Parade of Trees...

Challenge #128  Holly and Ivy is Anything Goes

Theme for # 68    Trees, Trees, Trees

It's been cold for the past few days and while I could clean my house--I've been playing in my craft room.  The "Parade of Trees" on my card is from ROXY svg on ETsy.   I just love the "fabric" feel and used SU Eden's Garden to showcase this download.   To add some depth I printed it twice and fussy cut the second one to run through an embossing folder (I think crackle or something to that effect.)  I then popped that image on the one attached to the card base.    I really like it, but fussy cutting was a bit intricate so it will probably remain one of a kind.     I am participating in the Holly and Ivy Challenge and the Christmas Kickstart Challenge (first time at this challenge.)   Thanks for stopping in.   I welcome comments and wish you a Happy and Healthy Thanksgiving!          Smiles,   Kathy

 

 

Christmas Trees Card....

I just loved this card, made by Jen Timko, so much so that I ordered the Pine Tree Honey Cuts and the Vintage Holiday paper pad along with some other goodies from the Honey Bee Company.    So of course, I've just been dying to play with it all, and today I did just that!  I also used a sentiment from the vintage SU set Joy Christmas.   It's simple and clean and I like it!   I hope you do too!     Thanks so much for stopping in have a great and safe week!       Kathy

 

Brown Christmas Card...

 

Never have I made a Christmas Card where I used shades of "Brown" predominantly.   Since this is the year I wanted to "branch out" and try different challenges and challenges out of my comfort zone I decided to give the current challenge at 52CCTD my best shot.   I am also linking to some "anything goes" challenges...Just click below and it will take you to the Websites.     The verdict is out on my card.  There are some lovely cards that have been posted for this challenge.   It's just that I have always been very traditional with Christmas (red/green black/gray with pops of color, or shades of blue). So I went shopping and  I downloaded some lace papers and used a very old CTMH set to create a Nativity.   The embellishments are SU Cinnamon Cider (last year's incolor) in this years book!    I am starting to incorporate digital into my artwork...I just love the brown lace papers I downloaded from Etsy.   I look forward to building my digi stamp collection.     I would love to know what you think!   Thanks for stopping by!   Kathy

THE HOLLY AND THE IVY CHALLENGE "Anything

Christmas Goes

Poinsettia Christmas...

My mother loved poinsettias. She never could afford to buy one for our home.  When I got old enough 2 of my friends went in with me and we bought her a large beautiful red poinsettia.  She was so proud of that poinsettia.   

I found my first card I ever made a few weeks ago in some boxes I was going through, how sweet that my mother had kept it for so many years! I was in first grade, it was my first experience fussy cutting.   I think I did really well considering I was using large clunky safety scissors!   At the time I made it, I remember being miffed at my teacher for giving me an old boring poinsettia card to cut up, when some of the other kids got Santa Claus...but fast forward 59 years and like my mother I think poinsettias are just so beautiful...I'm not sure what I think about my poinsettia on today's card, the way the color scheme worked with my stamping technique, but I'm posting it anyway because it was a learning exercise for me.  Here is the stamp I used.

I unmounted the stamp,  (it came off easy and smooth) because  I wanted to use it with the SU stamparatus I bought awhile back.   I have Multiple Myeloma and with the treatment I'm on (to stay in remission) and because old age is creeping in, I sometimes struggle with a steady hand.  So if you have similar problems getting clear images you might want to buy one.  They aren't cheap, but I think it will help me keep on cardmaking for a long time.   Thanks for stopping in, have a great weekend!      Kathy

The following are challenges I had in mind when making my card, To access each website, just click on the image:

Tuesday Morning Sketches is a weekly challenge and this week is a great sketch!

 First time participating at The Holly and Ivy Christmas Challenge, challenges are monthly and this is July 2018 "anything goes" challenge.

Challenges at the CAS Colours & Stamp; Sketches are as follows!

You can see in the pictures below that I used Coastal Cabana, Lemon Lime Twist and Powder Pink but the overlapping from the technique gave different colors!

Weeks 1 and 3 of the month - Colour challenge

Weeks 2 and 4 of the month - Sketch challenge

First time playing over at CAS Christmas where challenges are monthly and for Christmas cards only.

Pictures below show the steps I followed, in my attempt to master sponging the stamp and repeat stamping using the stamparatus! .  I had read about this technique using the stamparatus on another blog.   I also used a brush and the ink pads to clarify some of the edges.  The sentiment is CTMH (retired)  Everything else is SU, wink of stella and sequins!