Fall Branches Bouquet

Welcome to another week at Crazy 4 Challenges! With it turning fall here in the Northern Hemisphere, we were asked to make a a fall-themed card. I’d forgotten what the challenge was but when I looked it up, I was like “YAY” as I had been working on a fall card anyway! Fun coincidence!

The stamps are from the September Hero Arts kit. I stamped them in Antique Linen Distress ink but added a few stampings to the upper part of the bouquet even though the stems didn’t reach. I just painted them in as I watercoloured the image. The antique linen is so light that it doesn’t interfere with the watercolour plus it also dissolves away with the water because it’s a water reactive ink. The painting of the leaves and berries isn’t that interesting  because they are too small to add much shading.

But the vase, there’s more to talk about. I used a very damp brush to add water to the image. Then I dropped in very concentrated colour on the top, left and bottom. I allowed the paint to move on it’s own with little interference. As it started to dry a bit, I added more and more colour to the left with my board tilted slightly downwards. I loved how the paint was moving so I allowed it to dry completely on it’s own which I rarely do. When I was done, I added stamping over the background, Antique Linen in the middle and a tiny bit of Vintage Photo applied with a foam blender to the sides only. Then I added sponging in the same way with the same colours. Last, I added a warm grey shadow under the vase. I normally would add some sequins or embellishments but I wasn’t sure how I was going to use the card. There’s a high likelihood that I’ll use it for a sympathy card and I don’t bling them up like I do with normal cards.

I hope you are inspired by my card and our challenge this week. The challenge is open until Friday midnight so I hope you will pop on by and play along!

Enjoy, Rebecca

Pumpkins and Sunflowers

No!! It can’t be fall already, can it? I don’t like fall much because it means winter is close by and I hate the cold. But these images are too fun to pass up!

Speaking of the images, the stamps are by Hero Arts from last year’s fall card kit. The images are all layered giving loads of colour to these simple shapes without any colouring. I researched sun flowers to come up with one that was non-traditional. There is a super pretty one that’s actually pink? They also come in a dark purple, a rich burgundy, white and yellow and the one I stamped, pink and yellow. It took me a while to come up with the perfect colour combos for both colours of the sunflowers and pumpkins but I love the final variety I was able to achieve.

I arranged my elements according to the sketch challenge for this week at Crazy 4 Challenges. My base was some woodgrain paper then adding a gold mirrored die cut from Spellbinders. I tucked some patterned paper and lace under the gold die cut for some rustic charm and to fulfill the vertical panel on the sketch. I love the combination of rustic elements, the lace, woodgrain and autumn images, alongside the elegance of the gold die cut and embossing.

I hope you can play along with us this week! I’m running a bit late this week so you only have one more day to play! It’s a great sketch because you can do so much with it!

Enjoy, Rebecca

Autumn Coffee Card

I just got my August Hero Arts card kit so I was excited to use it. When I make card, I often start out without knowing exactly where I’m going with it. But when I have a sketch to work with, it makes it so much easier!

Today we have a sketch for you at Crazy 4 Challenges. The large center shape made me think shaker! I don’t think I could ever get sick of making and shaking them! I forgot that even Distress glitter sticks to the acetate sheet. I’ve done this before and it does finally settle so I wasn’t too worried but I was bummed that it didn’t make for a better photo! The cups are both stamped on patterned paper and coloured with Copics. The curvy cup reminded me of me and the other of my husband so I added appropriate sentiments. I hate coffee so switching them wouldn’t have worked. The background paper was from the Hero Arts kit, so unique. It’s thin though so I added a background layer of cardstock before die cutting it. The leaves were cut with Spellbinders dies, coloured with either Copics or Distress sponging then splattered them with first brown watercolour then gold watercolour. I did the same with the background.

I hope you can come by the C4C blog and join us this week!

Enjoy, Rebecca

Flourishes Blog Hop–Fuji Mum Thanks Card

I’m back with another card showing the new fabulous stamps from Flourishes l.c. Isn’t this the most gorgeous fall flower?

I used some of the items from a recent card kit to make this. I love the addition of teal to traditionally fall colours. The image was coloured with Copic markers and distressed with a pale brown ink. That way it matched the paper and lace better. The ‘thanks’ die was also coloured with Copic markers giving it an ombre look. The twine flower/butterfly was made using a brad and a bow maker; I think it looks like a butterfly don’t you? I considered adding something to the top right corner but in the end just left it as ‘white’ space.

Not sure if I should have added this close-up photo. It could have been larger but then you would have seen all my mistakes! LOL!! I just realized that this image needs one more thing… a few splatters! I’ll go add some tomorrow!

I hope you like this image! Flourishes took a break for health reasons and it’s taking a while to get it back up and running. We need your support so hop on over to the Flourishes website today! And don’t forget to visit the other designers.

Flourishes Blog
Beverly Cole 
Linda Lucas 
Naomi Gong 
Tricia Traxler 

Enjoy, Rebecca

Entered In: Mojo Monday #467

Fall Feathers Card

I’m quite late jumping on the feather trend. I like feathers but I’m not a huge fan or anything. But I’ve seen so many fabulous cards by many talented designers that I had to give them a try.

I used a ton of paper packs for this card, 5 in total! I also used a sketch but it’s long since closed. The die cut feathers were die cut then stamped using my MISTI tool. I coordinated the inks to match the papers and used three different metallic embossing powders.

Enjoy, Rebecca

Entered In:

Simon Says Stamp Monday Anything Goes

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday: Throwback 

RECIPE
Stamps: Feathers-PTI, sentiment-SSS
Ink: brown archival-Ranger, vintage photo, barn door Distress ink
Paper: WR Memory Keepers, 7 Gypsies, Glitz, Maggie Holmes,
Pink Paislee, canyon clay CS-PTI
Accessories: feather dies-PTI, rick rack-stash, gold, copper EP-SU!, other ep-stash

Fall Thank You Card and Candle

We have another fabulous inspiration photo this week at The Shabby Tea Room. I love the softness of the photo and the fall colours.

I decided to make a card and a candle as a gift. It will probably be a hostess gift at some point. I added lots of sparkle using gold glimmer mist and a Wink of Stella pen. The ribbon on the card is sari silk ribbon I bought from eBay. It’s so lovely to work with.

The background was stencilled with ink then I stamped over it before I removed the stencil. Then I sprayed it with gold glimmer mist. I also added some to the card base.

The candle is one from the dollar store in such a cute little tin. I added paper to the bottom and wrapped gold twine around the lid. On top I added layers of paper, seam binding ribbon and a cute little apple die cut. If you die cut corrugated cardboard and it flattens too much, use a fine tipped embossing stylus to pull up the bumps.

I love having small gifts on hand to use in a pinch. Do you create items to have in your stash besides cards?

We’d love to have you join us this week at the The Shabby Tea Room. You don’t have to make a card, make anything you like! We love to have as many participants as we can get, new friends or old.

Enjoy, Rebecca

Entered in:

CAS-ual Fridays Chic Challenge: Tic Tac Toe (closed)

Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge: Throwback – Autumn

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday: Anything Goes

Paper Players Fall Thank You Cards

Graphic have embedded links to challenges.

RECIPE
Stamps: French script-SU!
Ink: Antique linen, vintage photo distress, kraft-PTI
Paper: chocolate CS-PTI, vanilla, olive, various browns CS-SU!
Accessories: fall dies-Echo Park, leaves-Elizabeth Craft, sentiment-Mama Elephant

Autumn Bouquet Thanks

I have to admit it is autumn here. The air is crisp and I really need the alpaca scarf/shawl my sister brought  me from Peru.

I used last year’s Simon Says kit for the paper and some new dies for the bouquet. I was playing a clean and simple challenge so I didn’t doll up the card like I might usually. I’ll be sending this to my sister to thank her for the scarf.

Enjoy, Rebecca

Entered in:

RECIPE
Stamps: SSS
Ink: archival brown-Ranger, various Distress inks
Paper: SSS kit, various SU! CS
Accessories: dies-Marianne and Elizabeth Craft, WRMK cork

Fall Mixed Media Canvas

Wow, it went from almost summery to SNOW in less than a week! Seriously? Gotta love southern Ontario ‘autumn’. So with a chill in the air, I made this super shabby fall decor piece for The Shabby Tea Room this week.

I started with a plain white canvas-covered board. I prefer the look of a wood frame canvas but boards are not only easier to work on but it was all I had in this size! I applied strips of music, text and scrapbook papers along with washi tape and lace with gel medium. Then I went over it all with a light coating of gesso. Next I added watercolour in long thin streaks.  Some overlapped the lace but most was on the canvas itself. For the foliage, I die cut plain ivory cardstock and coloured it in with gilder’s paste using both antique gold and patina which is the mint colour you also see on the canvas.

The chevrons, which I added to help reflect the inspiration photo, were coloured with watercolour then covered in Crackle Accents. Next I went to town embellishing the canvas using Prima flowers, gold berry clusters, buttons, sequins and a big reclaimed sari silk bow. I found quite a few sequins that matched perfectly and I was happy to find I had brown buttons in the perfect sizes for the ‘dotted’ effect I was looking for. I thought they helped by bring in the dots from the inspiration photo.

I really hadn’t planned to bring in the mint colour but I accidentally grabbed the patina (mint) colour of Gilder’s Paste before the antique gold one and I realized it brought a fresh pop to the autumn colours. So I added even more with the buttons! I die cut the ‘blessings’ letters in a more whimsical font but it didn’t work well so I tried this one. It’s way old, from Quickutz back when they had the Squeeze tool! Anyone been die cutting long enough to remember those? Ugh, I can’t tell you how many incomplete cuts I got with that thing; I have weak hands. I really like this font because its like a typewriter font but with some added whimsy. Last but no least I added a bit more texture using some brown ink and a script stamp.

I hope you like the inspiration photo and join us this week! Remember, our name is shabby, you project doesn’t have to be! We accept any type of project and any style! You know you waaaaaanna! But even if you only visit, be sure to leave the girls some love! We all thrive when we get great comments.

Enjoy, Rebecca

Back to School Card for The Shabby Tea Room

Hi crafty friends! I have another edition of The Shabby Tea Room for you today! This week we were inspire by a lovely back to school photo with yummy fall colours in it.

Aren’t shaker cards fun? Keep in mind that you can add things other than just beads, sequins, micro beads and glitter! There are lots of  new dies out there that make shaped confetti (though you may already have some small dies for flowers hearts and stars) AND you can use some larger 3-D items if you add some extra foam! I used some shaped buttons and brads, I just cut the backs off! I glued the school bus in place as I felt it would look weird upside down being so large. But everything else moves!

This week we were sponsored by Paper Temptress. I received quite a few different papers as part of my design team sample. My favourite was the Antique gold paper I used for the frame of my shaker. It’s such a deep rich gold! The links to all the papers I used are on The Shabby Tea Room website just under my name. Just a note: The Cryogen White is my card base. I sponged it to a rich brown to better match my card front.

I hope you will visit our challenge blog! Maybe you can be our next Top Three or our Winner! And even if you don’t enter, you can take in all the gorgeous projects by The Shabby Girls and leave comments! Thanks so much for joining me today!

Enjoy, Rebecca

RECIPE
Stamps: Graphic 45 An ABC Primer
Ink: Archival Brown, Vintage Photo, Fired Brick, Scattered Straw, Walnut Stain-Distress, Memento black
Paper: All Paper Temptress except Patterned papers by Graphic 45 and green leaf-old olive CS-SU!
Accessories: Jesse James buttons (inside shaker), sequins-various, red button-Basic Grey, hardware-SU!, flowers-Really Reasonable Ribbon, measuring tape twill, lace-stash

17th Anniversary Card for Hubby

I am not a huge fan on making cards appropriate for guys. Over the years, I’ve subjected hubby to some too girlie cards so I try my best to keep it guy-ish.

This started with some basic stamping but I added some pencil crayon to shade it. It’s hard to see but each leaf has some shading and I added quite a bit of detail to the squirrel. The top layer is cut away on the side; the gingham is fabric tape stuck to the inside of the card. The sentiment panel overhangs the edge. I should have taken a side shot now that I think about it. I had to add just a bit more so there are a few sequins and Wink Of Stella Pen on the leaves. It’s very subtle so I figured I could get away with it.

I can’t believe that it’s been 17 years already! WOW!

Enjoy, Rebecca

RECIPE
Stamps: Simon Says Stamp
Ink: sorry, I can’t remember!Versamark
Paper: SSS kit
Accessories: Lawn Fawn sequins, Hero Arts white EP, fabric tape?, Prismacolour Pencils

Home Sweet Home Pumpkin Mixed Media Canvas

Creating this was interesting on so many levels. I’m trying to enjoy fall more by decorating my house a bit. These aren’t colours that go with the little I have decorated but it’s still fun.

I hate fall because it brings cold weather right after I’ve enjoyed summer so much and is a forerunner to winter with even more cold. But I really wanted to enter a couple challenges that this theme worked with. I experimented with a new medium, water soluble oil pastels. And I tried out some other new techniques like adding colour to my embossing paste and not the background.

So here’s how it’s made.

1. add crumpled tissue paper to the background. I used one with birds, leaves and bird cages. Use gel medium underneath and on top of the tissue and allow some wrinkles to form.
2. add gesso mixed with water over hte top. Create as much opacity as you like. I often add two layers to make sure I don’t get too much coverage the first time.
3. This step is one I don’t know I’d use again but it was fun experimenting. Add dark brown oil pastel around the edges and over the edge, about 1”. add a lighter brown inside that. Buff with a rag and add gilder’s wax to the outside edge spreading some colour across  into the center of the canvas. (this didn’t end up showing in the end, I’ll explain as I go).
4. add music paper to the bottom of the page with gel medium, colour with alcohol ink.
5. add lace.
6. Die cut ivy tendril and flourishes, sponge and stamp them
7. cut sentiment from paper pack and add gold paint pen to edges in distressed (not perfect) way
8. tear oval shapes from orange paper. I used a die to tear against so my shapes were torn but still smooth-ish on the edges. cut a stem. ink all edges and assemble adding a twine bow .
9. add pumpkin and flourishes to canvas with gel medium. Use layers of scrap paper under upper portion of pumpkin to raise it to the height of the bottom portion which is over the lace. I didn’t make sure it met the edge of the lace.
10. add embossing paste to top of canvas using a stencil. Allow to dry without using heat gun. I found when I used the heat gun, it brought the oil from the oil pastels to the surface and made it shiny. When I buffed it, quite a lot came off and I had to add back more colour. It never looked quite as good as it did in the beginning.
11. when paste is dry, add green and brown ink. the good thing about the oil pastel background is it resists inking so the colour only sticks to the leaves. a nice bonus and something to think about when I use pastels next time.
12. add sentiment using layers of scrap cardstock behind it instead of foam dots. not only was a worried about the foam dots sticking on the oily pastel background, it is more sturdy to use cardstock.
13. add antique linen distress stickles to the pumpkin using a thin layer and to the heart in the sentiment using a thick layer. The moisture from the stickles and the uneven backing to the pumpkin allowed it to warp slightly which is a shabby look I quite like.

I’m entering this in the holiday SSS Wednesday blog challenge Anything Goes, the Mixed Media Colour Challenge to make a holiday themed project, the SSS Monday blog challenge Anything Goes and TSTR 190 to make a project using a pumpkin.

Enjoy, Rebecca

RECIPE
Stamps: fancy flourishes-PTI
Ink: artichoke-PTI, Vintage photo Distress
Paper: Simple Stories
Accessories: Portfolio Oil Pastels, homemade embossing paste, Crafter’s workshop stencil, gilder’s paste-?, lace-stash, ivy die-Poppy, flourish dies, twine-PTI, Krylon paint pen, tissue-?, gel medium, gesso-Golden, canvas-Dollarama, nesties ovals (as tearing templates)

Woodland Animals Baby Cards for Unscripted Sketches

I haven’t played an Unscripted Sketches in way too long. They are one of my favourite challenges. I also wanted to use some of my new SSS monthly kit so – ta da!

I immediately thought of a baby when I saw the tiny deer, foxes and blue birds. The pumpkins and trees with turning leaves aren’t so babyish but as long as the card isn’t being given in spring i think it’s ok!

And since I had the supplies out, why not make two? I haven’t made a card for multiples in a while, never know when you’ll need one! Maybe I’ll put these in an online store. I’ve applied to a new juried online store; I’ll see if I get in. I like that you only pay 50c per item for a year with no monthly or commission fees. Awesome!

Click on the sketch to visit the challenge blog page.

Enjoy, Rebecca

RECIPE
Stamps: BB: Hearts, Baby-PTI
Ink: VersaMagic white, HA cup o Joe
Paper: DP-Lawn Fawn, kraft, white CS-PTI
Accessories: EK Success mini scallop punch

Teacher Thank You for MFT Sketch Challenge

My 5 year old's teacher is amazing. And she loves my son despite his erratic personality. I seriously would hire her to tutor him for the rest of his life if I had the money! Her favourite colour is ‘rainbow’ so I thought I’d go for an autumnal version of rainbow.

So many bright, fun colours in this card. I used my PTI ice cream die, the cone part, to cut the banners. But they were too long for the card so I carefully measured an exact amount off of the top of each and trimmed it off. As the cut pieces lay on the table, I realized they were perfect for toppers for the banners! Cool right? I hope she likes it!

This card is based on the My Favorite Things Wednesday Stamp Club #96. Click on the sketch to visit the blog post.

Enjoy, Rebecca

RECIPE
Stamps: Clearly Sentimental About Teachers-MFT, flourish-PTI
Ink: Archival black-Ranger, Memento Teal Zeal
Paper: DP-Echo Park, teal, olive CS-SU!, other CS-PTI
Accessories: foam dots-Jody Morrow, dies-PTI, scalloped punch-EK Success, rhinestones-Dollarama, ribbon-Offray, Bakers Twine-Divine Twine

Doodle Pantry-Autumn Topiary

My term at Doodle Pantry has come to an end. I am sad to see it go but also relieved as I am going to be very busy with the baby soon! Only 3.5 months to go! I do love colouring Laurie’s images though so I’m sure you will see some more of her designs in the coming months.

Finally! A card I thought photographed well! I am always apologizing for my poor photos. I struggled to find papers to go with the fall colours I used for this image. I finally settled on Max and Whiskers by Basic Grey. The colours were perfect. The sketch is by Mojo Monday but I missed entering by just a few hours. Bummer!

Enjoy, Rebecca

RECIPE
Image: Doodle Pantry
Stamps: Sentiment-Verve, Flourish-(sorry can’t remember)
Ink: Antique Linen, Vintage Photo Distress, artichoke-SU!
Paper: Basic Grey, artichoke, espresso,kraft CS-SU!, white CS-Taylored Expressions, vintage dictionary page
Accessories: scalloped die – not sure, either PTI or MFT, flowers-CTMH, pearls-Dollarama, circle die-Nesties, foam dots-Jody Morrow, Copics R24,27,29 YR04,07,16, Y21,35,38, YG63,67 G21,24,94,99 BG93,96 BV00,02 E35,37,47