Shimmerz

I am still trying out some new things for Christmas cards. Here I tried a new product called Shimmerz. It is a thin watercolor paint with mica. It dries very quickly and adds a shimmer when you tilt your card. I used a white layer of "angel wings" shimmerz on the the ornaments in this card. I know you can't see it so why don't you head over to the home site so you can enter you name for the blog candy that will be released on Nov 1st (see post for Wed Oct 22 Colors and Candy).

I began this card with a watercolor wash for the background. Embossed the ornaments with Ranger Seafoam white embossing powder so I use a embossed resist technique to color them. One oops-I tried to make 3 different colored balls but the background yellow tones turned my blue ink into green. Greenry stamps are from the SU Peaceful Wishes set and the ornaments are in a River City set.

Winter is Here

It is a quiet Sunday. Our leaves are gone and snow has covered the ground since the end of September. All day I was thinking I should get out and take some new photos for my blog but I spent the day stamping instead. But in late afternoon a moose walked through on the path through the birch trees.

A community marathon uses this trail every September in celebration of the Equinox. Hundreds enjoy the challenge of this race that's said to be one of the most rigorous in the world.

Melinda Gates joined a relay team for the 2nd year to honor the memory of past Iditarod champion Susan Butcher. The racers and walkers take almost 1 hour to all pass through my property. It has become a ritual to greet them and cheer them on. But for now it is the moose who enjoys the quiet of the afternoon.

Challenge fun!

Hero Arts' blog is focusing on printed papers this week.

Since I generally do not use many PP, I have enjoyed learning a few tips this week. During the World Card Making Day I was introduced to a new to me sketch site, Triple the Sketch. So with today's sketch post I decided to combined both. I had to adjust the sketch to work on my card.

I used Basic Grey and Memory Box papers. The snowflake stamp is from Stamp Oasis. The image is embossed on a glitter mist background. The Hero Arts sentiment and seal are overlayed on the cuttlebugged circle.

Remember you can double click on any picture to see more details.

Thanks for looking!

Harry smiles!

Many thanks to Lianna for hosting a very challenging swap. She sent the participants in her challenge several collage elements and asked us to use 3 in making a card, a postcard or an arch. I used the pearl at the top of the arch, Harry's photo, the paper behind it that I used as a framing mat also the button straight pin and the paper I stamped the sentiment on. The long scroll die cut was make with the CB and the bottom hinge arrow and the little heart are grungeboard element. I 've only made a couple arches but this was a fun challenge--for me it was like creating my own jigsaw puzzle. Thanks again Lianna!

World stamping day challenge

Tons of challenges are happening all over the net to celebrate our special card making day! Hope you are find challenges that you are enjoying.

My friend Jennifer threw out this challenge last week-to use a bottle label to make a card. I must say with a little hot water soak it came off lots easier than I ever expected. I cut the design out of the bottle cap to use as an embellishment. It is a little hard to see in the picture but it is a large dark image of a mama polar bear with a lighter image baby bear...and it is our "Made in Alaska" trademark that is purchase by locals to designate products that are truly made here.

I have been on a few other challenges too-
Wonderful Women was an eye catching challenge for me at 2 peas. This one also qualified for the 2 or more mingled flourishes and some doodling!

I wanted to begin working on some Christmas cards so I am also playing over at Scrapbook News and Review. You have to register to play but it is free.

For this card I used the Blue Christmas inspiration photo. I made a homemade glimmer mist background. It shimmers with gold flakes.

This contest at SRN was sponsored by Apple Blossom Studio Stamps and required a border. I am off and running to play some more!

Deck the Halls

The Hero Arts blog challenge this week is to create items to use to decorate for the holidays.

This idea was shared by the our dear stamping friend from PCMB and Two Peas , the late dear who moi. Sent to me by Lori on March 9, 2005. The directions are generic in order to accomodate various box sizes.

This simple box cover is constructed from heavy weight white cardstock. Begin with a 7" square to creating the lid. Scoring 1.25 inches in from other edge on all sides. Stamp as you desired. The tissue oval hole is made by using the tissue box as a template. To create the side of the lid cut one scoring seam on each corner and tape the short flap underneath the lid. The base wrap begins with 2- 5x11.5 pieces of cardstock. Wrap each piece on the outside of the box to create 2 side panels and to provide a seam allowance for taping underneath the other sheet's panel to connect all 4 panels together. Cut away excess and leave flat for stamping. Notes- some box panels on the same box are slightly different widths. This pattern does not cover the bottom of the box.

I layered blue distress ink to create a background for the falling snowflakes (CL Classic Christmas borders-new Hero Arts Winter catalogue). I consider the Three Snowy Trees stamps one on my very favorite HA stamps which I have enjoyed each year since 2000. I used liquid applique for the snow. Added lots of glitter on the snowy tree boughs.

I used 12 x12 gold metallic cardstock to make this votive box large enough to enjoy this collage stamp. I scored the paper in 4" blocks and cut away the corner squares all except for a tape allowance stripe broading each of the 4 panels by a 1/4 to 1/2 inch depending on the tape width. I stamped the image onto vellum with Nick Bantock's prussian blue dye ink and embossed in clear. I used metallic dabbers to paint the frame and embellished. The best part of all is I found a battery operated tealight candle-that flickers!...so this is safe around animals and children. This image is so beautiful on vellum-I need to go play more!