WWC301 - Dawn's Challenge: All About Occasions

With Christmas a bit over two weeks away (eek!), I had to make a Christmas card.  Of course it features the adorable House-Mouse images.  Even with all the other gorgeous stamps I own, this year I'm drawn to the sweet and funny ones.  The ones with a bit of animated magic.  The ones which make me smile.

The image by Ellen Jareckie is called "Squirrel Singers".  I love the combination of realism and fantasy.  As always, I checked to see what colours would be best for a squirrel and the pine tree.  The mice have their own, individual colours, set by Ellen.  I love that each one is a little bit different, not just in size, but also in colour.  This time I turned to my Derwent watercolour pencils since I have a large selection and was able to get all the colours for this scene.  I love how the Aqua Painter brings the colours to life after I've pencilled them in.

I was happy to find this lovely Christmas coloured tartan paper in my stash.  It sets off the colours in my little scene perfectly, doesn't it?                                                                                  

 I've taken this photo at a slight angle so that the candle flames caught more light.  After everything was dry, I covered the flames with some Shimmery Crystal Effects.  Once that had dried, I added a second layer.  It gives the flames substance and a 3-D effect.  I love it!

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

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

HM&FMC #330 - Anything Goes

Simon Says Monday Challenge Blog - Favorite Technique (watercolouring)

Crafty Animals Challenge #45 - Must Have Animals

Lemon Shortbread Challenge #134 - Anything Goes

WWC 284 - Dawn's Challenge: All About Occasions

This week Dawn is hosting our awesome All About Occasions Challenge and so I've created a fun Christmas card for my stash.  Time is marching on and I need those cards!  What could be better than combining one of those popular Gnomes with a gingerbread man?

 I've  used some very old, retired Designer Paper along with this adorable Gnome.  I think the patterns work together beautifully, don't you?  And I took inspiration for the colours in the card from the patterned paper.  For my base I used the heavy Whisper White and then added a layer of Early Espresso.  After adding a different pattern to each side, I cut out a stitched oval from Whisper White and embossed that using a Falling Snow embossing folder.  Then  I added a stitched rectangle of  Cherry Cobbler and embossed that using the Subtle embossing folder.  

I attached the Gnome using Dimensionals after colouring him (and his sweet friend) with my alcohol ink Blends.   

I love the way the card turned out and hope you do, too.  Have fun checking out our Watercooler Wednesday Challenge and I hope you'll link your creation before the deadline on Monday,  August 17th.

 I've also linked my card to the following challenges:

Lemon Shortbread Challenge #126 - Anything Goes

The Holly and Ivy Christmas Challenge #76 -  Anything Christmas Goes

WWC268 - Dawn's Challenge: All About Occasions

There is something about ducks and chickens that appeals to me, especially in a stamp.  Of course when I saw this adorable Penny Black image called "Cluck, Quack", I couldn't resist buying it.

I used a base of Heavy Whisper White and then decided to use a lovely wood-print as a matte.  For the image layer, I used a piece of Watercolour paper and my stamping platform to stamp the image in Black pigment ink.  Just to make sure it set perfectly and wouldn't smear, I used my heat tool to dry it thoroughly.

I used my Daler-Rowney Aquafine travel watercolour set to colour the images.  I love the variety of colours and the ability to mix some of the colours to get precisely the tone I want.

I love the way the card turned out and, of course, the fact that the silly "cluckers" and "quackers" make me smile.  I hope you do, too.

Have fun checking out our Watercooler Wednesday Challenge and I hope you'll link your creation before the deadline on April 27th.

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

Lemon Shortbread Challenge #118 - Anything Goes

Always Fun Challenges #159 - Chicks or Farm Animals

Addicted to Stamps and More! Challenge #386 - Anything Goes

The Sisterhood of Crafters:  Happy Birthday or Fun Fold or Both

WWC251 - Dawn's "All About Occasions" Challenge

I bought a die set a while back which I keep meaning to use but haven't yet.  It seemed like the right time to pull it out and create a card.  The die is simple.  It shows the silhouette of a wolf singing the song of its ancestors as a sliver of moon shines above him.

For my base I used the Heavy Whisper White.  I wanted a night sky behind my silhouettes but didn't want too dark a blue and so pulled out my Pacific Point cardstock.  To give it more of an effect of the moon rising, I used my Aqua Painter and added Pacific Point to the upper portion of the piece.  To the lower portion, I used some chalk pastels I had lying around.  A paler blue helped to lighten the cardstock without really changing the colour.  I did the same with the moon.  By that I mean I used chalk pastels.  I wanted to have a huge moon but still give the impression of the majority being the dark side, slightly illuminated.  Then I adhered the strip of moon and I think it worked out quite well.

The silhouette of the moon on a rock was perfect but I wanted him to appear to be way up on a mountain.  Having the silhouettes of the upper portion of trees helps give that impression.  After that, a scattering of stars, thanks to some retired Glimmer paper and another die and the card was ready for its sentiment.  The simple line from the retired Nature Sings stamp set is perfect, don't you agree?

I hope you'll check out the wonderful creations by the Watercooler Artists over at our Watercooler Wednesday Challenge.

I've entered my card into the following challenges: 

Cardz 4 Guyz:  Challenge #234 (Christmas Critters)

Simon Says Monday Challenge Blog:  Stars

Mod Squad Challenge Blog - Snowy or Starry Night