Friday, November 27, 2015

Tim Holtz Twelve Tags of 2015 - November

Wow - I've had all the supplies out on my work table to make Tim's November tag for weeks and just haven't had time to get to it!  But there are just a few days left in November so it was now or never!   Here is Tim's tag and the link to see his tutorial.
And here is my version.  I had a lot of the supplies Tim used but I used a different grid stamp for the background, I used some gold metal leaf  that I had in my stash from years ago (and never used!) on the edges.
I used a wishbone instead of an arrow at the top.  I also stamped and cut out the word 'pumpkin' from the blueprint stamp because it didn't show up on the background with the dark colors.
I used a thin piece of real cork to cut out the AUTUMN and also stamped the 'optional shading' from the blueprint stamp on a piece of kraft and added it here beneath the pumpkin, since my stamped one didn't show up on the background.
Here you can see the layered stem.
I just love the background on this tag.  As per Tim's tutorial -  you use a brayer to roll Ranger Distress Paint (I used Picket Fence) over the stamp and press it onto the tag (wash your stamp and brayer immediately!)  - let the tag dry - spritz water over the tag - then spray 2 colors of Spray Stain (I used Ground Espresso and Iced Spruce) over the tag and dry with your heat tool. L-O-V-E it!
So I've got the November tag done - just in time to find out what the December tag will be next Tues! (I really can't believe it's Dec already??!!!)  This will, no doubt, be my last fall project of the season - I'll be moving on to Christmas and winter now!

Thursday, November 26, 2015

Fusion Challenge - Nov 26th - Blue Christmas

Goodness, the weeks are just flying by aren't they?!  Here in the US, we are celebrating Thanksgiving today and there's a new Fusion Challenge posted - a lovely photo inspiration of a blue Christmas tree, or perhaps you'll focus on the white dog on a blue pillow -  or pretty wrapped boxes - or a white chair - OR you may just create using the lovely lacey sketch?!
As soon as I saw the tree -  I knew what stamp I wanted to use -  this lovely tree from the Scandi Doodle Christmas set by Waltzingmouse.  
I white embossed the tree on a piece of white cardstock.  Then I sponged heavily over the whole panel with Ranger Distress Mermaid Lagoon ink.  I stamped the Merry Christmas from Nutcracker Sweet set, also by Waltzingmouse - on a die cut Sentiment Strip by MFT - using the same Mermaid Lagoon Ink.  I layered the sentiment over the tree with foam dots and added 3 clear rhinestones for a little shimmer!

See all the lovely shapes drawn into this beautiful tree?  Deer, birds, hearts and flowers - SO pretty!
How will this fortnights Fusion Challenge inspire you?   I can't wait to see what you link up over at the Fusion Blog.  You  have almost two weeks to make your inspired card!
Here are the links to the talented Fusion Design Team - you'll also find all our cards over at the Fusion Blog.
Julia Aston - me!


Stephanie Severin

I'm also linking my card to:
Merry Monday Challenge - Blue and White with Texture

 
Wishing all those celebrating today -
 a very Happy Thanksgiving
I am so thankful for everything God has blessed me with in my life, my family, and all of you - my wonderful stamping/blogging friends!


Stamps:  Scandi Doodle Christmas and Nutcracker Sweet - Waltzingmouse
Paper:  White - PTI
Ink:  Ranger Distress Mermaid Lagoon, Versamark
Accessories:  white embossing powder, heat tool, Sentiment Strips dies - MFT, clear rhinestones - Michaels.

Wednesday, November 25, 2015

Papertrey Ink November Blog Hop

Today I'm excited to be joining the Papertrey Ink November Blog Hop.  
This is our photo inspiration.  Greens and blues, white and silver.
And here is my inspired card -  I focused on the shape of the mirror, the white deer and green tree.  I used Tim Holtz  Baroque die with Brushed Silver card for the panel.
I embossed one of the lovely sentiments from O Holy Night in silver embossing powder onto the silver frame. It really looks beautiful on the card.
I inked the tree from In the Meadow (stamps and dies) using Tropical Teal on the bottom half and Simply Chartreuse on the top half.  I added the little die cut bird from In the Meadow with a foam dot.  I added a teal eye with a Gelly Roll Pen.  I die cut the deer from In The Meadow die set 3 times and layered them together for more thickness.  I knotted a piece of Tinsel String around his neck. Here you can see how everything is layered up on foam dots.
I can't wait to see everyone's creations for this beautiful inspiration photo!  Are you joining in too?  You'll find the link for the blog hop on Nicole's blog here.
Stamps:  In the Meadow, O Holy Night - Papertrey Ink
Paper:  White, Tropical Teal - PTI, Brushed Silver - SU
Ink:  Tropical Teal and Simply Chartreuse - PTI, Versamark
Accessories:  In The Meadow Die Set - PTI, Gelly Roll Pen - Sakura, Silver Embossing Powder, Heat Tool, Baroque Die - Tim Holtz/Alterations, foam dots, Tinsel String - Prairie Bird Boutique Etsy Shop.

Friday, November 20, 2015

Silhouette Deer

I had about 4 creative hours in my craft room today - and got two creations made.  One is for the PTI blog hop so I'll show you that one on the 25th!
Here's the one I made to post today.  It's a one layer card.  First I stenciled the background using the WV Checkmate stencil with WV Archival Fern Green and Cornflower Blue Inks.  I made the reindeer stencil using a piece of acetate with the Alterations Prancing Deer die.  I laid the home made reindeer stencil over the panel and pounced over it with a sponge and Archival Black Ink.
For the sentiment, I used a WV stencil - Happy Holidays, inking it with WV Archival Red Geranium ink.  The berries in the antlers are from WV Create a Wreath Stencil and the holly is inked in WV Fern Green using  Tim Holtz Festive stencil
To define the edges better, I sponged them with Ranger Distress Ground Espresso Ink.
I'm linking today's card to the following challenges:
Merry Monday - have a reindeer on your card
One Layer Christmas Card Challenge - Anything goes - optional: silhouette
 
 Tomorrow I get to babysit for these two cutie pies - James and Madelyn - one set of my grandnephews and nieces!
Paper:  Kraft - PTI
Ink:  Wendy Vecchi Archival Fern Green, Cornflower Blue, Red Geranium, Archival Jet Black, Ranger Distress Ground Espresso
Accessories:  Prancing Deer Die - Tim Holtz/Alterations, Stencils: Wendy Vecchi Create a Wreath, Check Mate and Happy Holidays, Tim Holtz Festive.



Thursday, November 19, 2015

The Fox in the Woods

Yikes - it's been almost a week since I last posted.  I've been so tired when I've gotten home from work each night that I just made supper, watched a little TV and dropped into bed (I think because it's so dark with the time change?!) -  but  today I was inspired by several challenges to get back into my craft room and make this card.
I got out my recently purchased PTI stamp and die set Warmest Wishes.   I laid the die cut trees on top of my inked Cabin Plaid Background stamp from WMS and rubbed over them with my fingers.  I colored the foxes tail with a white gel pen.
I used the Freshly Made Sketch for my card design
I'm also linking this to the these challenges:
The Card Concept Challenge - my design is Clean and Layered
being inspired by the plaid chair as well as the green and cranberry colors.
 Curtain Call - Foxy 
One more day until the weekend!   Thanks for stopping by today!

Stamps:  Warmest Wishes - PTI, Cabin Plaid Backgrounder - Waltzingmouse
Paper:  White, Terrecotta Tile, DP Textstyle Holiday Cheer - PTI
Ink:  Ocean Tides, Scarlet Jewel, True Black - PTI
Accessories:  Warmest Wishes Die Set - PTI, foam dots, white gel pen.

Saturday, November 14, 2015

Gingerbread Snowflake Package

It's really time to get the final Christmas cards done so I'm not stressed doing all the other preparations for the wonderful family holidays coming up!  To that end -  I have a sweet little Christmas card to share.  
I made the bow with the small bow die from Lil Inker Designs.  The greenery was cut with Holiday Greens die from Alterations. I wrapped Stone twine around the 'package' and looped it through the snowflake cookie.
I die cut the snowflake out of kraft card and then sponged it with Wendy Vecchi Archival Orange Blossom ink to make it look like a gingerbread cookie tag on this lovely 'present'. 
My card design was inspired by today's Inspiration Challenge over at Splitcoaststampers.  The inspiration was Angela's Christmas Pinterest board - and this was what caught my eye:
 So how did I do??
 My background is a piece of digi paper from Stamplorations called Splash of Grunge. (no longer available)
I'm also linking my card to Jingle Belles Challenge - Holiday Foods and Drinks 
(gingerbread cookie)
Stamps: Crazy Talk - Tim Holtz/Stampers Anonymous
Paper: Kraft, Stone - PTI, green - Distress Cordinations, Splotchy Grunge Digi DP - Stamplorations
Paper Size: 4 1/4" x 5 1/2"
Ink: Wendy Vecchi Archival Orange Blossom, Archival Jet Black
Accessories: Dies - Create a Snowflake/Nestabilities, Holiday Greens/Alteratioins, Bow Die Small/Lil Inker Designs, foam dots, stone twine - the Twinery, Scotch Quick Dry Adhesive

Friday, November 13, 2015

Rustic Snow

I have a Mixed Media Christmas tag to share today.  I started my design with something I just saw in an advertisement for the Renegade Craft Fair in the December 2015 25th Anniversary Issue of Martha Stewart that came in the mail this week.   See the package in the middle with the foliage and red washi tape?
Here is how I used that inspiration on my creation.
I die cut the tag out of Kraft cardstock and then stenciled it with Tim's Stripes stencil using Iced Spruce Distress Ink.  I used Tim's Speckles stencil with Wendy Vecchi White Embossing Paste for the 'snow'.  I looped some Linen Ribbon through the hole and added a Jingle Brad.  The 25 is die cut out of Brushed Gold cardstock and layered with foam dots.
I used Spruce and Sprigs stamps and dies for the pieces of foliage.  I layered them with foam dots and added a piece of Washi Tape across their stems (it looks like I have the exact same tape they used on the package in the ad!).  I knotted a piece of tinsel string from Prairie Bird Boutique Etsy Shop around the tag looping the tails behind it.  I adhered two Small Talk/Occasions stickers and stamped Merry Christmas along the bottom.
To make this tag into a Christmas decoration that could be put on display -  I die cut Tim's small easel and adhered it to the back.
I'm linking my rustic tag to several challenges:
Anything but Cute - It's Ornamental
Virginia's View - Textures
Stamps:  Spruce and Sprigs - PTI, Crazy Talk - Tim Holtz/Stampers Anonymous
Paper:  Kraft, Scarlet Jewel - PTI, Brushed Gold - SU
Ink:  Ranger Distress Iced Spruce, Classic Kraft, Simply Chartreuse, Scarlet Jewel - PTI, Archival Jet Black
Accessories:  Wendy Vecchi White Embossing Paste, Washi Tape, Idea-ology Small Talk/Occasions, Jingle Brads, Linen Ribbon, Tag and Bookplate Die, Small Easel, Stacked Words/Christmas - Alterations, Spruce and Sprigs - PTI, Speckles stencil and Stripes Stencil - Tim Holtz/Stampers Anonymous, tinsel string - Prairie Bird Boutique Etsy Shop.

Thursday, November 12, 2015

Fusion - Nov 12th - Warm Welcome

Just in time for Thanksgiving - we have a lovely photo for inspiration for this fortnights Fusion Challenge!
I  love cream colored pumpkins and that was what inspired me for my Thanksgiving card!
I used my Alterations Pumpkin Parts die for my layered pumpkin - the die includes the base pumpkin shape, the stem and then 3 strips that you can cut as many as you want of to layer onto your pumpkin. I used Vintage Cream Linen Cardstock and I sponged all the edges of the pumpkin pieces with Tea Dye Distress Ink.  I layered them over the pumpkin base with foam dots.  
I die cut the flowers using Button Stacks Set from PTI and added orange rhinestones to the centers of each.  They are layered onto the pumpkin with foam dots.  The Thankful is another PTI die from the Counting My Blessings die set.
I'm also linking my card to the following challenges:
Make My Monday - Many Thanks
 Crazy 4 Challenges - Cards of Thanks/Traditional Colors
Just Us Girls - Stripes
The Card Concept -  clean and layered

 How will you be inspired by the Fusion Challenge this week?  By the photo, the sketch, or will you combine the two???!!   Can't wait to see what you link up over at the Fusion Card Challenge blog!
Here are the links to the ever talented Fusion Design Team so you can see their inspired designs:
Julia Aston - me!

Paper:  Vintage Cream Linen Cardstock, Dark Chocolate, Pure Poppy, New Leaf, Orange Zest, Tropical Teal - PTI, DP - Bo Bunny Forever Fall Collection.
Ink:  Ranger Distress Tea Dye
Accessories:  Pumpkin Parts Die - Alterations/Tim Holtz, Button Stacks Set and Counting My Blessings Die set - PTI, Rhinestones - Kaiser.