Thanks

For my Christmas thank you notes this year, I kept it simple with an easy, smooshy background . . .

 I did four different versions, two of which are shown here.  After smearing on three different colors in various areas, I misted sparingly with water to blend.  Topped with a crisp, white geometric die cut and a popped-up “Thanks”, they were done in record time!  I think they’re very eye-catching . . .

 

Cardstock:   Strathmore #100 Bristol    

Stamps:        Honey Bee Hello Gorgeous Set

Inks:               ColorBox Black

Waterclrs:     Concord & 9th Liquid Watercolors Assorted colors

Emb Pwdr:   Judikins Detail Black

Dies:              InLoveArtShop Crosswise Diamond Grid, Honey Bee

Hello Gorgeous Set

Doo Dads:    Queen & Co pearls 

With Sympathy

 I tried out a new watercolor paint over the leaves on this one . . .

 . . . instead of a glittery effect, it has a lovely and subtle  gold shimmer to it which works well on a Sympathy card.  Hope the camera picks up at least some of the sheen . . .

 

Cardstock:   Bazzill Leapfrog, Strathmore #100 Bristol, Hanko

Echizen Gold           

Stamps:        StacyStamps Fern, All Night Media “With Sympathy”

Inks:               ColorBox Black

Waterclrs:     Emooqi Fruit Green

Emb Pwdr:   Judikins Detail Black

Dies:              Gina Marie Stitched Rounded Squares              

Doo Dads:    Gold fiber      

FYI

 Currently. I am experiencing some infuriating computer difficulties and cannot post for the time being.  So in the meantime, I wish everyone a very Merry Christmas and send you assurances that I am not going away.  Repairs are expected to be completed right around New Year's Day and I expect to be back in business by then.  Thank you very much for your patience . . .

JOY

There were some unforeseen challenges on this layout and happily, I stumbled onto some unforeseen solutions!

 The first problem was that the angel didn't stand out enough from the background.  The solution was to add something to her, but I'd already assembled the card and the detail work would have had me at it for weeks.  So after cutting out another angel and discarding it, I put the surrounding mortise around the angel on the card front, and sprayed with a light coat of gold mist.  I think it worked!

The second situation involved the die cut word "Joy".  With seventy cards to complete, I didn't fancy sticking countless pop dots behind the word for dimension.  So I sprayed strips of Fun Foam with adhesive, laid strips of gold cardstock on top, and when dry, die cut the word.  I'm  thrilled with the results and will be using this quick, easy, and time-saving method from now on!

 

Cardstock:   Marcos Jute, Two Cool Colors Gold, various scraps    

Stamps:       Stampendous Music Score

Inks:             Hero Black

Colorants:   Perfect Pearls Mists Heirloom Gold

Dies:            Frantic Stamper Heralding Angel, Lil Inkers Stitched Mats:

                     Rectangles, Birch Press “Joy”

Sympathy

This one is a little bolder than my usual Sympathy card designs are . . .

 . . . I think it still works, however.  The tulips are a new die I love because even though the flower head is in one piece, it has sections than can be popped up for added dimension.  It’s a wonderful look and I hope the camera will do it justice.

 

Cardstock:   Bazzill Parakeet, Fabriano #140 Artistico Watercolor,

Love Nicole Licorice

Stamps:        Purple Daisy Sand

Inks:              Hero Black

Waterclrs:     Iuile Christmas Set Orchid, Silver

Dies:             Butterfly Iron Tulip Flower, DieNamics Wonky Stitch

Rectangle Stax, Memory Box Stitched Rectangle

Trimmings, Tattered Lace Everyday Sentiments:

Sympathy, Goodculler Stitched Rectangles, EK Success

punch Scalloped Corners         

Doo Dads:    Inkssentials Enamel Accents Black        

Blossom

Inspired by a beautiful one foot square quilted wall hanging that my friend Barb made for me, I had fun replicating her design in paper . . .

 The echinacea petals were cut out with oval dies.  The background shows I had a good time with Distress Stains along with some spattered gesso, and the flower is more of the same Distress colors, only lighter for contrast.  The stitched dies suggest a quilter's inspiration, which is just what I was after.  Thanks, Barb!

 

Cardstock:   Strathmore Bright White, Canson Montval        

Stamps:       Acey Deucy Script, Purple Daisy Sand

Inks:             Distress Dusty Concord, Mustard Seed, Salty Ocean,

                     Spiced Marmalade, Brushed Corduroy, Hero Black

Dies:            Lil Inker Stitched Mats Rectangles, Lychee Flower

                     Stitched Circles, We-Buys Stitched Ovals, Memory Box

                     Gerber Stems, Tim Holtz Alphanumeric Tiny Upper,

                      La La Land Stitched Ribbon               

Doo Dads:    Liquitex Gesso White        

Malibu

When the ninth life of my friend's lovely cat Malibu finally ran out, it was time

for a card . . .

Originally, I tried gluing on some decorator sand for the dune, but that made the card very heavy.  Also, the glue never really dried.  I was envisioning a half-naked card and an envelope full of sand after the post office did their thing.

So, what better than actual sandpaper?  It even has a bit of sparkle, just like real sand. Sometimes, the simplest solutions work out to be the best . . .

 

Cardstock:   Marcos Jute, Neenah Desert Storm, Canson #140 Montval

Inks:             Distress Dusty Concord, Rusty Hinge, Dried Marigold,

                     Salty Ocean, Brushed Corduroy

Dies:            Frantic Stamper Ten Fun Felines Set, Lil Inker Stitched

                     Mats Rectangles, We-Buys “Stitched Curves”             

Emb Fldr:    Taylored Expressions Weathered

Doo Dads:    Sandpaper  

Happy Birthday

I hadn't worked with vellum in awhile so it was time to pull out a piece and have some fun with it.  Vellum tears easily when put through an embossing folder, but if you include a piece of Tim's Grunge Paper, not Grunge Board, it will never tear or crack.  Oddly (and happily) enough, the design comes out even clearer and more pronounced!

I sponged color on the back of the design and then backed it with white cardstock which I attached with a two-sided sheet of glue tape.  This is the best way to attach vellum, I've found, as it does not show through.

The leaves and flowers were cut from Foamiran and heated the tiniest bit into order to give a slight curve to the flowers.  They will stay perky even through the mail!

 

Cardstock:   Bazzill Jacaranda, Stampin’ Up Vellum, Scrap White   

Stamps:       Printworks “Happy Birthday”

Inks:             Distress Faded Jeans, Pine Needles, Tumbled Glass

Emb Pwdr:  Hero White

Dies:            Memory Box Stitched Rectangle Trimmings, Love Nicole

                     Rose            

Emb Fldr:    Taylored Expressions Rosey Posey

Doo Dads:    Studio Gesso White, Nicole’s Glitter Champagne,

                     Foamiran White      

Place Cards

 Just for a change of pace, my friends and hosts decided that this year's Thanksgiving  main entree was going to be on the very light side.  While we've heard of others who decided to go the Mac and Cheese route this year, we went for hot dogs and sauerkraut!  I brought some vegan hickory smoked dogs and a bunch of sides and along with what everyone else brought, we had an admittedly unusual but exceedingly scrumptious repast.

In light of the informality, I thought it would be fun to go in the opposite direction and make place cards for everyone.  I pulled out a couple of embossing folders and then added a handful of leafy die cuts I'd painted with glittery watercolors and propped up with pop dots.  I really enjoyed this first attempt at making place cards and am thinking I'll use any excuse to make some more in future!

 

Cardstock:   Scrap Burgundy, Toast, Canson Montval #140 Watercolor   

Inks:             Distress Brushed Corduroy

Colorants:    Jacquard Piñata Brass

Waterclrs:    Various glitter Watercolors by Iuile of Etsy

Dies:            Stampin’ Up Classic Rectangles Small, DieNamics

                     Falling Leaves, Impression Obsession Small Leaf Set,

                     Memory Box Creekside Leaves, Taylored Expressions

                     Leaves, Tim Holtz Alphanumeric Tiny Upper  

Emb Fldr:    Stampin’ Up Bricks & Bark, Taylored Expressions Blistered

Ornaments 2021

For quite a number of years now, I've had fun making ornaments for two of my grandchildren.  I got the idea from my mother who did the same for her grandchildren.  The idea behind it was to build up a collection of ornaments with lots of memories behind them.  When each child is old enough to leave home and have their own trees, they'll have plenty of memory-filled ornaments right from the start . . .

Although the camera has turned them gold, the ornaments are actually Kraft cardstock.  I also like making matching gift boxes to help with storage and make it easy to tell which ornament belongs to which grandchild . . .

 

Cardstock:   Mohawk Carnival Cover Red, Constellation Jade

                     Raster-White, Scrap Green

Dies:            Pretty Quick Poinsettia Bauble & Banner Set, Spellbinders

                     Standard Circles Small, DieVersions font Noodles, Birch

                     Press Ornament Basics      

Doo Dads:    Sparkle & Sprinkle glitter Fantasy Gold,  rhinestones Red,

                     Green

Harmony

 I have been playing with some shimmery watercolors lately . . .

As always, the camera has shirked its duty to accurately reproduce the glimmering beauty in front of it.  Trust me, the flower colors are like jewels and they absolutely sparkle.  I can't wait to use these paints again!

 

Cardstock:   Strathmore #100 Bristol, Multimedia #140 Aquarelle    

Stamps:       The Artful Stamper Field Flower, Stampin Up Itty Bitty

                     Backgrounds, Starving Artistamps Positive Words

                     “Harmony”

Inks:             ColorBox Black, Frost White

Waterclrs:    Iuile Christmas Series: Apple, Orange, Cobalt, New Leaf

Emb Pwdr:   Judikins Detail Black

Dies:            Die-namics Pierced Rectangle Frame, Impression

                     Obsession Tied Line,  Kat Scrappiness Stitched

                     Fishtail Banner

Emb Fldr:    Spellbinders Blistered

Doo Dads:   Inkssentials Enamel Accents: Black       

Thankful

For this Thanksgiving card, I wanted to try out my beginning skills with the liquid watercolors I've been playing with.  The pumpkin images were small enough that I figured I couldn't screw up too badly . . .

I've lots more to learn but I still had a fun time with this one!  While I need to find ways to back out of boo boo's, I've learned so far that adding more water can usually mitigate at least some of the damage when color slips out of bounds.  To that end, heat embossing the image can be a great help in preventing spillover!

 

Cardstock:   Bazzill Rain Forest, Various watercolor papers 

Stamps:       Great Impressions Pumpkins in a Row, Purple Daisy

                     Sand

Inks:             VersaColor Brown

Waterclrs:    Concord & 9th Marmalade, Sprout, Parsley, Wheat

Emb Pwdr:  B’Muse Devil’s Food Delight

Dies:            DieNamics Verticle Stitched Strip, Frantic Stamper

                     “Thankful”, Spellbinders Fall Botanical              

From My House

 Mixed feelings on this one . . .

Too many trees?  Poorly placed?  Boring?  I don't know . . . I did have fun inserting all of the yellow windows.  But, as so often happens, the end result was not exactly what I had in mind.  Ah well, maybe next time . . .

 

Cardstock:   Bazzill Raven, Multimedia #140 Aquarelle, Scrap

                     Yellow, Blue, Navy, Red     

Text:            (typed) “From my house to yours”

Inks:             Distress Black Soot

Dies:            Impression Obsession Town Builder, Tim Holtz

                     Woodlands, Papertrey Ink Angled Labels          

Doo Dads:    Gelly Roll Clear

New Home!

 Oh boy, did I ever have fun with this one!

These dies from Tim Holtz were a delight to play with!   I enjoyed trying out various arrangements with all of the truly creative elements available in this set.  Normally, I don't do much with teeny tiny shapes, but there is such charm in these designs that I couldn't resist.  The set has two more buildings and lots more embellishments, so check it out.

 

Cardstock:   Marcos Jute, Strathmore #100 Bristol    

Stamps:       Stampin Up “On your new home”, Seth Apter Links,

                     Purple Daisy Sand

Inks:             Distress Fired Brick, Walnut Stain, Stormy Sky, Weathered Wood,                                     Brushed Corduroy, Mowed Lawn

Emb Pwdr:  Vipies Transcendence

Dies:            Tim Holtz Cityscape-Suburbia, Impression Obsession

                     Plane with Banner, Memory Box Garden Pots & Buckets,

                      Lil Inkers Cloudy Sky             

Doo Dads:    May Arts Jute          

With Sympathy

It has been a good while since I've used any of my Hero Shadow stamps, so I took this opportunity to put three of them to work. . . . 

The result was more subtle than I was going for, but given that this is a Sympathy card, that's probably best.  Shadow stamp images were all the rage back in the day, and for very good reason:  they create instant backgrounds in all sorts of shapes and textures. There probably isn't a card theme out there that cannot be enhanced by the use of these creatively artsy tools. I just might challenge myself to go through my stash of Shadow stamps and see how many different looks I can get with them.  Stay tuned!

 

Cardstock:   Strathmore Bright White, #149 Watercolor, Unknown

                     Gray  

Stamps:       Hero Large Shadow, Background 11, Paper Background,

                     Endless Creations “With Sympathy”

Inks:             Hero Unicorn, Distress Tattered Rose

Emb Pwdr:  Hero White

Dies:            Lil Inker Stitched Mats Rectangles, Memory Box Single

                     Rose Stem, Frantic Stamper Striped Frame and Insert set,

                     Punch Bunch Flowers                  

Doo Dads:   Distress Clear Rock Candy

Get Well

 Greg Smallwood is the owner of Marco's Paper which is one of the very best stamping supply stores ever.  When he blogged that painful diverticulitis had put him in the hospital for a few days, nothing would do but to send him a card . . .

 

After stenciling with colored pastes, I sprinkled on a smidge of gold glitter.  Hope the sparkle picks up his spirits and that he's back in the pink soon . . .

 

Cardstock:   Marcos Jute 

Dies:            Scrapbook Slim Nested Rounded Rectangles,

                     Rubbernecker Slimline Rounded Square, Slimline Deckle

                     Die, Paper Smooches “Get Well”                    

Stencil:        A Colorful Life Wavy Dashes

Doo Dads:    Prima Paste Rusty, Dark Olive, Red Rust, Sparkle &

                     Sprinkle Fantasy Gold, Excell Seam Marker

Soar

 Here is a second version of the gatefold card I had fun with a little while ago . . .

 

I'm thinking I should have used bigger dragonflies.  But I do like the blue and silver drama against the black . . . I hope you do too!

 

Cardstock:   Dorset Black Diamond, Multimedia #140 Aquarelle,

                      Ranger Silver Sparkle       

Inks:             Jacquard Piñata Silver, VersaMark

Colorants:    Lindy’s Stamp Gang Magical Tibetan Poppy Teal

Emb Pwdr:  All Night Media Silver Tinsel, Cloisonné Plum Sable

Dies:            Sizzix Gatefold, Tree Love Nicole Dragonfly, Frantic

                     Stamper Dragonfly Pair, DieVersions font Noodles:

                     “SOAR”                

Blossom

This card is my first experience with liquid watercolors.  While I had plenty of fun, it still shows I've got a long ways to go . . .

So far, I've learned that lots of water is a must when it comes to moving watercolor around.  A good quality paper is also of primary importance.  I used the best I had but I'm hoping that another brand I've ordered lives up to its hype and that it will make blending a little easier.  Shading and blending are my main difficulties and I'm hoping that lots of practice (and some really good paper) will help with that.

 Meanwhile, I re-discovered my little collection of fabric tracing wheels and I used several to add interest to the open spaces in the background.  I plan to use these nifty texture tools a lot more in future . . .

 

Cardstock:   Bazzill Leapfrog, Cartiera Magnani Aquarello    

Stamps:       Concord & 9th Fine Line Florals

Inks:             ColorBox Black

Waterclrs:    Concord & 9th Liquid Watercolors Peacock, Buttercup,

                     Grapefruit, Oceanside, Sprout

Emb Pwdr:  Judikins Black

Dies:            Concord & 9th Fine Line Florals, DieVersions A Hint of

                     Lime font, small flower punches, various fabric tracing

                     wheels             

Doo Dads:    Inkssentials  Enamel Accents Black