AHSC #250

Spring is just around the corner. It got cold today, but earlier this week it was sunny and warm enough to do yard work. There are little green spouts all over out there (not all weeds :-) )
Being outside finally got me out of the winter mojo funk I've been in for a while. So I dug around in my craft room and found some old stuff that made me happy: Zoe papers and an ancient CTMH set called 'Springtime' that I have always loved.

Lots of fussy cutting, fun foam, foam tape, liquid glass and Nuvo drops later...a card! Isn't it funny how once you get the picture up you see little flaws?  I'll need to straighten that bit of twine.

 

 

 

Celebrating 250 sketches over at Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenge! Check them out for some inspiration.

 

Washi Birthday

Happy Birthday die from Elizabeth Craft Designs was cut twice from card stock, and then the top layer was clear embossed. I finally tried layering die cuts with Stick It sheets. Wow! It's so simple: just stick sheet to card stock, cut out, remove backing and you have perfect adhesive coverage. The washi tape is from my stash. A few Nuvo Jewel Drops. I just love how quickly this came together.  Such a versatile sketch at Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenge #246 by Michelle.  Check out the great Design Team cards on their blog.

 

 

Snowy Scene

There are stamps that become beloved and you just have to find one more thing to do with them. This Hero Arts wooden stamp is one. I just feel peaceful and happy looking at this little scene.  With CASology inspiration word Grey, I tried inking it up with some CTMH Whisper ink...but I'd done that before, and it just looked blah.  Next I tried a white pigment ink on Slate card stock, but it just wasn't very crisp, so I put some Hero Arts white embossing powder on it and yay! Added a skinny white mat, and popped with dimensional tape on a Slate card stock base.  I love the slightly bumpy texture that looks like snow. The sentiment from Pretty Pink Posh was embossed as well.
I doubt our Pacific Northwest Christmas will be white - it's usually pretty grey!  But a person can dream...so also linking to CAS-ual Fridays #189 "Dreaming of a White Christmas," and CAS on Sunday #123.

Pencils and Heat Embossing

One of my absolute favorite crafters is Yana Smakula.  She is an amazing artist that inspires me!  In this video post  http://www.yanasmakula.com/?p=60617she explained her process for creating a very dramatic image.  I had to try it.
I stamped my image (Avery Elle - Merry Flowers) in Whisper ink on Whisper gray card stock (Close to My Heart) and then colored the image with Prisma pencils.  Then I treated the paper with anti-static powder and heat embossed in Hero Arts white. Yana suggested using the Misti to be sure your image is aligned perfectly, but I had forgotten to begin that way...so I had to carefully position my Versamark inked block after coloring. The first one worked perfectly, the other is slightly offset. But I'm still thrilled with the result!
I shaded around the image with a very light gray Copic to create a bit of dimension. The sentiment (W Plus 9 Christmas Greetings) was also heat embossed.  I mounted the panel on a white, top-fold card base. And then decided to add some Nuvo Crystal  'snow dots'.   Thank you Yana! I love this technique. The white embossing stays clean, no smudges and it really looks awesome.

Linking to Use Your Stuff #290 Challenge - Heat Embossing

 

Jingle All the Way

Stamp and Cuts set "Jingle all the Way" from Hero Arts set used today, with Echo Park I Love Winter paper.  I used colored pencils, Wink of Stella, some Nuvo drops, and a white jell pen.  The sentiment was heat embossed with Hero Arts white.

 

 

Linked to CAS(E) This Sketch #247

Mouse Thanksgiving FTL#41

One last bit of Thanksgiving fun.  I just love these little Lawn Fawn mice!  I used a Simon Says die, cross stitching added with a die from My Favorite Things. Acorn, wheat, and sentiment from Papertrey. Paper is BoBunny, and card base and inks from Close To My Heart. A many products card! 

Thanks to Clean & Simple for the Fall To Layout Sketch

Autumn Leaves FMS #312

Finishing up my Thanksgiving cards today. I used a new stamp + die set from Hampton Art. The first step was to heat emboss with Hero Arts white on some Kraft card stock. I colored with watercolor pencils and lightly blended with a water brush.  The corner paper is BoBunny, the sentiment is two layers for a little extra dimension - used a Savvy die.

Always appreciate a great sketch to help me know what to do!  Today's inspiration was at
Freshly Made Sketches.  Clean and crisp - just the way I like it.