Little Snow Critters

On this hot summer day, I'm stopping in with a quick CAS Christmas card.  

I used stamps from Impression-Obsession's Fall/Winter 2019 stamp release:
Christmas Jar Set WP963
Winter Village Set WP987
Holiday Tree CL973

I created the narrow band on bristol vellum by masking off the area with crafter's tape.  Then I brushed some faded denim distress ink into the area, leaving a little uncolored near the center of the strip.  

I stamped the trees from the Winter Village Set and the bunnies from the Christmas Jar Set, and colored them with colored pencils.  I added the verse from the Holiday Tree set.


 
On the inside, I stamped some of the critters and snow from the Christmas Jar set.



I hope you like my card today.  I know it's difficult to think holidays when it's 80's and 90's outside, but I know there are many efficient, always prepared folks who like to get an early start on their holiday card-making.  I wish I was one of them!  lol.

I am adding my card to these challenges:
AAA Cards - One layer optional positivity  
Simply Less Is More - small images
Watercooler Wednesday  - All about occasions

Thanks so much for visiting today.  Enjoy these long summer days.  All too soon they will be a memory.  

Blessings,

Winter Wonderland Technique Junkies Style

Hello Junkies fans!  I have a couple of cards today....

I couldn't help but sing 'Walking in a winter wonderland' when I was making these cards!  The scene reminds me of the snowy fields behind the house I grew up in, out in the country.  It was a chore just to walk a few steps in the kind of snow we used to get.

To create my scene, I used a piece of watercolor paper and my Distress ink minis.  I inked up my first tree from the Christmas Trees set of 6, then misted it lightly by holding it over my aromatherapy misting diffuser.  I keep this diffuser on my desk while I work for it's calming, soothing effects.  I thought, hmmmm, that's a pretty good dose of mist coming from that thing....it beats huffing on the stamp.  So I tried it, and it worked!!  Just the right amount of moisture for a good image. 

Holding my inked stamp over the mist from my aromatherapy oil diffuser

I then stamped it onto the watercolor paper,  using a water brush to manipulate and obscure the ink, to give it a watercolor look.  I let it dry a bit, then inked and repeated again, over the initial image.  

Now, you may notice that my trees are a little taller than the stamps.  I made them look that way by 'walking' the stamp downward as I stamped it, keeping pressure on the base of the stamp.  This created the impression of taller trees!  I used the wet brush again, and continued in this fashion until I achieved the look I wanted.  Repeated for the rest of the trees.

When dry, I punched a circle from a paper scrap, and used it as a template to ink my moon, using ColorBox silver pigment ink, and a sponge finger dauber.  I spread the silver around a bit, to give the feeling of moonglow over the trees.

Some quick watercolor strokes for hills, and some spatters for snow (I used white acrylic paint, then some white India ink).  I added some tiny stars from my stash, and a pretty silver ribbon.  Layered it onto silver paper, then onto a white card base.  I gave it a quick spritz of Tattered Angels Glimmer Mist to give it a shimmery glimmer, which is so pretty in real life!

Closer view of moon in the trees

Stamps:  Technique Junkies Christmas Trees set of 6
               Technique Junkies Gifts of Christmas set of 5

I used the same stamps on this second card....

I kept this one a little simpler.  Same technique.  For the snow banks, I tore the paper and layered it on the bottom.

Stop by the Technique Junkies Stamps store.   There are some fabulous stamps there.  If you find some holiday stamps, or any, that you just have to have, please use my discount code (TJ10Lynda) and get 10% off your order!

I am adding my card to:
Make My Monday Challenge - Happy Christmas!
Mod Squad Challenge - What a Flake!
Splitcoaststampers Ways To Use It Challenge - Try A Tutorial

Thanks so much for stopping by.  I hope you found some inspiration here!

Blessings,

lynda
 

 

Sweet Thankful Snowman

I just adore this precious little snowman from Penny Black!  He makes me smile!

I used Penny Black stamps:
Sweet snowman 40-006 (main image)
Salutations 30-014 (Thank you)
Winter whites & greens 30-057 (tree and embossed snowflakes)
Inside of card:  Jolly friends 30-058 (hat and snowflake)

I stamped the snowman onto an A2 card and used watercolor and Tombow markers to paint him.  I masked him and stamped the tree behind him, and added some Faber Castell pastel with a cotton ball.  I made some 'hills' by cutting a paper scrap into curved shapes, then rubbed the pastels over the paper onto the card.

The snowflakes are embossed with Judi-Kins agean silver embossing powder.  In real life these snowflakes twinkle with lots of sparkly, colors.

Inside I stamped the thank you, and fussy-cut the hat from the snowman in the jolly friends set, along with some snowflakes.  
Inside:

 I am adding my card to these challenges:

Penny Black Saturday Challenge - Thank you

Make My Monday - Snow fun

Happy Little Stampers watercolor challenge - Anything goes

Happy Little Stampers Christmas challenge - Anything goes

Splitcoaststampers Featured Stamper challenge - case featured stamper card

I'm so glad you stopped by today.  Thank you for visiting.  Check out the challenges above if you have a moment.  Lots of fun and great cards there.  

Tomorrow I will be making my pies for Thanksgiving, and getting the house ready for the 'kids.'  I love family gatherings, especially at the holidays.  We are blessed, indeed, to have our family, and I cherish every moment with them. 

Blessings, and happy Thanksgiving to all who celebrate!

lynda

Oh What Fun - Penny Black Card

Oh, what fun I had creating this card today.  I have been making my Christmas cards, and needed a break from the ones I am making for friends and family.  So, I decided to make one for some challenges.   Here is my card....

 

Stamps used:  

Penny Black santa hedgehog from Best Day Ever clear set 30-059

Penny Black oh what fun from believe clear set 30-310

Penny Black snowflake from season's gifts 30-316

Other:  

Spellbinders die S5-201

Copic markers

white acrylic paint

white Prismacolor pencil

clear Spectrum Noir sparkle pen

white Colorbox pigment ink

Snowflake brad

assorted cardstocks

Copic multi liner .01

Tim Holtz distress ink

Clarity stencil brush

I stamped the hedgehog onto a light gray card stock panel, and colored him with Copic markers.  I used the Copic multi liner fine pen to redraw the lines, as they got a little faded from the coloring.  

Next, I die cut the snowy hill, using the partial die cutting technique shown by Jennifer McGuire HERE

I used hickory smoke distress ink and a Clarity stencil brush to add shading, then stamped the snowflakes with white pigment ink.   I flicked some white acrylic paint mixed with a wee bit of water onto the card for more snow, and some touches of sparkle from the Spectrum Noir sparkle pen. 

I layered it with some gray card stock, then a strip of red to help balance the composition, and a white brad for whimsy. 

I think my granddaughter Kennedy will like this card.  Now I have to make one for her older sister.  I will do that next time I need a break from my regular Christmas card making again.

I am adding my card to these challenges:
 
The Daily Marker 30 day color challenge 
Simon Says Stamp Wednesday challenge  - Christmas critters
My Favorite Things color challenge  -
The Paper Players - Clean and simple Christmas
Penny Black at Allsorts - Anything Christmas
Make My Monday Challenge - Clean and simple Christmas

So, now it's back to my Christmas cards.  I am trying to finish them this week, so after Thanksgiving I can get down to the business of decorating our home for Christmas, and baking, and shopping, and wrapping.  Most of all, for taking time to sit back and relax and simply enjoy the wonder of the holiday season, and reflect on it's meaning.

Thanks for stopping in today.  

Blessings,

lynda