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

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

WWC316 - Cathy's Challenge: All About Occasions

 I am madly in love with the wonderful images which Anita Jeram has created for the Colorado Craft Company.  The set which I am using for Cathy's challenge is called Birthday Wishes and, although I didn't use them for my one-layer card, also has dies.  I'm sure I'll be using the images along with the dies sooner than later.

I used a base of the Heavy Whisper White and then stamped my images on regular Whisper White cardstock.  While I like the regular Whisper White, it isn't the best for watercolouring.  I found it really soaked up the colour and, for a very anxious half hour, I though that it would never dry to a smooth finish.  It is, however, a very bright white, and I think the colours show up brilliantly, don't you?

As I said, I kept this to a single layer on my base.  I didn't use a matte to keep the scene dominant, rather than have competition with a bright surrounding colour.  I like the results.  The sentiment, rabbit holding the balloon and hamster jumping up from the tree stump are all by Anita Jeram.  The tree stump, however, is from the Craft Consortium's Little Fawn and Friends series of stamps.  I think it works together with the other stamps quite perfectly, don't you?

Have fun checking out our Watercooler Wednesday Challenge and I hope you'll link your creation before the deadline on Monday, May 31st, 2021.

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

AAA Birthday: Game #25 - Happy Birthday  (Happy 2nd Birthday)

Simon Says Monday Challenge Blog - Four legged friends

NBUS Challenge #26 - Never Before Used Shtuff

PCC427 - Theme Challenge (#SimpleStamping)