Never enough tags!

Have you ever had an idea for a design in your sleep?  It doesn't happen often, but I had been going through my stamps looking for things that might work for Christmas tags.  I came across an "oldie" set that has boot tracks and the sentiment "Not all who wander are lost" - and this tree.  It didn't occur to me to use the tree until I went to bed - I was actually looking at the two smaller trees in the package.  LOL  

So, the details; It was stamped on a store-bought kraft tag with Pomegranate ink, then the image was stamped again on a scrap of retired CTMH design paper from years ago (when the paper was two-sided but the patterns were the same on both sides, just the colors different).  I used Ponderosa Pine on the green side and Cocoa on the brown side of the paper; cut them out and paper pieced.  The star was from a set called "Live, Laugh, Love" (also retired) that has beautiful swirls and design elements.  I thought about stamping it on a lighter color but decided that I liked the rustic look better.  

Ombre Watercolor

 I've made an ombre background using the ink pad and a water brush; but honestly, the way the watercolors move on the new CTMH watercolor paper with a brush is so satisfying! I believe doing it this way the blending was even easier! 

I used three of the colors (I actually worked it from lightest to darkest), I "encouraged" the piece to dry with the heat gun, and then stamped the sentiments with the new Sapphire ink.  The front piece is self-matted (I had taped the watercolor paper down with Washi tape) and it is mounted onto a piece of Sapphire cardstock. Then I stamped some stars with White Daisy pigment inks.  I had to stamp them several times to get them solid enough but the final effect is nice - they are a little blurry just like all the stars I see in the sky at night! I also used just a touch of the Wink of Stella Clear on the stars.  

Another watercolor - Northern Lights

One of the CTMH consultants posted a video showing how to create a northern lights scene using sponges and ink pads.  I decided to try doing it with watercolors.  This was my first try - and I kinda like it!  The stars are dots of Star Dust Stickles.  The snow is Wink of Stella - Clear and the tops of the hills were done with the Stickles.

I don't think I mentioned on here that I actually saw Northern Lights this summer!  It was after midnight, Steve and friends had been out fishing for Walleye and saw the lights from the boat.  They woke me up and made me go outside with them in my robe and slippers - but I am SO GLAD they did!  What I saw wasn't as colorful as my example - mostly white with some green and blue hues; but the way it danced in the sky is a sight I'll never forget! Simply magical! 

Watercolor paints

I hadn't yet dipped my new brushes into the watercolor paints from Close to My Heart.  I decided to make a small batch of cards I could share with my artist friends - the sentiment is one of a CTMH set available to Consultants - I believe the goal is for recruiting.  But I love how this looks over the watercolors and thought it would be great fun to share with my card-making friends.  One of these is not like the others - can you see which one?  (Given: each one is unique - but three have the same background paper from Kaleidoscope). 

Get Well, Thinking of You, Thanks!

This set of cards was completely inspired by the design paper that I stumbled onto at a garage sale.  One of my dear friends has more scrapbooking/card-making stuff than any (make that ALL) of the Local Scrapbook Stores combined!  She was trying to reduce the load of stash - and I was the very fortunate recipient of over 100 sheets of design paper.  There was only one of this one, however.  And I was completely smitten by the copper foil on these roses.

I made a Get Well (for a friend who had surgery) a Think of You for another with a serious health issue and a Thanks for the young woman who cared for my house plants all summer.  I like them all!

Sentiments are all Close to My Heart stamps and the inks were Blush, Topiary, and Cocoa. I added a few "gems" also.

It sure feels good to be creating again!

Masculine birthday card

Steve's oldest Grandson is turning a TEENAGER soon - the family is celebrating early so we can do this with him in person!  It's nice! So, I'm thinking a 13 year old boy won't want a goofy, childish card - but something very masculine. Hope this works!

 

The papers are the new Urban design from Close-to-My-Heart, and the sentiments are from a stamp set that isn't available; it was a September special celebrating Scrapbooking, Card-Making, and Picture-My-Life planner types of stamping.  I believe this particular one was Card-making (but I get confused and my stamps are packed so there is no looking it up).  Anyway - I cut the stars from the Urban paper, I stamped "Happy birthday" in a subtle "whisper" over the metal plate design paper. What doesn't show is a little pocket I added after I took this photo for us to slip in the $13 that we give at birthdays.  ($1 per year).  Next post will be from Arizona!  Yippee!!

One more Christmas tag

This is a retiring stamp set from the 2014-2015 catalog; an "A" size, that I had to have.  I love the simplicity of it - the sweet message (not so much the sentiment as the image of the girl holding the single star).  I stamped it in black ink, then colored with my Inktense pencils.  I love the effects!  There is a little Wink-of-Stella on the star and star-beams but not anywhere else. 

I'm scheduling this post and the next one because we are traveling soon and I may be without internet connection temporarily!  Next real visit will be from Arizona (Home!)!!