colorwhimsy

Embossed Bird

I enjoy the stamping technique where you emboss and image with clear powder over a patterned paper or stamped background.  However, I decided to play around with the technique and used a red pearlized powder.  It wasn't as opaque as some powders, so some of the paper still showed through.

To make this card, I stamped the Woodblock Bird (D1307) onto Spiceberry paper using Versamark ink.  I embossed the bird with red pearl embossing powder and then sponged brown Versafine ink on top to make my bird stand out.  I then cut out the bird with a circle punch, layered more Spiceberry paper, added mocha cardstock mats, and layered everything onto a kraft notecard.  To finish the card, I stamped Happy Holidays (B1115) onto the card with the same brown Versafine ink.

Rockin Around the Christmas Tree

 
Did everyone have a great Thanksgiving?  I brought some Memory Box supplies with me to my mom's house so that I could get a couple of posts done during the holiday, but I realized that I left my pearls at home.  I look at the card on this post and all I can see is how it could really use some pearls on the Christmas tree for decoration.  Oh well.

To make the card, I stamped the reindeer (Rockin'Around the Tree D1291) and the saying found on the side of the stamp onto kraft cardstock using brown VersaFine ink.  I colored the reindeer with colored pencils, added some paper from the Spiceberry collection, and layered everything onto a Vanilla Bean notecard.

Of course, I recommend adding some pearls to the tree!

I plan to post another project in my "reindeer series" tomorrow, so stay tuned...

December Tree Card

Has everyone made their Christmas cards yet?  We are running out of time.  How did it get to be November 18th already?!

Today I am posting a quick and easy Christmas card.  I used images from the CL141 Night Before set.  I don't know if you can read the script from the photo, but it says, "Twas the night before Christmas, etc."  I stamped the tree and word background as well as the December calendar onto cream paper using green Memento ink.  I colored part the frame of the calendar with a red colored pencil and highlighted the 25th with the same pencil.  For the tree, I added a bunch of cherry jewels for sparkle.  To finish the card, I added layers of dill and cranberry cardstock, some Spiceberry paper, and put everything onto a cranberry notecard.

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.

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.

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!

Lattice Reindeer

One of my favorite new stamps is the Lattice Background (E1283).  I have been using it to make my own background paper as well as behind images that I want to highlight.  Did you see the autumn tree card I made that used the lattice background?  If you missed it, you can see it here.

For this card, I stamped the lattice background twice with Colorbox Chalk Chestnut Brown ink to make a strip of decorative paper.  I didn't worry about lining up the two lattice background stampings because I knew I was going to place an image over the seam where the two images met.  I then inked the lattice background with the same ink, stamped it onto scrap paper, and then stamped it again onto cream paper.  I "off-stamped" the background so that it would be a lighter shade of brown and wouldn't interfere with the reindeer I stamped on top of it.  I ran the reindeer piece of paper and some mocha cardstock through my Cuttlebug using my Nestabilities Label 2 set and then layered everything onto some Spiceberry paper and a mocha notecard.

Here is a close-up of the reindeer and background:

Of course, I had to add a cherry jewel to the reindeer's nose.  Is it possible to stamp a reindeer without a red nose?