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1/27/2014

January 2014 Rudolph Day

Happy Monday afternoon, and before I share two cards that are for entry into Sarn's Rudolph Day at Stamping for Pleasure let me say a big warm welcome to 2 new followers:

Terri of Krafti Korner and Lisa of Bellalistona. Thanks, ladies for choosing to spend some time here with me. Please take a visit to each of these lovely blogs, and be inspired with some beautiful works.

Now onto the cards for the very first Rudolph Day Challenge of 2014. If you can join in the fun, please be sure to check out the Rules posted at the top of Sarn's blog, as these are just a bit different from last year's. Sarn's always trying to help us get more motivated. I know it worked for me! (psst... we have to share 2 cards, but just one post..so check it out). I hope I got it right!!!

#1


I did this stamp & diecut last year, so I don't remember the stamp company. Die is a S/B label die. DI ink around the edge, copic coloring, spica highlighting, and some Flower Soft on the fur hat.
Mat is a snippet from Cottage Cutz Cardinal die.
Red velvet square also a snippet from a future project
that will be posted soon. It's a cut-out from a larger piece, saving on layering.

Scallop punched trim from a 6x6 Pebbles Welcome Christmas, tiny trees punched from lightweight glitter paper snippet with an MS punch.

Tiny red rhinestones added on the holly in the diecut. Copic holly berries were a bust, so covered with rhinestones, looked much better!

Close up of the owls...don't you just love the way the eyes cut towards each other. (My DH & I do that a lot! Not just at Christmas either!!!)
 
 
#2
- Background was a Dylusions sprays gone wrong. First heat embossed some snowflakes with white EP, then used various Dylusions sprays in the blue family. Didn't like the effect, but kept it - just thinking about it. Decided to stamp the sprayed piece again with Versamark Frost & Champagne with
larger snowflakes, heat embossed with Ranger Tinsel Snowflake. Was careful with the placement of these stampings, because I had decided I would use a Ritz glitter center border (this covered some of the earlier embossing boo-boos from the 1st go-round.*). Used Sookwang double sided paper to cut a border to size; after adhering to the background, sprinkled Glitter Ritz Deep Purple (which I thought was a cobalt blue until I was checking the description!). I have other blues, but this was the deep contrast I wanted for this. Burnished the glitter as instructions say, then using a snippet of mirror c/s, diecut a PBlack Peace. Ran this through the small Xyron, and tried to place it evenly on the border. Still had room on my silver scrap to cut out these Impression Obsession Snowflakes (IO-Die024-X) - so more snippets from that particular piece. It's trash. The glass snowflake embellie- lower left atop the embossed snowflake - is the last from a Hero Arts pack of gems, so now the cellophane packet will get tossed. So that's my last snippet on this one! *initially stamped the Versamark on white Mixed Media paper & it was impossible to see on the white paper where the previous inking had been;  on Mixed Media, it doesn't show glossy as it will on regular c/stock. I had overlapped several of images without realizing what I had done. Of course when I heat embossed the EP, the overlaps did not look good AT ALL! I was able to cover the mess-up with the glitter border, and I quite like how this finally turned out. Lesson Learned: Don't just toss a screw up immediately. Think about how it can be salvaged. My initial thought was just to use areas that weren't messed up for punches or trims.
 
I had said brevity was going to be a goal on my posts, but Golly Gosh, I had to tell you what I used! I hope that when I confess to my mistakes, it will help someone else avoid the same thing! Hope you like these 2 cards, and now I'm off to link up. Isn't often I can make cards work in more than one challenge!
 
and Week 109 over at the Crafty Snippets Playground
 
Come on & join in the fun. There's prizes at both of these places.
 
Thanks for joining me on a sunny, somewhat warmer afternoon. Hugs
 

26 comments:

  1. Fab cards Mary really pretty, huggles Sue xx

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  2. Yep, it's too late. Ha Well, I guess you can start being good for next Christmas...just don't wait too long. HaHA Love those cute owls and pretty holly. That fur hat looks very warm.

    Your next card looks great. For sure, when I mess something up, it goes straight to the garbage can. Maybe I should re-think. The background colors are very pretty.

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  3. The owls card is darling! Of course, it is never too late to be good. The other card with all the other mistakes... goodness. Kudos to you for keeping at it. I would have given up on it long ago!

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  4. Adorable cards!! Love the owls

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  5. Hi Mary . . . thanks for entering these 2 lovely Christmas cards into Rudolph Day and the Playground. WOW - you certainly persevered with the backgrounds on the second one! Good for you! The first one is a hoot! Ha ha!

    Hugs, Sarn xxx

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  6. These cards are both lovely Mary ! I love the owls , and the colors you used on both. I think the card with the dylusions looks beautiful !

    Hugs,
    Mayra
    Mayrasdesigns.blogspot.com

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  7. I think they both turned out great, Mary

    Kathyk

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  8. Two lovely Christmas makes Mary. The owls are so sweet and funny, and the backing oval looks good with the holly die, and the striped dp with the two glittery trees goes perfectly. The red gems for holly berries, are a lovely finishing touch. The second card with the lovely snowflakes is a gorgeous colour blue, and it just goes to show that it is worth keeping things you are not sure about because quite often on further reflection these are salvagable, and this is definitely one of them. There is a crafting programme I watch and they always say 'there are no mistakes only happy accidents'. x

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  9. Your owls are just darling Mary, and the sliver snowflakes really are pretty.

    Hugs Diane

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  10. Both cards are gorgeous, Mary!! The owls are so sweet!! I love how you colored them!! And the Dylusions background looks fabulous!! Glad you kept with it!! Have a great evening :)

    Lisa
    A Mermaid's Crafts

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  11. Both very cute cards but I love the owl one!!! Awesome job.

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  12. Those owls are just too darn cute. Like the second card. for some reason I read the first word as backyard and couldn't for the life of me fathom wot you were on about.!! Anyways I like the result.
    Hugs Mrs A.

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  13. Eek! I love those darling little owls and that first card! Great layout and design and just too cute for words. A perfect card for Christmas.
    Love that beautiful second card too! Very elegant looking!
    Lynn

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  14. These are both so cute, and I love those little owls on the first with their eyes asking if they've been good! Too funny, and I love the lacy die and vine accents! I like all the pretty blue color and snowflakes on the 2nd one, and the background looks fine to me! NJ on both!

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  15. Oh, dear...this is so cute! I can't stop smiling at that sweet image! Cute card, Mary! Thanks for sharing!

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  16. Two great card. So glad you were able to save the second one as it looks wonderful!
    The owls are such cutiepies!

    PS Love the new picture of you!

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  17. What an adorable owl card Mary - they do have such cute expressions and a really lovely card too. Love the second one and how you saved it. I hate to give up when making a card so it's always interesting to read how you kinda 'fix' things up :)

    Hugs, Di xx

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  18. Love both of these cards Momma Mary! The owl card is fabulous, I love those two owls looking at each other and oh yes, the Mr and I do the same thing too. lol I love the traditional colors in this card. The snowflake card is simply stunning!! I don't know where any boo boo's are in the background, but I think that sprayed background looks amazing. Love, love those snowflakes and that glittered border. Hugs!

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  19. Beautiful cards Mary, those little owls are so sweet and cute, the sentiment is brilliant.
    A stunning snowflake card especially the colours.
    luv
    irene
    xxxx

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  20. Hi Mary,
    what really super cards for the Rudolf day. Love those super little owls, and my mind is thinking of you and your DH making those eyes at each other.
    Love your super designing of both of these very different creations.
    Lots of crafty love. Jenny L.

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  21. Your Christmas cards are lovely. Those owls are so cute , and I love the die cuts and punches. The background on the second card is totally gorgeous. It obviously was meant to be :) You're so smart to be making Christmas cards now.

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  22. Good for you Sugar - this is going to be fun!!! Your cards are wonderful! Hey kid - it's snowing up here in the mountains!!
    Sandy xx

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  23. Great cards for Rudolph, Mary!! You know I laughed out loud at those adorable owls and that sediment!! Enjoy the day! Hugs, Darnell

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  24. Two beautiful cards Mary. Love those owls - so cute!! :) And your Peace card is gorgeous. Loll xx

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  25. Two stunning Rudolph Day cards Mary, can't pick a favourite - love the owls because I adore owls, and me and DH do that too lol! Love the blue inkyness of the second card - may have to get some Dylusions as I am loving that blue in particular xx

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  26. Two great cards Mary, love the little owls and the great sentiment and lovely background.
    Well done you for not giving in on the second, I would have, but a great save there.
    Love your new picture, forgot to say the other day.

    Kath x

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