Watercooler Wednesday Challenge #150 - Heidi's Masculine Anything Goes Challenge

This is our last challenge for the year of 2017. And, because it is such a hectic time of year for many of you, we are making this a 2-week challenge. It's also a Masculine theme, hosted by Heidi.

Because it is the end of the year, and a time when we hear ourselves saying "out with the old, in the new" - or variations there of, I am combining old and new in my card.

The old is a retired stamp set that I haven't used nearly enough - Traveller - and also a retired cardstock colour - Lost Lagoon - that I've been hoarding but have somewhat got over it being retired with the release of a new InColor, Tranquil Tide.

The new part is a background stamp called Post Script, which I stamped with Tranquil Tide ink on Crumb Cake cardstock. I also used Tranquil Tide ink to stamp some of the other images from Traveller onto the Lost Lagoon card base.

Check out what the other Watercooler Artists have done at Watercooler Wednesday Challenge.

Hoping everyone can spend time with family and friends throughout this holiday season.

Watercooler Wednesday Challenge #149 - Marsha's All About Occasions Challenge

This week, Marsha brings us a new type of challenge - All About Occasions.

As the graphic says, there really are a lot of card-worthy occasions in our lives. And, in addition to the birthdays, weddings, anniversaries, engagements, christenings, births, sympathy, retirement, Easter, Valentines, Mother's and Father's days, we can also send cards just to say "Hi! I'm thinking of you."

I've created a card that can  be used to say Hi! - or for many of the other card giving occasions throughout the year.

Some of you may recognize the Timeless Elegance DSP from a couple of years ago. It is full of wonderful black  and white designs, like you can see behind my card. This roses pattern just begged to be coloured and back then, we pretty much only had the Stampin' Up markers to use, or we could sponge colour on with daubers.

Now, however, we have Stampin' Blends! I used Cherry Cobbler, Daffodil Delight, Old Olive and Pumpin Pie. The weather here has been really foggy and kind of dreary for about a week, and it was really spirit-lifting to work with such vibrant colour.

All in all, this was a really simple card to  make. After I finished the colouring, I matted the  piece with Basic Black cardstock,  and then mounted that onto Old Olive. A few wraps with  Linen Thread and a floppy bow provide a rustic touch. And this card could be for a birthday, or "thinking of you",  or congratulations or just because.

To see how the other Watercooler Artists have interpreted this new Occasions Challenge, visit  Watercooler Wednesday.  

Watercooler Wednesday Challenge #148 - Heidi's Feminine Anything Goes Challenge

It's time for Anything Goes and our host this week, Heidi has given it feminine theme.

I took this opportunity to take a break from making Christmas cards. Also, went back to the basics of ink, paper, stamps. It is one of my favourite things to do and I find it relaxing - almost like meditating. Other than deciding on the stamp set - Tranquil Tulips, and  ink colours - Fresh Fig, Old Olive, I had no other plan and just started putting ink on the stamp and applying it to the Whisper White cardstock.

And here is the result:

This deceptively simple stamp set, which is an exclusive hostess set, produces spectacular results. I used the stamps with full strength ink - no stamping off - and the stamps are designed to give all this amazing detail  and texture.

The card base is Fresh Fig, as is the 1/2" finely woven ribbon. I used a Clear Faceted Gem (it's covering a spot that didn't get fully inked - but that will be our little secret!) on one of the tulips.

Want to see what the rest of the team has done? Just go to Watercooler Wednesday and check it out!