Christmas Card Club - Icicles

Hello again, and time for the group of ladies calling ourselves The Christmas Card Club. We are a group of cardmakers, who choose to make Christmas cards all year long, in order to have a little stash on hand, come December. We submit a card every 2 weeks, based on a theme that one member has selected for that date. If you'd like to join in the fun, do leave us a message, so that we can get you the info as to how to join us. (very easy to do!). All the members are listed on my right sidebar, so you can check out their styles.

This week the choice was Icicles, picked by Sweet Kate (known to us as Culliesocks). So here's my take on Icicles, and I hope Kate will approve of my design.

- PSX image, colored with copics, WoS and such fun. It looks intimidating, with all the intricate details, but actually was quite fun to color. First airbrushed the background, after using a masking product called Molotow Masking Pen. I didn't want to have to cut a paper mask for all the elements, so just got the pen flowing (it took a bit to get the fluid down to the nib). Colored very quickly those things I didn't want the copic blues to get on; airbrushed various blues & blue violet copics to look like a stormy snowy sky. Once the airbrush no longer felt 'sticky'  as it can with layers of ink -  just used my fingers to 'rub up' the blue mask and it came _right off_ . No lifting of a finicky paper mask in areas where I didn't want extraneous ink either.

- for the icicles, I used a Sparkle n Sprinkle Brushable glue on the roof, the snow covered ground, just any place I thought needed snow & ice. Then generously sprinkled on some SnS Sparkling Snow Semi-Transparent glitter.  This stuff really sparkles just as ice really does. Also added in some Ranger Star Dust Stickles in a few places as well.

- using 2 sizes of stitched squares, created a frame from silver glitter paper.

- Royal Blue Mirror paper was embossed with a 6x6 Crafters Companion snowflake EF.

- HLS Mixed Christmas Sentiments inked with Delicata Silver, then sprinkled some Judikens Aegean Silver over the ink & heat embossed. So pretty. The strip was too white when added to the card. Removed (carefully!) and used some DI Stormy Sky over it, added some Star Dust Stickles around, and readhered it.

I hope you enjoyed the Icicles card, and please do take time to visit my team mates, (list in the sidebar) and see some fabulous interpretations on Kate's choice this time.

Coming to you from beautifully sunny & lovely South Florida with lots of Cyber Hugs.

A St. Pat's Day Bunny

Good evening. If you're in the States on the Eastern Seaboard, I hope the storm is not affecting your area too badly. We were told to expect some nasty weather beginning last night at midnight, but so far, nothing too terrible. Thankfully.

We had a rather exciting Valentine's Day. (I hope yours was exciting too, but not in the same manner as ours). First, Mr. said "let's go out for breakfast". I would probably just as soon stayed asleep, but got up, dressed and off we go. The first restaurant we tried was way too crowded, too long to wait to be seated. So we tried the local Panera's - which we both like. Got our lattes and scones, headed to the car to return home. Driving very slowly in the exit lane to leave the lot, WHAM - BAM...the passenger side of our explorer was slammed. A young fella didn't see us, proceeded to back out his car from the parking space, and caught the entire right side of our explorer. Front door won't open, as part of his rear bumper is wedged between the front & back door. Lots of damage for just a fender bender. Thankfully (and the main thing!) no one was hurt. After impact, we both realized there was a small baby in a rear car seat, and that shook up both of us as it had been a pretty hard jolt. But her parents assured us, she was fine.

This morning, we took the accident report to our insurance people, and since it was the other driver's responsibility, we have to wait for his insurance to contact us. Only problem (I say that with tongue in cheek because dealing with an insurance company over a claim is always gonna be a Big Hassle! )-- we were planning to head to Florida tomorrow. Our Bostonian friend arrived today, and we were going on south to Sunny Florida to see our daughter. Now we hope the insurance company will get in touch with us by tomorrow so that we can leave on Wednesday. There is something scheduled for this Friday, that our friend wants to see.

OK..enough excitement. (See why I like things to stay quiet?!) Here's another St. Pat's card. I'm trying to finish up some commitment cards, get photo'd and scheduled before we leave. Hope I can get 'er all done.

Think this is a Whipper Snapper image, bought at Stampaway last August. It's been colored for a bit, and I can't find the stamp just presently. Die cut with a S/B rectangle.

Used bits & pieces (aka snippets) for the design papers. Just cut pieces that would fit to cover the white card base.

- S/B Celtic motif border - also a snippet.  Sentiment is a Cardz TV St Patricks clear set that I've had for a while.

This card is really a Snippets card all the way round, folks! All the pieces were just handy to stick 'em on a card front. There you go! And I'm going over to the Snippets Playground, where I just saw some YUMMY Sue Wilson dies  & clear stamps as prizes for week 216. Now you know you'd like a chance to win these goodies. For just using snippets!  C'mon!

Thanks for joining me. I may be away for a bit...will try to check in from Sunny Florida (where it might be chilly too!) Hugs.

Chanelling Jennifer McGuire for Valentine's Day

Good afternoon...and {sorry} - back with another Valentine, and also added some cards to the Cards by Friends tab...so I hope you'll enjoy some pretty cards along with me. Aren't I so lucky to have such talented and generous blog buddies? Oh yes I AM!

Recently saw a video by Jennifer McGuire called Negative Space Coloring. I liked the techniques she demonstrated, plus also liked the dies and stamps she used, so you know what came next! Now, I needed something for DH for Valentine's Day, and I had a cutesy little Elly colored & die cut, but ---honestly --- it really wasn't "Him". So decided after my Simon Says Stamps order arrived pretty fast, tried out Jennifer's technique one evening. Remember that I didn't go back and review the video, just sort of winged it with what I could remember of what she did. Got a couple things I didn't do exactly right, but you know what? I still liked the final results! YAY for ME!

- MB Postage Square die die cut, Altenew Botanical Garden stamp inked with Versamark, heat embossed with Ranger Queen's Gold. Stamped again onto Eclipse masking tape, cut out, applied to the embossed image on the die.

- DI Candied Apple, Spiced Marmalade, Barn Door & Scattered straw applied with the sponging tool. Jennifer says start in the middle (I forgot that!started at the bottom with Candied Apple, lots of coverage). Started blending the Spiced Marmalade as the next layer...and decided that the Barn Door would be too much red, so just continued with the Marmalade to the edge of the c/s. Oh yes, left the c/s inside the die so I could get the white edge. Then used some of the Scattered Straw at the very top edge and corners, to lighten up the Marmalade just a bit. Looking good, so burnished this with a paper towel. My only problem in doing this was that the tiny leaves at the bottom of the bloom mask wanted to lift, and I did manage to get some ink on one of the leaves.

After lots of burnishing, added some of the white pearl Perfect Pearls (remember the Faux Metal technique?)...burnished the pearls in very well, and did it ever add a nice shine.

- PTI Quick Stitch Sentiments for the Love script.

- a scant black mat, then adhered to a scant gold mirror mat. glued this to the embossed card front.

- XO embossing folder with a red pattern that was in the stack pulled to do V Day cards, thought the shade looked well with the Distress colors. The embossing looks sanded, but I didn't sand it...the paper effect did that.

- MB Heart Chain border die cut from a snippet of gold mirror paper. Trimmed off some of this border, stuck a heart in 2 corners, and Ta Da....it's done.

Great Impressions Puppy Valentine

Hi, and I know you must be getting awfully tired of seeing Valentines, but hey, tis the season and all that! Also I've had some inquiries about the products used in making the paste backgrounds I've shared recently, so gathered the last session's supplies together to share a photo. Especially with the glass beads paste. Here is what I used for the last play session - so I hope this helps anyone who had a question. Sorry I didn't share these initially, but sometimes I get in a hurry (sometimes????HA!)

Have tried to place items so that you can see the product names and most of this stuff can be found in the arts section of many craft stores. The Lindy's products came from Joggles . The Starburst spray comes as a dry powder, you heat demineralized water, mix the product to a liquid. There's some videos at Joggles showing how to use these sprays, also directions for the mixing. The Magicals I'd had for a while, didn't remember how to use them...happened to see a video over Christmas where a blogger had used them on a technique!

Now, 3 cards done with the same image, an old one that DH bought when we first started this stamping hobby. Of course he bought it with DD in mind, and he made her a card that year. Sadly, he's lost interest in making his own cards (but he has plenty of suggestions for ME to make a card at times! LOL)

Great Impressions wooden stamp, colored with copics, die cut with a Sue Wilson die using a center die that fit the image (don't remember which SW die it was). Heart brads from long ago, Glossy Accents applied for some shine.

A S/B Labels 40 die from a red snippet for the mat. Decided to use a dauber, add Versamark around the edges, sprinkled Ranger Queens' Gold around this. Added a little touch of glitz.

- Snippets from different 6x6 Valentine theme paper packs, and a Recollections pack bought on a 50% sale. Bits & bobs. The cupid on #3 is part of the paper design, added glossy accents to it.

- PBlack Sweet Heart (51-184) dies cut the heart arrows. Some thin gold washi added, and when these were going into the envelopes, that washi started to lift. Burnished it back down again, and hope it holds until the card is opened. I just don't have great success with this stuff. Again it was something on sale, and I wonder how old it was...maybe the 'sticky' dries out???Ah well, another cardmaking adventure. One more V. card to make for DH. I have an image colored but it's an Elly and  not sure he will go for cute! We'll see. I can _give_ him the card, so no rush to get in the mail. My BAD! 

Hugs & thanks for popping in. If you're wondering how I've managed to post so much this week, it's called: taking stuff to color when you go away, getting the cards made up, and doing scheduled posts!! I'm not usually so organized, folks!!! LOL & Hugs.

Note: the links I try to add, are not always where I bought the product. I try to find a picture so you can see what the product looks like!

Doggie Valentine

Hi, and I bet my regular readers will know who is getting this card (DD- the family dog lover).

Whipper Snapper Design Love Dog (CU014) - colored with copics, die cut with a S/B rectangle. The Love heart has glossy accents for shine as does part of his bow tie.

- S/B Cascade Hearts coverplate cut the red background, which was placed over some pink glitter paper.

- Dies R Us Frantic Stamper Reverse Paw Print Border (FRA-Die-09570)(the paw pad is shaped like a heart). Can't find the image to link, so probably DieRUs have discontinued this, even though it's a recent purchase. If interested, perhaps you could google and find a source. Same pink glitter paper as behind the red hearts, and used some of the tiny confetti from the die to add a couple extra hearts around.

- Little Yellow Bicycle sentiment die, from the same pink glitter paper. This is the same dog image used for DD's Christmas card, (well, that one had a bone and no spots!) and she liked him. He's just a happy goof!

Ya'll have a great afternoon, and thanks for popping in. Gosh, guess I should start on Easter cards next. I'm about tired of Valentine cards! Still got a few St. Pat's to finish. Hugs

Penny Black Kitty with Valentine Balloons

Welcome, and thanks for visiting. Today's card is from the Penny Black Transparent Share a Hug set. I'm allergic to cats, so don't usually buy cat motifs, but the Penny Black kitty is one that I gravitate towards. He's cute & looks so happy. Easy to color as well.

- Center red balloon got a layer of Clear WoS, then added some glossy accents for shine.

- A sizzix die (has no name on it) for the Kitty. Papers from stash, and the top scallop was a 6x6 Authentique pack, cut with a La-La Land border scallop. Authentique and Graphic 45 are 2 of my favorite paper companies. Love to find these patterns in 6x6, which I personally find more user friendly.

That's it! Don't forget to check out the Happy Little Stampers February Christmas Challenge. The theme this month is a Tick Tack Toe challenge one.

Ya'll have a nice evenin', and Big Hugs.

Edit: Thanks to visiting Carol's Blog this evening, I learned that this card might fit in with the Penny Black Saturday Challenge for February  going on to use hearts or red with a PB product. Just linked in, so I hope it works as this post went live today.

And one other sweet blogger suggested this cute PB Kitty would fit in over at Penny Black & More since it fits in with the February challenge of Anything Goes with a Stamp and a die! Thanks Brenda.http://stamping-fantasies.blogspot.com/.    Aren't bloggers just the greatest support community? Yes indeed!

Christmas Card Club - Texture

Hello & welcome to another Sunday where it's time for our Christmas Card Club Challenge. Today our  teammate Rachel selected the theme, and Rachel wanted to see Texture on our cards. So here goes (a bit late, but I made it eventually).

You ever start out with a good idea, and then it just seems like everything you touch, doesn't work out to what was in your imagination? These 2 cards are great examples of that, but I really did like the way #1 turned out.

 

 

- Mixed up some transparent paste, Lindys Magicals in a lime green and blue shade, some gel medium, got a nice green - made a background first to test the colors. (it's used in the next card). Then using the same Magicals, took some glass gel paste, mixed again to get this color of green. I like the shading that shows & it's really a nice texture. Looks 'touchable'. This was spread over a Stamplorations Swirl Tree Stencil. I remembered to mix some of the glass gel beads with a bit of acrylic gold paint for the star, but didn't think of the trunk until too late; so it's a green trunk instead of brown! Artistic license. Used 140# watercolor paper for this stenciling.

- HLS Mixed Christmas Sentiments clear set used for the sentiment. Heat embossed with Ranger's Gold Fine Detail EP, rathen than my fav Queen's Gold. This fine detail EP works better with sentiments, but I like the gold gleam of  Queen's Gold much better.

The next card was die cut from the 1st green background created while trying to get the transparent paste a shade of green that I liked. First idea was to add the stenciled tree above on this background, but would have been Too Much Green! (remember I've been doing St. Pat's cards!)

- S/B Holiday Tree die to cut out the tree shape. Going ok so far. Traced the tree outline shape onto Gold Mirror paper, fussy cut, started putting tiny dots of glue around on the green to adhere. This glue is _supposed_ to dry clear, and I did blot as I pressed the green to the gold. When it dried, I could see smears of the glue. (Well if the light hit just right). So 2nd idea not working out so great. Hunted through my gems stash, found these holly leaves, and started to try to cover the worst spots. I would have liked this one, if not for the glue problems. It _was_ fun to do the background...I'm finding that's something I like to do. You just never know what will result.

- HLS Mixed Christmas sentiment stamped on a snippet of the same watercolor weight paper left from trimming out the Stamplorations tree. Handcut a fishtail. No really good place to put the sentiment, so --- Hey, it can cover a glue spot!!!

I hope you enjoyed the cards, my adventures in artistry (and I always have some!) and will take time to visit my teammates to see what they've shared with Rachel's Textures Challenge. See you in 2 more weeks with another Christmas Card Club Card.

Have a wonderful day, and thanks for coming by. Hugs.

O'Leary for St. Patrick

HiYa, and welcome. Yay for the weekend. Back with another St. Pat's card, with a fun little bear, who was easy to color.

Whipper Snapper O'Leary Cling (CY781), copic coloring. Die cut with S/B Labels 4. Mat is a Darice die. Since I don't have any of the gilding wax I see used so beautifully, I used some paste wax that comes in a small tube. We used to use it for crafts years ago & it has sort of a petroleum smell to it. As I was rubbing it on the paper, I realized this is best used in a more ventilated space. It does have an odor at first use, but it's not evident on the paper. Quite oily feeling to it as well. The places I've found the gilding wax have had expensive shipping (even from Amazon - a 3rd party shipper - so expensive). Joanna Sheen has free shipping but didn't have the colors I wish for. I did like the gold leafing look on this one though.

- Background papers VOS from stash, bottom cutout with a S/B Mary die (image that?!). Didn't realize at first that it was an inlay die. Then decided to use the same matting green to back it, but decided to recut this piece, and try to 'shadow' with the darker green. Then THIS needed a backing, so hunt for something gold.

Found the first background created with the Lindy's Magical play day, which started with a gold powder. This didn't yield the really gold look I wanted, but I like it as a backing, and it looks quite nice IRL. As I was cutting the piece to fit, thought it would look very faux leather, if embossed. Hmmm, what do you think? This was made with the translucent paste, Lindy's Magical, a bit of water spritz, mix & spread over watercolor paper. Probably added a spritz of gold spray after drying a while. It wasn't really a pretty 'gold' look, but I'm liking the results. Also doubt I could replicate it too! LOL.

MBox tiny shamrocks on the SU punched out sentiment. This was stamped with Delicata Gold ink, heat embossed with Ranger Clear fine Detail powder for more shine. Done!

Thanks for the visit. By the way, I try very hard to return visits to all who come here. With Blogger's current mischief, even when I hit publish, I'm not always certain my return comment gets published. So if I miss visiting you, when you've popped in, please let me know. I'll blame Blogger! Hugs

St Patrick's Day Hat

Good afternoon, and TGIF. Hope the weather is not too awful where you may be in the world. We've had a quiet week - and I had a fun afternoon out with a local stamp friend, whom I'd not seen for a while. Followed by a nice lunch which was also very pleasant.

I've been trying to color a few St. Paddy's day images along with the Valentines. Also saw a pretty background here. Since I know that Carol does lovely quilt backgrounds & patterns, I asked if this was one of her efforts or just design paper (it was DP), and she kindly sent me links for a bargello technique. I tried - and dang, was it difficult. I used a sheet of double adhesive paper, cut various sized strips of papers, and went to work. You know how hard it is to apply a skinny strip of paper to sticky paper & get it on straight? (and I've done Seminole quilt piecing with fabric and it's much easier). Well, I finally got a background, but mine sure didn't look like it ought to. After all the work involved (not to mention some discouraging words uttered) I wasn't gonna toss it. So it became the background for this card, and in looking at the photo, I realize just how well I've covered it up too!

- Whipper Snapper Cling St. Pat's Hat image (CU039) colored with copics. Don't remember which die set this came from (and I also have to hunt through the magnet art bins to find the sheet where it needs to be  re-homed). I think it's a S/Binder die, but not sure. Another S/B die cut the green mat behind the image, and the S/B Lattice die was cut from white, snipped in half, to make the bottom mat layer. A S/B Shapeability Die, Gold Elements cut the bottom mat layer - 2 pieces to make a square base. All this adhered to the bargello pattern created paper.

- Sentiment stamped on torn vellum with DI Mowed Lawn, heat embossed with clear detail powder (and it still doesn't show up well).

- 2 Impression Obsession shamrocks from green snippet added on the torn vellum - to cover up the glue dots used to adhere.

Here's the paper piece. Doesn't look at all like I wanted, but a lotta work involved in it. Will have to revisit the tutorials, and perhaps I didn't use patterns & colors with a strong enough contrast. Or maybe I shouldn't have made the 2nd cut strips different sizes...I don't know. I tried to cross stitch a bargello pattern long years ago. Couldn't get that right either!!! LOL.

Have a great day. Thanks for dropping in. Hugs

HLS Christmas Challenge - February - Tic Tac Toe

Welcome. It's time for Happy Little Stampers February Christmas Challenge, and this month our theme is Tic Tac Toe.

 

 

Our Challenge is sponsored by Happy Little Stampers.

 

Winner will receive one stamp set from HLS

 

I decided to take the white, Santa & red for my theme, so here goes:

 

 

 

Two  wooden Great Impressions stamps were inked with Versamark, embossed with Ranger's Queen's Gold EP. The oval aperture of holly image was die cut with a S/B classic oval that fit best in the opening. Trim around the opening colored with a Pentel Slicci gold pen, and a Slicci silver pen was added to the embossed gold of the sentiment. Holly & berries colored with copics.

 

- Santa image stamped separately & colored. Used some glitter on the white of his hat, and Glossy Accents on the glasses. Copics for the coloring.. Placed behind the oval opening. Then die cut the piece with a S/B oval, edged with DI Antique Linen and very light touch of Shabby Shutters to tie in the green of the holly.

 

- red was embossed with a Holly EF. Tried inking the EF folder with some pigment white on the folder, then embossing. Didn't like that look for the entire back, so cut off a piece to use as a border accent.

 

- Elizabeth Craft holly die, cut from white, colored with copics, then added some WoS. That's my Tic Toe Toe entry for February's Christmas Challenge.

 

Hope you will join in with this fun challenge, and get a head start on your Christmas card stash for 2016!

PLEASE REMEMBER YOU DO NOT HAVE TO USE HLS STAMPS TO ENTER OUR CHALLENGES

 

 

Thanks for joining me today. Big hugs.

 

Edit: a very sweet blog friend suggested this Santa would fit in with the current Merry Monday Challenge, so will link there. Thanks Bonnie!

 

 

 

Edit #2: Some sweet blogger let me know I didn't provide the link to the current HLS February Christmas challenge. So I've added it in at the top. Thanks Sylvie!

 





 

 

Memory Box Heart Valentine

Hello again & welcome. Another pink Valentine, from an afternoon of play with Lindys Magical powder, Ranger Transparent paste, some liquitex Gel medium (which thins out the paste and I've not been adding water spritzes), with some glimmer sprays over the background once it's dried a bit. Usually will be made from either watercolor weight paper or Canson 98# (or 100#) mixed media paper. Cardstock weight paper does not work as well, and especially if you plan to do any later embossing. Needs the heavier weight paper to work well with the moisture in the other products. I've learned that if adding water spritzing, use a very light hand too. Sometimes I'll add in some Dylusions spray, Tattered Angels or some similar shimmery spray of that sort. Lindy's Stamp Gang sprays are fun to add in the experiment as well. If planning to use the 'paste mixture' with a stencil, better to keep it less liquid, but if smooshing or painting a card surface, thinner mixture works better. Mainly it's just about having fun and seeing what happens. It's always magical.

MBox Ferrand Heart die to cut the motif from created card stock.

Adhered die cut to Canson 98# mixed media white card stock which had been embossed with a woodgrain EF. Placed a piece of white memory foam behind this piece for some dimension, and adhered to white side fold card base.

- Cheery Lyn Valentine die sentiment from the same background piece. Happy die came from a Happy Birthday set (think it was a Memory Box die). I thought the flourish font style looked ok together.

- Used a tiny punch to get some itty bitty hearts for trim. (actually the heart on the lower right is covering a place where the outline of the heart tore, had to be reglued. You could just barely see where it fit, so Voila, a tiny heart rescued. Added a few more around, just because I could, AND it looked more like it was planned!)

By the way, I'm not pushing websites when I  link to a product. This is just to show what the die or product looks like.  Just sayin'.

Another easy card to do. Come again when you have time. Blessings & Hugs.