Crazy Birds for Christmas

Good afternoon from sunny, lovely South Florida. I hope that each of you had a wonderful Christmas, spent with those that you love best. Also wishing you some of this beautiful golden sunshine we've enjoyed each day since arriving. Although the day can become quite warm, there's been a soft cooling breeze to make the warmth very pleasant. Quite a welcome change from the gloomy overcast & sometimes chilly days we had before we left home.

Today's share will be the 3 last minute cards done for the family. After scrambling to finish them, I very nearly left them on the desk at home. Just happened to spot the envelope stack on the desk when turning off the light downstairs, to head up the steps, be ready for a very early (4:30am) departure.

DD's card -

 

 

 

DH Card -

 

The circle on DH's card is a mess-up from trying to emboss the Hero Arts Infinity Circles as Jennifer McGuire shows in her video. Used heavy weight w/c paper, and it still cut through the paper in places, rather than just embossing. Was able to salvage this portion, so cut out the bird and just adhered him to the embossed circles. A S/B border die cut the 2 side borders. 

 

 



SIL card 

These images are from the small size of the THoltz Crazy Birds, which have the accessories with the set, and used the same set of matching dies to cut out the hats. (Then did a bit of trimming). Used the Misti to mask for the hat, then after doing all the masking, realized it would have been easier to just stamp the hat, stick over the top of the CB's head, and would have probably been placed better too! The white fur was done with the Marvy snow pen, then heat set to puff it up.

S/B circle used to cut out the central motif, then a larger one to cut the mat. The papers are from a Christmas 6x6 pack - from the stash. The added bow on SIL's card came from a gift box that had some Godiva chocolates. Should have put this on DD's card, but didn't! (always 2nd guessing myself LOL)

Each Sweetie got a 'pretty card' which has been previously shared, and then the 3 'funny' ones. I think they liked them!

We had a lovely but quiet Christmas day. We had agreed to 'no gifts', but still Santa showed up. It's very difficult to think of surprises for adults, who buy what they want (that they can _afford_!) through the year. None of us needed clothes or more 'schtuff'. However Gift cards were welcome, and Mr. got a nice set of Uggs to keep his feet warm this winter. He asked me the size when he first saw them. I said "Never mind what size, just see if they fit"...they did look quite large compared to his actual foot size. However, they did fit, and both kids said "Uggs run small, in whole sizes, so you have to pick the next size up". So guess I won't have to be returning these!

That's it for today. Hope everyone has had a good start to the week, and probably lots are back at work after the holiday break. Big hugs and many prayers going out to those of my friends who stand in need just now. God Bless. Thanks for stopping in.

Hello

Just a quick post to say Hello, & that we've arrived safely at our destination in Florida. No pictures to share as yet. I did manage to finish the 3 Crazy Bird cards I was working on at the last minute. Debating on whether to bring images to color, and stumbled on a travel box from another trip, so the copics bag and that box got packed. Then I nearly left the family cards on the desk, to leave at home! Happened to spot the pile just as I was turning out the downstairs lights to go up and sleep about 2am. Then DH woke me at 4am to get ready to depart. Not much shut-eye. However, I do sleep as we ride. (It's not really restful though!)

Tried to get round to all the email that had piled up - if I use the smart phone to look at email, it doesn't seem to really 'delete' stuff, even though I think I'm deleting it. When I powered up our webmail program, all that was still there, so had to tons of it to wade through. Tried to get round to visit all the sweet bloggers who had left comments. Hope I didn't miss anyone.

Will try to post the Crazy Birds cards later on. Just wanted to wish ALL of you a very Merry Christmas. If that's not a holiday you celebrate, then I'll wish you a Very Happy Day just the same.

The weather in So. Florida is just absolutely gorgeous today. Golden warm sunshine, but a soft cooling breeze. Talked with SIL this morning; it's overcast and a bit coolish at home. They were expecting rain later. So it's doubly nice to be with the DD, SIL and poochies in Fla.

Big hugs and many thank you-s to all who have sent snail mail cards, lovely ecards or sent email wishes. I'm so thankful for each of you, and feel very blessed by your friendship this past year.

MERRY CHRISTMAS

Retro Reindeer in the Snow

Hello and welcome to a scheduled post. Hopefully as you read this, we will have safely arrived in Florida. And MANY, MANY Thanks to all of you lovely friends who have sent us such beautiful Christmas cards. How that does brighten our day, and these are on the mantel for us to enjoy for a while.

Here's the card that DD will get this year (and a Crazy Bird card if I can get it finished in time!)

Background was first airbrushed using copics BG0000, BG000. This looked too pale, so before adding the reindeer, birds and snow hill, sponged around the edges/corners with DI Stormy Sky.

- Retro Reindeer - cut from brown glitter paper, using the nice thick metal shim that I have. Couple of passes, and it cut through that thick glitter paper very nicely. Added a Nuvo Glitter red nose.

- used a Memory Box tree die to cut fun foam, to ink up with Versamark, use as a stamp. Sprinkled this with some WOW silver glitter. We have some dinner plates that are white, have a light silver bare branches tree, with a single cardinal perched on a limb. That's where I got the idea. (but this card looked a little bare with just one red cardinal, so I added 2 more!).

Background was first airbrushed using copics BG0000, BG000. This looked too pale, so before adding the reindeer, birds and snow hill, sponged around the edges/corners with DI Stormy Sky.

Impression Obsession DIE333-H cut the cardinals from white snippets; colored the ones used with copics, added some glossy accents.

- used a Marvy snow writer to dot some falling snowflakes. Once the pen dots the flakes, using the heat gun creates a raised puffy effect. This looks rather like the liquid applique to me.

- American Crafts white glitter paper (this is much thinner with no plastic backing like some glitters have, comes in 6x6 paper packs) and a stitched hills die cut the snow hills.

- A stitched rectangle cut out the image, adhered over a white snowflake embossed card front, using some fun foam for dimension.

Hope you like this one....Thanks for joining me, and big cyber hugs. Remember, He knows when you've been sleeping...He knows when you're awake...la, la, la!

Hero Arts - Layered Cardinal

Good Afternoon. I expect most of you are scurrying around with last minute shopping, wrapping, baking, etc. We've been busy, but I surely don't know what it is that we've accomplished! Didn't do any decorating, aside from hanging wreath on front & back door. Nada on the baking as well. Weren't just sure until last minute if we'd be able to go to Florida so didn't do a lot of shopping, thinking we'd be sending $$$$ instead of gifts. Then found out we will be able to make the trip, so a bit of scurrying then, and you know, it's really difficult to think of gifts for adult kids. They buy things that they want, have enough dust collectors, can't buy them clothes, and gift cards seem like a cop-out (but some got purchased!) Found out you can do egift cards at Amazon too, so I hope my first try at that will work out with no hitches!

Before any more blah-blah, let me give a very warm welcome to a new follower, who joined about 2 wks ago, but I just didn't have a chance to introduce my new friend, Camille S. of Short on Ideas. Thanks for becoming a follower here, and one of these days, maybe I'll get to the 350 mark, and have a bit of New Year Blog Candy. I hope I haven't missed giving a welcome to any new followers, but if I have neglected to welcome you, provide a link to your blog so that my friends can visit you, please do let me know! Hope you have time to visit Camille, and enjoy her work.

OK, before today's card, I want to share a Halloween tag that was sent to DH, by my sweet (and so-talented) friend, Anne R. (Redanne).  Anne loves Halloween, and so does DH, and she has sent him some awesome Halloween cards. He is just so thrilled that someone - so far away, that he's never met, is kind enough to do such.

 

So why am I sharing this just now? Anne had given me the heads up that she had sent Mr. a Halloween treat, but it didn't come, it didn't come, and we just thought it was lost in the mail. In collecting a packet of Christmas cards from the mail box quite recently, lo & behold, I saw an envelope from Miss Anne. We'd already gotten a lovely Christmas card, so I happened to glance at the franking date. It was Oct 15! How excited I was to hand this one over to the Mr, and say "Here's your Halloween card!" Both of us said, bet this envelope could tell some tales of where it's been for over 2 months!!!

 

Now for the Hero Arts Cardinal: (this will be DH's card this year).

 

 

 

H.A. Layered Cardinal - stamp & die set. Used some of the Altenew colored cube sets along with some Distress Inks to do the color layers. Even using the Misti, I had some frustration with this stamp set. The bird worked out ok, but tried to place his feet on the branch, add the greenery, and it was a mess. Finally just used the die set, cut all parts out, and assembled as shown here. Was tempted to do some hand cutting around the elements, to eliminate the 'white' from the die cut, but time was running out.

 

The background embossing was done with a rectangle die set that has a leaf pattern* (thought it was PTI, but can't locate it to provide a link.) Had seen Jennifer McGuire use dies to emboss, using this layered cardinal as the focal image.  Tried using the circle infinity dies as she does in the video, but even with 140# watercolor c/s, the c/s was being cut more so than embossed. Finally used the sizzix emboss mat (the black one) rather than the thicker tan one that I normally use, and got a decent emboss. However, this die arrived in the mail, decided to try it on the technique, liked it much better. I can provide the die company if anyone is interested .. was pretty sure it was Paper Trey Ink.*

*EDIT: PTI Leaf & Sprigs Frame Die 

 

- Tim Holtz Sizzix 661597 Thinlets Holiday Greens for the holly and branches. (cut from white snippet c/s and colored with copics.). After placing the holly in the corners, thought the holly needed some branches, to make the greenery more lush. Holly berries are Nuvo Crystal glitter.

 

- SU sentiment, stamped with DI festive berry, and used SU punch.

 

That's it folks. Will have a scheduled post tomorrow. Trying to finish a couple of Crazy Birds cards to take along. Just added a lot of lovely Christmas cards to the Cards by Friends section, so if you've time, enjoy these right along with us.

 

Ya'll take care, try not to get too stressed with the coming holiday, and thanks for joining me. Prayers & good thoughts going out to my friends who are in need of that just now. Big Hugs, and hope you are not being Naughty!!!

 





Christmas Card Club - Snowy Scene

Hello and welcome to my last Christmas Card Club post for 2016, as our group will be taking a break until January 8, 2017. This challenge was selected by our Rita (RMG Creations) and Rita chose a Snow Scene. Since we've had a few cold days & nights lately in our area (and other places have certainly had even more intense cold than Upstate South Carolina!) this challenge seemed particularly apt!!  The scene was not difficult to do, but it certainly was did not photograph well. I've increased the contrast using an editing program, so that it didn't look as washed out.

- MB Box Tree Branch Circle cut from a pale gray cardstock. Adhered Sookwang tape behind the cutout after removing all the little bits. This technique is one done by Jennifer McGuire (inked inlay) and I probably didn't chose the best circle cutout die to try this technique. Used another white piece and sponged DI Squeezed Lemonade, Spun Sugar, Milled Lavendar and Broken China to create a sunrise sky. Starting with the lemonade at the top of the c/s, layering the pink(sugar) over this, it did look quite like a pretty sunrise morning. It shows a bit up at the very top of the circle, and IRL does show up nicely. Then die cut this sponged piece, using a dryer sheet under the card stock so the little bits would not get lost (still tricky though, since some of this die's inlays are so tiny). Also ran the piece back through the Big Shot to set the inlay pieces into the sticky tape better.

- MB Small Quiet Deer cut twice (snippets), layered for dimension, then used clear WoS for some shimmer.

- Stitched Hills die for a snowdrift, so that the deer was grounded.

- Poppy Stamps Merry Christmas script - 2 layers, then WoS to cover.

Lastly, sprayed some shimmering pearl mist over the card...from about 3 ft above the card, - still got a few blobs! All in all, I liked the card though. If you have time, do check out Jennifer's video.

Also hope that you will find time to visit my fellow teammates to see what they have shared with Rita's Snow Scene Challenge...you'll see lots of inspiration.

Thanks for joining me today, and there will be some lovely Christmas cards added to the friend's page - hopefully later today. Hugs & Blessings, and some peace in the next few weeks of pre-Christmas stress!

Classic Car Birthday

Good afternoon, and hope you've  had a good week so far & we'reon the down slope of the week now. We've had some nice rain and today has been overcast - with occasional sun glimpses. A bit chilly outside, according to DH, who is tending our neighbor's Lab. I am a house bunny and don't like to go out in the cold!

Today's card uses a stamp set purchased at Sparkle n Sprinkle some years ago. It's a set of old classic cars, (bet you can guess who picked this one out). I can only find a link for the image used on today's card, but the set we have (285-1900 Cars) has 4 vintage cars in nicely etched rubber. Not sure if the entire set is still available or just the one used on today's card. I've provided a link to that one.

 

 

- SnS 285 - stamped on Xpress, colored with copics, WoS, with Glossy Accents on the windshield.

Die cut with a S/B Classic Long rectangle, edging done with DI Iced Spruce and Clover.

 

- S/B classic scalloped long rectangle cut the mat from a copper texture c/s (looks orange here, but IRL it's a copper color). After adhering the image to the scalloped mat, decided to drag it through the Delicata gold ink pad.

 

- background was done with a Mbossibility folder (used 2 sheets of c/s so it didn't emboss quite so deeply. These folders are thick, so only used one of the plates over the top...always test these extra thick folders so the die cut machine doesn't choke). This c/s started out as a brilliant turquoise....decided to use the Ice Spruce and Clover to sponge over it, tone down the turquoise for a background. I deliberately didn't blend the sponging, but tried to go for a more 'mottled' look, as you might see in some old leathers. Was happy with the way this turned out.

 

- sentiment is from the 285 set. However, when it stamped out (using the Misti too) the sentiment looked too crooked to me (and this time I don't think it was operator error..the way the rubber is made - with one part of the sentiment layered over the other, it was impossible for me to get a straight look). So I cut the stamped image apart, then straightened it by cutting, and separated the parts as shown on the card. Sometimes one  has to get quite creative. One of the reasons I'm trying to just buy clear stamps is it is much easier to see if something is straight when you're stamping (at least for me!)

 

A blogger question: At one blog I visit (Cardsarus) I can't leave a comment. When the comment is typed, and ready to publish, I get a prompt to select a profile. When I try to do so, all I get is a blank vertical rectangle box, with nothing to select.** So can't publish what I've typed. At first I couldn't even type in the comment box. I'm logged onto my blogger id, and I'm not running into this problem - so far - at other blogs. Anybody got any ideas as to what I should do? Fortunately I have Jenny's email, so I can send her my comments. She has no idea why this is happening and neither do I. We're hoping some other brilliant bloggers might give us a fix. Thanks for any help you can give us.

 

**EDIT:

Shaz in Oz suggested Jenny change to a pop comments box as that seems to work better. Not sure how Jenny was set up previously, but the change worked! I was able to type and publish my comment! YAY! Thanks Shaz and thanks for Jenny for being able to fix this!!! Brilliant bloggers both of you.

 

Thanks for popping by this afternoon. Hugs and stay warm if nasty weather is in your area. Prayers for those who are in need of them.

 

 

Get Well Truck

Good evening on what has been a rainy & cooler Sunday for us here in Upstate South Carolina. It's been a very quiet day; didn't accomplish much aside from reading, and fixing some dinner (well, I did a load of laundry!) Hope that you had a good day. Our neighbor with the new hip seems to be doing fine, having home therapy visits. DH went to visit him a few minutes yesterday.

Another neighbor is getting new knee(s) this coming week...so DH picked out another design after finding an image that had been stamped who knows when. I had learned to do monochromatic coloring in a long-ago copic class, but had never tried it. So started out with that idea and here we go:

 

IO Classic Truck - used warm & cool grays to do the main coloring. Once that was done, it looked much too stark for me, so I added in a bit of green on the grass, very light blue in the sky (probably should have been a night blue!) and then colored the moon. In the moon area, the ink seemed to 'bleed' where the branches are, so used that Kaisercraft neon pen and it worked quite nicely! Remember I had I didn't care for the neon colors in the set? Came in handy. Die cut with a pierced rectangle die and just left the white edge as a mat. Windshield has Glossy Accents, and the metal parts got a lick of silver WoS.

 

 

-The clear ridged fishtail banner (which looks curled but it really is down flat) came from some recycled material that was holding 'something' in a Styrofoam packing. For some reason, the texture effect of this strapping made me think it could be used for _whatever_. As I was assembling the card, I thought about this plastic, and held it to the card. Got the Mr's opinion on it, and he said "Use it". The narrow fishtail in the center is a snippet from a sponging project.

 

- Very Old Stuff wooden get well stamp inked with Hero Arts Unicorn pigment ink, stamped over the black. Realized I do not have a nice font for a get well stamp...must correct that little omission. (might have one as part of a clear set).

 

The card base is a green shade (not the chartreuse it appears in the photo!). I hope there are not any more Get Well commissions in the near future. Got some birthday cards that need to be done, and inserts for Christmas cards. Also some "special" Christmas cards for the family.

 

Thanks for joining me and hope your week is just dandy.  Big Hugs.

 

 

Thinking of You Birds

Welcome to a scheduled post. Hope that you had a good day. It was lovely to see sunshine again today, as much as we did need the rain of the past 2 days. Our dogwood trees had developed the most beautiful red leaves, and I _meant_ to take some pictures. However yesterday's rain and wind stripped most of the leaves off the branches, and the 3 trees look quite sad today - so there will be no photos I guess!

Found this colored image in the UFO box, decided to do a little touch-up on the birds and turn it into a card:

-  remember this is a wooden stamp, don't remember who made it. Colored with copics, but after finding it in the UFO box, die cut with a rounded S/B square, then used some WoS on the birds, then added in some more shading with the Kaisercraft gel pens. I'm not fond of the neon ones, guess I've just not had a chance to use them on something appropriate yet. I do like the jewel colors tho', and the blue brightened up the colors of on the birds, also did some leaf veining.

- S/B Asian motif die to cut the created background done with sponging over white c/s with DI Clover and Stormy Skies. Burnished with Perfect Pearls Biscotti to get a nice sheen. Use the bottom of this piece to cut the sentiment.

- embossed the card front using a Tuesday Morning find of a Sizzix EF, $3.99. Inked the folder with a blue shade of Hero Arts Ombre pigment ink, and this is the 2nd generation - first embossing was too dark to go nicely with the mat color.

Thanks for stopping for a visit this evening. I'm trying to keep up with commenting and returning visits, so be patient with me if I've not stopped by to say hello.

Cyber Hugs to all and Prayers for those who are in need of being uplifted just at the moment.

A Get Well Car Called Henry

Good evening, and it's been a rather exciting one in our area (and not for good excitement either!)
We had been advised that more rain was expected this afternoon and while the day was pretty overcast & gloomy, no rain ensued. About 3pm, Moi decided a nap might be nice, so grabbed a cozy throw, headed for one of the guest beds. Snoozing away when the rains started. Then Mr. was shaking my shoulder, saying "Put your shoes on, there's tornado warnings about, and we might need to head for the basement". (Are we ever thankful to have the thick walls and realize part of the area is under the ground level? Oh YES we are!) Watching the weather news, to see when we needed to head downstairs, and thankfully, it moved away from our area. Not so good for the other areas it was moving to, but hopefully no touch-down will cause any destruction. I don't like excitement too much ..of ANY kind!!! (never did either!)

Also would like to give a warm welcome to a new follower: Tee of The Altered Paper. Tee has some lovely tags that she entered into The Twelve Tags of Christmas Challenge hosted by my dear friend, Loll. That's how Tee & I connected, and I hope you'll have time to zip over, say hey, and enjoy some of the beautiful projects Tee has on her blog! (be sure to say I sent you,  now hear?!) It's so nice to meet and make new blog friends. Tee lives close to the area where the August Cincinnati Stampaway Show is held, so who knows, maybe one day we might meet face to face????

On to today's card: Mr has a neighbor friend who enjoys cars with him. They go to lots of car shows (several others in our area join them as well). This particular friend is rebuilding an old truck, using the colors that are associated with a popular college here in our area. On Thanksgiving day, he was out playing with his grands, slipped and broke a  hip. So a special card was requested, and I had to hunt out this stamp set we had bought on one of our visits to Sparkle n Sprinkle when there was still a physical store (since then SnS only has online sales).

 

 

- SnS Henry 596 (available in digi format too) stamped on Xpress, colored with Copics (Mr. chose the colors that his friend's truck has). In case you see red, this is actually done in the YR(yellow red) Copic colors. Used WoS on the seat upholstery, Glossy Accents on the windshield, some silver WoS for the car metal parts.

 

- S/B Label one die cut and also the faux mat.

 

- C/Bug embossing folder (it's  an old one -- don't remember the name.) It's always reminded us of the metal used on the toolboxes frequently seen attached on a pickup truck bed). Used silver mirror card to emboss this, adhered over the white card base; deliberately cut it so that I could apply the b&w stripe border(WR Memory Keepers Shape & Tape). This is not Washi tape. Bought the product thinking it was sticky on the backing. There's several different designs in the package. And it was not sticky :-(

 

Hope you enjoy Mr's card. He stipulated the image and EF, basically designed it, I just did the work!!! Oh, and his friend had successful hip replacement surgery, is doing well, and will be doing the rehab therapy.

 

Hugs and come again when you can.

 

 

Rudolph Day - An Embossed Die Tree

Good evening on what has been a pleasant & quiet Sunday. Have been catching up some comments, visiting my Christmas Card Club Team members, and now finally have a few moments to post my card for Rudolph Day. In case you don't already know this, the 25th of each month, our wonderful Hostess with the Mostest (Maureen of Scraps of Life by Scrappymoi) opens the gates for sharing Christmas themed cards. Honestly, that's the only rule...something of Christmas. The challenge closes at the end of each month, and such inspiration you will see if you pop over to have a browse. Maybe decide to enter a card. I think this is last Rudy Day of 2016 however. So why don't you have a look, and maybe plan to join in for sure next year. Helps to build a good Christmas stash.

OK, here goes (using an embossing with dies technique shown on this video by Jennifer McGuire)

 

- background created by sponging quite heavily, DI shades of green (Cracked Pistachio, Twisted Citron, Clover, Mowed Lawn...the glow around the tree is from the Twisted Citron). Sponged and blended until I got the look I wanted, then made the corners darker. Burnished with a handy dried out baby wipe. Then sprinkled some Biscotti Perfect Pearl mica powder over the inks, burnished with a fluffy brush until it was all spread evenly. Then again, with the dry baby wipe and this creates such a sparkle...which of course does not show well in the photo.

 

- S/B 2012 Holiday Tree die was inked well with Versa mark. Used a 2nd layer under the background piece, as sometimes the die can cut through. I do the sandwich with: the cutting plate, the embossing pad, the c/s, the die face down, the top plate. . I learned to emboss with the die face up; even with taping the die, it would always seem to slide.  Even with the extra c/s between bkgrd & die, there were still some places that embossed very deeply.

 

- Sprinkled Ranger's Princess Gold (not nearly so pretty as the Queen's Gold IMHO) all over, and heat embossed. Had to do some trimming to fit this on an A2 card that I normally mail. Harder to find the Queen's Gold of late..guess Ranger has discontinued it.

 

- white c/s inked at the edges with Versamark, and then more Princess Gold to get a matching gold around the edges.

 

- Memory Box die sentiment - 3 layers, inked and heat embossed with Princess gold, and it looks a bit metallic. I had used just the "Merry" part of this die on the CCClub cards yesterday.

 

After adhering the sentiment, decided to use Ruby Slippers Nuvo Crystals for the 'i' in Christmas (and this time I had the little piece available too!). After seeing the color over the 'i', decided to add some more 'pearls' for ornaments. It was one of those situations where once again I asked "Should I have left it alone?". Do you talk to yourself while creating? Maybe it's a sign of something that I'm doing that!!! LOL.

 

Please think about entering a Christmas card over at Rudolph Day and say Hello to Miss Mo. You will definitely get some fantastic inspiration from the Guest Designers and all the players!

 

Thanks for joining me tonight, and big hugs. See ya soon. (oh yes, added a new card to the Cards by Friends section too)

Christmas Club - Mixed Media and Trees

Welcome to another Christmas Card Club post...and this time yours truly picked the challenge: Mixed Media with trees (the mixed media could be sponging, paste, sprays, texture or anything of that sort.)

Recently received some stencils from Stamplorations and decided to use one of those with Brushos, then try it with some embossing paste. First made a background with greens using Brusho crystals, Nuance, Colorburst and Infusion powders. Started with a slightly damp piece of 148# Strathmore water color paper, sprinkled the crystals and powders very carefully, then used Dylusions sprays that had been either diluted with water or mixed with the white Dylusions. It created an interesting color.
Then used the stencil over a slightly dampened w/c cardstock, sprinkled very carefully the same products through the openings of the stencil. That didn't turn out quite as well as I'd hoped, but I'll share it anyway. Then tried the same stencil using some Silver Dreamweaver embossing paste. I liked that one better.

- Christmas Trees Mini stencil - sprinkled the crystal & powder products over the stencil after slightly dampening the white Strathmore water color cardstock prior to placing the stencil. (masked off the sencil design I did not want). Spritzed the powders very lightly to create movement, then blotted with a paper towel. When this dried completely, replaced the stencil, spread some Golden gel beads over the stencil.(clean the stencil quickly after using this gel bead paste or embossing paste- before it hardens on the stencil). The beads paste is starting to harden or dry a bit in the jar; did not spread easily, and I was not pleased with the result. (one of the times I say "now why did I not leave well enough alone?"). Also got some of the color out in the white area surrounding the tree....so how to fix this? Since the gel beads are quite dimensional, die cutting was not an option. Traced an oval die, hand cut the motif.   First tried a white gel pen to cover the problem areas but that wasn't very effective. Then used white acrylic paint, dabbed it around the background area. The white paint picked up some of the extraneous colors, and changed to a dappled blue green, which looked better.

Memory Box die to cut the green brusho background (this has an oval in the rectangle die).
Tim Holtz Texture fade embossing on the white background. Placed the oval tree shape onto some white fun foam, for the design as you see it.

M.Box Merry Christmas die for the sentiment - 3 layers, embossed with Ranger Queen's Gold. The star is 2 layers, from a tiny punch, same Queen's Gold. This one is definitely an experiment in mixed media.

Next try:

Same stencil over water color #148..using Silver Dreamweaver embossing paste, and this time included the star at the top of the stencil. Removed the stencil, and while the paste was still wet, sprinkled some coarse Martha Stewart glitter over it. Doesn't show too much in the photo, but IRL, it sparkles beautifully. I was much happier with this effect than that with the green.

Hand trimmed the tree piece..the silver mat is a textured lightweight silver DP. Embossed this mat with a PTI die. Jennifer McGuire has an excellent video showing how to emboss using dies.

T.Holtz Texture fade embossed white card stock, then sponged it lightly with Delicata Silver. First I had tried using Versamark on the EF, then sprinkling a Silver EP over it after embossing. Evidently didn't get a good layer of the versamark, because the EP didn't stick in a lot of places. Brushed all of that off pretty well, then sponged it with the Delicata Silver.

- M.Box Merry Christmas die - 3 layers of the same dp as the mat. The Dreamweaver paste spread like butter...

If you have time, please visit my fellow team members, whose blog links can be found in the right side bar. And thanks for joining me today. Hope you liked these cards, and enjoyed my adventures. I like to know when other card makers have problem cards, and what they do to try to salvage the project. I learn as much from mistakes as I do from a well executed card. Hope you don't mind that I share my boo-boos! You can always skip over that part, if you don't want to read the story.

And we did have a lovely family Thanksgiving to all who asked. Big hugs, and prayers too for some of my blog buddies who are in need of them just now. Come again when you can.

Happy Thanksgiving

 HAPPY THANKSGIVING

 

 

To all my USA friends who will be celebrating the day. Welcome to a scheduled post.

 

Before I share the last of the holiday cards, (this one is for Mr), let me welcome a new follower, who is also one of my Christmas Card Club team members: Shaz B (also known as Silverwolf) . Thanks for becoming a new follower Shaz, and I hope all my blog readers will pop over to say Hello, and take a scroll round your fabulous blog. Shaz does some amazing projects and we're so pleased to have her join our card group. Her blog is fun to read, and just browsing the projects she's shared, will be a joy.

 

OK...here goes:

 

 This image was colored with Copics, WoS for shine and some white gel pen for the highlights. Die cut with a Gina Marie loopy square die. The faux mats were cut by tracing the outline of a S/B square that would create a slim margin, and of course, the insides of the mat are always cut out, saved in the snippets box.

- The leaf buttons were from the stash, and as I look at the photo, why didn't I think to tie some twine through the eyes? Oh well, the photo always shows up the boo-boos that I didn't see earlier!

Hope that all of you who celebrate our Thanksgiving holiday will be sharing a nice meal with those whom you love the best, sheltered and warm from any storms that may be in your area. Let's say a prayer (or give a thought) for those folks who don't have family nearby, enough food to eat, or dealing with some other Life's problem on this day.

Thanks for stopping by, and Big Hugs coming your way. I HOPE this is the last of the Thanksgiving cards. I do still have a couple Fall motif cards, but now it's time to think of Christmas cards. And..uh-oh, got some birthday cards to finish!

 

 



More Autumn Motifs

Good afternoon...on Thanksgiving Eve. (is there such a phrase?). Hope your day has been good so far. We're ordering our meal from a local restaurant, and all I should have to do, is mix up the dressing, heat the food. We're having my oldest brother, SIL and my niece to join us for dinner. Should be quite nice (they know I can't cook! My famous invitation phrase to my family is: we'd love to have you join us. If you don't like the fare, there's a Burger King down the way.)

Here's 2 more fall cards I realized I've not posted. Also just added some gorgeous cards to the Cards by Friends page, so I do hope you'll have time to check those out. It's such a blessing to receive a lovely handmade card in the snail mail, and know someone thought of you, shared their talent to brighten your day. Thanks to all of  you!

 

 

 

 

Forgot which company made the first image, but think it may have been Whipper Snapper*, because I like their designs. #2 definitely is a Whipper Snapper. Both are colored with Copics. On #1, I messed up the center lavender mum with the coloring. Decided to restamp just the flower part of the image, use different colors for the lavender shades, fussy cut it, and plopped it over the floral portion of the already colored remainder. Die cut with a rectangle, did 2 faux mats (traced the die, then traced 2nd time with more margin).

 

* #1 is an Our Daily Bread cling stamp

 

Embossing folder is a very old C/B pumpkin motif. Think the sentiment die was from a fall or October set from Taylored Expressions.

 

#2, was die cut with an older S/B pumpkin die; again, did the faux mat behind the die. The leaf border was an experiment with alcohol inks dropped on glossy card stock. Rather a Bokeh look to it, so just took the applicator tool, that had some wet remaining alcohol ink on it, daubed it around over the Bokeh dots, to smudge it up a bit. Looked like fall colored leaves to me, so die cut a border. Other 2 leaves tucked around are from the soda can metal (believe these leaves are from the Tim Holtz set that is out on the market just now).

 

There's one more card that I'll share with a scheduled post for tomorrow...I hope you're not sick of the fall/Thanksgiving cards! Sorry, but it's what I've been working on of late, so there it is!

 

Thanks for joining me, and big hugs to all of you. I hope my UK friends have a dry day. Seems as though you've had a lot of rain. We have a 'clear air' day, and I need to run some errands! Bye!

 

  

Ooops...A Missing Tag for the Twelve Tags of Christmas Challenge

Hey and welcome. Realized I'd forgotten to do a post with today's tag, and thought the Twelve Tags of Christmas challenge had closed. Then I saw where Mr. Linky was still open, so here goes:

 

- Kraft tag, a layer of gesso applied. Then stamped a text stamp in a light brown. DeeDee's Digi Bells were the snippet box, (printed when I was on the DT). Colored with Copics, die cut with a xstitch circle die.

- sheet music torn, and sponged with DI, placed under the bells circle. Used a snippet from a poorly cut wreath (cut for this card); salvaged the bow & holly to use on this tag. The little blue glitter bit under the ribbon is a snippet center cut from this tag's wreaths and I just liked the way the colors looked layered together!

- the lace tie at the top started as a white; used the same DI to color as on the music score...added in a slender gold cording. Adhered some feathers to match the other colors and then remembered the Challenge tags needed to have some stamping...so stamped HLS Mixed Christmas Sentiments' Peace in gold Delicata and embossed it to have it stand out more prominently.

It's my understanding the Christmas Challenge Tags Linky is open for 4 more days, so c'mon and join in, it's fun.

Ya'll come back, now heah? Thanks for stopping by, and if it's cold where you are, stay warm.

Big hugs.

Grateful Acorns

Hello, thanks for checking in, and back with one more Thanksgiving card (or this one could just be a fall card).

- card design was done with a PTI Triangle Trio Die. Very easy to make a card front with this pretty die. Embossed the papers after cutting, with various embossing patterns. The triangles didn't fit together perfectly (not sure they are supposed to, or if it be Operator Error). However, found some copper 'lines' from an outline sticker pack, and it covered the spacing just very nicely. If using colored c/s as the card base, this might not have been a problem

- Old Oak Leaves Whispers (DVW-276) die was cut from a snippet of white c/s, colored with copics.

- Die sentiment was cut from the same dp as was the bottom triangle of the card front.

We're having a crisp but sunny Sunday, and the cold front seems to  have sent us air that is more clear this afternoon. The air quality varies from day to day. Hope your day is going just as you wish & need it to do. So glad you stopped by for a visit.

Hugs & Prayers to those of my blog friends are in need of either or both!

Edit: Thanks to Lisa for the heads up on the Scrapy Land Challenge Give Thanks to advise that since  the card has used a Die-Versions die - it qualifies as an entry there. Thanks Lisa. (couldn't find this particular Die-Versions die to provide a specific link!) 

Yep, One More Fall Card

Happy Saturday evening, and today has been sunny, but frightfully windy. It's sounded like a banshee howling round the house all day long.Tonight we're expected to get our first freeze of the season.

Happy to say I've spotted a new follower, but with the way blogger is handling the 'head shots' at the top of the blog, I can't find out who the new friend is. If you've recently become a follower, please do let me know, so I can give a welcome shout-out and a link to your blog if you have one.

Also, I need to qualify my use of the term "crapalanche" that so many of you liked - I didn't coin the word. It's thanks to Hettie in the UK for that delightfully apt description of the pile that all of us have! When I hear an acronym or expression that I really enjoy, I put that in the Blog-a-nitions tab at the top of the blog, and give a link to the person from whom I 'borrowed' it. So anytime you have one you want to share with the world, give a holler, and we'll add to the page!!!

 

- I love quilts (I used to love quilting...errrm...make that buying fabric if I'm bein' honest). So when I see a card that makes me think of quilts, of course I love it. My friend Carol L. does a lot of cards that remind me of a quilt pattern, and some time back, kindly sent me the instructions (and link) for a herringbone pattern. I had been saving a Birds & Blooms magazine with lovely fall leaves on the back cover. Decided to finally cut this baby into strips, add some pattern paper and make sort of herringbone background one night while I was watching The Crown (on Netflix). Since I was engrossed in the series, I sort of ended rather making my own version of this herringbone. However, I thought it made a decent background for the soda can maple leaf (ie, taken from the Crapalanche!).

- lacy circle is a snippet center from a previous die background; thought this looked ok for the punkin patch (think these are Memory box stitched pumpkins, cut from white snippets, colored with copics). Used an MStewart punch & a green snippet to cut the field grass. The circle was much too white, so lightly sponged with DI Tea Die. Left off a front sentiment, just put the holiday wishes inside..

Card base is a pretty orange-y coral, and from a Michael's Recollection pack, think it was 4 packs of 50 sheets, for $10. Good paper for layering...not a heavy weight though.

Ya'll stay warm, and thanks for joining me. Been doing housework today, so a bit tired. Come again when you can, & big hugs. Prayers too, for my friends who need comfort & strength just now.

Twelve Tags of Christmas - Day 9

Good evening. The early dermatology appointment went fine (thanks to all who mentioned it), and so did the 2pm dental checkup. Now my teeth feel all minty & fresh! Love that after feeling when the choppers get all cleaned up. The air quality was terrible when we left in the dark cold morning, but thankfully when coming out from the dentist's office, it had cleared up quite a lot. Not all gone, still a ghost of a sooty smell, but much, much nicer to breathe this afternoon than this morning.

Another tag to share for Loll's Twelve Days of Christmas.

 

Here goes:

 

 

IO Patchwork tree Die was die cut from several different snippets of specialty papers that were in the Crapalanche - added some Nuvo Crystal drops for ornaments. You can barely see it, but the little tree stump IS peeking out at the bottom.

 

- background created with Brushos; used some Dreamweaver translucent paste through a stencil  (translucent paste does not show up all that well on the lighter surface).

 

- Heat embossed the vellum using an old wooden sentiment stamp...It says "Peace" with some scrolly-curliques at each side. It is NOT showing up well at all in the photo, only marginally better IRL. The green looked darker in the pot than it actually heated up to be. Was disappointed in that. I might pull off the vellum and redo that. Added the snowflake buttons, some ribbon at the top, and Bob's Ya Uncle.  I do like this tree die...I'm a sucker for those stitched dies!!

 

Ya'll have a great evening, and please do check out Loll's Twelve Tags challenge. There are some gorgeous tags entered AND by Guest Designers,  that will just knock your socks off!!! Big hugs. Thanks for stopping in.

 

Oval Cornucopia

 

Good morning - wake up to a scheduled post. We have a very early dermatology appointment (Mr made it, I didn't!) so back here sharing another of the Fall/Thanksgiving cards I've been trying to get finished.

 

 

- Sweet & Sassy clear image stamped & colored with copics, some WoS, white gel pen. Got a smudge by the leaves around the right, bottom pumpkin. The clear set has an extra leaf, so stamped a few, colored & fussy cut out to add over the boo-boo. Think it got hidden pretty well! Die cut with the S/B beaded oval. Used another oval die that would fit the shape to cut teh coral mat (this may have been a faux mat, where the outside was traced and fussy cut...)

 

- background started as kraft c/s that was left from another project. Taped TH Mesh stencil (a gift from a sweet blog friend) in place. Dry embossed with the Big Shot, then used 'orangey' shades of DI to sponge over the embossing. The kraft color shows in the stencil pattern.

 

- 1/4" scor-tape added top and bottom, then covered with Orange Glitter Ritz, burnished very well.

 

- added some of the soda can metal leaves. Might be too many leaves with the boo-boo fix ones, but hey, it is what it is. Didn't think about this until I saw the photo! Am I the only one that does this???

 

An old sunflower button was on the crapalanche pile, so thought it might make a fitting embellie. Used Dark Walnut Nuvo Crystals to cover the center (where the button eyes are). Had to appy 3 layers of the Nuvo. When it dried, it would sink into the depression where you'd sew the button on. Finally after the 3rd time applying, it stayed raised up. This will definitely need some padding when it goes into the mail.

 

- stitched tag cut out the sentiment that is in the same small set...another one ready for an insert.

 

Ya'll enjoy the day. Thanks for joining me  here. I'll try to get back this afternoon to post a tag.

Big hugs and prayers for those friends who are in need of comfort & strength just now.

 

 

Twelve Tags of Christmas - Day 8

 

 

 

Good afternoon and welcome to Day 8 of Twelve Days of Christmas with Loll & Friends.

Here's another tag that I hope you'll enjoy and perhaps make one of your own to play along in this Christmas Challenge.

The challenge rules are:

1. Make a Mixed Media Christmas tag (include stamping plus two mixed media elements)
2. Provide a link to the Twelve Tags of Christmas event on your post.
3. Link back to your entry post, not your entire blog.
4. New creations only please. Enter as many times as you wish.





 

 

Tag created from Yupo paper and smooshing through some left over spray product on the craft sheet. Can't remember if this was from Brusho puddles or some sprays...perhaps from both. It's rather muddled, but I did like the marbled swirls, so after letting the Yupo dry over night, used an Elizabeth Craft die to cut into a tag shape. (Die #1, which did not cut well, so the shape was fussy cut with scissors, some of the places just embossed, so were left alone).

 

- Sue Wilson Festive Collection Rustic Wreath die to cut 3 layers of the wreath - gold, blue & green snippets just the right size for this die. Offset the layers, added some 'jewels' for sparkle.  Saved the center cutout shapes - it will show up on a later project, as I thought it had an interesting shape.

 

- a snippet of white that had been cut with a stitched die for another project was adhered to the bottom of the tag to add some 'snow'. A button snowflake from the stash was added, ribbons tied at the top... tag is done! 

 

Have a wonderful afternoon. We have another smoky hazy afternoon outside, so I am staying in the house! Big hugs & thanks for joining me.



12 Tags of Christmas

Hello again. Did some tags a few weeks ago, so I could join in the fun at the Loll & Friends Twelve Tags of Christmas. Haven't had a chance to write up some posts and share those tags, 'cause I've been busy trying to get some Thanksgiving cards done. Think I'm about to finish with that effort (got a couple more images to 'card up', and need to do inserts). Thought I'd do an evening post, and link up a tag. Remember: I'm tag challenged; there's some very awesome and beautiful tags that have been shared to provide some great inspiration. Even if you don't do tags, do take a look at what these talented, creative people do with little bits of paper tags, some trimmings & a lot of imagination! (and we'd love it if you joined in too!) The rules are in the sidebar at Stamping with Loll.

Day 7

 

 

- a kraft colored tag was  covered with white gesso, a rather patchy application - allowed to dry. Stamped with a script stamp using light brown ink (think it was Desert Sand). 

 

Using a technique demo'd by Jennifer McGuire a Tim Holtz Sizzix tree die was first embossed into the tag surface. I inked the tree die with a coating of Versamark, and then heat embossed this after embossing with a fine detail copper (think it was WOW, but not certain). It's a pretty look, but in my effort, the die cut a bit deeper than intended. No harm done though.

 

- tore a piece of music pattern paper, inked that with some DI (Spiced Marmalade, Rusty Hinge? one of the yellow brown tones). Added that over the surface. Then used the same Sizzix Tree die to cut a blue shade of shimmer sheetz to add another die.

 

- snippet of white was stamped with the sentiment, edged with the same DI used on the music paper so that it didn't look so 'white'. Hunted up some ribbons and tied at the top. Sprinkled on a few gold & silver sequins, and called it done!  If you have any questions about the tag, I'll be glad to try to answer...it's been some weeks, but I can hunt up the products/supplies.

 

Thanks for joining me this afternoon. Our area is getting a lot of poor quality air (smokey) from the fires in the North Carolina area, and now we're hearing that a mountain area in our own state has got some fires raging. Hard to breathe for those of us having respiratory problems. It's a shame if arsonists deliberately set these fires!

 

Anyway, big hugs. I'll try to add some posts each day, if I can keep up!!! Anybody watched The Crown on Netflix? I've watched in its entirety 2 times, and midway through the 3rd viewing. Pick up something I missed each time. It's an excellent production with great casting.