Wednesday, November 23, 2022

Silverware, Just Plain Fun

Hello Happy Thanksgiving Eve! I know how busy these next couple of days are for everyone, but if you have a moment to shop, this is a unique sale at A Colorful Life Designs:
This stencil is called Silverware and is included in the sale. It comes with both the positive and negative, which I love in a stencil set. I simply traced the stencil lightly with a pencil and "tangled" or  "doodled" with a black fineliner designs in the interior. The frame comes from IKEA.
Sometimes, stencils are just fun! Remember stencils are great not just for card making, but home decor, art journaling, junk journals, bookmarks (how fun would one of the utensils be on a book mark for a cook book?!), 3 D items and on and on...For me, this one was so unique and gave me so many ideas...here are just a few:
The set made for a great ink blended background and carried over to the envelope, too! Used all 3 utensils on this card.
Look in your stash for food related stamps and if you're like me, I have plenty! My daughter is trained at the Culinary Institute of America, so over the years I've collected lots of food related stamps. 
For this card I just used the fork. Ink blended in blue and a quick stamp in black and you have a unique, one-of-a-kind, card. 
Also a matching fork on the envelope. The strip on both envelopes is from a set of 6 stencils called Accent Strips Stencil Set. I used one on the edge of each envelope in the matching color.
This one isn't on sale, but AnitaFan10 will get you 10% off any stencil not on sale!
Here is the image of the Silverware Stencil from the website:
This one's a keeper! I am submitting to NBUS today for the stencils and stamps are all Never Before Used Schtuff! Thanks for stopping by and have a wonderful Holiday!
*Some of the links in this post are affiliate links. This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive a small affiliate commission at no extra cost to you. All opinions remain my own.

Monday, November 21, 2022

Thankful for You Sale

It's the best week of the year for sales and Mary Kay of A Colorful Life Designs let us know that she will be running one, as well!  Supporting a woman-owned, small business with a purchase is so appreciated.
There are about 300 6" X 6" and 6" X 9" stencils that will be on sale as of tomorrow, 11/22/22. No coupon needed. If you purchase any stencils that are not on sale, please use my code AnitaFan10 for 10% off. Happy shopping, all and Happy Thanksgiving!
*Some of the links in this post are affiliate links. This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive a small affiliate commission at no extra cost to you. All opinions remain my own.

Thursday, November 17, 2022

Mixed Media Holiday Card

Today I am playing with the Tic Tac Toe Challenge No. 188. I am using the bottom row: Rust, Any Color and Gold Foil/Glitter. 
Also submitting to NBUS for the stencil, Simple Mosaic, from A Colorful Life Designs is new.
I used American Crafts' Vicki Boutin's All the Good Things Foundation Paper - Mixed Media for the base of the card front. It's my favorite mixed media paper that I used for cards and art journal pages. It can take all you throw at it!  I laid down a layer of Altenew's Embossing Paste through the stencil with a palette knife.
Once dry, I put it in my Splat Box and sprayed almost all the Distress Spray Stains I have until I was happy with the mix of color.
The panel was cut with Tim Holtz's Deckle Edge Trimmer and adhered to an A2 cream color card base. The designs were cut with 2 square dies and a deer from my stash. The sentiment is from Simon Says Stamp Gift of Christmas Stamp and Die Set.
I love the final results with all the different textures and layers! If you like to work with stencils (who doesn't?!) check out A Colorful Life Designs, a small business in Texas, woman owned. AnitaFan10 will get you 10% off your entire order at the shop (excluding bundles). 

Thank you for joining me and Happy Thanksgiving!
*Some of the links in this post are affiliate links. This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive a small affiliate commission at no extra cost to you. All opinions remain my own.

Friday, November 11, 2022

November 2022 Release

Hi friends! Cards, cards and more cards all made with the amazing November 2022 release from:
I am on the design team for A Colorful Life Designs and feel blessed to be able to work with these wonderfully designed stencils. I made 18 cards with the release. I usually make more than one card with each stencil - either because I am trying different techniques, different colors or it is a large stencil that I can cut in half for 2 cards.
Here is the bundle to all the November stencils if you can't decide which ones you like best:
This beauty is called Pile of Presents. I used Ranger Distress Inks in Vintage Photo and Candied Apple to create the background. The stamp set is from Pigment Craft Co. called A Little Gift.
The next two cards are made with the Falling Flakes Stencil with Scrapbook.com White Pigment Ink and red cardstock. The Merry & Bright Die is retired from My Favorite Things and makes for a really easy shaker card. 
The car stamp is from Spellbinders called Vintage Holidays. One of my favorite sets ever!
These next 2 sets started with the same paper: I inked with Altenew's Obsidian Black Ink, in my opinion the best dark dark black ink available, onto the Right at Home Gingham Background stamp set (retired) and then stamped onto red cardstock. For this card, I used the gorgeous Starlight Stencil with Scrapbook.com White Pigment Ink and Ranger Ink Stickles Moon Dust over the top. I am not sure where the Joy die comes from and I lost part of it during all this crafting!
This one has the same gingham background, but with the Dotted Flakes Stencil. This was created with Altenew's Embossing Paste and glitter sprinkled on it while still wet. The cutie comes from Hero Arts Fluffy Stockings Stamp & Cut set (retired).
Here we have the Candy Canes Stencil...I had so many ideas for this one, but they will have to wait until another day! The image and sentiment come from Simon Says Stamp Gift of Christmas set.
The sentiment is from a retired set from Concord and 9th called Yuletide Ornament.
Now the next 2 are my "kitchen sink" card. I used all kinds of Ken Oliver Color Burst Watercolor Powders on Vicki Boutin Foundation Mixed Media Paper. Of course, I used Pixie Spray first on the back of the stencil.
The images come from Impression Obsession Skier & Snowboarder which I mounted onto vellum paper with a snow hill cut out with a die from my stash.
This is a fun fun stencil called Christmas Deer Stencil: I used Bristol Smooth Cardstock with Ranger's Distress Inks in Cracked Pistachio, Rustic Wilderness and Vintage Photo. The raccoon was from my stash from years ago. Nice to use up some older items. I put the "Happy Winter" sign in his hands.
This is my favorite from the release! It is called Layered Bird Trees Stencil - a 3 piece stencil set.
Why is this my favorite? It reminds me of high-end paper...I just love it. I used Ranger Distress Inks: Cracked Pistachio, Vintage Photo, Rustic Wilderness, Twisted Citron, Candied Apple and Aged Mahogany. Clean and Simple, but colorful!
Here our next one is really beautiful in real life. It is called Christmas Candles Stencil and with a little link blending you have a beauty!
Here is another good one and perfect for birthdays, as well! It is called Presents Stencil and I gave it a good coat of Distress Ink Candied Apple all over. I wanted that Christmas vibe. The little peeking elves and sentiment come from Hero Arts Hero Greetings Christmas Gift Shop.  Quick and easy!
Last but not least is All The Stars Stencil. I have a separate blog post highlighting this stencil here. My camera didn't pick up the really pretty green color but this one has gorgeous color! More Ken Oliver Color Burst Watercolor Powders.
Most of these stencils are 6" X 6" and I generally cut my paper that size, too and work with the full size. Once I cut it what do you do with the side piece left? I've made a few bookmarks which I enjoy using in my cookbooks, as well as, library books.
I hope you enjoyed my Christmas designs with the November Release from A Colorful Life Designs. This is a small business, woman owned, out of Texas which I am happy to support! AnitaFan10 will get you 10% off your entire purchase (excluding bundles). Happy Creating!
I am submitting to NBUS...for I've never used these stencils before!
Some of the links in this post are affiliate links. This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive a small affiliate commission at no extra cost to you. All opinions remain my own.

Sunday, November 6, 2022

All the Stars

Yah, it's November and time for another Happy Little Stampers Stencil Challenge!
A Colorful Life Design's November release is out and I made 2 cards with the stencil called All the Stars:


To create the background I used Pixie Spray on the back of the stencil to give it good adhesion and then ink blended Ranger Ink's Distress Inks: Tumbled Glass, Salty Ocean and Blueprint Sketch. My plan was to keep the fade out so that the little dog and cat were the focal point.
The sentiments and images are from the Colorado Craft Co. Anita Jeram's All is Bright Stamp and Coordinating Die set. They were colored with my various alcohol markers. I use Altenew's Obsidian Black Pigment Ink for all my black stamping. It is the darkest I've ever used...but be sure to let it dry for it will smear. I generally stamp and set it to the side for a while before I work with it again.
I love when there is the coordinating die. It just cuts out all the little details that the Brother Scan 'n Cut does not. See the spaces between the branches?
Here they are side by side. Which is your favorite?
Thanks for joining me and use my code AnitaFan10 for 10% off your entire purchase (excluding bundles) at A Colorful Life Designs shop. The new release is amazing! Pick some up and show use your work here at Happy Little Stampers Stencil Challenge - Anything Goes!
*Some of the links in this post are affiliate links. This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive a small affiliate commission at no extra cost to you. All opinions remain my own.