Slimline Masculine Birthday

Our oldest son has a birthday soon...in my shower the other morning, I was trying to think of a masculine card.  Buffalo plaid!  I have several colors that I'm using with Christmas cards. And the simple sentiment is one of those "layered inserts."  Silver and black were just the ticket for the slimline design. 

Alcohol Inks for Color Throwdown

I really like the color palette of this Color Throwdown.  I was pretty certain I could use alcohol inks, but I found a piece of Yupo that was already inked in the colors.  I die cut the circle, stacked it on additional white die cuts and popped it all on foam tape.  "Friend" from Gina K Designs was cut in metallic gold cardstock and the piece was added to a dry-embossed layer on the card front. 

Metallic Hearts after V-Day

I seriously considered NOT using hearts, but I found myself just wanting to make the card and the heart dies were out because of Valentine's Day.  So, I made hearts for Challenge #357 of CAS Colours & Sketches.  The hearts were cut from Tim Holtz's new "metallic confections" cardstock and dry-embossed. The background layers are pieces of patterned paper from the 6x6 pad "Watercolors" of Craft Consortium.  If I had a "happy anniversary" stamp, it would work perfectly, too!

Less is More in Metallics

Metallics are the theme of this week's Less is More challenge.  I was excited to use my new Coliro mica watercolors, and I wasn't disappointed.  I'll be looking for all sorts of images to paint in metallics now.  The image is "Sunny" from Penny Black; the sentiment is from River City Rubberworks (a very old sentiment).  

Mix Up with Metal

The CAS Mix Up Challenge involved metal this month...which allows for all sorts of faux metal techniques.  I chose some copper cardstock, which I dry-embossed for some texture.  Then I cut the maple leaves with a PoppyStamps die. The stamp is an old one from Penny Black.   The card is actually already in the mail to a couple who includes us in their dinner invitations to our daughter-in-law when our son is traveling and we are providing support for our toddler granddaughter.  

"Metal" cardstock+stamping+die cutting+dry embossing. 

Sunday Stamps -- Shades of Green

The latest Sunday Stamps challenge involves greens of all shades. At least 3 of the greens shown must be featured on the card, with a neutral of choice.

For my card, I chose gold as my neutral--in addition to the white card.  Diecuts in the shiny gold cardstock are layered on an alcohol ink background created by my 9-year-old niece, who loves the AI's, blending solution, and canned air. 

Color Throwdown 471

(Edit: I missed another deadline!  I'm just not sure how I manage to do it over and over!)

When I saw the combination for Color Throwdown, I was happy that they fit perfectly in with my current obsession: metallic cardstock.  It was easy to use the basic white, black and gray colors as the base for a silver snowflake and a gold snowflake and sentiment die. Embossing folders added some texture to the solid colors.  (The "metal" shine doesn't really show up in this photo.)  

Freshly Made with More Shine

I'm continuing with Christmas cards for all the challenges, and I'm using delicious metallic cardstock again.  This Freshly Made Sketch was perfect for glittery silver snowflakes and a scalloped oval diecut on an embossed background of snowflakes. Under the card front is a layer of matte silver cardstock. The sentiment is from Penny Black. 

Sparkle and Shine for Less is More

I've completed all the Christmas cards I need to send this year, but I'm still making them.  I decided that would be my plan for any challenges I participate in for the remainder of the year, as with this #356 of Less is More.  I guess that means I'll be ahead of the game for 2018!  A couple of months ago, I bought two packs of metallic cardstock--one in silver and one in gold.  Each pack has sheets of textured metallic in addition to a shiny and a matte metallic.  I am trying to use as much of it as I can.  This card features Tim Holtz holly branches cut from the textured silver, which was also used to frame the black center piece. "Peace" is a new Impression Obsession die. The card front was dry embossed in miniature poinsettia images. 

Less is More with Silver

It's a color sketch for LESS IS MORE this week:  Christmas in non-traditional colors--no red or green. It's always a CAS challenge, as well.   My card is simple:  two diecuts (ornament from Memory Box and "merry" from Poppy Stamps) on a dry-embossed one layer background.   To give substance to the die cuts, I adhered a thin sheet of silver foil to heavy cardstock with spray adhesive before cutting.