Peaceful wishes

I've seen so many cards done like this in the Splitcoast gallery, all beautiful, I had to try my own version. This is a classic stamp set, never goes out of style that I can use every year which is why I had to add it to my collection. A few changes here and there and it can be used over and over.
I used German glass glitter, which has a very chunky, icy look to the pine cones. Love the effect! My boyfriend already claimed this card for someone on his Christmas list, LOL. I've only got about 5 more to make for friends and family. I may even get them sent out on time!

Thanks for stopping by!

Stamps: SU

Ink: SU, Fluid Chalks, Versamark

Paper: PTI, The Paper Co., SU, Basic Grey

Accessories: Spellbinders Labels dies/Piercabilities, Scribbles 3D paint, German glass glitter, SU ribbon, Ranger Espresso embossing powder, Burgundy embossing powder

The card that almost wasn't...

I really wanted to do a 'scenic' type card with a frozen pond, and was playing around with SU's 'Winter Post' and various tree stamps from my stash. I made several attempts that did not work out the way I wanted. I decided I really wanted a Sepia photograph look, so the trees and snow were done with browns only. Ultimately, I used a torn piece of paper for a mask, and started sponging the 'snow' drifts with Distress inks and daubers.
The 'pond' was also done with a torn paper mask and I sponged in some Weathered Wood Distress ink to create the banks. Then I just used the dauber to streak some color across the surface of the pond as well, all with a very light hand. After all the sponging, I covered the lake with Liquid Glass, and while it was wet, sprinkled some fine glitter all over it. I wasn't too happy with it at this point, and was ready to give it the heave-ho, but made myself wait till it was dry. I colored up the skaters with Copics, cut them out and waited. I'm really glad I did, because even though I still wasn't crazy about it, I made myself complete the card. I sponged some Distress Inks around the edges, adhered the skaters and this was the end result.

There are a couple of things I would've done differently at this point, but all in all, I'm very happy with it! I will definitely try this again, maybe on a smaller scale.

Lesson Learned: Don't be too hasty to give up on a project, if I've spent a lot of time on it, finish the card and see what I think when viewed as a completed card.

Stamps: SU, Impression Obsession Sm. Fir Tree, unknown bare tree, PTI sentiment

Ink: Distress, SU, Memories

Paper: My Mind's Eye, Heavenly white, Papertrey Ink

Accessories: Satin ribbon, Fiskars edger punch, Liquid Glass, Art Institute glitter, Copics, antique brads, SU modern label/word window punches

An Angel's Work

I scored another great find on Ebay! Found this D. Morgan stamp by Stamps Happen, I'd never seen it before, so I was desperate to get it. I think it's so beautiful. If you've never seen D. Morgan's paintings before, you should check them out. My coloring can't hold a candle to them, but I love coloring them.

The little sentiment running around the image says 'From morning light... to setting sun~ an angel's work is never done.'

Of course I added lots of glitz and sparkle using Stickles, and Liquid Pearls. I spattered some white acrylic paint over it too, for gently falling snow. I colored everything with colored pencils.

Thanks for stopping by!

Stamps: Stamps Happen, Justrite

Ink: Memento, Perfect Match

Paper: Papertrey Ink, Bristol vellum, Little Yellow Bicycle

Accessories: Gingham ribbon, Nestabilities, McGill circle punch, corner rounder, Stickles, Liquid Pearls, Copic Spica pen, colored pencils, OMS, Sakura Glaze pen

I'm Cheating! No Stamping...

Happy Turkey Day everyone! Hope your Thanksgiving is full of blessings!

That's right, not a single stamp on this one! Well, it's still a paper crafting card. I had to try these paper tole card kits from Docrafts in the UK. They're so stinkin' adorable, I couldn't resist. Now, I thought these would be like some of the other paper tole papers I've seen before, with a bunch of the same images that you have to cut out yourself, and then layer them. I was expecting these to be a lot of work! But no--they're precut! All you have to do is punch them out carefully, stack them with sticky foam tape and make a card with the finished image.

Easier than pie. The kit even came with coordinating papers. Really, really cute! If you're looking for easy cards, this is a kit to consider.

Anyway, it was something different to try. I had fun with it.

Now go eat, drink and spend time with family, as I'm about to do! We'll be having a small non-traditional dinner with my parents in New Jersey, totally unplanned, last minute thing. My kids were supposed to be spending Thanksgiving in North Carolina with my brothers, but my Mom had a bit of bad news from her doctor regarding a clogged artery. She has to go for surgery on Friday, so she had to cancel their plans to take my kids to NC. So, it's a nervous time for me till she gets through this.

Thanks for stopping by!

Supplies: Forever Friends Paper Tole card kit from Docrafts, White grosgrain ribbon, sheer silver ribbon, silver cord, snowflake charm, Nestabilities

Waiting for Santa..

A gorgeous stamp like this has to have gorgeous papers and embellishments. Belles 'n Whistles keeps putting out more and more beautiful Elisabeth Bell images, and I can't resist them!

I really wanted to layer a Spellbinders pendant die cut behind it but it was too small as is, so I cut them up into four equal sections. This way I was able to spread them out a bit, so the corners could peek out from the sides of the image. Makes it look like a large pendant!

This card is in my Etsy store if anyone is interested!

Thanks for stopping by!

Stamps: Belles 'n Whistles, sentiment from Waltzingmouse Stamps

Ink: Vivid, SU

Paper: Bristol vellum, Cosmo Cricket, Heavenly White, The Paper Co.

Accessories: Spellbinders pendant die, satin ribbon, Marvy Uchida snowflake punch, McGill label punch, Stickles, PTI button

Forever Friends Bears Baking

I actually own this Forever Friends stamp! Until now I was only able to use pre stamped images I got in a swap. Which is great if you just plan to use the image once or twice, but I love these stamps way too much. I plan on using them a lot more, so I lucked out on some Ebay.UK auctions!

I colored the baking bears with colored pencils, blended with odorless mineral spirits. The DP is Cosmo Cricket.

Stamps: Forever Friends, Buzzcraft

Ink: Vivid, SU, Perfect Match

Paper: Cosmo Cricket, Papertrey Ink, Heavenly White

Accessories: May Arts reversable ribbon, jingle bell brad, Martha Stewart edger punch, colored pencils, OMS, Stickles

Sugar Bowl Challenge Card

I felt like playing along with a sketch challenge, to get some new card layout ideas, and to try and win that awesome prize for new Sugar Nellie stamps! lol. Check out the sketch & details here. And I really like this weeks sketch! I decided to use Snowflake.

Since I decided to use SU papers, one of my favorites patterns 'Ski Slope', I had a hard time finding a color match for Baja Breeze. Nothing close enough in my huge colored pencil collection, or my limited collection of Copics. So, I decided to water color the image, like I always used to before I discovered colored pencils. I used SU inks and markers, then went back with colored pencils to deepen the shading. I water colored the background around Snowflake with Sage Twinkling H2O. Lots of shimmer and sparkle on this card! The snowflake on the bottom left is coated in glass glitter, and I used a bit of shimmery cardstock for border accents.

Hope you like it, thanks for looking!

Stamps: Sugar Nellie, Waltzingmouse Stamps, PTI snowflake

Ink: Memento, SU, Perfect Match

Paper: Fabriano water color paper, SU, The Paper Co., Heavenly White

Accessories: Spellbinders Labels 8, Martha Stewart edger punch, Fiskars edger punch, SU ribbon/markers, Twinkling H2O's, Copic Spica pen, colored pencils, Marvy Ucida snowflake punches, glass glitter, pearls, red satin ribbon