Thank you

Why not get the jump on your New Year's Resolutions and write those Thank You notes now . . .

Since these notes are thank you's for Christmas gifts, I figured one last shot at a Christmas tree image would not be amiss.  Instead of the expected evergreen images, I thought it would be fun to stamp the die cut with a lush leafy background.  Then it was embossed with clear glitter and embellished with some red Stickles – which hindsight tells me I might have done better to leave off.  Ah well – it's the Christmas season and glitter is almost mandatory.  So shine on!

Cardstock:   Marcos Jute, Strathmore #90 Watercolor paper, Generic Black

Stamps:        Impression Obsession Thin Stripes, Distressed Lines, Above

                           the Mark Leaf Background

Inks:               Hero Black, Ancient Page Pine, VersaMark

Emb Powder:   Whispers Clear Glitter

Dies:              DieNamics Pierced Rectangle, Papertrey Ink Christmas

                           Tree, Impression Obsession Bushel of Apples, Savvy

                           Thank You Banner, Spellbinders Banner Basics Three

Doo Dads:    Stickles glitter glue Christmas Red

Welcome

There are a lotta hidden disasters on this card . . .

 . . . and that's what I love about stamping:  the myriad  opportunities that exist to cover up wrong turns and bad decisions.  This card started with an unfortunate excess of glitter in the top right area.  Some punched out clouds and a fancy sign treatment covered up most of my errors in judgment . . . only a little glitz is left behind to remind me that less really is often better.  Well, most of the time, anyway.

Cardstock:   Tim Holtz Watercolor paper, Bazzill Bon Bon

Stamps:        Silver Crow Garden Birdhouse

Inks:               ColorBox Black, Frost White, Distress Stormy Sky,

                          Brushed Corduroy

Emb Powder:  Judikins Detail Black

Dies:              Papertrey Ink Angled Labels, Spellbinders Fancy Tags Two

Watercolor Pencils:  Inktense Ink Black, Outliner, Cherry, Tangerine,

                              Amber, Dusky Purple, Field Green, Cadmium Yellow

Doo Dads:  Art Glittering System Shiny Silver,  Gelly Roll Clear Star

Hello

One of my favorite techniques for applying background colors is to simply smoosh two or three ink pads onto my craft sheet, mist with water, and lay the cardstock down on top of it . . .

  . . . then I dry with my heat gun, and re-dip the cardstock in order to pick up more droplets and texture.  The white freshens things up a bit but next time I'll use less.  A few vellum-covered butterflies for balance and this layout is done!  There are few arrangements that can't be improved by the addition of some sort of flying creature, right?

Cardstock:   Marcos Jute, Stampin’ Up Vellum White

Stamps:        CC Rubber Stamps Fibers, Hero Newspaper Background

Inks:               Liquitex Gesso White, Distress Pine Needles, Dusty Concord,

                           Stormy Sky, BIC marker Forever Green, VersMark

Emb Powder:  WOW White Puff

Dies:              Savvy Hello, Mama Elephant Peek A Frame, Memory Box

                           Cascadia Butterfly Trio

Impr Plate:    Cheery Lynn Burble

Doo Dads:    Tulip Hot Fix Jewels

O Holy Night

The last time I looked, it was August.  How on earth did it get to be December?  And with the record-breaking warm California temperatures we're experiencing in the East right now, my confusion knows no bounds.

Anyway, on December 11, my cards weren't even designed, let alone underway.  Three days later, I actually had 86 cards done.  Of course, all of Life as we know it completely stopped, but my cards are mailed, we're back on track, and all is calm . . .

 . . . and next year, when August rolls around, I think I'll stop smelling the roses and start work on my cards.  After all, Christmas comes immediately after August, right? 

Cardstock:   Champion Narrow Ribbed Cream Puff, Generic Black, Gold

Stamps:        Morning Star Plaza Lights, Impression Obsession “O Holy Night”

Inks:               ColorBox Gold, Black

Emb Powder:   Judikins Egyptian Gold, Detail Black

Dies:              DieNamics In & Out Solid Rounded Squares, Spellbinders

                           Deckled Rectangles, EK Success Star punch

Doo Dads:    Stickles Goldenrod

A Day to Celebrate

This started out subtle, but quickly veered towards a little glitz via some crystals and glitter that I hope the camera picks up . . .

The window frame was left over from a previous project.  It was sitting on my worktable, gathering dust, and looking un-appreciated.  So I popped it over the background image, and as serendipity would have it, the openings framed the two birds in the design perfectly.  I stamped the birds again, cut them out, and pop-dotted them over the originals for more dimension. 

The white embossing powder is a favorite:  pure white, and not a bit of shine.  It has a  perfect shabby look that works for so many layouts.  As for this one, a peaceful scene, some texture, plus a little sparkle . . . works for me!

Cardstock:   Marcos Jute

Stamps:        Hero Poinsettia & Birds, Hero “A day to celebrate”

Inks:               ColorBox Frost White, Hero Soft Brown

Emb Powder:   WOW Seafoam, Vippies Transcendence

Dies:              Lil Inkers Stitched Mats: Rectangles

Emb Folder: Sizzix Dots & Flowers Set

Doo Dads:    Tulip Hot Fix Jewels Crystal, Art Glittering System 

                           Shiny Silver

Birthday Wishes

My love affair with anything striped continues unabated . . .

 Believe it or not, my original inspiration for this card came from a creative treatment of a five panel door that I saw on Salvage Dawgs one night.  I won't even bother to try and explain how my original vision transmogrified into this card, but suffice it to say, I had fun!

Cardstock:   Strathmore #90 Watercolor paper

Stamps:        Clearly Besotted Diagonal Stripes, Studio L2E Studio

                           Borders VI, Unknown Flourish, Stamp Zia “Birthday

                            Wishes”

Inks:               VersaMark, Stampin’ Up Garden Green, ColorBox

                           Cream White, Black, Gelly Roll pen Clear Star

Emb Powder:   Ranger Weathered White, Judikins Detail Black,

                                Cloisonné Smokey Obsidian, Emerald Onyx

Dies:              Papertrey Ink Take Three

Doo Dads:    Candi dots Savile Row

The Best

This card followed a couple of friends from our church who moved across the country.  They were in search of a warmer climate, and in San Bernadino CA, they're certainly going to get it!

The A-Muse die for the house is a single piece and makes a one-layer house outline.  I decided to cut it twice, cut out the triangular roof section, and layer it over the original.  A little darker shading on the roof was added for contrast.  I think the added dimension from the extra roof really works and I'll be doing this little trick again.

Cardstock:   Bazzill Lagoon, Forget Me Not, The Paper Cut White Matte Coat,

                           Generic Silver

Stamps:        Simon Says Tilted Banner Sayings: “The best is yet to come!”

Inks:               Various Stamp Zia Chrome Sprays, Distress Faded Jeans,

                           Dusty Concord, Weathered Wood, ColorBox Black

Emb Powder:   Judikins Detail Black

Dies:              A-Muse Gingerbread Tag, Impression Obsession Plane with

                           Banner, Marianne Horizon Pine Trees, Cottage Cutz House,

                           Fiskars punches Clouds

Learning to Fly

I thought the sentiment on this card was perfect for my young friend Ashley who just turned sixteen . . .

This was yet another happy adventure with gesso:  I wanted it to stay a cloud-like white so I sponged on the background colors first.  After heat-drying them, I used a stencil brush to dab on a few layers of gesso, using my heat gun after each layer.  It was quick, random, and blissfully easy.  A quick rinse for the stencil brush (don't delay with this) and the sky looked great – hope the texture shows in the photo . . .

Cardstock:   Strathmore #90 Watercolor paper, Generic Textured White,

                           Black                     

Stamps:        Technique Junkies "Learning to Fly"                  

Inks:               Distress Faded Jeans, Dusty Concord, ColorBox Black

Emb Powder:   Judikins Detail Black

Dies:              Cheery Lynn Hot Air Balloons, Spellbinders Labels Eight,

                           Scalloped Rectangles Short                               

Doo Dads:    Bob Ross Gesso White, Tulip Hot Fix Nail Heads 

                          Purple                   

Welcome Home

A friend of mine has returned from an extended, unjust, and emotionally painful journey.  It was time to welcome her home . . .

The elements on this card were inspired by a wonderful new die set by Our Daily Bread Designs .  As I did not have any of these dies, I needed to do quite a bit of substituting.  I have since ordered this truly versatile die set for future projects, but in the meantime, I had a lot of fun digging through my stash for acceptable substitutes.

It took me two days to get this card together, but I think she'll know how glad we are to have her back home . . .

Cardstock:   Marcos Jute, Strathmore Soft White, Generic Black

Stamps:        Gina K Vintage Background, Angel Co “Welcome Home”

Inks:               Hero Black, Distress Brushed Corduroy

Dies:              Cheery Lynn Lilith Doily Edger, Tiny Flower Kit, Quikutz

                           Window, Papertrey Ink Angled Labels, DieNamics Wild

                           Greenery, Lil Inkers Stitched Mats Squares, Mama Elephant

                           Dainty Bow, Family Treasures punch Squiggle

Impr Plate:    Papertrey Ink Woodgrain, DieNamics Grosgrain Texture

                           Board, Spellbinders Wood Grain & Stones

Doo Dads:    Decorator papers, Wink of Stella Black, Gelly Roll

                           Clear Star