Group of Seven Cardmakers - Oct Technique Stencil over Heat Embossing

 It's time for the October Group of Seven Cardmakers technique!  This month we are stenciling over a heat embossed background stamp.  

There is a video on this technique as well as written step by step instructions over at The Group of Seven blog.

Here are two cards I made using this interesting technique followed by a few creation photos for each card.

For the Christmas card - I white embossed a text background stamp Twas the Night Before (it's the whole story of 'The Night Before Christmas"!) from Rubbernecker.

Then I stenciled over the white embossed text using Frosty Flakes Stencil from the Greetery using Ranger Distress Stormy Sky and Salty Ocean

and here is the resulting panel

To finish my card, I die cut the Santa and Sleigh and the Merry Christmas out of blue glitter paper and adhered them over the embossed text.

I used all the same steps for my first card, white embossing the Windowpane Plaid background stamp from The Greetery

and then stenciling over the embossed panel using the Lupines Stencil from ArtPlorations and Distress Inks Mowed Lawn and Seedless Grapes.

And here is the resulting panel

To finish my card, I added a Small Talk Sticker Sentiment, rubbed the edges of the panel with Gold Pigment Ink and splattered over the panel with a Black POSCA pen.

Note:  As with most techniques, you have to experiment with what background stamp works well with what stencil.  Think about how much un-embossed white will be left on your panel when you go to stencil over it. 

We hope you'll give this technique a try!  If you do - please link up your card over at The Group of Seven blog so we can all see it!

I'm linking my Christmas card to:

NBUS

first time using Frosty Flakes Stencil

Inkspirational

Jingle Bells

Not a Creature was stirring

flying reindeer!

Linking my Stenciled Lupine card to:

Stencil Fun Challenge

Orange or anything goes

ends 11/4

Christmas Card

Stamps:  Twas the Night background stamp - Rubbernecker

Paper:  White - PTI, Bermuda Bling Glitter Paper - Core-dinations (Michaels)

Ink:  Stormy Sky, Salty Ocean - Ranger Distress, Versamark.

Accessories:  white embossing powder, embossing pillow, Dash Away All Dec 2021 Stamptember die - Tim Holtz/Sizzix, Special Merry Christmas Die - Memory Box, Frosty Flakes Stencil - The Greetery, blender brushes, heat tool.

Lupines Card
Stamps: Windowpane Plaid background stamp - The Greetery.
Paper: white - PTI
Ink: Ranger Distress Mowed Lawn and Seedless Preserves, Versamark, Gold Pigment Ink - Color Box
Accessories: Lupines Stencil - ArtPlorations, finger sponges, Small Talk Stickers: Occasions - Tim Holtz/Idea-ology, Black POSCA Pen, white embossing powder, embossing pillow, heat tool.

A Doorway to Christmas

 Another Christmas card from me today -  I am loving this Elegant Entrance die from the Greetery and the Herringbone Parquet die makes the perfect background inside the door.  My first Christmas design using them!

(I used the doorway with a fall theme card on this post.)

We are getting a glimpse into Santa's home here (wow!) - where you can see a photo of one of his reindeer on the wall!   The images are all rub ons from the Christmas Collection by  Taperlogy -  I LOVE these rub ons.  They've really got the technology down - they rub on easily and don't rip when you peel off the backing the way many other rub ons I purchased in the past have.

Here's a look at the card with the door closed -  inviting the receiver to open it right up!  

I decided to just add a die cut easel on the back of the panel so the receiver could display this card on a shelf if they wanted to - I know I would!  

I'm linking my card to a few of the Christmas Challenges out there:

Peace on Earth

anything goes

ends 11/2

Jingle Belles

Not a Creature was stirring  

Maybe it's a stretch? but there IS a reindeer on the wall!?

ends 11/1

Holly and Ivy Christmas

Anything Goes

ends 10/29

Paper: Hammered White - Amazon, White True Black - PTI, Metallic Gold - Parklane (JoAnn)
Ink: Ranger Distress Tea Dye
Accessories: Elegant Entrance die, Herringbone Parquet die - The Greetery, Small Easel Die - Sizzix (retired I think), Christmas Collection Rub Ons - Taperlogy

A Cup of Warmth for Christmas

 I keep working on my Christmas Cards and I'm also trying to use things in my craft room that have been purchased and then tucked away!  Luckily there are lots of challenges out there to inspire us to create!

I colored the die cut mug pieces with Copics, then stacked them.  I cut a  piece off of a coaster cut with the Coaster Die from  The Greetery.  After I stacked the mugs, I splattered them with a black POSCA pen.  

I'm linking my card to:

52 Christmas Card Throwdown

ends 10/27

NBUS

First time using these fun Papercut Cafe mug dies and first time using this sentiment from a PTI set. 

Stamps: Snowman Accessories - PTI
Paper: White, True Black - PTI, DP The Magic of Winter Paperpad - Echo Park
Ink: Nocturne - Versafine Clair
Accessories: Papercut Cafe Thinlit dies- Tim Holtz/Sizzix, Coaster Die - The Greetery, Vanilla Flower/snowflakes - Simon Says Stamp, foam dots, Copics:R59, YG63, BG18, E37, W2, black POSCA pen

Pumpkins on the Steps

 I made this card for a friend to give to her sister, Jo.  It's a fall birthday so I went with pumpkins!  And I got to use this beautiful recently purchased doorway die! 

I stamped the background panel using Elegant Arches, cutting out the arch shape in the center with A2 Arches Die and because they all come from The Greetery, the Elegant Entrance Arches die fits perfectly inside the opening!  The doors do open, but I chose to adhere the pumpkins, wheat sheaves and squash cut using the Autumn Harvest Die set onto the panel, so for this card, the doors do not open.

I printed the sentiment off my computer and added the sweet red acrylic heart.  I sponged the colors onto the pumpkins and wheat using DOX inks and adhered them onto the card with foam dots.

I'm linking my card to the following challenge:

Double D Challenge - Pumpkins

ends 10/29

NBUS

First time using the beautiful Elegant Arches Entrance Die.

Stamp: Elegant Arches - The Greetery
Paper: White, Aqua Mist, Tropical Teal - Papertrey Ink.
Ink: Ranger Doxide inks: Tea Dye, Wild Honey, Spiced Marmalade, Vintage Photo, Antique Linen, Ranger Distress Crushed Olive, Galactic Stream - Altenew.
Accessories: Elegant Entrance Arches Die, A2 Arches Die, Autumn Harvest Dies - The Greetery, red acrylic heart - Honey Bee, foam dots.

Inkspirational Challenge #301 Cold Enough to Snow

 The latest Inkspirational Challenge - #301 - has just been posted.  It's a word prompt - COLD!  

Although I don't want it to be too cold outside yet, I am in Christmas card mode so here is the DT card I created for the challenge - A cold snowy scene!

It's a one layer 'sort of CAS' if you count the blue background as open space??!!  But that's not the challenge - it just has to be COLD! 

  

I simply sponged the white panel with Ranger Distress inks in Starry Sky (from the bottom of the panel up to the top of the image) and the darker blue, Faded Jeans (from above the image up to the top or the panel).  Then splattered water with my fingertips over the top of the panel to create a snowfall.  

The image is from the Tim Holtz/Stampers Anonymous Set - Holiday Sketch Book.  An easy card to make multiples of!

You have through 11/3 to link up your COLD card!  

Find lots of inspiration from the rest of the DT and Mr. Linky at the Inkspirational Blog!

I'm also linking my card to:

NBUS

First time using this stamp set

Christmas Craft Creations: October

Monochromatic

Stamps: Holiday Sketch Book - Tim Holtz/Stampers Anonymous

Paper: white - PTI

Ink: Nocturne - Versafine Clair, Ranger Distress Starry Sky, Faded Jeans

Accessories: water, sponge applicators

Inkspirational #300 - Spider Web Card and Envelope

 It's time for Inkspirational Challenge #300 and it's a Designer's Choice.   Carol is the designer choosing the theme this time and her challenge is to make a card with a matching envelope.

I don't usually do anything to my envelopes - but I do have a set of templates for making different size envelopes AND templates to create a liner for the inside of an envelope.  I got them at The Paper Source store many many years ago!

They came in handy for this challenge!

  

I used the A2 envelope template to trace and cut out my envelope using the same patterned paper that I used for the front of my card.  Then I just scored where indicated and folded up my envelope!

I used Remnant Rubs: Apothecary from Tim Holtz/Idea-ology to decorate my card and envelope, along with the dangling spider die cuts using a die from Memory Box. I cut them out of linen vellum so they have a ghostly appearance and I added one black gem to their faces.

I used a black card base, stamping the sentiment on a white panel on the inside of the card and die cut ghosts from Frightful Things thinlet dies from Tim Holtz/Sizzix. 

(these ghosts just crack me up!! UM  -  I mean SCARE me!)

I put more rub-ons on the envelope flap

and one where the return address will go on the front of the envelope - I added a blank address label on the front of the envelope so the address would be readable!

The patterned paper I used (Recollections from Michaels) is two sided, so on the inside of the envelope you see all these tiny spiders surrounded by orange and black dots.  Much more fun than plain white!

Here you can hopefully see the shine on the orange dots.

There are lots of ways to decorate your envelope to match your card - so please check out what the rest of the Inkspirational Design Team has created!  

You'll find them along with Mr. Linky where you can link up your card and matching envelope creations over at the Inkspirational Blog!

You have through Oct 20th to link up!

I'm linking my card to:

Use Your Stuff

#494 Small Type

the words on the front of my card and the words on the flap of the envelope are small type rub ons

ends 10/14

Crafting Happiness

Halloween

Ends 10/31

Inspired by:

the  black/white colors and the antlered skull on the cabinet

ends 10/11

Tic Tac Toe #229

I did diagonal corner to corner starting at bottom left

Matching envelope/Patterned Paper/Holiday

ends 10/12

Stamp: Visit the Web - Penny Black

Paper:  White, True Black, Linen Vellum (for spiders) - Papertrey Ink,  DP - Double Sided Sheet from Recollections/Michaels.

Ink:  Nocturne - Versafine Claire

Accessories:  A2 Envelope Template - Paper Source Store, Dangling Spider die - Memory Box, dhost dies from Frightful Things Thinlits Die Set - Tim Holtz/Sizzix,  Apothecary Remnant Rubs - Tim Holtz/Idea-ology, black gems.