more faux metallic for christmas

Did you see my makes yesterday? I made a couple Christmas cards with an oldie but goodie technique. A great idea for adding a metallic touch to a project is Perfect Pearls. With the faux metal technique (a la Jennifer M.) you brush them onto a Distress Inked area while it is still damp. I thought I'd give the technique a try with Distress Oxides.

So the Oxides have a longer open time than the Inks. And therefore will pick up even more of the Perfect Pearls powder if you lay it on too heavily. Like I did. Got some mega streaks. Oh well.

But a positive side effect is that after using a water/Perfect Pearls mixture in a mini mister to lightly spray the finished area and set the Perfect Pearls, the oxidation droplets appeared where there were larger water droplets and that's kinda cool!

When the inked/pearlized panel was dry I die cut the rectangles and then dry embossed them. Die cut some iconic Christmas figures and heat embossed some sentiments and then assembled my cards.

STAMPlorations Christmas Icon Angel die

STAMPlorations Christmas Icon Nativity die
Lil Inker Stitched Rectangles die
Winnie and Walter Comfort and Joy stamp

Altenew Lyrical Script stamp

We R Memory Keepers Geometric embossing folder

Distress Oxides - Lucky Clover, Cracked Pistachio

Perfect Pearls

Still love this technique. And those embossing folders. I'm in the middle of Christmas cookie baking. How about you?

I'm playing at:
CAS on Friday - Make a holiday card
SSS Wednesday Challenge - AG
SSS Work it Wednesday - Ho Ho Holiday

faux metallic for christmas

Christmastime is sparkle time, right?

I made a few more Christmas cards with an oldie but goodie technique. A great idea for adding a metallic touch to a project is Perfect Pearls. With the faux metal technique (a la Jennifer M.) you brush them onto a Distress Inked area while it is still damp. I thought I'd give the technique a try with Distress Oxides.

So the Oxides have a longer open time than the Inks. And therefore will pick up even more of the Perfect Pearls powder if you lay it on too heavily. Like I did. Got some mega streaks. Oh well.

But a positive side effect is that after using a water/Perfect Pearls mixture in a mini mister to lightly spray the finished area and set the Perfect Pearls, the oxidation droplets appeared where there were larger water droplets and that's kinda cool!

When the inked/pearlized panel was dry I die cut the rectangles and then dry embossed them. Die cut some iconic Christmas figures and heat embossed some sentiments and then assembled my cards.

STAMPlorations Two Reindeer die

STAMPlorations Trendy Christmas Trees die
Lil Inker Stitched Rectangles die

SSS Winter Scene stamp

Winnie and Walter Comfort and Joy stamp

We R Memory Keepers Geometric embossing folder

Distress Oxides - Lucky Clover, Cracked Pistachio

Perfect Pearls

Still love this technique. And those embossing folders. Come back tomorrow for the red versions.

I'm playing at:
SSS Wednesday Challenge - AG
SSS Work it Wednesday - Ho Ho Holiday

25 days of christmas tags 2018 - part 3

I'm back with more of the sets of tags I'm making as neighbor gifts this year... thanks to Tracey's 25 days of Christmas tags.

Meet my next three sets.

Indulge me and my delusions of grandeur for a moment. I am now thoroughly convinced that the MISTI and the Jingle all the Way stamp from Technique Tuesday were designed with ME and THIS  tag set in mind!!!!

Well, OK. Probably not. But this was SUCH fun to make. I was inspired by Kim's tag for Day 11 with Winnie and Walter, but used one of my all-time fave Christmas sets from Technique Tuesday who was up on Day 13. And I even used up some more PP by cutting a second layer for the "to" "from" area ;)

Reverse Confetti Gift Card Holder Tag die

Technique Tuesday Jingle all the Way stamp
Altenew inks
jingle bells, buttons, ribbon

For Day 7 with Birchpress (whose product I do not own unfortunately) I was totally inspired by Desiree's color choices for her layered ornament. I couldn't get it out of my head, but didn't know how I could recreate that look with product I own. So I couldn't really, but I came up with this.

Die cut the layers from kraft, white, silver and gold and then dry embossed all but the kraft (which has to "to" "from" area on the back). They are really cool IRL so I left a sentiment off to keep the clean look. Made these smaller tags for the set too. Great little snowflake die in that Little B set.

Spellbinders 2010 Heirloom Ornament die

Little B Holiday die

We R Memory Keepers Geometric embossing folder

For Day 15 with STAMPlorations, I absolutely loved Carol's die cut tags and had to CASE them of course. Wish my photos were as gorgeous as hers!

STAMPlorations Christmas Icon Nativity die
STAMPlorations Christmas Icon Angel die
STAMPlorations Gift Builder #2 die
STAMPlorations Two Reindeer die

gold glitter CS, Delicata gold ink

I think they'll look so pretty on kraft gift wrap. Keeping them neutral lets the shape speak for itself. Thanks for the idea Carol.

I have more. Still happy Tracey's challenge spurred me to create my neighbor gifts for Christmas in November, though I'm behind the eight ball prepping for our turkey feast on Sunday! 

I'm also joining in at:

Addicted to CAS - Presents (these are all presents for neighbors, but #3 has present tags!)

Basteltraum - Winter/Christmas (#2)

Die Cut Divas - AG (#3)

Happy Little Stampers - AG with Dies November (#2)

CUTplorations october

Welcome back to normal programming at STAMPlorations, friends! Hope you had a lovely summer and are enjoying a beautiful autumn these days. I am!

We're back with a CUTplorations challenge over at STAMPlorations. Here's our inspiration.

image source: Ilaria Bagnasco

What do you see? Well. I saw that 3D effect on the pumpkin and couldn't help but do this...

STAMPlorations Blessings die

STAMPlorations Uppercase Alpha Plate die

STAMPlorations Art Edges die
STAMPlorations Holiday Expressions stamp
Geometric embossing folder
Copic markers
washi

Dry embossed the gray panel. Stamped, colored and fussy cut the pumpkin. Added washi at the bottom and hung part of my "fall" sentiment falling from a vellum strip at the top. Cuz I could ;)

Would love to see you join us for some fall die cutting fun over at the CUTplorations challenge. Just make a project based on our inspiration using at least one die cut and at least one STAMPlorations product. Your project might be chosen as the winner of a $15 GC to the shop. Check out how the CUTplorations DT was inspired by this month's photo here.

And don't forget about my STAMPlorations discount code STAMPGIRLMARIA for 20% off should you feel a shopping spree coming on ;) Thanks for coming by. I'm heading over to the Anything Goes challenge at Simon Says Stamp Wednesday.

spotlight on negative space

I'm working with another 2018 trend for my spotlight project over at STAMPlorations - check it out!

I'm playing at Challenge up your Life where the theme is a good one - Embossing Folder! Pull 'em out and have some fun. I'm also sending this to Danipeuss Kartenchallenge #60 - Alles Erlaubt (AG)

STAMPlorations inspiration #109

More inspiration for you today on the blog and over at STAMPlorations. I love making cards. How about you? I tell myself I enjoy being able to make a card that is a little more special. But today's card(s) prove that it may be more about cardmaker's magic ;)

Yes, magic... like the magic of heat embossing. Of dry embossing. Of blending Distress Inks. And then there's the magic of glitter and shimmer. Ah yes, the magic!

Hard to capture magic in a photo though, isn't it. These closeups show a bit more of the wonderful 3D detail of the embossing folders. And the shimmer of the Perfect Pearl/water spray. Be still my heart.

I've done the shimmery metallic look on this card before. Then I saw Kristina W.'s card with the 3D effect and had to try it. On both cards I used the Geometric embossing folders from We R Memory Keepers.

On the red card I used Victorian Velvet, Barn Door and Fired Brick inks and STAMPlorations Be Jolly Phrase die. I cut it from gold glitter CS and backed it with dark red as a drop shadow.

On the blue card I used Weathered Wood, Stormy Sky and Chipped Sapphire and STAMPlorations Peace on Earth Phrase die cut from silver and dark blue CS.

I'm joining these challenges:
Basteltraum - Weihnachten
Time Out - Christmas with the option of Glitter/Shimmer (check. check. check.)
Simon Says Stamp November Work it Wednesday - Use Dies
Danipeuss Kartenchallenge - Warm oder Kalt (ich habe beide Farbwelten)
Stempelkueche - Alles was Glitzert

mixing mediums for the MMCC

I've got another card for you for the Mixed Media Card Challenge. The theme this month is "Family" and I've got another special birthday in the family this month. This time it's my uncle. Meet his card.

Stamps and ink? Yessir. I just love those numbers from We R Memory Keepers. I've gotten so much use out of them! And the sentiment is one of my fave ever, from PTI Keep it Simple Birthday.

And mixed media?

TEXTURE - embossing paste, heat embossed "80" and sentiment, textured cardstock, even the die cut "uncle" from MFT Bright Lights Alpha
DIMENSION - raised focal panel, mirror cardstock hearts
TECHNIQUE - embossing paste through stencils, heat embossing

I pulled inspiration from the Sketch 254 and Color 33 challenges over at MFT.

And I'm joining the lovely ladies at Seize the Birthday for Anything Goes.

Appreciate your visit today.

return of the wonky cake

Wanted to share a card with you, very similar to this one. Seems to be the year for DD's friends to be hitting the magical sweet 16.

Stuck with the pink and orange color combo, multi-inking the STAMPlorations Birthday Cake stamp for the BG. Heat embossed the sentiments (Technique Tuesday and the numerals from We R Memory Keepers) on pink CS.

Added a layer of vellum and some sequins strung on metallic gold thread too.

Playing at:
A Blog named Hero where it's Bright and Bold  this time around.

The Card Concept #31 where it's about (cup)cakes! I've created a freestyle collage design.

Seize the Birthday where the focus is on the sentiment.

I'm pretty much over jet lag and can see the pinnacle of Mt. Laundry on my laundry/craft room floor (our washing machine went kaputt while I was in Michigan!) so I'm hoping the creative juices will get to flowing normally soon. Thanks for coming by today.

FYI, Here's the view that greeted me at 6 a.m. on my first day at my parents'. Whether reflecting off open water or jagged pieces of ice, the morning sun creates diamonds on the lake...

idea for dad

Back today to share an idea for a guy. If you skipped the "sick" part, it could even be for Father's Day.

Started with a panel of woodgrain paper. Adhered a strip of foil tape to scrap and dry embossed it. Heat embossed the tools. Printed the secondary sentiment onto yellow paper, added die cut letters and adhered adding two brads at the top. Wrapped a strip of PP (measuring tape) around the seam and adhered the panel to a cardbase.

PP: woodgrain Bringmann, tape WeRMemory Keepers, stamps Jane's Doodles, brads Basic Grey, font Hollywood Hills, embossing plate Cuttlebug, alpha die Memory Box.

This card appeared in the Cool Tools issue of Paper Crafts and Scrapbooking.

Thanks for stopping by. Heads up - I'll be back at the weekend showcasing mixed media projects made with ARTplorations stencils from STAMPlorations!

say cheese and thank you (WW, SSS)

Image Source

Before we get down to card business, may I just point out that it's easy to work when your workplace looks like this. That's a 2014 Dry Riesling waiting to be born, folks.

Harvested last Saturday.

Dolce vita ;)

So... good thing the deadline has rolled around or you might have seen even more cards for the challenges over at Winnie and Walter in celebration of WCMD.

This time I'm having a go at Lea's - On Trend - where it's about cameras.

I've purchased a few camera images (dies from Amy Tangerine and MFT) cuz I think they are cool, but I must admit I hardly use them :(  For which occasion? With what kind of sentiment? Well then there was this gold journal card in a set from We R Memory Keepers that I just bought... And it all kinda came together.

Before you see my card, I've got a word for you - "JOCEWIDA". Rhymes with "dolce vita." OK, now take a look.

JOCE - as in Jocelyn O. I'm totally channeling her here with her wonderful, whimsical layers. Hers always look heavenly.

WIDA - as in Wida. Who likes to string a thing or two across a card every now and then. Thanks ladies!

Here you can better see the sentiment on the journal card which led me to think of a card to thank someone for a nice time. Like a dinner. As in "I'm so glad we had this time together" (definitely dating myself, but got that tune in your head now?)

I trimmed the journal card down and added a watercolor wash around the edges as well as some splatters on the card base. So I'm hooking up at the current Watercolors challenge at Simon Says Stamp on Wednesdays. And cuz I stuck with the pink, peach and gold colors again, I'm hooking up at Gayatri's color challenge at W&W.

So love it when you stop by. Have a good one.

Supplies:

Paper:  Bringmann, DCWV, PP Lawn Fawn, vellum

Stamps: 

Ink : watercolors, embossing paste

Tools: sentiment die PTI, camera die MFT

Other: journal card, crochet thread, stapler, sewing machine

50 + 50 + a pup (Curtain Call)

Well we've not got a wee one (species:  Havanese) around the house.  DD is doing a fabulous job with her (that was DD and DP (dear pup) first hour of bonding yesterday) but when I have duty I get absolutely nothing done.  Sit on the floor playing with her or follow her around the house trying to decide if she's looking for a place to do her business or just doing normal sniffing. Then whisking her out to the yard.  I'm not very good at this.  DD had night duty last night but I'm on for school nights so wish me (us) luck!

I did take a few minutes yesterday to make a card for our friends who had a 50 + 50 = 100 party last night.  Here it is.

The sentiment reads "what a beautiful day".  Thought it appropriate since neither of their birthdays was actually yesterday!

These are smaller number stamps so I decided to "stretch" them for my design by stamping them on the black CS and PP and after splitting them, covering the split with the sentiment strip.  This required more spatial thinking than my brain can handle. Card's outta da house so I can't go have a look, but those zeros look pretty darn wonky in this photo?!?!?  I think it may be more proof that I need to get me a Stamp-a-ma-jig... 

I'm playing at Curtain Call this week, not that my card has anything to do with "Back to School" but check out this inspiration photo and I think you'll know why:

May be awhile before I create a card again.  DP's not allowed in the basement so that's gonna keep ME out of my laundry room.  At least for crafting purposes!  For those of you following the story of the rabbits I have good news.  With DP's arrival we had no choice but to move them out of the house and into the yard in their stall and they're doing fine.  Even saw them laying quietly TOGETHER in one of their little houses today! Yippie!

Supplies for was für ein schöner tag:

Paper: CS and PP Bringmann

Stamps:  numbers WeRMemory, sentiment Inkystamp

Ink : Versamark, Versaine

Tools: 

Other: embossing powder, bling

parade of rejects: hb2u misted

You've seen these rejects a while back.  Now you can meet the cousin.

I like the misting (Dylusions inks BTW) even better on this card than on the other misted one.   And the white embossed letters are easier to decipher on this design.  That "2" on the recycled acetate?  Eh.  And if you look closely you'll see the risk when embossing large areas.  Difficult to get perfect coverage, which leads to some spray ink finding its way into the nooks and crannies.  Now, does that make for a reject?  My theory is that if you have a knock-their-socks-off card, then no it doesn't.  But it sure doesn't help a mediocre specimen.  Just sayin'.

Have a good one.

Supplies hb2u misted:

Paper: cardbase Craft UK

Stamps: Technique Tuesday, "2" We R Memory

Ink : Versamark, Dylusions, Stazon

Tools: 

Other: clear embossing powder, recycled packaging

hb2u three-fer (SSS)

Three cards to share today (belonging to the species "publication rejects") which are totally fitting for the birthday celebration going on over at Simon Says Stamp.  Make a bday card to celebrate Simon's 4th and earn a chance at a great giveaway package.

Here are my entries.

I've always been big on themes.  Bet you've noticed the "hb2u" theme I had goin'.  All fun to make. All not picked up.  (But they had a cousin who did get picked up so the family's happy ;))  Some bokeh generational stamping with sequins, some bokeh with watercolor and acetate and some Dylusions spray inks over heat embossing.

Thanks for looking and hb2u Simon.

Supplies #1:

Paper: cardbase Craft UK

Stamps: Basic Grey

Ink : Aladine

Tools: die Memory Box

Other: sequins

Supplies #2:

Paper: CS American Crafts, Neenah

Stamps: 

Ink : Distress Inks

Tools: die Memory Box

Other: recycled acetate, watercolors

Supplies #3:

Paper: cardbase Craft UK

Stamps: Technique Tuesday, "2" We R Memory

Ink : Versamark, Dylusions, Versafine

Tools: die Sizzix

Other: clear embossing powder, recycled packaging

10-min-craft-dashophobia (10 min Craft Dash, PC, SSS)

I was ready to go.  I had the idea and the colors at 10 minute Craft Dash gave me my colors.  Had a plan.  Had my supplies out.  Even cheated by planning/spacing my PC-generated sentiment ahead of time.  What could go wrong?

HA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

7:36 later (including my through-the-house-reverberating scream) this is what I had in my hand.  A tear in my embossed-with-a-homemade-frame card front.......Too much pressure in my Big Shot sandwich.  Forgot to do a trial run as part of my planning!

A phobia for this challenge I'm tellin' ya.  But, I really, really, really would love to win some WPlus9 stamps.  I've got it bad.  I've even started a wish list over there!  So I figured I would try again.

Two tutoring sessions later when I re-entered my cave ready to face my phobia once again, el cheapo me was wondering what I was going to do with the torn card.  Ta da!

Now, I didn't even turn my stopwatch on, but I swear this took me less than two minutes.  The square dies were out and I knew I had those two washi colors - right where they belonged even!  Die cut.  Taped.  Done.

I love this card.  This is my actual card for BFF.  She's one year ahead of me so I always figure I can make snotty remarks.  Love how the snottiness is disguised in the feminine, soft style of the card.  HA!!!!!!!!!

Packaged up the card set I'm sending her is a cute glassine bag my Neat & Tangled stamps came in.  How sweet is that!  Wanna see the finished product?

Hooking up at:
10 min Craft Dash - Challenge #10
Simon Says Stamp - Use Washi (ya don't have to ask me twice)
Paper Crafts Connection - January 2013 gallery

THANKS for sticking with me!

Supplies for 20/30:

Paper: cardbase Buttinette

Stamps: We R Memory Makers, sentiment PC generated

Ink : Cat's Eyes

Tools: square die Sizzix

Other: green washi Target, pink washi Freckled Fawni