colorwhimsy

Merry Christmas

I can't get enough of this Poinsettia Silhouette (E1282).  I made a video using it with Twinkling H2O's, but I went with a much simpler design for this card.  To color the stamp this time, I inked the petals with magenta Colorbox pigment ink and the leaves with deep green Colorbox chalk ink.  I used the same green ink to sponge around my image as well as to stamp my saying (Merry Christmas Script B925).  I cut out my white cardstock and patterned paper from the Spiceberry collection using the curved rectangles Nestability dies.  To finish the card, I added a Cranberry notecard and some 24K pearls to my flowers.  Pretty darn easy!

Christmas

I saw that I hadn't yet used the Branch Border (C1304) from the new Brighter Days collection.  It kind of surprised me because it seems like a really practical stamp to use.  I think it will look great decorated with red pearls, bows, or multicolor rhinestone "lights."  For this card, I decided to use the 24K pearls to coordinate with the browns of the card.

To make the card, I stamped "Christmas" from the Snowy Eve clear set (CL142) onto kraft cardstock using Olympia Green VersaFine ink.  I added the branches using the same ink and decorated them with gold pearls.  To finish the card, I layered some patterned paper from the Spiceberry pack, added a layer of pool cardstock, and placed everything on a Vanilla Bean notecard.

So, does anyone else have a suggestion for decorating the branch stamp?  I am just curious.

Happy Fall

Do you ever see a card that looks perfect to you?  Do you then have the hardest time imagining using the stamp in another way?  That was what happened to me when I saw Dave's take on the Tree Silhouette (E1302) which you can see here.  Isn't it wonderful?  I love the elegance of that card!

I decided to force myself to use the stamp in a completely different way.  I thought the easiest way to start would be to change the season of the card.  After all, it isn't winter yet! 

To make this card, I stamped the trees twice onto white cardstock using Rich Cocoa Memento ink.  I then used a cloud stencil, a sponge, and some Adirondack Sailboat Blue ink to create my sky.  For the ground, I sponged on some Antique Linen Distress ink.  I liked the look but decided it needed a bit more variation in color.  I then added a bit of yellow chalk here and there on the hills to give them a bit more "umph."  For the trees, I dotted some Y21, Y17, and R22 Copic markers to the branches.  R22 is called Light Prawn and actually looks a bit pink.  However, I found that true reds were too dark to use on the card.  They just didn't match the muted tones of the rest of the card.

To finish, I added layers of mango and vanilla bean cardstock to a mocha notecard.

Don't forget to set your clocks back tonight....one extra hour for sleep.  Yeah!

Oh Christmas Tree

I'm trying to remember what Christmas cards I have posted, and I don't think I have done a Christmas tree yet.  How is that possible?!  The nice thing about the Twisty Pine (E1286) is that it works as a plain tree, but you can also add a lot of "bling" to make it a jazzy Christmas tree.

For this card, I cut Kraft cardstock and some Spiceberry patterned paper using my Nestability circle dies.  I stamped the pine onto the kraft cardstock using brown Memento ink and colored it with two shades of green Copic markers.  To make the card sparkle, I used red and green jewels from the Christmas jewel pack as well as some canary jewels.

For the bottom of the card, I added more Spiceberry paper and cut out a kraft tag using a label Nestability die.  To finish the bottom, I added a red ribbon as well as a Happy Holidays (B929) saying.

You are so cool

If you are a fan of Dave's polar bears, then you are going to enjoy the Memory Box Brighter Days release.  Not only is there the sweet bear holding an ice cream cone, but there is the cute Fishing Bear (C1306) that I used on this card.  The fishing bear would pair well with a Christmas saying because of the Santa hat, but I decided to make a more generic winter card instead. 

To make the card, I layered some Dewfrost paper to resemble water and a snowy sky.  I sponged some Ice Blue Colorbox Chalk onto my pond so that it would look darker at the top.  I then stamped the bear onto my patterned paper and again onto some white paper using black Memento ink.  I cut out my bear from the white paper and layered him onto the bear on the patterned paper.  I added a bit of gray, red, and brown Copic markers to the bear and some green Copic marker to the fish.  To finish the card, I added some mocha cardstock, more Dewfrost paper, and mint pearls to a Pool notecard.

Oh Deer!

I think I am on a Spiceberry paper kick.  Three cards in a row!  The reds just seem to be speaking to my I guess.  For this card, I chose two of my favorite patterns from the pack and joined them with a gold metallic ribbon. 

To make the deer, I stamped Fancy the Fawn (D1303) onto eggshell cardstock using Vintage Sepia Versafine ink.   The antlers are on the side of the stamp, so you can decide if you want to make a doe or a buck.  I wanted to make a Rudolph, so I added the antlers.  I also had to add a red jewel from the Christmas jewel pack to make the nose.  I cut out the deer with a Marvy Mega Circle punch and then edged it with more of the brown ink.  I then layered him onto a Vanilla Bean scalloped circle and added  the Happy Holidays (B929) saying.

I hope everyone is enjoying their weekend!

Quick Christmas Card

How many Christmas cards are you making this year?  Five?  Twenty?  Forty?  One Hundred?  It is always a good idea to get a final count before you create your card design.  This particular card took me hardly any time to make.  Although, I have to say that it is hard for me to stamp something in a solid ink and not doing any coloring!

For this card, I stamped the new Pine Border (D1298) onto eggshell cardstock using Olympia Green Versafine ink.  I had to stamp the image a couple of times in order for it to reach all the way across the card.  I then layered my piece onto some Spiceberry papers and a Dill notecard.  Done!

Red Bird

I thought it was time to post another card featuring one of the latest stamps from the "Brighter Days" collection.  This time I chose to use the Woodblock Bird (D1307).  The nice thing about this image is that the bird and branch are on one part of the stamp, and the holly is on the side of the stamp.  That way, you can add as many or as few holly leaves as you want.  It also lets you use the stamp year-round because you could add paper flowers for spring or the appropriate color leaves for summer or fall.

For my winter card, I inked the bird with Crimson VersaFine ink and the branch with Vintage Sepia VersaFine ink.  Once I stamped the image onto eggshell cardstock. I decided that I wanted the branch to be a bit longer.  I added some brown colored pencil to extend the branch and then stamped my holly leaves with Colorbox Chalk Warm Green ink.  I punched out the image with a Marvy Mega Circle punch and added some Spiceberry paper behind it using a Marvy Giga Scalloped Circle punch.  To finish the card, I added some berry pearls, painted the bird with red Shimmerz for some sparkle, and added more layers of the Spiceberry paper.  I then layered everything onto some Vanilla Bean cardstock and a Peapod notecard. 

On an unrelated note, I wanted to thank everyone for the wonderful comments that are left on my blog.  They always make my day!

Here's the Scoop

I can't tell you how much I love the 3 Scoops Bear (C1305) from the new "Brighter Days" Memory Box release.  He just makes me smile.  What's not to like?  Polar Bear....good.  Ice cream....good.  Polar Bear holding ice cream....great.

When I first saw this stamp, the three scoops reminded me of Neapolitan ice cream, so I tried to recreate that in my color palette.  To make this card, I stamped the bear and saying (Here's the scoop B887) onto white cardstock using black VersaFine ink.  I then added some pink and chocolate brown watercolor pencil to the bear and blended/faded the colors with a Dove Blender pen.  I also wanted my bear to stand out from the white cardstock, so I added some gray watercolor pencil to distinguish him from the background.  To finish the card, I added some Mocha, Cherry Blossom, and Vanilla Bean cardstock to a Kraft notecard.

Bird Huddle

Do you ever make a mistake and think, "I won't do that again."  And then you do it again.  Well, I can't tell you how many times I have put Stickles onto Colorbox Chalk ink only to find that it bleeds.  I love my Chalk inks, and I love my Stickles.  I just need to remember they don't work together.   In the case of this card, it even turned my brown ink a bit red.  Oops!  The good news is that I have few red birds as accents which match my reddish brown limbs.

To make this card, I decided to use the Bird Huddle (D1285), but I wanted to have more birds than the ones on the stamp.  I stamped the image twice onto patterned paper from the Dewfrost collection.  The only problem with that tactic was that I had a distinct line where the two bird huddle rectangles met.  Enter the brown ribbon....  Isn't it amazing how many things you can cover with ribbon?  I then colored the outlined birds with a red Prismacolor pencil and and added some Diamond jewels and Diamond Stickles onto the branches for extra bling.  To finish the card, I layered more pieces of Dewfrost paper and placed everything onto a Kraft notecard.

Okay, one more time...

Note to self.  Colorbox Chalk + Stickles = bleeding.  Let me see if I can remember that next time.