So Mini Hellos

This is the name of the coolest wee stamp set with so many cute images (38; including sentiments) and I decided I would spend my day playing with some of my favourite CAS challenges sites doing Christmas so I could maybe get a few more cards as I was 3-6 short. 

The sites I'm playing along with are CAS on Friday (just Christmas) and Less is  More (D is for Deck the Halls); never fear the Christmas tree is coming to deck the hall ;)

Supply List:

Stamps: So Mini Hellos (The Stamp Market)

Ink: Grassy Knoll (PFS), Peony (PFS), Memento Black Tuxedo

Paper: Neenah Solar White #80 and #110

Other: Copic markers, Snow Flurries background stencil (LF), Glitter Hero Paste (HA), foam squares (SP)
Challenges: CAS on Friday #271, LIM #497

Copic Markers used (darkest >> lightest):
BG13/32/11 and BG000/0000

E37/33

Y11

N4/1

My first stenciled background is on the LHS below using Ranger's Texture Sparkle paste, I thought it looked a little flat; so had a go using the same paste and adding a tad of Simon Hurley's Clear Skies Lunar Paste (RHS), but the texture paste is not very textured it's very flat when dry and the sparkle is quite "big" and if I'm honest I do NOT like it at all. So I went back to my favourite Glitter Hero Paste (middle) for the challenge; the cool thing though is I whipped out 3 cards really quickly and easily! Even if I say myself they're fun.

I really enjoyed playing along and being creative, 2023 I seem to have signed up for too many Virtual card boxes and they're great but not leaving me anytime to just do my own thing. I've already decided I'm cutting back in 2024 and just creating more with what I own.

✿Karen✿

Having another go at Watercolouring

I'm really happy to report all Christmas cards have been posted away and it's not even December, so back to finishing off earlier classes I have signed up for.

Today I am finishing of the watercoloring with Manushree, this was supposed to be wet on dry techniques. I started-off like her but I didn't like the look of drawn fine lines with darker paint as my second layer if I'm honest, so ended up in the end doing a bit of colour removing with water and pushing the paint back towards the centre or where ever I wanted the shadow to be. I'm really happy how this turned out, I think I also prefer the colour palate of big flowers one colour and smaller flowers another colour, it looks more cohesive to me. Again this class was more about teaching us techniques with watercolour than making a card. My first go you can see HERE.

I have to say the watercolour paper they supplied takes a lot of water, I love it apart from it's cream. I still can't get over that the image is just stamped with Metropolis a dye ink.

Supply List:

Stamps: Nothing but the Best (PFS), Basic Banners: Celebrate (PFS) (plus matching dies for both stamp sets)

Ink: Metropolis (PFS), Seaside (PFS)

Paper: Watercolor (PFS - being released in 2024), Neenah Natural White #110

Other: Watercolor Artist Paints (ALT), Starry Skies Ombre glitter drops (PFS), Floral Backdrop (PFS), Blanket Stitched Rectangles (PFS), stamping foam

I can see the end is in sight for my February Create and Connect with Pinkfresh Studios with only one class to go - the mash up with Jennifer McGuire. Thanks for popping in and I hope you have a fab day.
✿Karen✿

AAA Cards Challenge 254 : this one challenged me!

It's time for another challenge with AAA Cards and we have a colour challenge "black, gold and white". Sounded fab, opulent and perfect for a Christmas card but OMG  I couldn't do it clean and simple so watch this space hopefully you will see in the future some busy and complex cards with these 3 colours as my desk has lots of bits from my first try.

I ended up using a card design I use a lot (the wee window) plus some clean gold embossing and a bit of black to make it pop. I'm actually really rapt how it all turned out, it's rather dramatic. I love the font for the sentiment and I feel this would be a really effective Sympathy card design too.

Supply List:

Stamps: Flower Field Background (MFT), To the Wise One (HB - sentiment)
Ink: Versamark, Versafine Clair Nocturne
Paper: Neenah White, Black

Other: Master Layouts 3 (GKD), gold and clear embossing powder, embossing buddy

Challenge: AAA Cards #254

Well that certainly challenged me, I hope you can join us as we would love to see what you come up with. Do check out all the other fab cards on display as this really is a colour combo that packs a punch. As always when I see what the DT and then everyone that plays along creates I'm always amazed and inspired and hopefully you will be too.

Thanks for popping in.
✿ Karen ✿