Winter Wishes

 I was cruising around the internet, looking for inspiration and I went to the Lindy's Gang website.  I am sure that Lindy's has been in the craft business as long as I have been crafting and their products are so innovative that many have tried to copy them, but in my opinion there is nothing as good as the original.  I saw the January challenge on the Lindy's blog and I immediately knew I had to get out my goodies and take part in it.  So here is my card:

What I Used to make my Card:
Square White Card Base
White Cardstock
White Pearl Cardstock
Lindy's Gang Glitz Spritz in Steel Shimmer {discontinued but this would work}
Lindy's Gang Starburst in Tainted Teal
Lindy's Gang Magical Shaker in Oom Pah Pah Pink
Lindy's Gang Embossing Powder in Magic Moon Pearls
Sizzix/Tim Holtz Paper Snowflakes, Mini, #661599
Penny Black Wintertime Wishes Die, #51-078
Hand Held Circle Paper Punch {like the type you use in an office}

The Products I Used

Now I have to give Lindy's some product love. I have been a fan of their embossing powder forever; they make the absolute coolest 2 tone powders I have ever seen.  I had gotten the
magical shaker as a freebie when I was buying some of their products but had never used it
before this project and I had no idea what to expect.  When I shook the powder out onto the paper, it was a blah taupe color and I honestly didn't think it was going to work.  I got a little  upset thinking I ruined the paper I had made.  Well, once the water touched it, the color literally bloomed in front of me - it was amazing!  Their sprays are also quality- I hadn't used them in ages; honestly probably since I added the water to them way back when I received them a few years back.  However, a little shake to mix the color and I had no problem spritzing them out at all. No clogs, no blobs, nothing.  Beautiful!

I made my paper with the various Lindy's products, then die cut all the snowflakes.  I realized I needed a neutral color to use with the colored snowflakes so I chose a pearlized white and used that to cut out more snowflakes.  The hand-held, circle punch was used to add a circle in some of the flakes.  I cut the sentiment out of the same paper, layered my snowflakes around the card, trimmed it, and I was done.  I am very pleased with this card, I love all the sparkle! Thanks SO much for stopping by! ~ Fondly, Christi

I am entering my Card in the following challenges:
Lindy's Gang Challenge - Lindy's Winter Color Challenge
Cuttlebug Mania - Winter, Use Blue
International Art & Soul, #100 - Winter
Happy Little Stampers, Die Cuts - Anything Goes
Through the Purple Haze, #176 - Color Palette
Creative Crafters, #36 - Anything Goes
Try it on Tuesday - Winter Blues

Through the Purple Haze

Angel Ornaments

Each year I try to make a special little ornament for my sister who has a table top Christmas tree that she sets up.  This year I made a bunch so she could choose the one she likes best.  These were relatively simple to make and I hope I inspire you to step out of the box and make some decorations or gifts yourself!
This is a long post, so settle in with a cup and relax!

What I Used to Make my Angel Ornaments:
Ranger Glossy Accents
Retro Art Cafe' Coffee Break Designs BASIC Fairy Shrine
Retro Art Cafe' Coffee Break Designs ANGEL Shrine
Retro Art Cafe' Coffee Break Design SWEETHEART Style 4
Retro Art Cafe' Tiny Fairy Doll Head Paper Cuts - 1 pk
Dresden Wings, Small Gold
From my Stash: Tiny Red Fabric Heart, Pink Heart Shaped Stone, Iridescent Star, Tiny Gems, Die Cut Waste, Scrap Paper
Stickles in Gold, Iridescent and Platinum
Jump Rings, 4 Medium
Lindy's Gang Embossing Powder in Raspberry Lemonade, Imperial Crown Purple Gold, Midnight Teal and Bougainvillea Red Teal
Ranger Embossing Powder in Rich Red {unavailable but any dark red will do!}
E6000 adhesive {you probably have some}
Krylon Leafing Pens in Silver and Gold

I love Retro Art Cafe' and the cool products they carry; seriously I could spend an absolute fortune there! When I was a brand new crafter making shrines was THE thing {besides cards and scrapbooks - I don't think there was ever a time when those 2 paper crafts weren't popular}to make.  Mixed media was just born, Suze Weinberg was the Embossing Powder Queen {do a google search or check out You Tube} and Ranger Ink was still in it's infancy.  Collages, canvases, altered books and so much more were being made at breakneck speed.  That's when I found Retro Art Cafe' and I still shop there; most likely I will until one of us is done!  When I was brainstorming for this years ornament I knew if I went there and browsed around I'd find something awesome to spark my imagination and Retro Art did not let me down {plus, they have awesome sales!}.  I saw the Inspirational Fairies and I knew that was what I needed to use this year, so I bought a bunch of kits, matching heads and Dresden wings. I actually wasn't sure what wings would fit the shrines so I emailed Kristin and asked what she thought and she was kind enough to recommend the small Dresden wings.  Once I got my goodies I got to work.

This what was left of mine;
Saving them - you never know!

Each pack of Shrines has four pieces in it so you can make 2 double figures or 4; it's up to you and your design. The set includes 2 solid pieces and two shrine pieces {the shrine pieces have a hole in them to make a small window}. For these I used two pieces for each, one solid piece and one shrine piece.  The first step I took was sandwiching a jump ring in between the two pieces so I could attach an ornament hanger, piece of string or ribbon or even put them on a necklace if I wanted.  I first tried to stick them together with regular glue because I was all out of E6000 - no luck; the jump rings were so loose I could pull them out.  So once I got a new tube of E6000 I glued the rings back in and used binder clips to keep the pieces together while they dried.  I let them dry for  few days to ensure they'd be

The Blue Angel 

sturdy.  I also sandwiched the wings I used between the layers on one of the ornaments; my intent was to do that to all of them, but then I decided since I was going to be decorating them with who knows what that I'd attached the wings to the other three when I was done.  They also come with teeny little pieces of product that you can mount them on so they will stand up.  As well as crowns!

The Red Angel

I wanted a super shiny, almost enamel look on the bodies so I embossed them.  I embossed them so many times I lost count using all the delicious colors from Lindy's Gang as referenced above.  I used my fingernail {something I am SO guilty of - I know I shouldn't use them, but they are so accessible and I often find myself using them without even thinking.  However, I don't recommend it!}  to remove the embossing powder, while it was still warm, on the Red ornament to try and keep the heart shape.  Once all of them were embossed, I coated each with Glossy Accents, except for the head area, and again, on the Red one where the heart design wasn't.  Let them sit again for a few days as I

The Pink Angel

had plenty of projects to finish.  I edged each one with a Krylon Leafing Pen {I've had these pens for YEARS - another throwback to the beginning of my paper crafting.  We used them for everything, mostly to edge paper and to do the original Polished Stone technique with alcohol inks} and used the pens to cover the wings.  Turns out the wings I had attached between the two parts at the beginning took a beating with all the embossing and stuff so I wanted to jazz them up a bit and bring the wings to life.  I also used a leafing pen to color the gold wings silver.  Once the wings dried I layered some matching Stickles on them to make them shine even more; the leafing pen can have a dull finish.  I embellished my angels with bits and bobs I've had in my stash for years and attached the doll head cut outs so they could have faces.  Lastly, I painted one crown silver {with the Leafing Pen} that I gave to the Blue angel, and added some gold dots of Stickles to the Purple angel's crown that was a part of her head.

The Purple Angel

Then I was done.  I find waiting for things to dry the most annoying part of making art and this was a study in patience for sure!  But it felt really good to make something 3D, something fun and out of the box.  I hope my angels inspire you to get some older art supplies {or, buy some new goodies at Retro Art Cafe'!} and have some messy fun.  I really had no idea how these babies were going to turn out so this entire project was an experiment for me.  On that note I'm glad I bought more than one set of the Angel Shrines because I have LOTS more ideas for these!  I hope you enjoyed my tutorial and are having a safe, healthy and artful holiday! Fondly, Christi

I am entering my Angel Ornaments in the following challenges:
Altered Eclectics - M, Anything MM Goes
Rhedd's Creative Spirit - M, {running til Feb} Anything MM Goes
More Mixed Media Challenge - Anything MM Goes
The Three Amigos - Winter
Bleeding Art - M, Shiny & Sparkly
An Inky Mess - Anything MM Goes
CHNC - #416, Anything Christmas Goes
Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - Christmas
Moo-Mania - Angels
Creative Artiste Mixed Media Challenge - Anything MM Goes
Crafter's Castle - Anything Goes OPTION: Christmas Ornaments
Lindy's Gang - M, Color Challenge

HLS Mixed Media Challenge - Fantasy

Autumn Blessings

While the last of the leaves get blown off the trees and we begin to prepare for snow, I thought at least one more autumn card was needed.  I love creating with fall colors and this card was really fun to make.

What I Used to Make my Card:
White Card Base
Simon Says Stamp Thanks & Leaves stamp set, #SSS101894
Various Autumn Colors of Ink {I used Hero Arts Ink}
Lindy's Gang Embossing Powder in Tannenbaum Green Gold
Embossing Ink
Simon Says Stamp Autumn Greetings stamp set, #SSS101637
MFT/Die-Namics Stitched Oval STAX, #MFT-0152
Dimensional Dots
Tim Holtz Tonic Stamp Platform

This was a fairly easy card once I was able to stamp the background without messing it up.  Even with the stamp platform, I struggled with getting ink where I didn't want it, but I think that had more to do with the fact it was really late and I was tired.  Who knows why I do that to myself, but I do!  I know crafting late and/or when I am tired is a disaster waiting to happen, yet I do it anyway.  I'll probably never learn.  Anyway, I trimmed the background down a bit and layered it onto a white card base.

Once I got the background done, I went through my stamps and dies and choose a sentiment stamp and a shaped die.  None of the word dies I have really fit the card and they took up too much room.  After what I'd been

AnotherPeek

through, I wanted people to see that background!  Plus, I really like it.  I settled on using Autumn Blessings and a new embossing powder I just got.  I embossed the sentiment and then cut it out with the stitched oval die.  I finished the card off with adding dimensional dots to the back of the sentiment to pop it up.  I used tall dots so it really sticks out.  

I personally don't subscribe to the craziness of this time of year, of course not having little ones {or big ones for that matter} helps.  The cats don't ask for anything that they don't regularly get so I don't have any pressure to buy gifts.  The few gifts I do give out I make by hand and I'll be sharing a few of them here next month.  I hope you take some time out for yourself to enjoy the true spirit of this upcoming season.  It's not about presents, or how much you can afford to buy {your teenagers may vehemently disagree.}   To me it's about enjoying the gifts that you already have in your life.  And you, dear reader, are a gift to me.  Thanks so much for reading my post; please don't forget to leave me a comment or just a hello!  Fondly, Christi

I am entering my Autumn Blessings Card in the following challenges:

Happy Owl-O-Ween with Hero Arts

Thank you for stopping by to read my very first post as a Design Team member for a2z Scrapbooking - I am SO excited! I have been a customer of Hero Arts since the '90s and adore their products.  After I read about the special mission that a2z Scrapbooking store has, my heart got even happier! 

I'd love it if you'd join us this month's challenge; the theme is "Frightfully Fun" and I've chosen to work with a set that is brand new this year:

What I Used to Make my Card:
Black Card Base
Lindy's Stamp Gang Jack 'O Lantern Orange Embossing Powder
Hero Arts Happy Owl-O-Ween Stamps, #CM285
Hero Arts Happy Owl-O-Ween Dies, #DI545
Crafter's Workshop 6" x 6" Branches Reversed Stencil, #TCW251
Hero Arts Intense Black Ink {request a custom order or get an ink stack!}
Ranger Adirondack Ink in Mushroom {discontinued - any light brown ink would work}
Mini Distress Ink in Hickory Smoke
Die-Namics Stitched Fishtail Sentiment Strips
VersaMark Ink
Hero Arts Clear Embossing Powder, #PW106
Dimensional Dots

If you are a regular reader of my blog you know how much I LOVE Halloween; this stamp set was a must have as soon as I saw it!  To me when you can use a product for more than one thing, it's a win win in my book.  Even though the set is called Happy Owl-O-Ween, it can be used in so many ways, even for Christmas!  I started this card by grabbing a panel of white card from my desk, laying the stencil on it, and inking away.  I'm not sure what type of paper it was but the ink was not drying so I sprinkled clear embossing powder on it and handled that issue.  While the stenciled paper was cooling, I set to work on my owl.

I layered the owl with 3 different inks; honestly, whatever combination you have on hand works.  Once it was inked, I cut it with the matching die.  I trimmed the stenciled panel down to size; effectively trimmed off all the inky finger prints I left when I realized the ink wasn't drying.  Then I decided to get brave and I

Another Peek

stamped the sentiment directly onto the stenciled panel with embossing ink, embossed it with the orange embossing powder {I purchased the entire Haunted Halloween Embossing Powder set}, and realized it was totally crooked once it was embossed.  Total fail.  I regrouped and repeated the procedure on a piece of spare white card, die cut the banner, and attached it directly over the crooked sentiment.  I love it when I can save a project like that! 

By this time my owl was ready to be perched upon a branch so I used a dimensional dot to put him {why a him? I don't know - it looks like a male owl to me} in the tree.  I adhered the panel onto a black card base and there was my Happy Owl-O-Ween card!

Now I must say a bit more about a2z Scrapbooking; right under the listing of products on the left side of the store site is a black button that says Customer Order:

Basically this means you can order ANY Hero Arts product and get it sent to you directly if the store doesn't have the product you need.  Unlike some stores, you will get a reply typically within 24 hours about what you are looking for.  To me that is a HUGE time saver!  Now you can buy all your Hero Arts goodies in one place AND you get a free gift with every order over $50!  If that isn't enticing enough for you, how about a discount?  I have my own discount code! Just add CHRISTI15 to the discount box at checkout and you will save 15%!  

I sincerely hope you enjoyed my little tutorial. I hope to see your "Frightfully Fun" projects on the blog.  If you use a Hero Arts and/or Sugar Tree product and get chosen as the winner, you'll receive a $20 gift certificate to the store! Now you don't have to use Hero Arts and/or Sugar Tree, but why not?  If this is your first time here, why not subscribe so you don't miss one of my spectacularly funny and informative posts?  You can even follow me on multiple social media platforms; all the info and links are on the right hand side.  Thanks so much, see you at the challenge and Happy Owl-O-Ween! 

I would like to enter my Happy Owl-O-Ween card in the following challenges:
Little C's Creations - M, different theme each day, Day 18, Bird
Sunny Day Crafting - Anything Goes w/ an Animal
2 Crafty Critter Crazies - #19, Anything Goes with a Critter
Crafty Animals - M, #19, Anything Goes w an Animal
YNS Fun Friday Challenge - #100, Make a Scene
Craft Rocket - M, #53, Autumn/Halloween
Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - Animal Antics
Fussy and Fancy - #223, Things with Wings
Unicorn Challenge - M, #37, Halloween or Autumn

Little C's Creations

First time for me entering this challenge - she has a different theme everyday that matches the month we are in - very cool concept - I'll be playing again!

Snowflakes

Hi all! It's been quite snowy here in Colorado and we are expecting more tomorrow (my knee and sinuses agree with that weather forecast) so I felt that I needed to get a bit snowy myself.  My favorite way to get snowy is inside my craft room - it's warm, dry and fun! And getting new goodies is ALWAYS a good thing, so when I got the Tim Holtz/Sizzix Paper Snowflakes Mini set I had visions of what I wanted to do.  If you have read this blog then you know blue, white & silver are some of my favorite colors and they definitely lend themselves to a frosty project.

How I Made my Card:
Square (5 1/4 x 5 1/4) Card Base in White
Various shades of Blue Cardstock
Silver Cardstock
Tim Holtz/Sizzix Paper Snowflakes Mini, #661599
Quietfire Designs "Warm Winter Wishes" Stamp, #6399
Lindy's Gang Lapis Lazuli Blue Gold Embossing Powder
Embossing Fluid
Stickles in Fairy Dust, Arctic Ice and True Blue
Nuvo Crystal Drops in Midnight Blue & White

The first thing I did was cut out a bunch of different snowflakes using the Paper

Snowflakes Mini dies.  I cut out a TON of them, using the medium and small dies the most, and using different shades of blue and also silver cardstock.  I actually had the snowflakes cut for a while before I had even thought of this card.  I knew I was going to use them on something so I began layering them, decorating them with the Nuvo Drops and the Stickles and just generally blinging them up.  I fussed and spruced up those snowflakes within an inch of their lives.  But, finally, I had to decide what to do with them.  I decided on a square card since I wanted to showcase as many of the snowflakes that I could, especially 'cause they are just SO pretty.  So I fixed them around the white card base until I found an arrangement I liked - and of course I forgot to take a picture and I left the card on my desk overnight.  Guess what happened? My adorable little tribe of furbabies decided it was just too pretty to ignore.  So, I fiddled with the snowflake placement again, using the flakes I could find.  

As I was trying different placements, I realized I need a sentiment.  I adore this stamp and I use it a lot, it is definitely one of my all time favorites and at least 6 years old, so I broke out my "Warm Winter Wishes" and thought that I should emboss it on a separate scrap of cardstock since I hadn't decided snowflake placement yet.  I embossed the sentiment with the Lapis Lazuli Blue Gold (and you really can't see the beauty of this powder - go to Lindy's site and marvel in how they mixed that blue & gold so perfectly) and trimmed it down.  I set it aside until I got the pattern I wanted using the snowflakes, then I tucked it under the flakes and glued it down. 

Another Look

Now that I had the sentiment down, it was time to get those flakes attached to the card.  For a bit of drama (those dramatic snowflakes!) I decided to pop dot some of the flakes and leave others flat.  I had to cut the pop dots into fours to get the pieces small enough for the itty bitty snowflake "arms".  But it worked. So, there you have it.  I hope you have enjoyed my little tutorial and perhaps got a bit inspired to glam up your snowflakes! Fondly, Christi

PS: Since I am entering a few challenges that are specifying that something new must be used I wanted to say that my something new is the Paper Snowflakes Mini Sizzix set, just in case.

I am entering my Snowflakes card in the following challenges:
Frilly & Funky - Winter Hues
Simon Says Stamp Work it Wednesday - Something New
Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge - Chill Out
Make my Monday - #37, A Winters Walk
Die Cuttin' Divas - #300, Blue and Silver 

Retro Rubber - #54, Let it Snow
The Craft Barn - The Song Challenge, Let it Snow
NBUS #8 - Must Use Never Before Used Schtuff :)

Spring Coffee Lovers Blog Hop

I love a good cup of coffee, Dunkin' Donuts being my favorite.  On the east coast there is a D&D on every corner, here in Colorado, they aren't as plentiful.  The good news is the just opened one fairly close to me. I am just waiting for the hub bud to die down before I make my way over to get a large dark roast!  I was inspired to make this card after learning about the Spring Coffee Lovers Blog Hop (there are TONS of awesome prizes!), funny how just reading about a challenge or blog hop can start those creative wheels turning!

 

What I Used to Make this Card:
Kraft Paper Card Base
Cream Color Cardstock
Light Brown Cardstock
Ranger Ink in Jet Black
Embossing Ink
Coffee Bean Stamp and Sentiment stamp from SU! Set Express Yourself (discontinued)
Coffee Cup Stamp - manufacturer unknown
Tim Holtz Sizzix Alterations Dies in Labels, 66060
Tim Holtz Distress Marker in Festive Berries
Moonglow Embossing Powder Twilight Bronze Slate
Pop Dots

I started with Kraft paper, which I used as the card base.  I took the coffee bean stamp and stamped it all over the cardstock using embossing ink, and then heat embossed with the Twilight Bronze Slate embossing powder (if you have never seen the beautiful two toned embossing powder at Lindy's Stamp Gang, do yourself a favor and check them out).

Then I inked up the image and the sentiment with the Jet Black ink, stamping the coffee cup image (which I have had for years and never used before. For some reason this stamp made it through all the paring down, thinning the stock and cleaning. Now I see why!) on the light brown cardstock and the sentiment on the cream colored cardstock.  I used the Tim Holtz dies and die cut the coffee cup and the sentiment, then pop dotted them onto the card. I didn't want them to pop out too much, so I used low pop dots.  As I was looking at the composition of the card I noticed there was another hidden heart in this stamp! I am finding them all over!  So I outlined the heart with the Festive Berries marker, so if you look close, you can see it.  I get so excited when I find hidden images and other ways to use my stash (now I have another heart stamp!).

Another look - this one shows the embossing better

Thank you so much for stopping by! If you aren't already following me, please consider it.  I am trying to get 100 new subscribers.  Have an artful day! Christi

I would like to enter my Coffee Card in the following challenges:
Creating in Faith, Hope & Love - TTC002 - Use a stamp retired or at least a year old
Suzy Bee's Bloomin' Challenge Blog - #69, Anything Goes with a Twist of Embossing
Lil Patch of Crafty Friends Challenge - #5, Anything Goes
Sentimental Sundays - #248, Anything Goes
Creative Inspirations Challenge - #303, Something Old
Fairytale Challenge - #12, Kraft Paper

Peace Card

Going through my many, many decorative papers, I found this one sheet from BasicGrey called Figaro from the Capella collection.  When I searched for this paper at BasicGrey, it was listed as discontinued which is a shame as the pattern is so pretty.  I saw this paper and decided I wanted to make a holiday card with it as I am trying to stay away from the typical holiday colors.

What I used to make this card:

• Medium Brown card base
• Small square of gold cardstock
• Small square of olive cardstock
• Layer of Figaro Paper from BasicGrey
• Embossing Ink
• Moon Glow 2 Toned Embossing Powder in Twilight Bronze Slate (Lindy’s Gang)
• Peace stamp from set, manufacturer unknown

First, I stamped my Peace stamp in embossing ink on the olive cardstock and embossed it with the Moon Glow powder.  

                       Here is the Moon Glow Embossing powder in Twilight Bronze
                            Slate. To me, in real life, there is a touch more slate blue 
                                                  than this picture shows.

 Here is a view of the BasicGrey Figaro paper I used.  The paper has some beautiful tones of olive green, light aqua blue and many shades of brown.  Of course, the camera couldn't capture the true richness of the paper.

I trimmed the sentiment and layered it on a small piece of heavy weight gold cardstock.  Then I cut a piece of the Figaro paper to layer onto the medium brown base card.  I adhered the layered sentiment onto the decorative paper and then attached that to the base card.

 

Here is the finished card.  I had to take the picture with a bit of a tilt to it in order to get the embossed sentiment to photograph correctly.

I really like the color combination of the papers and if I had more of the Basic Grey designer paper, I’d make more of these cards.  But, who knows what my stash hides –I may find another piece or two!

Thank you for reading this short tutorial and I hope you enjoyed the card!

Blessings!

I would like to enter my card in the following challenges:

DL.ART - Challenge #123, Christmas 
Inspired By - Challenge #100, Inspired by Image (see blog) 
Our Creative Corner - Challenge - A Very Vintage Christmas
Kaboodle Doodes - Challenge #201 - Non-Traditional Christmas Colors
Flonzcraft - Challenge - Cold & Frosty Colours

BasicGrey Challenges - Challenge #109 - Cold & Frosty

Snowy Noel Card

I try to make different holiday cards rather than make the same one over & over again – I get bored with the repetition.  Granted, there are times when an image or composition just feels so right that I stick with it and I’ll make more than one. I made more than one style of card using this particular image from Penny Black (Snowy Park, stamp # 3231K) and you will be seeing them later. I have had this rubber stamp for years and I don’t know why I don’t use it more often (and looking at the stamp, I don't think it would have to be used as a "Snowy Park", I bet I could use it as a "Spring Park" or "Fall Park". . .well, you get the idea)! The image was stamped on heavy vellum which I colored and then layered a few times.   

To make this card I used:

• Snowy Park image from Penny Black, #3231K
• Noel stamp from Penny Black, #3242E
• Heavy vellum (I think it is called cardstock vellum)
• Distress Markers in Brushed Corduroy, Pine Needles and Picket Fence
• Ranger Archival Ink in Jet Black
• Moon Glow 2 Toned embossing powder in Twilight Bronze Slate (Lindy’s Stamp Gang)
• Embossing Ink
• Heat Tool
• Shiny Gold photo corners from Xyron (discontinued)
• 2 different weights and tones of Gold Cardstock
• White Cardstock
• Square White Base Card (Square card measures 5 ¼” x 5 ¼”)

I first stamped the Snowy Park on the vellum with the Ranger Archival Jet Black and set it aside to dry.  When I stamped the image, I didn’t know what I was going to do with it so it actually sat to the side for a few days.  But, when stamping on vellum the longer the image has to set the better in my book.  I had also stamped the Noel stamp a few times with embossing ink and embossed with the powder (it is a shame you can’t really tell how beautiful the embossing powder is - to help you see the beauty of the embossing powder, I went to Lindy’s Stamp Gang and this is the image they use on their site – but even that isn’t as gorgeous as this powder is in real life), cut out the ones I felt were good enough to use on my cards and set them aside. 

 Twilight Bronze Slate EP from Lindy's Stamp Gang

And since I didn't take any pictures of the Penny Black images before I used them, here they are, direct from the site:

 

 Snowy Park, #3231k

  Noel, #3242E

(click on any of the above pictures and it will link you directly to the site)

I had seen a beautiful coloring on vellum on another blog and that’s when I decided I’d do the same with my image.  I turned the image over and loosely colored in some of the trees and the snow with the Distress Markers; I wasn’t terribly careful as the watercolor-like effect appeals to me. 

 

Here is a closer picture of the scene

 

 I set the colored image aside to dry while I mapped out the rest of the card.  Since the image was kind of dreary (i.e.: no sparkle) and I have no adhesive that successfully adheres vellum without being able to see it, I went through the many, many photo corners I have and settled on the shiny gold ones from Xyron.  They have been discontinued but if you have your heart set on duplicating the card, exactly as I have made it I am sure you can find some shiny gold photo corners.  I used the corners to anchor the image to the darker of the two gold cardstocks I used in the card.  I think I got the darker gold from Stampin’ Up! years ago but perhaps they still make it.  I also matted the “Noel” on the same darker gold.  Looking at the card I felt it still needed a little bit more something, so I chose a lighter gold, thinner cardstock I had in my stash to mat the image one more time.  For some reason the lighter cardstock ruffled after it dried but I don’t mind.  A happy accident that makes the card look that much more festive! I adhered the matted image and the sentiment on my white square card and I was done.  I think this card is very pretty and I hope you agree.  Thanks for reading my tutorial & visiting my blog ~ blessings!

And forgetting to add the picture of the finished card is what

happens when I try to blog after midnight - SORRY!!

 

I would like to enter my card in the following challenges:

Winter Wonderland - Embossing (the Noel is heat embossed)

Alphabet Challenge Blog - V for Vellum

Rhedd And Rosie Challenge Blog - Use Old Stash (the rubber stamps I used are at least 8 years old)

CraftyHands Challenge Blog – Season’s Greetings/Winter Theme

Left of Center Creative Challenges - LOC or Winter/Holidays (I chose winter & holidays)