A Year in Review Challenge

Every month, Altenew has an Inspiration Challenge. For December, it's A Year in Review Challenge. We could choose any of the inspiration photos from 2019.

I chose the colours from March, and made this sympathy card.

I used the Altenew Layered Poppy stamp set, and Gina K. Designs ink: Red Hot, Red Velvet, Jelly Bean Green, and Fresh Asparagus. I matted it with black before attaching it to a white card base.

I stamped the sentiment with Gina K. Designs Jet Black Amalgam ink, cut it out and popped it up with some foam squares.

Since it was a sympathy card, I wanted to keep it fairly simple. 

The challenge ends in a couple of days, so I'm getting this uploaded just in time. I wish you all a Happy New Year!

Birthday Tag

The Gina K. Designs Monthly Mix Challenge for December is Tag, You're It! I know I will need some birthday tags this year, so now I have one made!

 

The Gina K. Designs (GKD) Lovely Lilies stamp set, by Claire Brennan, is a layering set. It makes it so easy to create a beautiful flower with lots of dimension. I stamped the different layers, using GKD Bubblegum Pink, Dusty Rose, Passionate Pink, and Cherry Red ink. I added the sentiment with GKD Jet Black Amalgam ink.

I thought it looked a little bare, so I added Clear Wink of Stella over the background and adhered a few rhinestones before punching a hole and attaching the ribbon.

I'm getting this in under the wire for the challenge, as it ends on December 31st. I can't believe we're so close to the end of the year! I guess all that's left to say is Happy New Year!

Merry Christmas!

The theme for this week at the Mod Squad Challenge is Christmas or Winter, so I thought I would share the Christmas card that I made this year.

I saw this design on Pinterest and used a variety of stamp sets to make my card. I used my MISTI since I was making 30 cards. It really helped to speed up the process.

I used a top folding white card base. The manger scene is from the Inkadinkado O Holy Night set. It was stamped with VersaMark ink and embossed in gold. The sentiment, from Gina K. Designs Sentimental Holiday, was stamped with Gina K. Designs In the Navy ink.

On a piece of navy blue cardstock, I stamped the two flourishes with VersaMark ink and embossed them in gold. The one on the right is from the Inkadinkado Snowflakes set and the one on the left is from the Gina K. Designs Layered Daisies set. I cut the middle wedge out of the blue cardstock, glued a thin strip of gold cardstock on each side, and glued the two pieces onto the card base.

I made the star with my Silhouette Cameo cutting machine and embossed it in gold before attaching it in the corner.

I wish you all a very Merry Christmas! 

Snowy Birthday

I needed to make a birthday card this week, and there were two challenges that needed a snowy/winter theme, so that was the inspiration for my card.

I could have made this a one layer card, but I stamped the frame before I thought about it (Gina K. Designs(GKD) Holiday Frame). I used my MISTI to position all my stamps. I added the scene elements that come with the set, using GKD  Jet Black Amalgam ink and Christmas Pine ink.  I cut a mask and added GKD White Glitz Glitter Gel. Once that dried, I coloured in the snowman with Spectrum Noir alcohol markers OR2, AG3, and DR2. I used IG2 to make the shadows and IB2 to colour the frame outlines.

I used a VersaMark pen on the trees and embossed them with GKD Puffy White embossing powder.

The sentiment is from the GKD Holiday Frame Fillers set, and was embossed in silver. I attached the panel to a white card base.

I am entering this in the Mod Squad Challenge - Christmas/Winter, and the Splitcoaststampers MISTI Monday December Challenge - Simply Snow.

Last Tag

I have my last tag for the 25 Days of Christmas Tags! I was inspired by Laurie, from Day 15, with this tag.

This is what I came up with.

The stamps are from the Gina K. Designs Christmas Greenery set. The trees were stamped with  Memento Tuxedo Black ink, and the sentiment was embossed in gold.

For the red tag, I used the Gina K. Designs Sassy Stripes stencil, with VersaMark ink to make the stripes. I added the ribbon and twine to attach the tags together.

I am also entering this in the Gina K. Designs Mix Challenge - Tag, You're It!, the Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge - Let's Sparkle, and the Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - Traditional Christmas.

Another Day 18 Tag

I was inspired by Lindsay to make another tag for day 18 of the 25 Days of Christmas Tags. I am also entering this in the Gina K. Designs Mix Challenge - Tag, You're It!, the Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge - Let's Sparkle, and the Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - Traditional Christmas.

Here is Lindsay's tag.

And here is mine.

I used Gina K. Designs stamps and inks for this tag. The tag was inked with Dusty Rose, Turquoise Sea, and Wild Lilac ink. To add sparkle, I went over the tag with a Clear Wink of Stella pen. The snowflakes are from two stamp sets - Christmas Greenery and Seasonal Sentiments. They were embossed in white. 

The sentiments are from the Christmas Joy set, and the Merry & Bright set. I masked off the rest of the sentiment for May your days be, and then cut it out with a die that came with the Tim Holtz  Celebrate set. The sentiments were both heat embossed in silver. Once I adhered the sentiments with foam squares, I added the ribbon.

Another Day 10 Tag

Here is another tag from day 10 of the 25 Days of Christmas Tags. I am also entering it in the Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - Traditional Christmas.

I was inspired by this tag, by Natasha.

Here is my take on the tag.

I used a digital snowman design that I found on my computer. Unfortunately, it doesn't tell me who designed it. It certainly is cute! I coloured it with Spectrum Noir alcohol markers DR4, AG3, EB5, OR2, IG10, and IG1 and used Gina K. Designs Puffy White embossing powder on the hat brim and pompom.

I masked the bottom of the tag, and inked the sky with Gina K. Designs Powder Blue and Ocean Mist ink. I spritzed it with water to look like snow. 

The sentiment is from the Gina K. Designs Sparkling Snowflake stamp set. It was embossed in white and trimmed down. I added the snowman and sentiment to the tag before tying the bow.

 
          
        

Another Day 1 Tag

When I saw that the Gina K. Designs Monthly Mix challenge was Tag, You're It!, I knew that I had to make a few more tags for the 25 Days of Christmas Tags!

I have another tag from Day 1. My inspiration was this tag by Joyce.

Here is my tag, using Gina K. Designs stamps.

The poinsettia comes from the Merry & Bright stamp set. Since it is a solid stamp, I stamped it on gold foil cardstock with VersaMark ink and heat set it with red embossing powder. I used the matching die to cut it out.

The sentiment comes from the Seasonal Sentiments stamp set and was stamped with Memento Tuxedo Black ink. I added the ribbon and twine after I punched the hole.

I am also entering this in the Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge - Let's Sparkle, and the Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - Traditional Christmas.

Scor-Pal More than one Score December Challenge

It's time for the Scor-Pal More Than One Score December Challenge - Any December Holiday. I give a few gift cards for Christmas and I like to make something to put them in. I saw a gift card holder in a video by Gina K. It comes in two parts and you can see them here and here.

To make the gift card holder, start with a piece of cardstock 4 1/4" x 10". With the 10" side at the top of your Scor-Pal, score at 3", 4", 5", and 8". Round all 4 corners. Cut patterned paper as follows: 

For the outside: 2 - 2 3/4" x 4"; 1 - 1 3/4" x 4".

For the inside: 2 - 2 3/4" x 4"; 1 - 1 3/4" x 4"; 2 - 3/4" x 4".

Lay the patterned paper on the corresponding sections of the cardstock. Round the corners of the end pieces and attach all the pieces. With the outside facing up, place Scor-Tape on the edge of the two 1-inch sections, as shown in the picture.

Fold along the score lines, making a valley fold between the two 1" sections. Remove the backing of the Scor-Tape and adhere the two sections. Cut off the very top edge of the taped section. This gives you a piece that sticks up and the gift card goes in between the two pieces of cardstock.

To finish it off, wrap a piece of ribbon around the folded up holder, adhere with a Glue Dot and attach a small medallion to cover up where the ribbon joins.

I hope you'll join the challenge this month. You just have to have more than one score on your project and follow the theme - any December holiday. You could win a $25 gift certificate to the Scor-Pal store!

Supplies used:

Scor-Pal
Scor-Tape
ColorBox Scarlet pigment ink
Stamp set by Jennifer Ellory that came with a magazine
Glue Dots
patterned paper, ribbon from my stash

Bonus Day Tag

Welcome to the last day of the 25 Days of Christmas Tags! Well, it was actually yesterday, but I was out at the Black Friday sales, and didn't get my tags finished! I was inspired by these pretty tags, made by Grace.

I used a digital image from Miss Kate Cuttables for my snowmen. 

The tags were blended with Gina K. Designs ink. Going from left to right, they are Turquoise Sea, Red Hot, Jelly Bean Green, and Dusty Rose. I coloured the scarves and hat details with matching Spectrum Noir alcohol markers IB2, CR8, CG1, and CR4. I used OR2 for the nose, IG10 for the hat, EB5 for the arms and IG1 for the shadow at the base. I drew on the eyes and mouth with a thin black marker.

The word Joy was cut from gold glitter paper. I glued everything on, punched the holes and added the twine.

Today is the last day of the 30 Day Coloring Challenge, so I will add these tags to the gallery.

I am also entering the Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - Anything Goes.

Now I have all my tags ready for my Christmas gifts!

Day 25 Tag

Today is day 25 of the 25 Days of Christmas Tags. But Tracey said there will be a bonus day tomorrow!

Today I was inspired by this colourful tag, made by Joyce.

I found a digital file on my computer that was from Miss Kate Cuttables. It only had about 6 lights, so I put some strings together and made a square shape.

I printed it out and coloured in the lights with Spectrum Noir alcohol markers CT3, BP2, IB2, DR1, OR2, HB2, and TB3. The sentiment is from the Gina K. Designs Merry & Bright stamp set, and was stamped with Memento Tuxedo Black ink. Then I just had to punch a hole and add some twine. 

I am entering this in the Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - Anything Goes.

I'll be back tomorrow with the bonus day!

Day 24 Tag

I have a new tag for day 24 of the 25 Days of Christmas Tags. I was inspired by Lindsey's tag, shown here.

Today's sponsor is Heffy Doodle. I don't have any of their stamps, but I have their Metric Stitched Rectangle Dies, so I used one of them to cut my tag.

I thought the Plaid FolkArt Swirl Background stencil that I have looked like swirling snow, so I used white pigment ink to sponge through the stencil and make the design. Once that dried, I stamped the sentiment, which came with a magazine and is called Woodland Cottage, with VersaMark ink and heat embossed it with sapphire embossing powder. I punched the hole, and added the ribbon.

I am entering this in the Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - Anything Goes.

Alcohol Ink with Glitz Glitter Gel

I decided to make another card for the Splitcoaststampers MISTI Monday Challenge - Double Backgrounds. I hope this qualifies, as it has two techniques for the background.

For the first layer of the background, I sponged three colours of homemade alcohol ink onto a piece of photo paper. Once it was dry, I added Gina K. Designs White Glitz Glitter Gel through the Plaid Folk Art Swirl Background stencil. I didn't cover the whole background, as I wanted more of the alcohol ink to show. I set this aside for a couple of hours to make sure it was completely dry. 

The sentiment came from the Gina K. Designs Seasonal Sentiments stamp set. I die cut the word out of turquoise cardstock and covered it with Glossy Accents. Once it was dry, I glued it onto the word outline, which I had die cut from white cardstock. 

Using my MISTI, I lined up the word Merry, stamped it with VersaMark ink and heat embossed it in white.

I added the background to a white card base and glued on the Christmas die cut.

Double Background

This month, the Splitcoaststampers MISTI Monday Challenge is to create a background using two textures or techniques. I came up with an idea, but I think it looked better in my head than it does in person!

I debossed the image, using an embossing folder of a church scene, and then added Gina K. Designs Blue Denim ink with a brayer. I coloured in the windows with some yellow Stickles and set it aside to dry.

A few years ago, I made the overlay with my die cutting machine. It's been sitting in my desk and I thought it would work for this card. I inked it up with VersaMark ink and heat embossed it with a lilac sparkly embossing powder. I thought it was like looking through a fence or a window with a grid in it.

Using my MISTI, I stamped the sentiment, from the Gina K. Designs Sentimental Holiday stamp set, in Blue Denim and sponged around the edges.

I added the background onto a navy blue card base, and then used some foam squares, cut into tiny pieces, to adhere the overlay. I added the sentiment with some more foam squares.

I hope you can see the scene through the overlay. It does seem to show up better in person.

Day 23 Tag

We're up to day 23 of the 25 Days of Christmas Tags.  Tracey made this lovely tag, with products from today's guests, Jillibean Soup.

Here is the tag I made.

I don't have the Jillibean Soup products, so I used supplies from Gina K. Designs. I sponged the tag with Ocean Mist and Turquoise Sea ink. Then I stamped the snowflake and sentiment, both from the Sparkling Snowflake stamp set, with VersaMark ink and heat embossed them in white. I used the coordinating die to emboss around the snowflake, by using a rubber mat when I ran it through the die cutting machine. This prevents the die from cutting through the cardstock. I added the ribbon and twine to finish the tag.

Day 22 Tag

Welcome to day 22 of the 25 Days of Christmas Tags. The sponsor today is Birch Press Design and they have some beautiful layering dies. Here is the tag that was made by Kim.

I don't have any of these dies, but I think they are going on my wish list! I used a stamp set and coloured it in.

I used the Gina K. Designs Mandala Maker stamp set with the wreath builder template in my MISTI to make the pattern. I stamped it with Gina K. Designs Whisper Amalgam ink. This ink is really light, so when I coloured the image with Spectrum Noir alcohol markers DR5, AG3, and a Silver Sharpie, it covered up the ink lines. The center of the design was drawn freehand. For the large circle, I placed a circle die around the image and traced around the inside with the marker. Once everything was dry, I covered the ink with Clear Wink of Stella to give it some shine.

The sentiment came from the Gina K. Designs Square Pegs stamp set, and was stamped with  Memento Tuxedo Black ink. I rounded the corners, punched the hole and added the ribbon and twine. 

Since this was coloured, I am posting it on the 30 Day Coloring Challenge.

Here is another picture showing more of the shine.

Day 21 Tag

Today, I have 4 tags for day 21 of the 25 Days of Christmas Tags. I was inspired by Lindsey, who made these tags.

The sponsor for today is Lawn Fawn, but I don't have any of their products, so I had to use supplies that I have.

I used my Silhouette Cameo to cut the shapes of the tags. I had the files for two of them, and drew the other two shapes. I cut them from white cardstock, and also from some patterned paper that came with  a magazine.

Using my MISTI, I stamped the sentiments with Gina K. Designs Jet Black Amalgam ink. They all came from Gina K. Designs stamp sets: Merry and Bright from Merry & Bright, Merry Wishes from 

Seasonal Sentiments, with love from Sweet Camellia, and a gift for you from A Gift for You. I used clear embossing powder to make them stand out a bit. They are easier to see in person. I glued the paper onto the cardstock, punched the holes, and added some gold twine.

Day 20 Tag

Today is day 20 of the 25 Days of Christmas Tags. I thought Rosemary's tag was so pretty!

Rosemary used a hot foiling system, which I don't have, but I thought I could get a similar look with a die and gold embossing powder.

I used a die, from the Frosty Christmas die set, by Sara Davies, which came with a magazine. I 'inked up' the die with VersaMark, by lightly tapping the ink on the die. Then I ran it through my die cutting machine with a rubber mat, so the die made an impression in the tag but didn't cut through. I added gold embossing powder and heat set it.

I used the same die, cut it out, heat embossed it in gold and glued it on the tag. I embossed the sentiment, from the Gina K. Designs Christmas Joy stamp set, and added it to the tag with some foam squares. I added the ribbon and twine to finish my tag.

It doesn't look quite as nice as Rosemary's die, but I am pleased with how it turned out. I am looking forward to tomorrow's tags!

Day 19 Tag

Welcome to day 19 of the 25 Days of Christmas Tags. Today, I was inspired by Kim's tag.

Today's sponsor is Paper Smooches, but I don't have any of their products, so I had to find things that I had that were similar.

For the flower, I used Spellbinders Layered Poinsettia dies. The greenery was die cut with the Cottage Cutz Woodland Noel die. I didn't have any patterned paper that looked like woodgrain, so I used the Stampin’ Up! Woodgrain stamp and stamped it with ColorBox Ice Pigment ink. Then I coloured it with Spectrum Noir alcohol marker TB1. The sentiment was taken from Gina K. Designs Merry & Bright stamp set and was stamped with Memento Tuxedo Black ink. For the middle of the flower, I didn't have any pompoms, so I used a cotton ball that I squished to make a smaller ball shape. I added the ribbon and twine to finish the tag.

Day 18 Tag

We're up to day 18 of the 25 Days of Christmas Tags! Today, I was inspired by Mindy's tag.

Here is my version.

I don't have the stamps that Mindy used, but I used a poinsettia stamp that is similar. It stamps a fairly solid image so I stamped it in gray and then coloured over it with alcohol markers before cutting it out with the coordinating die. I used my MISTI to line up the sentiments for the background and stamped them in white. I added the stitching with a white pen and attached the ribbon.

I used the following supplies:

Gina K. Designs: Fruit of the Season stamp set and coordinating die

                            Seasonal Sentiments stamp sets
                            Moonlit Fog ink
                            Black Gingham 5/8” ribbon
Spectrum Noir alcohol markers DR1, AG3, AG4
MISTI
White Sakura Gelly Roll pen
white pigment ink pad