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9/02/2018

Christmas Card Club - Challenge 18

Welcome to another Christmas Card Club Challenge...The theme for Challenge 18 was selected by Zoe. Zoe's choice was Christmas Foliage/Trees. This group of card makers has a challenge every 2 weeks and our theme is chosen by one of the members. We also have the option to do something 'anything goes' as long as it's Christmas related. I hope Zoe will approve of my choice of "Christmas Foliage".




This is a Penny Black image which I decided to try water coloring with Tim Holtz DI markers. Used a Direct to Rubber technique, stamped and restamped using the Misti. After getting the ink down, I used a regular #4 round brush dampened with water to spread the color around a bit. I'm trying to get accustomed to the proper amount of water on a brush so that it moves the color and doesn't 'blob'. First stamped this using 140# watercolor paper on the smooth side, and was not happy with the result...too much texture. So tried again using a smooth Bristol card stock, and liked the results much better.

A Sue Wilson Double Stitched rectangle die cut the piece, which is popped up on craft foam; added some candy stripe washi tape to each side of a top fold card, then glued the berry piece and this one is done. 


Edit: Thanks to Brenda for advising  that the above card will also fit into the September CAS Mixup Challenge. So linking that allenge. 
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Decided to use another Penny Black cling image, but this one I colored with copics.


Used the same white Bristol card stock, stamped with Tsukineko Rich Cocoa, then used various copic markers to color...adding some white highlights to the berries with a white gel pen. Then used some DOX to edge around the corners and edges to tone down the 'white'. Used a snippet of Christmas paper as a mat (cut out the center)...and this one is done. I found coloring the pine cones much easier than  #1's berries.  I'll keep trying to work on my watercolor and hope I can improve over time. I know it takes practice, practice, practice.

Now I hope you'll take time to visit my team members, whose blog links are listed on the right side bar. As always, thanks for spending time to visit here. I'm trying to visit all the sweet people who leave comments - still not getting the comment notices in my email, although I've followed the instructions in order to get blogger to send me a 'subscribe' notice. Not happened yet. I hope I don't miss anyone.

Ya'll have a good day, and for my American friends, have a wonderful Labor Day weekend. Be safe. Hugs and Prayers to those of my friends who are needing them. Blessings.


37 comments:

  1. Absolutely Stunning cards Mary. Beautiful stamps too. Love both cards Hugs Rita xxx

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  2. Two beautiful cards Mary ....lovely images and colouring...your practice is definitely worth it....looking superb...xxxx

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  3. Great cards Mary. Hope you are well. Sorry I have been AWOL! Christine x

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  4. Two gorgeous cards, beautiful stamping and colouring.
    Lorraine

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  5. Your cards are both so pretty and you colored each of them quite well! I like those brightly colored berries on the branch and how well the diagonally striped dsp compliments them! The 2nd card is so vintage and just beautiful with the edge distressing and gorgeous fonts on the sentiment! Love how you colored the pinecones as well! You did a great job on both cards :) Wishing you a great Labor Day weekend!

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  6. Two beautiful cards Mary. Love the simplicity of the first and the traditional theme of the second. Thanks for sharing Zoe x

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  7. Hi Mary, two fabulous cards, love the berries and water coloured well.
    Super pine cone image, great colouring there too, both a beautifully designed, Kate x

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  8. Wow! Both of these cards are just stunning Momma Mary! I love the Christmas berries, I love how you stamped them and them moved the color around. Just perfection! I also love the candy cane striped paper on each side of the berries, makes for one stunning Christmas card!! Your second card is equally stunning. I love that image and I love how you have colored it. But I really love the way you have made your paper look vintage and aged-just gives that wow factor! Also loving that beautiful Merry Christmas-who is that sentiment from? It is just beautiful and so fancy looking. Loving this one as it looks vintage! I would say you met the challenge of Christmas foliage well!!!! Hugs, Brenda

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  9. These are both so pretty Mary - I love the effect of the direct to paper stamping of the berries. Great touch with the candy cane striped paper with the red berries. Very striking! You did a fabulous job on the coloring and the Copic coloring on the second is awesome.

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  10. Both your cards are so beautifully coloured, Mary!! You rock with watercolours and also with markers! :D Two fabulous Christmas cards!

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  11. Both cards are great, Mary. I love the watercoloring. It is lovely and the copic coloring is sp pretty. I love the pine cones - they look so real. You should enter your first card in the CAS mix up Card Challenge. It would be a nice entry.

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  12. Two gorgeous cards Mary, I'm in awe so your colouring. you really nailed the rich tones of pine cones and those berries are stunning.

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  13. OH! my goodness Mary, what BEAUTIFUL cards, both very elegant, love the red and white of the first with the watercolouring and the striped washi, the second is a traditional finish and another great design and colouring. Love each of them.
    Faith
    x

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  14. WOW, Mary! Your coloring and water coloring is outstanding on both of these. Fabulous job on the pinecones and sure don't see how that's easy. The cherries-WOW! I'd never guess that was watercoloring with all the gorgeous shading and highlights. These are so well done!

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  15. Hi Mary, Both lovely cards. With only about 16 weeks to Christmas I think more and more Christmas will be on blogs now.

    Hope you are having a nice weekend. Sue

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  16. Both beautiful cards love the stamps and great colouring on both-love the watercolouring on the first and fabulous colouring on the pine cones
    Carol x

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  17. Your practicing sure has paid off with your two wonderful cards. The technique on your first card looks beautiful and those berries are fabulous. What a traditional and stunning second card with wonderfully colouring. Thank you for joining in the fun challenge at The CAS Mix Up Challenge X

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  18. Hi Mary,
    2 wonderful cards and their designs look so awesome and very stunning.
    Love them both as you have done some excellent work on them both.
    The colouring is brilliant and such great stamped images too.
    Love and big crafty hugs from my house to yours. Jenny L.

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  19. Two fabulous cards Mary, I especially like the one with the beautiful pine cones.
    Pauline - Crafting with Cotnob
    x

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  20. Wonderful use of those pretty Penny Black designs. I love both of these cards. You certainly have caught on to making awesome use of them. They are wonderful!

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  21. These are really pretty Mary - especially love the pinecones - fabulous! Big hugs rachel x

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  22. Both your cards are lovely. They show what a talented colorist you are. They’re traditional and festive, very elegant.

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  23. Hi Mary
    Two stunning cards... love them both...
    Hugs Sylvie xx

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  24. Two gorgeous cards Mary. Love all the red on the first card and a super image and design.

    Kath x

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  25. They are both so gorgeous!! I love the beautiful designs of each one and the colors!! Have a great day!! Big hugs :)

    Lisa
    A Mermaid's Crafts

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  26. Two fabulous cards Mary, and your watercolour berries are really well done with just the right amount of added water, and love the red striped washi down the sides. The pine cones have that lovely vintage look with the brown blended ink around the edge of the image layer, and the patterned paper looks great in the background. x

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  27. I'm so glad to see you practicing watercolor, Mary! I think your berries are beautiful! And your pine cone is beautiful too! Wish I could color with Copics like you do. I need to practice, practice, practice! Thanks so much for sharing with us at CAS Mix Up!

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  28. Both cards are so pretty from the peppermint one of the first to the pinecones of the second which you coloured so nicely.

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  29. Two beautiful cards Mary! LOVE your berry card with the inking with markers. It turned out beautifully!! Look so pretty with the side pieces of candy cane striping.

    Your second card ... WOW!! You are a master with copic colouring. This is STUNNING! Thanks for sharing your first card with us at CAS Mix Up! xx

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  30. Fabulous cards Mary - the berries are stunning! The second card is lovely too, but the first one had me at first glance.
    Blessings
    Maxine

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  31. Mary, your cones are brilliant. The card is fabulous. As for the first card and love, love , love those berries. Hugs Mrs A.

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  32. Oh wow Mary, you have created two gorgeous cards. I love the beautiful image on the first one, coloured so beautifully. The second card is just the most perfect Christmas card! Love it too! Hugs, Anne xx

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  33. You're really getting the hang of the water on the brush, Mary, and your Copic coloring of the second card is beautiful! Both of these cards are lovely!! Hugs, Darnell

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  34. Beautiful Christmas cards! Both are beautiful images, I just love the pine cone card!
    Hugs,
    Pam
    scrap-n-sewgranny.blogspot.com

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  35. Gorgeous colouring, Mary and two beautiful cards.

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  36. Beautiful coloring on your berries and branch with your Distress Markers thank you for sharing with us at the CAS Mix Up!

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