Faux Brusho Holiday Card

Since I had the Misti all fired-up with the Mama Elephant sentiment, I embossed another card.  I used by Jacquard Acid Dyes misted with water to create the background.  You can't see it at all in the main pic but I stenciled over the panel with pearlescent ink.  Love the effect up close!

The Details:  Mama Elephant Peace on Earth, Stampendous detail fine white embossing powder, Versamark, Recollections 110lb white cardstock, Tim Holtz watercolor paper, Simon Says stitched rectangle die, Memory Box Star stencil, Fantast/x all-purpose frost white ink

I'm entering this in Penny Black Anything Christmas, Simon Says Anything Goes, Daring Cardmakers Something Stencilled   

Folk Christmas

I recently saw Kristina Werner's gouache on black card and worked up my own.  I compared two different gouache manufacturers--what a difference.

The first card (red border) uses a student grade gouache by Reeves.  I hate these paints.  They are very thick and gloppy which made getting fine details a struggle. They also weren't as opaque as I thought they would be.  Everything was freehand except for the Mama Elephant sentiment.

The second card uses Holbein Acryla Gouache.  Wow.  What a difference.  Much thinner yet very opaque.  Same sentiment but with penciled in elements.

I love this style of Christmas deco--folksy, crafty, DIY.  I wish you could feel the card--even the gouache has a bit of texture to it.  For the Card Concept I would place this in the mixed media category with a touch of elegant.

The Details:  Mama Elephant Peace on Earth, Reeves Gouache paints, Holbein Acryla Gouache paints (green card), Stampendous detail fine white embossing powder, Versamark, Waltzing Mouse scalloped stitched rectangle die, Recollections 110lb white and black cardstock

I'm entering this in Addicted to Stamps and More #172 Make Your Mark, Holly Jolly Embossing, The Card Concept #44 Festive Glory (mixed media elegant)

Black and Purple Holiday Wishes

Another Gelli plate creation.  This one uses the second pull.  I love the shades of purple, don't you?  Can't believe I almost tossed this away.  I went with black for the other elements to really make them pop.  Love!

The Details:  Gelli plate, Liquitex Basics acrylic paint, Memory Box Deer Trio die, Stampin' Up Wonderland sentiment, Simon Says stitched rectangle die, Crafters Workshop Aspen Trees, Lawn Fawn Deck the Halls snowflake

Only Flamingos at My Thanksgiving

Hello!  Happy Thanksgiving to my US readers!  I don't have a Great Impressions turkey stamp but I do have this fab G446 Holiday Flamingos one that I thought would be fun to work up for today's inspiration post.  A bit of coloring, diecutting and punching (my fav Martha Stewart greenery punch) is what we've got here.  It's really hard to tell in the photo but the designer paper has glittery stripes and the "merry" is foil cardstock.  It's so blingy!

I've actually used the G446 Holiday Flamingos stamp a few times before.  The first I never got around to posting; just some DP and a digital sentiment.  I love the sunglasses.  The second is about as shabby chic as you're likely to see me get.  In all honesty this is one of my fav Christmas cards.

See you next week with another GI design!  Toni 

Don't forget about the GI monthly challenge!

You don't have to use GI stamps but it'd be totally awesome if you did!

Also, if you do use GI stamps, be sure to link up to the customer gallery to show us your fabulous work and for a chance to get a little year-end prize.

Decorate with Joy

Playing with a new stencil.  Masked off just the part I wanted on the stencil to create the shape.  And masked the first ornament after sponging so the second ornament would appear to be behind.  Trimming the bow of the second helps with the illusion.

The Details:  FolkArt Star Stencil, Simon Says Big Scripty Greetings Holiday and stitched rectangle die, Impression Obsession Vintage Ornament die, VersaFine Onyx Black, Hammermill 80lb color copy cardstock, Recollections 110lb white cardstock base, Distress Ink Picked Raspberry, Mustard Seed, Mermaid Lagoon, Wilted Violet

I'm entering this in Addicted to Stamps and More #172 Make Your Mark, Simon Says Anything Goes, Addicted to CAS #77 Dimension

White on White . . . Mostly

I spotted (ha!) this cute deer in my someday color stash and thought it would make a fab holiday card with a dove.  Well, my dove turned into a cardinal because the dove I have is pterodactyl sized compared to that deer. 

The Details:  Avery Elle Storybook deer, Impression Obsession Birch Trees dies, Copic E30, E33, E35, E39, 0, We R Memory Keepers Next Level Wave embossing folder, Waltzing Mouse scalloped stitched rectangle die, Lawn Fawn Stitched Hillside Border die

I'm entering this in Addicted to CAS #77 Dimension,  Addicted to Stamps and More #172 Make Your Mark, CAS on Sunday #72 Christmas  

Embiggened Tag

I loved the mixed media tree tag I had made so much I decided to make another into a card.  I had just enough of the fabric dye watercolor paper left to eek out a second tree.  I masked off some watercolor paper and did a Distress ink blue wash, moving the brush in waves to suggest movement, mountains or whatever you imagine.  A die cut hill adds another layer of dimension behind the tree.  Further details on how I created the tree and ingredients can be found on my previous post about the tag version.

I'm entering this in Simon Says Christmas, Christmas Cards All Year Long Tree, Jingle Bells Holiday Leftovers, Addicted to Stamps and More #171 Anything Goes, Mixed Media Monthly Challenge #18 Texture

 

CAS Mixed Media Poppies

Lately I've been contemplating mixed media and CAS styles of card-making.  When I think of MM I think lots of texture and layers and paint and schtuff.  CAS is opposite land.  But what to do when you're a CAS girl at heart who happens to like getting messy--often unintentionally but that's beside the point.  With this card I managed to combine both styles.

For the flowers I painted my Gelli plate with purple acrylic paint then lightly misted it with water before pulling a print.  While that dried I used the faux mother of pearl technique for the greenery (Memento inks and Fantast/x frost white all-purpose ink--thanks for the Fantast/x, Loll!).  The card front is impressed with a PTI impression plate and the PTI sentiment stamped in Versafine Onyx Black--see the picture below for an eyeful of that texture--swoon.  The poppy is cut twice--once in the green panel and then again in the purple for the blossoms.  I used Copics on the stamens.

I'm entering this in CASology #173 Pretty, Seize the Birthday without Vellum/Acetate Topping   

Merry Wreath

Hello!   Time for another Great Impressions card for you!

I had great fun with this card.  I stamped the G496 Evergreen Wreath twice, once in a dark green and once in a lighter green.  This makes for a  really fully looking wreath without a lot of fuss.  I then colored in the berries.  A simple diecut straight across the center finishes the card.  I also used texture on this card in the form of falling snow and woodgrain.  Still my beloved white on white but added interest.

See you next week with another GI design!  Toni 

Don't forget about the GI monthly challenge!

You don't have to use GI stamps but it'd be totally awesome if you did!

Also, if you do use GI stamps, be sure to link up to the customer gallery to show us your fabulous work and for a chance to get a little year-end prize.

I Feel Pretty, Oh So Pretty

I've had this card in my head for quite a while.  Love the pop of the blues against the kraft so much!  And I've missed working up flowers.  Very simple--stamped the background stamp using a pale ink then used watercolor pencils to color the flower.  Watercolor pencils without water.  The barely there background speaks to me.

The Details:  Derwent watercolor pencils, PTI Choose Joy sentiment, 140lb cardstock base and 80lb kraft cardstock, VersaFine Vintage Sepia, Hero Arts soft vanilla and large flower background, Simon Says Stitched Rectangle die

I'm entering this in Mod Squad Make Your Own Patterned Paper, CASology #173 Pretty, Addicted to Stamps and More #171 Anything Goes