Catching up...December cards

I still haven't found a photo editing program I like (Microsoft Photo Gallery is no longer available - grrrr) so here are the photos in their original form.

Art Impressions stamps, Marvy markers, Strathmore 140# watercolor cardstock, blue decorative paper, white cardstock, unknown corner punches, Marvy snowflake punch, pearlized white paper

Distress oxide inks (Faded Jeans, Broken China)

Distress stains (Faded Jeans, Salty Ocean, Tumbled Glass)

Adirondack metallic acrylic paint dabber-silver

Ranger clear embossing ink & clear superfine embossing powder

White cardstock, Strathmore 140# watercolor cardstock

Stampington & Co. #M4735 Hanukkah image

Impression Obsession #E13495

Jet Black archival ink

Bazzill Maraschino cardstock; Strathmore 140# watercolor cardstock, plaid decorative paper

Happy Thanksgiving!

All is safely gathered in...it is always a delight for me to see farmers out in the fields bringing in the harvest.  Locally corn and beans are our biggest crops and last year central Illinois had record-breaking yields.  This year's crops seem to be following their lead.

Impression-Obsession: sentiments, cloud background

Stampers Anonymous: CMS116 Thankful Silhouettes

Sizzix:  pumpkin mini movers & shapers die

Bazzill cardstocks, mixed media cardstock

Ranger: archival inks (Sienna/Russet, Tree Branch Sepia); distress inks (Tumbled Glass, Antique Linen); Adirondack ink (Ginger)

Happy Thanksgiving!

Collect

This time of year I'm busy collecting leaves, hickory nuts and acorns.  I remember the days when I collected them for fun...now it's not so much fun raking or blowing, bagging and then transporting them to the landfill so I can re-use the paper bags.  What with the abundance of them on my lawn currently I thought this was a great idea to feature on my version of Tim Holtz's tag of November.

surfaces:  #8 manila tag, distress watercolor cardstock, textured surfaces (cork, corrugate)

colorants: distress spray stain (Fossilized Amber, Carved Pumpkin, Candied Apple, Twisted Citron, Ground Espresso); distress inks (Ground Espresso, Gathered Twigs); distress archival (Black Soot, Ground Espresso); distress markers (Peeled Paint, Forest Moss, Vintage Photo, Ground Espresso, Fossilized Amber); distress paint (Black Soot)

sticking stuff:  foam tape, Glossy Accents, mini staples

embellishments: Remnant Rubs (TH93119)

stamps:  Autumn Blueprint CMS133

dies: Sizzix Alphanumeric 3/4"; Impression-Obsession 213-D

For those of you who prefer a larger image...

Always & forever

Happy 61st anniversary to dear friends!

On the inside I used a stamp that said 'getting married means sharing your toys'.  While I don't feel rakes can be considered toys I did feel that it conveyed a humorous message to these non-newlyweds who don't do yardwork.

I love the new leaf stencil from Tim!  Over it I placed drywall tape then smudged in distress inks (Shabby Shutters, Wild Honey, Ripe Persimmon).  This was done twice to cover the card.  I replaced the stencil and smeared Texture Paste - Transparent Gloss over the stencil, again repeating to cover the card.  Let dry.

Tumbled Glass and Broken China distress stains were spread on my non-stick craft sheet and spritzed with water before I dragged the card front through the stain.

The sentiment was stamped in Coffee Archival Ink onto vellum and covered with Ancient Gold embossing powder.  Carefully heat set so the vellum doesn't brown/burn!  Ranger's Collage Glue Stick does a good job on vellum - can't see it at all!

The rakes and leaves were punched from brown card stock scraps.  Multi Medium (matte) was used to adhere them.

Ranger:  Collage Glue Stick, distress stains (Tumbled Glass, Broken China), distress inks (Shabby Shutters, Wild Honey, Ripe Persimmon), Texture Paste (Transparent Gloss), Ancient Gold/Tarnished Gold embossing powder

Stampers Anonymous: stencil THS060, Simple Sayings CMS155

Impression Obsession DIE201-K

Mixed media card stock, unknown leaf punch, drywall tape, unknown yellow & white card stocks, vellum

Another 'crappy' birthday card

*Ranger: watermark resist ink, Jet Black archival ink, distress ink (Hickory Smoke, Mowed Lawn), distress stain (Mustard Seed, Carved Pumpkin, Barn Door)
*Tim Holtz/Stampers Anonymous: Newsprint & Type, Halftone & Rings, Wildflowers
*Impression Obsession Inc.: F17110

I stamped Newsprint & Type first in watermark resist ink; heat set.    Lots of MS, CP, BD smeared on my craft sheet, misted then kept plopping the cardstock into it until I was satisfied; heat set.  Halftone & Rings was stamped in Mowed Lawn distress stain.

This is perfect for soooo many of my friends! 

Peaceful children

Don't these children look peaceful and calm as they walk hand in hand?  I fell in love with the image and couldn't wait to create a card.  The one in the local store was quite neutral and had a fiber bow; pretty but I knew I had more in mind for the image.

Ranger:  distress inks (Shabby Shutters, Peeled Paint, Tumbled Glass, Old Paper), Jet Black Archival Ink

Budding Vine Die-namites die

Impression-Obsession DIE278-E, D13399 stamp

Sizzix: Quilted texture fade, Stitched Ovals thinlits die

Studio 490 Lots of Dots stencil

Watercolor cardstock, cream cardstock

Distress crayons and Bird Crazy

Here's a background I created using Tim's distress crayons.  They are fun to play with but I don't see myself using them that often.

My little/only brother is turning 55 this year....not possible!!!  I still remember him running away from mom as she was called away to the phone during a re-diapering session.  He streaked out onto the wraparound porch just laughing up a storm at his freedom.

The base card is Bazzill, the next layer is kraft card stock.  The top layer is mixed media paper that's been covered with a thin layer of gesso.  This does help the distress crayons move easier with your fingertips.  I placed the mini gears stencil over it and carefully removed some color with a damp towel but it was a bit too damp because the colors ran more than I wanted.  To I let the surface dry then replaced it and used the gray distress crayon.  Nah, still not liking the look.  So I replaced the stencil again but this time drew in some of the shapes with a black Sharpie.  Now I'm liking the layered look. 

I used the mini movers & shapers gears dies to cut out multiple pieces from a sheet of mixed media card stock that had been colored with the crayons and smeared with water.  The color was too plain so I smooshed a brown distress ink pad onto my work surface, misted it with water then drew the gears through it.  After letting the ink dry I went around the edges with black Sharpie before adhering them to the card front. 

The birds were stamped in Jet Black Archival Ink onto watercolor paper and colored with distress inks and markers (my all-time favorite way to color an image).  I did the same for the party hats then cut them out with the coordinating dies.  I needed to ground the birds so I smeared the edge of the JBAI pad across the bottom then smudged the ink with my fingers. 

From gray cardstock I die cut the words using an Impression Obsession die (159-M).  I handwrote the other bit using a black Fude Ball Pen.  The eyes were colored with Glossy Accents.  Both birds have foam tape behind them to give the card dimension.

Words of comfort

My husband lost a cousin just before Christmas.  My usual themes for a sympathy card weren't right for this time of year so I decided to go with a more traditional holiday look.

The base card is white and I've narrowly trimmed a second piece of the same cardstock for the top layer.  I dry embossed it using Sizzix Tall Pines folder.

On a scrap of the same white cardstock I stamped DRS Designs' In Sympathy in Jet Black Archival Ink.  Around the edges I added tiny evergreen sprigs and pine cones using Impression Obsession DIE097-M with green and brown cardstocks.  Before I removed the pine cones I added a bit of brown distress ink (whatever was on the pad) over the petals for depth.

I don't think anyone enjoys making sympathy cards but I find that using something that reminds me of the individual, whether it be a hobby or a favorite color, can be a big help.  If these don't work then go with a seasonal theme. 

Starry night

I recently lost a friend to breast cancer.  She had fought long and hard for over 11 years, nearly 5 of them at Stage 4.  The cancer ravaged her body but she didn't let it take her spirit.  She was a huge Mickey Mouse fan so when I found this eyelet in my stash I knew I had to incorporate it.

The sentiment was stamped on white cardstock using Jet Black Archival Ink and edged with a silver pen.  The glittery dark blue paper was run through the Starry Night Texture Fade; silver sequins were glued on using MultiMedium.  The next layer is more white cardstock edged with a silver pen.  The base card is also white cardstock.

Rest in peace, MickeyDee.  You've earned your ears!

More leaves to rake

After yesterday's rain and moderate winds, more leaves have fallen.  Guess I'd better get started on raking before I become overwhelmed by the chore.  The sentiment on this card illustrates my feelings.

Ann-ticipation stamp; kraft cardstock, handmade paper, brown cardstock; Studio 490 Layered Tree stencil; distress inks, Jet Black Archival Ink; Impression-Obsession die 201-K

It's that time of year again!

Yep, time to rake the leaves!  While we only have 3 trees in the yard (pin oak, tulip tree, and shagbark hickory) they certainly produce more than their fair share of leaves.  I end up making numerous trips to the brush drop-off facility outside of town.  So when I saw this Impression Obsession die (rake with leaves) I just had to get it because it coordinated with an old Ann-ticipation stamp in my collection.

I had previously purchased the IO squirrel dies (but hadn't used it yet) so now I can recreate the scene out my front window any time I want.  I think these dies will be seeing a lot of use this fall!  Maybe the next scene will have a bare tree in the background.  Hmmmm....

Tissue paper and paint

I haven't played with Tim's Tissue Wrap in a while...no reason, guess I just have soo much stuff I don't know what to use first or else just forget what all I do have tucked away.  Sigh.  But fortunately there are plenty of challenges to help jumpstart my creativity or get me to use products unknown or stashed away.

Claudine's latest challenge is to play with the tissue wrap and acrylic paint.

 

Advantus/Idea-ology Tissue Wrap; Ranger (distress paints, distress markers, Glossy Accents, Jet Black Archival Ink, Adirondack markers, Stickles); water color paper; Studio 490 Art Fit For A Queen LCS040; Impression Obsession B1233 (sentiment); All Night Media (image)

Day 4 - stencils & gelli plates

I must confess, I don't own a gelli plate and didn't feel like making one so I tried this technique using a thick silicone mat.  Not bad but perhaps my choice of acrylic paint and stencils made this more difficult to achieve.

Ingredients:  Claudine Helmuth paint (Dab of Yellow, Modern Red, Altered Orange, Blank Canvas), Tim Holtz stencils (Splatters, Measured, Harlequin), white card stock, Bazzill card stock, QuicKutz lips dies, Tim Holz/Sizzix magnetic mover & shapers Tattered Florals die (= sun!), distress ink, Studio 490 'Never Enough Hearts' stencil, sentiment (Impression-Obsession), Crimson Archival Ink, vellum, fiber, Glossy Accents

Shhh...this will be my red-hot passion card for hubby this Valentine's Day!