The less pretty toughts of a fox

I love snarky saying and have oodles of snarky sentiment strips to show for it, by TH and Aall&Create, to be exact. I use them seldom in my greeting cards, though, as I want them to be uplifting.

But today was the day - I need a snarky card. Out came my supplies: a background from my ready stash, a small stamp set for mushrooms and other fall accoutrements, a fox stamp (one of the first Aall&Create stamps with #4 - I believe they are close to thousand at this point) and my GT watercolors.

 

The background was first a blotched experiment in pointillism before I slapped a large gold stenciling over it. It became a grand affair, and I have been failing to use it ever since (this was about two years ago). Well, today was the day for this as well.

I stamped and watercolored musrooms, acorns and the fox, then fussy cut them and arranged them on the page. The sentiment is propped on a foam strip, as is the fox.

 

Entering this in these challenges:

 

Sisterhood of Snarky Stampers: #277 A is for Animals

Crafty Critters: Challenge #109

Creative Fingers: Challenge #328

Polkadoodles: #8 week 5 AG

Peacock love greetings

 Today's card is a CASE - copy and selectively edit - card. My inspiration came from the challenge DT member Elisabeth (link). Her card reminded me of peacock's feathers.

I pulled out the supplies I thought I needed.  I wanted to keep the colors and the background. The block of different lattice backgrounds seemed such a useful one when I bought it - what, two years ago - and this is my first time using it. The peacock die is a recent win from the challenge world.

 

The lattice was backed with blue, and because it was smaller than my card base I added a back frame which I partially stitched on. (Look at the top right and both bottom corners - I used black thread so it  is barely visible.)

The peacock was cut out of dark blue paper and it's feathers from three other papers. I decorated the green feathers with iridescent heart shaped sequins. As it didn't stand out from the background I added a shadow outline with vellum. I also stamped the sentiment on vellum with yellow ink and embossed it.

 

 Entering this in these inspiring challenges:

Just Us Girls: #834 Case a DT week

Simon Says Monday Challenge: Stitch it 

MMM: #283 Wedding / Love wishes

Little Red Wagon: #869 One thing

Creative Fingers: #327 AG August

and because this was the first time I used the lattice block and the peacock die, I am showing my card at

NBUS: #89 August line-up 

 

Evenings are getting darker

August is here and it is lantern time. Their glow in the evening dusk and then darkness is nothing short of magical. I don't own any so I have to make do with my lovely lantern dies.

There were two challenges that made me think how to use my lantern dies creatively this year. (Yes, they haven't been used this year yet!) I pulled out the supplies: snippets of designer paper and a block of alcohol ink prints.

I punched out the lanterns and backed them with light yellow paper to mimic the glow. I selected a background that made me think of evening dusk, then arranged them according to the sketch I was working with. Lastly I added a piece of washi tape to ground the standing lantern.

 

Entering this in these lovely challenges:

Freshly Made Sketches: #747 

 

GCFAOS: #24 Gebruik designpapier (Use designer paper)

Snippets Playground: #537 

Simon Says Wednesday: AG 

Creative Fingers: #327 AG 

Birthday Numbers

 My niece turns 7 in July. I wanted to incorporate that number, and the appropriate number of flowers. In the end it only has six flowers, the last flower has been replaced by the number 7. 

The center is done with watercolor through a round stencil, the small numbers are rub-ons from various packages and typefaces. The flowers are stamped onto a gelli print, then fussy cut.

Entering this in:

Stamping Sensations: Summer Flowers or AG option - I chose summer flowers as my focal point

Let's Create Challenges: #197 AG + Add Flowers 

Creative Fingers Challenge: #258 AG

First time

 My first time making a slim line card. I have shied away from it, not exactly knowing how to handle such a large space. But today was the day...

Background done with ink blending on watercolor paper. The images are from my stash and the text is Dina Wakeley Typed sheets 2.

Entering in the challenges that inspired me:

Challenge Up Your Life: #159 Slimline Card

Creative Crafting Uncles: #42 Time

SimonSays Monday Challenge: Masculine

Creative Fingers Crafting Challenge: #257 AG

Enjoy!

 The perfect cuppa after an industrious morning of work - who wouldn't enjoy that!Background was done with a partial color brayering onto a matte cardboard. The lady and all of her household equipment were fussy cut and arranged onto the card. The text is TH Tiny Text. Lastly I painted the cup just to hammer home the focal point.

pic clicks for larger

Entering in:

Simon Says Monday challenge: Food and/ or drink

Love to Craft Challenge: #60 Anything goes (2nd entry)

Creative Fingers Challenge: #212 Anything goes (2nd entry)

Just to say...

I have a lovely stamp by Crafty Individuals which works for almost any occasion. 

I treated the background with two distress inks, leaving it blotchy and watercolor-y. I stamped with a text stamp and a numebrs stamp loosely here and there and spritzed some ink around. Lastly i added leaf garland in crushed olive to match the card color, added the image and a large bird and the sentiment. The frame was created with washi tape.

This is for "just because", the recipient loves birds, hence the added bird.

Entering this in:

Watercooler challenges: Occasions

TioT: Feathered friends

Penny's Challenge: #501 Anything with paper

 Creative Fingers: #212 Anything goes

Through the Craft Room Door: Anything goes

Dream

 Koukussa kortteihin vintage-haaste pyörähti toiselle kierrokselle ja tällä kertaa valitsin rivin: 

revitty - runsas - ruudullinen

Pohjapaperit on revitty ja numeroruukko kortin alaoikealla kyllä hieman hukkuvat runsauden alle...

The background was made with several papers including a tissue paper that I had printed with Gelli plate. The flowers and bird are fussy cut.

I'd like to enter it in the following challenges:

Creative Moments: # 218 Anything goes

Love to Craft Challenge Blog: #60 Anything goes 

Creative Fingers #212 Anything goes