Guest Designer for 52 Christmas Card Throwdown November Colour Challenge - Kraft, Black and White

Hello there.  I’m excited to be back guest designing (GD) at 52 Christmas Card Throwdown (52CCT) for their November colour challenge - KRAFT, BLACK & WHITE.

This colour combo screamed masculine to me, so I used Christmas Greenery stamp set from Gina K Designs to create a simple masculine snowy scene card.  

The front row of trees were stamped with VersaMark ink and heat embossed with white embossing powder along the bottom of an A2 size Kraft panel.  Stamped a second row of trees with Kraft dye ink behind that row for a tone-on-tone.  Next, ink blended Kraft and black dye inks around the perimeter and above the trees for contrast.  Oops… went a bit heavier handed than planned. 🙈

Splattered with diluted white gouache paint for falling snow, and painted white gouache paint below the trees for the snowy ground.  For some sparkle, applied ink on the trees and ground with a VersaMarker, then heat embossed with clear glitter embossing powder.  Joyful by CZ Designs / Simon Says Stamp was die cut from white and its shadow from black cardstock.  Stamped the secondary sentiment (retired) with Versafine Onyx Black ink directly onto the panel.  Assembled the card onto a white card base to finish.

I want to thank Andreja and the 52CCT team for this GD opportunity.  For inspirations from them and/or to link up your card, click HERE.  Please note: affiliate links used when possible at no extra cost to you.  Thank you for stopping by.   

Challenges:

Peace on Earth Christmas - #51 AG Christmas 

Holly and Ivy Christmas - #151 AG Christmas 

Die Cut Divas - November: Holidays 

Guest Designer for Colorful Options May 2023 Challenge - Blue

Hello everyone.  After being named the Designer Spotlight winner in March, I am so excited to be invited to guest design (GD) this month at Colorful Options (CO) for their May challenge, especially since this month’s colour is BLUE.  For those who may not know, blue is my favourite colour! 😉   Of course, if blue isn’t yours, you can always create a rainbow colour themed project instead to play along.  Here’s this month’s inspiration board.

And here’s my bright, blue birthday card.

Used a balloon die from Simon Says Stamp to die cut the balloons from white cardstock.  Blended Tumbled Glass, Mermaid Lagoon and Blueprint Sketch distress oxide inks (DOx) to colour them.  To give them dimension, made sure to leave a highlight spot.  Leftover ink from a black foam blending tool was used to add shading to the white balloons.

Took the Blanket Stitched Rectangle die from Pinkfresh Studio next to die cut an A2 size panel from light blue cardstock.  Arranged and adhered the balloons onto the upper 2/3 of the panel.  Splattered with diluted white gouache paint for a festive confetti look.  Die cut the Birthday Trio sentiment from Gina K Designs twice from thick white paper and stacked them together for dimension.  Assembled the card onto a white card base to finish.

I want to thank Makira and the CO team for having me guest.  For more inspirations from the CO design team and/or to link up your project, click HERE.  Hope to see you in the gallery.  Thank you for stopping by.

Challenges:

Just Add Ink - #650 Large Letters or Numbers 

Seize the Birthday - #260 Balloons 

The Paper Players - #638 Tic-Tac-Toe Challenge from Anne Marie (diagonal: bright colors, die cuts, birthday)

AAA Birthday - #49 Balloons 

Guest Designer for The Color Hues Challenge #38 - Pink and Green

Hello everyone.  I’m back this week with another guest designing (GD) post.  This time I’m thrilled to be joining the team at The Color Hues (TCH) for challenge #38 - Pink and Green. 

Of course it had to be April Fools today!  I could have sworn someone was playing a trick on me because it was quite the ordeal to create my card. 😂  I just received my order containing the gorgeous Rarest Rose stamp set from Gina K Designs and I was determined to use it right away.  After having to start over and then managing to save my second attempt, my mini slimline floral birthday card was finally done! 

The image was stamped with Memento Tuxedo Black ink on a mini slimline panel (3.25”x6.25”) trimmed from Xpress It cardstock.  This turned out more dramatic than I had planned, but to save my second card that had a green alcohol ink smear on it, I coloured the background black!  Colouring was done with Copic Sketch markers.  

Pinks - RV000, RV00, R81, R83, RV25

Greens - YG67, YG63, YG61 | BG05, YG06, YG03, YG01 | G28, YG17, YG07 

(hard to tell against the dark background, but with 3 different style leaves, I used 3 different blending combos)

Grays - C4, C2, C00 (for shading the white flowers) 

Black - 100

The sentiment from Waffle Flower Essential Sentiments was stamped with Hero Arts Unicorn white ink and heat embossed with white embossing powder.  Added clear shimmer to the pink flowers using a Spectrum Noir clear sparkle pen.  Embellished with some clear Raindrops from Studio Katia to finish.

I want to thank Nancy and TCH team for having me GD today.  To see the inspirations from the designers and/or link up your entry, click HERE.  Thank you for stopping by.  Have a wonderful day.

Challenges:

Seize the Birthday - #235 Anything Goes Birthday topping Stripe it Up (no topping)

SSS Wednesday Challenge - Anything Goes 

The Four Seasons - April Anything Goes Spring 

SSS IG Challenge - April Slimline/Mini Slimline  

Crafty Gals Corner - #229 Add a Flower 

Guest Designer for CAS on Friday - Flowers

Hello everyone.  I’m excited to be guest designing today at CAS on Friday for their challenge #227 where the theme is FLOWERS.  I used another new/unused stamp set (NBUS) I’ve had for years.  I can’t even link to it because it is already discontinued! 🙈  Anyway, in solidarity with Ukraine and taking colour inspiration from their flag 🇺🇦, here’s my card. 

I know there is no green in their flag, but blue + yellow = green! 😉   Started by stamping the flower bunch with Memento Tuxedo Black ink on a stitched panel that was die cut from XPress It cardstock using A2 Stitched Rectangle Set 1 die by My Favorite Things.  The image was then stamped again onto masking paper and fussy cut out to create a mask.  Masked the image then stamped the pot.  

Removed the mask and coloured with Copic Sketch markers.  The sentiment is from Simon Says Stamp Thoughtful Messages.  It was stamped with Versafine Onyx Black ink and heat embossed with clear glitter embossing powder.  For additional sparkle, added clear shimmer to the flowers and yellow Pastel Jewels from Memory Box to the flower centers to finish.  

For more inspirations and to link up your CAS flower cards, click HERE.  Thank you for stopping by.  Have a wonderful day. 

Challenges:

The Four Seasons - March Anything Goes Spring  

NBUS #36 - new stamp set

Thinking of You Friend

Hello there.  Happy 4th of July to our neighbours to the south.  I'm dropping in quickly to share a floral card I created for a friend who is facing some health challenges.

Stamped the Gina K Designs Peaceful Roses image in the botttom left corner of an A2 sized stitched rectangle panel die cut from X-press It cardstock.  Coloured the image with Copics then masked it before applying Scattered Straw distress ink with a blending brush for the background.  Placed a sun ray stencil over top and added more ink through the stencil, but kept it subtle.  I must admit, yellow is a tough colour to work with.

Big Friend Shadow from Simon Says Stamp was die cut from black cardstock and its shadow from vellum.  Heat embossed the sentiment from Simon Says Stamp Jumbo Stripes with white embossing powder on a black strip.  Assembled the card on a white top folding card base. Added clear shimmer to the flowers, Crystal Glaze to the friend die-cut and a few clear sequins to finish.

Hope this surprise happy mail will brighten her day.  Thank you for stopping by.  Have a wonderful day.

Challenges:
The Paper Players - #448 A Tic-Tac-Toe Challenge from Joanne   (floral, yellow, die-cut)
Cupcake Inspirations - #473 Shades of Yellow
Watercooler Wednesday - #228 Marsha's Feminine Anything Goes
The Flower Challenge - #34 Pretty Pastels