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!
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.


The layout for this card was inspired by an older Papertake Weekly sketch (no. 61).

Materials used:
Digital image by Meljen's Designs
PPs by Marianne Design
Spectrum Noir alcohol markers
Computer-generated sentiment
Lifestyle Crafts circle dies
Snowflakes - Silhouette (top two) and Cuttlebug die (bottom one)

I'd like to enter this card into the following challenges:
Papertake Weekly - #74 Use your favourite PTW sketch
Aud Sentiments - #62 Christmas is coming
Crafty Ann's - #73 Monochromatic turquoise/aqua
Simon Says Stamp - Anything goes
Catch the Bug - Anything goes
Meljen's Designs - #125 Anything goes
Christmas Card Challenges - #40 Three of something
(3 PPs, 3 snowflakes, 3-word sentiment)
Make It Monday - #105 Anything goes