Guest Designing at Color Hues Challenge

I'm delighted to be the Guest Designer for Color Hues, thanks to winning their Pink and Silver Challenge with my poinsettia card.  Such a surprise and honor!  

I think you're going to really like Challenge #79:  Copper and Green.  Remember, you can use any hues of the two colors and neutrals are welcome.  

I started by embossing one of my favorite background stamps, PFS Lush Vines, on black watercolor paper using my very old JudiKins Metallic Copper embossing powder.  Then I painted the leaves with Altenew Metallic watercolors.  I used one of the green watercolors as is and mixed a lighter one with a color I thought would give it a copper tinge.  The little dots were glittered using a Quickie Glue Pen and Elizabeth Crafts Sweet Basil.  I gave up trying for a better picture after what seemed like 100 attempts--haha!  Hopefully, you can get an idea of the look in this angled shot.  You can see the shimmer and shine in my IG post.

I painted a vellum scrap for the branches from PFS Dainty Blossoms diecuts, as well as an oval cardstock diecut, also from a scrap.  The edges of the card front and a sentiment from PFS Perfect Sentiments were copper embossed to match.  Hope I've inspired you to join the challenge.  Check out the blog for lots of inspiration from the talented DT.  I'm entering PFS January Challenge using the August challenge theme of Sparkle and Shine and SSS Monday 

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

Snowman

When I saw the Snowfall theme for the January Memory Box Challenge, I knew I wanted to use their fun Scribble Snowman, a gift from a sweet friend quite awhile ago.  

The solid image was die cut from MB white iridescent glitter cardstock.  Took me multiple tries to figure out what colors to use for everything else!   Eventually I found an old light blue cardstock that worked for the background.  Then I pulled a navy blue scrap out of the box just big enough for the snowman outline, mat and Winnie & Walter word.  

Now I can also enter Color Hues Light Blue and Navy challenge.  The embossing folder is Darice, the snowflake is Impression Obsession and the gloss is from Shimmer Pico Embellisher.  I stamped a birthday sentiment inside for a friend with a January birthday.  Hope the wintry weather across the country doesn't keep her from receiving it in time.  We have a lot of ice forecast, so decided I better get this post done while the electricity is on!  Stay safe and warm if you're dealing with storms.

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

Time Out Challenges Reminder

You still have time to enter the NEW challenge at Time Out.  

I made a very CAS card using my newest Gina K stamp set, Autumn Wreath Builder.  Gina K is sponsoring the challenge and the winner also gets an invitation to guest design with us.  

Instead of a wreath, I stamped three of the foliage images over the area I masked and ink blended with Pigment Craft Co Aloe and Balsam. 

I splattered the Balsam ink before removing the masking tape & stamping the old Hero Arts sentiment from Leaf Prints.  

Be sure to check out How to Play in the sidebar of the Time Out Challenges blog.  I was inspired by the sketch at AAA Cards Challenge, so will enter the gallery.

Thank you for all the sweet comments about my joining the Time Out DT.  Hope 2024 is starting out good for you.

Happy 2024!

Thank you for the continued support and friendship.  Wishing everyone peace and joy in 2024.  I'm honored and excited to let you know I've joined the Time Out Challenges Design Team!

Time Out Challenges opened in March 2014 and I began playing in August 2014.  The challenge rotation is unique and fun: 

• We Challenge You to be...
• Inspired by Words
• Photo
• Theme 

We're starting 2024 with challenge #254, We Inspire You to be...New.

There are lots of ways to go with this one.  I chose to try a new technique recently done by the Group of Seven Cardmakers:  Smooshing with Cling Wrap.  

I sprinkled Lindy's Magicals in Prima Donna Purple and Tibetan Poppy Teal on a watercolor panel which I spritzed with water.  While it was wet, I crumpled a piece of cling wrap, put a heavy book on top and left it to dry overnight.  The close up photo shows the lines it created and the shimmer from the Magicals.

I silver embossed the beautiful image from Gina K Designs Holiday Tapestry.  Just so happens that Gina K Designs is sponsoring this challenge!  Be sure to enter for a chance to win a store credit and be a future guest designer.  I used Memory Box black glossy cardstock for the PTI Pierced Feature Frame and Penny Black word diecuts.  The silver dots are from Spellbinders.  You can see inspiration from the DT and find all the details about how to enter on the Time Out Challenges Blog.  Hope to see you in the gallery! 

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

Another January Birthday Card

All diecutting for this January birthday card using SSS Leaf Tumble embossing folder, Frantic Stamper Arched Labels dies, SSS Happy Birthday Brush Script & SSS Morning Blossom dies.  

I love Gina K Whisper cardstock used for the tone on tone elements.  The flowers were die cut from scraps of green & purple cardstocks. 

I used vellum for the sentiment shadow, covered the words with Shimmer Pico Embellisher & colored over the flower details with a Clear Star Gelly Roll.  I also brushed the blossom edges with a light purple ink.

I'm entering Die Cut Divas and The Snippets Playground.  

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

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.