Pet Sympathy Card - Graphic 45

Hi, Friends.......

I am here with a vintage-style pet sympathy card for neighbors of ours, an elderly couple, who recently lost their dog. It's always sad to lose a beloved pet, as we all know. I hope a card will help this couple know that we feel their sadness along with them.

I used the Graphic 45 Raining Cats and Dogs collection and teamed it up with some stamping. The front sentiment panel is from an ancient foam-mount stamp set my son found for me at a thrift store. There was no label on it, but it looks similar to old sets from All Night Media or Rubber Stampede. Thus far, I have been unsuccessful in my attempts to track this particular kit down online for a name and mfr.  If you know who made this, let me know!  Thanks.

Here's the inside.........................

Supplies used include:
Graphic 45 - Raining Cats and Dogs Collection
Winnie & Walter - Essentials: Katharine Cutaways die set
Winnie & Walter - Essentials: Audrey Cutaways die set
Paper Smooches - Feline Friends stamp set
Ancient foam-mount Dog stamp set (mfr unkn)
Versafine Ink in Onyx Black
Hero Arts Shadow Ink - Soft Vanilla
Distress Ink in Walnut Stain
Scraps of Core'dinations cardstock
Bit of ribbon from stash

Maybe seeing my card today has inspired you to make a few pet sympathy cards to have on hand. I know when I have lost a dear old kitty, the pet sympathy cards I have received have meant a lot. I should make a few extra to have in my ready-to-use stack, myself!

❤
Janis

Thank you for the honor of entering this card in the following challenges:
1. Allsorts #504 - Friends 
2. Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - Have a Heart
3. Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge - Love is in the Air
4. TCP Tuesday Challenge #353 - Love
5. Double Trouble Challenge #20 Love, Peace, and Kindness is in the Air (I was inspired by how the good memories of our dearly departed pets can make you feel like they are still with you.)
6. Graphic 45 January Challenge #G45Stamp - Graphic 45 plus Stamping
7. Crafty Hazelnut's Patterned Paper - January Challenge
8. Lost Coast Portal to Creativity Challenge #68 - Silhouettes
9. Tuesday Throwdown Challenge #424 - Anything Goes
10. Time Out Challenge #127 - Inspired by Words (I was inspired by how much strength and courage pets can give us in difficult times.)

Fun with Pinkfresh Acetates #3 - CAPTURE

Hi, Friends.......

I am back with my last of the three cards I made with my Pink Fresh Acetate pieces and a leftover bubble wrap background. Here are cards #1 and #2, in case you missed them.

We are back to pink and this one carries a heartfelt sentiment that shows that truly loving and caring for someone means that you can accept the unique ways they were created.....even with their quirks and weirdnesses.....without missing the amazing parts of them. We all have our faults and weaknesses......being human, and all!!! True friends acknowledge those shortcomings while still managing to bring out the best in each other. "Let us spur one another toward love and good deeds." (from Hebrews 10:24)

Supplies used include:
Pinkfresh Studio - Life Noted Acetate Die Cut Words (retired)
Pinkfresh Studio - The Mix No. 1 Acetate Tags (retired)
Background: Photo paper + Distress Inks
Rhinestone hearts from my stash
Darice cardstock for card base
Tombow - Mono Aqua Liquid Glue for attaching those transparent acetates!

Hope you enjoyed this mini-series of cards made with the fun Pinkfresh products!! Have a lovely day. You are amazing!!

❤
Janis

Thank you for the honor of entering this card in the following challenges:
1. Pinkfresh Studio - January 2019 Challenge - I used Distress Inks in a few of the bright saturated colors from the July 2018 Mood Board , and was inspired by the Watercolor part of the challenge.
2. Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - Have a Heart 
3. Allsorts #504 - Friends
4. Ellibelle's Crafty Wednesday January Challenge - Sparkle and Shine (I added pink rhinestones for sparkle.)
5. DL.ART January Linky
6. Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge - Love is in the Air
7. Double Trouble Challenge #20 Love, Peace, and Kindness is in the Air (I did all three things: #1 My sentiment is about acceptance and my background is light and airy. #3 I added pink rhinestones for sparkle. #2 I linked up to The Paper Girls challenge.)
8. The Paper Girls Challenge #168 - Sparkle and Shine
(I added pink rhinestones for sparkle.)
9. TCP Tuesday Challenge #353 - Love
10. Time Out Challenge #127 - Inspired by Words (I was inspired by the idea of being strengthened by your friends from this quote.) 

Guest Designer for Christmas Kickstart Challenge

Hi, Friends.......

I am so honored today to be a Guest Elf over at Dottie Jo's Christmas Kickstart Challenge #3. Jo asked me a few weeks ago to be her guest for the theme of "Festive Felines". How could I resist??? 🐈

One of the sweetest stamps in my entire collection is this long-retired one called "For Santa" from All Night Media. I don't even remember now where I got this one, but I have had it for decades....and I do not get it out nearly often enough! (One thing I like to do as a personal challenge with Jo's Christmas Kickstart themes is to use neglected stamps in my collection that get don't get much ink. So this was the natural choice for this fab theme!)

I went with soft baby colors and tattered edges for a shabby rag-quilt look. I really love how cozy this sweet kitty looks.

Did you notice the sweet mousey slippers under the bed?  Awwww.....

Supplies used include:
All Night Media - For Santa (retired)
Versafine Ink in Smokey Gray
Distress Markers used with a waterbrush to watercolor
Distress Ink in Walnut Stain
Echo Park - Winter Wishes collection
Kraft Core'dinations card stock
Snowflakes, twine, and heart button from stash

Hope you enjoyed my card.  Please join in the fun over at the Christmas Kickstart Challenge.  You have a full two weeks to play. Thank you, Jo, for inviting me to be your guest!!!

❤
Janis

Thank you for the honor of entering this card in the following challenges:
1. ABC Christmas Challenge - A is for AG Christmas 
2. The House that Stamps Built J2319 - Anything Goes
3. Joy Clair December/January Challenge - AG
4. Dare2BArtzy January Challenge - Favorite Season (Isn't Christmas everyone's fave season???)
5. Word Art Wednesday - Weeks #370-371 - AG
6. Christmas Crafts All Year Round January Challenge - Let it Snow
7. Crafty Hazelnut's Patterned Paper - January Challenge
8. Craft Hazelnut's Christmas Challenge #422 - AG Christmas
9. Card Mania Challenge #112 - Baby, It's Cold Outside! 
10. Double D Challenges - Looking Back in Time
11. SUYP Challenge #38 - Furrything Goes/Meuw Year

My Friend......You Make my Heart Happy

Friends FUR-ever

Hi, Friends......

Our family has been going through some challenges lately, but through it all we have been on the receiving end of some very thoughtful gestures from friends which have encouraged us greatly. 

I wanted to make a sunny thank you to send to one friend in particular. I have been attracted to yellow lately....kind of odd because it is not my usual color and certainly not my favorite. I must be ready for spring!!! :) When I saw that Mrs. A's Butterfly Challenge this fortnight had yellow and blue in it.....I knew I wanted to try do all 7 of the elements for this card.

Here is her Butterfly Wheel showing the 7 elements (which includes the requisite butterfly/ies as one of the seven):
 
The Letter Y is the unifying theme. Now tell me....have YEW ever heard of the color YEW???? I had not. I had heard of Yew trees.....although I couldn't remember what they looked like! (Don't tell my old Plant Taxonomy professor!) But a quick look at Wiki told me it was a brown/tan color which I interpreted as kraft for my card.

I have never attempted all 7 parts of the Butterfly Challenge before because I can't figure out how to make them look cohesive. I perused my butterfly box, though, and found the perfect patterned paper....from K&Co. It had all three colors in it. I was good to go from there. I used yarn and a sentiment from a new stamp set containing the word "you". Patterned paper is my "your choice" for this card. VICTORY!!!! ALL SEVEN ELEMENTS for the FIRST TIME!!!! YAY!!!!  (Maybe YAY should be my Your Choice item! lol...)  Can you tell that I am excited?  :)

Supplies used include:
Stampendous - Laurel Burch Fish Wishes stamp set
Versafine ink in Sepia Brown
K&Co. patterned paper
Studio Katia - Clear Round Drops Mix
Core'dinations cardstock
Yarn from stash

Hope you like my sunny card. I am soooooooooo ready for spring so I can get out and play in my garden....which is currently covered in snow. I look at it longingly when I am out taking care of my chickens. What are you looking forward to this spring? Thank you for stopping by!!!

❤
Janis

Thank you for the honor of entering this card in the following challenges:
1. Butterfly Challenge - Y is for.....  I DID ALL SEVEN THINGS!! YAY!!!
2. Joy Clair December/January Challenge - AG
3. Allsorts #504 - Friends
4. Ellibelle's Crafty Wednesday January Challenge - Sparkle and Shine  (I added clear dew drops for shine.) 
5. Word Art Wednesday - Weeks #370-371 - AG
6. Dare2BArtzy January Challenge - Favorite Season
(I am soooooooooooo ready for SPRING!!!)
7. Crafty Hazelnut's Patterned Paper - January Challenge
8. Simon Says Says Work-It Wednesday - Something New (I used a new stamp set.)
9. Double Trouble Challenge #20 Love, Peace, and Kindness is in the Air (I did all three things: #1 My sentiment is about kindness and I have a butterfly in the air. #3 I added clear dew drops for shine, #2 I linked up to The Paper Girls challenge.)
10. The Paper Girls Challenge #168 - Sparkle and Shine (I added clear dew drops for shine.)
11. TCP Tuesday Challenge #353 - Love
12. Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - Have a Heart (I have heart in my sentiment.) 
13. Time Out Challenge #127 - Inspired by Words (I chose the support of friends in this quote which makes my heart happy!)

 

Graphic 45 - Portrait of a Lady

This antique painting is called "Little Vandals".  Not much has changed!!  lol.... 

Hi, Friends......

I am back with another vintage card to share. This time I used my Graphic 45 "Portrait of a Lady" collection. I don't have the complete collection, but I have the background prints and some chippies. Fortunately, I have a lovely bunch of unlabeled vintage lady stamps I found at our local thrift store some time back....which work great with this collection!

I stamped and heat embossed the lady and then masked her so I could stamp and sponge the background. You can't see the subtle stamping but it adds depth. Then I removed the mask and sponged her skin, dress, and hair. It was kind of a new technique for me to do all of that with sponges. I love how it turned out, though!

Supplies used include:
Graphic 45 "Portrait of a Lady" collection
Winnie & Walter - Essentials: Audrey Cutaways die set Winnie & Walter - Essentials: Katharine Cutaways die set
Unlabeled vintage lady stamp
Versafine ink in Olympia Green
Clear embossing powder
Bunches of vintage looking stamps from my stash that you can't see in the background of the image focal panel. lol...
Distress Inks for sponging in Tattered Rose, Shabby Shutters, Antique Linen, and Walnut Stain
Lace and ribbon from stash

Thanks for stopping by. I hope you enjoyed my card.  I appreciate all your sweet comments and also the kind words concerning my son's health that I mentioned briefly in my last post.  Many thanks!

❤
Janis

Thank you for the honor of entering this card in the following challenges:
1. The Artistic Stamper January Challenge - Anything Goes
2. The House that Stamps Built J2319 - Anything Goes
3. Joy Clair December/January Challenge - AG
4. DL.ART January Linky
5. Word Art Wednesday - Weeks #370-371 - AG
6. Graphic 45 January Challenge #G45Stamp - Graphic 45 plus Stamping
7. Crafty Hazelnut's Patterned Paper - January Challenge
8. Simon Says Says Work-It Wednesday - Something New (I tried a new sponging technique)
9. Cupcake Inspirations Challenge CIC462 - Pink and White (I took some liberties using rose and ivory.)
10. Double D Challenges - Looking Back in Time

Telephones? Meh...Who Would Use One?

Hi, Friends.....

I am here with a fun masculine birthday card for my adult son.....who loathes talking on the phone!! lol..

A little back story on this card. His birthday isn't until May....but this is LAST year's BD card!!! EEEK! Yep, that's right...... I never made him a card last May. I am such a Bad Mom!!! Who would even think that a grown son would admire his mom's cards so much that he would actually MISS getting one??? And then bring it up months later that he was disappointed that he never got one in May.....but even a late one would be fine!!

That young man is enough to make this mom's heart just burst with love!!! This is the son (I only have one) that also finds fab rubber stamps for me at thrift stores and surprises me with them. What a treasure he is!!! ❤❤❤

Well, I love me a little Graphic 45 and the vintage images in this Communique collection are just right for masculine cards. How perfect to find this little quote about telephones on one of the sheets!!! I heat embossed a telephone image from Unity onto a scrap of decades-old manila file folder that I couldn't bear to throw away!! Ha.

Here's the inside. I used the oft-neglected letter stickers from the collection for the sentiment. Yay!! I need to use these more often!!

Supplies used include:
Graphic 45 Communique collection
Winnie & Walter - Essentials: Katharine Cutaways die set
Telephone, vintage image from Call Me....I'll Laugh at You
Versafine ink in Onyx Black
Clear embossing powder
Distress Ink in Black Soot for edges of panels
Scrap of a very old manilla file folder
Core'dinations black cardstock

My son is experiencing some health issues right now and I hope this card will cheer him up. Your prayers are appreciated!

Thank you for stopping by today. I hope you like my card. I think my son will love it. I hope it inspires you to stop hoarding your Graphic 45 and USE it....so you can buy more!! :)

❤
Janis

Thank you for the honor of entering this card in the following challenges:
1. Allsorts Week #503 - Make it Masculine
2. The House that Stamps Built J2319 - Anything Goes
3. Joy Clair December/January Challenge - AG
4. Crop Stop Link Party #47 (I used a Neutral Color Scheme + Ranger Distress Inks and Core'dinations cardstock)
5. Word Art Wednesday - Weeks #370-371 - AG
6. Graphic 45 January Challenge #G45Stamp - Graphic 45 plus Stamping
7. Crafty Hazelnut's Patterned Paper - January Challenge
8. Crafter's Castle Challenge #13 - AG
9. Power Poppy Creative Confetti Challenge - Old or New?
 (I went with old....last year's BD and vintage style!  Please don't tell me it is already 2019!!!  lol...)
10. Double D Challenges - Looking Back in Time

Fun with Pinkfresh Acetates #2 - AWESOME

Hi, Friends.......

I am back with my second of three cards made with the fabulous Pinkfresh acetate ephemera. You can see the first one HERE.  I LOVE playing with these transparent pieces of joy on my leftover "bubble wrap backgrounds" from an old challenge on Darnell's blog! (Yes...I still have a whole stack of them!! Ha.) The glossy photo paper and the see-through acetates give a lovely shine to this card.

This time I used sunshiny, summery colors, which I badly need during these dark winter days. In the winter, summer is my favorite season!!! (Guess which season is my favorite in the summer....??? I just can't be satisfied!! Ha.)

I love the light, airy look of this card and the motivational words on the tag......which encourage us to love, to be positive and thankful, and to not forget to laugh, smile and dream. Our family is going through some difficult times right now and so I really need to have these words in front of me at all times!!

Supplies used include:
Pinkfresh Studio - The Mix No. 1 Acetate Tags (retired)
Pinkfresh Studio - Life Noted Acetate Die Cut Words (retired)
Want 2 Scrap - Adhesive Rhinestones
Tombow - Mono Aqua Liquid Glue for attaching those transparent acetates!
Background: glossy photo paper and Distress Inks

Hope you like my card. Maybe these sunny colors will brighten your day like they do mine! Thank you for stopping by.

❤
Janis

Thank you for the honor of entering this card in the following challenges:
1. Pinkfresh Studio - January 2019 Challenge - I used Distress Inks in a couple of the bright saturated colors from the July 2018 Mood Board , and also for the Watercolor part of the challenge.
2. Dare2BArtzy January Challenge - Favorite Season
3. DL.ART January Linky
4. Crop Stop Link Party #47 (I used Ranger Distress Inks)
5. Word Art Wednesday - Weeks #370-371 - AG
6. Ellibelle's Crafty Wednesday January Challenge - Sparkle and Shine
7. Double Trouble Challenge #20 Love, Peace, and Kindness is in the Air (I did all three things: #1 My sentiment talks about Love and I have sunshiny colors) #3 I added rhinestones for sparkle and my glossy paper is shiny, #2 I linked up to The Paper Girls challenge.)
8. The Paper Girls Challenge #168 - Sparkle and Shine (I added rhinestones for sparkle and used glossy paper for shine.)

Birthday - Under Construction

Hi, Friends......

I am here with a birthday card that a friend asked me to make for her young grandson whose daddy works with heavy equipment. I had these super-fun 3D stickers from the Dollar Store that were perfect.

Front of the card with coordinating envelope.

I even decorated the inside with some construction zone washi tape!

Inside of the card.

Supplies used include:
Dollar Store stickers
DCWV patterned paper scraps
Ranger Distress Ink in Black Soot to ink edges of patterned paper
Core'dinations cardstock scraps for mats
Happy Birthday stamp from stash
Versafine ink in Smokey Gray
Washi tape

Hope you liked this fun card and that it will inspire you to look at your local dollar store for some fun stickers, too!

Thank you for stopping by today. Stay safe in the winter storms, everyone!!!

❤
Janis

Thank you for the honor of entering this card in the following challenges:
1. Allsorts Week #503 - Make it Masculine
2. Pixie's Snippets Challenge #344 - Use Snippets
3. DL.ART January Linky
4. Crop Stop Link Party #47 (I used Ranger Distress Inks and Core'dinations cardstock)
5. Word Art Wednesday - Weeks #370-371 - AG
6. CARDZ-TV Anything Goes Challenge #81
7. Crafty Hazelnut's Patterned Paper - January Challenge
8. Crafter's Castle Challenge #13 - AG

Fun with Pinkfresh Acetates #1 - EXTRA SPECIAL

It can be tough for a cat person to find that special someone who is compatible!!!  lol....

Hi, Friends.......

What's more fun for us cardmakers than playing with some items from a company you've never tried out before??? Today it is Pinkfresh Studio for me. About a year ago, the sweet and generous Heather Hoffman sent me several packages of super-cute Pinkfresh items in a prize. (THANKS, Heather!!)  I had admired their products for some time and finally got them out when I saw a fun challenge on their blog where you can choose from any of their previous challenges to play! Well....I couldn't stop once I started and ended up with THREE cards!! 😎

I also still had in my stash a stack of these leftover fun watercolor bubble wrap backgrounds on photo paper from a long ago challenge by the lovely Darnell Knauss. Do any of the rest of you still have some of these hibernating in your stash??? I have them in my active box, but hadn't found just the right use for them yet. They are PERFECT for combining with the acetates which let the bright colors show through! LOVE!!!

For this card I snagged some colors from the December 2018 Pinkfresh Challenge:

Supplies used include:
Pinkfresh Studio - The Mix No. 1 Acetate Tags (retired)
Pinkfresh Studio - Life Noted Acetate Die Cut Words (retired)
Studio Katia - Clear Round Drops Mix
Tombow - Mono Aqua Liquid Glue for attaching those transparent acetates!
Background: glossy photo paper and distress inks

Hope you liked this bright and cheery card! I had so much fun making it. Be sure to be watching soon for the other two cards I made with these supplies. That's all for now.

Hope everyone is staying safe in the winter storms that are blanketing much of the country lately. We are slipping and sliding around here....but mostly in our own driveway and lane!! The roads (so far) are fine. It's just a matter of getting up TO the roads!! lol...

❤
Janis

Thank you for the honor of entering this card in the following challenges:
1. Pinkfresh Studio - January 2019 Challenge - I used the Dec. 2018 challenge colors for inspiration
2. Southern Girls - Anything Goes
3. DL.ART January Linky
4. Crop Stop Link Party #47 (I used Ranger Distress Inks)
5. Word Art Wednesday - Weeks #370-371 - AG
6. CARDZ-TV Anything Goes Challenge #81
7. Papercraft Challenge #28 - Celebrate (My card celebrates an extra special person!)
8. Crafter's Castle Challenge #13 - AG
9. Simon Says Says Work-It Wednesday - Something New (I used my PinkFresh items for the first time!) 

Sending Joy with Penny Black

Hi, Friends......

I am here with a sweet card that I made using an adorable set I received from a crafty friend and hadn't inked up yet. So much fun playing with new toys. 😎

I used a very simple color scheme for this card. We get moderately snowy winters where I live and I notice how everything turns monochrome when it snows. This card reflects that look with only the pops of red and a touch of pink breaking the neutrals. I adore this bundled up little snowguy with the pup ready to play nearby. I even found some sweater knit patterned paper in my stash to put in the background to add to the warm, cozy "bundled up" feel.

I added some pretty sparkle to the snow and to the snowguy with my clear Wink of Stella pen, but naturally it is rendered completely invisible in this photo! lol...

Products used include:
Penny Black - Merry Delight stamp set
Versafine Ink in Smokey Gray
Clear embossing powder
Distress markers
Spectrum Noir markers
Wink of Stella pen
Misc. cardstock, snowflakes, and fake raffia ribbon from my stash

Thank you for stopping by today. I hope you are all doing well and enjoying a restful January.

❤
Janis

Thank you for the honor of entering this card in the following challenges:
1. Christmas Kickstart Challenge #2 - Bundle Up!
2. CARDZ-TV Anything Goes Challenge #81
3. Crop Stop Link Party #47 (I used Tsukineko Versafine ink and Ranger Distress Markers)
4. Penny Black Saturday Challenge - AG opt Something New
5. Power Poppy Creative Confetti Challenge - Let's Go Half & Half
6. Craft Stamper TIMI January Challenge - Anything Goes with Stamping
7. Double Trouble Challenge #19 - Warm and Cozy
(I did Thing 1 - all warm and cozy bundled up, Thing 2 - I have mittens and a puppy, Thing 3 - Double Dare by entering over at Creative with Stamps, too!)
8. Creative with Stamps Challenge #34 - Mittens

For a Very Special Person

Hi, Friends.....

I am here with a pretty card using the wonderful color palette Heather chose for the current Winnie & Walter Color Combo Challenge.

I adore these pine and pink tones together!!! I was thinking about making a Christmas card with them, but I went Valentine-ish, instead.....using some of my newly acquired W&W products! FUN!!

I grabbed a couple sheets of smooshed paper I had on hand in the appropriate colors. I echoed the scalloped edge of the heart in the scalloped rectangles...and stamped and die cut a bouquet of flowers and leaves to put inside the heart. A few butterflies help me remember that spring will be here before I know it. I even got brave and put a few ink splatters on!! 

Products used include:
Winnie & Walter - In Bloom: Frenchy's Festive Florals stamp set
Winnie & Walter - Sentimental: Gift stamp set
Winnie & Walter - True Dotty Heart Cutaways die set
Winnie & Walter - In Bloom: Frenchy's Festive Florals die set
Winnie & Walter - Essentials: Audrey Cutaways die set
Winnie & Walter - Essentials: Katharine Cutaways die set
Tsukineko - Memento Ink in London Fog
Distress Ink in Black Soot, Worn Lipstick, Spun Sugar
Versamark Ink
WOW! Embossing Powder - Opaque Bright White Regular
Mixed Media Paper and Watercolor paper backgrounds I had on hand that had been smooshed with various leftover inks.

I'm not very experienced making bouquets for my cards, but I really like how this turned out. Hope you like it, too!! Thank you so much for stopping by today.

❤
Janis

Thank you for the honor of entering this card in the following challenges:
1. Winnie & Walter December Color Combo Challenge
2. The Artistic Stamper January Challenge - Anything Goes
3. Craft Stamper TIMI January Challenge - Anything Goes with Stamping
4. CARDZ-TV Anything Goes Challenge #80
5. TCP Tuesday Challenge #353 - Love
6. Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge - Something New (I used my new W&W Dotty Hearts and Frenchy's Festive Florals sets)
7. Word-Art Wednesday Weeks #368-#369 - Anything Goes
8. Butterfly Challenge - Butterfly + I is for Include a Die Cut
9. Papercraft Challenges #28 - Celebrate
10. Allsorts Week 501 - Hearts and Flowers
11. Lost Coast Portal Challenge #67 - Anything Goes with Stamping 

Penguin Happy Holidays

Hi, Friends......

I am here with a fun little penguin card to enter into the Winnie & Walter Rerun Challenge #37. I don't own the adorable Stampets: Penguin Rerun set for this month, so I took inspiration from the penguins that each of the designers used and the contrasting dark and light background that Kelly used HERE.

Supplies used include:
Winnie & Walter - Essentials: Tilda Cutaways die set
Winnie & Walter - In a Word: Happy stamp set
Winnie & Walter - Scenery: Bigger Bang Confetti stamp set (retired)
Versamark ink
White Sparkle embossing powder
Echo Park - Winter Wishes paper collection (retired)
DCWV Scraps
Snowflakes from my stash

Thank you for stopping by today! I hope January is a quiet relaxing month for you after the rush of the holidays.

❤
Janis

Thank you for the honor of entering this card in the following challenges:
1. Winnie & Walter Rerun No. 37 - Stampets: Penguin
2. Pixie's Snippets Playground Challenge #343
3. Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas Challenge #419 - AG Christmas
4. ABC Christmas Challenge - A is for AG Christmas
5. Christmas Crafts All Year Round January Challenge - Let it Snow
6. Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge - Something New (I used my new W&W Tilda die set)
7. Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - Something New (I used my new W&W Tilda die set)

Introducing a New Challenge You Won't Want to Miss!!!

That's what my cats would say if I tried to put antlers on them!!  lol...

Hi, Friends......

Happy New Year to everyone!  I took a bit of hiatus from my blog during the holidays, but I am back.  I hope you are feeling rested and ready to take on a challenge because there is a brand-new one starting and I am so thrilled to introduce you to it!  

My crafty friend, Dotty Jo, over at Just a Dotty Pudding has just launched her super-fun Christmas Kickstart Challenge to get us going on our Christmas cards again!!  I am so ready.  I love making Christmas cards in January while my supplies are still out and there is no pressure!!  The challenge is fortnightly on Tuesdays and the inaugural theme is:  Rudolph and Friends....so get out your Rudy stamps or deer die-cuts and let's help Dotty Jo get her sleigh in the air!!  You can read all the details HERE.

Here's what I made:

I got brave and did some stamp surgery on this reindeer and tree stamp. It used to have a cathedral shaped arching outline, but I cut the thing off. I rarely use it with that around it, but I kept the outline in case I want it later. I made two variations of this card.....using scraps for my layered background.

On this first one, I tried stamping and heat embossing directly on the background. Major FAIL. lol... The deer had a seam through its middle and the silver blended into the background too much. Ugh. Then I had the bright idea (uh-oh...!!) to heat emboss it on vellum and stick that over the top of the failed attempt at embossing. Much better. I offset it a teence, although it is hard to see in the photo, so there is a bit of a shadow effect.

Here's another variation....with a paler sky and the image embossed on a scrap of white cardstock. Which do you like better????

Supplies used include:
Mark's Finest Papers - Crisp Winter stamp set (retired)
Versamark Ink Pad
Ranger - Embossing Powder
Winnie & Walter - Essentials: Katharine Cutaways die set
Pink & Main Scallop Waves die set
Winnie & Walter - Comfort + Joy stamp set
Versafine Ink - Majestic Blue
Clear embossing powder
DCWV scraps
Vellum
White cardstock scrap

Thank you for stopping by today! I hope you liked my cards and will play along in Dotty Jo's new challenge along with me.
(I'll even let you in on a bit of a secret: Dotty Jo invited me to guest there in a few weeks. Can you guess the theme she chose for that fortnight??? Shhhhh.....)
See you over there!!!

❤
Janis

Thank you for the honor of entering these cards in the following challenges:
1. Christmas Kickstart Challenge #1 - Rudolph and Friends
2. Pixie's Snippets Playground Challenge #342 - Use Snippets
3. Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas Challenge #418 - AG Christmas or New Years
4. ABC Christmas Challenge - A is for AG Christmas
5. Christmas Crafts All Year Round January Challenge - Let it Snow 
6. The Artistic Stamper January Challenge - Anything Goes
7. Tuesday Throwdown Challenge #422 - Winter Sparkles