Happy New Year!

Happy New Year, Friends!

It's been nearly a month since I've posted or made a card.  I've been enjoying my family and the Christmas holidays and taking a bit of a break from blogland.  The other night, however, I pulled out my supplies and started creating again.

I made two cards for the CASology challenge 'New.' 

The first is a new baby card. I stamped the PTI banner in blue, green, and purple to make a baby bunting.  I also used my new twine from Lily Belle's Paperie on Etsy.  I had a stamp with the word baby in it that fit the circle tag, but it didn't fit, if you know what I mean.  Instead I used this tiny Joy sentiment from PTI Mega Mixed Messages.  It looked better in the circle , and I decided that 'joy' is the perfect word for new babies.  Sleepless nights, dirty diapers, colic . . . and joy.

For the second card I participated in a new to me challenge, Freshly Made Sketches.  As this is the 67th challenge, it's obviously not new to the world, but it's the first time I've ever participated in it so it's new to me. :)  I used Wplus9 Mother's Day Bouquet for the flowers and added a sentiment from PTI Mega Mixed Messages.  Again I used my new twine.  I love that sampler pack with so many beautiful colors. 

We were going to drive up into the mountains today to go snowshoeing, but when I checked the weather conditions it said it was 28 degrees and gusting up to 38 miles per hour.  I don't think our girls would enjoy snowshoeing into a freezing wind!  So instead, we'll be "taking down Christmas"  and then I'll enjoy catching up on all of your lovely blogs.

Thanks for your visit!

Ann

Inspiration:

 

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