Think Pink

It's that time of year when you get to wear your heart on your sleeve, or at least show them on your cards. Valentine's day is just around the corner. Today's card was made for a darling four year old who just happens to be my granddaughter. It's safe to publish it since she has no access to my blog or Facebook. She loves fairies and pink is her favorite color. So this card is a perfect match. The base card is white cardstock. The pink background panel is a background die. I cut the heart and embossed it with a candy hearts folder. the adorable fairy die cut uses a Cheery Lynn Designs die. The hugs and kisses stamp is from Quietfire stamps.
I am entering this card into the following challenges: Cheery Lynn Designs -- tickled pink; SweetStamps -- pink, white, and one other color; Marks Finest Papers Friends of Speedy -- die cuts or punched items; Dies R Us --hearts; Mixed Media Monthly -- think pink.

Snowmen

This card is quite appropriate for today. Although the snow isn't really deep here in Chicago, it has covered everything outside. It's the time that snowmen start to appear.
It's also the time of year where many challenges want to see something "new" for the New Year. Since I didn't receive any new art products over the holidays, I decided to take this opportunity to try out a couple of my never-before-used products (ie. new to me). The background panel was done on a gelli plate. Not too long ago I ordered the smallest gelli plates, but I never got a chance to use them. For this card I used the 5"x 7" plate. I love the fact that it fits nicely in the tiny space I have on my table for working. The other new item is the snowflake border die (Cheery Lynn). There's also a little something old on the card. The snowflakes on the background were stenciled with Ranger's metallic pearl dabber paint. That's been around (and unused) for quite a while. The snowman stamp (Tim Holtz) and the sentiment stamp (can't remember) have been in my collection for a long time.
My card layout is based on the sketch challenge from Mojo Monday. I am also entering my card in these challenges: Kraft Journal--take your pick (die cut, white, snowman); Simon Says Wednesday -- something new; Frilly & Funkie -- anything goes; Dies R Us -- something new; Artistic Stamper -- new beginnings; Great Impressions -- snow friends; Mixed Media -- something new for the New Year; V's Sweet Ideas -- something new; Ink on My Fingers -- anything goes; Cheery Lynn Designs -- snowflakes.

Holiday Blessings

I've had the Tim Holtz/Sizzix die of the (angel) wings sitting out for a while looking for a reason to use them. Here is a Christmas card with the wings in all their glory. Although you can't really tell from the scan, there is a lot of texture on this card. The layers of the wings are embossed vellum, suede paper, and glittered paper. The star in the background and the sentiment frame are glitter paper. The background is letterpress (Sizzix) and sprayed with distress stain spray. All of this is mounted on a textured teal cardstock base. The sentiment is stamped using a SweetStamps stamp.

My card is being entered into several challenges: SweetStamps --non-traditional Christmas colors; Simon Says Monday challenge -- anything goes; Tuesday Throwdown -- Christmas;
Stampendous --holiday happiness; The Mixed Media Monthly Challenge -- tic tac toe (diagonal - die, glitter, star); Word Art Wednesday -- anything goes; and Dies R Us -- anything goes with a die cut.

Be Thankful

I had a wonderful and busy day in the studio today. I used the Mojo Monday sketch challenge as my layout inspiration. However, I made a few artistic prerogative changes. First I turned the sketch 90 degrees to the right. Then, instead of a card, I made a tag.
I started with a black tag cut using a Tim Holtz die. The layering panel was dry embossed and then highlighted with distress ink. My stamped top panel was made using the acorn blueprint framelits set from Tim Holtz ( a prize from Mario and Tim for the 12 Tags challenge)  That is really a fun set to use. The layered acorn represents the circle on the sketch. I added the sentiment on the ribbon hanging from the top.
My tag is being entered in these additional challenges: Ink on my Fingers Sunday challenge -- black; Word Art Wednesday -- anything goes; Mixed Media -- stamps.

Autumn Bloom

Today is Labor Day her in the U.S. It was a beautiful day here in my part of Chicago. My lovely daughter grilled, so I could enjoy some time in the studio followed by a great meal. It was the perfect set up for a brightly colored card.
My card layout is based on the Mojo Monday sketch challenge. The Mixed Media Monthly challenge wanted us to be inspired by the colors in their photo (above) When I looked at the inspiration photo my reaction was bright, bold, and floral. I started with a neutral, white cardbase. The background panel is burnt orange. The left panel is a piece of white cardstock which I colored metallic gold using the metallic pan pastels. I then took my marbled stencil (Prima)  and used embossing paste for the marbling. Over that I stenciled a border of leaves (Dylusions) with distress paint. The panel on the right is blue cardstock layered with mesh dry wall tape. The flower (Heartfelt Creations) which was stamped on watercolor paper and then was colored using the watercolor marker technique (Marvy markers). I added the ribbon and a pressed flower sticker (SEI Inc.) which I layered on a white background and then a burnt orange framing panel. I stamped the word "autumn" right on the sticker.
I am also entering my card in these challenges: Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge -- bold colors; Ink on my Fingers Sunday Challenge -- bright colors; Artistic Stamper -- fall colors.

12 Tags of 2014 -- August

A new month means a new Tim Holtz tag for 12 Tags of 2014. As usual I had my doubts about my choice of colors for the tag background, but as always, the colors work. It's almost like magic. There are lots of layers and embellishments that make up this card. The background has tissue tape, lots of embossing paste and stencils, and distress stains. Oh, I can't forget the rusted corners (distress embossing powder. I love how the tissue tape provides a clear place for the focal stamp. The embellishments provide so much eye candy and texture.
I am also entering my tag into these challenges: A Vintage Journey -- just stain it; Artistic Stamper -- anything goes; and Mixed Media Monthly --stencils and modeling paste.

Little Voice in your Head

It's a gloomy, rainy day, so I decided to play in my art journal. That always cheers me up. I have had this stencil for ages from The Crafter's Workshop. I fell in love with it, but never found a reason to use it...until now. There are several  challenges which screamed at me to use this stencil. Mixed Media Monthly published its first challenge which is spray inks. Tuesday Throwdown challenged us to show wildly colored hair. Ink on My Fingers Sunday Challenge had girls as the theme. So out came the stencil and my Dylusions spray inks to start my page. The background color came from wiping my clean up towel on the paper. The stamps are from Sweetstamps and Club Scrap.
I am also entering my page in these challenges. SweetStamps -- no design paper; Marks Finest Papers Speedy Fox and Friends -- vintage.