Bloom

How I love the combination of a busy background offset by a more peaceful focal point . . .

 

I know Winter has just started, but dreaming of Spring is how I get through the frigid days.  I love how making art can take me anywhere I want to go.  Happily, with this stencil set, I can tiptoe through the tulips anytime I want!

 

Cardstock:   Bazzill Parakeet, Strathmore #100 Bristol Smooth       

Stamps:       Lindy’s Stamp Gang Tulip, Purple Daisy Sand

Inks:             Ancient Page Bordeaux, Plum Wine, Archival Fern

Green, Leaf Green, Distress Worn Lipstick, Shabby Shutters, Superior India Ink Black

Waterclrs:    Zig Clean Color Light Carmine, Olive Green, Deep Red

Dies:            Arich Rounded Corners Stitched Rectangles, Frantic

Stamper “Bloom”    

Stencil:        Hero Tulip Pattern

Doo Dads:    American Crafts Jute Green        

JOY

I always have high expectations for my Christmas cards, but I'm not thrilled with this year's results . . .

 

I was inspired by a card I saw on a blog and I tried to put my own spin on it.  Probably should have left well enough alone.  Anyway, I wish a memorable and a wonderfully blessed MERRY CHRISTMAS to one and all!

 

Cardstock:   Marcos Jute, Strathmore #140 Watercolor, Carnival

                    Cover Red, Scraps Green 

Dies:            DieNamics Winter Wreath, Cheery Lynn Pine Branches,

 Lil Inker “Joy”                

Cheers

When I saw this enchanting Snowbell die, I had to have it . . .

Such a sweet image – useful for a variety of card themes, I believe.  I haven’t used corrugated paper for a long time so I dusted some off and used it for the backing.  The glittery butterfly is a bit overdone but I needed something to cover up a runny glue boo boo.  Things just got a little glitzier than I was aiming for.

 

Cardstock:   Strathmore #140 Watercolor, Marcos Jute, Scraps 

Corrugated Kraft, Light & Dark Green  

Dies:            TEMU Woodgrain Nesting Rectangle Frame, Simon Says 

Snowbell Bouquet, Butterflies, TKOnline Celebration Set: Cheers                    

Doo Dads:    Simon Says Assorted Moonshine Sequins, Metalix

Glitter Moondust     

Thankful

For some inexplicable reason, two of my favorite people were missing from my Thanksgiving list of recipients last month.  Very strange.  So, having caught my mistake in time, I had fun making my very first Shaker Cards . . .

 

I used a kit which contained the dies and the clear plastic shaker domes that will hold the glitter.  First, I cut a window into a piece of cardstock to be layered onto the card front.  I then dry embossed it and highlighted the wood grain with ink to bring out the pattern.  I turned it over and inserted the clear shaker dome. 

 

I think the dome is supposed to descend into the inside of the card.  But I mounted it so it would be raised above the card front.  This gave me the perfect platform on which to mount my textured gold leaf spray.  No pop dots or foam strips needed!  And, as the back of this layer is flat, it gets mounted directly onto the card front and leaves no messy backside to cover up.

 

Cardstock:   Marcos Jute, Neenah Desert Storm       

Inks:             VersaMark, Distress Brushed Corduroy

Emb Pwdr:   Ranger Gold

Dies:            Tim Holtz Skeleton Leaves, Frantic Stamper 

Elegant Thankful                 

Emb Fldr:     The Paper Studio Woodgrain

Doo Dads:    My Favorite Things Shaker Window Kit, 

Wink of Stella Gold  

Congratulations

My favorite artsy background:  mottled coloring over-stamped with scrawly text . . .

 

After distressing the perimeter, I did some random gold embossing around the edges.  I’ve always tried for perfect edgings of all kinds, but the random and distressed look is far more interesting.  So, it’s out with the chalk line, plumb bob, and level – and in with random, intermittent, and distressed!  Well, much of the time, anyway . . .

 

Cardstock:   Strathmore #100 Bristol Smooth  

Stamps:       A Stamp in the Hand Words Background Script, Stacey

Stamps Tulips

Inks:             Distress Brushed Corduroy, Old Paper, Peeled Paint

Emb Pwdr:   WOW Metallic Gold Rich

Dies:            TEMU Fantasy Theme ”Congratulations”          

Doo Dads:    Michael’s ribbon, Wink of Stella Gold

Happy

I can’t get enough of stenciling . . .

The cheerful background on this one was done with a three-layered stencil set.  The first layer did the animal bodies.  The red stars and dots were done with the second layer, and the decorative additions were last.

LOVE the results.  Get me a layered stencil set plus a few blending brushes and inks, and I will decorate the world!

 

Cardstock:   Bazzill Arctic, Red, Strathmore #100 Bristol Smooth    

Inks:             Distress Weathered Wood, Candied Apple, VersaFine

 Majestic Blue

Dies:            Tattered Lace Everyday Sentiments: Happy               

Stencil:        Hero Folk Winter: Animals

Doo Dads:    Cosmic Shimmer Sparkle Texture Paste Platinum       

Smile

This one shows a slight variation to the frame I used on an earlier post of the same layout . . .

 It’s been awhile since I’ve used vellum and I’ve happily gotten hooked on it again.  I was so happy with the slightly distressed look of the stamped mesh on the vellum that I made two cards with this design.  I’ll be making more . . .

Cardstock:   Bazzill Admiral, Glama #40 Heavy Vellum        

Stamps:       Fiskars brayer Mesh, Impress Cherry Blossom Branch

Inks:             Distress Lost Shadow, ColorBox Frost White

Colorants:    Zig Clean Color: Peacock Blue, Deep Green

Emb Pwdr:   Hero White

Dies:            TEMU Stitched Rectangular Frame, AlteNew Vertical Greetings:                               Smile     

Doo Dads:    Waffle Flower Enamel Dots White