Ornaments with Outline Stamps

Hi everyone, I hope you are having a great day. 

Our granddaughters were here for the weekend and we had a great time Christmas shopping, watching movies and making Christmas cards & ornaments.   I did the stamping & embossing for the girls, but they had fun picking out their colours and then cutting and decorating !   They were SO excited to show my step-daughter & son-in-law their creations !

I also managed to create an ornament for the Outlines Challenge this week.   All the information is here at: Outlines 'Hang it up' Challenge.   No cards -  only ornaments qualify !  

The Outlines Website has great instructions to create various ornament toppers.    Refer to the link above for all the info and to see the beautiful ornaments by the Outlines Stamp Design Team.

I used Outlines Jewel Topper I-1067 stamp to create my ornament.   I stamped & embossed in gold twice on blue and three times on platinum metallic card stock.   I used Mica Colour - Interference blue paint to add shimmer to the blue card stock (hard to see in the photo).     

It was fun putting the ornament together by cutting out the pieces and layering as the photo shows.   I added some large rhinestones and then used a Viva Decor Pearl Pen - Cream to add most of the 'jewels'.  I also used Pool Smooch Ink at the top of the ornament. 

Thanks for stopping by and have a great day !
Shirley

Flowers & Lace

Good morning !     I worked on some cards for Designs by Ryn this week and thought I would post one today that is a diversion from Christmas cards !    This card was created using an inking technique (smooshing) that I learned in a Cathie Allen class last month.   

The stamp I used is Flower Lace which is beautiful with the delicate lace around the flower.   This stamp is great for backgrounds, but I also used it for the main image.

I used a heavy white card stock and stamped out the flower (by smooshing) with first ice blue, then wisteria and finally blue iris chalk inks.   The final images were stamped using Midnight Blue pigment ink and then embossed with clear.  I stamped an extra flower with the midnight blue ink, embossed with clear,  cut it out and popped it up.    I added a few rhinestones, pearl spray and the Best Wishes sentiment (I used distress ink to colour) for the final touches !

Colourbox Inks:  Petal Point chalk set - Blossom Pastels and Midnight Blue Pigment.
Distress Ink:  Milled Lavender 
Spellbinder Nestabilities : Labels Twenty-Three S4-348
Stamp:  Flower Lace 2 CM-T5 by Designs by Ryn

Have a great weekend and thanks for stopping by !
Shirley

White Harlequin Christmas Again !

Hi everyone !  I hope you are enjoying a great day !   While it's getting colder here, it's nice & sunny !   Love it !

Sorry but this card is a repeat as it was on yesterday's post along with my first entry into Chocolate Baroque's White Christmas Challenge .    The more cards that are entered into this challenge the bigger the prize becomes !    I had 2 cards on yesterday's post and Glenda, owner of CB, suggested that I enter this 2nd card into the challenge as there is no limit ! Yay !    So this is my 2nd entry but it required a separate post to work with the link.  

Again this card was created using one of the stamps from the beautiful Harlequin Christmas Set - SP0282 from Chocolate Baroque.    I used Gold Embossing and gold metallic & white cardstock for a simple & elegant card.   I hope you agree !     I've also used this stamp with different colours of ink & embossing,  it's versatile.

By the way, Chocolate Baroque is located in England, but they have great service shipping to Canada !   I recently ordered another sheet of stamps from them with no problem getting here !     You'll probably see some CB Peacocks appearing on my blog !

Have a great day & thanks for stopping by !
Shirley

A White Harlequin Christmas

Hello !   It's looking a little like Winter here this morning !  We had freezing rain last night..... lots of ice everywhere !   A good day to stay home and work on cards ! :)    

Today's post is my entry into Chocolate Baroque's Challenge !   You can find the details
here at Chocolate Baroque's White Christmas Challenge.      The more people that enter the challenge the bigger the prize becomes !  

The challenge is open to interpretation but to me White Christmas means snow !    The beautiful Christmas set that I have from CB is Harlequin Christmas and it doesn't feature anything with snow.  However I decided that I would use as much white as possible in my card.   I love gold with white, so it's became a white & gold card !

If you saw my post of November 18th, I used Chocolate Baroque Harlequin Christmas  - UA4SP0282 as well but with more vibrant colours !      I used four of the seven stamps from the set to create this card.

I used white embossing on the background & then blended a little Tattered Rose Distress Ink to highlight the design of the background.  The rest I embossed with gold and added no colour.  Adding no colour is the challenge but I think white & gold make an elegant card and I hope you agree !    I layered everything onto gold metallic and then white card stock.   White ribbon, a little holograph glitter, white pearls and a pearl spray were the finishing touches !

While creating this card I also embossed in gold one other stamp from the set.  I've had fun using this with various inks & embossing but it looks simple & elegant with just gold & white !   I thought I would add this as well to show another stamp from this beautiful set  !

Update on November 24th.   Glenda the owner of Chocolate Baroque suggested  I enter this one into the challenge too as there isn't a limit to the number of entries !  Yay !  So I've created a new post featuring this card. 

Thanks for stopping by & have a great day !
Shirley

An Artful Christmas Tree

Hi everyone !

When I first started making cards I didn't understand what the attraction to rubber stamps was.     It seemed that it was too easy to take a stamp, stick it into black ink and stamp it on paper.  I thought that was it !   Obviously I was very wrong and once again while in Amsterdam, my Aunt & Cousins showed me that it's much much more  !    I quickly got hooked on stamps, inks, embossing powders and what you can do with them !   

I used this great stamp from the Artful Stamper.   (CM1133R Christmas Tree)

To create this layered tree !

I stamped the tree twice on a medium green card stock and embossed with gold.   I used Mica colour Interference paints to add shimmer.    I cut the tree in 4 places and then popped the 5 layers onto the first tree with clear adhesive caulk (from a hardware store).   The pattern paper is from Memory Keepers - Peppermint.   I used liquid pearls & stickles for the ornaments on the tree.    A sentiment, ribbon, a pearl cluster and Starform border stickers are the final touches.

Thanks for stopping by and have a great day !
Shirley

Harlequin Christmas !

Good Evening !

I'm posting a Christmas card that I created with a beautiful set of stamps called "Harlequin Christmas" from Chocolate Baroque in England.   What a yummy company name and what gorgeous stamps they have.     My sister who lives in Amsterdam, generously gave this set to me as a gift while on a visit here recently. 

I've been following Miranda, a talented lady who is on the design team for Chocolate Baroque and Posthumas stamp store in Amsterdam.    I love the Posthumas store as they have a huge selection of art stamps along with gorgeous card samples.  You can find Miranda on my Blog list under  'Mir'acle art Inspirations.  She recently posted cards that were designed using this set which inspired me to create with them.

I used 3 stamps from the set of 7 to create this card.  

I embossed the background with Ruby Pearl powder and then blended on some Bundled Sage Distress Ink.    The top panel and ornament were embossed with a deep purple (Eggplant) powder.     I added some distress inks again.   I highlighted the triangles on the top panel with Mica colour Interference paints to create a sheen to make them stand out.    I also added some of these paints to the ornament along with some glitter.   I cut out the ornament and popped it up, added a bow, layered with co-ordinating card stock.    I'm anxious to experiment with other ink & embossing powders with this beautiful set.

Thanks for stopping by and happy crafting !
Shirley

Stamps Only and it's all Purple & Silver !

Good morning !   I hope everyone is doing well and finding time to "work" on Christmas Cards !

I'm entering this Purple & Silver card into Impression Obsession's challenge for this week.   The challenge is to use stamps only, no pattern paper.   You can find the details here at Impression Obsession's Blog.

The colours in this photo are a bit different than the actual card.  I used dark plum & mauve metallic card stock.  The plum appears almost black and the metallic mauve card stock tends to look more silver than it actually is.   Sometimes I find it difficult to capture the exact colours.  Possibly a light box will help? 

The stamps I used are all from Impression Obsession:   Cover a Card - CC053 Holly,   Poinsettia Tree - F2412 and the Sentiment is Joyous Season - C8280.  

The Cover a Card stamps by Impression Obsession are a lot of fun to use to create patterned paper.    I stamped the Holly CAC onto dark plum card stock and embossed with silver.  
 
The tree & sentiment were also embossed with silver.    I stamped the tree twice on white glossy card stock.   Both trees were coloured first with Milled Lavender Distress Ink and then I used Tom bow markers to enhance the flowers and candy canes on the tree.   I cut out the larger poinsettia's on the 2nd tree and attached with pop dots for dimension.   I distressed the sentiment with the Milled Lavender Distress Ink using the spellbinder die as a mask. 

I also popped up the tree and the metallic mauve card stock that was cut with a rectangle die and embossed with a CB folder.    I layered the tree onto Mauve Metallic and Dark Plum card stock.   White Opal Liquid Pearls, a big bow & the sentiment were added for the final touch !

Spellbinder Nestabilities:   S4143 & S5019.  CB Folder:  Divine Swirl

Thanks for stopping by
Have a great day !
Shirley

The Leaves have Fallen !

Good morning !  I'm looking out my craft room window at our back gardens and can see that all the leaves have fallen !   We always enjoy getting fresh air & exercise raking them.   They also inspired the theme for this card.!

I had a lot of fun with these stamps from Designs by Ryn - Leaves set - CM-F5.   I love the movement in the leaves.

Once again I used Smooch Inks (Pool & Pumpkin) to create the background.  I used the smallest leaf in the set to stamp onto the Smooch Inks with Brilliance Galaxy Gold.    

I stamped out all 3 leaf sizes onto white glossy card stock, embossed with gold and then coloured them with Pumpkin & Ocean Soul Smooch Inks.   A colour-box stylus with the black moldable tip works well to  blend these pearlized inks which add a beautiful sheen..      I cut the leaves out and attached them in a pattern that just might be on our lawn !

I layered the background onto co-ordinating card stock and added the sentiment from Kaisercraft - Life Sentiments.   The finishing touches include gold border stickers by Starform, ribbon and a cool little leaf charm that matched in design.

Thanks for stopping by.
Have a great day !
Shirley

It's "Snow" Much Fun with Impression Obsession !

Hello !

I'm entering this cute Snowman into this week's IO's challenge.   You can find all the information and DT creations here at  Impression Obsession's Blog.    It's getting close to the cut-off for this challenge.   I  didn't have any IO "Snow People" or any other IO snow things except their large snowflake Cover a Card.

However, while I was at Crop Circles yesterday,  I found this cute snowman by IO hanging out in the store !  Of coarse he came home with me.   He looked familiar and now I know why !  One of the Design Team members has already featured him along with another person entering this challenge !     So this guy is making another appearance !

To create the background I used Impression Obsessions Cover a Card - CC035 Snowflakes.   This is one of their 'negative' backgrounds where the image is actually not inked !    They are so cool !    I stamped using my Mega Block & Versamark and then embossed with white.   I blended a little Aged Mahogany & Tumbled Glass Distress Inks over the embossing.  So the image picked up the red & blue ink.

I stamped the Snowman - Impression Obsession G7640 and embossed with Silver.    I stamped out the hat a 2nd time and also embossed with silver and then embossed again with Kaleidoscope to add extra thickness and sparkle.  I painted his ornament, scarf, carrot nose and a bit of trim on his hat with Tom Bow markers.   I cut out the snowman and the extra hat was popped up.     After the card was put together, I added lots of glitter.. holograph, red & mermaid stickles and then some chunky glitter around the edge of him for a glitter-snow effect !    You can see all the glitter better in the close-up below.

I'm also a little short on IO Christmas sentiments.   The one I have would have worked well, but it would have covered up more of the background and I wanted it to show !   

Thanks for stopping by !
Have a great day !
Shirley

A Butterfly named Tsuki

Good morning !    It's another beautiful sunny morning here in Ontario and I'm looking forward to more time outside.  The leaves are still falling and I'm still cleaning up the gardens.    I'm thinking about butterflies with our sunny days, but sadly they have already left us for warmer climate in the south.      Fortunately I have butterflies hanging out in my craft room :)

I had fun creating cards with the beautiful Tsuki Butterfly CM-B5 stamp from Designs by Ryn.   

To create the background for this card I blended the following Smooch Inks:  Plumberry, Pool, Grape Soda and then added a little Silver Fox.    I used a letter Background to stamp first with Brilliance Platinum Planet and then again with Colourbox Boysenberry Pigment Ink.

The Butterfly was stamped and embossed with silver on white card stock.  I coloured it using Tom Bow markers 452, 636 & 665 and then cut it out.  I popped it up and curved the wings down a little.

The sentiment was stamped with Colourbox Midnight Pigment Ink and then embossed with clear.     I added some hand-dyed ribbon that was in my stash and layered with co-ordinating card stock.

Stamps used:  Designs by Ryn - Tsuki CMB5, Penny Black 1999L - Letter Background, Kaisercraft Life Sentiments

I had fun with the background for this card !   I've seen this watercolour technique and often wondered how was it done ?    Fortunately I met Ryn, a talented artist who had beautiful cards on display using this technique.  She took the time during a busy show to describe what to do !     Tom Bow markers, water & salt are the 'secret'.     I will be 'playing' more with this technique !

The Tsuki butterfly and sentiment were both stamped over the background with Colourbox Midnight Pigment ink and then embossed with clear.     I didn't think this card needed anything else as the background is the 'art' and the butterfly image compliments it.   I just added a few rhinestones and layered with some navy & teal card stock.

One more photo today !   My step-mother Ann, who is a great photographer, often takes the time to send me beautiful photos.    I thought I would post this one as it's inspiration for butterfly cards !  Thanks Ann for sharing so many of your wonderful photographs !!! 

That's all for today !
Thanks for stopping by & have a great day,
Shirley

Christmas Peace Dove

Good morning !   I'm entering this Peace Dove card in Outlines "Friendly Fliers" challenge this week.  You can find the information and the Design Team creations at Outlines Blog .

I used Outlines G1117 Peace Dove and F1124 Posy Winter Greetings to create this card.  The Peace Dove is a beautiful stamp that I wanted to start using to create some of my Christmas cards for this year !   I stamped and embossed the image twice with gold.    I used Tom bows to colour the images and cut-out an extra wing & star which are popped up for a little dimension.   The paper is from Memory Keepers - Peppermint and Kaisercraft - Mary.   Liquid Pearls, Xmas Red & Diamond Stickles, Starform border stickers & ribbon were added for the finishing touches ! 

Thanks for stopping by and have a great day !
Shirley

A Stylized Tree

Good evening !    I hear we are going to enjoy a bit of  Indian Summer tomorrow !   I'm working but hope to take some time to enjoy the warm weather and get out into the gardens !

I'm posting a card tonight that I created using stamps that were designed by Ryn, who is a very talented artist. 

The stamps used are Designs by Ryn - Stylized Tree Set CM-C12.   I love creating backgrounds with Smooch Inks and used them again!   I blended Pool, Ocean Soul & Kiwi on white card stock.   I stamped the smaller tree from the set with Platinum Brilliance Ink.   The larger tree was stamped and embossed with a metallic bronze powder.  This embossing powder by Judi Kins is a blend of copper, gold & silver.    I blended a bit of Kiwi smooch ink around the tree.     I layered with co-ordinating card stock, added a little ribbon and it's done !

Thanks for stopping by !
Have a great day,
Shirley