Marianne's cards 'n stuff: September 2012

Monday, 17 September 2012

Brown and orange Christmas wishes for ewe

When I started with today's image and papers a couple of weeks ago, I wanted to use a sketch I had seen but was unable to finish the card in time for the relevant challenge. When I went back to the image and papers, I could not for the life of me remember which sketch I had had in mind, so I simply selected another recent sketch that worked for me and finally finished my brown and orange Christmas card. After last week's success with my inking adventure, I thought I would try a little inking, distressing and tearing this week. Although I found the distressing and tearing quite scary I think those distressed edges are exactly what this card needed to finish it off. When I showed the card to my husband, he immediately pointed at one of the teared bits, but quickly noticed it was apprarently intentional LOL. In fact, he liked the card a lot. Hope you also like what you see.

Below is a close-up of the coloured image:

And here's the sketch I used:

Materials used:
Core'dinations cardstock
PPs from a Vintage paper pad from a Dutch bargain store (Action)
Ranger's Vintage Photo distress ink
Ranger's paper distressing tool
Cuddly Buddly digital image
Spectrum Noir pens (also used them to colour the stars)
Viva Decor pearl pen
Gold glitter glue
Marianne Design die
Cuttlebug snowflakes die (stars)

I'd like to enter this card into the following challenges:

Crafty Catz - #150 Brown and orange

Cute Card Thursday - #234 Christmas in September

Bearly Mine - #52 Anything goes

Sketch Saturday - Sketch #225

Simply Create Too - #22 Anything goes

Crafty Ann's - (Sketch and/or) autumn colours

Aud Sentiments - #63 Something funny, hunny!

Crafter's Companion - #28 Gold

Spectrum Noir - Holiday card using Spectrum Noirs as the colouring medium

Benny Zoe's Craft - #28 Distressing

Squiggle Stamps - Punches and dies

Monday, 10 September 2012

Distressing adventure

For this card I've been experimenting with some Tim Holz techniques that seem so easy when you watch him doing it on video but turns out quite a challenge when you try to do it at home. But at least I had a lot of fun doing it, and I discovered that I probably need a different type of paper (thicker and more resistant to water-based inks and the extra water from the mini mister). I'm even wondering if my card will last until Christmas or if the images will have faded by then LOL. I guess it's all part of the learning curve.

Materials used:

Text stamp and Christmas card stamp by Viva Decor

Ranger distress inks - Aged Mahogany, Forest Moss and Pumice Stone

Memento ink - Rich Cocao

Ribbon and lace from my stash

MD poinsettia die and pine leave die

Recycled pillow case button from my friend's big button box

(I'm actually using the back side of the button

because they have these beautiful distressed colours)

Felt and button twine (Ladybug Crafts Ink)

I'd like to enter this card into the following challenges:

Simon Says Stamp and Show - Read all about it!
(10-year anniversary including a blog hop)

Jingle Belles - Going Postal

Simon Says Stamp - Put a stamp on it!

Sir Stampelot - Vintage inspiration photo

ABC Christmas Challenge - R for Recycling

Penny Black & More - Early Christmas Makes

Tuesday, 4 September 2012

Let it snow

Although temperatures are still very summery here in Greece, the meteorological autumn in this part of the world started on the 1st of September. Christmas will be here before you know it. So maybe it's time you all got started on your Christmas cards for this year, if you haven't started already. I know I have, and I love how my stash of Christmas cards is growing week by week, LOL.