Christmas Card Challenge - Watercolor - Silver Foil Joy

I had some small Christmas note cards featuring a wreath and Joy in silver foil on white card.

I decided to trim the card front off and water color the background with the Stampin Up Watercolor Wonder crayons.  I left the center of the wreath white.

On this card I used Tempting Turquoise with salt.  Once it was dry I trimmed it a wee bit. I added the TT Thread with a large round silver brad to hold it in place aligned the left hand side.

I adhered it to the Tempting Turquoise card base with double side tape.

This card features the same silver foil wreath with the Old Olive watercolor. 

This one was just a basic wash on the background again leaving the inside of the wreath white.

I found some coordinating round sequins in my stash and mounted them with tiny silver brads.  I chose some green and some silver.

The watercolor layer was adhered to the Old Olive card base with 3D foam tape.

A seasonal insert with a white envelope completes the card.

For this card I used the Brave Burgundy watercolor and created a gradient wash with it being light at the top and darker at the bottom.  I actually painted this upside because it works better to start dark and add water as you get lighter.

I chose 4 large silver star brads for this card.  I put them in the four corners.

I adhered the greeting layer to the card front with 3D foam tape.

I made 2 of each color so I have 6 more cards in the Christmas card box.

Christmas Card Challenge - Watercolor - Aug - Salt Backgrounds

I created a watercolor background for my large Christmas greetings for this month's challenge.

I started with 140lb Arches watercolor paper I purchased from my sister. It had been rolled up so I spritzed it with water and let it relax itself to flatish.

I cut a strip about 6 inches tall and the width of the sheet.  I taped that down to my waterproof work surface.  I used my small watercolor palette I created the other day.  You can follow this link to the post which contains the details. 

I soaked the paper with my spray bottle then I just worked with the greens and blues in my palette. As I moved across I switched from the blues to adding red to create purples. Once I was happy with the colors I misted it again to ensure the whole surface was wet then just added some table salt to the surface.  It then dried for several hours.

I believe this is rough water color paper but is softer than the sheets have I have been using. I was very happy with the pattern produced by the salt.  Once completely dry, I cut it into 4.00 x 5.25 inch sheets.  These will leave a small border of the card base showing.  Since I was not using Stampin Up watercolors it took a bit of evaluation to see which card colors to use.

While the paper dried and searched the internet for some free large greetings I could use. The card above features the one I liked best.  The greetings were sized to be smaller than the watercolor background and printed grey on vellum.  They were then heat embossed with gold powder.  I ripped the edges to provide a more natural edge.

On the right I created some portrait (tall) cards with vellum greetings which also included images. This one is a Christmas tree. For most of  these cards, the vellum is adhered to the watercolor background with tiny gold brads. Then the watercolor layer is adhered to the card base with 3D foam tape squares.

The greeting on the card on the left has been around for a very long time.  It is very classic fonts and makes a great greeting.

The card base on this card is Marina Mist. The brads used on this one are larger sparkly gold star brads. 

I added some vellum adhesive in the opposite corners to keep the vellum close to the watercolor.

 The watercolor background features the transition from green to blue in my original painting.

This watercolor background was the toughest to match to card stock.  I tried Chocolate Chip, Perfect Plum, Sahara Sand and eventually settled on Soft Suede. 

That is the challenge - when I was painting I did not measure the width of the colors so this piece ended up with some muddier colors with the n bright blue on the right hand side.  

This is the other portrait (tall) card where I combined an image and a greeting.

Again, I was not thinking of images at all when I was painting.  I had to trust I could work it out once the watercolor background was dry.

I think this worked out well.

This card features Bermuda Bay for the card base.  Another landscape (wide) layout.

This time tiny gold star brads in all four corners.

I will be adding quarter sheet inserts with a seasonal sentiment to each of these and pairing them with a white A2 envelope.

Another great set of cards for my box.  Ready to give come December st!

These worked out well and the background is worth considering again.

Card Box - HB and Thank You

 Another couple of cards for the box.

I started with designer paper from Echo Park called Hello Spring.  I paired it with a purplish Rich Razzleberry card base.

I added a length of Island Indigo 1/4" satin ribbon along the right hand side.  Taped the ends to the back. I added three deep teal and yellow handmade paper flowers on the left side adhered with tiny yellow brads.

This layer was adhered to the front of the card with double sided tape.  This ensures nothing showing on inside of the card. 

The greeting is a Stampin Up Modern Label punchie color printed.  I added the deep purple punch split in half and adhered to the back offset a bit for it to show up.  This layer was adhered to the card front with 3D foam tape.

Ready for an August birthday.

The same paper was paired with a Rose Red card base this time.

I added a white grosgrain ribbon across the bottom third of a landscape oriented card.  Then ends taped to the back and then adhered to the card front.

I added an oval color printed greeting in Rose Red and chalked with the same color around the edges.  It was adhered to the card front with 3D foam tape.

Is resting in the Compassion House box for delivery a little later.

Christmas Card Challenge - July - Trees

I found a set of these little trees when I was cleaning up.  I have no idea where I got them but they may have come from my niece.  I don't have this die so I did not cut them. They are Stampin Up Gumball Green.

I have chosen the same elements and arranged them slightly differently in each card. 

Trees - Gumball Green die cut spruce tree - die unknown

DSP - SU Winter Bright collection

Colors - Bashful Blue, Gumball Green, Whisper White

Tiny White Brads

Greeting - SU Artisan Label punchies in BB & GG

Card bases - Textured Gumball green 12x12 cut down to size

The greeting was mounted to card front with 3D foam tape. 

I added 3 tiny white brads to the main tree then adhered with double sided tape. 

The snowbanks were ripped from white card stock and I used a bit of Bashful Blue chalk along the rough edge.

The star is a punchie from white pearl card stock adhered with a Bling Zot.

The DSP was cut to leave a small border and in one case cut to 3 inches wide by 5.25 inches tall.

Seniors Week - June 7-13 2021 - Card Donations

This is the reusing of a nature printing I made many years ago.  

Nature Printing is a process that involves using real leaves, acrylic paint and white card stock.  I spattered the prints with watercolor after they were dry.

I trimmed the green leave nature print to leave a small border.  I adhered it to the front of a medium green card base.

I added a sentiment made with a Stampin Up Modern Label punch from the same green card stock as the card base and a color printed SU Word Window punchie.  This layer was adhered with 3D foam tape.

 

This card was made with an old card kit prepared for a class at a women's residence. 

The grey card base was punched with a circle border punch.  The sentiment is held in place with a metal circle pronged through the card front.   I added 3 daisy confetti held in place with tiny black brads. The insert is the full half sheet so it will show through the punched border.

I am using up old card kits which did not get used in class.  There was a time when I prepared more kits because I was not sure how many participants would show up. Later, I got smart and made participants pay in advance so I only prepared the number of kits which were paid for.

This card has a lavender card base with coordinating designer paper in the diamond pattern.  Trimmed to leave a small border.

The gold border was wrapped around and the ends were taped to the back.  The purple Lattice die cut was adhered to the designer paper too. Then this layer was adhered to the card front.

I added a flower accent and a Stampin Up Modern label sentiment where the purple punchie was offset from the white one. This was adhered with 3D foam tape.

Another old kit.  

This card has a black card base with a piece of striped warm blue green designer paper trimmed to leave a small border.  I wrapped the ivory grosgrain ribbon and taped the ends to the back. This was adhere to the front of the card.

The three hexagon shapes in the same color scheme as background were cut from designer scrap book paper with Spellbinder Hexagon Nestabilities set. These were adhered aligned along the ivory ribbon. 

I added a ivory tag sentiment with navy cording.  It was adhered with 3D foam tape.

The stack of card is growing!  I delivered them on Friday, May 21st.  They were gratefully accepted.

2019 Cardmaking - CH - Class 8

I really never know how many participants I will have when a do a class. By using the same layout from class to class I can prepare kits ahead of time and any left overs can be used the next month. Generally, I will not see the same ladies next month so it is always new for them.

I am using the DSP Split layout for my card making at Compassion House.  It is where a 4.00 x 5.25 inch piece of double sided designer paper is cut crosswise at 3.5 inches and the small piece is flipped over and taped back to the other to create a full layer for the card front. A variety of accents is then applied.  It is a very versatile layout.

The designer paper used  here is Rememberance Three - Rememberance collection by Authentique.

I used Kiwi Kiss card stock as a base.

Very Vanilla grosgrain ribbon.

I printed the greetings in Bravo Burgundy in Very Vanilla then punched them with the Stampin Up Decorative Label punch.  It is adhered over the ribbon with 3D foam tape.

Same layout again.

Designer Paper is Elegant Print / Poised Purple in the 29th Street Market collection by My Mind's Eye.

The ribbon is Very Vanilla grosgrain.

Three daisy confetti with flower sequins and coordinating tiny brads.

This layout generally can be flipped to the wide orientation depending the pattern.

The designer paper is by Jessica Swift - Blend - Division of Anna Griffin.

White grosgrain ribbon.

Prima handmade paper flowers in sunshine yellow with gold flower sequins and orange tiny brads.

Love this color combo. 

Card Base - Textured Basic Grey card stock.

Designer Paper - Honey Moon - Yours Truly Collection  by Echo Park.

Ribbon: White Grosgrain

Greeting: Color printed greeting in Basic Grey and punched with 1 3/8 in circle punch.  Adhered to card with 3D foam tape.


The ladies are always so appreciative to have some social time and an activity to keep their hands and minds busy.

Exchange Cards - August

Still working on Exchange Cards.

I used a layout I have used before.  I chose designer paper - Poplin - Indigo Bleu by PinkPaislee.  Each side offers different colors so I could make seperate cards. I chose teal, taupe, black and yellow card bases.

I cut the designer paper into 6x6 inches.  I then cut a circle with the large circle template with the red cutter.  These were cut in half with the paper cutter.

The half circle was placed on coordinating card bases.  With the black base I chose a black tiny brad to hold a taupe card stock punchie and 2 white silk flowers. 

I added a length of black grosgrain ribbon along the fold.  It was pulled through the card and tied in a knot on the front.  Ends were trimmed with scissors.

This is the yellow card base which coordinates with the other side of the designer paper.

.I chose a gold flower sequin, a turquoise Prima flower and a large white silk flower all held in place by a gold tiny brad. 

It was placed in the bottom right hand side of the half circle.

I added a length of turquoise grosgrain ribbon along the fold.  It was tied in a knot and the ends were trimmed with scissors.

These will be mailed right away.

While I was at it I made a couple of Thank You cards for Compassion House.

The damask side was used on this taupe card. 

Black grosgrain ribbon on the fold.

Taupe flower punchie with 2 white silk flowers on a black tiny brad.










This is the teal card base with the circle side of the designer paper.  White grograin ribbon on the fold. Teal flower punchie with yellow flower and large white silk flower.  A SU Word Window greeting was added to both and was adhered with 3D foam tape.

Trio of Prism Trees

Shopping at the dollar store can be ineffective.  I was attracted by these shiny reflection pieces several years ago and have struggled on how to use them.

I was inspired yesterday to create this composition.  I am happy with the star tops and the black stems. 

I added silver sequins with Bling Zots. 

I ripped a snow bank and added an extra from my class on Tuesday that I have not blogged yet.

 Here's my first sample.  The snowflakes don't really work for toppers for size or color. 

The iridescent sequins are OK but not the best.

The snowbank and greeting works really well.

Christmas Card Challenge - April - White Snowflake

The Christmas Card Challenge prompt for June was White & Snowflake.

I chose a white felt snowflake ornament for this card.  I cut a couple of my pieces of alcohol ink backgrounds into 2.5 inch circles to fill the snowflake center of the ornament. I added a length of Kelly Green seam binding which coordinated very well with the alcohol ink paper to the hanger.  I trimmed the ends with scissors.

I selected a turquoise card and decided it needed a bit of something before I put the ornament onto it.  I used a wavy template and followed it with a push pin making holes in the card front.  It sort of suggests falling snow. 

I added 3 large white snowflake confetti.  A couple on the ornament and one off which are held in place with light blue tiny brads.

Card Club Kit - Set 3 - Card 1

I trimmed the greeting layer to 3.75 x 5.00 inches.  The banner where the greeting is silver foil with a black border but when scanned it appears black.  I glued the greeting to the front of black card.

I used a push pin to create holes in the four corners of the greeting through the card front.  I place a small handmade paper flower onto a tiny pewter brad, pushed the prongs through the holes and pressed the prongs apart on the inside of the card.

R2Go Christmas Kit - Silhouette Holy Family

I started with a navy card.

I added a snowflake designer paper from the Michaels Recollections series - Snowflakes. This piece was trimmed to 4.00 x 5.25 inches to leave a small border and adhered to the card front.

I printed the Silhouette Holy Family image along with the greeting in navy onto a quarter sheet vellum and clear embossed it.  It was then trimmed to 3.75 x  5.00 inches.

It is attached to the card front with a tiny silver star brad in the center of the star and 2 silver circle brads in either bottom corners.  A push pin was used to make the holes to allow the brads to be inserted and the prongs pressed apart on the inside of the card.

St. Patricks HB Card

I have a friend whose aunt celebrates her birthday on St. Patrick's Day.  She always wants a special card.

I found a free printable at WishesGood and altered it a bit because she wanted it to say Aunt.  I printed it onto warm green parchment card stock.   Once printed, I trimmed it to leave a small border on the warm green card and adhered it in place double sided tape.

I found some green confetti daisies and some bright green brads just the right color to hold them in place on the card front.

R2G Christmas Stack Kit - Set 3&4

I started with the Stampin Up Gentle Peace stamp set.  I stamped the Holy Family onto vellum and embossed it with copper powder.  I trimmed the vellum close the edge of the image with scissors.
I glued the designer paper by Creative Imaginations - Sonnets - Plum Wash to the deep plum card front.

I adhered the vellum layer to the card front with 2 tiny round copper brads in the bottom left and right corners.  I used a copper star brad in the top center.

I designed the greeting with the Stampin Up Artisan Label punch in Perfect Plum and printed. Once punched, I used 3D foam tape to stick the greeting to the card front.

I started with the foil joy wreath on linen card stock.  I cut it with my Spellbinders smooth circle Nestabilities.  I then cut the corresponding scallop circle from light blue card stock.  These were glued together.
I chose a piece of My Mind's Eye - Countdown to Christmas - Plaid cut to leave a small border. I placed a piece of silver sticker paper 1" tall and over 6 inches wide across the center of the plaid designer paper and folded the ends to the back. It was then adhered to a Cherry Cobbler card.
I then adhered the "to the World" greeting over the silver foil paper band.  The large circle Joy greeting was then adhered to the left side of the card with 3D foam tape.

I started with the gold metal star ornament.

I cut gold metallic card stock to 4.00x5.25 inches.  This layer was adhered to the front of the black card.

I designed the starry night Bethlehem layer in black with my own drawing.  It was printed on white card stock trimmed to 3.75x5.00 inches.

I put gold metallic thread through the hole in the ornament. I adhered the metal star to the Bethlehem layer with a Zot then pulled the thread to the back of the white layer and taped down the ends. This layer was then adhered to the gold layer on the card front.

Congratulations Card

I made this card for a baby shower I am attending on the weekend.
I started with a Stampin Up Night of Navy card.  I created the white spatter layer with a Night of Navy reinker, a drop of water and a toothbrush onto white photo paper.  I cut the large scallop at the top from Old Olive card stock with the SU Sizzix Big Shot Large Scallop Edgelits Die.  I wrapped a piece of Grosgrain Stitched ribbon in the NofN color. This layer was adhered aligned along the top of the card. I've placed 2 tiny white brads on either end to keep them adhered to the card front. I placed 2 lengths of Old Olive Washi Tape from the Santa & Co. Designer Series across the bottom third of the card.  I stamped the greeting in NofN onto white with the congratulations one from the Perfect Punches set. It is adhered to the card front with 3D foam tape.  I adhered 3 buttons in Old Olive with Zot along the right edge of the white layer.


Submitting to the following challenges:

SU Retro Sketches # 218

SU ColorQ #346

Doily Birthday Card

This is a card for my sister for her birthday.  I have delivered her gift already.

I chose card stock from the collection that Paper Garden provided for the Mother's Day Challenge.  This one is Stardream Aquamarine because her favorite color is green.  I placed a 5.5" white paper doily on the front of the landscape wide card and folded the rest to the back. I tacked it down with dry adhesive tape runner.  I placed the scallop circle greeting in the center of the doily and added 2 handmade paper flowers in the center. They are held in place with an iridescent flower sequin and a pink tiny brad.  I added a piece of pink seam binding across the bottom third of the card to repeat the pink color.  I placed 3 iridescent flower sequins along the ribbon centered on the card.  They are held in place tiny pink brads.

I gave her clear acrylic napkin rings that look like cut glass crystal.  I have been looking for a long time for something that would work. I photographed them with my dishes which are very vibrant but hers are white, pale gray and a hint of blue so these will work very well with the set.  The napkins have a square offset shiny matte pattern, which again will go well for those times when she is having friends or family in for dinner.

Happy Birthday!!

I had supper with her and her husband on June 3 and we enjoyed great Korean food.

Choo Choo Train Christmas Card

I started with a die cut from a set of Vintage Cardstock & Acetates from K&Company.  I chose a black card to match the color of the engine which I laid in the landscape/wide orientation. I used a piece of off white vellum which worked with the vintage image.  I held it in place with 4 tiny black brads in the four corners. I then adhered the train die cut to the vellum.  I used Tombow Vellum Adhesive on the clear acetate greeting (it's red but scanned black) and adhered it below the train.  I used a thin black marker and added smoke from the chimney by hand.

Submitting to 52 Christmas Card Throwdown - May Stash Challenge - Dies or Punches.

Card Club - October - Oval Tag

It's time for Card Club again.  For this card I started with a turquoise card and added a Stampin Up  Pretty Print embossing folder.  This was adhered to the card front.  I then aligned the largest flower and the tag to the card front and made a hole through to the card front with a push pin. Then I placed the small, medium and large flowers onto the brad and put it through the hole I made and pressed the prongs apart on the inside of the card.  I then aligned the 3 small flowers on the right hand side and again made holes with the push pin. I place the flower sequin and the flower onto the brad and push them through the card front and pressed the prongs apart on the inside of the card.  And repeated the process for the remaining flowers. 

Christmas Card Challenge - Oct - Angel Vellum Stamping

I chose Angelica from Stampdendous as my stamp.  It happens to be an angel which I stamped with craft ink on vellum then clear embossed it.  I chose to match the ink color and the card color in this case a deep Hunter Green from Stampin Up.  The greeting is from the SU Teeny Tiny Wishes stamp set.  I cut the backer from aqua card stock with the Tim Holtz Arch Frame which highlights the angel nicely.  I attached the vellum to the backer with 3 tiny brads a star one for the top and 2 round ones for each corner.  This layer was then adhered to the card front with double sided tape.  I find this angel just a bit on the big side for an A2 card so it presents some challenges when designing a card.

Card Club - Sept - Flocked Floral Border

I started with the flocked floral border which came on a roll.  I cut a length to about 4 inches then trimmed both ends with scissors following the pattern to make them pretty.  I selected a small patterned decorative paper in burgundies, trimmed it to leave a small border and adhered it to the black card front.  I placed the border in the bottom third of the card and used a push pin to make holes where I was going to place the brads. I placed small gold flower sequins on the brads then pushed them through the holes I made earlier and press the prongs apart on the inside of the card. I layered my color printed greeting on the larger layer.  I added a gold sequin onto the greeting accent with a tiny bling Zot.  The greeting was adhered to the top right hand corner of the card front.
Amazing just a different designer paper can make the to the appearance of the card.

Card - Color Challenge - Blue, Green, Purple

I started with a Stampin Up Always Artichoke card.  I color printed the Joy greeting with a digi from the Eventful Year stamp set in Marina Mist.  I then stamped the Evergreen from the Lovely as a Tree stamp set in AA. I adhered this layer to the card front.  I added small ribbon flags in the upper left hand corner in MM, AA and Elegant Eggplant.  These are held in place with tiny white brads.

Submitting this card to these challenges:

Clean & Simple Color & Sketches #114 Challenge.

Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas Challenge - Anything goes