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Thursday, December 31, 2015

Happy Happy New Year!



Hi! Just quickly popping in with this New Year card, to wish all of you a very Happy Happy New Year! We will be spending the evening at home, and welcoming in the New Year by Skyping with our dear friends in Iceland. Yeah, you know they have just about the best New Year's Eve celebration anywhere, and we are going to wish we were there!

Fireworks over Reykjavík Dec 31, 2014


I previously posted the card above as a technique of the week here. If you missed it, please go back and check it out. The technique and supplies are listed there, including this great Magenta stamp, which would be fantastic on a Birthday Card also.

41.036.D Calligraphic Accent 3



Wednesday, December 30, 2015

Two Last Christmas Cards for 2015

Things just got so crazy toward the Holidays, that I just never got these posted before Christmas, but I had to post them because I love them both! Bookmark them to try for next year; Magenta never retires their stamps or stencils, so everything will still be available!


Both of these cards use the same technique that I call Stencil Stamping. On the first one, the green panel was featured in a Technique of the Week post, and I told you that you would see it again later on a card! The technique tutorial can be seen here. After creating the panel, I rubbed the edges of the green panel through a gold Delicate ink pad and mounted it on an A2 white base card. I then stamped the sentiment (Magenta 07.780.G) with Black Onyx Versafine Ink.


This second card is so sparkly in real life! It was also Stencil Stamped, using the Magenta stencil TM104 Daisy Love. This is one of my favorite stencils for this technique. You can see a tutorial of stencil stamping here, and other stencil stamped cards here, here, and here. This card also has one of my favorite Christmas stamps (Magenta 07.883.K Multilingual Merry Christmas), since it contains the sentiment Merry Christmas in languages that have a lot of meaning to me: English, French, Icelandic, Spanish, Dutch, Japanese, and Russian.

Joyeux Noel Card 

Magenta Products Used:
TM123 Small Holly Border Template
07.780.G Joyeux Noel Small
Other Products Used
Distress Inks: Mustard Seed, Mowed Lawn
Perfect Pearls Powder
Versafine Onyx Black Ink
Delicate Gold Ink
Tim Holtz Watercolor paper
Hero Arts red nailheads

Merry Christmas Card 

Magenta Products Used
07.883.K Multilingual Merry Christmas
TM104 Daisy Love Template
Other Products Used
Distress Inks: Broken China, Faded Jeans
Perfect Pearls Powder
Versamark Ink
Ranger Black Sparkle Embossing Powder
So Silk Fair Blue paper
Tim Holtz Watercolor paper
Various Sequins

Monday, December 28, 2015

Winter Cheer and Merry Greetings

Just a few more cards that I never got posted that I made for seasonal inspiration. There were so many great stamps, stencils and dies out this year!


I did these two cards with the same stamp and die set from Hero Arts. It's actually a tag set, and it makes lovely tags, but also great cards. The set came with a number of clear stamps that fit right in the middle of the tag. On this first one, I embossed the sentiment with JudiKins White Diamond embossing powder.


This one was made with the negative of my die cut from the first card! The sentiment on the tag is embossed with Ranger Black Sparkle embossing powder, and the season's greetings sentiment is embossed with JudiKins White Diamond embossing powder.

Winter Cheer Card Products Used:
Hero Arts DC168 Winter Cheer stamp and die set by Lia
Versamark Ink
JudiKins White Diamond embossing powder
So Silk Fair Blue paper
Various sequins & silver twine
Ranger Multi Medium Matte adhesive for sequins

Merry Season's Greetings Card Products Used:
Hero Arts DC168 Winter Cheer stamp and die set by Lia
Versamark Ink
Ranger Black Sparkle embossing powder
JudiKins White Diamond embossing powder
So Silk Fair Blue paper
So Silk White paper
Various sequins
Ranger Multi Medium Matte adhesive for sequins


Tuesday, December 15, 2015

Christmas Nuance



I was playing with Nuance again, and discovered that it's not hard to apply it in selective spots through a stencil.

First I laid the TM-135, Christmas Ornament stencil onto a piece of dry watercolor cardstock, and carefully tapped color into the openings (Red and Scarlet). I spritzed lightly with water and Perfect Pearls powder. If you spray too much, you might not get the detail you want. I then carefully repeated the process using the TM-130 Holly Border stencil. I used the Jade and Grass Green colors for the holly leaves, and the Red and Scarlet colors for the berries. After lifting the stencils, I mixed a little Nuance powder and pearly water onto my mat and flicked color over the whole card.


The sentiment was stamped in Versafine black ink, and split it on either side of the ornament using a stamp positioned. At the end, I scattered a few sequins.

I hope you will give this Nuance technique a try. It was easy and fun!

Magenta Products Used
07.886.G Joyeux Noël
TM135 Christmas Ornaments
TM130 Holly Border

Magenta Nuance Colors

MNU004 - Jade
MNU009 - Grass Green
MNU010 - Scarlet
MNU015 - Red

Other Products Used
Versafine Onyx Black Ink
Perfect Pearls Powder
Tim Holtz Watercolor cardstock

Monday, December 14, 2015

Christmas Tags

Each year at Art 'n Soul, beginning December 1st, we hold an benefit called 12 Tags of Christmas. Whoever is working each day of the 12 days, designs a tag and provides a make and take for a charge of $1 (or more) for the local Food Bank, or perishable food items for the Food Bank. Some of the staff match contributions. Last year, we provided $500 in cash to the Food Bank, and 3 barrels of food. We're a small shop, so we were proud of that, but it's our goal to better that this year.

I worked 3 of the 12 days this time, so here are my tags. We try to use things that we have in stock in the store, so that people can buy them if they like the tags.

Watercolor Mistletoe - Tag #1


Magenta stamps 0689.L Mistletoe, and 07.324.B To: From: were stamped onto a watercolor cardstock tag (Sizzix 654991 Scallop Combo #2 - no longer available) with Versamark ink. The stamping was embossed with Judikins Gold Detail Embossing powder. I chose a green and a red Tombow marker and partially colored the image. With a wet brush, I pulled the color out to cover the image. I placed a dot of white gel pen on each berry, and went over the top of the leaves with clear Wink of Stella. A sheer red ribbon was added to the top of the tag.

Nuance Poinsettias - Joyeux Noël - Tag #2


I think this tag was my favorite, because it was the most fun. I used a My Favorite Things Stitched layers tag set, and cut the second largest tag out of watercolor cardstock, and the largest one out of 80# Neenah Solar White cardstock. On the small tag, I used various colors of Magenta Nuance powder to color the background. I flicked some gold mica watercolor from Artquest Palette, Metallics. Once the tag was dry, it was stamped with Magenta stamps 07.780.G Joyeux Noël, and 0687.I Doodle Poinsettia 1, using Versamark ink. I used Judikins White Diamond embossing powder to emboss the images.

For the large tag mat, I rubbed a Versamark pad all around the outer edges of the tag and sprinkled Judikins White Diamond embossing powder all over it. I then heat set it, and this provided a great matching mat for the tag. It's very hard to photograph White Diamond embossing powder, but take my word for it, it's very sparkly and pretty.  To finish the tag, I punched two holes through both tags, and strung through a white, glitter ribbon and tied a bow.

Blue Christmas - Glitter Snowflakes - Tag #3


This tag was cut from a Sizzix die (38-0945 Super Scallop - no longer available) out of So Silk Fair Blue cardstock. I also cut a second tag out of 80# Neenah Solar White cardstock, and a partial piece of of Tim Holtz silver Ideaology adhesive backed glitter sheet.  The snowflakes were cut using Impression Obsession Snowflakes Cutout (DIE241-Z). 

The piece of glitter sheet was adhered to the white tag, and the blue tag was adhered over the top of that, with the glitter showing through the snowflake cutouts. 

Magenta 07.462.I Merry Christmas was stamped in Versamark ink and embossed with WOW Silver Glitter embossing powder. A glitter silver piece of ribbon was added at the top. This tag is very silver and glittery in real life.

I'm going to try to make all of our tags for our presents again this year. I hope you give these a try!

Products Used

Tag 1 Watercolor Mistletoe
Magenta Products:

0689.L Mistletoe
07.324.B To: From:

Other Products:
Tombow Markers: Red & Green
Versamark Ink
Judikins Gold Embossing Powder
Uniball Signo Broad White Gel pen
Clear Wink of Stella
Tim Holtz watercolor paper
Sizzix tag die 654991 Scallop Combo #2 (no longer available)
Shear red ribbon 7" long

Tag 2 Nuance Poinsettias - Joyeux Noël
Magenta Products:

07.780.G Joyeux Noël Small
0687.I Doodle Poinsettia 1
Nuance colors:
MNU004 - Jade
MNU005 - Hot Pink
MNU010 - Scarlet
MNU015 - Red

Other Products
My Favorite Things Die-Namics (MFT-525) Stitched Traditional Tag Stax
Versamark Ink
Judikins White Diamond Embossing powder
Artquest palette - Metallics
Tim Holtz watercolor cardstock
Neenah Classic Crest 80# Solar White Cardstock
Piece of glittery white ribbon 10# long
Small hole punch

Tag 3 Blue Christmas - Glitter Snowflakes
Magenta Products:

078.462.I Merry Christmas

Other Products:
Sizzix Suuper Scallop Tag die 38.0946 (no longer available)
Impression Obsession Snowflakes Cutout die DIE241-Z
Versamark Ink
WOW Silver Glitter embossing powder
So Silk Fair Blue cardstock
Neenah 80# Classic Crest Solar White cardstock
Tim Holtz Ideaology Adhesive Backed glitter sheets - silver
7" piece of Silver glitter ribbon    




Thursday, December 10, 2015

Technique of the Week: Cards from Wrapping Paper



This post is made in conjunction with the Art 'n Soul newsletter Technique of the Week. Remember the technique I have had on this blog a couple of times to show you how to make great backgrounds with paper towels? You can find these posts here and here.

This technique is similar, except you use wrapping paper!
 That's right, you can make the most amazing card backgrounds and die cuts using wrapping paper. This time of year is especially good to find beautiful wrapping paper to use on your cards. My friend Marj Marion turned me on to this, and one year we had a field trip to the nearest Container Store, because they have very beautiful wrapping papers this time of year.



Just cut your wrapping paper to the size you want, and glue it to cardstock with a glue stick or spray adhesive. You can then die cut it, or glue it onto your card for a beautiful effect.  I hope you try this technique. It's easy and fun!

Magenta Products Used:
07.584.J Let it Snow
Other Products Used:
Impression Obsession Snowflakes Cutout DIE241-Z
Versamark Ink
Judikins Silver Detail embossing powder
So Silk Fair Blue paper
Silver wrapping paper
Various Sequins
Spray Adhesive
 

Tuesday, December 8, 2015

Joyeux Noël - Merry Christmas



I love, love, love this new stamp from the Autumn collection called Swirly Leaves (85.020.N). It's just a beautiful image that can be used any time of the year. This card is featured on the Magenta Blog today.

I stamped the image and the sentiment onto white cardstock with Versamark ink, and embossed them with Judikins Gold Detail embossing powder. The red berries were added with Lady Bug Pico Embellisher from Imagine Crafts. The panel was matted with red and mounted onto a base card.

This card has an elegant look, but was very fast and simple to do. The bonus is that you can use the swirly leaf stamp in the Fall, Spring or Summer also.

Magenta Products used:
85.020.N Swirly Leaves
07.780.G Joyeux Noël Small
Other Products Used:
Versamark Ink
Judikins Gold Detail Embossing Powder
Imagine Crafts Pico Embellisher - Lady Bug

Saturday, December 5, 2015

Magenta Newsletter


My
My project is featured in this week's Magenta newsletter, and I wanted to share it with you. You can view another post of this technique here. If you want to receive future editions of the Magenta Newsletter, you can sign up on their blog here. (There is a button to click under "Newsletter") Enjoy!




Backgrounds with Recycled Paper Towels
by Dianne Jonhson - DT Magenta



I love to play with Nuance, and when I do, I make lots of background cards at once. Recently I was making some backgrounds for Christmas cards, and I was cleaning up after each one with a paper towel.

 

You will need:
White cardstock 
Glue Stick
Brayer
Paper Towel
And Magenta's Nuance Powder:

  

1- Since it had lots of lovely Nuance colors on it, this paper towel was just too pretty to throw away.
  
3- You will then have 2 lovely pieces of paper towel to work with.


2- Paper towels usually have 2 plys. When your paper towel is dry, separate the plys by pulling them apart carefully.

4- Apply glue stick adhesive to a piece of cardstock.

5- Carefully place one of your paper towel pieces onto the prepared cardstock, and smooth it down.

7- Repeat Steps 4-6 with your second piece of paper towel. You now have 2 beautiful pieces of cardstock to use as you wish on a card.
6- Use a brayer to flatten the paper towel to the cardstock. This will smooth it further, and make sure that it adheres to the adhesive.






 

 Voilà! Happy creation!

Dianne Jonhson - DT Magenta

Thursday, December 3, 2015

Magenta Christmas Inspiration

Magenta has a great Christmas Inspiration Look Book out, and you can look at all of the great cards by the Design Team, and designer Christine Gaudreault on the Magenta blog here.

Keep paging through and you will see two cards of mine in the book. They were each done with the same technique, but different stencils and colors.


The technique I used for these is stencil stamping. You can see a tutorial on this technique here, and another stencil stamped card here.

On the above card, I applied Distress Inks Worn Lipstick, and Festive Berries direct to water color card stock. I liberally sprayed MC16 Poinsettia Garden Mask with pearly water (2 oz water with 1/4 tsp Perfect Pearls Pearl powder), and applied the stencil to the panel. When dried, I stamped this beautiful Merry Christmas sentiment (07.462.I) and embossed with White Diamond embossing powder. The mat around the watercolor panel was made by applying Versamark directly to all 4 sides of the paper, and embossing with White Diamond. This provided a perfectly matching mat for my card. This was mounted onto a red card base, and various sequins were sprinkled on. Since I used a red card base, I cut a stitched rectangle using the largest die in the Memory Box Stitched Rectangles dies 30009.



The second card was done using the same technique, but with different colors. I used Abandoned Coral and Mowed Lawn Distress Inks, and the stencil is Magenta TM129 Poinsettia Border Stencil

Pink/Red Card
Magenta Products used:
07.462.I Merry Christmas
MC16 Poinsettia Garden Mask
Other Products Used:
Distress Inks: Worn Lipstick; Festive Berries
Versamark ink
Judikins White Diamond embossing powder
Perfect Pearls Pearl powder
Tim Holtz watercolor paper
Memory Box Stitched Rectangles Die 30009 (inside)
Various sequins

Red/Green Card
Magenta Products Used:
07.462.I Merry Christmas
TM129 Poinsettia Border
Other Products Used:
Distress Inks: Abandoned Coral; Mowed Lawn
Versamark ink
Judikins White Diamond embossing powder
Perfect Pearls Pearl powder
Tim Holtz watercolor paper
Silver Stardream paper
Various sequins