Curtain Call Inspiration Challenge--Smitten and a Farewell

Happy New Year!  I'm looking forward to a wonderful 2014, how about you?

To help ring in the new year, we have a new challenge at the Curtain Call that I know you're going to love.  Say hello to this week's challenge photo:  Smitten.

photo credit:  knitsandknotsweb.blogspot.com

We also have a fantastic new sponsor for our challenge:  Linnie Blooms.  Not only did Linnie Blooms provide the Faber-Castell Gelatos the designers used on their projects today, but they are providing a gift certificate to the LEAD for this week's challenge.

I chose the Faber-Castell Gelatos 50's Diner collection for my card today.  The colors were so perfect for the inspiration photo.  First I stamped a cozy pattern using WPlus9's Fair Isle Backgrounds with Versamark on white cardstock and heat embossed it in white.

Using the blending tool included with the gelatos, I added the red pigment to one end of the stamped panel and the yellow to the other and blended each color toward the middle.  I just kept reapplying the color until I had the effect I wanted, then rubbed a baby wipe over the embossed pattern to remove any excess pigment.

The sentiment, from Uniko Studio's Stunning Snowflakes, is stamped in Basic Gray and adorned with a few gray gems.

Cardstock:  Papertrey Ink (Smokey Shadow), WPlus9 (White)

Stamps:  WPlus9 (Fair Isle Backgrounds), Uniko Studio (Stunning Snowflakes)

Ink:  Stampin' Up! (Basic Gray), Versamark

Tool:  corner rounder

Other:  Faber-Castell Gelatos (50's Diner), Filigree (white embossing powder), gems

As you may have seen on the Curtain Call Challenge blog, this will be my last post as a Design Team member.  It was a difficult decision to step away, but it's the right one for me at this time as I try to balance my new responsibilities at work and the activities of my busy young family.

Never fear, though, the talented ladies of the Design Team will continue to wow you twice a month over at the Curtain Call Inspiration Challenge blog!  I wish them all continued success and many thanks for letting me be a part of the reopening of the Curtain Call.

Thanks to you, my readers, for visiting today!  I hope you have a wonderful start to the New Year!

One more Fair Isle Holiday card--three variations

Cardstock:  Papertrey Ink (Kraft, white)

Stamps:  WPlus9 Design Studio (Fair Isle Greetings, Winter Wishes)

Ink:  Stampin' Up! (Bravo Burgundy, Pear Pizzazz), Clearsnap (Frost White), Inkssentials (white pen)

Tools:  Papertrey Ink (Mat Stack 3, double ended banner die, Linen & Canvas impression plate)

Accessories:  DMC floss

It's quiet out here in blog-land, isn't it?  I'm guessing many of you are like me, with to-do lists growing by the day.  Whether you're celebrating Hanukkah, preparing for Christmas, or putting the finishing touches on your list of New Year's resolutions, I hope you're finding some time to enjoy it!

I finally got my holiday cards in the mail yesterday, so I thought I'd show you the final set I made with WPlus9's Fair Isle Backgrounds and Winter Wishes.  I just had to use those cute mittens!

As you can see, I stamped the Fair Isle pattern on the bottom half of each card front, then added a die cut Mat Stack 3 at the top.  Each one is stamped with the mittens and debossed with the Linen & Canvas impression plate.  I pierced holes at the top of each mitten, threaded some floss through, and tied a bow. The bow is adhered with a tiny drop of Glossy Accents to keep it in place.

Cardstock:  Papertrey Ink (Enchanted Evening, white), Stampin' Up! (Baja Breeze)

Stamps:  WPlus9 Design Studio (Fair Isle Greetings, Winter Wishes)

Ink:  Stampin' Up! (Not Quite Navy, Baja Breeze), Inkssentials (white pen)

Tools:  Papertrey Ink (Mat Stack 3, double ended banner die, Linen & Canvas impression plate)

Accessories:  DMC floss

For the sentiment, I die cut a double-ended banner and stamped my favorite greeting from Winter Wishes.

Cardstock:  Papertrey Ink (Scarlet Jewel, Spring Moss, white)

Stamps:  WPlus9 Design Studio (Fair Isle Greetings, Winter Wishes)

Ink:  Stampin' Up! (Bravo Burgundy), Clearsnap (Lettuce), Inkssentials (white pen)

Tools:  Papertrey Ink (Mat Stack 3, double ended banner die, Linen & Canvas impression plate)

Accessories:  DMC floss

Thanks for taking some time to stop by!  I'll be grocery shopping and cleaning tomorrow, then baking cookies on Friday.  It will be our first year making grain-free treats for Christmas, so hopefully we'll find some recipes that are good substitutes for past favorites.

Enjoy the rest of your week!

Fair Isle Greetings, take 2

If I remember correctly, I think I promised you more cards with WPlus9's Fair Isle Backgrounds!  I have two more to share today, both with the same design but different colors.

This is a quick and easy card for mass producing, plus it's relatively flat for mailing.  You could easily leave off the gems and eliminate the foam adhesive to make them totally flat.

The first version uses Not Quite Navy and Baja Breeze, a combo I used previously with this set and really liked.  I used a snowflake punch to create a simple embellishment that highlights the sentiment, from WPlus9's Winter Wishes.

Cardstock:  Papertrey Ink (Enchanted Evening, white)

Stamps:  WPlus9 Design Studio (Fair Isle Backgrounds, Winter Wishes)

Ink:  Stampin' Up! (Not Quite Navy, Baja Breeze)

Tools:  Martha Stewart (snowflake punch)

Accessories:  Michaels (rhinestone)

Version two uses burgundy, spring green, and evergreen and some punched holly leaves embellished with pearl berries.  I scored a "vein" along the length of each holly leaf to make it a little more realistic.

I made 5 of each design in no time at all.  These stamps are incredibly easy to line up, especially if you use a block that has gridlines.  And they stamp beautifully.  :)

Cardstock:  Papertrey Ink (Scarlet Jewel, white)

Stamps:  WPlus9 Design Studio (Fair Isle Backgrounds, Winter Wishes)

Ink:  Clearsnap (Evergreen, Lettuce), Stampin' Up! (Bravo Burgundy)

Tools:  Martha Stewart (holly punch)

Accessories:  Queen & Co. (pearls)

I'd love to make a version of this card with Real Red and Garden Green, but my red ink is looking pretty washed out and needs replenished.  Maybe Santa will put some in my stocking.  *grin*

That's all for today!  I still don't have my photo cards finished that will be sent out to family and friends, but I'm planning to have a marathon crafting session tonight to get them done.  I'll share those soon!

I also have one more design to share that I made with Fair Isle Backgrounds and Winter Wishes, so come back soon for that.

Hope you're having a great day!  Thanks for your visit!

ColourQ #115

Good morning!  It's ColourQ day!  I'm still finishing up my Christmas cards, and you'll be seeing more of them this week, but thank goodness this fresh color combo came along to inspire another design.  Isn't it a fun twist on the traditional holiday colors?

I had to substitute Garden Green and Lucky Limeade for the greens, but they worked just fine!

I had this design buzzing around in my head since I started working with WPlus9's Fair Isle Backgrounds.  I stamped the pattern on a square of white cardstock, then placed it behind a die cut window.  I used PTI's Linen & Canvas impression plate to add canvas texture to the stamped piece and linen texture to the red panel.

My red ink is looking a little washed out in these photos, but I really did use both red and Regal Rose to stamp the pattern!

The sentiment, from WPlus9's Winter Wishes, is stamped onto a double-ended banner and embellished with punched holly leaves and rhinestone berries.

Cardstock:  Papertrey Ink (Pure Poppy, white)

Stamps:  WPlus9 Design Studio (Fair Isle Backgrounds, Winter Wishes)

Ink:  Stampin' Up! (Regal Rose, Garden Green, Lucky Limeade), Clearsnap (Cranberry)

Tools:  Papertrey Ink (Mat Stack 4, Double Ended Banner dies, Linen & Canvas impression plate), Martha Stewart (holly punch)

Accessories:  Michaels (rhinestones)

I think I might make another version of this card using Garden Green cardstock in place of the red.  What do you think?

Be sure to stop by the ColourQ blog today to check out the rest of the DT samples and get the details on how to play along.  I hope you'll join us this week!

Thanks for visiting today!

Fair Isle Greetings

Hey there!  Are you ready to see *lots* of cards using WPlus9's Fair Isle Backgrounds?  I have the first two today, but I've been playing with this set all weekend, along with Winter Wishes, to make my holiday cards.

The first thing I wanted to do with this set was to CASE a gorgeous card by Amy Kolling.  (Thanks Amy!)  I stamped the Fair Isle pattern onto kraft cardstock using Bravo Burgundy, Pear Pizzazz, and white ink.  I tied a white twill ribbon around the panel and added a punched tag, which I stamped with one of the medallions and a sentiment from Winter Wishes.

I don't often ink edges on my cards, but I added some soft white sponging around the edges of the kraft panel and tag for a snowy look.

Cardstock:  Papertrey Ink (Scarlet Jewel, Kraft)

Stamps:  WPlus9 Design Studio (Fair Isle Backgrounds, Winter Wishes)

Ink:  Stampin' Up! (Bravo Burgundy, Pear Pizzazz), Clearsnap (Frost White)

Tools:  McGill (tag punch)

Accessories:  white twill ribbon, jute twine

The second card is a clone of the first, only I swapped out the colors for wintry blues and used Enchanted Evening grosgrain ribbon.

These cards will be perfect for some friends of ours who don't celebrate Christmas, but enjoy getting an end-of-the-year card with updated photos of our kids.

Cardstock:  Papertrey Ink (Enchanted Evening, White)

Stamps:  WPlus9 Design Studio (Fair Isle Backgrounds, Winter Wishes)

Ink:  Stampin' Up! (Not Quite Navy, Baja Breeze)

Tools:  McGill (tag punch)

Accessories:  Papertrey Ink (ribbon), DMC floss

This set is so much fun to stamp with!  I'll be back tomorrow with another set of cards using Fair Isle Backgrounds in these two color schemes.  I hope you'll stop by!

Have a great start to your week, friends!