Techniques for Open Stamping on Dec. 4th

For our Open Stamping at my house (Nov/Dec combined) we will learn a "new" technique and an alternate method.  We'll be using Perfectly Pine (A1191) from the Holiday Expressions mini-catalog, and a retired Easter stamp (Peace be with you).  I used New England Ivy (retired) and Chocolate colors on Whisper gray cardstock.  The card base is Glacier cardstock and the front 4 x 5 1/4" piece is Twilight (retired) cardstock.  

The "snow" was created with a "snow" stencil and white embossing paste.  This is a very cool, very easy technique!  The alternate is to stamp the snow with the border stamp set Charming Cascades and one of the more opaque pigment ink pads (White Daisy, or Colonial White). 

The holidays are upon us - and I'm preparing for this Sunday's fun while also waiting (not very patiently) for surgery on December 13th.  I hope to not be "out of the saddle" for long, but rather, free from pain and finally able to spend time doing what I love.  

If you are interested in the Perfectly Pine set (only $6.95) you'll need to order it by the end of the year as that catalog goes away soon.  

Namaste.

House by the forest

This card was inspired by a Pinterest card that used different stamps.  The layout is very much the same but the other artists card was to celebrate a new home and I made mine a Christmas card.  I used all CTMH stamps, paper and inks.  

The house was from a set of winter country scenes - I cut away (*gasp*) two trees from either side of the house because I wanted the big trees to be more in the background.  I colored the house with watercolor pencils and gave the snow a little dab of glimmer ink (like wink of stella).  I was at a weekend retreat with my friends when I snapped this photo - I went into "production" mode until my pencils got too dull and no-one had a pencil sharpener!  Fun times.  I had other things to work on - and we had a blast away from routine chores and distractions.  I love getting away for a few days to just be with my dear friends!  

Shine Bright and a Flop Card

Well, I bought a "flop card" die from My Favorite Things - but I had to watch the You Tube video three times to understand it!  When I finally did "get it", I realized that my card was very "simply" decorated before the cut/score lines were added.  On the inside, I simply flipped over the pattern paper that I had added to the front of the card and cut a little edge to create some pattern.  The lonely "Rejoice" in the upper corner can actually be seen as you begin to flop the card open.  

All stamps and papers were Close To My Heart.  The inside sentiment on the last photo is in the current Holiday Expressions book - it is one of their awesome "A" size stamps ($6.95) and I there are 4 ways to add stars in the package also.  

There is a way to use the flop card die cut to make an easel card but the oval would be horizontal (so this image would not fit).  I think I'll try that next!  

Gratitude

This is my first "digital stamp" image.  I was so smitten with the beautiful work that Barbara Walker did here that I wrote to her asking how on earth do you use digital stamps?!  You might notice that our cards look a lot alike!  I wasn't trying to case her card (although that is always a good idea!) - I just wanted to get the bittersweet wreath on the front with a sentiment and this is about all that worked for me!  LOL

I am getting old.  It is difficult to color the tiny dots - I had to enlist the help of my full spectrum desk lamp (haven't used it in years!) and I had to take breaks.  But, the overall effect seems to fit the season and the sentiment is sweet so I'll be making a few of these. Happy November!