Merry Christmas

The Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge, is: anything goes, showcasing Stampendous products.

Only when I grabbed the supplies to write this blog I realized these weren't the Stampendous house mouse mice, but a Penny Black set called just a note..sorry, luckily it's not a requirement ;-)

I stamped them in Simon Says Stamp intense black in onto hot pressed Schut watercolor paper.
Colored them with my watercoloring markers and used some Nuvo Shimmer pen in clear gloss on the ink pot.
The sentiment is from Simon Says Stamp (presents and ornaments) and I stamped it in blue to match the ink pot (Memento

Danube blue)
Mounted the panel with foamtape and used a matching blue washi tape on the bottom behind the panel.

For more information or to play along with the Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge, see this

Snowscape

It's lucky dip week at the Less is More blog and the pick is watercolor.
For my card I first diecut the sloping hill from a panel, it's slightly shorter than our metric card size, so  I chopped the cardbase as well. I then Stamped the sentiment with Versafine onyx black ink and set it aside to dry.

For the sky I used Talens ecoline, a fluid watercolor in all sorts of blue tones and a few layers, heat setting in between. I then splattered Ranger distress spray brushed Pewter and Dylusions spray white linen, also heat setting in between. I also wanted to splatter the white ecoline as it's more opaque, but I can't get the jar open this morning, just yet (reuma is not fun)...
Stuck the watercolor strip down with double sided (carpet) adhesive as I couldn't find the Elizabeth Crafts one and I stumbled upon this one haha...It's super tacky and well I don't really like it, but it works for these thing very well, just don't try to reposition anything ;-)

I mounted the panel with foamtape and adhered in on top.
I thought about adding some enamel dots, but I didn't like them at all, weirdly or randomly positioned around the sentiment...made no sense lol I think it's too early in the morning and I'm still cranky haha


For more information or to play along the Less is More challenge, see this

Background block printing, with video

For this card I pulled out my stamping blocks, I don't really use them anymore and they felt ignored ;-).

I pulled three sizes and decided to use the smallest and biggest. The smallest so I can make strips of color by inking one color at the time on the block, spritz it with water and "stamp" it on Schut classic watercolor paper.

The biggest I just inked the three colors in one go.

For the first card I used Distress inks Chipped sapphire, blueprint sketch and wilted violet and instead of water I used the Shimmer spritz in frost.

Heat set it and then applied another layer.

The new Distress colors seem to water down really quickly and become faint. A  mere shadow of themselves just look at the card I used the same colors on but inkblending tools instead.


For the second card I used Aged mahogany, fired brick and wild honey and water.

I cut a strip off the bottom to add interest to the background panel and kind of a horizon line. You could also use a shaped die, a wave die  would be cute with the pirate but I wanted it more minimal and less frilly if that makes sense.

Adhered the watercolored panel with foamtape to the cardbase. then Stamped the

sentiment with Versafine onxy black ink.

Adhered the images with tape runner.

For the African sunset card I cut the background into three strips, just to chance things a little.

The images are all from My Favorite Things #mftstamps and I colored them with Spectrum Noir and Spectrum Illustrator markers.

Mission control, we have a birthday

This fortnight the challenge over at the Male room challenges is: anything goes with the option of technology.

I was asked to be the guest designer for this challenge and I'm so honored and happy :-D.

The Male room is all about cards for men, but also boys.
So for my card I chose an Astronaut in space. It takes a lot of technology to get them up there.

I started my card by watercoloring my space on Schut classic watercolor paper 300grams/140lbs. It's pretty rough in texture, so not good for stamping, I use them for these things.

For the space I used Talens Ecoline, a fluid watercolor. For the splatters I sued water, then Distress spray stains brushed pewter and picket fence, then Ecoline white.
I have a video on how I did a background similar on my Youtube channel.

I then diecut a window from a cardpanel and stamped the sentiment from the My Favorite Things set (space explorer) with Versafine Onyx black ink.

The little astronaut is from the same set and I stamped him with Simon Says Stamp hybrid black ink and colored him with Spectrum Noir markers. I chose primary colors as I thought they're more boyish.

I chose my favorite bit of my "space" panel and stuck in on the cardbase with red sticky tape, as that's nice and strong. Then I mounted the panel with the window with foamtape and adhered it to the cardbase too. I cut out the astronaut and mounted his head with foamtape and the rest with tape runner and stuck him on the front.

The I used the Nuvo shimmer pen in clear gloss to add glitter to the balloons...it's really stubtle but a card needs some shimmer haha.

For more information on the Male Room challenge, or to play along, see this

New Woodware suuculents and Oldie but goodie #14

My card today features the lovely succulents from Woodware stamps, and an old sentiment from Paper Salon, I got it second hand and there's no date, but judging on the sticky stuff deteriorating it's pretty old. But any sentiment will do of course, I just like this font very much and the reason I bought this set.

I first made and cut out all the succulents on Inka dinka do masking paper, I didn't show it in the video, I have done before and I like to do these things while I watch tv or a Youtube video ;-).
I then placed them as I'd like them and took a photo so I could reference it the day after, if you can remember then good for you, my memory is in serious trouble I think lol.

I use Schut hotpressed watercolor paper and Simon Says Stamp Intense black ink and the Be creative stampers friend as I had to stamp it four times, I think my inkpad is seriously used up :-(...
I then Used two bins of the Crafter's Companion aquablend pencils (primaries and naturals).

I'm also showing off my new pencil sharpener. It's a different one than advertised by Aldi, but it was also 2.99 euro, and a better one with adjustable tip size, not sure the other had it, didn't say in the ad. Of course just a few days after I got it, Lidl also advertised one, an electric one for 5.99 I believe, but battery operated, not a fan of using too many batteries.

Anyway I think it works great and I just wanted you to see a 3 euro thing works as well, it might not last as long, but the outlay is not as bad a a 100 euro or more, very important for me ;-)....

I stamped the sentiment with Versafine onyx black ink and chose a washi tape similar in color to my pots and cactii...I thought black and white was too strong.

Mounted the panel with foamtape and adhered it to the card.

Dashing through the snow...

ta tatata tata...well that's the extent of the what I know of the song hahaha.

The less is More challenge, this week is a sketch.

For my card I used the little reindeer from clearly besotted (let's prance) and it's coordinating dies. I colored them with my Spectrum Noir markers, the same as I used in the votive. I kind of liked that combo.

For the windows I used the Simon Says Stamp tri circle on a slant. Traced the openings on the cardbase and inkblended Distress inks (tumbled glass, cracked pistachio and what should be shaded lilac, but i think is a combo of Shaded lilac and seedless preserves as there was ink left in the foam, still gorgeous actually).
Splattered the inkblending with water and then Dylusions white linen for snow.
Used little bits of white glitter paper, to make the snow they're dashing through.
like with the votive I mounted the critters on a thin strip of acetate and the attached them to their respective windows.

The sentiment is from the same set and I heat embossed it with Wow! rose gold embossing powder.
I wanted to stay true to the sketch as much as possible so "through" is covered by the antlers of one reindeer, but I think everyone knows the line.

For more information or to play along with the Less is More challenge, see this

Updated October 6th: 

Everday Christmas card series #17- partial diecutting (gone wrong), with video

For #17 I wanted to do some partial diecutting with my new small plates. BUT those are thicker and they would go through the normal sandwich but left a pretty deep impression in both the plate and the paper :-(

I started the card bu making my own glitterpaste.
I used the ranger transparent gloss and Distress reinker in tumbled glass with blue glitter, mixed it in well and spread it through a Simon Says Stamp stencil (falling snow) onto the cardbase. I mixed just a tiny amount and had enough to make 4 cardbases.

then I traced a circle with the die onto a Crafter's companion neenah panel and stamped the snowman from Craft Sensations with My Favorite Things hybrid licorice ink.
Proceeded with the partial diecutting, you'll have to watch the video for the comedy act ;-)

I used Spectrum Illustrator to color the snowman.
Diecut the pine trees from Craft Emotions from black cardstock and used taperunner to add it to the window.

Mounted the panel with foamtape and adhered it to the cardbase that was now dry.

Let's prance votive

 For the Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge: shimmer and shine.
And
The Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge: pop it up showcasing Lawn Fawn.

I made a fold flat votive/shadowbox/card thing that is big enough to hold a (electric) tealight.
For it you need to strips of card 8,5inch x 4inch. Score at 1/2"and 4 1/2"on both strips on the long side. Then I like to notch the "catches".
Then I cut a window out of one of the sides. Any shape will do.
For the hills I used the Lawn Fawn forest border and My Favorite Things Snowdrift and I cut it from white glitter paper. I made it more sturdy by sticking it onto card first, then diecut.
The strips are 5 inches and I score at 1/2 inch and 4 1/2" so it will fit and it will have flaps to stick them down.

I'm kind of making my own version of the Lawn Fawn shadowboxes as I don 't have the die.
Also wouldn't be big enough to fit the tealight hehe

I used white glitter for the Monday challenge and also because it would look like sparkling snow.

The reindeer are from Clearly Besotted (let's prance) I stamped them on Crafter's Companion Neenah paper with SSS intense black ink and colored them with Spectrum noir markers. I gave them Christmas light noses (red, yellow and blue) as there can be only one Rudolph ;-). Cut them out with the coordinating dies.
Popped them up with a bit of acetate and gluedots and attached them to the scene. Popped a tealight behind it.

You can't see it, I think, but I chose this particular scrap paper as there's tons of mini reindeer on it, that I thought would look like there's more in the background.

For more information on the Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge, see this.
For more information on the Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge, see this.

Everyday Christmas card series #16: Pernilla Nilsson digistamp, with video

I found these wonderful digistamps through the Youtube channel of Uniquepaper15.
Pernilla Nilsson had a Facebook page with albums, one is free downloads and the others are for sale. You write down "buy" underneath the picture you'd like to buy and Pernilla will send you a Paypal invoice and then all the digistamps via messenger.
To download them you click on the picture to open, then rightclick to choose "open in new window or tab" and then you click the magnifying glass and rightclick again and choose : "save as".  This is a bit laboursome, I know, but this way you get the actual size. You only have to do it once ;-)...

I positioned mine on a fullsize sheet for the printer in Photoshop and added the sentiments whilst I was there. I made them

as big as I could to fit on a cardfront. In hindsight if they were smaller I could position them behind a diecut window, to make the card a bit  more interesting...But you know me, CAS girl, so I printed them, cut them to size and colored them with my Spectrum Noir markers.

I think my digi is a gnome, but I made him into a baby Santa ;-).
Added Nuvo shimmer pen (clear gloss) on the hearts and the glossy accents on the hearts as well.

Tape runner to adhere the panel to the cardbase.
Easy, no stamping as I added the sentiment already, so no mess ups with Versafine Onyx black ink lol...

See Pernilla's facebook page, here.
I think I bought 6 or 7 or 8, digis, she gave me a bunch for free and I spent 90 sek, that was 9.75 euro, so about 8.50 US dollars. Super cheap and I like to support these super artists. You pay through Paypal.

Unique paper 15, youtube channel is here.

let your dreams take flight

Take flight is the challenge, this week at Less is More.

The Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge i shimmer and shine.


For my card I used a panel of Bristol smooth cardstock, stamped the Katzelkraft hippo from Les Jungle in Simon Says Stamp intense black ink and colored it with my watercolor markers. Not sure I like these markers of this paper, but it worked.

The sentiment is from Stampendous tweet chirps and I stamped it with Versafine onyx black ink. Adhered the panel to a cardbase and added some blueish glittery enamel dots from Marianne Design to help your eye travel acrosse the card. also to repeat the blue int he wings...


I thought the sentiment was perfect with a hippo that only has one dream...to fly :-D

I used to dream that a lot when I was a kid too, but it never actually happened except for when I took a plane haha


For more information on the Less is More Challenge, see this.

For more information on the Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge, see this

Everyday Christmas Card series #15: diamond shaker with video

For today's card I used nail art diamonds, tiny tiny diamonds, I think they're plastic but fabulously shiny and sparkly.
I got them from Ali Express, where I also go the sloping hill die.

I wanted to make a narrow shaker window, so I  measure the diecut and marked it on a panel with a pencil, then used a kraft knife to cut the opening. I don't have a die that size/shape.

I then stamped the sentiment from Casual Fridays stamps (must love snowflakes)  with Versafine onyx black ink.
Then I traced the opening on the cardbase and masked of the edges for inkblending. I used Distress inks (tumbled glass and broken china) fro my wintry sky. Then

splattered water and white Talens Ecoline for more snow.

Then I placed a piece of acetate to fit the window, I used red sticky tape to adhere it.
Then i cut the diecut to size and attached it with more red tape.
Built up the shaker frame with foam tape. One layer was enough as the diamonds are so small.

I added foamtape behind the diecut to support the tree and houses as I can't attach it anywhere.
Added the shaker material and closed the shaker compartment with more acetate.

Added a bit more red tape and adhered the panel to the cardbase.

AAA cards Challenge #99: autumn colors, with video

Hello, this fortnight the AAA cards Challenge, is all about Autumn colors.

Our Sponsor this time is Uniko and you can win one in stock stamp set of your choice.

For my card I used a bunch of Distress inks: 

mustard seed

spiced marmalade

rusty hinge

vintage photo

aged mahogany

fired brick

I used the inkblock technique, meaning I smooshed a bit of each color randomly on the block, spritzed it with water and laid my watercolor paper on it, to "print".

I used Schut classics watercolor paper 300grams/140lbs and it's very textured, so the tooth of the paper actually impares the colors to transfer in the little "valleys". So I repeated the process a few times, heat setting in between each layer, Once I was happy I used Shimmer spritz sparkle instead of water to add a glorious glittery shine.

I then diecut the paper with 3 leaf images, mine are a generic brand, but any you have will do. I love the acorn one and the maple leaf, the third I'm not sure what tree it's from.

I placed the leaves on the card and  then knew where to position my sentiment. The sentiment is from an Art Impressions set ( happy fall set) and I stamped it with Versafine onyx black ink.

The I attached the leaves with Aleene's fast grab tacky glue and foamtape where needed.

For more information or to play along the AAA Cards Challenge, see this

Must love snowflakes

That's one of the sentiments in a Cas-ual Fridays Stampsets I used.
The Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge is: it's written in the stars, add a star.
The Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge is: Clean and simple showcasing CAS-ual Fridays Stamps.

The one's I used are : Must love snowflakes for the snowflakes and for the sentiment I've used Lovely snowflakes. They're a bit older, but any  you have will do, there's many across the industry. These are also the only ones I have .

For the little star I used the Simon Says Stamp birthday Balloons.

Obviously I took Shari's card and cased it pretty much :-D But I used stuff I had not the newest damask stampset, sorry.

I started with a grey-ish cardstock and cut it to size, then I stamped all the snowflakes in Memento London Fog and gray flannel and Lawn Fawn Yeti white. The blue is Memento Nautical blue.

I stamped the sentiment with Versamark ink wishlist though ;-)....

and used Wow embossing powder  Pacific wave. I REALLY love that SSS steel blue, but again I don't have it yet..it's on my

Adhered the gray panel with taperunner to a cardbase and then added some silver rhinestones for a bit of shimmer.


I hope Shari won't be offended by  my version, I really loved hers and wanted to show that and celebrate her genius color combos.

For more information on the Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge, see this.
For more information on the Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge, see this

Oldie but goodie card series #17: diy stencil, with video

For today's card, I made a stencil with "splotches" dies I found on Ali express.
I cut it from cardstock, as I ran out of thin acetate.
I used only one of the splotches, my favorite one and applied Distress inks through it (mustard seed, candied apple and mermaid lagoon) with a mini ink blending tool. Kind of pouncing it on as the stencil is very delicate.
I positioned the splotches slightly more to the right so I could nestle the sentiment in on the left.
I used Technique Tuesday's You're fabulous by Ali Edwards, the Frantic Stamper still has 2 on stock at the moment of filming.
I stamped it using the Be creative stampers friend and Versafine onyx black ink.

A few rhinestones to add a bit of sparkle, I made sure to position them in a triangular shape in matching colors and colorless ones.

Everyday Christmas series #14, oldie but goodie #16, with video

For today's card I used a digital image from 2007 circusbaby.com. I don't remember where I got it, I think I googled Christmas puppy.
I sized it for my card in Photoshop and added the sentiment whilst I was at it ;-).
Printed it on Crafter's Companion Neenah paper and colored it with Spectrum Noir and Spectrum Illustrator markers.
I used Nuvo shimmer pen, clear gloss onthe puppy's nose.
Adhered thepanel with tape runner to the cardbase.
Super quick and easy card.

Clean and simple genius?

Well wouldn't say genius, but aficionado for sure.
The My Favorite Things Superstar challenge is called clean and simple genius.

For my card I used the MFT set Party like a pirate for the boy, island sentiment and bird.
I also used the MFT ocean view porthole die and I cut it from gold mirror cardstock.
then I cut a circle out of a cardpanel and traced it on the cardbase to inkblend my sky and ocean (Distress inks mermaid lagoon and salty ocean).

I stamped the images with MFT hybrid black ink onto Crafter's Companion Neenah paper and colored them with my Spectrum Noir Markers.
Then cut them out. and I chopped of the border from the island so I could make it look like he's actually in the ocean instead of on top.

mounted the porthole with liquid glue to the cardpanel, then mounted everything with foamtape and adhered it to the cardbase. used either taperunner or foam for the pirate boy.

No shading beneath him, I think the porthole grounds him just fine ;-).

For more information on the My Favorite things Superstar challenge, see this

coloring virtuoso?

That's the category I'm entering this card.
First I thought  clean and simple, but it's not as clan as I could be ;-)
I used the My Favorite Things Beast friends for this card.
I stamped them with MFT Hybrid black ink on Crafter's Companion Neenah paper and colored them with my Spectrum Noir markers, the fussy cut them out as best as I could. I don't have the matching dies. I prefer to focus/spend my money on stampsets.
That's why I also only have some basic circle dies.
I partially cut one from a cardpanel, I made slightly smaller than the cardbase.
I also used the MFT snowbanks to cut out a few snowbanks.

For the background I inkblended Distress inks on the cardbase (chipped sapphire, blueprint sketch and wilted violet that is dissapeared completely behind a snowbank).

almost
Then splattered with water, let it dry and used a white gel pen to make a few snowflakes.
Wasn't sure at first if all this was allowed, so I used a minimal supplies from other companies.

I added some glitter to the lights with the Nuvo Shimmer pen (clear gloss).
Layered the snowbanks with foamtape and then adhered all of it to the carbase.
Tucked one Yeti behind a snowbank and the other in front.


For more information on this awesome challenge set, see thishttps://www.mftstamps.com/blog/2017-card-design-superstar-coloring-virtuoso/

You are pawsitively awesome

Stamptember is in full swing and the Simon says stamp Monday and Wednesday challenges are all about stamping. Preferably with their own brand.
Sadly I don't have any of the new things  (yet) so I used a SSS set called playful kittens.

I stamped them with SSS intense black ink on Crafter's Companion Neenah paper and colored them with my Spectrum Noir markers. I'm sorry the photo doesn't so it much justice, it's 9 p.m here..bit dark ;-)...
I Stamped the sentiment from the same set with my Stampers Friend and Versafine Onyx black ink.
Mounted the panel with tape runner to the cardbase and then applied glitter with the Nuvo Shimmer pen.

Of course I colored one of the kittens as my own, two seemed a bit dark on a card ;-)  It's hard to spot the difference, but the first one is Tjalk the lady and the other is the boy Tjeerd.

For more information on the Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge, see this
For more information on the Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge, see this

Everyday Christmas series #13, with video

For today's card I decided to make an inkblended strip on the cardbase in cool blue, frosty colors.
I chose one of my recipes, that uses cracked pistachio, but I toned down the green with Tumbled glass.
Now tumbled glass is so light, you need a lot of patience.
After inkblending I made sure the strip was really dry, by testing the embossing powder on it. You can see in the video how much kept sticking.

After I was happy with how well it dried, I placed the sentiment, but the one I chose first was too long. I didn't measure and I used this masked cardbase, I had it left over from a card I wanted to make, then changed my design ;-)...

So I got the Merry Christmas out of the Cuddly Buddly set (Toby tumble & robins).
I stamped it with Versafine onyx black ink.

I then placed the snowflakes from Joy Crafts! on the blue bar, making sure they stick out on one side at least. I started with the biggest and my favorite and then placed the others around it.
Inked them with Versamark ink and sprinkled the Papermania superfine silver embossing powder on top and heat set it.