Stampscapes Starry Night Card

Another year is at its end and a new year is just around the corner.  Here's hoping for good things for you all in the new year.   I am glad I got to put together a new Stampscapes class this past year.  Hope to do another one this year.  Whatever your year holds, hope stamping and art are a part of it.  I know I am better when pursuing my card making.  But if you are making cards, let me just remind you that it's an activity not just for you, but for others as well.  So once you make those cards, share the joy!  It will brighten to lives of others as well.  I am always happily surprised by folks when they share how much a simple card sent to them brings them so much joy. 

Art Journaling

There was no greater joy than my Art Journaling this year.  This is the place where I try new things and allow myself to be stretched out of my comfort zone.  So much I could share, but moving into Abstract art was no doubt my biggest jump.  And you know what?  It's totally fun!  It has broaden my horizons in ways I never would have guessed.  I hope as you head into this new year you will allow yourself the freedom to try out new things in the art and stamping world.  Enjoy!

Classes are so helpful for growth and change for me.  I made sure this year to make classes a priority.  I then "shared the joy" of what I had learned by using the information in demos, Make It Take Its" and classes of my own.  This was a canvas we did in a class I offered after learning all about Faber Castel items from our rep.  Paste, gelatos, Big Pens, stencils, gesso, and matte medium were all used to create this project.

After the holidays and before the new year, I tend to be reflective of the year that we had.  This year got off to a most significant start for me when I got the phone call that my dad had suddenly passed away.  This card reflects my feelings about that well.  It was made with stencils and some gelli prints, and Dina's stamps.

Die cut Christmas card

Here is the other handmade Christmas card that I mentioned yesterday.  The background was also dry embossed.  The bird is silver and it and the words were die cut.  Such a simple, yet lovely card.  It's always such a pleasure to get a handmade card!

Embossed Christmas card

Hi folks, hope you had a grand day yesterday.  I was happy to get a couple more handmade cards which I wanted to share with you.  Loved how this one was simple, yet so elegant.  Both types of embossing were used.  Then some gem stickers finished off the card so nicely.  Will show the other card tomorrow.

It's almost here!  Hope you and your loved ones have a blessed holiday with many good memories.  This will be the first one without any parents.  We have many happy memories to put a smile on our faces of all the good times we shared with them.  Merry Christmas. 

Hero Arts stamp

This message by Hero Arts was one that caught my eye when I first saw it.  Great for any good occasion and it makes a great message for Christmas.  This is a card I did for a Make It Take It at Angela's Happy Stamper store.  If you want to take a break from all the hustle and bustle do come in to the store today and make it for free!  I love how you can use this card as a "thank you" card as well if you already have all the cards you need for Christmas.

Great Impressions Snowman

Have you received any handmade cards for the holiday?  Here is one I liked.  After it was stamped the snowman was colored in with a white pencil.  Thought it was really nice.  The bunnies were stamped and then popped up. 

Dylusion spay and Stencil Card

Here was a relatively easy card to make but it does involve some time and steps.  Dylusion  colors were sprayed on a wet paper surface and then the stencil was put down and more water was sprayed.  After running a towel over the stencil it was removed and the paper was dried.  The word stamp by Penny Black, was embossed in white in the corner of the card.  It's didn't show up, but a Stardust pen was traced aroud some of the stars to give it some shimmer.  Then it was mounted onto a white card.

Stampendous Christmas Card

A little bit of watercolor and a copic  yellow star finishes off this image.  Simple and nice.

Gelliplate wrapping

Speaking of Gelli plate wrapping (look at yesterday's post) I saw this idea on the gelli website and thought it was worth sharing.  All you need is the mini triangular gelli plate from one of the new sets.  I loved this!

Gelli Plate wrapping paper

Had a fun demo at Angela's Happy Stamper yesterday demo-ing how to use the gelli plate to make wrapping paper.  We took wide strips of the brown paper here and made prints on them.  You can then wrap them around a package.  I also did some printing on newspaper that can be used as wrapping paper.  There was also a long box completely done with printed paper that I left at the shop.  These samples are also at the shop.  Feel free to stop by and see them.

Memory Box Ornament Die #2

If you look at yesterday's post you will see a very similar ornament.  Here is the second one I made amidst my sleepless night.  3D paint was on this paper but here blues and greens were used.  They were surprisingly quick to make. 

Memory Box Ornament die

Had one of those nights the other night when I couldn't sleep.  Doodling seemed a relaxing option!  The paper had already been painted with Viva Décor 3D paint in several colors.  This was run through the die cut machine with the ornament die.  (The ribbon die was made with metallic silver)  Then a fine tip Sharpie was used to create the design.  

Sweetn'Sassy Candle Card

There was a box of Christmas items I found in the basement.  It's always nice when you can find some cards you made but haven't sent from previous years.  This was one of my favorites.  To create the light for the candle two pieces of vellum were used.  One regular and one gold.  The color for the candle was done with Copic markers. 

Christmas Card

This card was started by taking a page from a paper back book and covering it with a green distress ink dauber.  Once dry, the tree was stamped and embossed.  Washi tape was then added to the sides of the card. 

Taylor Expressions Christmas Card

Well I did get to this card today.  Book club is this Friday and I really wanted to make cards for the ladies.  The sides have metallic washi tape on them, and silver mirror paper behind the words.  The card seemed to need some texture so a background stamp by Penny Black worked well.  Rather than highlight any of the words a gem was added to the "o" in "joy". 

Inkadinkado Dedication Card

Well I thought I would be posting Christmas cards I have done.  However, we have not escaped another holiday time without yet another good-bye.  We spent yesterday in PA at the funeral of my sister-in-law's husband.  He was a "salt of the earth" kind of guy.  Always doing for others and a rock to his family and friends.  He will be greatly missed.  He was also a man of great faith who loved God and served him all his life in his every day actions and at his church.  So I have dedicated this card to his memory.  He loved the outdoors so I think he would have liked this card.

Stampscapes Scene

We are busy here getting ready for an Open House.  Now that our renovations are done, it seemed a good time to have folks in.  Lots of baking and cooking being done so not much time for stamping.  Once the big ta-do is done, hope to sit and kick out some new cards.  Till then, enjoy this peaceful stampscapes scene from my Nightscapes class.

Memory Box Christmas Die

More and more I've taken to doing embossed and die cut cards when doing multiples of an image.  It's just so much quicker!  After doing the die cut, red mirror paper was used which shows up nicely through the white paper.  The word die was cut on gold mirror paper. 

Embossed and die cut Card

While at the demo yesterday, Dee also showed us this card.  She embossed metallic paper and then die cut the leaves.  She used black foam under the leaves which were also die cut, to pop them up, A very easy card to do but so striking I had to share it.

Rosie's Roadshow

On Tuesdays at Angela's Happy Stamper, there is a free Demo and chance to make a card.  I stopped by yesterday because Dee was demo-ing the use of thin foam for backing on a card.  It can be used instead of foam tape and gives a more uniform look to the card.  Got to make this cute little card.  Loved it so wanted to share it.

Three Kings Card

Came across an old favorite of mine.  The kings were colored with dry chalk.  Using a glue pen, loose glitter was applied.  With an exacto knife, a fold in the card was created by cutting along the edge of the kings.  You can see the fold at the top of the card.  Once open, you can see the stamped phrase "0 Come let us adore Him".  I try to keep one card each year so I remember what I've sent to folks. It's fun to go through and see what all has been done over the years.