Dark and darker

 The season of fading light is descending. It totally affects the colors I choose. Today I chose black.

I have this piece of textured plastic (perhaps a carpet underlay?) that I use for pulling textured prints when I am too lazy to work with a gelli plate and stencils.

 As I had a scene with pumpkins in mind I stenciled it with two orange hues.

Then I cut the background to size and gathered the other supplies: a stenciled orange print from my previous session and a couple of very small gelli print remnants as well as some autumn themed stamps.

I started by attaching the background papers onto my card base. I was working with a sketch (see below), but as you can see, it's not identical. I added another black and orange paper from my stash - I found they worked better this way, not letting any one background dominate but rather support each other.

I stamped the leafy branch with green Versafine and heat embossed it with transparent embossing powder, then fussy cut it out. I stamped the pumpkins and fussy cut them as well. Lastly I grouped them together, raising the large pumpkin with foam pads to create some dimension.

 

Entering this in these inspiring challenges:

The Paper Funday Challenges: #91 AG/ Sketch optional. - I am playing with the sketch

 

Sweet Stamping: Autumn

Simon Says Monday: Use more than one stencil - I used two

Creative Artiste Mixed Media: #131 AG mixed media

Simon Says Wednesday: AG 

Hedgehog greetings

It's the day of the Card Chain reveal again. There's a challenge where you actually get to exchange the card you make. There a sketch, a small color palette and a few prompt words each time. One gets to choose. I usually go for two to three prompts, even though only one is required. This time I chose to work with the sketch and follow the color palette as best as I could. 

Here's what I pulled out: a hedgehog die and two pieces of gelli printed paper. I also used a floral stamp. It was an afterthought, that's why it's not pictured.

 

I cut both papers according to the sketch. Then I stamped the hedgehog, the sentiment and the flowers. The flowers were colored in with GT watercolor.

 

I got a beautiful card from Joanne in return.

If you are interested in such an exchange, why don't you join the fun? This month's sign-up is open till Oct. 6th (here).

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With my card I am playing along in these challenges:

Critter Crazy: #115 AG w/a critter

Elliebelle's Garden Party: #19 Anything in/ from a garden

Love to Scrap: #181 AG

Crafty Animals: #110 AG w/ a animal

 

Having fun

I am a guest designer for this fortnight over at Girlz Creative: Splash it with Color. Today's card is all about gelli plate fun. The leaves haven't turned yet where I live, but it is nice to live in anticipation. 

I selected a couple of autumn colors, a few stencils and a couple of stamp sets with leaves. And since fall - for me - is a joyous time, I added some celebratory gold thread; but also brown, to ground it.

I started by making just three sheets. I know I know, once you start it is nearly impossible to stop. I limited myself beforehand to just three. Even if they would not have been to my liking I would have made something. But luckily one was just perfect for the background and the other two were suitable for stamping.

 

To bring more shimmer and shine to the card (besides the gold thread), I heat embossed the stamped leaves with transparent embossing powder. It totally transforms the dull brown ink.

 

I propped the two leaves flanking the sentiment on foam strips and arranged the threads as a whirlwind underneath. The other leaves were just strewn below. 

 

I am entering this in these autumnal challenges:

Die Traumfabrik: #154 Quand vient l'automne [When Fall is coming]: Autumn colors and/ or mushrooms - I am playing with just the colors

Cardz 4 Guyz: #390 Fall / autumn theme colors

Creative Inspirations: Hello Autumn

Addicted to Stamps and More: #526 Make your mark

Simon Says Monday Challenge: Make your own background 

 

Enjoy

 I am a friend of recycling items in the craft room. Especially tags. I have a collection of beautiful tags in my craft drawer. Some are just too pretty which is why I haven't used them yet. But today was apparently the day...

I was intrigued by a couple of challenges and wanted to fit them together. How does circles, colorful, recycle and adding a charm sound to you? To me it sounded like just the ticket, as I always have so much leftovers. Either from projects that I made too much fodder for, or items that didn't fit a certain project and were discarded, or the cut-offs from die cuts.

 

I started by covering the tag with gelli print strips (cut for a project in 2024). I then stamped circles onto the background (stamp by Rubberdance, last used in the previous decennium) and spent an inordinate amount of time trying to fit the pink circle cut-outs onto it until I resorted to a die-cut of a round balloon (the balloony bit is hiding under the vase). The flowers in the vase is a die by Nellie's Choice. I had cut it ages ago from a neon colored post-it and darkened some areas with ink. Today it found its place.

 

Lastly came a pretty brad as my charm, and the little but important word 'enjoy' as this is going to accompany a tasty gift.

Entering this in these inspiring challenges:

Tag-along and ATC's: Circles

Die-cut Divas: Recycle, re-use & repurpose - I used a clothing tag as my base

GRC: #56 alles mag of gebruik een bedel - ik heb een bedel gebruikt

Crafters' Cafe: AG/ optional Lots and lots of colors - I am playing with the Option

The Neglected Stuff: September - all the used items have been neglected for years

Gelli prints and rhinestones

I was inspired to try combine materials that have a different vibe. To explain: gelli prints are casual, gold thread and rhinestones are pure luxury. Would the combination read like an festive evening gown with trainers? Or like ice cream with spinach?

Of course I was inspired by several challenges, again. I challenged myself to try Gelli prints, gold thread and rhinestones and see what could be made out of them.

I started by stamping flowers on select parts of gelli prints. because they were made with acrylic and thus it is doubtful whether the ink would ever dry, I treated the stampings with clear embossing powder and heat embossing. This gave them some beautiful shine. I then proceeded to fussy cut them and arranged them inspired by a sketch. I also added the rhinestones.

 

I then took a length of gold thread, doubled it up and stitched the flowers: one cross stitch for the smaller ones and lots more for the large flower. 

 

Entering this in these inspiring challenges:

Festive Friday: FF0218. - I picked 'Jewel tones - gold thread - rhinestones - stitching'

 

Just Add Ink: 794 Sketch

 

 Just Us Girls: #840 Word week: BOld

Seize the Birthday: #334 Add a sentiment strip

 

I did not forget your birthday

 Today's card features a piece of gelli print, some ink smooshing and ink flicking, watercolors and a fineliner, a die, a stamp, a remnant - and paper and scissors, of course.

It all started with two prompts: a photo collage of vases with lovely hues of blue (see below), and the prompt to use only one color next to black and white. My decision was instant: I would use that beautiful blue as my one color. I gathered my supplies:

 

I started by stamping a part of the gigantic forget-me-not. I then prepared an ink smooshing bath (Blueprint Sketch DO) and repeatedly took the middle part of the image to it, letting it dry in between. As the color was still not dark enough, I helped it out with GT watercolor (Ultramarin).

I then cut the vase out of a gelli print and used the rest to make a 'table top' for the vase to sit on. I fussy cut the flower and attached everything in place. I then flicked the background with black ink and drew a partial frame with a fineliner.

Entering this in these lovely challenges that inspired me today:

Double D: Vases and/or pitchers

 

Lost Coast Portal to Creativity: #213 Black and white plus another color

 

Simon Says Wednesday Challenge: Stamp It 

Stamps+Fun=Creativity: #500 Jubiläum

Creative Artiste Mixed Media: #130 AG mixed media

Paer Rock Scissors: #20 

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 

Come sail away with me

 Today's card was inspired by several challenges: colors, sketch and two word prompts.

To begin with I pulled out all my seaside / sailing / coastal stamps. They aren't many as I live in the inland and sailing - or seaside - is not what you know. I also pulled out some sheets of my gelli prints. I also thought I could do something with twine.

 

I started by selecting my stamps: three fish from one set, a sailing boat, and the weather rose from another set. One set had a stamp of expertly tied rope and that gave me an idea for the twine. It was too thick and short however, so I changed it to linen (which also goes well with the intended color scheme).

The included sentiment seemed apt. I selected a fitting gelli print for the sea and another, lighter one for the sky.

I am entering this in these lovely challenges:

TSOT: Challenge #701

 

The Paper Players: #PP798 color challenge

 

Dragonfly Dreams: Beach or Seaside

Cardz 4 Galz: #282 Blue skies

Summer, sun and sailing -

- doesn't that sound like an ideal way to celebrate a birthday? There were several challenges that inspired me today. I pulled out my supplies, a stamp set and markers and some ready supplies from my stash that needed to be used up.

I stamped the rabbit guy and the sail boat and colored them in. I glued the circle behind the rabbit guy and placed the sail boat and the sentiment on foam pads. The background is made of gelli print scraps.

 

I am entering this in these inspirational challenges:

Crafty Chicks: #831 Moodboard - I was inspired by the sea and sailing images

 

Cardz 4 Guyz: #388 Summer theme 

Do-Al(l) Kreatives: #116 Wetter, Sonne, Regen, Wind, Schnee (Weather) - Wind und Sonne sind meine Wörter

Girlz Make Guyz Cards: #41 alles mag mannen (AG men)

Mix It Up: #84 AG / shape card optional - I am playing with AG 

No rain, just shine

 Today I found a couple of challenges that support each other well. Take dies and a stamp and some suitable gelli print scraps...

 

... and the card was ready in no time.

 

Thank you for these awesome challenges that make card making so enjoyable!

Entering this in:

In(k)spire me: #592 

The Paper Players: #PP791 (clean & simple) Weather

 

Simply Clean and Simple: AG/ Nautical otional. This is my 2nd entry and I am going with AG.

Cut it Up: #358 One for the boys/ men

 

Daisy greetings

 The cards I make are usually rectangles, but today I wanted to make a square. 

I was inspired to select colors from my gelli printed papers to match the hues in two inspiration photos. I found several possibilities, but in the end I only picked three of them for my card, one bright, one pastel and one somewhere in the middle. I think the image has more impact this way when the flower does not have to compete with its background.

The Dainty Daisy die (Crafters Companion) is one I have not found a way to use yet. Perhaps it needed a square background? I die cut it twice out of white card stock, then cut the petals of the second one apart and used only the half. I glued them over the bottom part to make the daisy look fuller and more dimensional.

 

I am entering this in these challenges that play well together and I used as my starting point:

AAA Colourful: #29 Colourboard  

 

Just Us Girls: #828 Moodboard week 

 

Fab 'n Funky: #639 Summer Flowers 

Crafters' Cafe: AG, optional blooms - I went with this option 

Creative Moments: #283 Pastels or brights - I say: both! They support each other.

Thank you for your visit! 

 

Two adventurous fish

 After 'three of something' there is now a challenge with 'two of something' - how fun. I paired it with a sketch and got ideas for it via two other challenges.

 

But first,  I pulled out the fun stuff I thought I would need: two embossing folders, dies, stamps and gelli printed and ink smushed paper in suitable colors. I sketched the outlines of the wavy pieces, then tore them. The sun was die cut. The fish were first stamped with pale blue an a pink gelli print, then stamped again with grey and when that didn't look good enough and it was still wet, I sprinkled some clear embossing powder on them and heat embossed.

 

The bottom blue layer was dry embossed with a seaweed kind of pattern - not that you can really tell. (It is Weeping Willow by Creative Expressions.) The 'sky' part was embossed with a ray pattern.

 

Entering this in these lovely challenges that inspired me today:

Freshly Made Sketches: #740  

Cardz 4 Gyuz: #386 Squash it 

The Sisterhood of Crafters: Fish / Sea creatures 

The Alphabet Challenge: D is for Double 

And because this was the first time using the seaweed dies, I am showing this in the

NBUS: # 87 June

Where the wind takes you

Monochromatic is always a challenge I like. I am so glad these challenges exist and every once in a while there is a call for monochrome.

Today I wanted to go pink. There are so many pretty shades from pale to dark. I was also drawn to a sketch and thought it would be fun to use my irregular circle dies for that so the result would be a bit more interesting. I used the medium and small for this.

The ethereal dragonflies and butterflies were stamped and then colored in with pink markers. I placed the gelli print behind the circles and raised the surface a bit to create some depth.

I found a great sentiment in my stash "Go where the wind takes you". A few spritzers round up the picture.

 

Entering this in the challenges that I implemented:

Aud Sentiments: Monochrome

I Spy with my Little Eye: #37 Monochrome

Freshly Made Sketches: #739 

A Cut Above: Anything die-cut 

Die Cut Divas: Anything die-cut