What's your favourite technique? ........

Hello there .......

Welcome to December's  Happy Little Stampers CAS Challenge.   It's a nice easy one to end the year with ....... we'd simply like you to use

Your Favourite Technique

(OK ...... maybe not so easy ......... now, you have a decision to make ...... good luck!)

The challenge is sponsored by the Happy Little Stampers store

and the winner will receive the fabulous Big Bold Numbers stamp set 

OK ...... so what is your favourite technique? 

Mine ..... hmmmm ..... there's so many to choose from ...... rubber stamping (obviously, goes without saying!) Could it be embossing, stencilling, using colour or adding texture.  Paper piecing, smooshing backgrounds, distressing .... the list goes on.

In the end I decided to go with  Embossing Resist 

I never get tired of using this technique....  use clear or white embossing powder on your stamped images, add some form of colour over top ...... I like to use my Distress Inks ....... then watch the magic happen when you polish off the excess ...... gets me everytime!

I'm still making Christmas cards I'm afraid.  I've already put one lot in the post today ........ and there's still more to go.  And here's me thinking I'd been really good and kept the embellishments (and the weight of my cards) down to a minimum ....... yeah right, it still cost me a small fortune!  Next year everyone will be getting one layer cards, with NO embellies!!! 

Sorry ...... where was I? ....... ah yes ........ Embossing Resist

I started by stamping the snowflakes and the word 'Merry' (from the HLS Everyday Sentiments) onto a piece of white card, using Versamark ink and a white, fine detail, embossing powder.

White/clear embossing doesn't really show up that well on white card so ....... a little bit of colour is needed in the background to make the white 'pop'!

I blended two or three shades of blue Distress Ink over the top of the embossing .... starting with the palest shade first, virtually all over the card then adding the darker shades around the edges and in towards the centre.
Once I was happy with the colour I spritzed over the top with a little clean water, let it sit for a few seconds then mopped up the excess with paper towel, leaving this gorgeous speckled effect on the background ...... perfect for the snowy sky look (I suppose that's another of my favourite techniques!)

I polished over the embossed snowflakes and the 'Merry' with a paper towel to remove any excess ink .... the embossing powder acts as a resist to the Distress Inks, they won't dry on the embossed images.  As you wipe away the ink the white really shows through .... gorgeous!

I stamped a few more snowflakes to fill in any gaps, this time using one of the Blue Distress Inks, and also added the word 'Christmas' to complete the greeting (again from the Everyday Sentiments)

A little more of the same inside ....... 

Snowflakes stamped first, a touch of colour added over the top, then polished over to remove any excess ink.

We've got a fabulous Guest Designer on the challenge this month.  The lovely TaeEun (rainbow in november) is joining in the fun, and she has a fantastic inspiration piece for you. Pop over to her blog and take a peek.

I can't wait to see what all your favourite techniques are.  Have fun with the challenge ..... and Happy Stamping!!

Yeah!! We have one finished Christmas tree ...... well ..... almost.  It needs more baubles!!

Why is it that last year it was the same tree, with the same lights and decorations on it, and it looked fine. This year it definitely needs more on it!!  Oh well ..... bauble shopping it is then .... whoo hoo!!

Thanks for popping by .... enjoy the rest of your day. 

Cheerio until next time.

PS  

I've just realised that this fits in perfectly with the latest Wednesday Challenge over at Simon Says Stamp.  

As their theme is .......

'Let it Snow'

it would be a shame not to link up there don't you think!

Do you ever get the feeling you've been here before!

Good morning - well actually it's nearly afternoon,
That's the story of my week so far.  Here we are again, Wednesday already and I've hardly done a thing.  I'm still playing catch up with last weeks 'To Do' list, but I'm getting there - slowly!

It looks like summer is back here on the island- for now at least!  The last couple of days have been really nice with sunshine all day (not that I've seen much of it).  Today isn't quite as sunny but it is nice and warm. At least I'll get the washing dry.  I do hope it's nice where you are and that you're getting the chance to make the most of it.

First job of the week was to finish a birthday card.  It's a little late I know (birthday was Saturday) but I did send a gift and it arrived in time.  Sally won't hold it against me I'm sure, she knows her card is to follow.  I did send a little hand-made something as part of her gift - a door hanger for her Craft Room.

I got the idea for this from an article in this months Craft Stamper Magazine.  The colours I've used are similar but I used different stamps, mainly because at the time I didn't have the fabulous Patchwork Butterfly stamps from Chocolate Baroque.  Notice how I said 'at the time'.  Yes, you've guessed it, they've somehow found their way into my stash (naughty me!).  Well, you can never have enough butterflies, and the large one on this set is just gorgeous.  Can I just say how quick they were in arriving too.  I ordered them about 3.30pm on the 11th and they arrived in the morning post on the 12th - can't ask for more than that can you.

Back to the door hanger.  The stamps I used were all from Mr Holtz, except the butterfly wings which were from a large Hero Arts collage stamp.
I made the background by spritzing plain white card with Distress Ink (from the re-inkers) mixed with a little water (Spun Sugar, Worn Lipstick and Peeled Paint).  Then I spritzed Perfect Pearls over the top and covered the card with cling film, wrinkled it up a little, and left it to dry.  Peel off the cling film once it's dried and you'll find that the perfect pearls has gathered in the creases giving a marbling or mother of pearl look to the card.  I like to cover a few full sheets of card when  I'm doing this technique and then I have a stash to use when I like.
I then stamped the images using black Versafine, the large flourish and the numbers are from TH Stampers Anonymous Fairytale Frenzy (CMS058), and the dress form is from Haberdashery (CMS105).  The dress form has been stamped again onto textured cardstock, cut out and decoupaged over the top. The butterfly wings have been added along with some ribbon trim around the bottom.  The wording was just done on the computer, cut out, inked and doodled around the edge

You can also see a close up of how the perfect pearls turned out - pretty or what!

I decorated the back too.......

...... using the same flourish stamp and added one of Tim's sayings (Stuff to Say CMS110).  Final thing, I added some ink splats using the Picket Fence Distress Stain, and literally splat the bottle straight onto the card - great fun!
I can't share the card with you yet as I haven't sent it, but I will say that it matches the door hanger.

Well, at least I've made a start on this week's blogging.  I'll be back later on with some Blog challenge entries.  You'll be sick of me before today is through.
I'm going to try and enjoy a little of this nice weather and have lunch outside I think - after I've put more washing out!  What a glamorous life I lead.

Bye for now

Linda

x