Christ is Risen

It has been an interesting late Winter for us:  I slipped on unsalted ice and broke an ankle in three places.  My husband has had medical issues of his own, brought about by horrible side effects from the drug Lyrica.  He's in a nursing home getting physical therapy while the drug leaves his system.  Cards and holidays were therefore not uppermost in my mind.  But he's doing better and as such, I was ready to start creating again.  Two days before Palm Sunday, I realized I needed to get going on some sort of very simple layout . . .

I'm hoping it suggests the sun rising behind the stark reminder of the suffering that was freely borne by the true Light of the World.  He lives:  may all come to know Him in love and abundance.  A very blessed Easter to each of you!

Cardstock:   Neenah Conservation White, Generic Dark Green, Dull Gold

Stamps:       Our Daily Bread Christ the Lord is Risen Today, Starving

                         Artistamps Concentric Sun

Inks:             VersaFine Onyx Black, ColorBox Gold

Colorants:    D’uva Erasable Watercolor Cardinal Red, Lemon Yellow

Emb Powder:   Ranger Gold

Dies:            Cheery Lynn Cross Set, Memory Box Arboscello Tree,

                        Verve Hope Blooms                      

Take a Bow

Currently, I'm in watercolor mode.  Doesn't matter whether I do the coloring myself, or if I use a cleverly designed two-step stamp set to get The Look - either way, I'm happy . . .

These poppies by RubberNecker are new favorites of mine.  I'm not sure, but years ago, RubberNecker may well have introduced what is now the wildly popular idea of multi-step stamping.  Their designs are lovely and very  artsy, and their How-To videos are worth a look.  Check out the watercolor images at RubberNeckerStamps.com . . .

Cardstock:   Bazzill Leapfrog, Beckett Moonlight         

Stamps:       Brutus Monroe Watercolor Background, A Stamp in the

                        Hand Words Background Script, RubberNecker Poppy

                        Field, Stamps by Judith Dots

Inks:             Distress Mowed Lawn, Twisted Citron, Candied Apple, Ripe

                        Persimmon, Hero Black, ColorBox Black

Emb Powder:   Seth Apter Rocky Road, Judikins Detail Black

Dies:            Lil Inker Stitched Mats Rectangles, DieNamics Stitched

                        Mini Scallop Rectangles, Ellentina Layered Tags #4,

                        Marianne Butterflies                          

Thinking of You

I've invested in some of Tim's new Oxide Distress inks and am having some fun experimenting with them . . .

They're very creamy, blend well, and when spritzed with water, they splotch beautifully.  There are scores more interesting techniques to try with these and I plan to do just that!

Cardstock:   Bazzill Ocean, White, Strathmore Ultimate White         

Stamps:       Hero Blossoms, Studio G “Thinking of You”

Inks:             Distress Oxide: Salty Ocean, Evergreen Bough, Wilted

                        Violet, Black Soot

Emb Powder:   Sweet Stamps Detail White

Dies:            Spellbinders Ribbon Tag Trio Two                      

Stencil:        The Crafters Workshop Mini Tile Texture

Doo Dads:    Wink of Stella Clear, Wendy Vecchi Embossing Paste,

                           black enamel dot

                        

OUCH!

Our priest's wife, Kathy, recently took a horrible fall down the stairs and broke both her right leg and right shoulder.  Her spirits are good and the pain has become manageable, but she's got months of rehab ahead of her.  I'm hoping that the following card might make her smile just a little . . .

I cut out some cardstock strips to make band aids for the doll's right arm and leg, and gave her a hat because Kathy loves wearing them.  The Splatter  stencil I used for the background provides a topsy turvy look which I thought depicted her unpleasant event rather well.  I loved making this card for such a sweet woman, but wish there had never been a reason to do so.

Cardstock:   Bazzill Cutie, Tim Holtz Watercolor paper, Strathmore

                          Ultimate White         

Stamps:       Limited Edition Spirit Doll, Small, My Favorite Things

                        Scattered Surface Background, Tim Holtz Crazy Birds

                        Accessories (Hat, Balloon)

Inks:             Distress Aged Mahogany, Wild Honey, Spiced Marmalade

Colorants:    Ken Oliver Color Burst Orange, Yellow Ochre, Lemon Yellow

Emb Powder:   Vippies Transcendence

Dies:            Mama Elephant Femme Frames, Tim Holtz Crazy Birds

                        Accessories (Hat, Balloon, String), DieVersions text

                       Hint of Lime                     

Stencil:        Kaisercraft Splatter

Doo Dads:    Wendy Vecchi Embossing Paste        

Memories

This is the third version I've done of this gorgeous tree . . .

 I think it's the textured gold embossing powder that draws me in - especially on the leafy background.  Ranger makes it, and while it's not advertised to be textured, it clearly is.  The result looks like hammered gold and I so wish they did a silver and a copper version as well.

Yes, you can practice under-heating a metallic embossing powder and it will cure to a little texture, but the results are unreliable and when powders are not heated long enough, they will usually flake off.  That's been my experience, at least.  The Ranger gold stays evenly textured, even when slightly over-heated.  And, it stays put.

Cardstock:   Bazzill Admiral, Strathmore Soft White, Generic Dull Gold     

Stamps:       Impression Obsession Greenery, Just For Fun Memories

Inks:             ColorBox Gold, Distress Chipped Sapphire, Pine Needles

Emb Powder:   Ranger Gold

Dies:            Memory Box Stitched Rectangle Trimmings, Arboscello Tree,

                        Marianne Banners and Text, DieVersions Hint of Lime Font,                                DieNamics Sentiment Strips              

Splendor

Near the end of last year, I posted this card along with a picture of the Kleenex box that inspired it . . .

I changed out the text on this repeat version as it better suited the theme I was going for.  Stay tuned for future riffs on Kleenex boxes, as I am collecting a small stack of them for further inspiration!  Commercial art and other great ideas are all around us and I love scavenging for everything I can find . . .

Cardstock:   Bazzill Lagoon, Strathmore Soft White, Neenah Emperor,

                        Generic Purple   

Stamps:       Our Daily Bread Chalkboard Lattice Background, Printworks

                        Leaf Pattern, Waffle Flower Layering Marble, Starving

                        Artistamps Positive Words

Inks:             Distress Faded Jeans, Weathered Wood, Broken China,

                        Dusty Concord, Evergreen Bough, Papertrey Ink Fresh

                        Snow, VersaFine Majestic Blue

Emb Powder:   Vippie’s Transcendence

Dies:            DieNamics Rectangle Frames, Spellbinders Signs of

                        Spring 1 (bird), Memory Box Lorelai Leaf 

Doo Dads:    Art Institute Glitter: Aqua from the Floral Collection, Stamp 

                         Oasis Heat & Stick

Memories

After searching awhile for a nice oatmeal-colored cardstock, I finally found this at Marco's and am very pleased with it . . .

Happily, the Distress Antique Linen embossing powder is a perfect match.  Unhappily, Ranger isn't making it anymore - wish I'd collected the whole line of it as it has the textured matte finish I love . . .

Cardstock:   Fox River Crushed Leaf: Cream, The Paper Cut

                        Watercolor paper   

Stamps:       PSX Clematis, Just For Fun “Memories”

Inks:             VersaMark, Distress Dusty Concord, Old Paper, ColorBox

                       Cream White

Emb Powder:   Distress Antique Linen

Dies:            DieNamics Single Stitched Line Rectangle Frame,

                        Momenta Thanks Set 

Doo Dads:    Viva Pearl Pen Cream        

Thinking of You

After posting a card last November that used several of the same materials, I had a small scrap of the gilded mosaic portion left over . . .

 . . . just big enough to become part of the focal point in this card.  I grew up in a family with parents who had lived through the Depression.  We never threw out anything.  This is a philosophy that has served me well with my card-making!  However, I still have trouble throwing things away . . .

Cardstock:   Generic Aqua          

Stamps:       Unknown Thinking of You, Stamp Zia "Splendor"

Inks:             ColorBox Gold

Emb Powder:   Ranger Gold

Dies:            Spellbinders Diamond Effects, Classic Squares, small,

                         Memory Box Fresh Daisies, Papertrey Ink Angled 

                         Labels                

Stencil:        The Crafters Workshop Mini Cubist

Doo Dads:    Amy’s Magic Leaf Sea Spray, Marigold glitter

Sweet

Using designer papers always feels a little like cheating to me, but there are so many beautiful ones out there that sometimes I just can't resist . . .

The pear stamp was colored with Distress Mini Pads, misted once, and then stamped.  Because Distress inks stay wet a little longer than most dye inks, blending is easier, even without misting.  Also, I'm ever so glad I invested in the mini pads because they make it so much easier to get into small spaces and do selective coloring and edging.

Cardstock:   Strathmore Ultimate White, Unknown Designer Paper           

Stamps:       A Stamp in the Hand Pear with Leaves, Medium

Inks:             Distress Dried Marigold, Bundled Sage

Dies:            Spellbinders Hemstitched Rectangles, DieNamics Single

                        Stitched Line Rectangle Frame, Recollections Word

                        Fetti: “Sweet” 

Doo Dads:    Wink of Stella Clear