A medley

 The downside of not being able to play more with my materials these days is that everything takes so much longer than usual. It also seems to become more elaborate.

Take a simple prompt "make your own background" for example and combine it with "anything goes". For example - but this is what I actually used. In hindsight it could have been such a simple and fast card, but this took me hours.

 

First: Take a gelli print, stamp onto it and then heat emboss it. Cut it up for a background. Because it is a tissue paper glue it onto a copy paper. Wait it to dry. Then adhere it with double sided tape onto the card.

Then: Stamp some leaves and berries, color them. Stamp a focal image in three layers (yes, it's one of those layering stamps - pesky, but with such lovely results). Then fussy cut everything and arrange them pleasingly.  Stamp a sentiment, arrange that into the greenery. Then glue everything down.

Entering this into the challenges that I was inspired by today:

Simon Says Wednesday Challenge: Make your own background

TGIF: #tgifc491 Sweater weather 

A Blog Named Hero: September AG

Stamping Sensations: AG or Animal Magic - I'd like to think this is animal magic.

Cherries

 A good friend of mine was born at cherry time. Or, at the time when the cherries used to ripen; now they are ripe much earlier (courtesy of global warming). So "of course" there needed to be cherries on her birthday card.

Good fruit and berry stamps are hard to find. I am not keen on juvenile berries, those are galore... I am looking for more naturalistic looking fruit and berries and finally found a good one. (Hero Arts' Layered cherries)

I started by color blending the entire background.

Then I stamped a bit of noise, barely visible.

Lastly I stamped some leaves in one of the background colors and adhered the cherries as the focal point. The cherries - my goodness did some work go into them. Color layering means you get to stamp it four times instead of just two. The bottom layer was stamped with dark green and brown Versafine pigment ink, then embossed with clear embossing powder. Then came the second layer of stamping, this was done in Oxides. The cherries received one more layer with patches of red and pink embossing powders.

Entering this in:

A Blog Named Hero: Smooth

Stamping Sensations: June challenge bright and colorful

Simon Says Wednesday Challenge: Emboss it

Alphabet Challenge: F is for fruit

 As You Like It: With or without words (and why) - the type of card I am making (semi-clean) does somehow need a text to look complete. I suppose with mixed media cards I wouldn't do it. But yes, my cards are with words so they already spell out the occasion and I can concentrate on writing something personal on the inside.

And because this was the first time using these two stamps I am showing it in NBUS (Never before used schtuff) #63

Color with embossing

 I have watched many videos on how to apply color to embossed paper. Now that I was actually ready to try it my brain was totally blank. This is why I can't say in whose video I saw this idea - and where to find it.

So,  I started with a white embossed paper, turned it over to the reverse, de-bossed side. As I had a monochrome result in my mind I went rough over the whole sheet with an ink cube. I wanted to catch the background, not the flowers per se, but it was a nice surprise that even the flowers took color.

Then I went over some parts that hadn't caught the first time. Lastly I took a finger dauber and filled in softly some of the de-bossed parts. I used Distress Oxides in Picked Raspberries and Ripe Persimmon.

A simple vellum tag holds the heat embossed greeting.

 

Entering this in these lovely challenges:

Simon Says Monday Challenge: Lots of texture

TioT: Emboss it! - I used dry and heat embossing here

Allsorts Challenge: Week 782 AG or a Blast from the past - I went with AG 

Creative Crafting Uncles: #53 Monochrom - I went with reds

Can You Handle The Pressure: AG wit a twist of fruits and veggies - I went with AG

Spring colors

 Spring is playing hide and seek - snow is melting during the days (when there is sunshine) and freezing in the nights. What better opportunity to bring out some flower stamps and start making happy, sun-filled cards.

I had a couple of challenges in mind when I put this card together. In the end you'll see whether I did them justice.

The background is stamped with a (retired) hero Arts background stamp, Branches Bold Prints. Then I embossed it with clear embossing powder. I wanted to ink it diagonal, so I selected two Distress sprays, Twisted Citron for grass and a turquoise (forgot it's name) for the other half.

The flower was stamped, then fussy cut out and painted with pearlescent watercolors. I adhered that onto a round die cut piece of vellum, and finally adhered some turquoise die cut branches behind it. Lastly I put on yellow shiny gems. The sentiment says: Many happy returns. 

Entering it in these challenges:

Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge: Bright and cheerful

Stay Crafty with a blog named Hero: Heat embossing

Cut It Up: #299 Colors of Spring

Just Add Ink:   #692 Sketch  

Dream Valley Challenges:   #311 Add sparkle

Wishing you happiness

 I am very fond of British nature themed stamps; they are simply beautiful and create a serene look that looks almost like a vintage copperplate.

Today I grabbed two, the birds are by Crafty Individuals and the berries by PaperArtsy. A few challenges were calling my name and I hoped to combine them in one card. 

I picked my favorite colors, or rather color combination for this time of year which is baby blue with dark, brownish red. I made a gelli print and embossed it with leaves. I stamped the birds in brown Versamark ink, cut the panels out and inked the edges. I used the same ink for the rose hip stamp, embossed it with clear embossing powder and fussy cut it, then colored it in with pencils and markers.

I am entering this into these challenges:

Triple B: December challenge I liked the stark black and white feel of this inspiration photo. I just could not fit in a butterfly this time!

Beautiful Blossoms Challenge: AG floral or Moodboard - I was very inspired by the winter imagery, especially the rose hips spoke to me. These colors have a beautiful vintage vibe, too. - I am now unsure whether I should have added a flower as it was not in the images. But then I think: the rose hip was a beautiful flower and became a fruit afterwards. So perhaps it counts?

Stamping Sensations: Favourite colors - baby blue with dark red as counterpoint

Let's Craft and Create: #202 AG+ vintage feel

Blue Christmas wishes

 Just in time - a rather tongue-in-cheek card - but one the recipient will appreciate.

I treated myself to a couple of new stamp sets this holiday. The layered goldfish set is by Hero Arts, as is also the skinny alphabet. 

The first layer of the goldfish was stamped in teal, the top layer was embossed with gold. I used the dotted embossing folder again to create a wintry background. I built a little winter scene for my card with the white tree and snowflakes (the blue one is cut from a gelli print).

I am entering it into these challenges:

Die Traumfabrik: #123 Cobalt blue AG w/ blue

Stay Crafty with a blog named Hero: December challenge - I used sets DC 136 and CL945

Basteltraum: Winterlandschaft - Winter landscape

We Love 2 Create: #11 AG 

NBUS Challenge: #57 December - the goldfish stamps were NBUS

Inspired by...

 ... lovely challenges: one for the design elements, one for layout and the others for supporting ideas. How cool is that!

The sketch allowed me to place a central background - this is a gelliprint that was put through an embossing folder. It has a leafy pattern, so it goes well with my winter theme and provides awsome texture. For the diagonal element I chose a snowflake stamp. It was stamped in grey and embossed in glitter and it mimics the colors in the gelli print background.

The focal point is a bird, stamped and colored in with alcohol markers. A small length of a silver ribbon was plucked apart and adhered behind the bird.

Entering this in my inspirational challenges:

The Paper Players: PP668

Festive Friday: #FF0148 I chose Textures-Alcohol Markers- Bird 

Cardz 4 Guys: #336 Festive creatures

Can You Handle the Pressure: CYHTP AG / optional Christmas - I didn't go with this option

Have a lovely birthday

A floral fabric served as an inspiration for this bold and colorful birthday card. The flowers are cut from paint samples - I love them for their uniform coloring and somewhat glossy finish. The large sentiment has been stamped with white and then embossed with a white embossing powder.

Entering this in the challenges that inspired me today:

AAA Birthday Cards: Game #55, Large sentiment

613 Avenue Create: AG/ Optional: Wet/dry embossing - I chose wet embossing

Cards4 Gals: #212 Embossing wet or dry

Time Out Challenges: #251 Photo inspiration

It's cold outside

 First snow arrived today - how beautiful. Of course it prompted me turn to some challenges for inspiration. I found a few, and as a result I am combining the winter theme with a wintry-christmassy critter.

The background has been run through my Sizzix with neat method that combines wax paper, an embossing folder and follows up with a hot iron and some colors. I am not sure from whom I learned about it, but it was on Youtube. The deer is stamped, the snowflakes and text have been die cut. I find a deer perfect for wintertime cards, it has that woodsy feel (unlike reindeer that dwells in the treeless Lapland).

 

I am entering my card into the following challenges:

TioT: Baby it's cold outside

Traumfabrik: #122 "Elliot the little reindeer" Anything that is Christmassy or wintry and features a reindeer or a stag - I chose a deer

Stamping Sensations: Get ready for Christmas My text reads "Merry Christmas"

As You Like It: Favorite Christmas critter (and why?)  I chose a deer for reasons above

Use Your Stuff: #479 Winter or snow

Thank you

 There is always a reason to be thankful. I am thankful for my friends, and on a trivial note, for card challenges that make me think harder and catapult me out of my comfort zone.

It all started with a sketch today, and the need to use old and forgotten rubber stamps, give them some love they needed. I decided to work with my gelli printed and mixed media papers (neglected too often!). And gold embossing just seemed so suitable...

The result was this card. The sketch is awesome, it is a great basis for all types of cards.

Entering it in the challenges that  inspired me:

Retro Rubber Challenge: rrcb#2017 Let's sketch 

Simply Clean and Simple: AG / opt. use the word "Thanks"

Stay Crafty with a blog named Hero : Thanks to a friend

Simon Says Monday Challenge: Thanks/ Thanksgiving

Just us Girls: #705 Word week

Thinking of you

Some sad news from a dear friend prompted to make card as a pick-me-up. I have a new stamp set that comes with this large bird and also the leaves. I stamped them onto black card stock. Then I embossed the leaves with mixed metallic embossing powder and the bird with clear. I colored the bird in with metallic markers and used a collaged background.

The text mimics the colors of fall leaves.

Entering this in:

Allsorts Challenge: Week 754 Friendship

Inspiration Station: Inspiration photo. I was inspired by the colors and leaves.

Shopping Our Stash: #509 Emboss like the boss

The Card Concept: #201 Fall leaves - I took mine from the leaves, and used the colors.

Hmm - stars and stripes for Christmas?

 A couple of challenges gave me inspiration for this early Christmas card. I chose two embosing folders (but ended up using just the one with radiant stripes). The stripes are kept on the left half of paper, I found my inspiration for the layout in a challenge.

 I used Distress Oxides in two colors and added shine with Simon Hurley's Lunar Paste in gold ("Slippery when wet" is the name of the hue) and heat embossed the text with WOW golden shimmer embossing powder.

I am entering this into the challneges that I combined to achieve this look:

TioT: Use three colors

Simon Says Wednesday Challenge: Shimmer ans shine

Can You Handle the Pressure: AG with a twist of stars

Everybody Art Challenge: #540 Sketch - I turned it 90 degrees.

Double Trouble: #143 Christmas in July - I am entering with Thing 1, and 2.

Pastels

 Today I was inspired to combine two challenges, one asking for embossing and butterflies and one presenting a beautiful pastel color palette. The embossing folder had just come in in the mail, so it was fun to try it out right away. I ink swiped it after embossing.

It became a birthday card.

Entering it in:

Global Design Challenge: #401 Color palette 

Can You Handle the Pressure: AG/ twist: Butterflies

Addicted to Stamps and more: #449 Any Occasion - mine is for birthday 

NBUS (Never Before Used Schtuff) - Challenge #52 - I broke out all my recent purchases for this one: leaves, embossing folder and the butterfly stamp.

Thank You for your visit and comments - I love reading them.

Summer twilight hour

 I love the summer evening twilight hour when the light gets quieter and the nature darker. Silhouetted against the sky or water or both the leaves lose their dimension and become shadow-like.

I tried to capture this special time in my birthday card for a child of summer. The background is done with acrylics using a gelli plate, the images are stamped with Versafine black ink and then heat embossed with plenty of clear embossing powder.

 

I was heavily inspired by these challenges and would like to enter this into

* Bastel-Traum: #btchallenge124 Planzen /Blumen - Plants /Flowers

* Just Add Ink #656 - Use any element of the inspiration picture: I used blue-purple and the silhouette idea.

CYHTP: June AG / Wedding Optional - I didn't use that option

Inkspirational Challenge: #291 Seasonal - I chose summer

Clean white

There is something so elegant and exquisite in all white cards. Usually the text is a color, but today I did white on white.

I recently succumbed to 3D embossing folders, they offer many possibilities. You might see more of them soon. But today I placed the embossed area on a diagonal to leave room for a sentiment.

Nothing is very fancy, or very difficult, but I think the results are more than just a sum of their parts. I used matte and pearlescent card stock, and vellum - and of course there are also different shades of white that interplay.

Entering in:

Paperminutes: #797 White/Weiss - this was my initial inspiration

Freshly Made Sketches: #588 - I used this layout

CAS on Friday: #258 Embossing - this made me go with embossing

also entering in:

SimonSays Wednesday Challenge: Anything goes

 

Thank you for looking!

A special birthday card

Peace, dear friend, peace.

Do you also find it hard to come up with birthday cards for people who have theirs just before Christmas? I do. The seasonal colors somehow creep in. The recipient likes red, so that was a relief.

I recently got a polka dot embossing folder, I figured it would have many uses. I made the background by wax paper embossing transfer (which might have a better name, if so please let me know in the comments). I emboss a wax paper then iron the wax onto white cardstock. The embossed parts leave wax residue on paper, so when you color it in, you get the pattern.

I colored this background in with Festive Berries and Abandoned Coral oxide inks.

Entering this in challenges that inspired me:

Papercraft Challenges: #88 Polka dots

AAA Birthday: #44 Embossing

Coloring Crazy: #49 AG coloring

Winter Wonderland: End of year anything Christmas goes - this is for an almost-on-Christmas birthday gal

and entering in the lovely NBUS challenge #45 as well, since the embossing folder was Never-Before-Used-Schtuff

Red, white and gold

This is a very simple card even though it looks very intricate.

I started with dry embossing a sheet of vellum. I then removed everything that was not embossed, glued it onto a piece of red card stock, embossed the text with gold and placed some die cuts along the lower border (it looked very empty).

I am entering it in these challenges that inspired me and fit the them:

Daring Cardmakers: I was inspired by the colors red white and gold, and the Christmas theme.

Fab and Funky: #562 Die-cuts and/or embossing - I used both

Dream Valley Challenges: #283 Lots of layers - there is the card, the matting, the red base, the vellum and the diecut.

Corrosive Challenge: AG

Simon Says Wednesday Challenge: AG

 

Tonal white and cream

 Some lovely challenges collide again and they got my creative juices flowing, resulting in this card:

This unites an embossed background, die cut center where the Merry Christmas wishes are stamped on vellum and embossed with clear embossing powder, further die cuts arranged in a wreath form around it. 

Entering this in the following lovely challenges that inspired me:

CYHTP: Embossing / Wreath

Daring Card Makers: White

 Craft Rocket Challenges: #98 Christmas/ Winter 

Through the Purple Haze: #198 Monochromatic