Stamplorations Holiday Tagplorations Hop, Day 2!

Day 2 of the TAGplorations Blog Hop going on over at Stamplorations! Are you as super wowed by the tags so far, as I am? You're going to see more inspiration so be sure to check back each day. Full details.

This tag was a lot of fun to make. I embossed the tree first then went at it with Brushos.  And then I hated it. Yes, hated it. So I set it aside. A couple of days later and I'm in love. Must be Friday. Glittery snowbank, trees cut from Brusho panel, sentiment cut from mirror cardstock. Oh, and the swirly impression. Love that particularly.  Boom, done!

The Details:  CUTplorations Let It Snow and Trendy Trees die, ARTplorations Christmas Trees stencil, Ultramarine and Purple Brushos, Ranger Multi Medium Matte, Strathmore Mixed Mixed Paper, Stampendous Multi Crystal Glitter Mix, Versamark, Stampendous Detail Fine White embossing powder, Copic Opaque White, Simon Says Stitched Whirl Background die, Avery Elle Sweet Scallops

Stamplorations Holiday Tagplorations Hop!

So excited to be part of the TAGplorations Blog Hop going on over at Stamplorations!  And it doesn't have to be a Christmas tag; it can be for ANY holiday.  Woo hoo!  You're going to see a TON of inspiration and have a TON of ways to win a prize so be sure to enter and comment.  Full details.

This tag was worked up with Zigs on white embossed presents from the Warm Hands, Warm Heart set.  I love the bright and fun colors.  I added black elements with snowflakes, the twine and a shadow on the sentiment banner.  Pink and black--classic combo!

The Details:  Stamplorations Warm Hands, Warm Heart, Hero Arts Neon Red to Purple Ombre, Lawn Fawn twine, Memento Tuxedo Black, Versamark, Stampendous Detail Fine white embossing powder, Avery Elle Sweet Scallops die, Strathmore Mixed Mixed Paper,

Stamplorations CAS November Challenge!

Time for a new Stamplorations CAS challenge for you, this time with the optional twist of purple.

My card was super easy to make.  I used the Artplorations Bubble Dance stencil and sprinkled some purple Brushos over it.  I spritzed lightly, waited a hot minute, then removed the stencil.  Swoon!  I love the bokeh effect.  For the sentiment, I inked up the separate sentiments on the original acetate sheet and stamped as is.  Can't get much easier than that.  I do love that the sentiments are separate so I can use them that way too.  Ready to get your purple on, or not?  Come join in!

The Details:  Stamplorations Subway Art Builders Dare, Artplorations Bubble Dance, Purple Brushos, Ranger watercolor paper, VersaFine Onyx Black

Brushos, Purple

Ranger Watercolor Paper

VersaFine Onyx Black

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Happy Little Stampers CAS November Challenge!

This month at Happy Little Stampers CAS, you're asked to include faux or real metal on your makes.  Super easy, especially with the holidays coming up!

I went all out with faux metal--foiled cardstock base, embossed metallic Concord and 9th trees and Peerless metallic gold "snow."   Bling-a-ding-ding!  I added some Glossy Accents on a few of the snow flakes for added dimension and popped on a small star sequin. 

The Details:  Concord & 9th O Christmas Tree, Ranger Glossy Accents, VersaFine Vintage Sepia, Gold and Princess Gold Embossing Powder, Peerless Transparent Metallic Gold, Recollections Silver Embossing Powder and Gold cardstock, Simon Says Stitched Rectangle die, VersaMark

Concord & 9th O Christmas Tree

Ranger Glossy Accents

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The Heart Desires Challenge #6

Oh, my, do we have a fun one for you this month at The Heart Desires Challenge!  Warm and cozy and cute all at the same time!  This round you're able to use the colors, creatures (including MANimals) and/or the sketch.  I used creatures and sorta kinda the sketch.

I inked up the leaves using 3 shades of Distress Ink--Squeezed Lemonade, Candied Apple and Vintage Photo.  It seemed a little plain so I decided to add plaid to the top half of the card.  I bled over onto the leaves and realized it as a cool effect so did the whole front with the plaid. I don't use multiple stencil layers enough, let me tell you!  Amazing, right?

Some Pretty Pink Posh goodness--love these pilgrims!--sprinkled with a few Neat & Tangled sequins finished up the card.

Btw, some of my favorite Distress Inks will be available in The Heart Desires Store later this week. Woo hoo!

I'm entering this in Fab 'n' Funky #325 Animals, Addicted to Stamps and More #218 Holiday

The Details:  Carta Bella Plaid Stencil, Ranger Round Ink Applicator and Multi Medium Matte, Distress Ink Candied Apple, Squeezed Lemonade, VersaFine Onyx Black, Pretty Pink Posh Giving Thanks stamps and Window Frames dies, Tim Holtz Autumn stencil, Neat & Tangled Sunset Shimmer sequins

Carta Bella Plaid Stencil	Distress Ink Candied Apple	Distress Ink Squeezed Lemonade	Ranger Round Ink Applicators
Ranger Round Ink Applicators Refills	Ranger Multi Medium Matte

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House of Cards November Challenge!

This month at House of Cards we invite you to choose between the colors or adding lots of layers.  I chose the latter because it's gray and dreary here in Seattle and I wanted to play with lots of colors and patterns which I achieved through lots of layers. Lots.

First I brushed on some Distress Inks onto my card base using Clarity brushes.  I love these!  I tend to push down too hard when using sponge type applicators but don't have that issue with the brushes.  I do have to practice patience tho because it can take a while to build the color up sufficiently.  I then splatted on some water and set it aside to dry.

Next I diecut the hills, grasses, elephants, and clouds.  Wow!  Lots of cuts.  Building the scene took a while but I'm very happy with the results.  So cute!

The Details:  American Crafts Sunny 6x6 paper, Avery Elle Dotted Border dies, Papertrey Ink Cloud dies and Mixed Messages sentiment, Bazzill Fig Swirl Cardstock, Memory Box cardstock base, Distress Ink Tumbled Glass and Peacock Feathers, Clarity brush applicators

Practically Purrfect

I hate coloring cats. There, I've said it and feel 100 lbs lighter.  I want all cats to look like my Frankie which is just impossible.  I mean how do you color a cat at that scale with cloud rosettes--far beyond my skill and patience--so I skipped all that and made this one "calico" with designer paper.  Seriously love!

Happy World Cat Day!  Have you entered the Cat Lovers Hop?  Today is the last day!

The Details:  Avery Elle Dear Santa, Neat and Tangled Kitty's Favorite Things, We R Memory Keepers Geometric Embossing Folder, My Mind's Eye On Trend 2 6x6 designer paper, Copics, Pretty Pink Posh sequins, Simon Says Stitched Rectangle die

Avery Elle Dear Santa

Neat & Tangled Kitty's Favorite Things

My Mind's Eye On Trend 2 6x6 Paper

We R Memory Keepers Geometric Next Level EF

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Window Bloom

Another card for the Hop to Stop domestic violence.  I didn't have time to color all of the blooms so I chose to highlight one and thought creating a window to make the card interactive would be a fun touch for the recipient.  And because the window is on the top layer and the sentiment stamped on the outside of the card base, you can write all you want on the inside.  Love!

To create the window, I placed the die on the card front, then hung the part I didn't want cut over the edge of the cutting plate.  Easy peasy.

The Details:  Zigs, Flourishes Gerbera Daisies, Papertrey Ink Choose Joy, Waltzing Mouse Stitched Scalloped Rectangle die

A New Day

Wow, time totally slipped away from me so I'm squeaking in with a few cards for Becca's Hop to Stop domestic violence and hope you have time to join in and show your support. You have until October 30 and can even mail the cards to Becca for distribution at her local shelter. I'm going all out and totally destashing. Who doesn't make more cards than they actually mail, am I right? Be prepared for some happy mail, B.

In all of my cards, I've chosen inspirational messages and scenes that I hope will lift spirits and remind people they are strong and capable and able to overcome anything.  I myself have been the victim of abuse and know how difficult and lonely that place can be.

The Details:  Stamplorations New Beginning - Dee's Artsy Impressions, Memento Tuxedo Black, Waltzing Mouse Stitched Scalloped Rectangle die, Distress Inks Picked Raspberry, Worn Lipstick, Seedless Preserves, Wilted Violet

The Details: Stamplorations New Beginning - Dee's Artsy Impressions, Memento Tuxedo Black, Copics, Simon Says Stitched Rectangle Die

The Details:  Versafine Onyx Black, Doodlebug black/white striped washi, Ranger watercolor paper, Distress Inks, Peerless Transparent Gold, Stampscapes Lakeside Cove Large, Eyelet Outlet Enamel Dots, MFT Pierced Circle die

Ranger Watercolor Paper

Doodlebug B/W Stripe Washi

VersaFine Onyx Black

Ranger Multi Medium Matte

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The Great Copper Tape Experiment

You know I've been working with Chibi lights recently.  Well, I had opted to buy components instead of the kit for added cost savings--compenents being a set of 30 lights, 20 batteries, and a roll of copper tape, all from Amazon.  This means I have a 55-yard roll of 1/4" copper tape.  55 YARDS.  This is a lotta lot.  I was thinking I could add stripes to cards like I would with washi then I recalled how lovely copper gets when you burn it.  Yes, burn it.

1. The Left:  Plain tape adhered to 80lb cardstock.  Note I cut myself royally while doing this--imagine the deepest paper cut ever.  A rubber glove should be sufficient to avoid this in the future.
2. The Middle:  The tape has been burned with one of those long lighters that you might use to light up charcoal or a fireplace.  A mini butane torch would have worked fine but I didn't feel like digging out the one I use for jewelry-making.  Notice how the tape has bubbled up from the paper.  Not to worry.  But do worry about not leaving the flame in one place too long to avoid setting the paper aflame.
3. The Right:  The copper panel die cut with leaves.  Notice how I buffed away the soot before using the dies and how the tape flattened right back out.

That done, I stamped the Neat & Tangled sentiment then stenciled the tree onto the panel.  I decided to add a copper frame--I adhered a couple of strips of tape around the perimeter of a panel then die cut it.  Next time I will consider mitering the corners or some other artful way to make the corners consistents.  I adhered the frame down then placed the leaves every which way.  The warmth of the copper and the burnt pieces are stunning in real life. 

I'm entering this in AAA Cards #76 Masculine, Watercooler Wednesday WWC91 Masculine, Simon Says Wednesday Anything Goes

The Details:  Neat and Tangled Be Full, Versafine Onyx Black, Gina Marie Scalloped Stitched Frame die,  Distress Ink Antique Linen, Lawn Fawn Stitched Leaves dies, Hero Arts Elegant Pine Stencil, copper foil tape

Neat & Tangled Be Full

Gina Marie Scalloped Stitched Rectangle Dies

Distress Antique Linen Ink

VersaFine Onyx Black

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