Wednesday, March 27, 2024

Christmas Blessings card

 Hello again.
Popping in to post another Christmas card done.

This is one of those using Gecko Galz collage sheet images. You may recall I planned out 9 cards with these images, so this card is the next one in line.

 
I chose this Splitcoaststampers sketch for my A2 layout design.

The images are mounted on die cut Kraft card squares, and the focal circle stamp is heat-embossed and cut with a circle die.
Supply List:
Kraft card stock
GinX designer star paper
Gecko Galz Joyeux Noel collage sheet (blog freebie)
Gold glitter marker for accenting
VersaMagic Night Sky chalk ink for edge distressing
Sweet N Sassy O Holy Night stamp set
Versafine Clair Pinecone ink for stamping
Clear embossing powder
Spellbinders Classic Circle and Square dies

On back, more of the GinX star paper and a stamped siggie.

And last look.
Thanks for visiting and have a great night!
XOX

CHALLENGE LINK UPS:
Camels
The focal circle is stamped and heat-embossed.
Column O - Blue / Free / Distressing (Ink)

Joyful Winter Wishes

 Hey there. Hope all is well with you.

I'm already behind on my Christmas cards this year, so I thought I'd make one while I played with the Group of Seven Cardmakers technique share. This month it's Masked Stenciling. You apply a paper mask before you stencil and the mask lines become part of your design.

So I cut a piece of masking paper to cover the bottom half of the card front and I used a LaLaLand Lake die to cut the ice skating pond. Then I applied the mask to the bottom of the card and ink-blended the sky and the pond water, using Ranger Archival inks and a blending tool. I chose those inks because they are permanent when dry and I had light colors. I also added some purple to the sky.

Then, leaving the mask in place, I inked the pond with Versamark, removed the mask and heat-embossed it with clear powder. For the sky, I inked a Creative Coach snowball stencil with Versamark ink, then heat-embossed the sky using white embossing powder. 

So, the masked area became the snowy ground. I applied Picket Fence Distress Stickles to the horizon and around the pond. While that dried, I stamped the penguin and the igloo on white card with Nocturne Versafine Clair and clear heat-embossed them. Then I fussy-cut them both out. I colored the penguin with Promarkers, and also added hints of blue to the igloo. Then I inked up the igloo all over with Versamark and heat-embossed it with sparkle embossing powder. I stamped the sentiment with Versamark and white heat-embossed it, then die cut it with a fishtail banner die. Once the Stickles dried, I adhered the penguin, igloo and sentiment.

On the back, I layered a piece of stash card and a blue paper piece that I'd stenciled the snowballs on with the purple ink and a stamped siggie.


Close-ups to show the glittery shine.

Last look.
This is my version of CAS.
Thanks for the visit and have a great HumpDay!
XOX

CHALLENGE LINK UPS:
I've used sparkly embossing powders and Stickles
Alphabet Challenge: Z is for Zoology (Animals)
Pearly Sparkles #93: Celebrate
Media Used: Paper, Stamping ink, Embossing ink and powders, Blending/Stenciling inks, Stickles 
Media Used: Paper, Stamping ink, Embossing ink and powders, Blending/Stenciling inks, Stickles

Tuesday, March 26, 2024

Art Journal Spread and 4X6 Weekly Art

 Happy first full week of Spring and last full week of March!
We just passed through The Ides of March and March winds are blowing, bringing rain and cool fronts...and to many, more snow!
I find that I have to remind myself that Spring is not just a cooler version of Summer.
I've been trying to enjoy Spring as it's such a fleeting season where I live,
but sometimes the weather rollercoaster makes that difficult.
😏😕😏

It's not easy to see it now, but I originally was only going to create on the lefthand page. I had the image of the circus acrobats saved from an old calendar (Renoir's painting Acrobats at the Circque Fernando), and I thought the colors went really well with the painted background. Then the whole circus idea hit me and one page became two.
SUPPLY LIST:
Little Book of Wisdom art journal
Dies: Banner flags, Monkey, Big Top sentiment, Stitched circle, Stitched star, Circus tent, Giraffe, Gorilla, Elephant, Zebra, Lion
Acrylic paints
Distress crayons
Anna Griffin Riley collection designer paper
Orange and white paper scraps
Artistic Outpost Time sentiment stamp
Versafine Clair ink
Gel pens
Faber Castell Artist Big Brush pens
Stabilo All pencil
Promarkers
Star stickers
Pinking shears deco scissors
Washi tape

What I began with: the left side of the spread had been painted with orange, yellow and green acrylic paints, using a scrubbing technique to reveal under paint. The right side was covered with some very old scrapbooking paper in the those same colors. I wanted to try to make them more cohesive.

So I scribbled Distress Crayons in layers of those colors and spread with a baby wipe until I got my desired effect.

Left side of spread. I cut all the die cuts out of white card and colored them using Promarkers and Distress inks. I really like the Renoir. Back in the day, the audience would throw tissued-wrapped oranges into the ring to show appreciation and the performers would scoop them up. Like modern-day tipping, I guess. Citrus was not a staple for most back then, so oranges were a treat.

Right side of spread. I hope my lion die cut can hang with these other lions without getting eaten! And that zebra is just walzing on in there, like lions on the African Prairie don't feast on them! Well, the Ringmaster is gesturing come on in, so I'll leave it in his hands to avert disaster.
😊

I wanted to show you: this is the 5x7 sheet of Anna Griffin designer paper I started with. I cut the top area off and then apart to use in the top corners of the spread. Also, cutting it made it easier to fit the tent die cut on the page with this. And I'm happy that I snapped to hanging the momkey die cut from the trapeze bars. You may notice that the paper originally had pink coloring. I colored over all the pink with a red Promarker.
😎

 
 

Close-ups of all the die cuts: click on a photo to bring it up bigger.

Final view. Even though this wasn't my original idea, I really like what it morphed into. 
And I think it's fitting for the last spread (the right hand page is the inside of the back cover).
And the best part: one more spread done in this journal, with a only a handful more to go to be finished.

And last but not least, my entry to Sunday Postcard Art's Strong People challenge for this week, which is hosted by Rein. It's another all-digital piece for me, using a dancer image from a Gecko Galz digital image kit I received as a prize last year called Across the Dance Floor (not listed at GG's Etsy, and I don't understand why because it has some very cool images). I used her vest color to make the frame and sentiment in PSE. 

Thanks for hanging in there if you made it this far, lol.
Hope your week goes so well you don't want it to end!
XOX

ART JOURNAL SPREAD CHALLENGE LINK UPS:
Media: Paper, Acrylic paint, Distress Crayons and inks, Stamping ink, Promarkers, Big Brush pens, Stabilo All pencil, Gel pens, Washi tape
Media: Paper, Acrylic paint, Distress Crayons and inks, Stamping ink, Promarkers, Big Brush pens, Stabilo All pencil, Gel pens, Washi tape
Spring is the beginning of circus season, according to THIS.
The traveling circus coming to town is a big deal in rural areas.
Red / Ring / Ringmaster
Colorful Options March: Green
Storybook Circus at Magic Kingdom
Spring is the beginning of circus season, according to THIS.
Festive / Celebration / Performance / Colors Green and Yellow

Saturday, March 23, 2024

Easter/Spring Toga Party

 Happy Saturday!
Hope your weekend is going well.

Okay, this card is a bit weird, but it kinda had to be because of that fabulous Gecko Galz image, right?
I just love that rabbit and had to use him for this off-beat Spring/Easter card for our kids.

 
I chose this Splitcoaststmpers sketch for my A2 layout design.

Supply List:
Recollections white card stock
7Gypsies Avalon designer paper
Gecko Galz digital image freebie, framed in PSE
Spellbinders Postage Stamp nested die
Black and Brown Promarkers for edging
Computer-generated sentiment

Close up of the rabbit.
I image-googled this and learned it was painted by Melinda Copper and is called 'Moose as Bacchus'.
It was given to us as a blog freebie by Gecko Galz back in 2019.

 
On back, more of the 7Gypsies paper and a Hero Arts stamped and punched siggie.
Inside, I composed and framed the sentiment in PSE which attempts to parody bits of Marc Antony's speech at Caesar's funeral in Shakespeare's Julius Caeser Act III Scene 2 (that begins with the phrase I used on front). This is something that our son-in-love will like, and I just couldn't resist taking the Roman thing a bit further. 
😁

And final view.
Thanks for visiting and have a great evening.
XOX

CHALLENGE LINK UPS:
Epcot Food and Wine Festival
Festive Celebrating