WWC163 - Penny's All About Christmas Challenge

It's Christmas again at the Watercooler, as Penny hosts our All About Christmas Challenge.

I'm trying to use more of the Designer Series Paper I buy. Usually, I buy packages of DSP where there are 2 or 3 of the patterns I really love -  and then, I don't want to cut it! I know I'm not the only one who does this.

In the 2017 Holiday Catalogue, there were two collections that really caught my eye: Year of Cheer and Merry Music. I've used both of them on my card.

 
I used a piece of Year of Cheer for the main background and matted it with Champagne Foil, which I also used to die cut the deer from the Santa's Sleigh Thinlits. A strip of Merry Music is a perfect background for the deer. The card base in Thick Whisper White.

The sentiment is stamped with Black Archival ink, and is from Christmas Pines.

I have to say, I don't remember if I had seen this design somewhere online. If so, I don't remember where, as I can't find it on my Pinterest boards, so unfortunately am unable to give credit.

This is such a simple, yet striking design. I think I should make up a few more and get a head start on next Christmas!

If you are looking to get a head start on your list for Christmas 2018, head on over to Watercooler Wednesday for more samples from the rest of the team.

WWC162 - Charlotte's Masculine Anything Goes Challenge

It's time already for another masculine challenge, presented this week by Charlotte.

I still tend to automatically reach for darker colours when making a masculine-themed card. Do you do that?

That's what I started when I reached for the Woodgrain DSP and Early Espresso cardstock. But then I headed in another direction.

I had just received an order, and in it were the Basketweave embossing folder and the Just Add Colour Designer Series Paper.

The embossed piece is Crumb Cake, and I used the back side of it, which I thought looked a bit more manly - LOL. Since I did still want to use the Woodgrain DSP, I cut it smaller and glued it on top of the embossed piece.

The feather design is from the Just Add Colour DSP, which I coloured with Stampin' Blends - Crumb Cake, Bronze, Pool Party, and Daffodil Delight.

For the sentiment, I went to Sheltering Tree. I love the handwritten look and think it is suitable for a masculine-themed card.

So, even though I used some dark and muted elements in this design, the feathers really lighten things up while keeping the whole design still suitable for a male recipient.

Now it's your turn - show us your best Masculine Anything Goes creation! Visit Watercoloer Wednesday for more inspiration for the talented Watercooler Artists.

WWC#161 - Helen's All About Occasions Challenge

This week we have a challenge from Helen. It's a challenge that gives you lots of options!

While there are some occasions that happen every year  - birthdays, anniversaries, Mother's/Father's Day - for example, there are other occasions that happen once-in-while. Such as someone retiring.

I wanted to try something that has been sweeping the crafting world lately - wreath stamping. There are templates that many people are using. But, I tried  something that didn't use a template. Instead, I just marked out corners of my piece of cardstock onto some grid paper.

To make the "wreath" I used the clam shell stamp from the So Many Shells, a two-step stamp set, using Crumb Cake for the bottom layer and Fresh Fig for the detailed layer.

I then used a scallop circle die from the circles collection to cut out the middle.

On a separate piece of Whisper White cardstock, I lined up the opening  and traced it lightly with a pencil.

Using some of the images from the amazing Waterfront stamp set, I created a beach scene using Calypso Coral, Old Olive, Soft Suede, Crumb Cake, Soft Sky and Pool Party.

The little dots around the shells are from another stamp from the Waterfront set, in Pool Party. The sentiment is from Teeny Tiny Wishes.

The panel is matted on Pool Party, and then onto a Fresh Fig card base.

What occasions are coming up in your life that you will need a card for? Need inspiration? Just go to Watercooler Wednesday and check out all the amazing projects from the design team.

WWC160 - Heidi's Feminine Anything Goes Challenge

Before we get to this week's challenge, I want to welcome Tenia Nelson to the Watercooler Artists Team! We have had to say goodbye to Judy Markowitz who was needed to deal with a family issue. Each team member brings a unique perspective to our challenges, and while we will miss Judy we will look forward to Tenia's contributions.

And now, onto this week's challenge from our host, Heidi:

My design was inspired by an embellishment in the 2018 Occasions catalogue - Mini Embroidery Hoops. While there is co-ordinating stamp set, as a long-time, avid cross stitcher, I had to stitch something to fit inside the larger hoop, which measures 1 3/4".

As luck would have it, I was sorting through my stitching stash and came across some patterns I had downloaded many years ago. And, one of them had these sunflowers that would work perfectly!

It stitched up really quickly and I wrapped it around a chipboard circle with the help of a bit of adhesive sheet to adhere the fabric to the chipboard, and then the chipboard to a 1 3/4" circle punched out of Crushed Curry cardstock. I also used the adhesive sheet to adhere the hoop to the cardstock.

I thought it would pair well with the sunflower design from the Painted Harvest DSP from the 2017 Holiday Catalogue. I folded up two doilies to set the sitched piece off from the background. A linen thread bow is a finishing touch.

A simple birthday sentiment from Thoughtful Banners, stamped with Crushed Curry on Whisper White - and it's ready to go!

Be sure to check out Watercooler Wednesday for more inspiration from the team!