Fun Challenges

I really enjoy taking part in the Splitcoaststampers challenges.  They always present an opportunity to try something new, push out of a comfort zone or stretch to accomplish greater skill on a technique that can already be done well. 

I love paper piecing. It seems a stamped image can be brought to life by adding layers upon layers to the main base of the image.  For this month’s Dirty Dozen/Dirty Dozen Alumni challenge we were asked to create a project using paper piecing and either fall or Christmas colors. I wanted to create a life like project using Noel Stocking by Sarah Kay. The image has so many details that allow for layering from the stone fireplace right down to the little black and white cat.

I stamped the image a few times with black craft ink on burgundy designer paper, white cardstock and watercolor paper and embossed them all with clear embossing powder.  I painted the fireplace opening on one piece and the stone on another, clear embossed over the wet paint and then cut them out and pieced them together.  I painted and cut out an additional burning grate of wood to pop up over the original. I cut the girl’s dress out and popped it up over the original image, painted and cut out an additional head and apron and popped them up as well.   I created the stocking with designer paper and painted the toys and candy cane portion on watercolor paper and pieced together to hang from the mantle.  The tiny little cat was popped up in front of the fire with the the intent  that his little tale would hang out of the frame.  I painted a wood panel background as a base to build the scene up on and then finished the scene by attaching a frame.  The perfect finishing touch to me was to add an old fashioned Christmas tree complete with gold bows and tiny ornaments.  Well…..in truth….the ornaments were added because I somehow got a puncture wound on my finger without realizing it and bled on the beautifully finished tree.  I was not going to start over due to a couple drops of blood so I punched out several ornaments with my 1/8th circle punch and attached them as camouflage with Crystal Effects.  I love the multi loop gold bow on the bottom of the tree.

Last night I had the opportunity to play in the CAS (Clean and Simple) challenge.  This style of card is much harder than it looks and is not really my forte but I enjoyed stretching myself to try. I thought this large leaf stem from Rubbernecker could stand on it’s own as a feature for a simple card.

I stamped the image with medium green ink and used a blender pen to add pale yellow and darker green to the leaves and stem.  I put clear embossing powder over the wet paint and heat embossed to make the leaves pop.

Project 1:  Stampavie Sarah Kay Noel Stocking, Lovely as a Tree   Paper:  BasicGrey DP, Watercolor, Natural Vanilla, White, Cranberry Crisp   Ink:  Vintage Photo, Peeled Paint, Aged Mahogany, Fired Brick, Black Soot, Lemonade, Going Gray, Pumpkin Pie, More Mustard     Accessories:  Gold Metal Ribbon and Cord, Glue Dots, Brushes, Mounting Tape, Black Glaze Pen,Gold and Clear Embossing Powder, Snips

Project 2:  Rubbernecker Fall Trilogy   Paper:  Watercolor, Old Olive    Ink:  Peeled Paint, Shabby Shutters, Scattered Straw   Accessories:  Blender Pen, Clear Embossing Powder, Grosgrain