Muse: Christmas Visions #70

I am trying to get as many holiday cards done as possible ... I have report cards coming up and won't have too much time.  I used this beautiful card as inspiration to make a Christmas card:

I took this card's use of patterned paper and a die cut over at Christmas Visions  as my jumping off point:

I took a piece of patterned paper and made a background, cutting a Memory Box edgers die from white Recollections card stock.

Then I heat embossed Papertrey's Holiday Swoosh in fine detail gold embossing powder.  I popped the white panel up on foam, spending time cutting little slivers to keep the trees up off the card base.  Thanks to Christmas visions for the inspiration!!  Lots more cards to go but now I have one more in my stash.

In case you are looking for some stamps or dies, I have some on sale:

Papertrey Stamps and dies:
Background Basics: Vines – stamp set ($30 from the vault) --> $15 lowered to $12
Background Basics: Geometrics ($30 from the vault) --> $15 lowered to $12
Embellishments Coordinating dies ($8) --> $4
Stitches and Swirls - stamp set ($48 from the vault) --> $24
Christmas Pointsettia dies ($8) > $5
Damask Designs stamp set ($48 from the vault) > $24
Background Basics: Wrought Iron[/b] ($36 from the valut) > $24
Everyday Button Bits - images only - stamps $10

From other companies:
Hero Arts – Friends $5 SOLD
Tim Holtz - Flights of Fancy $8
Altenew Wild Hibiscus brand new $15 missing top left stamp 

Shipping available to Canada, US and International based on weight:
One sheet (Canada $1, US $2, International $3.50)
Two sheets (Canada $1.50, US $3, International $6)
Payment via Paypal.
All sets have minimal staining, if any, come with labels and are from a smoke free, pet free home. :)

PTI September Blog Hop

This month, over at Papertrey Ink, the inspiration picture for the blog hop is a gorgeous one!

                                                                                       photograph from burkatron 

I took the colours, twine and leaves as my inspiration and made the following simple one layer card:

I used a kraft card base and stamped Turning a New Leaf in Fresh ink Tuscan Olive.  I stamped several times with my trusty MISTI.

Then I added some Versamark inked twine and heat embossed in white which is a bit creamy in hue.  I used the set No Strings Attached which is a great set - so versatile!

 I just love heat embossing on kraft card stock!  So effective!

I decided to keep it sentiment free - either I will send it as is or stamp a sentiment when the occasion arises ... we shall see!

Happy blog hopping!  Oh, and in case you are looking for some stamps or dies, I have some on sale:

Papertrey Stamps and dies:
Background Basics: Vines – stamp set ($30 from the vault) --> $15 lowered to $12
Background Basics: Geometrics ($30 from the vault) --> $15 lowered to $12
Embellishments Coordinating dies ($8) --> $4
Stitches and Swirls - stamp set ($48 from the vault) --> $24
Bloomers stamp set and dies $20
Christmas Pointsettia dies ($8) > $5
Modern Basics stamp set ($48 from the vault) > $24
Damask Designs stamp set ($48 from the vault) > $24
Background Basics: Wrought Iron[/b] ($36 from the valut) > $24
Everyday Button Bits - images only - stamps $10


From other companies:
Hero Arts – Friends $5 SOLD
Tim Holtz - Flights of Fancy $8

Shipping available to Canada, US and International based on weight:
One sheet (Canada $1, US $2, International $3.50)
Two sheets (Canada $1.50, US $3, International $6)
Payment via Paypal.
All sets have minimal staining, if any, come with labels and are from a smoke free, pet free home. :)

Papertrey February 2015 blog hop - hello

This month's blog hop is all about the smooshing technique ... what fun!

In the past, I have used cheap watercolour paper and my pieces would always fall apart or the paper would start to ball up if I used too much water.  I invested in some thicker papers on discount and am so glad - what a difference it has made!

I used the gorgeous PTI background stamp (Venice) with some clear Zing embossing powder and Versamark powder.  I heat embossed and then added a variety of my new Avery Elle inks (see my swatch post here) and some Studio Calico shine spray onto my work surface.  I smooshed the heat embossed Strathmore watercolour paper into the mixture and held my breath.

The Studio Calico shine spray adds a nice extra sparkle to this simple card ... I couldn't quite get a very good picture but I tried ... it's late here and no natural sunlight!  What's new, right?!

I added a 'hello' die cut into the panel, popped the piece up with foam tape and added in the piece from the 'e' and 'o' to complete the card.  The Tropical Teal cardstock base adds a darker colour to the card.  

So how did you like the smooshing technique?  Please share your tips here!

I have some items for sale - check out my post here:

http://cardsbycara.blogspot.ca/2014/11/some-items-for-sale.html

PTI Heavy Metal Challenge

I am finally getting a chance to post my creations for the Papertrey Anniversary festivities.  The Heavy Metal challenge is right up my alley - I love adding gold or silver accents.

I used some cream linen card stock and die cut some gold foil alphabets for the XOXO and added Live Love Life's gorgeous little circle with Versamark and Zing Gold Glitter heat embossing.

  I just love the shine of gold foil and glittery embossing powder!

I added as trip of washi tape from Little Bee that has a fab gold chevron pattern.  Wish I'd bought a second roll! :)

Happy anniversary to Papertrey Ink - to all the creators of stamps, dies and products and to the amazingly talented design team that inspires me each and every time I visit their blogs. <3 p="">
And, as luck would have it, this also fits into  CASology Week 133: Love.

Cure for the Monday Blues Challenge #39 - U rock!

This week over on Taheerah's blog, the theme is all about gold, white and black - what a classy combination!

The picture above does not do the card justice but alas, it was the best I could do!! :)  See below for a better idea of the gold effect.

I took a favourite PTI set of mine, Live Love Life, and used some Zing Gold Glitter embossing powder for a bit of a wow factor.  I decided to keep this card clean and simple and easy to mail so no layers, no pop dots and no extra embellishments.  I added the 'rock' sentiment in Versafine Black Onyx, double stamping it with my MISTI for an extra rich black.

You can see the glitter effect of the embossing powder better in the image above - a real glitz.  I used some Rustic White card stock for a little more visual interest - just love the flecks in this paper!  Thanks, Taheerah, for the inspiration picture - it is simply gorgeous.

PTI Make it Monday #196 - Colourful Corners: Happy New Year

This week's Make it Monday over at Papertrey Ink is all about decorating the corners of cards.  I decided to make a new year's card to send to a friend in Japan - for them New Year's is celebrated much more than Christmas or Hannukah.

I used my Luxe Letterpress stamp set for the two sizes of stars with some Fresh ink in Sugar and Fuschia.  I stamped them randomly in the two corners.

I then added a Versamark stamped Wet Paint sentiment and a Winnie and Walter typed sentiment. The embossing is Zing Gold Glitter - love the shine of this powder!

Gotta love a one layer card - easy to pop in the mail!

Runway Inspired Challenge #69 - shades of yellow and gold

source: style.com

This Runway Inspired Challenge is gorgeous and completely different from colours I usually use ... I love challenges that make me stretch my creativity ...  I took the light shades and tones as my inspiration and the randomly spaced stars (I think?) in the background as a jumping off point.

So here's my humble take on the colour scheme:

I kept it very light and avoided any black, even though it is in the picture - wanted it to be shades of yellow, gold and ... more gold!  My based (Recollections 110lb white) has a popped up stamped layer using Studio Calico colour theory's yellow ink and Brilliance Galaxy gold for some shimmer.

The circles are all Winnie and Walter's Big Bang Confetti and the sentiment is a Zing Gold Tinsel embossed holiday greeting from Papertrey's Wet Paint Holiday collection.  I am trying to get an early start on holiday cards so used this inspiration as a jumping off point.

You can sort of see the sparkle of the Zing embossing powder here and the circles that look darker are actually the Galaxy Gold ink - hard to capture the shimmer!  It's a cool embossing powder because it's a hybrid between the gritty chunkier look of glitter and the smoother heat embossed finish.  It was my first time using it and I was pleasantly surprised with how easy it was to use.  Some of the glitter embossing powders are a pain to work with.

I have been using a lot of foam tape in the roll - love the fact that the profile is a bit thinner so things are more likely to stay in one piece in the mail ... :)

Have you started your holiday stash of cards yet?

Papertrey Ink August Blog hop

I was racing to get some cards made for this blog hop - it's been a long day!  I was inspired by the Kate Spade-esque design feel.  Here's the inspiration pic:

I took the hot pink and polka dots as my jumping off point and added a feather die cut.  Love the texture on this one!

Check out the glossy gold embossing ... it adds such class, doesn't it? :)  I used Rustic Cream card stock so it does have some 'rustic' flecks ...

My next card (which I wasn't able to get in the link up (I missed it by one minute!) is the following - a condolence I needed to make for a colleague:

 Here's a closeup on the Harvest Berries gold embossing:

I used a good old standby Round and Round anniversary set for the sentiment with the nice deep black of Versafine Black Onyx.  Or is it Onyx Black? :)

SAF Antique Embossing

Trying out Melissa's antique embossing technique ...

SAF Wax Seals

Using my new Wet Paint set and the faux wax seal method.  Man, with five of us heat embossing, it smells rather plastic-y in here! ;)

I just love my new Fresh Ink mint ink ...  It looks really cool on Kraft card stock ...

AEI♥U Challenge #10–Gold! #2

I just love this AEI❤U challenge which is all about gold ... yum!  I recently got this gorgeous sentiment set from Avery Elle called Oh Happy Day.  I just love the font used.  I stamped it in VersaMark over top of a Fresh Ink Provincial Gray woodgrain stamped background from Heidi Swapp.

I added some Zing Gold Glitter embossing powder and added the flower and leaves from the same sentiment set.  Hard to capture the gold embossing but here's a closeup nonetheless:

AEI♥U Challenge #10–Gold! #1

The AEI❤U challenge is all about gold and I thought I would use this sentiment stamp I have from them with some ikat designs.

I repeatedly stamped one of the ikat designs using some Versamark and then heat embossed using Zing Gold Glitter embossing powder - this stuff is so fun and blingy!

I added a simple sentiment from Oh Happy Day using my go to black ink - Versafine Onyx Black.  It does such a good job of a true black with impeccable coverage.

Here you can see some of the shine and bling from this embossing powder ... I like the look of it on a Kraft card base ...

What a fun challenge! :-) So glad to take part ...

Papertrey February Blog Hop - Sweet Spring: Today is a good day

Ah, sweet spring - will you ever arrive?  Here is the inspiration picture for this month's blog hop at Papertrey - gorgeous, isn't it?

I loved Dawn's video for this week's Make it Monday watercolour and combined the two ideas.

I stamped a series of Mini Bloom flowers along the bottom and embossed using Teal embossing powder.  I also stamped a sentiment from Sketched Shapes ... super simple!

I did some messy watercolouring along the card front using strokes along the horizontal lines of the base.

You can see a bit of the shine as I added some Perfect Pearls to the water - this is a great simple technique to add a little something extra.

Some more shine featured above ...

So what have you watercoloured lately?

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Check out my crafty sale if you like:
http://cardsbycara.blogspot.ca/2013/06/crafty-sale.html

Supplies:
Paper: Recollections 110lb white
Ink:  Versamark, Memento Tuxedo Black
Stamps: PTI Mini Blooms, Sketched Shapes
Misc:  Zing Teal embossing powder, Distress Markers, Perfect Pearls