Winter Hues

It is time for a new challenge at Frilly and Funkie.  This time Suzz is our hostess and is calling it Winter Hues.  She describes the challenge this way:

"Winter time brings such a beautiful mix of colors. This challenge requires you use any or all of the following colors: blue, white, silver, gray in your vintage or shabby chic project."

I have made a very shabby and vintage card using  white card stock from Recollections for the blank and adding paper from Maja Designs Vintage Frost Basics for the background.  I tore another paper from the same pad and added Wendy Vecchi Crackle Paste through  the Tim Holtz Flourish layering stencil.  I split a length of silver crochet ribbon vertically and added that to the edges of this torn panel.

The snowflakes were cut from Tim Holtz Paper Snowflakes Thinlets die and sprayed with Lindy's Starburst Frozen Jack Frost ink.  A Kaisercraft pearl was added to the centre.

The vintage image came from online and I used a Marvy Uchida Snow Marker to add a bit of detail. Next I cut some Holiday Greens from card stock scraps and sprayed them with Brushed Pewter Distress Spray Stain.  They were topped with a variety of flowers from Wild Orchid Crafts that had some Stardust Stickles added to the edges.

I dyed some seam binding with Weathered Wood Distress Ink and made a loopy bow.  Then I topped that with a loopy bow made from silver crochet thread.  I added a silver snowflake charm that had some Snow Cap Mixative Alcohol Ink and a silver pearl added to it.

Finally I created the sentiment on the computer and inked the edges with Weathered Wood DI.

I am going to enter this card in the following challenges:

Dies R Us - Winter Blues
The Sisterhood of Snarky Stampers - S is for Stencils
Cut It Up - It's Snow Fun (Include a snowflake - must have a die cut)

The following products used to create this card came from The Funkie Junkie Boutique.

Home and Family

It is time for me to show you my first December IndogoBlu project.  I am sharing this post with Gio and Ksenija so pop on over to the IndigoBlu blog and check out what they have created.

To get a better look at any of the photos just click on them to bring up a larger version.  It has been snowing and dull and grey where I live so taking photos has been a challenge in itself.

This month the theme for the International Design Team is Count Your Blessings and I think the sentiment on this card is perfect for the theme and works so well with the wonderful stamp.

I stamped the Country House image on some white card stock with Jet Black Archival Ink.

Then I used Weathered Wood and Faded Jeans Distress Ink to create a dusky sky. I also decided at the last minute to add some Hickory Smoke Distress Ink.

Next I added some stars with the Stars stencil and Pantry White paint.

The image was coloured with Prismacolors that I blended with Gotrick OMS.

I painted a scrap piece of card stock with Vodka Martini Metallic paint and then punched a number of snowflakes with a Martha Stewart border and corner punch.

I mounted the image panel on some black card stock before I added it to the card blank.  Once it was down I decided that the bottom needed help since I had just painted it with the Vodka Martini Metallic paint thinking it might pass for snow but it didn't so I used my finger to swirl some texture paste on the bottom and while it was still wet I sprinkled on some Unicorn Sparkles.  Tip:  If you find an oops you want to fix and your card is glued together, just use some painter's masking tape to protect the rest of the card.

To finish the card I created the sentiment on the computer and inked the edges with Weathered Wood Distress Ink.  I added a bit of snow to the greenery and the lamps with a white gel pen and then adhered my falling snowflakes.

I Surrender

The new challenge at Frilly & Funkie starts today and will run for the next two weeks.  Sue is our hostess and she wants to see vintage or shabby chic cards or other projects with lots of STENCILS AND TEXTURES. So, for this challenge let's see you use your stencils on your projects but also lets see some texture too ! This can be embossing, texture paste or even fabric.

I created this card after I couldn't get a good layout on another attempt no matter how hard I tried.  And then there was all the sickies in my family that I have been looking after as well as trying to deal with my poor Mother-in-Law who will be 92 next week, lives in an assisted living facility 2000 miles away and has dementia and now has the worst case of shingles.  Finally there is the SNOW, which never seems to end along with the brutal cold so I just decided to SURRENDER and make a winter card with some stenciling, some stamping and some texture with the embossed panel and the laces and ribbon.

I started with some white card stock from Staples for my card blank and then created a background by sponging Broken China, Weathered Wood and Faded Jeans distress ink all over another piece of white card stock.  Then I did a little flicking with some water and once it was dry I used a Dylusions stencil to add the dots on either side with the Faded Jeans distress ink..

Next I stamped the snowflakes from the Artistic Output stamp set called sleigh ride with Jet Black Archival Ink.  I wanted them to be white but they either came out very pale when I used a white stamp pad or not very crisp when I used paint so I opted for black and they stamped beautifully and the contrast is interesting.

Next I made an embossed panel using some Maja paper and a snowflake stencil from Cuttlebug.  After I did the embossing I sanded down some of the embossed area, distressed the edge and inked it with some Faded Jeans distress ink.

I made the stamped panel next with some white card stock, the image from the Artistic Outpost stamped with Jet Black Archival Ink, a distressed edge and some more inking.  The silver bow is some lacy crochet ribbon.  I added some venise lace and pleated some satin ribbon that was in my stash.

The snowflake was sponged with Snowcap Adirondack alcohol ink mixative blended with silver Adirondack Silver alcohol ink mixative and once dry I sponged on some Sail Boat Adirondack ink.  Finally a few little silver snowflakes cut from card stock and some white pearls were added to finish this card off.

I am going to enter this card in the following challenges:

Everybody-art Challenge - Ribbon or Lace
2 Sisters Challenge - Embossing
Inkspirational Challenges - Designer's Choice (Embossing, Ribbon or Lace, Metal or Charms)

The items shown below came from The Funkie Junkie Boutique where the prices are always less than the manufacturer's suggested retail price:

The Warmth of Winter

The new two-week challenge at Frilly and Funkie is called The Warmth of Winter and we want to see vintage or shabby chic projects that will warm the heart of someone close to you.

When I started to make this card I thought I was supposed to make a winter project (note to self:  Read slowly rather than glance and assume - lol).  At the time however, it was -25C here with a wind chill of -32C and I could not equate winter with warm no matter how hard I tried.  Then I decided to get away from the traditional winter colours of blue and white and give winter activities a warmer feel and in the end I think this will warm someone's heart - it does mine.  The only thing missing is a steaming mug of hot chocolate with mini marshmallows.

I used some Recollections card stock to make my card blank and then started on my background.  I cut a square of white card stock and sponged it all over with Walnut Stain Distress Ink.  Then I used some white Archival ink to randomly stamp a variety of snowflakes on it.  Some of the stamps came from an Artistic Outpost set and some from a stamp set that I bought in the UK and have misplaced the packaging so I don't know the manufacturer.

A strip of Maja paper was added across the background and then I put some lovely brown crochet lace on top.  I found the fabulous vintage image at xx and after I inked the edges with Walnut Stain Distress Ink I mounted it on some brown natural paper and then both were mounted on another co-ordinating piece of Maja paper. Note:  I didn't realize that I hadn't given credit for the image and just left a placeholder so my apologies but when I get back I promise to edit this post again to show where I got it - sure hope dementia isn't catchy :)

The sled and skates were cut with my Cameo and then inked with some Vintage Photo Distress Ink.  The lacing for the skates is just ordinary thread but the sled pull is some May Arts burlap string.

I cut a flourish from some copper metallic paper and added it to the bottom of the image and then added some wooden snowflakes that were rubbed with Rose Quartz Treasure Gold paste.  Finally I made some copper centres to the stamped snowflakes with a Viva Pearl Pen.

I am in Medicine Hat, Alberta this week checking up on my 91 year-old Mother-in-Law, who was moved from independent living to assisted living in her seniors' home last week.  She has had dementia for some time but now it is like a snowball rolling down hill and picking up speed so we are happy she will be getting a bit more help and will be safer with more staff around her.

The following products used in the creation of this card came from The Funkie Junkie Boutique - a great place to shop with discounted prices and top-notch customer service.

Winter Bear

So the weather man has decided to mess with our heads. Yesterday it was actually starting to warm up and then by about 4:00 p.m. it had dropped six degrees. This morning it was -13C when I started out to do my morning kidlet chores and by Thursday it is going to be +13C - go figure.

Our challenge to you this week at Delightful Challenges is to make a card or other paper crafting project featuring animals.  Since we still have a pile of snow, I decided to go with this cute waving bear.  I think he is waving because his toboggan went down the hill without him.

Our challenge this week is generously sponsored by Michelle's Scrapbooking & More who will be supplying the random winner with a gift certificate to the store.

I am entering this card in the following challenges;

Creative Craft World - Use a Square
Simon Says Stamp - Make Your Own Embellishments
Digital Tuesday - Use a Die Cut
Papertake Weekly - Putting on the Glitz
Lexi's Creations - Bears

Image: Waving Bear (Digital Delights by Louby Loo)
Sentiment: Create with TLC
Card Stock: White (Staples), Turquoise & Blue (Recollections)
Papers: Snow Flake (My Stash),
Colouring Medium: Pencil Crayons (Prismacolor) with OMS (Taltine)
Tools & Embellishments: Snowflake Gem (Michaels), Label 11 Nestabilities & Snowflake Shapeabilities (Spellbinders), Ribbon (Michaels), Stardust and Turquoise Stickles (Ranger), Snowflake Embossing Folder (Cuttlebug)