SCS October Fan Club Brayered Christmas card

Hi blogging friends

When I saw that the Splitcoaststampers October Fan Club challenge was "sleigh", I thought I would use a silhouette Santa and sleigh image over a brayered background just for something a little different to the norm.  Now, I haven't used my brayer for ages so it took a bit of getting used to again as I practiced and practiced on my glossy cardstock.  With the help of my blogging friend Shaz's brayer instructions/tips (from her blog Calligraphy Cards - Shaz in Oz), I managed to tame the brayer beast enough to be happy enough with what I achieved.  And I hardly made any mess which is a first for me as when I have brayered in the past, I have had ink everywhere and just got so frustrated and annoyed with myself.  I think perhaps that learning the right technique has had a lot to do with it.  I do LOVE the look of brayered backgrounds and I should use the technique more often now that I have a little more confidence - thanks Shaz :-) 

 

The Inkadinkado Silhouettes stamp set that I used for the trees and the Santa plus sleigh is RETIRED but Inkadinkado have a different Silhouette set which would suffice HERE (my link goes to 123 Stitch in the USA who I have been buying from for several years - they are fantastic!).  Visible Image Stamps (from the UK) have a Sleigh Silhouette stamp HERE (I have bought from them before but not for a couple of years).  And lastly, Impression Obsession have a Santa and sleigh die HERE (this is an Aussie store as an example who I buy from alot - also fantastic - but if you are not in Australia, you should easily be able to buy this die from elsewhere).  There are tons of brands of tree stamps around so I won't bother listing any as you should be able to find a similar tree somewhere - plus you could even use a tree die instead.

The ink that I used for the brayered blue background is by Kaleidacolor - Blue Breeze - and as you can see, I went from dark blue at the top to light blue at the bottom.  For some reason, the photo looks a bit patchy on my blog post but the photo I am using from my laptop has the colour graduation super-smooth - weird - although I did use a different photo editing program as the LCD screen on our main home computer failed yesterday and I don't have the same editing program on my laptop. 

I stamped the trees using Stazon Jet Black and stamped some without re-inking to give the impression of depth.  The Santa and Sleigh Silhouette was also stamped with Jet Black ink and I practiced on a few scrap pieces of glossy cardstock beforehand because the stamp slips very easily when you stamp it on this particular type of cardstock which will blur the image and spoil it.  I diecut a small circle of glossy cardstock for the moon and sponged on some Colorbox Bisque (yellow) chalk ink with a sponge then stamped part of the silhouette image on the moon and simply glued the circle to the background matching up the reindeer.  I have found this method works better for me than masking off a circle for the moon and then brayering over the top as I would always end up with ragged edges on the moon and I just didn't like how it looked.  Either that or the ink would soak through the mask which would ruin the whole effect :-(  The method I use is far simpler and waaaay easier.

Once the trees were dry, I rubbed my Anti-Static pad over the bottom of the trees and stamped my sentiment using Versamark Watermark ink and heat-set it using White Detail embossing powder.  Whilst it was still hot, I poured on Bubble Fizz fine glitter and then heat-set it again - but you have to be careful not to overheat the embossing or it will go flat.

I used a finger dauber and Ranger Picket Fence (white) Crackle Distress Paint to sponge around the edges of my image panel to give the impression of cold, snowy conditions.  The white dots of snow on the trees were done with a Uniball Signo White pen which I picked up from my local newsagent.

Here is a close-up of the reindeer:

Did you notice the tiny little red nose?  No?  Click on the image to see a bigger view.  See it now?   I didn't have a rhinestone or pearl tiny enough so I used my Ruby Red Liquid Pearls.  Again, I practiced on a scrap piece of glossy cardstock so I knew how much to squeeze the bottle to get a tiny little dot.   It is hard to tell in the photo but I went around the edge of the main panel with Kindyglitz Crystalina glitter glue then popped the panel up on dimensionals.

The designer papers are by Lili of the Valley (UK) from their Frosty pad.  I again used Picket Fence paint around the edges of the base panel.  The side panel was punched using an EK Success Scalloped Scallops border punch.   All the layers were trimmed to 1/16" using my Perfect Layers Tools.

The white organza ribbon was attached in a separate elements and the bow itself was made using my Bow Easy which was glued on using Fabric Glue.  I added Fray Stop to the cut ends to stop them from fraying.

I didn't really want to do too much embellishing as is my usual style and thought just adding the 3 diecut My Favorite Things Snowflakes was enough.  I only glued down the centres using Tombow Mono glue and bent the points up a little.  I added a light blue Kaisercraft rhinestone to the centres.

Challenges:

Apart from the SCS Fan Club Challenge, I am entering my card in the following challenge -

My Creative Moments - October Wordplay Challenge of 'Anything'.

Thanks for stopping by!

Jocelyn


Card Recipe:

Stamps:  Inkadinkado Silhouettes #97289 (RETIRED), Sentiment - Crafty Kids (now Kaszazz) 113K

Ink:  Kaleidacolor Blue Breeze dye, Versamark Watermark, Stazon Jet Black, Colorbox Chalk Bisque

Designer Paper:  Lili of the Valley (UK) Frosty - 8" x 8" pad

Accessories:  Glossy cardstock, brayer, Perfect Layers Tools, Ruby Red Liquid Pearls, 3/8" or 10mm wide white organza ribbon, Bow Easy, Fray Stop, finger dauber, sponge, Uniball Signo White pen UM-120AC, Alison Ellis Design White Detail embossing powder, Alison Ellis Design Bubble Fizz fine glitter, Anti-Static pad, Big Shot, Lifestyle Nesting circle die, MFT Die-namics Snowflake die (I used the smallest one from the Snowflake Trio set), Ranger Picket Fence Crackle Distress Paint, Kindyglitz Crystalina glitter glue, Kaisercraft light blue rhinestones SB774, dimensionals, heat-gun, fabric glue, Tombow Mono glue

Punches:  EK Success Scalloped Scallops border

Inkadinkado Standing Seagull - a masculine birthday card

Hi blogging friends

If you read my last blog post about my wrist and having cortisone injected into it and not being able to craft after it for a little while - well, I had to cancel my doctor's appointment as my DD has been sick with a nasty cold which just won't go away - poor little thing.  So I have been housebound and managed to do a bit of cardmaking here and there.  My wrist will have to wait until my DD is all better and back at school.

Anyhow, I finished a birthday card for my DH whose birthday is next month.  I have been having a play with my Derwent Inktense watercolour pencils which is what I coloured my image with and boy - I sure do love them.  The colour is so vibrant and really brings things to life!  They do take a bit of getting used to in comparison to my regular Faber Castell watercolour pencils.  Once I had finished colouring, I added a little bit of clear Sakura glaze onto the seagull's eye, beak and legs - alas, completely oblivious in the photo - but adds a bit of shine in real life.

Because I had chosen a "sea" image, I wanted to make a frame that kind of looked like a porthole so I diecut an oval with 2 oval nesties, added the brads, then popped this frame up on doublesided foam pads.  Here is a wee close-up of the image - you can click on the image for a bigger pic if you wish:

The designer paper is by My Mind's Eye - Stella Rose.  Gorgeous papers - and even though a lot of them have flowers, the non-flowery ones are just so perfect for a masculine birthday card IMHO.  I decided to add some stitching just to add a bit of texture.  I pierced the holes with a paper piercer then hand-sewed all the stitches - yep, all hand-sewn.

The side panel was punched with a Martha Stewart Embossed Diamond edge punch then I added some rope tied in a sailor's knot.  I learnt how to do the sailor's knot from Lynne Phelps blog Savvy Sisters Studio (thanks so much!).  This type of knot is also called The Anchor Bend, Carrick Bend and Full Carrick Bend.  According to the description on this website, it's easy to tie, does not slip easily in the wet, and is among the strongest of knots - it can't jam and is readily untied - and I actually used four pieces of rope instead of two as two just seemed to look "lost" on the panel - the four made for a bolder statement.  Both this side panel and the main image are up on doublesided foam pads.

To finish, I tied the same rope through the button then glued the button on, then glued on the "happy birthday" metal sentiment which I have had forever.  I got it free with an order from some store that I bought something from ages ago.  I "think" they are by Print Blocks; they came in a pack with other sentiments like Happy New Year, and Happy Christmas etc. but I no longer have the packaging so I can't be sure.  If you know, drop me a comment or an email and I'll update this post.  Here is a close-up - pretty cool tag isn't it?  So perfect for a masculine card - and I was so rapt that it matched the brads - a happy coincidence:

I am entering this card into the following challenges -

A Spoon Full of Sugar - Challenge #159 - Sewing (faux or real)

Allsorts Challenge Blog - Week 111 - Free and Easy July - Anything goes

Papertake Weekly Challenge - Anything goes with the optional extra of buttons

Simon Says Stamp Challenge - A stitch in time - real or faux

Thanks for stopping by my little world and thank you so much for any comments you leave  

If you are short of time, scroll right down to the end of this post past the Card Recipe and you will see a heading that says "Reactions" where you can just click on an automatic comment.  This is something I only just recently added and thought it was pretty cool for busy people especially those on DT Challenge blogs that are visiting all the entrant's blogs - what a huge task!  So it's easy to just do one click and your done and you can move onto someone else's blog.

I have been working on a "Welcome to your new home" card for my BIL and SIL who have moved states and built their retirement dream home by the sea so I hope to share this in my next post.

Jocelyn

Card Recipe:

Stamps:  Inkadinkado Standing Seagull INKA-99205-DD wood mounted

Ink:  Versafine Onyx black

Designer paper:  My Mind's Eye Stella Rose 6" x 6" pad

Accessories:  Cuttlebug, Spellbinder Oval Nestabilities, 140lb watercolour paper, Derwent Inktense pencils, small round #2 paintbrush, paper piercer, teal sewing thread + sewing needle, Sakura clear glaze pen, doublesided foam pads (dimensionals), clear blue button - from Basic Grey Granola set, string, Happy Birthday metal tag - Printblocks (?), brads by Printblocks, Cardstock:  teal, mustard

Punches:  Martha Stewart embossed diamond

Cuttlebug Winter Wonderland - Hanging Christmas Baubles

Hi and welcome to another scheduled post whilst I can't access my computer for 2 weeks (sniff!!).

Another quick and simple Christmas card using one of the embossing folders from the Cuttlebug Winter Wonderland set:

Not much to explain.  The sentiment was heat-embossed with gold embossing powder and the stars next to the sentiment were diecut from my Cuttlebug Snowflake #2 die (which includes snowflakes and stars).  I added some fine gold glitter to these stars.

The ribbon was attached in 2 separate elements, and the bow itself was made with my Bow Easy.  The star on the bow was punched with a Carl CP-1 star punch and was glittered with gold glitter.

Thanks again for stopping by - this should be my last scheduled post (hopefully) and things will be back to normal and I will be able to come and visit you all again.

Jocelyn

Card Recipe: 

Stamps:  Sentiment from Inkadinkado Silhouettes 97289 Clear stamp set (retired)

Ink:  Versacolor gold pigment 

Accessories:  Cuttlebug, Hanging Baubles embossing folder from Winter Wonderland set, Cuttlebug Snowflake #2 die, Carl CP-1 Star punch, fine gold glitter, Art Institute Designer dries clear adhesive (for glitter), Bow Easy, ribbon, Stampin' Up corner punch, gold embossing powder, heat gun, Cardstock: white, gold, burgundy

Inkadinkado 'Standing Seagull' - birthday card for my BIL

Hi and thanks for stopping by :-)

It was my BIL's birthday late last week and this is the card I made for him - now that he has the card, I can post it here. 

I stamped the image onto Watercolour paper and watercoloured it with Acrylic paints.  The teal blue frame was popped up on 1mm mounts (dimensionals) over the image then I added the brads so it kind-of-looks like a porthole.

The sentiment was diecut with one my Spellbinders Tags Trio dies - I lightly inked around the sentiment with Creamy Brown chalk ink - then popped it up on 1mm mounts.

I am popping this card into the Splitcoaststampers "Way to use it" Challenge WT281 of 'Wonderful Woodgrain'.  The Challenge gave me the perfect excuse to use my Distressed Stripes embossing folder (which I have hardly used) for the brown cardstock base and seemed to be the obvious choice to match my image.  I lightly sanded the cardstock to highlight the embossing.  

I am also entering this card into the Simon Says Challenge of "There ain't no cure for the Summertime blues" where your summery creation has to have some blue in it - I have used one of my fav colours: Teal Blue.  And of course, what could be more summery than a seagull!

Thanks again for visiting - hope to see you again very soon!

Jocelyn

Card Recipe:

Stamps:  Inkadinkado 'Standing Seagull' 99205-DD, Sentiment from: Penny Black 'Critter Party' clear stamp set

Ink:  Stazon Jet Black, Colorbox Chalk: Prussian Blue and Creamy Brown

Designer paper:  Kaisercraft Reminiscing P203 Hold Dear

Accessories:  Cuttlebug, Distressed Stripes embossing folder, Spellbinder Large and Small Oval Nestabilities + Labels Trio S3-147, 140lb Watercolour paper, JoSonya acrylic paints, paintbrushes, mounts (dimensionals), EK Success Open Scallop border punch, grosgrain ribbon 15mm-9/16" wide, Fray Stop (for the cut ribbon edges), 10 x brads (Printblocks), sandpaper, Cardstock: Provincial beige, teal blue