12 Tags of Christmas Vintage Treeline

Today I'm sharing two versions of the Funkie Junkie's 12 Tags of Christmas #8.  I was inspired by the "Believe" stamp Linda used, so I stamped a "Believe" definition randomly onto both backgrounds.  I also loved the swirls in Linda's design and recreated those in each of my tags.  I am not happy with either of these tags, but decided to post them and move on!  I'm already behind a week from agonizing over these babies!  Perhaps I need a nice shopping spree at The Funkie Junkie Boutique to cure my tag making paralysis!  Ha!  (Gift cards please?! - Anyone?!)  Remember, three lucky winners will receive gift vouchers to the shop!

To see all of my 12 Tags of Christmas click HERE.

I'm adding my tags to The Funkie Junkie's 12 Tags of Christmas challenge HERE, to SSS for this week's Christmas challenge HERE, to Classy Cards 'n Such for their O Christmas Tree challenge HERE, to That Crafty Place for their Anything Goes challenge HERE, to Addicted to Stamps for their Anything Goes challenge HERE, and to Craft-Dee Bowz for their Anything w/ a Handmade Bow challenge HERE.

Tim Holtz November 2015 Mixed Media Tag

I thought I would absolutely NEVER finish my Tim Holtz November 2015 tag.  I just loved the inky background I created weeks ago, but couldn't decide on a focal point.  I really wanted to use the acorn, but it was too small.  Finally I just decided to go with this gorgeous maple leaf.

When I layered my leaf, I went back and dry brushed Frayed Burlap Distress Ink around to make some shadows.  I did the embossing as Tim showed, but I never have the best success with it.  I went back and highlighted it with FB DI along the veins.

I could not find my cork for the life of me, so I decided on this snip of very old music score,  Home again, home again - reminds me of Thanksgiving.  The arrow points to home, love that!

I used hand dyed silk ribbon for my topper and some adorable little pine cone charms.  These colors were quite unusual, but in the end I loved the palette.

I'm sharing with Tim Holtz HERE, with SSS for their Thanksgiving challenge HERE, and with Mixed Media World for their Anything Goes challenge HERE,

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

Thanksgiving Card and Fall Bundle

Here's to a memorable Thanksgiving to you and yours!  Psalm 118:1 "Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; His love endures forever!"  For we know that all good and perfect things come from Him.

I don't have many stamps in the way of turkeys, so I tried to build some cards around these tiny Authentique stickers.  Hard to believe it worked out!  I cut the leaves by hand and wrinkled them up for added texture.  The little one on the bottom is a punch.

I added the word stickers too and some brads to fill in the space.

I think there is a warm feeling to the fibers and love using them on holiday cards.

The stamp across the bottom is by Penny Black - my most beloved stamp EVER!

This card was almost directly copied from something on Pinterest.  I can't take credit for the idea, but loved it so that I had to create a few.  I stamped my images on a really cool old freehand book.  The edges are torn and distressed.  I love folding a corner down and inking it for an extra level of distress.

A leafy brad, a tiny tag, and some twine make a nice embellishment, and don't add too much bulk for mailing.

I'm linking up to SSS Monday for their Thanksgiving challenge HERE, and to SSS Wednesday for their Anything Goes challenge HERE.  Happy Thanksgiving!

Mixed Media Christmas Ornament

 I have been trying to think of a way to make some mixed media Christmas ornaments with things I already have.  I decided to cut some large die cut shapes from cardboard.  I glued two pieces together to make it extra thick.  Next, I painted the shapes with gesso, then applied texture paste through a stencil.  I gave them a spray of aqua and yellow.

For my focal point I stamped and embossed the flower and leaves in black, then gave them a wash of the same inks watered down.  

 I rubbed a pigment ink around the edges of the shape and embossed with gold EP.  I love how this highlights the stencil paste!

 I decided to use the letters from Tim Holt'z sentiment die.  To line them up straight I used the cast off of the die.  I applied a super thin strip of mounting tape to each letter, then carefully lined them up in the holes.  I hope you like this very nontraditional ornament.  I really had fun making it!  Hope to share the second with you soon, just ran out of time last night.

Sharing the ornamental love with Mixed Media World for their Anything Goes challenge HERE, with Anything But Cute for their It's Ornamental challenge HERE, with Mixed Media Place for their Christmas Inspiration challenge HERE, with MMMC for their Texture challenge HERE, and with SSS for their Christmas challenge HERE.  I'm also entering the Prima 12 Days of Christmas challenge #8 - Color Bloom Sprays HERE.

Rustic Plaid Christmas Cards

In my whirlwind of a weekend, I finally settled in last night and worked on some projects.  My son had a severe allergy that landed him in the hospital Friday night - what a scare people!  He is well, but I was so shook up I could hardly function come Saturday.  Also, I have decided to begin focusing my work on more mixed media.  I enjoy it so much and even have some exciting news to share with you soon in that regard.  Nevertheless, I was so inspired by Julee's card for this week's VLV sketch and just had to play!  This is my second card, just couldn't quit!

This is my favorite sketch so far, folks!  Love it!

I decided to use this beautiful hymnal strip, Close to Thee.  Trust me when life comes at you like a ton of bricks and you are helpless, like I was seeing my son react so quickly to something he breathed in, the best place you can be is close to the Father...

I really wish I had more Christmas stamps from Verve.  They are just the best!  I found this cool charcoal vintage twill for a dime when we went to the mountains a few weeks ago.  The snowflake dies are a recent Tuesday Morning score by Darcie's.

Now for my first card last, I thought these trees would work beautifully in the sketch, but I'm not sure now.  They were a little too big or too spaced out.  I pounced Distress paint over them to create the faux snow effect.

I added some of my DIY Tattered and Dyed Ribbon for a natural effect.

I love just barely adhering elements to my cards, love the dimension it creates.  I realize this tears some people's nerves up (MOTHER!)  Ha, but I can't resist.

No matter what you do this Christmas, make room for Jesus in your heart.  I'm sharing the love with VLV for the November Week 3 challenge HERE, with The Card Concept for their Festive Glory challenge HERE, with Word Art Wednesday #210 HERE, with SSS for their Christmas challenge HERE, and with Christmas Card Challenges #51 HERE.

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

Mixed Media Journal Page Happy at Home

One evening my girls and I were driving home from an outing and saw this gorgeous sunset.  I wanted to recreate the colors in my mixed media journal.  This page was just layers and layers of paint that I rubbed in with my fingers.  The ovals are a handmade stencil.

 

I did some soft stamping between layers, so hard to see in these pics.  Used my finger as a stamp to make the dots.

 The journaling was done in a Sakura pen that dries super shiny, I love it!  The paint was matte, so it was a great contrast.

 Here you can see the file folder labels peeking through.  My favorite part of working on this recycled substrate.

 Shortly after the flooding in SC, I saw these two rainbows.  In the Upstate we weren't affected like Columbia and Charleston.  Charleston has really been through it this year and my prayers go out to its citizens.

 I am so thankful for this reminder that God will never or forsake His children.

Journal along with Balzar Designs Art Journal Every Day HERE.

Simple Stamped Christmas Mini Album

I have another super simple mini album for you today.  I just love making these "deluxe" cards and filling them with my favorite stamps.  This one features a lot of Character Constructions images - my all time favorites!  I've also incorporated free vintage images, fun and easy!

Simply cut two sheets of double-sided scrapbook paper down to 8 1/2 X 11".  Fold each sheet in half and in half again.  The two folded sheets will nestle in one another.  Alternate folding "flaps" down every other page to make the pockets, then secure the remaining openings closed with Score tape.  I hope this makes sense.  Let me know if you have any questions.  To bind the books together, just punch two holes and then run some ribbon through and tie in a bow.

Honestly, I don't own all these stamps!  I like making these kinds of books with my stamping friends so we can share stamps.  We pick a theme and bring all we have!  Kudos to my friend Barbara, who is the QUEEN BEE of cool stamps!!!  Love ya, miss ya, come home soon!

That sleigh silhouette has to be one of my favorite stamps ever made...  This entire booklet is filled with tags, what could be more fun!

Thanks for looking!  I'm joining the fun this week with Simon Says Stamp for their Christmas challenge HERE, and with Addicted to Stamps for their Anything Goes challenge HERE.

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

Penny Black Mixed Media Penguin Card

 I'm back with a mid-month reminder to get your cards entered into the Penny Black Stamps & More challenge HERE.  I created this mixed media style PB card to show how versatile these stamps can be.  The Distress Ink colors I used for this background are Frayed Burlap and Evergreen Bough.

 I embossed the "Music Background" 2025M in white after the ink was dried.  TIP: Use your embossing buddy on inky backgrounds before embossing.  Sometimes the moisture traps the powders, even when you think it has dried.  An EB is a fabric sash of talc or cornstarch.

 I used a little $ set of alphas to stamp these words, and cut the pennant free handed.

 I stamped the "Cheerful Giving" penguins 3514H and quickly embossed with clear powder.  I sponged the edges and layered over a glittery paper doily (MFT).

 This card has a lot of depth, each layer popped out and distressed.

 I've had so much fun sharing my Penny Black creations with you this month!  TIP: When making mixed media projects like this, make two of each piece and if you mess up one, you're can use the other, but if you don't - then you get two amazing projects!  ;0

Thanks so much for your support and comments on this my first ever GD opportunity.  I appreciate you!