The magic of Christmas

 The dark season is upon us up in the north. Which makes me gravitate towards moody colors. I was overjoyed to see several challenges offer themes that would inspire me for creating cards that fit the mood and the season.

I stenciled little tiny dots with a glittery paint. It is a wonderful paint, it comes on white but dries as just a glorious heap of glittery gold.

For the big stars I used a new to me die which I cut twice but only used the center star from the other dies cut. The stars all have glossy accents on top.

The words have iridescent embossing powder on them ("Psychedelic transparent" by StampingUp) and it reads 'it's the time of Christmas magic' (roughly translated).

 

I am entering this in the following challenges that inspired me:

Simon Says Wednesday Challenge: Stencil it

Cardz 4 Gals: #186 Use a stencil

As You Like It Challenge: Favorite non-traditional Christmas color combo and why: Brown on black catches the mood of darkness that we experience here in Scandinavia, and I like it for it's quiet elegance.

Moving Along with the Times: #148 Bright on Dark

Beyond the Blue: #74 Gold 

NBUS challenge: #44 : The die and iridescent enamel were today used for the first time.

Spring is coming

 I have wanted to make a wood-cut looking card for a long time. Today was the day!

I picked three flowers making sure they were outline stamps. I am so in love with these by Altenew, the stamps are actually from two different sets. The large flower had a corresponding filler stamp, for the the smaller ones I used the filler stamp for leaves.

I used distress inks from a refiller, because I wanted the ink looking uneven. I also selected a super porous paper that took up the ink without drying time - that way I could be sure the coverage was uneven and it would be looking like it was applied by a wooden block.

I then matted it with pale blue, added a scribbled frame and some Nuvo drops.

The sentiment is by Creative-Depot, it has a nice calligraphy feel to it.

Entering it in:

Try Stamping on Tuesday: #551 - I was inspired by the photo of those gorgeous tulips

Country View Challenges: Spring is coming

Beyond the Blue: #BB60 Use your words

Frilly and Funkie: April showers bring May flowers - the flowers are here already! 

Tuesday Taggers: Spring colors

Happy happy

 Inspired by the spring light I made an exuberantly happy birthday card for a dear recipient.

I started off by pulling a page on my gelli plate using blue, white and some lemon yellow. I love the technique using stencils, as you can combine colors and get  positive and negative aspects of the stencil. I used very dry color as to texturize the background and give it a slightly distressed look.

Then I pulled another gelli print, this time just with a few colors (yellow, green, turq) but not a stencil. When it was dry I stamped the butterflies and fussy cut them.

I had quite a fun time combining stamped words. The three smaller ones are from a scrapbooking set, the bigger ones from Stampers Anonymous CMS 325 sheet.

 

entering in:

We love Stamping:  Anything (stamped) spring

Addicted to Stamps and more: #424 Any occasion

We love to Create: Anything mixed media

Beyond the Blue: BB57 Texture 

Through the Purple Haze: #190 It is Sweet

The Peony says: Be true

I confess, I am a hoarder. Today I am using everything that I have kept for years. And I get parting anxiety - - - yet what have I to lose? The shops are full of lovely new items, I don't need to hang onto my stash. I have everything to gain by putting them to good use!

I was challenged by Simon Says Wednesday challenge to use the old and combine it with some new crafty stuff, by Paperminutes to make a bookmark and by Beyond the Blue to use a stencil. (links are below)

 

I stamped the black background with white, then applied ink through a stencil on one side, apllied sticky embossing powder on it which allowed me to pound in some of my (rarely used) sheet metal, adhered the image and and a sentiment.

The old: stamps by 49 Market (Pascale's Form stamp), hero Arts (lace), flower image, stencil, sheet metal flakes (gold&silver), sticky embossing powder, TH remnant rubs sentiment.

The new: white permanent ink, stamp by Finnabair (astronomic calculations), black cardstock.

entering this in:

Paperminutes: #701 Bookmark/ tag 

Simon Says Wednesday Challenge: Out with the old in with the new 

 Beyond the Blue: BB24 Stencil time

Gingham ladies

I was inspired by a couple of challenges and that lead to the creation of these ladies. Firstly 'summer gingham' and secondly 'use your stash'. I have an extensive stash and remembered a gingham envelope that I had tucked away too long ago.

Gingham combines beautifully with dots, so I used a dotted paper as well.

 Lastly came the ladies - I had picked them up from a broschure last summer.  They had  a bit of an attitude so I used some text bits that had been in my stash forever.

Lastly I drew a bold red outline around the images.

 

Entering in:

Beyond the Blue: BB23 From your stash

Double D Challenge: Summer gingham

Simon Says Monday Challenge: Fun and quirky 

Fab and Funky: Anything goes