Color Hues #8

 Hello stamping friends, it's that time again!  Yes, mid-December. We are almost there to Christmas but my post today is all about our new challenge at Color Hues. After all the Christmas cards we've been making, how does Green and Blue sound? 

I'm enthused about these colors but making my card at the last minute brought on some pressure! Oh my goodness, as often as I kept telling myself to keep it simple, instead I fumbled and bumbled my way through the creative process.  For way too long.

I began with the English Rose Bouquet Die (Memory Box) which is gorgeous all by itself. But could I stop there? NO! I wanted to come up with something different. And I did. I wish you could see the pretty blue gems in the flower centers IRL. 

I made a background using Distress Oxide inks, metallic inks and gesso on white card stock. Lost of playing, lots of splatters, and it was fun. 

You can only imagine how things went from there! You don't need any more details. I urge you to go have some fun with these great colors. 

Simple or complicated, it's all up to you! Hope to see you soon! Thanks so much for your kind visit.

Be yourself

     Delight in your craft 

        Make something beautiful!

Christmas Rose Bouquet

 I am still enjoying revisiting a few much-loved Christmas sets from my stash. Christmas Rose Bouquet from W Plus9 Design is one of those. I experimented with a couple mediums for adding color but liked watercolor the best. 

I stamped the image with brown ink onto watercolor card stock using the Misti and painted several layers of colors. I wasn't pleased with how it looked at first, but after it dried I decided to go with it.

A bit of wild spattering with white gouache added texture and from there I was liking the look. I added more texture by pulling out the paper crimper. Do you have that tool buried in the back of a drawer somewhere? I was so inspired seeing Dawn's gorgeous card (with her new release HERE) that I pulled mine out. I had almost forgotten how to use it! I lightly inked the kraft card stock directly with white craft ink.

I'm soon coming to the end of the line for "specialty" cards for this year. I'll pick a couple of simple designs to mass produce for the rest. 

Sadly, that there are two shipments with new stamps that have been stuck for days en-route. They currently reside at the post office hub that's only an hour away from me. Been there for days.

Thankfully I've wrapped up the Christmas gift packages we are sending and will soon mail the cards too. Hope and pray that you are staying well. Thanks so much for visiting with me today!

I am adding this to the theme challenge at The Paper Players. They come up with one great challenge after another!

Be yourself

     Delight in your craft 

        Make something beautiful!

Supplies used:

Stamps: WPlus9 - Christmas Rose Bouquet; The Greetery - Written in Ribbon Christmas

Paper: Neenah Solar White, SU - Crumb Cake, water color card stock

INK: WPlus9 - Coconut Husk, Gala Red, Sweet Gelato, White pigment ink

Accessories: Altenew - watercolors

God Our Refuge

Hello, crafty friends! 

 A week or so ago I needed a sympathy card. It was not fun making one under pressure. Isn't it always that way? I decided to make a couple others so I could have them ready in my stash when needed.

I pulled out the stamps from The Greetery that I had bought just for this purpose and made two cards. They are just what I think a sympathy card should be: simple in design, light and airy, with peaceful soft colors and a meaningful sentiment.

I began with a partial inking of the Windowpane Plaid on the white panel, using the Caring Cross stamps, stencil and dies for the focal point. On the left, I sponged using the cross stencil, added stamped images and die cut the whole piece. On the right I included the die cut cross and greenery and a die cut palm branch.  A flower was added on each using a bloom from Fleur Impressions. 

I don't always like "with sympathy" for the sentiment,  I  prefer something more unique for the recipient. I chose this scripture verse from Papertrey Ink (called Inspired: God) and the coordinating die. Don't know if the picture shows it but the word was cut from Metallic gold card stock.

All my inking was done with Distress Oxides. 

It's the end of a week! I can't believe how fast the days are rolling by! I hope that you are staying warm and well, and that you've been inspired!

Be yourself

     Delight in your craft 

        Make something beautiful!

Countdown to Christmas!

 I can't imagine how it's December already, can you? I am keeping going with the Christmas cards and I'm really only getting started using up newly purchased Christmas stamps and stuff. Oh my goodness, those Black Friday sales, happy new things coming to me! 

Speaking of new, I'm using a brand new digital set from Power Poppy.  The pretty paperwhites (HERE) and Christmas ornaments (or is it an orange?) caught my eye and seem perfect for as a Christmas card, Christmas thank you, or a winter birthday. 

Using Copics to color, I snipped out the image and combined it with the Snowy Day papers from Lawnfawn.

I've been hesitant to use Power Poppy stamps because the design team colors them exquisitely and with such talent! For this card, I was absolutely inspired by THIS gorgeous card by Nancy. 

I am playing along on the last day of the challenge at CAS(E) This. It's a great simple sketch. Classic and clean! 

I am also linking up to The Paper Players. I used patterned paper, red and coloring tool. 

Hope you have a great day! See you soon as I have more to share. I so appreciate every one of you that spend  a bit of time encouraging my crafty journey. Thank you! 

Be yourself

     Delight in your craft 

        Make something beautiful!

Color Hues #7

Have you been enjoying the Color Hues card challenge? We are loving seeing the inspiration and creativity in the gallery! 

Two weeks have gone by and it's time for a new challenge at Color Hues! We'd like you to use Blue and Magenta. 

These rich jewel shades make me think of classic elegance and bling. I've loved the Christmas cards I've seen this year with blues, so that's my theme. 

I stamped images from the Winter Sketches stamps by The Greetery on white card stock and die cut them. I combined them with a simple sentiment and a Pretty Frame die cut in white and blue glimmer specialty paper.  Wink of Stella shimmer pen, Stickles and Iridescent sequins make this one sparkly card! We can't wait to see what you make. You can find all the details HERE. Hope you can find time to play along!

Thanks so very much for your visit and kind encouragement. 

Be yourself

     Delight in your craft 

        Make something beautiful!

Supplies used:

Stamps: The Greetery - Winter Sketches stamps and dies, Christmas Eve

Paper: Neenah Solar White, Blue Glitter paper

INK: Altenew - Ultramarine, Artic, Puffy Heart, Purple Wine

Accessories: PTI Coverplate - Pretty Frame Die

Sending Holiday Cheer

 Hello friends, it's a holiday week in the US.  Thanksgiving! I will be cooking the turkey potatoes and gravy and the rest of the meal will be supplied by some of our family. I can't wait! 

I have a card wishing you holiday cheer for today. 

I combined some scraps of papers in my stash (PTI) and made a tag for this cute snowman. I think he looks kind of quirky. He's probable wondering why the owl is on his head? 

He's part of the "O Holy Night" stamp set from The Cat's Pajamas and as it's just the first time I've used it I can enter sweet Darnell's NBUS Challenge!

Coloring was done quickly with Copics. I added a clear glaze to his hat, enamel dots and a couple snowflakes.
The sentiment and die for the tab is from The Greetery. I use these Sentiment Suite Basics sets a ton! 

I am entering the Tag It challenge at TCP Tuesday too!
Signing out for the weekend, wishing all those in the states a very happy Thanksgiving! In the midst of difficulties the things we have to be thankful for mean even more.  

Be yourself

     Delight in your craft 

        Make something beautiful!

The More the Merrier

 Hello stamping friends! The more Christmas cards the merrier, that is! I am here with another one for you today as my pile of completed cards is growing! This idea of stamping many images and having them die cut and ready to go is really working for me. I had quite a few die cut holly leaves with berries leftover after THIS project and when I saw them on my desk the next morning I decided to make them into a wreath.

This is creativity at it's best! I began with a white die cut circle, and drew a light pencil line inside the circle to help me keep the shape as I filled in the die cut leaves and berries.  I added some stamped pine boughs behind the die cuts, and a few dots of different colors of Copics to help the eye see the circle.

 
Choosing to go for the bling, I used the Wink of Stella Shimmer pen on the berries, and added glitter here and there. And of course - sequins to go with the gold embossed sentiment. 

I am adding this to
the sketch at  Sunday Stamps, 

Tic Tac Toe Challenge where I chose the right row down.

and the Card Concept where I went with the Clean and Layered Style.

That's a lot of challenges in one post for me! Thanks for your visit today, and for sticking with me through this long post.

Be yourself

     Delight in your craft 

        Make something beautiful!

Supplies used:

Stamps: The Greetery - Sentiment Suite: Christmas and dies, PTI- Seasonal Borders: Winter

Paper: Neenah Solar White, DSP from Rosy Cosy Christmas

Accessories: Sequins, Gold embossing Powder, Diamond Stickles, The Greetery - Nordic Frames Dies