Holiday Thinking Inking Week 2

Hi Everyone:
Just wanted to share with you the cards that I made for the challenges that were presented to our class in the Holiday Thinking Inking Class with Jennifer McQuire.  Please do not feel that you can't take part because you still can. You may have missed a few classes for chances to win prizes, but you can still submit cards using those techniques along with this week's techniques.  Just make sure to submit it to week 4 okay.  It needs to be uploaded to their gallery by Nov.1st.  It is always great to win scrapbooking supplies, but I have to say that I am just as happy to learn new ways to use my stamps and to get more bang for my buck.  So here are the cards that I made, including close-up shots.

The first technique that Jenn taught us was called Block Background. This is when you use an acrylic block to make your very own watercolored background.  This was a little tricky but after a few tries I got what I wanted!  These techniques work the best with Ranger Distress Inks by Tim Holtz.  Why you might ask?  Well they are made so that you can use them like watercolours,  which really comes in handy when doing a technique like the one used in this card.  I had a friend ask about exactly how this is done so I will try my best to explain it to you.  You take any size acrylic block and you cover it with various distress ink colours. Once you have the desired amount, you than spritz it with water. Depending on the effect your going for, you can either spritz close to the surface, which will give a more pooled water effect, or spritz further away, which is what I have done here. The closer the bigger splotches, the further away, the smaller the splotches.  Hope this helps.

Close-up Shot!  Sorry about the frayed ribbon here, but my scissors became dull apparently! Lol!

I used Broken China distress ink and Stampin Up chocolate chip brown. The stamps used were from Autumn Leaves, Stampin Up & Hero Arts.  I really love how this turned out.



This next card maybe small in size but there were many techniques used here. The background was first watercoloured in Broken China. Then splattered with watered - down white stamping ink. The trees were then stamped in a technique that Jennifer McQuire calls Generation Stamping. This is where you ink your stamp once and then continue to stamp until all the ink is gone. This is the technique used here to stamp the trees.  I then dipped the end of my Mister bottle in white paint to make the moon.  I then shaded around and above the trees to create the feel that the trees were in front of the snow and sky.  I then did a Painting technique to create the snow called Mopping/Stippling which gives such great texture.  I then stamped the cling dots to the green background and distressed the edges.  Liquid Pearl was added to water in my Mister bottle and then I misted the entire card.  I then added the sentiment and ribbons. This was so much fun to create!

Close-up Shot!

This shot really shows how wonderful spritzing Liquid Pearls can be on your cards.

It gives such a warm and glimmery effect.

Now this next card was one of my favorite cards to do.  Here I did the "Bleeding Technique" that Jenn taught us.  I decided to do it on a bigger stamp surface and I am so glad that I did.  I used this wonderful Bold Flourish on my card.  I just loaded the stamp up with different fall colours and stamped it on my watercolour paper. Then stepped back a little and spritzed it with my Mini Mister. The effect was amazing.  I then added Ultra Embossing Powder to it to give it more dimension and then inked all around it.  My background was stamped with the cling dot stamp and inked around the the edges and center to tone down the brightness of the paper.  I so love the colours here and that ribbon really helped to make this card look elegant.

Close up to show the bleeding of inks and to show embossed texture.

These cards were so fun to create and the fun is not over yet.  We are on our fourth week now and I will share pics of  weeks three and four with you early this week.  I trust that you are all doing well and spending some time together enjoying the fall weather.  Thanks for dropping bye and hope to see you again soon.

Hugs & Blessings
Dana

Victorian Whimsie

Hi Everyone:
Just popping in with a card that I made for some challenges.  I thought that I would take this very whimiscal Santa Claus and make him into a Victorian Saint Nicholas!  Lol!  I did this bye colouring his suit a deep purple. Yup! Purple!  I know some of you might not like that colour, but when paired with green, especially olive green,  it looks rather elegant.  I was going to submit this card for Deedee's Monday Challenge, but I was too late trying to upload it.  I was to slow it seems to beat the new challenge which is now up. You can find it here.  This card was also made with other challenges in mind.

I used Deedee's Digis stamp called " Be Jolly".  I have to admit that this is now my favorite Christmas digi of her's so far, but if you check back in again you might find me saying that I changed my mind.  There is such a variety in her store that you may never have just one favorite!  Lol!  I have so many I have lost count!  Lol! 

This card was based on the Sweet Stop sketch for today. It really is a great one and I had fun using it. 

Here is my take on this wonderful sketch.

I would like to submit this card for the following challenges:

Sweet Stop ( Sweet & Sassy) - Sketch Challenge SSS79

Weekly Christmas Card Challenges - Week 47

Stamp Something Challenge - Use A Digital Image

Bah! Humbug! - Challenge 41 Elegance

ABC Christmas Challenge - V is for Vertical!

I had a lot of fun making this Victorian style card.  I added purple lace, flowers, and ribbon to this card to give it a more elegant feel.  The image was printed on water paper cardstock.  I want to point out that it is best that you use flat watercolour cardstock rather than the textured. That is what I used here and I found that at one point the ink was starting to peel!  It isn't a big deal because you can go in and do touch-ups with a black journaling pen or copic marker.  Black markers can work miracles!!!  I hope that I have encouraged you in some small way to not be afraid to use your digi stamps in new ways. To step outside of the box!  With the right embellishments you can make one style seem old when you try something new! 

Thanks for dropping bye and I hope that your week is off to a good start.  Remember that a frown is a smile turned upside down.  Keep on smiling!

Hugs & Blessings

Dana

They Are Here! Hooray!

Yes! My goodies that I won from Hero Arts are here and I was so excited to get them. I actually got them on Friday past and didn't get the chance to get a pic because some of us in this house were not feeling to good. Anyway here they are and I did get a chance to use them already. The quality is fantastic and for more ideas on how to use these stamps just click on the Holiday Thinking Inking button in my sidebar. Jennifer McQuire is an expert on how to use these stamps and she shares some very clever tips and techniques to help you create wonderful Christmas cards. Okay without further ado!

I made another card last night but will share it in another post.  Aren't these wonderful.  I can't wait to use the snowman.  He is so cute.  Be sure to check back to see what I create with these gems.

Okay I did want to share with you an elegant card that I made for a lady who is in one of my Flickr groups.  She just recently got married and we all made a card for her in an on-line Bridal Card Shower, which I thought was an amazing idea.  So here is the card that I made for Jenny, along with some upclose and personal shots. Hope you like it. The card was made using an embossing folder that was stamped with the friends definition first and then I ran it in my embossing machine. It was then distressed and the embossed areas were inked. The die cut was a free one I found on-line. I added sheer ribbon to the dress to give it that feel of real material and I added a pearl necklace. There were so many things added to this one and I can't remember them all. Lol!  I will let you see for yourself because the pictures say it all!

 So there you have it! I really loved making this one though it took me what felt like forever. I have to say a shout out to my friend Ceal who was my secret pal over at Deedee's Digis.  She gave me the blue jewels and the rhinestones that are around the bow. Thank you my sweet friend. These were a great addition to this card. I love stamping but I must say that I am finding some really great die cuts that are great to use in cardmaking as well.  The funny thing about this card is that when I made this card for Jenny I didn't even know what colours she was having in her wedding. And when I saw her pictures today it was so great to see that she used the same colour of blue as I did here in this card!  How great is that!  I will chalk it up to divine  intervention!

Okay that is it for me my friends.  It is raining cats & dogs here today and it is making me feel a little down.  It is even a little chilly here!  Fall weather I guess!  I can't complain and I won't, because won't be long before the flakes will be flying!  I trust you are all doing well and keeping busy!  Not to busy though for family and friends and for those times when you can just make someone smile.

Hugs to you all!

Dana

Holiday Thinking Inking With Jennifer McQuire

I am so excited to share with you this class that I am taking over at 2Peas.  It is a class with Jennifer McQuire one of Hero Arts very own Design Gals.  And let me tell you that she rocks when it comes to card making and doing video tutorials.  Many of you may remember her as the the mastermind behind the Cards For Kids card drive and she still is excepting cards bye the way.  Week one is over now and we are into our second week in this class.  But don't worry you can see all the challenges here.  Did I mention that this is all free. Yup!  That is right my friends!  Free!  Gotta love it because you don't get many things for free anymore!  Of course with every class or challenge at 2 Peas there are always prizes and give aways.  So be sure to check it out and make sure to take a peek, if you can, on all the supplies that are sale.

Also, this month is stamping month at Two Peas and there are so many challenges to chose from.  Click here to see all of the challenges.  I actually combined some of my challenges even though I am not sure if that is allowed.  I better check that out before I get into trouble. Lol!  There are prizes and giveaways here as well.

Okay I wanted to share with you two of the cards that I submitted at 2Peas for the Holiday Thinking Inking Class and for one of the Stamping Challenges for this Stampfest at 2Peas.

Making these cards were so much fun and I can't wait to get to try these techniques again.  Before I go I want to tell you that my friend Jill at "Inspired Bye" is featuring my work on her blog this week.  I was floored when she asked if she could do this.  All I could think is why would she be inspired by little old me when her work is amazing.  Here is a little sample of what her cards look like.  You will be drooling I can guarantee!

See, I told you that you would drool!  Isn't this beautiful!  She was inspired bye one of my cards to make this, so be sure to check out what she did so far this week.  She is an amazing cardmaker for sure!  Thanks sweetie!

Okay that is it for me until tomorrow when I will share with you my goodies from my Hero Arts win!  I will take a picture later today and put it up tomorrow.  I also will try to share the cards that I will be making later this afternoon for Week 2 of Holiday Thinking Inking! 

I trust that you all had a great weeknd and an extra special long weekend to all of those Canadians who just celebrated Thanksgiving. We have so much to be thankful for and I am thankful for you, my followers.

Have a great day!

Hugs!

Dana

Blog Candy Winner & Some Christmas Card Inspiration

Hi Everyone:

Just wanted to share with you the winner of my blog candy.  The Winner is Judy1223!  Yay! When my son pulled your name from 10 others who played along for this giveway I was so very happy!  Please email me with your contact information okay sweetie!

Okay now for some Christmas Card inspiration.  Seeming that yesterday was World Card Making Day,  I got a head start on my Christmas cards.  I wanted to share with you this digital image from Deedee's Digis that is my favorite Christmas Digital stamp of her's so far. It is called "Let It Snow!" and you can find it here!

Here is what I did with this image.  I so love this little guy.  Right now there is a sale on in the store and make sure you check it out because it is a great way to stock up on those images that you have wanted but were just waiting to buy later.  I used the same image using different colour schemes and I must say I so love how they turned out!

Second colour choice.

Both cards were made using American Crafts Christmas paper,  cardstock was Stampin Up.  Snowflakes were stickers from Michaels and ribbon was Offray.  Bling was from the Dollar Store and inks were from Stampin Up & Ranger.  And can't forget that wonderful white Gel Pen from Tombo.  I so love mine! Lol!

I trust that you are all doing well and that maybe you are starting to get an early start on your Christmas preparations.  I promised myself that I would be more organized and start early this year and so far I am doing it!  Big Applause here!  Lol!  For those who still want to wait,  you still have loads of time to start,  it is just that I am so slow that it is best I start now instead of rush around like a turkery with my head off later. Lol!  So I hope that I have inspired you today and that your weekend was a great one with loads of card making.

Thanks for dropping bye and here is wishing you a great week.

Take Care & God Bless

Dana

Happy World Cardmaking Day!

Hi Everyone!

Today marks another card making day around the world and there are so many sites celebrating this ever popular day! I wanted to share that this is lots going on over on the Hero Arts blog.  They are having a challenge this weekend along with some giveaways and prizes for commenting.  So check it all out here.

I have been making cards today and some were for Christmas and some for the Hero Arts challenge.  We were to make a card using colours that we like.  Well for me I so love aqua blue, brown orange and celery green together and so I made a card, along with 3 others, using the ever popular and one of my favorite Hero Arts digis, the Flutterflies image.  I actually made this set for the Hero Arts contest.  I love all of the colours that I used here but the aqua blue one is my favourite! 

And last in this set! 

I will be sharing these cards as well with my Hero Arts Flickr group in honour of today's special day.  We are having a blog hop over there and I can't wait to see what everyone else is doing.  Just wanted to remind you that Hero Arts has a new monthly contest up right now and for those who need some inspiration or mojo to get those Christmas cards started, they have toooons of it over there.  Be sure to check out their new Christmas catalog for all of their great Holiday stamps.

Before I go I want to share that Deedee's Digis store is having an amazing deal on their product right now. You can buy 2 and get 1 free!  Wow! You can check out the amazing sale right here! Also wanted to share that I will be posting some cards tomorrow sharing some of my Holiday Christmas cards.  Also tomorrow I will announce the winner of my blog Candy!  The deadline was Oct. 01st and I was suppose to announce the winner today, but due to having company and some other issues, I will post tomorrow afternoon. So I hope that you are having fun making cards and hopefully spending some fun time with your friends.

Thanks so much for checking in and make sure to come back tomorrow for some more card inspiration.

Hugs & Blessings
Dana