WWC331 - Marsha's Special 3-Week "Anything Goes" Challenge

It's that time of the year!  Christmas is looming every closer (and don't ask if I've managed to get all the gifts I planned on).  To give ourselves a bit of peace of mind, we're having a special 3-week challenge.  I have to admit to being very, very happy about that.

My card is a special swing fold.  The design really worked well to showcase two different stamp sets, one by Anita Jeram of the Colorado Craft Company and the other by the Ciao Bella Papercrafting company.  I think the images work together beautifully, don't you?

I used a piece of leftover patterned paper which retired some years back.  It makes a statement and yet doesn't take over from the images.   You can see in the close-up why they call it a swing fold since, as the card opens, the inner image swings away from the outer images and frame.  It results in a wonderful 3-D effect. 

After watercolouring the images, I added some Dazzling Details to the snow, adding texture and a whole lot of dazzle (the don't call it Dazzling Details for nothing!)   I decided to heat emboss the sentiment in copper since that is the metallic highlighted on the patterned paper.  I love the result, don't you?

The great thing about this card is that it can easily stand on its own, creating a terrific little winter scene.

Have fun checking out our Watercooler Wednesday Challenge and I hope you'll link your creation before the deadline on Monday, January 3rd, 2022.

I've also entered my card at the following challenges:

Lemon Shortbread Challenge #160 - Anything Goes

The Holly and Ivy Christmas Challenge #106 - Anything Christmas Goes

Dream Valley Challenges #260 - Christmas

Simon Says Monday Challenge - Cold as Ice

WWC330 - Heidi's Challenge: All About Occasions

Photographing glitter is a royal pain!  My eyes pick up all the  glittery areas and the nuances of colour but neither my camera(s) nor phone can manage the same.  Clearly we have a way to go in attempting to match the human eye.

Why am I so hung up on glitter, you ask.  Well this card is actually all about glitter.  After all, the sentiment says the snow is sparkling like a million suns and my attempt here is to show exactly that. 

With the bright sunshine today and angled slightly, the card does show some of the sparkle.  I decided to have the bird appear to be standing on a snowball using the puffy white snow pen and then covering it with a combination of Shimmery Crystal Effects and a dab of Dazzling Details.  After stamping the sled, sentiment and bird with the StudioLight images, I turned to the Stampin' Up! images for the branches and bunny (stamped, coloured and fussy-cut before adhering it with foam Dimensionals).  The rest is freehand watercolour for my sunrise, snowy fields and shadows.

I plopped the card into one of my plants where the sun hit it directly, hoping to get more of the shine.

But I think there is more shine without the direct rays hitting the card, don't you?  This is an oversized card with a finished size of 6 1/4 inches by 5 inches.  I wanted the additional room to show off the pretty snowflake patterned paper.

Have fun checking out our Watercooler Wednesday Challenge and I hope you'll link your creation before the deadline on Monday, December 13th, 2021.

I've also entered my card at the following challenges:

Lemon Shortbread Challenge #159 - Anything Goes

Try It On Tuesday - Winter Wonderland

Simon Says Monday Challenge - Sparkle Mode

Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas Challenge (CHNC) - Anything Christmas

WWC329 - Cathy's Challenge: All Things Masculine

Do you know what is the problem with having a lot of supplies?  Making a choice!  I must have changed my mind a half dozen times before finally deciding to make a humorous masculine card using one of Bonnie Krebs' delightful Sloth images.  Who doesn't love sloths?

I chose to make the card in a slimline format since I wanted lots of room under the sloth which was hanging from a branch as they customarily do.  The base is heavy Whisper White and then I've added a layer of Old Olive to bring out the colours of those little leaves.  I used my Derwent watercolour pencils and an Aqua Painter to colour the image and love the results.  To add some festive sparkle, I heat embossed a series of gold sparkles around the image.  It's a birthday card, after all.

I simply love the sweet expression on the sloth's face.  Don't ask how that party hat is managing to stay on his head.  That was Bonnie Krebs' idea.  I think the card would work beautifully for a guy of any age, don't you? 

Have fun checking out our Watercooler Wednesday Challenge and I hope you'll link your creation before the deadline on Monday, November 29th, 2021.

I've also entered my card at the following challenges:

Use Your Stuff Challenge #435 - Tic Tac Toe (blue, masculine, simple stamping)

Crafty Sentiments Designs - Anything Goes

Lemon Shortbread Challenge #158 - Anything Goes

WWC328 - Tristan's Challenge: All About Occasions

This is such a lovely stamp set called Wonderful Autumn by StudioLight.  I love the background paper, as well, also created by StudioLight.  It's easy to be inspired when everything works so well together.

For some reason the colours are not photographing true.  I find that singularly annoying.  But after spending altogether too much time in Photoshop, I threw in the towel and gave up any chance of actually showing the true colours of the card which stands to the right of me at the moment, heckling the colours on my screen.  I feel I have to apologize to the card for misrepresentation.              

The sentiment appealed to me especially at this time since we are having to let go of our sweet and loving Khali Kho.  Quite honestly, it doesn't feel beautiful at all having to do that, but Chronic Kidney Disease is stealing her away at a young 13 years.  She has been a cat in a million, so completely gregarious and enthusiastic about life.

So our journey began when I found her, nearly dead from starvation with a bleeding gash in her neck. A few years later she suddenly suffered tooth resorption and had to have all but two teeth extracted. Through it all, she's stayed happy and outgoing, loving every person she's met. As if that wasn't enough, now she's dying with failing kidneys.  The world isn't going to be the same without her.

UPDATE:  This morning sweet Khali crossed the Rainbow Bridge.

April 4th, 2008 - November 3rd, 2021

Have fun checking out our Watercooler Wednesday Challenge and I hope you'll link your creation before the deadline on Monday, November 15th, 2021.

I've also entered my card at the following challenges:

Lemon Shhortbread Challenge #157 - Anything Goes

Crafty Sentiments Challenge - Anything Goes

Dare 2 B Artzy October Challenge - Fall

WWC327 - Dawn's Challenge: All Things Feminine

So Hallowe'en is coming up and it's time for a Feminine card.  Well, feminine isn't always what you think it might be.

That looks remarkably like a Hallowe'en card, doesn't it?  The key here is the bit of Shakespearean witches' chant.  Sounds a lot like making a brew, right?  Well, my daughter, who adores Shakespeare and requires a daily strong cup of brew, also loves Hallowe'en.  This is the perfect card for her.

I've taken bits and pieces of different Stampin' Up! sets for this card as well as a die-cut moon which has wandered away from its set and featured them all on this awesome Studio Light "Wonderful Autumn" patterned paper.  It all fits together wonderfully, doesn't it?

Of course I wanted something special for inside as well.  After hunting through all my coffee-themed stamp sets (and I do have quite a number), I realized I would have to create my own.  Photoshop to the rescue.  And so the inside pulls it all together.  I am so stoked!  How many days is it until Hallowe'en again?

Have fun checking out our Watercooler Wednesday Challenge and I hope you'll link your creation before the deadline on Monday, November 1st, 2021.

I've also entered my card at the following challenges:

Classic Design Challenge Blog Challenge #10 October

Let's Craft and Create Challenge #176 - Anything Goes + Things With Wings

WWC326 - Helen's Challenge: All About Occasions

It's October and Fall colours are everywhere!  We're also coming up to celebrating Thanksgiving here in Canada.  What an excellent time to create a Thankful card!

Everything in this card is retired Stampin' Up! product.   Well, except for the watercolour inks.  Those are all from my set of Derwent Watercolour pencils.  Instead of regular cardstock, I created the card itself using a fun Fall Designer paper.  Both sides are absolutely perfect, aren't they?

This is a special fold which opens in the centre and shows off both sides of that wonderful patterned paper.  On the left front, I attached a stitched oval stamped with a combination of images from the Country Home and Pretty Kitty stamp sets.  On the right front, I attached a banner with the sentiment.  When closed, the shapes overlap and "lock" the card in place.

Once opened, the card stands beautifully, displaying the sweet sentiment from the Painted Harvest stamp set.  I think it works perfectly.  I don't give out Thanksgiving cards but a card to thank someone will definitely come in handy and be used.  Don't you just love the finished card?

Have fun checking out our Watercooler Wednesday Challenge and I hope you'll link your creation before the deadline on Monday, October 18th, 2021.

I've also entered my card at the following challenges:

International Art & Soul Challenge:  #118 Furry Friends

Stamping Sensations: October - Animals, Birds & Bugs

WWC325 - Heidi's Challenge: All Things Masculine

 Oh my!  It's a masculine challenge and I'm the host!  Do I ever have a cool card for you to enjoy! 

If you know me, then you know I love cats.  Cats of all kinds.  And even though Tim Holtz stretches his images  of cats to the limits, I love most of them.  They really do reflect what cats appear to be saying in their inimitable way.

I had fun with this card.  I cut out the image with a cute squarish stitched die, leaving little room around it so that the background white cardstock could get some love.  I decided to just use my embossing folder across two corner of the paper.  Then I splattered some Broken China Distress Oxide ink across the paper.  Once that had dried, I used my Silver UniBall pen to fill in the embossed stars.  A quick stamp of the sentiment in black ink, a Smoky Slate matte and the image mounted using foam adhesive strips, and the card was done.  Well, sort of.  After I added some black metallic thread and a black sequin star, it was definitely done.

But I couldn't just leave the inside blank.  It screamed for another one of the Tim Holtz cats and I knew precisely which one I would be using.   It was perfect with the Tim Holtz sentiment, don't you agree?  I added some Broken China Distress Oxide ink to the perimeter and now, truly, the card was done.

Have fun checking out our Watercooler Wednesday Challenge and I hope you'll link your creation before the deadline on Monday, October 4th, 2021.

I've also entered my card at the following challenges:

Crafting Happiness Challenges:  Ch#114

Lil Patch of Crafty Friends Challenge: C# 166

WWC324 - Kath's Challenge: All About Occasions

 Sometimes you just look at an image and know you have to get it.  I'm sure it's happened to others than just myself.  Well, this odd looking little pooch, having what looks like one too many cups of coffee, appealed to my sense of whimsy.  

After stamping the images on a piece of watercolour paper, I proceeded to choose the colours and then looked for my Aqua Painter.  I could not find it to save my life.  I suspect that my tortie, Khali Kho decided it made a very satisfactory noise when being winged across the floor and wound up leaving it under something when she got bored.  I'll find it someday but not this day.  I own seven Aqua Painters in all but this was my favourite.  I had to "limp along" using another one to finish the card.  *sigh*

I used a matte of Cajun Craze cardstock and a base of the Heavy Whisper White.  To give the card a bit of birthday sparkle, I added some copper sequins and, of course, added a touch of silver ink to the collar around the pup's neck.

Have fun checking out our Watercooler Wednesday Challenge and I hope you'll link your creation before the deadline on Monday, September 20th, 2021.

I've also entered my card at the following challenges:

Lemon Shortbread Challenge #154 - Anything Goes

Simon Monday Challenge Blog - Simon Says Stamp It

WWC323 - Cathy's Challenge: All Things Feminine

 I'm really excited about this card!  It "grew like Topsy".  I had a plan which, bit by bit, I discarded as the card evolved and became what it had decided to be.  Does that ever happen to you?

My mail arrived with a new stamp by Ellen Jareckie.  You know how much I absolutely love her House-Mouse images.  Well, this one was just released this year and spoke to the plant-lover in me.  I immediately stamped the image twice, once on Coloured Pencil paper and once on Mixed Media paper.  I wasn't entirely certain which way I would go.  You see, I have a new set of General's Pastel Chalk Pencils and was anxious to try that media for a change.  My "insurance", in case I absolutely hated the look, was the image on the Mixed Media paper, for which I would use my watercolours.

Well, the pastel chalk pencils worked out beautifully and I was all set to use the image for the front of my card.  Somehow, despite my plans, I prepared my Base of Heavy Whisper White for a gatefold.  Fine, I hadn't made a gatefold in a while and so was willing to see where this would lead.  It led to my using several dies which I hadn't yet used as well as some silver foil paper which I hadn't thought to use for quite a long time.  I also found and used some retired designer paper and used that.

When the gate opens, the grid and leaves come up and reveal the little mouse, happily napping in its scented "bed".  

Opening the other side of the gate reveals the full scene.  Doesn't the colour of the chalk pastel pencils simply "pop"?  I love it and will likely use this medium quite often.

The close up of the inside shows the subtle blending possible with the pencils.  It's a completely different look from the watercolours.  This "something new" is definitely a happy surprise.

Have fun checking out our Watercooler Wednesday Challenge and I hope you'll link your creation before the deadline on Monday, September 6th, 2021.

I've also entered my card at the following challenges:

House Mouse & Friends Challenge #347 - Anything Goes or option Water Play

Lemon Shortbread Challenge #153 - Anything Goes

Unicorn Challenge #68 - Anything Goes

WWC322 - Marsha's Challenge: All About Occasions

I love so many of the images brought out by Penny Black, don't you?  I just got this sweet little acrylic stamp set called ...so tweet.  It could be used  for many different occasions, but I decided to use the sweet image for a thank-you card.

I used the Heavy Whisper White for my base and a piece of Mixed Media paper for my stamping.  I kept it simple, stamping the image with Versafine Onyx Black, adding a couple of blooms from an old set, and then stamping my sentiment using the Versafine Onyx Black as well.  For a change I didn't use my watercolour pencils but, instead, used my Daler-Rowney Aquafine watercolour paints.   I love the softer finish this gave to my images, don't you?

Instead of using a matte which was just slightly larger than the  Mixed Media paper, I chose to cut an eight-sided matte which allowed just portions of the colour to peek out.  It was fun and I like it for this particular card.  It's fun to try something new at times, isn't it?

Have fun checking out our Watercooler Wednesday Challenge and I hope you'll link your creation before the deadline on Monday, August 23rd, 2021.

I've also entered my card at the following challenges:

Lemon Shortbread Challenge #152 - Anything Goes

Unicorn Challenge #68 - Anything Goes

WWC321 - Tristan's Challenge: All Things Masculine

Time for some adorable little Gnomes at the beach!  I just got this set from Stampendous and have to use it for Tristan's masculine challenge.

For this card I decided to use a top fold since I had plans for the inside, as you'll see.  My base is a Heavy Whisper White followed by a matte of Pool Party.  For the images, I used a piece of Mixed Media paper and stamped my scene.  I love the fact that this set has lots of background images as well as images of the gnomes.  It really helped a lot since I didn't have to go hunting through various stamp sets just to set a scene.  For a change I watercoloured my images and background using a variety of Stampin' Up! stamp pads as well as my Stampin' Markers.

I love the way I was able to have a veritable waterfall of images by using this top fold, don't you?  The background paper is stunning and I'm so glad I got it from the Craft Consortium.  The grunge colours really compliment the colours in each scene, don't they?   I've even added one extra frame with the sentiment stamped right on it and waiting for personal greetings to the birthday boy/man.  I love that there is such a variety of images with which I could play.  This set will definitely be used many more times, it's such fun.

Have fun checking out our Watercooler Wednesday Challenge and I hope you'll link your creation before the deadline on Monday, August 9th, 2021.

I've also entered my card at the following challenges:

Lemon Shortbread Challenge #151 - Anything Goes

Unicorn Challenge #67 - Summer Time

{PIN}spirational Challenge #279 July

WWC320 - Dawn's Challenge: All About Occasions

As you know, I love whimsical stamps.  I also love stamps with little animals, especially mice.  How cute is this new stamp I've gotten from Penny Black with three little mice floating along in tiny little walnut shells?

I decided to make a birthday card.  After all, you should be able to do your own thing on your birthday, right?   With a base of bright Pineapple Punch, I needed a nice bright blue as a matte and this one, in a pretty lacy die-cut, is perfect in Balmy Blue.  

I stamped the images using VersaFine Clair Morning Mist.  I love the softer edge it gives, don't you?  Then I used my Aqua Painter and a variety of stamp pads to watercolour my images.  Since the walnut shells are a pretty Soft Suede, I also used the colour for the sentiments.  It's always about balance, isn't it?

Have fun checking out our Watercooler Wednesday Challenge and I hope you'll link your creation before the deadline on Monday, July 26th, 2021.

I've also entered my card at the following challenges:

Lemon Shortbread Challenge #150 - Anything Goes

Penny Black Saturday Challenge PBSC July - Anything Goes

WWC319 - Helen's Challenge: All Things Feminine

It's wonderful when one can use some fabulous Designer Paper, a brand new intricate die set and a terrific new stamp set on a card.  

This Pressed Petals Specialty Designer Series paper was so fabulous that I decided not to have a sentiment on the front of my card.  I love the way the photographed flowers actually appear to be on top of the paper rather than just being a design.  I feel as if I could reach out and pick them up.  This part of the card was simple to make.  I used a base of the Heavy Whisper White, added a matte of Crumb Cake and then adhered the piece of patterned paper.

And then we get to the inside of the card.  I was excited to use Karen Burniston's Photo Collage dies for the first time.  First I adhered some patterned paper  to each side of the inside.  Then I used the die on a piece of heavyweight Mixed Media paper.  In Karen's video, she suggested using a very heavy paper since the pieces of this photo collage move each time the card is opened or closed.  Once I  assembled the die cuts and adhered them to the centre of the card, I was ready to add some fun sentiments from Penny Black's "Choose Happy" stamp set.  I also added some fussy-cut butterflies since they complimented the floral paper so nicely.

You can just tell from this photo of my hand and the card, how they mechanism pulls the pieces inside the card as you close it and then has them "explode" out as you open the card.  I love the effect and hope the recipient gets just as much of a kick out of it as I did.  Don't you just love it?

 Have fun checking out our Watercooler Wednesday Challenge and I hope you'll link your creation before the deadline on Monday, July 12th, 2021.

I've also entered my card at the following challenges:

Lemon Shortbread Challenge #149 - Anything Goes

AAA Birthday Card Challenges #26 - Flowers

Dream Valley Challenges #251 - All Occasions

WWC318 - Kath's Challenge: All About Occasions

It's Father's Day on Sunday!  Of course I made a Father's Day card.  

This continues to be one of my favourite stamp sets for Father's Day.  Titled "A Good Man", the images are perfect and loving.  You can get fancy and mix it up with different background and/or fancy patterned papers, but I love the  clean and simple look for these images.  This one, especially, needs nothing more than the coloured image and these sentiments. If it's a lovely sunny day for Father's Day, the lucky man in your life will probably relax and "catch some rays" after a picnic feast.

I used my Derwent Watercolour pencils for this card, along with my Aqua Painter.  The colours are nice and vivid, making it seem like a sunny day.  

Have fun checking out our Watercooler Wednesday Challenge and I hope you'll link your creation before the deadline on Monday, June 28th, 2021.

I've also entered my card at the following challenges:

Lemon Shortbread Challenge #148 - Anything Goes

Try it on Tuesday: For the Man in Your Life

The Male Room Challenge #151 - Dads  & Grandads

WWC317 - Heidi's Challenge: All Things Masculine

 My mind has been all over the place lately because of health issues with our adorable kitty, Khali Kho.  I think I set a record for the number of times I changed my mind about the card for my challenge.  Seriously, I have a pile of stamp cases on my crafting table which I really do have to put back on the shelves.  

As it turned out, I didn't use any of the sets which I had pulled.  I happened to be clearing a shelf and saw a die-set which I bought a couple of years ago and hadn't used.  Somehow these three musicians just appealed to me and I wound up with a black, red and white slimline card.  Don't you just love it!!!

I played around with one of my fancy square die-sets.  The results almost look like an Argyle pattern?  I heat embossed "You Rock" in red but should have known the embossing would barely show against the black so I rescued it by outlining the letters with my white Jelly Roll pen. 

For the inside, I used a Stampin' Up! set which I can't find.  Things are crazy here with having to give the cat pills and driving all the way down to the Veterinarian two days in a row.  Things will get better, and I will find the stamps, and God-willing, I will remember to add that information to this post.  But I make no promises.

Have fun checking out our Watercooler Wednesday Challenge and I hope you'll link your creation before the deadline on Monday, June 14th, 2021.

I've also entered my card at the following challenges:

Lemon Shortbread Challenge #147 - Anything Goes

Dream Valley Challenges #249 - Die-Cuts and/or Punches