Mehndi Wreath

I stumbled upon this amazing card at Damask Love the other day.  I think it was pure brilliance to use PTI Mehndi Medallion to create a wreath.  Not having any wreath stamps, I knew I would have to try this.

It took some fiddling to find a good mask, but the end result was worth it.  I'm so pleased with these cards.  The first is a one-layer card with some added bling and a ribbon bow.  On the second card I cut the wreath using my circle Nesties and left the small die in place while I stamped the wreath..  I placed it on white cardstock embossed with a PTI linen impression plate and finally on a red card base.  Sentiment is from Penny Black Hanging Treasures.

My Memento cottage ivy ink worked well for this image.  It seems to be the larger stamps with more surface area where I'm having difficulty with it.  At any rate, paired with Stazon blazing red, I got the classic red and green Christmas colors that I've been looking for. 

Enjoy your day!
Ann

Less is More: In a Row

The challenge at Less is More is to make a one layer card with the theme "in a row."  I had a lot of ideas for this one and was able to make several cards last night.

I started by using the monochromatic pinks from Dynamic Duos.  I used a small snowflake stamp from Hero Arts Swirl Christmas and stamped two rows of snowflakes. My gridded block made easy work of lining up these little snowflakes.  I added a bit of bling to the center of each snowflake, a simple sentiment, a some twine at the top to finish it off.  

This card uses a penguin from an Inkadinkado set.  I was on my last bit of bright pink twine and didn't have enough for a bow.  So sad.  I think I'm going to have to rework this card.

Next I pulled out a stamp I've had for years from Rubber Soul.  We used to have a Rubber Soul store in the small town next to ours but they've been gone for a few years now. :(  This is an individual image that I stamped three times in a row before adding tiny bows.  On the first card I imagine they are bunches of lavender and on the second card bunches of wheat.

I made a final card that is not one layer, but I wanted to see the image matted with a coordinating cardstock.  In the photo the purples look different, but in real life they match and look quite nice, I think.

I had more ideas but I must get on with cleaning house so we can decorate our tree this afternoon!

Thanks for visiting!

Ann

Christmas Cards

I stayed up far too late last night making Christmas cards.  I haven't had a lot of crafty time lately, but I do need to get my Christmas cards finished.

I used several challenges for inspiration.  I loved the sketch at RetroSketches this week, and combined it with the red and green challenge at Less is More, which I've missed for the last two weeks.  :(  I used a Studio G sentiment that I picked up for 50 cents and stamped it in red and green. I used a patterned paper from my scrap bin for the background pieces and a tiny gem to finish it off.

I used the same sketch to make another Christmas card in white and purple.  This uses a Hero Arts dove and more paper from my scrap bin.

Finally, one last red and green card using a Hero Arts ornament.  This card also fits the challenge at Addicted to CAS, where the code word is bauble. I felt this card was turning out rather boring, but I didn't want to scrap it altogether.  I threw a bow on it and popped up the main panel.  It's a little better, although still not my favorite.

I don't often use red and green for Christmas cards.  I think one reason is that I just like non-traditional Christmas cards.  Another reason is that I don't have any perfect Christmas ink.  For these cards I used Memento bamboo leaves for the green.  On the first card I used ladybug red and the last card uses rhubarb stalk.

I recently bought a large Memento ink pad in cottage ivy, thinking it would be the perfect Christmas green.  I haven't made a single card with it, as it doesn't stamp well.  It appears blotchy.  If anyone has a recommendation for good Christmas colored inks, I'm all ears! :)

Have a great day!

Ann

Addicted to CAS: Snow

Hi There!

I'm popping in quickly with some cards I made for the first challenge of Addicted to CAS.  The code word is snow, so I used an adorable Penny black snowman stamp to make some much-needed Christmas cards.   I used a different color scheme for each card and paper-pieced the scarf, ear muffs, nose, and arms using scraps from my scrap box.

I like the non-traditional colors of this last one, but I think I would like it better if I had used the layout of the first card.  It will probably be a redo!

Thanks for your visit today.

Ann

Dynamic Duos

With two minutes to spare, here are two cards for Dynamic Duos 28.  Phew!

I used pearlescent poppy and pearlescent beige in place of cherry cobbler and sahara sand.  Both inks have wonderful sparkle.  Stamps are Penny Black Hanging Treasures.  The peace sentiment is a Studio G stamp I picked up for 50 cents!

Inspiration:

Less is More and One-Layer Wednesday

I'm sharing two one-layer cards this morning.  I made the first for Less is More 93, where the theme is houses.  I stamped this lovely Northwoods winter scenery stamp and added some very soft color with Prismacolor pencils.  After masking the image, I sponged some soft blue ink on the hillsides and in the sky.  A Sakura pen added some sparkle to finish it off. 

My second card is for One-Layer Wednesday 113 where the challenge is to use dark red, green, and yellow/gold on a one-layer card.  I used Paper Smooches gently seasoned.  This is my first Paper Smooches set and I love the tree combined with the polka dots.  So fun!

It's been lovely this long weekend to find some crafty time.  I hope that wherever you are in the world, you are finding some time to create, too!

Ann

Thoughts of You

I managed to make a card late last night and I'm just squeaking in for CASology 18: Orange.  I sponged an orange background and stamped an image from an Inkadinkado clear set called meadow.

Also entering into the Simon Says Stamp Thinking of You challenge.

Happy Sunday,

Ann

One More

for Less is More 91. 

I loved Chrissie's sketch this week and couldn't help making one more card.  Three squares of pink papers from my scrap box, a Hero Arts poppy stamp, and some Prismacolor pencils.

Thanks for visiting!

Ann

Less is More 91

It's a rainy Halloween in Northwest Washington.  We're quite used to trick-or-treating in the rain around these parts!  I found a little bit of time the other night to make a couple of cards for Less is More 91, which is a sketch challenge from Chrissie.

For the first card I stamped a cheap Studio G stamp onto PTI rustic white cardstock and a piece of patterned paper from my scrap box.  I paper pieced the leaves and cut the squares out before mounting them on a rustic white card base.  It was a little blah, so I added some random bling.  Unusual for me, but I quite like the results.  The sentiment is from PTI lovely layers; I've used it quite a lot.

I rotated the sketch for my second card.  I embossed Hero Arts woodland scene in clear before sponging over the top with blues and purples.  I cut the scene into three divisions and mounted them on blue cardstock.  The sentiment is from Penny Black.

Our thoughts are with all those along the Eastern Seaboard who are dealing with the aftermath of Sandy.

Thanks for your visit today.

Ann

PDC 154 and Less is More 90

Well! It's been a while.

I wanted to play along with the third anniversary challenge at Play Date Cafe.  The color combo was tricky and I had a hard time pinpointing the colors of flame, grape, and mulberry.  I found a few that worked for me and used my favorite SU French foliage leaf.  Again.  I know!  I love this leaf.

This is also my entry for Less is More 90, with the theme of autumn.  I stamped a background of leaves across the main panel.  I really like the unexpected pop of purple in the leaves.  I hope it's not too busy for Less is More.  Fingers crossed. :)  Also, my white space is not white.  I rarely use a colored card base, but I like it on this card.

Thanks for dropping in.  I'm slowly working on getting caught up on my commenting.  Life has been crazy.

Ann

Color Inspiration:

Thinking of You

Last night before bed I made a fast one-layer card for this week's Dynamic Duos and CASology challenges.  It was simple to combine orange and green with leaves to make a quick fall card.  I masked a panel and stamped my favorite leaf from SU French Foliage, using the rock and roll technique to add a bit of green along the leaf edges. This was a five-minute card, which doesn't happen very often for me. :)

I also decided to share one last Less is More card using silver that I didn't post yesterday.  I hadn't decided if I liked it or not, but this morning I decided that I do! :)  I punched flowers out of a shimmery silver paper to create a Christmas wreath.  I've seen a lot of wreaths made out of punched shapes lately, and I wanted to give it a try.  I tried it with a sentiment, too, but prefer it without.

Yesterday morning while tromping about in the woods with my dog, I was surprised by this lovely owl as it swooped down right in front of us.  It drifted up into a tree where it stayed long enough for some pictures.

Thanks for your visit today.

Ann

Inspiration:

Less is More: Silver

The challenge at Less is More is to use silver.  Saturday night I made several Christmas cards, but am just now getting around to posting them.  For my cards, I chose to I emboss in silver on black cardstock.  I had several sheets of beautiful, heavy silver cardstock and this was the perfect opportunity to use it.

I'm partial to the first two cards with the large tree images in silver.  I left a wide silver mat around the edges and stamped my sentiment on the inside.  I felt a sentiment on the outside would detract from the beauty and simplicity of the images.

Thanks for visiting.

Ann

One-Layer Wednesday 108

The one-layer Wednesday challenge at Simplicity is to use one stamp to make two cards, attempting to get a different look on each card.  I used a beautiful Penny Black stamp called day-dreams that I've had and have never used.  I rarely color, but I pulled out my Prismacolor pencils that I've had for about seventeen years and gave it a go. 

My first card didn't photograph well.  I used bright, cheerful colors on white cardstock.  Normally I would have placed a strip of patterned paper along the bottom, but since this is a one-layer card I masked and sponged.  I felt it needed that color at the bottom to ground the image and balance the color in the flowers.   I'm thinking of adding a bit of black and white twine along the top edge of the masked area.

For my second card I tried to achieve a softer look.  I stamped the image in brown on kraft, colored the flowers, and sponged a little white ink around the edges.  This card is most definitely a simplified CASE of this beautiful card by Sylvia B.  

I decided to go for a third look and masked a rectangle in the center before sponging distress ink.  I flicked some water on the sponged area, and if I were to remake this card I probably wouldn't do it again.  I colored the image with my pencils and added a sentiment below. 

I was glad to get some card-making in last night and stayed up much too late, but I sure had fun.  I also made several cards in silver for Less is More, which I'll be posting later.

Thanks for visiting!

Ann