Yeah… I bought it!

 Okay, I gave in and bought the adorable Waffle Flower Postal Collage Bundle! I just couldn’t resist it, as I had bought (twice, by mistake ;-) I loved it so much ), this Scandi Christmas Stamp set from a Cardmaking and PaperCraft magazine! I had been planning to do my own version of a postal collage with it, but thus bundle is just amazing! Does all the work for you!

So, this was an experiment and I’m hoping to make more colorful and unique versions of this type card! Must admit this die could also be used with the tiny stamps/dies you can pick up from different vendors at Christmas time when they release their advent calendars! (Simon Says, Unity, Studio Light, Soellbinders…) And I have some of them I woul like to try as well!

So, with my first attempt I created a very subdued version of this type of card. I die cut a Simple Stories patterned paper from one of the Simple Vintage Christmas collections. I then used Aged Mahogany and Iced Spruce inks on the outline stencil. I then stamped using a dark brown archival ink. I used a platinum colored jelly roll to add details. I also (just cause I’m compulsive like this), embossed an Altenew heart stamp on the house image using Liquid Platinum powder. I then added coordinating colored pearl dots. For the background papers I used a foiled paper and a patterned paper from a Bo Bunny paper pad. Adds some detail and shine with the rose gold foil.

So, I’m thinking this is a more masculine holiday card! Can’t wait to create more of this type card using my varied tiny stamps! Thanks for stopping by! Till next time, happy crafting,

Stash Shopping - 6 Mixed Media Tags

 So, I did a thing… before I sent some crafty stuff to creative friends (in an effort to declutter).  I decided to create and include a little thank you card which devolved into a mixed media tag frenzy for me. I’ve been coming across a lot of very old stuff in my cleaning efforts, like…

 Old Tuesday Morning finds (from my Tuesday morning Shopping binges… you know…”wow, can’t believe these prices!”, “I’m sure I could find a use for that!”, cheap acrylic and mixed media mediums, or oh, my, retired Tim Holtz stuff!)

Or stuff picked up in mystery boxes from craft stores,

Or from mixed media craft subscription boxes!

 All resulting in a huge compelling urge to throw away, give away or use ASAP, this old stuff!

(And hey… got to make room for some new stuff!)

So, I started by getting out 6 tags, of which I have a ton of, and then proceeded to pull out red and dark green acrylic paints, white gesso, Vicki Boutin printed tissue paper, clear acetate images, clear sticky lace strips, white music paper, preprinted tags, and these 4x6 preprinted black and white cards which looked like seed packets with sentiments on them. Here’s a remnant of the 4x6 cards…

 So, I started by loosely painting and drying parts of the tag. I added white gesso covering over parts of the paint. I then took gel medium and added the Vick Boutin crosshatch and leaf stems tissue, and strips of music paper in the corner spots. I then added clear acetate Kaisercraft lace strips.

Next, I decided to watercolor the flower parts of the preprinted seed papers, thinking I could fussy cut them out and have them be the focal point of the tags. I used watercolor Graphite and Prismacolor watercolor pens to lightly add green and red colors to the flowers. After fussy cutting the flowers and some of the sentiments out, I then started arranging the flowers, picking out the right background for each flower. Then I played some more with each tag, adding randomly more clear acetate images, random Kraft sentiments I had on hand, chipboards, diecuts or stamping and adding more sentiments in spots. I added white and black spatters as needed. Then I added white acrylic paint and pen to little preprinted garden focused tags I thought could be added at the top… his copacetic was that? Here’s the results… each having a different feel and look! 

 

Here’s a more detailed look at these messy, busy, but hopefully fun to look at tags!

So, it felt great to be creative and artsy again… must admit my skills have eroded from lack of use. It also felt good using up bits and pieces of stuff from my stash. I ended up throwing out old dried up mixed media mediums, telling me I have to do another purge of paints, pastes and acylic mediums! 

What do you think… how’d they turn out, do you like these, have a fav? Interested in your thoughts! Thanks for stopping by!

BYSHC Sketch 51 - 2 different takes!

 Tried a couple different styles this month with Sketch 51!

For both cards, I used ephemera and papers from Simple Stories Tis the Season collection. For the first card, I pulled out Unity’s Christmas/Over Again, Magical {Bliss and Wonder} and a retired stamp set, World of Christmas. I started by gold embossing the snowflakes and words on the background paper. I also added swirls using a Studio Light stencil. I then stamped and clear embossed the tag image in coordinating colors by blending the colors with multiple inks. I added watercolor to make the image stand out.  I then spattered it with metallic gold paint. I inked the edges of everything! After gold embossing the sentiment, I added the Unity freebie Yuletide paper, ribbons, ephemera, Crystal dots, and die cut foliage to complete the card! I know…it’s over the top, but I had fun creating it!

For the second card, I used papers and ephemera from the collection, ribbons, dots and a Unity sentiment from …Cherished Holly. Pretty easy to pull this one together! Love how this one turned out! Isn’t it amazing how 2 totally different cards, can be made from the same collection and sketch?

Thanks for stopping by… till next time, happy crafting!

Friends of Unity November Blog Hop

 Wow… it’s November already! This year has just flown by for me! And… it’s time for another blog hop with a most time appropriate theme of… 

I had some fun with this one… some watercoloring, pretty papers and wonderful stamps! Before I start, wanted to remind you that my friends and I offer up every month some giveaways from our own personal stash. This month, I’ll be doing a giveaway and will announce the winner in next month’s blog. A winner will be randomly chosen from the all people who offer up a comment below… btw, constructive criticism is always welcome! So, be sure to offer up your feedback and stop back next month!

So, the first card I created was inspired by an old paper collection from Prima called Amber Moon. I stamped the image onto watercolor paper from a retired Unity Kit called Don’t Be Like the Rest of Them.

I then watercolored it matching up colors to the paper. Before fussy cutting it out, I stamped the super image from Grateful for All over the flower image. I then used oval dies to create a frame and used papers from the collection to pair with the Kraft paper. I stamped a sentiment from the Change and Direction membership kit from October 2022 added coordinating enamel dots and called it done. I like how different this one turned out.

For the second card, I pulled out another Prima pack called Pumpkin and Spice. I stamped the image from Anemone Greetings onto watercolor paper, again. I put a lot more time into watercoloring this one, again matching colors from the paper. I added white pen marks on the flowers and spattered all over with paint and watered down copper Perfect Pearls. I used some Unity frames to cut down all the papers. I ended up embossing an image from September’s 2023 membership kit called, Harvest Hues. Again, I added coordinating enamel dots to this one as well!

Must admit, it’s always good to have some gratitude cards on hand! Let me know what you think about these by commenting below …be sure to add your name so you can be included in the giveaway next month! Thanks for stopping by!

Now, on to the rest of the hop, you may have come here from 

Rachel’s blog

Or you can start from the beginning with

Crystal’s blog

BYSHC Card 4 + Sketch 50

 Created another card for the BYSHC Falling for the Holidays 2024 Linky Party! Things got pretty messy with this one🤣! Details below! 

But first, a reminder, you, too, can join in the fun and enter your cards for a chance at winning a prize from one of our sponsors! Plus, many of the sponsors are offering discounts and percentages off their products during this Linky party season… check out the website for more details!

So , I first started out with an embossed image created with Sizzix’s Jeweled Snowflakes embossing folder on white paper. I ended up painting (as sprayer was clogged😡😝) Altenew’s Cosmuc Shimmer spray, but the continued to use a variety of other sprays and powders (Primary Elements and Magicals) to get a dark varied blue and gray background. I then used my finger to add a light pearlized Cosmic Shimmer paste over the top.live all the variations.

A good crafting friend recently gave me a box of snowflake chipboard pieces in a swap. I used Brutus Monroe sparkling silver and clear embossing paste to cover 4 of them… to give them a metallic look. I cut down the paper and added a purple strip with the clear pretty Happy Holiday paper over the top. I mounted the paper on a navy cardbase and added aquamarine snowflake embellishments that matched perfectly…go figure!

Thanks for stopping by…till next time, happy crafting!

BYSHC CARD 3 - Unity + BoBunny

 Created another quick but different card for the Linky Party using an old BoBunny Yuletide Carol collection and Unity’s Winter Regards stamp kit. Join in the fun creating and linking up your holiday cards in the BYSHC Falling for the Holidays 2024 Linky Party!

I had an ephemera pack from this collection I’ve never used, so pairing it with the paper, I decided to try my hand at creating a card. I used this month’s Sketch 50, too!

I used Unity’s stamp set with gold embossing powder to embellish the tree ephemera piece, in essence adding the sentiment. I added gold crystals, a gold base for the tree and red ribbon to complete the card! Pretty easy to pull this one together!

I’ve always loved this paper pack for some reason, so it was fun to try to use it in conjunction with the sketch! And, I kind of like how it turned out! Well…thanks for stopping by and join in the fun!

BYSHC Card 2 x Sugar Cookie Christmas

 Had fun creating this second card for the BYSHC Falling for the Holidays 2024 Linky Party! Join in the fun and link up your cards! BTW the website now has a video showing how to link up your card in case you needed this info! Pretty easy peasy to do!

For this card I pulled out an old 8x8 Prima paper pad, Sugar Cookie Christmas. I decided after picking out the bottom and top paper layer, I went looking for a die set I could use as embellishment. I found an old Momenta holiday cookies Mason Jar set. I distressed all the layers of paper and found matching pink and blue papers I could pair with the patterned papers. I die cut out the Christmas cookies, stars and gingerbread men pieces out of matching solid colored paper scraps. I added white and tan pen details and inked the edges. I embossed a sentiment from a Powerpoppy stamp kit, and used pink twine and Prima crystals to complete the card! This was a fun card to pull together…always a treat when I can pull together a hodgepodge of products to make a completely cohesive card!

Hope you like this one! Remember to link up your cards for a chance at winning a prize from one of our many sponsors!

Fun Fall Artist Trading Cards

 Had fun creating this set of ATC’s focused on my fav season! 

The first ATC was inspired by a brand new beautiful Recollections paper pad set called Mystic Muse! There’s a small pad with some really pretty holographic papers and ephemera and stickers in the set. I really didn’t need more paper but couldn’t resist after wandering into a Michael’s store for the first time in a long while! I used papers and ephemera from the set, Tim Holtz paper dolls p, a Unity Lace stamp and a fun Whimsy die, Foolish Mortals! I’m heading to Disneyland in a week and I just love the Haunted Mansion ride… so… I just had to create these!

For the second set, I just wanted to watercolor some pumpkins free hand. I started by taping down a watercolor paper dividing it into 4 rectangles the size of ATC’s. I then used a pencil to create the design. I really didn’t want to spend a lot of time on these…just enough to give the illusion of a pumpkin and leaves.

 I used a Unity sentiment on these, A Season of Change.

That’s it… just thought I’d share! Thanks for stopping by!

Sketch 50 BYSHC Sizzix Jeweled Snowflake Folder

 Here’s a simple card using a simple sketch from the Build Your Stash Holiday Cardmakers group!

This card was made with an older Sizzix 3D folder called Jeweled Snowflakes. I just used a gold paste over the raised edges to make the details show up! I die cut gold glitter paper using Simon Says Stamp’s Dancing Snowflakes wafer die. I added a sentiment from SSS’s Making Spirits Bright stamp set and gold crystals to complete this one!

Try your hand at this easy sketch to create some simple holiday cards! Thanks for stopping by!

BYSHC Falling for the Holidays 2024 Linky Party

 It’s time for another Linky Party! All you have to do is create a holiday card and link it up for a chance at winning a prize from one of our wonderful sponsors! See the graphic below for the blog site to link up your cards!

For this card, I used Altenew’s Classic Pinecones embossing folder on white paper. I ink blended 2 brown and 2 green distress oxide inks onto the pinecones and needles. I then rubbed a gold paste over the tops of the raised edges. I added white and gold spatters over the top. I die cut out the pieces of the ornament using a Memory Box Millbrook Ornament die. I added gold sticky strips to the ornament and to the background paper. I outlined everything for shading using a black Stabilo pencil with water. Finally, I added a sentiment from an old Sunny Studio kit and sone sequins and dots.

That embossing folder is the bomb! Remember to link up your cards for a chance at winning a prize!

BYSHC blog linky party link: https://byshcardmakers.blogspot.com/2024/10/falling-for-holidays-2024-byshc-linky.html

Friends of Unity October Blog Hop

 Welcome back to another Friends of Unity Blog Hop. So, we have a new to us different theme this month…

The thought process behind this one is you get to “case” a fav creator of yours! This one should generate quite a few different styles amongst the designers. Must admit, as much as I try to case others, my style still heavily shows through! Oh well… it’s the thought that counts, right?

Before I begin on my fav creator, I thought I’d remind you that the Friends group does random giveaways each month from our own personal stash. To be eligible to win, you just need to leave comments on the blogs!

So, my fav creator, yet to be really CASEd by me, is Debbie Hughes… a glorious watercolorist whose many cards and styles can be seen on Instagram (and on Simon Says Stamp site). I’d like to be her when I grow up! So, obviously, I delved into watercoloring again!

The first card was created with 2 kits, the floral image from Sweet as Honey with a sentiment from November Chrysanthemum. After watercoloring, I spattered the image with white and gold acrylic ink. I paired the image with coordinating papers from an old Kaisercraft collection, added the embossed sentiment and affixed enamel dots. I have such a hard time creating the minimalist look Debbie achieves!

 

For the second card, I pulled out Season of Inspiration. Must admit, I love painting pumpkins! I started with a Studio Light patterned paper that I stamped the branch image on using multiple inks. I ended up embellishing it a bit with pens. I then watercolored the pumpkin on watercolor paper and fussy cut it out. I added a ton of gold, white and copper spatters. I then fussy cut out a coordinating Studio Light mushroom. I pulled the card together finally adding the sentiment and enamel dots.

Well, that’s it for my inspiration… wonder what style you’d like to Case? Technique, medium, style, layout… ? Be sure to check out all of my Friends’ wonderful creations and remember to comment for a chance at winning a prize!

And now on to the rest of the hop… 

You may have come here from:

Rachel’s blog

Or, you may start from the beginning with:

Crystal’s blog

BYSHC Sketch 49

 What a lovely sketch the Build Your Stash Holiday Cardmakers group launched this month:

After looking through my stash, I found an old craft magazine paper pad I decided to try creating something with. I used a couple sheets and paired them with some Tim Holtz items. Tim Holtz. As a background I spruced up the card with silver holographic paper. I colored the cut out paper doll with markers. I added a die cut tree and sentiment. Finally, I finished the card off with Tim Holtz sentiments, stickles on the tree and enamel dots.

For the second card, I pulled out an old unused Authentique paper pad, which I love the colors and designs of. This was so easy to pull together by cutting out the sentiment graphic and adding braid and rosette ribbons and enamel dots. I never use cut out images like this  but I just love those included in this set.

Check out the other cute cards created by our team of designers and join in the fun… not too long now till the holidays are upon us! Thanks for stopping by!

Spook Up Some Fun

 Played around with Simon Says Stamp’s Spook Up Some Fun kit for a little Halloween crafting. My husband and I have been busy decorating for my fav season with fall and Halloween decor! And I’ve started watching my fav Halloween movies to get in the mood!

For this card I pulled out a very old, probably one of my first crafting purchases, Bella Blvd Spootacular paper pad. I had some Pre-Cut green and black form shapes I thought I could use for Halloween, because of the colors. Because I wanted a little green in the background and I obsess over color matching, I colored in the white eyes of the spookier characters floating around.

I thought the witch would go fine with the background and I could use the pad for paper piecing her outfit! I did use a combo of markers and pencils for her legs, shoes and hat too! I pulled a Creative Expressions die for the web embellishment and added orange and black enamel dots too! I black and white embossed the sentiments, again using papers from the pack.

Pretty easy and fun card to pull together. Must admit, I love shopping from my stash! Thanks for stopping by!