Sunday, December 31, 2017

Turning the Page January 2018

Tomorrow we turn the page on our calendars to a new month and a new year.

I make calendars each year and I've been sporadic about sharing them with you so
I thought I'd set up a regular post on the last day of each month "Turning the Page".

I hope you enjoy these posts.

Here's our January page.


By the way, the calendars are clipped together and can be displayed on an easel
or hung on a push pin or magnetic hook.  We all have a different way to display them.

Happy New Year!

Thanks for the visit and special thanks for your comments.

Enjoy!




Card Recipe
Stamps:  Holly Sprig (PB)
Ink:   Distress Mini (Peeled Paint), Markers (Peeled Paint, Festive Berries, Barn Door, Gathered Twigs
Paper:   Neena 110 lb.
Other:  MISTI, Slightly damp water brush.


Cheers

Hello, dear friends.

As we say goodbye to 2017, I thought this card would be appropriate.



Our craft group played with some of these fun stamps one night.

Sadly, this is the only one I've got colored and onto a card.

It's been a very busy year and I apologize for not getting to visit you as often as I would like.

In fact I've been a sorry friend!

I'm hoping to do better in the new year.

I do love your comments and often hit and run at your blogs.

I wish you all a happy, healthy and enjoyable new year.

Cheers to 2018!

Thanks for the visit and special thanks for your comments.

Enjoy!




Card Recipe
Stamps:  Art Impressions
Ink:  Colored with Copics
Paper:   
Other:  Glossy Accents


Friday, December 29, 2017

Budding Poppies Framed

Hello friends.


Just popping in quickly with a card that was made a while back.

Since this frame was a snippet left from a Halloween card last year,
I'm going to skip over to the Playground.  I've been absent far too long and I'm
sure I've missed a lot of fun.
Pixie's Snippet Playground


Thanks for the visit and special thanks for your comments.

Enjoy!




Card Recipe
Stamps:  Budding Poppies (TT)
Ink:   Memento Tuxedo Black
Paper:   Solar White (Neena 110 lb.), Whisper White (SU), Black Glimmer (retired SU)
Other:  Copic Markers, IrResistable Pico Embellisher (Imagine Crafts), Long Rectangle Dies (SB), Stately EF (Craft Concept)


Monday, December 25, 2017

The Angels Sing


I remember the joy I felt when my babies were born…

and the same joy at the birth of my grandchildren.

 I imagine the joy the angels felt at Christ’s birth. 

No wonder their songs of joy broke through heaven

 And startled the shepherds.

Let our hearts and voices sing for joy. 

God came down to us as a baby to show us grace and love.

Join the angel’s song. 

Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace and goodwill toward men!

Glory to God in the highest!


May the God of the angels, who heralded Christ's birth,
bring joy to your hearts this day and always.
                                                                                    

Thanks for the visit and special thanks for your comments.

Enjoy!






Thursday, December 21, 2017

Leaping Reindeer

Hello dear friends.

I have another Christmas card to share today.



I didn't add any color to the white tissue paper, just scrunched it up and glued it onto white cardstock.

After lightly adding some VersaMark on the wrinkles, I heat embossed it with gold.

The picture doesn't show the shine of the embossing.

CAS Mix Up is easy this month.

I've done some die cutting and dry embossing along with the tissue and heat embossing.

Challenge closes on the 24th.


Thanks for the visit and special thanks for your comments.

Enjoy!



Card Recipe
Stamps:  Mixed Christmas Sentiments (HLS)
Ink:   Encore Gold
Paper:   Neena Solar White, Gold Foil (SU), Tissue Paper
Other:  Gold EP (SU), Infinity Circles (HA), Jumping Reindeer (Gina Marie), Kars Snowfall EF (ret. Cuttlebug)


Wednesday, December 20, 2017

Whirl Wreaths

Hello my friends.

Are things slowing down for you yet?


I posted another card using this wreath but I wanted to try it with a more elegant look.

I used some foil from my stash.

The camera hates it, but I love it!


Both cards a pretty simple and quick one you get the wreath popped out.

I used the first row down: stamping, die cut, red

and these qualify for CAS Mix Up
I've used stamping, heat embossing and die cuts on the first card.

I've used stamping, heat embossing, die cuts and Inka Gold smoosh on the second card.



Thanks for the visit and special thanks for your comments.

Enjoy!



Card Recipe
Stamps:  Stamps (PB)
Ink:   Encore Gold
Paper:   Thick Vanilla, Very Vanilla (SU), Gold, Red and Green Foil ($ store)
Other:  Whirl Wreath (PB), Gold EP, Stiched Squares (SSS), Inka Gold (card 2)


Sunday, December 17, 2017

Another Starry Tree

Hello.  Are you a busy as I've been?

I haven't got around to comment on many of  your cards and I miss visiting with you.

I feel like the Christmas season gets busier every year.  Maybe I'm just slowing down.


This video by Jill Foster convinced me that I really needed this stamp!

I CASEd her card, changing it up just a bit.

Then it got set aside.

In pulling out some UFOs, I found the base of this card.  
Evidently I didn't like the design and had pulled it off the front.

This design piece landed close and gave me an aha moment!

I stamped the tree on mixed media paper and heat embossed.

Using an Aqua Painter, I picked up ink from the lids of my ink pads
to color the tree.

The background was sponged then stamped with the pine branches.

I'll enter this with  my friends at Merry Monday where Debbie is hosting a color challenge.
I actually have 4 of the colors, light green, dark green, red and blue.
I hope that's OK.  If not, my apologies ladies.

I hope you are finding the time to enjoy preparations for Christmas.


Thanks for the visit and special thanks for your comments.

Enjoy!



Card Recipe
Stamps: Starry Tree (PB), Pine Branch (Inkadinkado) 
Ink:   Whisper White, Wild Wasabi, Garden Green, Bashful Blue (SU), Pine Needles (DI)
Paper:   Mixed Media (Strathmore), Cherry Cobbler (SU)
Other:  White EP, Stickers Stampendous


Saturday, December 16, 2017

Nature Sings for CAS Watercolour

Hello dear friends.

I hope you are enjoying the holiday festivities.

It's almost time for the big day!

Here's another card to celebrate the holidays.


This cardinal was in my UFO Box all watercolored and ready to go except
that there was a bad smear above the branch.  Ach!!!

I cut the offending part off with my paper cutter and around the other sides,
leaving the tail portion to fussy cut.

Saved!  I could add more shading to the cardinal but I think
it's best to cut my losses and go with this.

He has hopefully flown to his chosen destination by now.

The CAS Watercolour Challenge this month is

and there's still time to enter.

The Design Team and our Guest Designer, Hideko (Papercraft Boutique)
have some beautiful samples to inspire you.

Check them out, then I hope you'll join us.

Thanks for the visit and special thanks for your comments.

Enjoy!



Card Recipe
Stamps:  Beauty of the Season (ret. SU), Season's Wishes (PB)
Ink:   Jet Black StazOn, SU Markers
Paper:   Watercolor (Strathmore 140 lb. cold press),Naturals Ivory, Basic Black (SU)
Other:  Paper Cutter, Scissors


Friday, December 15, 2017

Snowflake Flourish for CAS Mix Up Reminder

Hello.

We're halfway through the month and nearly to Christmas day.

Using stamping, embossed resist, watercolour, die cut

There's still time to join in at CAS Mix Up where the challenge is
Using stamping, heat embossing, emboss resist technique, watercolor and die cut.
I stamped the Impression Obsession Snow Flourish on a piece of mixed media paper
and heat embossed with white powder.

After letting it cool, I wet the paper, picked up some ink from the lid of a stamp pad
with an Aqua Painter and dropped color on the wet paper.

I love the way the water moves the color around!

I added more color to some spots, mainly in the center of the design
and let it dry.

A die cut frame and sentiment made quick work of finishing the card.

The Design Team and our Guest Designer, Ina (Little Bits of Craft)
have some wonderful inspiration pieces to share with you.

I hope we'll see your creations in the gallery...

Since I have watercolor, I can also add this to the inspiring gallery at
CAS Watercolour


Thanks for the visit and special thanks for your comments.

Enjoy!




Card Recipe
Stamps:  Snow Flourish (IO), Merry Christmas Messages (HLS)
Ink:   Whisper White, Dapper Denim, Midnight Muse (SU)
Paper:   Mixed Media (Strathmore), Neena Solar White
Other:  White EP (SU), Stitched Squares Die (SSS), Stickers (Stampendous)


Sunday, December 10, 2017

Rustic Wreaths

Hello.  I'm glad you could sit down with me for a minute or two.

It's been pretty busy around here as I'm sure it is at your house too.


Using stamping, acetate smoosh, splatter and die cuts

and

Using watercolor for my acetate smoosh.

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge

The image for this one was in my UFO box.

When I was short on my Christmas cards, the UFO box came in handy!


Thanks for the visit and special thanks for your comments.

Enjoy!




Card Recipe (card 1)
Stamps: Season's Gift (PB) 
Ink:   Versafine (Black), Antique Linen (DI)
Paper:   Crumb Cake, Mixed Media, Cherry Cobbler
Other:  Whirl Wreath Die (PB), 1/3" Circle Punch

Card Recipe (card 2)
Stamps:  Ornamental Pine (ret. SU)
Ink:  Baked Brown Sugar
Paper: Very Vanilla, Cherry Cobbler (SU)
Other:  Exultations Die (PB), Cherry Cobbler Twine (SU)

Friday, December 8, 2017

Starry Tree Elegance

Hello, my friends.

How are you?

I've been crazy, busy as I'm sure you are too.

Vanilla and embossed gold is one of my favorite combinations for Christmas cards.


I must have tried over 20 times to get a good photo of this card.  
If I caught the shine it was blurry.
All the stamping is embossed with gold.
And the little ornaments are shiny, flat stickers so this is perfect for mailing!

This is a similar card that we did in one of my card classes.

Somehow I managed to get a better photo of this one.


I'll take it over to Penny Black Saturday where the challenge is
WINTER OR CHRISTMAS

and

Penny Black and More Challenge
CAS





Thanks for the visit and special thanks for your comments.

Enjoy!




Card Recipe
Stamps:  Starry Tree, Festive Snippets (PB)
Ink:   Encore Gold
Paper:   Thick Vanilla, Gold Foil, Very Vanilla (SU)
Other:  Gold EP (SU), Stickers (Stampendous)


Sunday, December 3, 2017

Classic Ornaments for Merry Monday

I coming in just under the wire.

I was beginning to think I wouldn't make it at all.


My friend Colleen chose a beautiful inspiration photo for this week's
Merry Monday Challenge

I used blue, green and platinum Inka Gold on my craft sheet, spritzed with water and
smooshed some cardstock into it.

It has a lovely shimmer that I couldn't capture in the photo.

I did cut some ornaments adding silver caps and hangers.  The snowflakes, sentiment and
embossed background were all in my UFO box. 
I'm happy to say that the Christmas UFO box is no longer popping it's top!


I asked for opinions on adding a red bird to my CAS Mix Up post.
I like it with the bird.  It's hard for me to go against a pop of red!


Thanks for the visit and special thanks for your comments.

Enjoy!




Card Recipe
Stamps:  
Ink:   
Paper:   Neena, Dazzling Diamonds Glimmer (SU)
Other:  Inka Gold (Steel Blue, Jade, Platinum), (Classic Ornament (MB), Little Snowflakes Dies (IO), Christmas Greetings Thinlits (SU), Snowflake EF (Darice)


Saturday, December 2, 2017

Peaceful Dove for CAS Watercolour

I've had so much fun using salt with watercolor.

Here's another card using a salted background.

This one uses a NBUS dove die that's been waiting for use for
way too long!


I used a piece of watercolor background from this post.

Our CAS Watercolour Challenge this month is

But it must have watercolour!

The Design Team and our Guest Designer, Hideko (Papercraft Boutique)
have done some awesome inspiration pieces.
I hope you'll check them out then join in.

Since I have stamping, watercolor, salt, dry embossing and die cuts,
I'll add this over at CAS Mix Up too.


Thanks for the visit and special thanks for your comments.

Enjoy!



Card Recipe
Stamps:  Festive Snippets (PB)
Ink:   Night of Navy (SU)
Paper:   Neena, Watercolor (Arches CP)
Other:  Gansai Tambi Watercolors (#62 Cobalt, #139 Purple), Sea Salt, Snowfall EF (Ret. Cuttlebug), Stitched Hexagons die (MB), Doves Die (IO)



Friday, December 1, 2017

Snowy Tree for CAS Mix Up

Hi.  It's December 1st! Wow!
It seems like the year just started and, whoosh, it's almost gone!

And it's Christmas card time.

It's time for our last CAS Mix Up challenge of the year.

Updated to add the card with a red bird.
I think I like it better.


Using stamping, heat embossing, Distress Oxide Slash technique, glitter and die cuts.

We're making it easy for you this month.

I used Loll's Splash Technique with Distress Oxides on Tim Holtz Specialty Paper.

This technique is so much fun and you never know what you are going to come up with!

I used Iced Spruce and a tiny bit of Antique Linen for this piece.

The tree was done by adhering some sticky sheet to a piece of cardstock and
sprinkling some fine white glitter over the sticky once the liner was removed.
It has a real icy look to it.

Seeing the photo, I think I need to add a tiny red bird.
What do you think?

As always, our Design Team has some wonderful inspiration for you.
Our Guest Designer is Ina (Litttle Bits of Craft) and I know you will love 
her inspiration piece as much as I do.

I hope you'll be able to join us this month at


Thanks for the visit and special thanks for your comments.

Enjoy!




Card Recipe
Stamps:  Holiday Sparkles (Alley Way)
Ink:   Iced Spruce, Antique Linen (DOX), VersaMark
Paper:   Solar White (Neena), Specialty Paper (TH), Adhesive Sheets (Sizzix)
Other:  Woodlands Die (TH), Glitter (MS), Emerald EP (Stampendous), Stitche Squares Die (SSS)