SNOWFLAKES AND SPARKLES

I know this card looks more Christmas-y than not. But, it is chilly and snowy here in Wisconsin today (January 4). A.N.D., isn't the wish for PEACE year-round? 

So, I present to you this peaceful icy snowflake card.

I love the icy look of the glitter.

Would you like to try your hand at recreating this card?

If so, I have a treat for you.

Following is the tutorial:

SUPPLIES:

Holly Jolly Greetings (page 34 of the annual catalog)

Whisper White cardstock

Wisteria Wonder cardstock

Island Indigo cardstock

Watercolor Paper

Dazzling Diamonds Glimmer Paper

VersaMark ink

Island Indigo ink

Pool Party ink

Wisteria Wonder ink

Island Indigo Stampin' Write Marker

Ruler

Stampin' Dimensionals

Heat Tool

White Embossing Powder

Embossing Buddy

Stamping Sponges

Elmer's Glue

Water

Paintbrush

Dazzling Diamonds Glitter

Duet Banner Punch

DIRECTIONS:

Fold a 5 1/2" x 8 1/2" piece of Whisper White cardstock in half, creasing well with a bone folder.

Rub a 3 1/2" x 4 3/4" piece of watercolor paper well with the Embossing Buddy. Randomly stamp the snowflake onto this piece with VersaMark ink. At the heat station, cover the stamped images with white embossing powder, tapping the excess powder back into its container. Heat to emboss.

Using the appropriate sponges with Wisteria Wonder, Pool Party and Island Indigo inks, sponge across the embossed snowflakes. Start out lightly. You can always add more color to deepen the tones.

Squirt a small dab of Elmer's Glue into a paint tray. Add enough water to pretty much fill up the rest of the hole. With a paintbrush, mix the glue and the water well. Then, dip the brush into the mixture and splatter it onto the snowflake piece until you are happy with the placement of the splotches. 

Holding the piece over a bowl containing Dazzling Diamonds Glitter, spoon glitter all over the paper. Tap the excess glitter back into its bowl. Set aside to dry completely.

Adhere a 4" x 5 1/4" piece of Island Indigo to the card base, followed by a 3 3/4" x 5" piece of Wisteria Wonder.

Punch a fancy banner from a scrap of Whisper White cardstock. Stamp your chosen word (mine is PEACE) in the center in Island Indigo ink. With a ruler and the thin end of the Island Indigo Stampin' Write Marker, draw a line from the dip in the top to the dip in the bottom on both sides to make the banner look more dimensional.

Stick one end of a thin strip of the Glimmer Paper into the same banner punch, and punch just the two ends of the banner. Adhere these to the end of the white banner, letting about 1/8" sticking beyond. You may have to trim off a little excess of the Glimmer Paper that shows beneath the white.

If the glued piece is dry, adhere it to the card front. Follow this with the banner, attaching it with two Stampin' Dimensionals.

Warm

Smiles.

WARM AND COZY NEW YEAR

I'd just like to take this opportunity to wish you 

a Warm and Cozy New Year. 

I hope 2017 is very good to you all.

Cozy

Smiles.

ANTIQUE FLOWER

I am almost finished with the 30 Days of Creativity Challenge sponsored by +ppsuae, Pretty Papers.

This card is the one I created for Day 27 on which the prompt was Brads. This gave me the perfect opportunity to use one of the beautiful antique brads from Stampin' Up! I'd had one package of these brads, and have been pretty much hoarding them, saving them for those projects that are "just right" for them. The one in the center of my flower on this card is my fourth last brad. <sniff> 

Another Stampin' Up! product that I have been shamelessly hoarding is the sumptuous background Designer Series Paper I used on this card. Each and every one of the designs in this little pad of paper are simply wonderful, and, once again, are meant for just the right project.

 A bit of a strange perspective on the lovely Antique Brad in close-up:

This card ended up being 5" x 5". And it was ever so much fun to make!

I have only three more days left of the Challenge. The last three prompts are Blend, Mask, and Thank You. I think I am going to make it. 

I'd wondered about my sanity in taking on a challenge for the month of December. The days over Christmas, when I had a house full of company. were especially challenging. 

It's been a fun and, yes, challenging, journey. Thank you +ppsuae for letting me play along!

Antique

Smiles.

(the only kind of smile I really have nowadays)

WORLD PEACE

 My Christmas Wish for All of Us?

WORLD PEACE.

That's not asking too much, is it?

MERRY CHRISTMAS to you all!

This is a card I created for a 30 Days of Creativity Challenge hosted by @ppaue on Instagram. The prompt for that particular day -- Day 5 of the challenge -- was WHITE. 

If you would like to see all the cards I've made so far for the challenge, you can check them out HERE.

May you create wonderful Christmas memories -- and STAY SAFE!

Peaceful

Smiles.

RUDOLPH ORNAMENT

Each year, I create a special ornament for my granddaughter, Stella. This is the 2016 ornament. I hope she likes it!

Red-Nosed

Smiles.