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11/30/2016

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.
 
 

11/27/2016

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.

11/24/2016

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!
 
 


11/23/2016

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!
 
  

11/21/2016

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.

11/20/2016

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!) 


11/19/2016

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.

11/15/2016

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.
 
 

11/14/2016

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.


11/13/2016

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.
 
 


Christmas Card Club - Reindeer

Hello and welcome to another Christmas Card Club post. Today fellow club member Lorraine selected our challenge, and Lorraine wanted to see Reindeer on our cards. So off we go in search of Reindeer!



- Background of SU Razzleberry was embossing with a holly swirl motif.

- Simply Refined Die purchased from Scrapbooking Made Simple (don't think it's in stock now). Die cut from white card stock, just to see how well it would cut, since it's quite intricate. Used my super duper metal plate, did a back and forth pass, rotated quarter turn, and another pass. It cut very nicely, and decided to use the white die cut. Inked with versamark, heat embossed with Ranger's Queens Gold. 

adhered to the embossed Razzleberry card front. Added a horizontal strip of 1/4" doublestick tape, used a gold Glitter Ritz powder. Added 1/8" vertical strip of the tape, and the same glitter ritz. Burnished.

- final touches were to add a red rhinestone glowing nose, and a brown rhinestone for an eye, a sticker sentiment, and Voila, it's done. In the photo I see a bit of white on the bottom left corner, and since that's the fold, can't trim that off. So will be matching the Razzleberry with an appropriate copic marker and fixing that if I can.

Please do take time to see what my fellow Christmas Card Club members have shared with our Reindeer theme. Their blog links are in the right sidebar.

Thanks for joining me today. Have a wonderful Sunday. Big hugs and prayers going out to those friends who are on the prayer list.

11/11/2016

Autumn Thanks Fall

Good afternoon, and welcome. Here's the 2nd card created with the Echo Park Autumn Thanks die. The inlay part comes from this card;


- Background sponged with DI Peacock feathers, then die cut with Echo Park die. Adhered this to a white card base, then using some liquid glue on the die letters, inlaid the positive letters back into the negative openings. The tiny bits in the top of the 't' got lost and so added some marker in the white space. Don't think it is too obvious.

- Oak leaves were made using soda can metal, alcohol inks in fall shades, and die cut with the Sizzix Thinlets 660955 die. This die has 2 sizes of various leaf shapes, and I found mine at our local Hobby Lobby on sale (30% off...rats! I couldn't use my 40% off coupon then!!)

Other than losing the tiny bits of the inner t, this was a fast card. Another one for the stash. Now just need to make some inserts, get these in the mail!

Thanks for stopping by. Hugs & come again when you can.


11/10/2016

Loll & Friends - Twelve Tags of Christmas



Hello and welcome to Day 4 of Loll & Friends - Twelve Tags of Christmas.


 
Rules are very simple: A Tag with a Christmas Theme, some stamping AND use Mixed Media of your choice.

I was honored to be asked to a Guest Designer on Day 4 for this fun Christmas challenge. I'm not great with making tags, but I do enjoy playing with techniques, so.....here goes:
 
 
 

- Tag background - Canson #98 Mixed Media paper...Scarlet & White Brushos, Fuschia Colorburst over a wet background. Placed a lattice stencil over this background (See Loll's tutorial video here), left it for a moment, then blotted over the stencil with a paper towel. Used the wet side of this stencil on another piece of Canson, so have an extra paler version for another project. Allowed the piece to dry well; diecut with a Elizabeth Craft tag die.

- Spritzed Yupo paper with copic blender (basically alcohol) and sprinkled Scarlet Brusho, Colorburst Fuschia and a Magenta Red. The crystals & powders seemed to move slower with the alcohol. Spritzed once again - very lightly with a small spray of water to create more movement. It looked so pretty on the shiny yupo paper. Die cut this with a Memory Box stocking die. White velvet card stock  for the cuff, trimmed with an Impression Obsession holly die cut from white c/s snippets, colored with copics.

-  Cheery Lynn Italian doily cut from vellum to behind the stockings. Stamped heat embossed sentiment over torn vellum.

Added some white snowflake embellies (these look like buttons but don't have the shank on the back- very old stuff from the stash.)

That's it folks. I do hope you'll find time to join in the fun with these tags - if I can make a tag, I'm sure YOU can! Thanks for joining me, and have a great afternoon.


11/08/2016

Tommy Turkey for Thanksgiving

Hello and welcome to another Fall/Thanksgiving card.

 


- North Coast Creations rubber cling image, stamped with Memento Espresso Truffle, colored with copics, WoS and some Sakura star pens. Pierced circle die to cut out, color distressed the edges while still in the die.

-white snippet was sponged with DI Peacock Feathers, the cut out with a matching size S/B scallop die.

- Sentiment is from a Taylored Expressions Pocket & Pages November Script set. This must be discontinued, as I can't find it on the TE website. It has other words for the season in the set. Used a white snippet, sponged DI Peacock Feathers on enough of the snippet to cut 3 layers.

- Leaf rectangle is a left over from this card.

- background: Recollections c/s in a coral/pumpkin color, was taped down & dry embossed embossed with a Hero Arts stencil.  (see this video). While the stencil was still taped in place, used DI inks in Tea Die and Persimmon to sponge color. Where the stencil plastic was, the original color of the c/s shows through.

Hope you like this one. The dry embossing with a stencil is rather fun to do. Have a wonderful evening. Thanks for stopping to visit. Hugs

 

11/06/2016

Autumn Leaves Heat Embossed and Inlaid

Good evening...on this our first day of the new Eastern Standard Time. After all the reminders to set the clocks back I still nearly forgot to do that this morning! Fortunately some of the electronics do it automatically. We still have a bunch of clocks that have to get manual attention though.

Thanks for all the sweet comments about the fall photos I shared. This is quite a pretty neighborhood...feels a bit rural, although it is not really. We are about 4 miles away from most of the important things we need! (like restaurants and Walmart!!!). Thanks too for the kind comments about the porch decorations. We do enjoy that porch, especially these last few weeks, when it has been such super weather. We have coffee (my #2 brother & myself...DH is an herbal tea drinker) on the porch many mornings.

Have been trying to work on finishing up some Fall/Thanksgiving cards, since I was so negligent with sending out any Halloween cards. I hope you don't get sick of seeing fall motifs! Here goes with one:

 
 
- Heartfelt Autumn Leaves background (cling). Tried to find a picture of this at Heartfelt Creations, but was unsuccessful. It may have been discontinued. The link should take you to a picture of what this pretty stamp looks like. Inked with versamark, then heat embossed with Nuvo EP Glacier White...which gave a very nice coverage. Not really 'glacier white' as I think of that color, but between a nice white and sort of vanilla shade. Is pretty with the DI colors sponged over it. Since this EP had no glitter in it, it sponged smoothly.
 
- Echo Park die sentiment. When this was ordered, I didn't realized how large it was. I'm always looking for small sizes to use instead of stamping an extra bit on the front. This size lent itself to a bold treatment on the front of the card, so sponged another white c/s with DI Peacock Feathers. Used the die on both the leaf design & plain sponging, reversed the inner cuts. This one only 1 area of  tiny center bits were missing,(up at the 't') so used a tiny marker to color in, and think it's not too, too obvious.
 
Looked a bit like it needed another embellishment. Used soda can metal, played with some brown, orange and yellow shades of alcohol inks to color the metal - let dry between coats, sponged again, with various other colors of AI until I got a 'fall leaf' look.. Used a Sizzix Thinlets 660955 to cut quite a few leaves from the altered metal, which cut quite nicely with the special metal plate shim in place. This should have had embossed veins in the leaves, but it's not showing up. That may require an extra embossing step that I didn't do.
 
Hope you like this one. I share the links so that if you're interested, you can see what the product looks like. It may not be where I purchased the one I used. I do try to find these products on sale if possible.
 
Take care, start the week off happily & healthily, and thanks for coming to visit. Hugs & Blessings.
 
 

11/03/2016

An ODBD Cornucopia

Good evening, and welcome to the ending of another beautiful South Carolina fall day. We have just been having the most lovely weather this past 4 weeks. We could use some rain, but we've certainly enjoyed the bright sunshine, the cooler days - even when it warms up mid-day, the air still has that cool fall quality to it.

Finished up a card that's been in the works. Also have added some wonderful new cards to Cards by Friends Page.  Hope that you have time to check them out.

Also at the end of this post, have shared some pictures of our surroundings - photos were taken about a week ago. Just had to find time to edit. Now on to the card:



- ODBD Cornucopia cling stamp (small set) - stamped with Memento Espresso Truffles, colored with Copics, WoS - & a few highlights done with a Sakura Silver Star gel pen. Edged with DI Tea Die while still in the stitched die.

- Another set of plain thin rectangle dies was used to cut the 2 outer frames from white card stock. Sponged the inner frame with Persimmon (lightly) and then a heavier sponging with Carved Pumpkin. Outer frame is just Persimmon, heavy layer of sponging. The photo doesn't show much difference in the colors of the 2 frames, but IRL it's quite apparent.

- Heartfelt leaves background die was heat embossed Sparkle n Sprinkle Sienna Star, a very sparkling color, which is coppery with lots of glitter. Had never used this color of EP and thought it might look 'autumn-y'. It does, but the sponge pads used to color the leaves  did collect some of the glitter bits and got on the ink pads. Don't think it will be a problem, though, as it should just wipe off. The effect looks quite nice I think - just hard to see in the photo, plus the image & frames cover a good amount of it.

- Sentiment is a snippet from the box, no idea what company or even when it was stamped!
Since I was so negligent with Halloween cards this year, I'm trying to get a few Thanksgiving cards ready. Or for the international readers, we'll just call them 'Fall' cards!

Here's the neighborhood piccies:

Front yard

Maple in side yard

Back corner yard

Neighbor's yard seen from front porch

Front corner of side yard

Scarecrow by front door(turkey wreath has been hung from the old mailbox)


Opposite side of Front door

Looks better hanging!


Thanks for joining me this evening. Hope that you have a wonderful Friday, and are looking forward to a pleasant weekend. Hugs to all those who are feeling under the weather, prayers for those who are in need of some uplifting (will not call out any names...you will know who is meant)...and many thanks for stopping by this evening.