft & the Altenew matte gold sequins.  Fun to get a different look from the same stamp by changing colors.  I'm entering Die Cut Divas & The Flower Challenge. 

My hubby's birthday is also in December & I knew I wanted to use SSS Forest Border embossing folder.  I started by inking a panel in DO prize ribbon, lucky clover & vintage photo.  After using the folder, I lightly rubbed the raised edges with white pigment ink & heat embossed with WOW White Twinkle powder. 

You can see the beautiful sparkle in the short video below or in my IG post.

I added TH Snowfall Grit Paste to the bottom of the panel & splattered white gouache.  The Uniko sentiment was double embossed on vellum with Versafine Clair Blue Belle & clear ep.   I really like how the blue frame makes the tree panel stand out & hubby loves his "fancy" card.  I'm entering Time Out & Inkspirational.

I fell in love with Poppystamps Pine Needle Shoots die as soon as I saw a wreath made with it.  I wanted to put my own spin on it & this is what I came up with. 

I die cut the one piece die with 5 shoots from 2 shades of green cardstock.  All but the smallest diecuts were arranged on a PTI Twig Wreath die cut from brown cardstock.  The little red dots were in my stash. 

I stamped HA sentiment on a Memory Box white woodgrain panel using Versafine Clair Nocturne.  Turned out to be one of my favorite cards!  I'm entering Poppystamps Cool Yule, Christmas Kickstart & TTTC238 using December Holiday/Winter Foliage/Red or Green.

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

2 More Cards

Again I have a friendship card & a Christmas card to share.  First up is the card I sent for the monthly card exchange I participate in.  Wasn't sure how TE Create in Quads: Ever Bloom would look using only shades of purple, which was one of the challenge options. 

I only used the part of the stencils that make a center bouquet and daubed on Altenew inks Wisteria, Hydrangea, Ultraviolet & Andromeda.  Turns out I like the look & can't wait to try some other colors.  I added details with a white gel pen & used pearls for embellishment. 

The black mat was embossed with SSS Refracted folder & the sentiment was stamped in the darkest purple.  I'm also entering SSS Wednesday.

I love Birch Press products & can't resist a good sale with free shipping!  I also broke my "no more poinsettias" rule, but I'm not sorry!😊The top layers were brushed with Distress Oxides aged mahogany & pumice stone and were brushed with a shimmer pen. 

You can see the gorgeous shimmer in my IG post.  Kelly Lunceford inspires me with cards that have lots of elements without looking cluttered.  That's what made me add the CN9 branches die cut from vellum.  Amazing what a difference it made!  The stamen was colored dark gray, covered with Nuvo Glaze & topped with a silver dot. 

Everything was glued only in the middle for a lot of dimension.  Birch Press Handwritten Christmas & Outline was die cut from vellum & silver metallic cardstock.  The PTI Smokey Shadow mat was die cut with AJVD rectangle.  I'm entering Color Hues, SSS Wednesday, Snippets Playground (vellum scraps used) & Time Out.

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