Holiday thank you's

Time to say 'thank you' for those who've given us gifts this holiday season.  I wanted to use some older things in my stash so I pulled out Sizzix diffusers and an earlier texture fade.

A2 base card is red Bazzill card stock.  I didn't have any green that was appropriate so I made my own with distress ink and watercolor paper (same as the top layer).

I placed my watercolor cardstock in the texture fade then the diffuser over the top (no need for a top clear plate) in my Big Shot Plus.  Using a light touch I applied gold metallic ink on the raised portions. 

In the center of the oval I stamped the image that had been colored with distress markers.  Two bows were punched (watercolored cardstock and gold vellum) and adhered to the top of the evergreen bough.



Sizzix texture fade (Holiday Words), bow punch 660163, diffuser plate

Red Bazzill card stock, Royal Langenickel watercolor card stock

Ranger:  distress ink and markers (Pine Needles, Lucky Clover, Candied Apple)

Tsukineko:  Encore Gold Metallic pigment ink

Thank you to all those who made our holiday season bright with your thoughtfulness!

Winter sweater

I LOVE this new winter sweater die (#1240)from Elizabeth Craft Designs!  It also comes with a die to make a reindeer head instead of the snowflake.  I can see this for holiday cards as well as any winter birthday or anniversary.

The base card is plain white cardstock.  The top layer is the same cardstock cut a bit smaller.  This layer was run through Sizzix Texture Fade 'Snow Flurries' then spritzed with Sheer Shimmer Spritz by Tsukineko.

I die cut the hanger, sweater, cuffs, neck/waistbands and snowflake from scraps.  A bit of blue-gray pencil added some dimension around the neck and sleeve area. 

Felt adding a message might be too much for this A2 card.  On the inside I added 'winter wishes' cut from the same scrap as the sweater using the Holiday Words: Script (660058) Sizzix thinlits die.

I hope my sweater conveys warm wishes to the recipient who is facing a tough cancer battle.  Chemotherapy seems to remove so much body heat that even a sweater isn't enough, no matter what climate you're in.

75 years young...

My hubby is 75 today!!!!!!  I had fun creating a special card to mark the occasion.  Deboss or emboss?  Can't decide?  Then do both (as seen in Tim Holtz' Creative Chemistry Class 103 on Day 6).  I probably should have lined the center of the dapper gent on one of the vertical lines.  Oh well. 

And then decided our cat needed to get in on the action so he made his own (all right, with a *lot* of help from moi!)  The fish makes the best lettering...one of those fun and creative ideas that came to me in a flash.

My card

coordinating envelope

Casey's card

coordinating envelope

Why does Blogger have to be so ignorant when it comes to formatting???????  Grrrrr!!!!

Ranger:  distress crayons, inks, stains, paints, markers, embossing ink; Black Enamel Accents, embossing dabber, Inkssentials embossing pen-black, ultrafine gold detail and clear embossing powders, archival ink (watering can, shadow grey--love this!, tree branch--hate this has been discontinued!), sticky back canvas

Sizzix:  celebration deboss folder, dapper bigz, tailored textured impressions, typo upper bigz xl, handwritten: celebration thinlits, shape strip thinlits

Stampers Anonymous:  dapper cms267, mercantile cms189, label frames cms264, crazy cats cms251, mini cats and dogs cms272, crazy things cms237,

Misc.:  core'dinations kraft-core nostaligic collection by tim holtz, #5 manila tag, dreamweavers crackle embossing paste, Hero Arts lower case alpha, chipboard, tsukineko encore ultimate metallic ink-gold, Bazzill cardstock (tan, gray)

Happy 4th of July...rather belatedly!

My plate has been overflowing with my husband's health situation and wasn't even sure I was going to be able to get this month's Tim Holtz tag created.  I had the idea early on, just no energy or time until yesterday when I made myself take a break and as Nike says 'just do it'!

Sizzix:  Calendar Words: Script, Celebration Words: Block, Alphanumeric 3/4"

Stampers Anonymous: CMS 145 Americana Blueprint

Ranger:  Jet Black Archival Ink, distress watercolor cardstock, #8 kraft tag, distress inks (Ground Espresso, Barn Door), distress markers (Barn Door, Faded Jeans, Wild Honey, Ground Espresso), distress stains (Vintage Photo, Hickory Smoke), Micro Glaze

Advantus: Idea-ology-tag token

misc.: twine, Gold Encore pigment ink (Tsukineko), star brad, fireworks stamp (A Country Welcome)


I wonder what remix techniques Tim will combine for August's tag?
************
PS...what settings do I need to use so that my entire tag shows up in the link on Tim's blog?  I tried making my image smaller but still only see a tiny portion.  Hope someone can tell me how to make the necessary changes.

Under the sea

*Bazzill light blue cardstock
*leftover alpha bits
*#8 tag (cut to fit A2 card front)
*Marvy wet look markers
*Tim Holtz stamps: Mariner, Nautical, Halftone & Rings
*Sizzix: Holiday Greens, Bubble Texture Fade
*Ranger:  Watering Can Archival Ink, distress markers & inks,
clear embossing powder, watercolor cardstock
*My Sentiments Exactly H179
*Versamark ink

3 cheers for the red, white and blue!

Oh boy!  I don't know about you but the new thinlits die of Tim's that features all 50 states is a bugger to use!  Here are 3 options...I was hoping I could make 2 from each die cut but quickly realized that wasn't going to happen.  Waaaay too fiddly!  But after the pieces are removed, you're left with a stencil.  Now that I could work with for my 4th of July card.

This paper was pieced and run through my Xyron.  Let me tell you, those itty bitty eastern states almost didn't remain part of the 13 colonies!  Sheesh!

But here's the stenciled version...much more user friendly (for me!).

Encore silver, bronze, gold pigment inks (Tsukineko)

fireworks stamp (A Country Welcome)

stars, stripes mini stencils (Tim Holtz/Sizzix)

United States, Mini Bird Crazy & Things thinlits dies (Tim Holtz/Sizzix)

Mini Bird Crazy & Things, Crazy Talk stamps (Tim Holtz/Stampers Anonymous)

Jet Black Archival Ink, distress inks, watercolor cardstock (Ranger)

Happy birthday to a classic!

My neighbor is special...he's come to my rescue more times than I can count.  He's the classic example of how I wish ALL neighbors could be!

I created the background using distress inks and both of Tim's Stripes stencils.  Using the large stencil horizontally I applied the Frayed Burlap distress ink; turned it vertically and applied Frayed Burlap distress ink again.  This was continued until the card was covered 3/4 of the way.  The same process was done using Stormy Sky distress ink and the smaller stripes stencil.  Voila...cool plaid! 

On the right hand edge I applied Texture Paste through the large Treads stencil.  Let dry then replace the stencil and color with brown and gray distress inks.  The vintage auto was stamped in StazOn Black Ink onto a piece of plastic packaging.  Double-stick tape was placed strategically so as not to be seen by the recipient.    The letters were cut from blue cardstock using the Typeset decorative strip die.

The envelope has brownish-gray treads stenciled on it...I can't let an envelope be delivered naked!

Collect life's beautiful moments

 

The image is part of the Simon Says Stamp Stamptember 2015 collection.  It was stamped in Jet Black Archival Ink on mixed media cardstock and colored with distress markers.  The one on the left was edged with various blue distress markers and misted with water.  It was misted with Frost Shimmer Spritz by Tsukineko.  The one on the right was misted with Bahama Blue Fireworks Spray by Tsukineko. 

The punch is one of Tim Holtz's new ones and it kind of looks like seaweed.  I punched several out of mixed media cardstock then dipped them into various green distress inks and misted to get a mottled appearance. 

All colored cardstock is by Bazzill.

While we need to collect life's beautiful moments, it takes some of the less beautiful ones to make the others more special.  Like dealing with a broken hip...not so beautiful but certainly makes you appreciate all that your hip does for you.

Congratulations!

One of my nieces received her master's degree today from the University of Illinois.  She will start work in two weeks as a therapist for a children's center in a nearby community.

On bright orange Bazzill cardstock I applied Versamark Ink through mini stencil #058.  Can't believe I actually had some orange inked washi tape in my stash - perfect!  The wise old Crazy Bird owl was stamped in Jet Black Archival Ink onto watercolor cardstock and cut out with the coordinating die.  Ditto for the diploma and cap from Crazy Things.  The sentiment from Crazy Talk was stamped in JBAI.  From blue cardstock I die cut her name using the 1" Alphanumeric dies.  The Stitched Ovals border was cut from the same blue cardstock.

My altered puzzle is nearly complete

We're on the 12th week of altering a puzzle piece; my theme is 'These Are A Few Of My Favorite Things' so it's been difficult choosing just one for each piece, let alone making sure I have stamps, stencils, and embellishments that support my choice.

Top: Hero Arts C2604 (Winter's Butterfly); Ranger archival inks (Cornflower Blue, Sky Blue); Picket Fence Distress Paint; Clear Rock Candy Distress Glitter; distress inks (blue, purple); Tsukineko Sheer Shimmer Spritz Frost;  Sizzix mini move & shaper snowflake; Stampers Anonymous snowflake stencil; white cardstock scraps, washi tape, foam dot, doily

Bottom:  Lasting Impressions with Panache stamps (Small Rooster 167-003G, text 176-001F); watercolor paper; vellum; Ranger (Jet Black Archival Ink, Superfine Black Detail Embossing Powder, distress inks, distress markers), foam dots

Next week altered pieces will complete the puzzle for many participants.  I will still have a remaining piece which I shall use for my theme title.  This has been a fun and unique challenge and one I can see doing again but perhaps I would use each piece to support one overall theme.  Something to think about!

Steampunk

It's Monday and time for another Altered Playing Card challenge from Claudine.  She chose Steampunk or Time as the theme.  I'm not into steam punk and suppose I could have elected to create cards all about time, but I didn't.  I have the Sizzix gears mini movers & shapers so why not use them?

playing cards; gesso; dry wall tape; glitter paper (unknown source); Hero Art stamps (A3321,  C3075); Sizzix mini movers & shapers gears; distress paints (Tarnished Brass, Brushed Pewter); Ranger Black Sparkle embossing powder; Versamark; washi tape; Createx Pearlized Blue paint; TCW Mini Ledger stencil; CMS107 Steampunk; Glossy Accents; white card stock; Jet Black Archival Ink

So, get in gear...what are you waiting for?????  Join in the fun!

MHS Sages...go, fight, WIN!!!

Last week was a bye (sports term...should be a clue!) for those participating in the Altered Playing Card challenge hosted by Claudine.  This week she chose to feature digistamps...of which I've never used nor had I thought I would ever use them.  But I went searching for some free images and found quite a few cutesy people but not really what I had in mind.  Then I found them.  Owls!  The light bulb came on.  Perfect!

Our high school's mascot is Sammy Sage. The football team won the first round of state playoffs so we'll be hosting the #1 team in our bracket this afternoon.  So I followed along with Claudine's tutorial but using our school colors and the 2 digistamps I found via Pinterest.

The first card was bright and bold and featured some lines that had been etched into the gesso before it dried.  Mine made me think of a scoreboard while Claudine's were circular and became flowers.

gesso'd playing card; Tsukineko Fireworks sprays in Dandelion and Grape Jelly; Black Fude Ball pen; Hero Art stamps; Prismacolor pencils










The second card was covered with distress paint, stenciled and spritzed.  It also has some snippets of tissue paper.

gesso'd playing card; distress paint and ink; Woodgrain stencil; TH tissue paper; rickrack, Prismacolor pencils; Hero Art stamps; Jet Black archival ink; Sizzix branch die

It will be a tough game but the team says its up for the challenge.

GO SAGES!!!!!!!!!!!!

Altered Playing Cards - weeks 1 and 2

Claudine recently started an Altered Playing Cards challenge.  She's taking a deck of cards and creating 2 cards per week so this challenge will take a while.  You'll have to check out her blog to see all the rules and regulations. 

The first week she prepped the deck of cards.  Weeks 2 and 3 have been posted so please check her blog for all those details and her samples.  I loosely followed her tutorials.

Gesso; Dylusions sprays (Fresh Lime, Campso Teal); Sizzix Townscape OTE die; Hero Arts JS153 sentiment; Martha Stewart Coneflower punch (sun); Stampers Anonymous Purely Random (text on sun); Jet Black Archival Ink, Glossy Accents, distress inks; Sakura Jelly Roll White Pen; black, yellow cardstock scraps

Gesso; Dylusions sprays (Bubblegum Pink, After Midnight); Hero Arts stars and sentiment; Poppy Stamps (little girl 217C); Jet Black Archival Ink, distress markers; watercolor paper; silver & black cardstock scraps; ekSuccess star punch; silver & black Sharpies; Tsukineko Encore Silver Metallic ink



I think this will be a fun challenge and so simple...at least thus far.  Surely I can find my mojo for 2 small canvases each week!

Earth Day 2014

Happy Earth Day...please demonstrate your support for environmental protection every day...not just today!

Ingredients:  green card stock, Bazzill card stock, Hero Arts alphabet stamps and calendar year, Ranger distress inks (Bundled Sage/Tumbled Glass/Gathered Twigs), Tsukineko Desert Sand Memento Ink/Versamark Ink, gold Sharpie, Stampendous paper cube stamp

Textural effects - embossing powder

Last share for today...the use of embossing powder to create a 'layer'.  I'm really loving this Online Card Class 'Clean & Simple 3'.  Some things I knew about, others I didn't but am trying them and liking them.  Watch for more of these ideas to show up in future projects!

Ingredients:  created my own cloud stencil from scrap paper, Tim Holtz Layering Stencil TS003 Rays, Ranger Clear Superfine Embossing Powder,  Clear UTEE, Tumbled Glass/Squeezed Lemonade/Spiced Marmalade/Barn Door distress inks), Versamark ink, Wordsworth S169-F 'Sending Sunshine', Marvy Wet Looks Embossing Markers

The stamp is actually a small square sentiment but I used a stamp positioner to create the single-line version.

Masked frames 1

Clean and Simple 3 class...

Ingredients:  white card stock, Spellbinders (Nested Butterfly S4-171/Classic Circles Large S4-114), Studio 490 (Dimensional Rose Art LCS015/Art Fit For A Queen LCS040), Ranger (white embossing powder, Jet Black Archival Ink, Mowed Lawn/Festive Berries, Ripe Persimmon, Squeezed Lemonade Distress Inks), Tsukineko (Versamark)

Faux letterpress

Another sample from Online Card Class Clean & Simple 3...

Ingredients:  red Bazzill card stock, white card stock, Sizzix Heart #1 38-0800, Versamark ink (Tsukineko), Ranger (Adirondack Snow Cap Pigment Ink, Jet Black Archival Ink, Fired Brick Distress Ink), Hero Arts Fantastic Flourishes CL106/Four Dolls CL297/Just Wanted CL175, Stampers Anonymous Worn Text CS156

Faux layered die cuts

Another example from Clean & Simple One Layer Cards 3...

Ingredients:  white card stock, Hero Arts Winter Headline C3990, Bazzill blue card stocks, Spellbinders dies (Ovals Large S4-110/Rectangles Large S4-132), Sizzix snowflake mini mover & shaper, Ranger (Stormy Sky Distress Ink and Distress Marker), Tsukineko Sheer Shimmer Spritz

Faux metal

I'm taking an on-line card class called "Clean & Simple One Layer Cards 3".  The link will take you to the site where they have many classes listed that have been taught.  If you aren't familiar with their format, once you've paid for your class ALL the info is available forever.  While you can't add photos to the galleries once they are closed, nor make further comments or ask questions in the forums, the overall content is at your fingertips for inspiration or clarification later in life.  And the class fees are quite reasonable.  A list of supplies used is given but I have yet to buy any thing, preferring to use what I have on hand. 

Each day several techniques are shared, complete with videos, step by step photos downloadable in PDF form, as well as additional samples by the other teachers.  I won't be describing my efforts, just sharing the results. 

First up is Faux Metal.

Ingredients:  white card stock, Hero Arts stamps (Large Circle Solid E2835/Dot Design B2964/Small Circle Solid A2832/Buttons A1052), Sentiment (River City Rubber Works 1717-H), Ranger (Wild Plum/Lettuce/Stream/Cranberry Adirondack pigment inks; Jet Black Archival Ink; Detail Silver Embossing Innk), Tsukineko Versamark ink, Staedtler Maxum Gel Green pen

Day 3 - Partial stencil

I've tried this before but not with this much success.  I also colored the Studio 490 white embossing paste with a few drops of Espresso Color Wash - gorgeous khaki color!

Ingredients:  Tsukineko Fireworks! sprays in Danube Blue and Bahama Blue, Tim Holtz/Sizzix dressform and spool movers & shapers dies, Studio 490 white embossing paste, Tim Holtz Bubble stencil, Colorwash Spray, brown distress ink, River City Rubber Works sentiment, Jet Black Archival Ink, fabric ribbon, Martha Stewart button punch, thread, white card stock