HOLLY WREATH

I am so pleased to be the guest designer for 52 Christmas Card Challenge Throwdown today.  Their challenge theme is the kissing technique - I remember this from way long ago, but can't be sure if I ever tried it.  Jennifer McGuire has an excellent "how-to" video though, so be sure to check it out for easy instructions.

I only had one suitable background stamp which was tiny polka dots so went with that and an open holly stamp - retired PTI stamp Spruce and Springs.  Then decided to use some non-traditional colors to make my wreath.  

 

I used two circle dies to make an open circle base for the leaves and arranged two layers.  Thought dark pinkish berries went nicely with the leaf colors.  Put it all together on the checked pp and little sentiment and done!

I hope to see your kissing cards in the gallery this week.  Thanks for stopping by.

 

ANOTHER GNOME

I think I'm kind of falling in love with these cute gnomes that Cat sent me!

 

Colored the gnome with copics.  The background is from a SSS stamp set from last year.  The tree and the sentiment are both heat embossed with clear.  Had some snowflakes left over from another card so popped a few of those on too.  Card is a mini slimline - 3.25"x6.25".

Am entering my card at The Paper Players where the theme is gnomes or fairies.

Thanks for stopping by today - and hope all my readers have a wonderful Thanksgiving tomorrow - I am so thankful for you.

 

SILVER AND GOLD

My card today is for the Color Hues Challenge where the theme colors are silver and gold.  I created a very CAS shaker card for them.

I made my ornament shaker with some silver with gold dots pp and filled it with silver and gold stars and other little bits and bobs (there really aren't any blue bits in the shaker - it's just the lighting and I couldn't get it out).  Embossed a snowflake background for some added texture.  Added the sentiment embossed in gold, a gold thread hanger and bow and done.

Thanks for visiting me today.

 

 

GNOME(S) FOR THE HOLIDAYS

The Paper Players' theme this week is gnomes and fairies.  Normally I don't ever do gnomes (or penguins, mermaids, wide-eyed children) but the gal who cuts my hair loves gnomes.  So I had to make her a gnome card for Christmas and my friend, Cat, had kindly sent me a few gnome die cuts.  Perfect timing for this challenge.

Cat sent me the gnome die cuts all in white.  I free hand cut the hat and body from some plaid for the top card and colored those parts with red marker on the bottom card.  The snowy background is embossed on the top card.  Added some holly leaves, snowflakes and the little sentiment and done. 

 Thanks for visiting today.

 

TICTACTOE #140

Add another Christmas card to your stash with Vicky's inspiration board this week on TicTacToe Challenge #140!  

I went down the left side with plaid, layers and die cut.

I made a mini slimline - 3.25"x6.25" card base and the plaid part is 3"x6".  I layered up the wreath die multiple times with various colors of green cardstock, added the sentiment and some pink berries and done!

Be sure to link up your entry in our gallery by 25 November for a chance to one of our guest designers.

Thanks for stopping by.

JOY

Our last challenge for 2021 is to use some "glitz" on your card - of course a Christmas card is a perfect choice for some glitz!!  I used a technique from Yana - ink blending over embossing.

I began by stamping the holly leaves with Versamark around the edge on a piece of kiwi cs  and embossing in gold.  Then I used rustic wilderness, peeled paint and black soot DO inks around the edges - when finished I used a microfiber cloth to remove the ink from the embossed gold.  Die cut the sentiment in gold and three more layers of black, glued together and centered on card.  The little green berries are also Hero Arts from ages ago (ya think I'm a hoarder??).

 

Our generous sponsor, Hero Arts, is giving away two gift cards to our winners this month - so be sure to enter by 26 November at hashtag #abnhnovemberchallenge and tag @ablognamedhero.

Thanks for visiting today.

  

RUSTIC WREATH

A last minute entry for the Inspired By... Challenge.  Their photo inspiration was two wreaths and also a sketch.  I chose the rustic wreath and sketch that were perfect for another Thanksgiving card to send to a friend.

 

I made my own wood grain background by swiping walnut stain DO ink onto a piece of kraft cs and then adhered to a kraft card base.  Die cut lots and lots of branches in various colors and arranged on an open circle base. Added the sentiment, the twine bow and done.

The challenge at Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge is "thanks" and I am entering my card there also.

Thanks for visiting today.

THANKSGIVING CARDS

Claire has a theme challenge today on The Paper Players Challenge (give thanks) - I chose the top row middle from the photo for creating my card - the falling leaves with the trees in the background.

My card is a mini slimline - 3.25"x6.25".  I embossed the trees on a piece of kraft cs.  Die cut leaves from patterned paper and arranged - then spattered all with gold metallic paint.  Added the sentiment and done.

 

My second card also has the falling leaves and a thanks message.  I used a Hero Arts leaves stencil with white pigment ink to create the background.  Die cut the leaf from some pp and adhered to a piece of vellum.  Spattered it all over with white gouache, added the sentiment and done.

 

My last card is for The Card Concept #163 which has a beautiful photo for inspiration.  The minute I saw the challenge I knew I had to use Alex Syberia's digi, Autumn Bouquet.  Colored the digi with copics, added it to a black card base along with the sentiment and done.

Thanks for dropping by today.

 

BEAUTIFUL DAY

Recently I was chosen the winner at Day of the Month Card Challenge and today I'm their guest designer for their theme "Beautiful Day".  This is a holiday on 20 November and celebrates all things beautiful.   I don't think I could ever replicate the beauty of fall leaves, but I am having a go at it with my card today.

 

Recently, Kristina Werner had a video (she has many using metallics on watercolor) that inspired me and hope my card will inspire you also.  I didn't have the stamps or the watercolors that she used - instead made do with what I have.  I began by watercoloring a piece of black wc paper with various metallics - gold, pink, purple, blue mostly.  Then I die cut the leaves (carefully keeping the interior pieces of the large leaves in place).  Arranged these on a 4"x5.25" piece of black cs that was die cut with a wonky stitch die.  Stamped and embossed the sentiment and then added to a black card base.  Finally I spattered gold over the whole card.  All of the dies I used are retired but any leaves would work.

There is so much beauty in this world - nature, friends, people - I'm sure you'll find an idea for your card to enter into this challenge.

 

THANKS

Created a Thanksgiving card for Felicita's board at this week's TicTacToe Challenge #138.  I went down the center with thankful, free and any color.

 

Actually used quite a few colors for my leafy background.  Inked fossilized amber, seedless preserves and cracklin' campfire DO on kraft cs with the fall leaves stencil - inked it on one side and then flipped it over and inked again to have the leaves overlap.  Matted this in black and then onto a kraft card base.  Added the thanks sentiment which was layered up with black cs.

Be sure to link up your entry in our gallery by 11 November for a chance to one of our guest designers.

Thanks for visiting today.

MINI SLIMLINE VILLAGE

Today I have a mini slimline card for two challenges - 52  Christmas Card Throwdown (pop-up) and Die-Cut Divas (slimline).

 

I created some larger slimline cards several months ago and decided to scale down to a mini.  The whole idea is from Jennifer but I figured out my own measurements.  I used white pigment ink on the house roofs and trees, cut my own snowbanks and added the sentiment and when it was all assembled I sprayed with shimmer spray.

 

Thanks for dropping by today.

 

POINSETTIA GLITZ

A Blog Named Hero has a great theme for this month's challenge - GLITZ!!  For me a little glitz goes a long way, but you may use as much or as little as suits your fancy for your card!  I went with another Christmas card for my stash.

The base for my poinsettia is some alcohol inked acetate which I die cut with the layering poinsettia die.  Used some green alcohol inked yupo for the leaves.  I dry embossed the background with the Bold Graphic Confetti die.  Mounted all on an A2 card base, added the little sentiment, a few gold sequins and done!  As always, photographing anything shiny and bright is quite difficult and this was no exception - but that poinsettia really glistens!

 

Our generous sponsor, Hero Arts, is giving away two gift cards to our winners this month - so be sure to enter by 26 November at hashtag #abnhnovemberchallenge and tag @ablognamedhero.

Thanks for stopping by.