Time Out #111

When a challenge has an optional twist with it I usually do the option.  I forgot about this little detail when I made my card for Time Out this week. 

I could have easily done a one layer card and I think that was my plan when I picked the image but somewhere along the line I got off track.

I used Zigs to color and then spritz the PB stamp.  I thought it needed some color so I die cut the sentiment and let the red show through and be a border.

Thanks for dropping by. 

Inkspirational #148 and 25 Days of Christmas Tags - 10

Inkspirational  wants a neutral Christmas card and I wanted to use my PB pinecone so it was a match made in heaven.

There are a few things I would have done differently but it's done and not too bad.  You can't really call this no-line coloring because there isn't much color. ;)  I stamped the image in Frayed Burlap DI (next time I'll chose a lighter color) and then watercolored it with Gathered Twigs, Ground Expresso and Vintage Photo for the berries which doesn't show well in the photo.  I used Antique Linen for the background.  I'm not sure I like that choice but it had to be a neutral.  The sentiment was heat embossed with Liquid Platinum.   I tried to splatter some white for snow but nothing would show up, not even acrylic paint.

I'm glad I got a chance last night to make a tag for Tracey's 25 Days of Christmas Tags.  The inspiration is over and there are only two days left to enter.  This one was inspired by Tracey's tag on day 10 when Winnie and Walter were the sponsors.  Here's Tracey's cute little snowman.

My only Christmas W&W stamps are owls so I used one for my tag.

The weather has been warmer than normal here and yesterday my husband suggested we hang our big Christmas bell.  These are bells that used to hang around the park in the center of town for years until they got new ones and sold off the old ones.  I prefer the older style and so do many other people.  When any of these bells become available they now command a high price. You have to understand that Ken's not into Christmas at all so this really took me by surprise but I jumped at it and we got all our outside decorations done.  And it isn't even December yet.  (Big smile)

Freshly Made Sketches #307

The lovely Michele has come and gone :( and my craft table is full of bits and pieces (Get it?  Bits and Pieces) that we shared.  I have a number of cards in the making but this one for Freshly Made Sketches is done.

Michele has this amazing Gina Marie pinecone die.  I smooshed some brown Distress Inks and she applied Inca Gold to some kraft paper and together we made these lovelies.  They make perfect decorations for the wreath, along with some greens and a ribbon with the sentiment embossed in gold.

Now that my Mojo is in overdrive I hate to take a break but we're off today to visit my step-son and his family and party the night away at a wedding reception for their son who was married two weeks ago in Jamaica.  It should be a fun weekend.

Thanks for dropping by.  I hope you have a great weekend too.

Merry Monday #242

I'm back from vacation and having a hard time getting back into card making.  I stamped a lot of images and took my Zigs with me thinking I would have time to do some coloring but instead of spending time at the river, we spent it with my brother and sister-in-law and kept busy the entire time.  We had a lot of fun and I ended up with 5 antique quilts in the bargain.  Internet was sketchy so I only had time to comment for my Design Teams.  I'm trying to catch up on the over 500 emails but I won't be commenting on them all.  Rest assured I am looking at your wonderful creations and oohing and aahing, just not taking the time to write anything.

I did have time today to make a card for Merry Monday - use branches or twigs.  What better stamp to use that this one from PB.

I used a 3 x 7 format, cutting the watercolor paper slightly smaller and roughing up its edge.  Distress Markers were colored onto the stamp and then spritzed and repeated until I was satisfied with how it looked.  The white berries and the snow on the pine cone are acrylic paint as are some of the splatters added to the ones using Distress Ink.  The PB sentiment is embossed in Liquid Platinum and there is a little of it on the cone.  I was having trouble with the paint turning brown so I tried to emboss over it. Not the best idea but it's okay.

Maybe I'll get a chance to make a few more cards or color some of the stamping while I catch up on my TV shows on demand.  We didn't watch TV (except for March Madness) so my favorites are waiting for me.

Thanks for dropping by and I hope you are all doing well.

The Card Concept #63

I recently got this PB stamp that I thought was perfect for the challenge at The Card Concept.

Jill Foster has some terrific videos over at Penny Black and I tried to emulate her in stamping the cones and berries.  It's easy to do with the MISTI but I did find I may need to invest in some different markers.  I tried it first with some old Marvy Markers and the image was okay but I lacked enough colors to do much shading.  For this card I used my Zigs, coloring on the stamp and spritzing the first time, then coloring and stamping again and again until I had what I wanted.  I cut some squares of woodgrain pp and mounted the Memory Box letters after inking around the edges. At the last minute I decided to add some spatters.  Here's their photo.  I think you can see what inspired me.

I have a few other new stamps that I'm anxious to try out.  If the weather forecast holds true, I may be hibernating and crafting my little heart out.

ETA:  I keep forgetting about Kylie's 12 Days of Christmas.  I'm going to send my card over there too.

CAS(E) This Sketch #

I have all my Christmas cards made, addressed and ready to mail.  I got it done because of all the cards I made after last year's went out.  Now I'm starting on next year's with one for CAS(E) This Sketch.

I did some Altenew ordering on Black Friday and got this Poinsettia and Pine set.  I stamped and watercolored with Distress Inks and added a NBUS PB sentiment in Platinum embossing.

Do you see what I see?  This is CAS(E) This Sketch's 200th challenge.  They're having a celebration and a prize offering.  You might want to check it out.  I love playing in this challenge.

Addicted to Stamps and More #217

It's Make Your Mark week at Addicted to Stamps and More and I was inspired by this card from Karen Dunbrook.  I was in a hurry to get this in (shame on me) so I left off the watercolor background and since this was the first time really trying this technique it's not nearly as well done as Karen's but I'll keep working on it.

The stamp from PB was colored with Marvy markers and spritzed before stamping.  I restamped in a few place until I got the look I wanted.  The sentiment from HLS is embossed in Platinum and the panel bordered with green before placing it on a kraft card.

The sponsors this week are Eureka Stamps and Robyn's Fetish Digital Stamps, both offering 3 digital images.   I hope you find time to get out your markers, zigs, paints any medium that leaves a mark and join our challenge.

Merry Monday #133 & Time Out # 18

You all know rustic is my thing so I just had to make a card for the challenges at Merry Monday

and Time Out.

I went a little dark with my card so it's not very Christmas-y. I wanted to try a couple of things, one being my NBUS Lawn Fawn Stitched Rectangles, and the other the background stamping technique. Individually they worked but I should have used some lighter colors.  I may redo this if I have more
"time out" before the challenge ends.

Paper: PTI Chocolate, kraft

Stamps: PTI Peaceful Pinecones, Lawn Fawn Milo's Alphabet

Ink: PTI Kraft, Hero Arts Cup O' Joe, Versamark

Dies, LF Stitched Rectangles

Other, Signo White Gel Pen, White Embossing Powder

Thanks for stopping by.  Your visits and comments are greatly appreciated.