Craft Stamper-Take It, Make It November Challenge

November's Challenge asks players to use a regular, every day stamp to create a Christmas themed project. Be sure to check out this link to see all the details and inspirational ideas.

The Raven is a bird often associated with Halloween but I wanted to connect it to Christmas for this challenge.  Ravens have a good reputation here so I am quietly easing the bird into a Christmas role.  Here is what I created...

I began with acrylic paints using a wet marbling technique with white iridescent paint.  Once the paint was dry I stamped the Raven image.  The image needed extra attention of permanent markers, colored pencils and glossy enamel to complete the coloring details. The ornament is created by using a Prima doily stamp. The front side of the stamp to an acrylic block and the flat shape is painted with white acrylic paint and stamped. Once the ink is dry the doily is stamped with red archival ink overtop of the white. Stickles are used to hand draw the bow.

I returned to the background above the raven and stamped the dotted swirl image by Magenta.
The Wplus9 "merry" sentiment is stamped in black ink and embossed in clear.  The white shadow is added by hand for additional emphasis. The card is finished with a Prima border stamped image. 

I had so much fun making this card I am really thinking about adjusting the design to create a small canvas for my work space. Hope you had a merry time playing this challenge too!

Happy creative stamping!...Jan

Challenge-12 Days of Christmas Tags

Oh my, what a fun challenge this is!  Loll is one of my new design team pals from the monthly Mixed Media Card Challenge . She is currently hosting 12 days of mixed media tag inspiration along with a guest designer each day. I love creating texture and dimension
so Loll certainly piqued my interest with this challenge. But I can't believe how quickly the days are flying by!  We are already to day 8 and this is my first entry. Yes, I intended to play from the 1st but some times life gets busy and runs into our creative time.  But oh well, I am here to tell you that there is still time to get in on the fun! 

Let Heaven and Nature Sing

 

I had tons of fun playing with distress sprays for the background and added some navy suede for design interest and a touch of yummy texture. I have always enjoyed making inchies...those little 1x1 inches pieces of art add fun interest to a larger piece like a tag. For this inchie I layered homemade distress sprays to add dimension to the background, stamped the pinecones and edged in glitter (texture). I used an CB embossing to create the frame with a blanket stitched edge and added a thick inchie mounting square to the back to pop it above the tag's surface-yes this little piece adds both texture and dimension. To complete the tag's background I began stamping off the edge for added dimension as well another layer of distress ink around the outer edge. 

 

 

 

Many thanks to Loll and all her friends for some terrific inspiration!  What an awesome challenge!

...Jan

 

 

Ring those Christmas Bells

The Mixed Media Card Challenge continues with this month’s Christmas theme and an optional bell element.  Shery Russ the creator and administrator of the MMCC challenge site also owns a terrific stamp company called STAMPlorations.  The challenge this month is sponsored STAMPlorations.  All the entry details are explained on the challenge site.

Card details:  The background base is made with a wood grain background stamp and distress inks are blend on top and distressed edges.  Similarly the die cut window frame is stamped with the same wood grain but positioned vertically. The stain glass effect is created by coloring aluminum foil with alcohol inks, scrunching and attaching to the window frame.

My use of the STAMPlorations bells differ from my original example with new colors and berries. The dimension of the bells is made by shaping each bell over a the base of a Sharpie pen and adding 2 layers of pop dots at the base.    

I always enjoy some metallic splashes on my holiday cards so I am excited that Virginia’s View Challenge #9 this month is all things metallic.  I am entering my card in this challenge.

Hope you find some creative time soon!  Here's a link to the Mixed Media challenge if you would like to give it try!

 

Happy creative moments!...Jan

Supplies-STAMPlorations-bells  Stampin Up-woods grain Die-Sizzix-window with flower box  Aluminum foil, alcohol inks and distress inks.

November Mixed Media Card Challenge

Silver Bells
The November challenge theme at Mixed Media Card Challenge is Christmas with the option element of bells. If you haven't already started now is the time to start preparing for the holiday season with creating mixed media Christmas Cards.  And as an added bonus this month's challenge is sponsored by STAMPlorations. So be sure to check out the details for winning this month's prize stamps on the challenge blog.

I wanted to make these beautiful STAMPloration bells the focus of my card this month.  I found some wonderful silver textured paper to stamp and emboss the image.  The bells are color with sharpie markers and the berries are created with liquid pearls (by Viva my favorite for dimension) and also colored with sharpies.  I added pop dots to the base of the bell for some added dimension.

The background stamp became much more challenging than I expected.  I tested several colors of ink and was ready for a final image. But when I looked at the fully stamped image and the stencil wreath on top it looked like the wreath was having a very bad hair day...boldly inked double bars on the16th notes where spewing from behind the wreath in very odd directions. After a few more tests I was pleased with a much softer 2nd generation inking for the background...I stamped the 1st inked impression on scrap paper, then lightly misted the stamp and stamped the card background. Stamped sentiment and distressed edges.  Added pieces of textured cardstock to top and bottom of card.



Our sponsor for this month's challenge is STAMPlorations.
Thank you Shery for providing stamps for the design team's use this month!  What fun to see 1 stamp used in so many different ways. You will want to check out the inspiration of the entire design teams as well as  other terrific STAMPlorations Christmas stamp sets here.
 


Looking forward to seeing your cards at the Mixed Media Card Challenge!

Hope you enjoy great creative moments this month!
Janj