Penny Black Welcome Winter | Winter Days |

Hello Friends!

I'm popping in tonight to share one more card with you from the Penny Black Welcome Winter Release before the Thanksgiving holiday. 

Today I have chosen to pair up two beautiful sets.   Winter Days #30-517 and Tweet Wreath #40-630 on a round card base.   I also used a beautiful frosty technique I saw on the Same but Different Christmas Card Series.   It provides a beautiful soft frosty glow to your piece.

The wreath was stamped using Archival Ink.  This is a wonderful ink to use when you want to use your Copic markers.  Stamp in a light ink and then use your Copics over it.  You'll get that sought after no-line coloring look that everyone loves.   After the coloring was done I added the Sookwang and Diamond Dust for the frosty finish and set the wreath aside.

Winter Days #30-517 is a lovely winter scene in a clear stamp set.   So many ways to design with this particular stamp.  I watercolored with Ranger Distress Inks and Tombows and finished the scene with some snow splatters using Dr. Ph. Martin's Pen White.   Both the scene and the wreath were adhered to a round card base and trimmed with my favorite gold leaf pen.   I added the word, Joy, in gold from the World of Wishes #51-067 Creative Die set

From our home to yours, may your Thanksgiving be blessed and your family close.   Make some memories and cherish the time together.   I'll see you again soon.

Sincerely,

Susie ~

Penny Black Welcome Winter | Creative Dies |

Hello Penny Black fans!

Are you happy it's Friday?!  Do you feel the stress creeping up with the holidays approaching?  Well, I have an idea.   How about some quick and simple Christmas cards to add to your growing collection.   Penny Black is featuring some new Creative Dies in the Welcome Winter Release that play so nicely with their other release dies.  I like that don't you?  I consider it a value added when I can mix and match my other Penny Black Creative Dies with the one of two new dies.  That's a win/win!

I have a "Two for Friday" today.  I chose patterned paper from Penny Black's paper pad, Madison #80-001 with snowflakes and dots and an icy aqua palette.  I wanted to these cards to be a set so I used the same paper on both cards.

The first card features the new Neighborhood Border Die #51-459 coupled with World of Wishes #51-067 and one of the Stitched Edges #51-136 (this set includes two creative dies).

The second card features the second edge die, and the littlest deer from Together #51-069 and Tree of Joy #51-089    Don't forget to use your negatives from the Tree of Joy!  The star makes a nice add-on element to sparkle things up.

Sliver, Aqua, and Sparkle - Add some Creative word dies and it just doesn't get easier!   Take a little break, make a cup of your favorite beverage, and create a set of quick and simple cards this weekend. 

I'll see you again next week when I feature another Penny Black Welcome Winter Release stamp set.

As always, thank you so much for your visit.

Sincerely,

Susie ~

Christmas Wishes

Hi Friends!

I'm back sharing another Christmas themed card featuring two new items from the newest Penny Black Release, Welcome Winter Paper Scroll #51-458 and a new sentiment set, Joy & Merriment #30-501

Penny Black Stamp (Paper Scroll #51-458Jo; Joy & Merriment #30-501; Festive Florals #40-352)

I used the creative die, Paper Scroll as my "creative foundation" of my card and paired it with one of the beautiful sentiments from the Joy & Merriment stamp set.  I sponged some Ranger Antique Linen Distress Ink over some Saffron colored card stock and then embossed the sentiment with some gold antique embossing powder.   I wanted to use a red, green and gold color palette for this card so the lovely poinsettia from Festive Florals #40-352 was the perfect choice. 

When I color I sometimes lay down a base color first (like underpainting when you are watercoloring).  I used Copics to color with first, then came back with Faber-Castell Polychromos colored pencils.   This is just a preference and you can certainly choose to color with either medium.   Once I colored, I included some more interest by trimming the image with some gold leaf pen leaving a few larger drops on petals and leaves here and there.   I added some dimensional adhesive to the back and popped it up along the side of the Paper Scroll.  Then I tucked in some gold die cut berry branches, Nature's Song #51-014 in the top and bottom.  I also back the Paper Scroll with some fun foam for more added dimension.

The sparkle you see on the card and next to it is Tim Holtz Distress Stickles Dry Glitter (clear rock candy) by Ranger.  I keep it on my desk during the holidays and sprinkle it around the card with I photograph.  I also sprinkled a little on the card to give a festive look.   Once I finish taking the photographs, the glitter just falls right off and back into the jar it goes!   I added some flat dots and my card is finished. 

Wondering where you can shop these lovely stamps and dies?   Right here!

May the Spirit of Christmas

Bring Joy to Your 

Heart

And Happiness

To Your Home.

Sincerely,

Susie ~

Resources:

Penny Black Stamps:  Paper Scroll #51-458; Joy & Merriment #30-501; Festive Floral #40-352; and Nature's Song #51-014

Copic Colors Used: R20, 35, 37,39 - G82, 85, 94 - YG01, and Y21, 23

Faber-Castell Polychromos Colored Pencils

Flat Dots (Carta Bella)

Antiqued Gold Embossing Powder 

Dimensional Adhesive

Fun Foam

Tim Holtz Distress Stickles Dry Glitter (Clear Rock Candy) by Ranger

Penny Black | Welcome Winter | Christmas Lantern + Marker to Stamp Technique

Hello friends!

I'm back again sharing another card featuring the beautiful Penny Black Lantern Cling Stamp #40-660 from their newest Welcome Winter release.   Isn't this a beautiful and realistic illustration?   I paired it with Brush Pines #40-408, and my very favorite, Script #40-470   All three are etched red rubber cling stamps.  These stamps leave a beautiful impression the first time.  I'm falling in love again with red rubber stamps (she smiles).

Penny Black - Lantern #40-660, Brush Pines #40-408, Script #40-470

These stamps are perfect for marker to stamp techniques.  I used a combination of water-based markers (Tombow's) and Ranger Distress Inks to color both images.  The ink glides over these stamps like butter!   First, I stamped the Brush Pines on Canson XL Series Cold Press 140 lbs watercolor paper, then applied a mask over it and stamped the Lantern.   Watercoloring with water-based inks is easy and provides such lovely results.  You can find the technique I've used on the Penny Black Youtube Channel.  Once the coloring was finished, I applied both masks and then stamped the Script stamp very lightly with Ranger Distress, Antique Linen, then a little Weathered Wood sponged for some contrast.

These stamps are large and I wanted my piece to fit on an A2 card base.  Once everything was colored, I took a deep breath and began fussy cutting around the entire image.  Next the trimmings!  I trimmed the edge with my favorite gold leaf pen, and added some Ph. Martin Pen-White on the lantern and the pine boughs.  Splatters of Pen-White across the lantern and background added more detail and texture.   I backed the panel with some fun foam for dimension and placed it on the card base.   I couldn't be happier with the finished piece, and hope it resonates with you too!

A Lamp Unto My Feet

Your word is a lamp unto my feet

And a light to my path.

Psalm 119:105

Until next time.

Sincerely,

Susie ~

Supplies:

Penny Black: Lantern #40-660, Brush Pines #40-408, Script #40-470

Ranger Distress Ink: Brushed Corduroy, Scattered Straw, Wild Honey, Weathered Wood, and Ground Expresso, Antiqued Linen

Tombow Dual Brush Markers: #977, #158, #177, #192

Dr. Ph. Martin Pen-White

Fun Foam

Canson XL Cold Press Watercolor Paper 140 lbs.

Spellbinders & Fun Stampers Journey | Coming Together!

Hello Friends!

As the holiday season of 2018 arrives, so does the news that Spellbinders and Fun Stampers Journey (FSJ) will offer their products to the stamping community all in one place!

Want to know more?

• FSJ stamps are made in the USA of deeply etched red rubber for a perfect impression every time.
• FSJ thin metal dies are made of steel to provide clean cuts with each and every use without warping or dulling.   The dies have a green coating that makes them easy to find as well.
• Over 50% of FSJ stamps have coordinating dies - no more fussy cutting!
• FSJ also offers 50 exclusive colors - matching cardstock, ink, ribbon, and accessories that makes crafting as easy as 1-2-3 !

Where can you find these products?   FSJ products can now be found at Spellbinders.   Are you ready to see some card samples using both FSJ and Spellbinders products?   Great!

My first card features the FSJ beautiful background stamp, Color Me Fall.    I already know I'll be reaching for this background time and again.   And if watercolor is your jam, you'll love how well FSJ deeply etched red rubber stamps marry with water based inks and markers.   I paired the background stamp with Spellbinders October Small Die of the Month, and my second FSJ stamp set, Thankful Friends.   Antique gold embossing here and there along the edge of the panel, and little bits sprinkled on the image project an old stationary look similar to those found in children's classic poetry books.   

  

FSJ Color Me Fall, Thankful Friends, and Spellbinders SDOM - Oct18

 We all love watercolor, and there are so many ways to incorporate it on your card.  This clean and simple (CAS) design pairs a watercolor wash and embossed sentiment from FSJ stamp set, Thankful Friends, as the background.  An acorn and maple leaf from the same stamp set anchor and balance the design.  All are placed on card stock die cut with Spellbinders A2 Curved Matting Basics A.   Did I mention the FSJ Thankful Friends includes 12 stamps in the set?!  Nice!

FSJ Thankful Friends and Spellbinders A2 ...

FSJ Color Me Fall background stamp steals the show again on this card with Faber-Castell Polychromos Pencils as the medium of choice.   Warm, vibrant, color!   I didn't want to cover an inch of it and decided to use the Spellbinders May 2018 Small Die of the Month, Border Sentiments to finish the design.   Perfect choice!

FSJ Color Me Fall and Spellbinders Border Sentiments SDOM - May18

Spellbinders and FSJ supplies:

• Spellbinders Border Sentiments SDOM-May18
• Spellbinders  SDOM-Oct18
• Spellbinders A2 Curved Matting Basics A
• Fun Stampers Journal Color Me Fall
• Fun Stampers Journal Thankful Friends

I love the fall, and I love creating card designs by combing products from different companies.  Now it's as easy as 1-2-3!   Spellbinders + Fun Stampers Journey - Together They Bring Paper to Life!

Thank you for visiting.

Sincerely,
Susie ~