Christmas greetings

I still need a few holiday cards. I thought I would be nearly done, but actually, the list seems to be growing. How that happened I don't have the faintest. Again, there were some nice challenges to guide my way.

 

My initial supplies were a stencil, a designer paper, some snowflakes from my ready stash and some Distress paints. This summer I have mostly used my gelli prints, so the designer paper stash has not gotten any smaller. The idea was to stencil over patterned paper.

Later I added another stencil and more colors. I also drew the outlines of the houses, windows and doors so they would stand out more.

 

Entering this in these challenges:

Stencil Fun: August AG / CAS optional. I am playing with AG

ABC Christmas Challenge: P, Q and R are for? I am playing with Q - Quartet: four houses.

Holly and Ivy Christmas Challenge: #209 AG Christmas

The Outlawz Christmas Challenge: Anything Christmas goes

Polkadoodles: #8 week 3 AG 

Santa, oh Santa!

 I was inspired today by a couple of challenges to make a Christmas card, I am still very lacking in the department. With one person in mind, who is given to punny, dry humor I collected my supplies:

 

A Santa-in-Space stamp set, a piece of gelli printed paper, a stencil with stars, a package of somewhat irreverend sayings, and missing from the picture, golden Lunar paste and markers.

I stamped the moon and the Santa and colored them in, then fussy cut them. I stenciled some golden stars onto the background, mounted the gelli print onto black backing before mounting it onto the card. Then I selected a saying from the pack, something Santa could be saying if stressed out.

 

Entering this in these challenges that were my inspiration today:

Simon Says Monday Challenge: Funny/ Punny 

Christmas All Year Round: P and Q - my letter is P and stand for presents 

Stencil Fun: AG, CAS optional - I am playing AG 

Lil' Patch of Crafty Friends: #283 August AG

A Perfect Time to Craft: #8 August AG 

Hello friend

 The Card Chain is a monthly event and this card has reached its recipient already (hello to Gail in Norway!). I worked closely with the given sketch suggestion and color palette option yellow-pink-kraft and with the word 'pet'. 

These were my supplies. I decided to use my favorite, but very neglected crackling texture paste. (Last time must have been over two years ago!) I love its texture, but it is somewhat problematic on greeting cards, especially on one-layered card like this, because it tends to crumble at the edges. The cracks are divine, though.

I started by masking off four narrow panels directly on the card front, as per the given sketch. I then stenciled the crackle paste turning the stencil very once in a while for a more dynamic appearance. When it has dried up completely I used watercolor to make it yellow.

I cut a circle in pink and placed the stamped and colored dog over it. I stamped the sentiment in the free spaces between the stenciled bits. Lastly I added a black twig that I had on hand.

 

Entering this in the following challenges:

The Neglected Stuff: August

Stencil Fun: August AG stencil/ make it CAS style (optional) I am playing with AG.

Critter Crazy: #113 August AG w/a critter 

The sign-up for Card Chain for August is open still today - won't you join us?

 

 

A glimpse of heaven

 A card that would depict a hobby while using no stamping? A stencil that would produce a pattern? And a two-color scheme to cover it all? And make it for a male.

I thought I could find an answer to these multiple requirements and set out to select my supplies. I didn't need much, just a stencil, colors according to the scheme and TH text strips.

I stenciled the background and cut it to size, then adhered it to a backing. Now it was time to select the text and bring it onto strip of a vellum. Originally I had two in mind, but in the end I found four that suit each other well. Put together they evoke the dream of every fisherman out there. Listen to this:

"glittering in the sun:

a very wonderful place -

a glimpse of heaven

wonderful dream"

 

Entering this in all the challenges that were my inspiration today:

Creative Crafting Uncles: #79 No stamping

The Male Room: #212 Hobbies - this is for a hobby fisherman 

 

GCG: #26 blauw en/ of zalm (salmon and/ or blue) - I chose both 

Krafty Chicks: #830 Masculine week

Stencil Fun: AG/ make a pattern (optional) - I am playing with "Pattern" 

Simon Says Monday: Add some text  (2nd)

Simon Says Wednesday: Make your own background (2nd) 

Garden faerie

Today I was inspired by three topics (spread across five challenges). Out came the supplies: a recently purchased stamp set, a torn edge background die and a stencil. And the colors of course: Oxide in salvaged patina for the background (it is such a cheerful blue-green hue) and various browns and blues for the image.

 

I stenciled the background, stamped and colored the image and cut the background. The text reads: "Fairy dust".

 

Entering this in these lovely challenges that inspired me today.

Colorful options: June 2026 Color palette

 

Simon Says Wednesday Challenge: Things with wings

TIOT: In the garden - there lives a faerie

Stencil Fun: anything with a stencil, butterfly optional - going with AG, 2nd entry

Make My Monday: #280 Use a stencil 

Dancing around

 I have neglected my stencils for some time. Luckily I found a couple of challenges that promised to change that. I chose to work with stencils, butterflies and a floral. 

I made the background with two stencils (sitting on the left). I then added a few butterflies to it through the larger stencil. After it had dried I found it too stark and added a vellum overlay. I then stamped a large zinnia (by Stampendous) and colored it in with watercolors. I also die cut some butterflies and colored those in as well., and positioned them to dance around the flower.

 

I am entering this into these challenges that inspired me today:

Stencil Fun: AG stencil / optional butterflies - I went with this option 

TiOT: Flying high 

Papercraft Challenges: #130 Botanical beauty 

Paper Rock Scissors: #17 June challenge AG 

Just because...

 Today several challenges aligned beautifully and I was able to use them as my inspiration for a 'Just because' card for a friend.

I started with black gesso and applied it through a reversed stencil. Reversed, because it had words which I didn't want to be readable. Next I sprayed the whole background with two colors. They had a fine mist, so the background became rather evenly colored, not wildly splattered.

I then stamped some flowers and colored them in with my Ecoline markers. (So good! The have great coverage without the penetrant smell of alcohol markers, and they are blendable.) I really liked the grid idea of a challenge and wanted to use it.

 

So then, several hours later... I hope my friend likes this happy mail she's about to receive.

 

Entering this in the challenged that made this possible:

Stencil Fun: May AG/ See-thru optional. I enter with AG

Double D: Splatter challenge 

TGIF: #578 Inspiration challenge - I used the grid 

Beautiful Blossoms: #41 / AG, Moodboard optional. I didn't use the moodboard. 

613 Avenue Create: May AG, 'May flowers' optional. I went with that option. 

Dinosaur greetings

 I needed a card for a boy and immediately thought of my dinosaur stamp. I followed a couple of challenges for inspiration, I think it is more fun that way.

 

I started by stamping the dinosaur directly onto the card base. Then I masked it and added background through two stencils. I recently got a selection of candy heart dies - "you rock" seemed to hit the vibe nicely.

Entering this into the challenges that inspired me:

Cupcake Challenge: #588 Dinosaurs  

Stamping Sensations: Animals, birds and creatures.

The Male Room: #183 Valentine / Use a heart

Stencil Fun: Love /Hearts

The Paper Players: PP678 Sketch

This little piggy...

 I am playing catch-up with my new stamps and stencils (and there might be some dies, too... - I have been very generous with myself).  

Today I used a new stencil for the background. I was able to make a gingham pattern with it by moving it around a bit. The piggy is also a new stamp, I bought it solely for the reason that the way the arms are positioned I am able to place items into its hands - today it is the flower.

 

Entering this birthday card in these fun challenges:

We Love Stamping: Something new

Stamps & Fun=Creativity: #446 AG

Beautiful Blossoms Challenge: #13 Anything floral or Moodboard option: I am using the AG option 

Stencil Fun: AG / option birds - I went with AG option

Lost Coast Portal of Creativity: #181 AG (with stamping)

some Christmas magic

Today's card features bling and sweetness. I attempted a Sugarplum Fairy dancing amidst the snow. I love my whimsical cat stamp, I find it so useful for many occasions. (She featured as a dapper sailor last summer.)

It started with a stencil that looks like snowfall and some heavy texture paste. While the "snow" was drying I stamped and colored the image, die cut the silver dots and fir boughs.

Then it was just a matter of assembling the card. I attached the ballerina on foam dots and slid a length of silver thread beneath. The text reads: A magical Christmas.

I am entering it in the challenges that inspired me today:

Cardz 4 Galz: #2124A A Christmas Card

Stencil Fun: December AG/ optional Christmas - I went with that option 

Freshly Made Sketches: #616 sketch

Simon Says Wednesday Challenge: Christmas Critters 

Double D Challenge: Christmas animals

 

Thank you for your visit! 

Birthday wishes

 I do love leaves, all of them, from budding ones in early spring to skeleton leaves in late fall. Today I was happy to combine inspiration from several challenges that seemed to play well together.

I started with making my background using a leaf stencil and several subdued fall colors. I cut it to tag shape, but decided against making a hole on top, as it would have interfered with my intention of putting twine elsewhere. I then die cut a skeleton leaf from a more colorful gelli printed paper. The linen twine and a stamped sentiment round up this card.

Entering this in these lovely challenges:

Seize the Birthday: #274 Fall items

The Card Concept: #201 Fall leaves. I was inspired by the leaves

Simon Says Monday Challenge: Tag It

Stencil Fun: AG/ or Leaves - I chose leaves

Freshly Made Sketches: #613

Pearlescent stenciling

 Today's card takes inspiration from a few challenges: the bees, the layout, stenciling and colors combine nicely as prompts. It's summer after all.

I started with a stencil and a couple of colors. I used a shiny tissue paper (from a recent shoe purchase) on a Gelli plate and did a couple of layers with matte and shiny paints. Here you can see the shiny portion (Amsterdam Pearl White).

The suggested colors were so delicate that I didn't want to introduce a high contrast by using black ink. Everything is stamped with VersaFine Clair Morning Mist. The sentiment has been embossed with clear embossing powder for added shine.

I followed the suggested layout and added bees around the flower. The flower was first colored in very lightly with watercolor pencils, then overlaid generously with Glossy Accents. The same with the wings of the bees. The dots are punched from a glitter cardstock that matched the colors.

The text reads "Enjoy your life, be happy".

Entering this in the challenges that inspired me today:

Paperminutes: #806 Bienen / Bees

Tuesday Morning Sketches: #718

Stencil Fun: August AG / Butterflies optional  - I am entering the AG option

Just Add Ink: #664 Color Challenge

Simon Says Wednesday Challenge: Summer 

 

 Thank you for your visit and comments! 

Summer blues

 It is always rather a challenge to create a card entirely without stamping. I managed it using a stencil, distress inks and oxides, color pencils, a sewing machine and die cuts.

I flicked some ink onto the card before adhering the diecut. The sentiment is handwritten.

I am entering it in the challenges that inspired me today:

Stencilfun: Birthdays (2nd entry)

Seize the Birthday: #265 Circle or circles

Allsorts: #738 Summer blues 

Shopping Our Stash: #501 No stamping allowed

Bokeh Congrats

 To make a bokeh background, I started with watercolors. Three or four shades, lighter and darker areas are ideal. When it is dry it's time to apply the circles. I use white chalk paint, a finger dauber and stencils.

I then stamped the focal point, which is the beautiful mum, embossed the outlines, colored it and cut out. I used orange and blue for the card, as inspired by yet another challenge.

I am entering this card in:

Kreativ-Tanten Challenge: #79 Bokeh Technik

We Love Stamping: Fabulous Florals

Stencil Fun Challenge: AG or Birthdays - mine is a birthday card 

Paperminutes: #802 Farbkombi blau-orange

and the living is easy...

 I needed these couple of challenges to snatch me out of my comfort zone. Firstly, I seldom do brights, and secondly, I don't like beach life.

But - that was exactly what was called for. I pulled out my old stamp of a rather bored looking mouse type character. I have had it for ages but actually not used it on greeting cards yet. (On ATC's, yes.) Her neck was too long for my taste so I shortened it drastically. Also drew a new arm so she could hold an ice cream cone.

 

The background was ink blended first (squeezed lemon, twisted citron, salvaged patina) and then sprayed with mica through a stencil. Even though the stencil shows foliage, the result on the card reads water.

I then selected bright summery shades of yellow, orange and hot pink for everything else. (The text reads: Happy times.)

Entering in to the challenges that served as my muse:

Simon Says Wednesday challenge: Lots of layers (I have three)

StencilFun Challenge: use stencil, Optional: layered stencil. - I used only one.

Double Trouble: #140 On a warm summer's day - I am entering with all 3 TWISTS

Color My Heart ColorDare Challenge: #552 - entering in the DT partner challenge as well

Make my Monday: 202 Summer theme

Avenue 613: AG or "Good Old Summertime" - I went with that

Thank you for your visit!