WWC167 - Gail's All About Christmas Challenge

How is your Christmas card stash coming along? Here's another chance for you to add to it!

I love doing monochromatic cards and think they work well for any occasion - even Christmas. Back in December, I was doing "research" on Pinterest for ideas when I came across a card done by Debbie Henderson of Debbie's Designs. It was gorgeous and I had to CASE (copy and share everything) it.

 
Using the Santa's Sleigh stamp set, I stamped the trees randomly with Whisper White Craft Ink and Soft Suede on Crumb Cake cardstock. The snowflakes are also stamped with the Whisper White Craft Ink, but for the life of me, I can't remember what stamp set they are from. Anything similar would work. The sentiment, from Merry Little Labels, is also stamped with Soft Suede.

The sleigh, packages and wreath are cut with the co-ordinating Santa's Sleigh Thinlits using Very Vanilla, Garden Green and Cherry Cobbler cardstocks. I used a Gold Wink of Stella pen to add a little sparkle to the packages.

All that was left to do was sponge around the edges with Crumb Cake ink then I popped the panel up with dimensionals. The card base is also Crumb Cake and I sponged the edges with the Whisper White ink.

Visit Watercooler Wednesday and check out the awesome offerings from the rest of the team!

WWC#166 - Kath's Masculine Anything Goes Challenge

I'm getting back into the swing of things after a two-week break for the Challenge. After attending the Stampin' Up OnStage event, my creative juices have been recharged, and as luck would  have it, I was able to use some of the stamp sets I received at OnStage for this week's challenge!

Our host for this week's challenge is Kath.

While tidying up my craft table to make space to work, I came across a pile of backgrounds I had done a while ago while playing with some non-SU inks - Distress Oxides. So, I decided to use one of them. Here is how it turned out:

One of the sets from OnStage is Pick a Pennant. I also used the Distress Oxides to stamp the pennants. This was much easier to do with wonderful, awesome, new stamp positioner tool - the Stamparatus! I did need to re-ink and re-stamp the images a couple of times and the Stamparatus makes this a breeze.

The sentiment and the branch with the cute little frog on it are from another set from OnStage - Animal Outing. I stamped it on Whisper White cardstock and punched it out with the Everyday Label punch. I punched two more using the Everyday Label punch from Basic Black cardstock, cut them apart and layered under the Whisper White to frame it.

For the cardbase, I used a brand new InColour - Blueberry Bushel - and placed a sheet of another new InColour, Pineapple Punch, underneath it for taking the photo. Another benefit of attending OnStage is that we get to order from a limited selection of items before anyone else does.

If you need to add to your stash of masculine-themed cards, visit Watercooler Wednesday and be inspired by the talented Watercooler Artists. Link up your project - we love to see what you do!

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!

WWC159 - Marsha's All About Christmas

Time to add to your stash of Christmas cards! Marsha is hosting our All About Christmas challenge  this week.

In every catalogue, there is a stamp set that really appeals to me, but for some reason I put off getting  it. Then, when the catalogue is just about to retire, I finally decide to get it.

Good Tidings was that set for me in the 2017 Holiday Catalogue. it is a two-step holly design with a watercolour look to it. Even though I really liked it, once I got it, I didn't use it. Silly, I know! So, it was time to  ink it up for this challenge.

I only used two colours for the holly: Old Olive and  Cherry Cobbler. The images for the bottom layer were stamped off, then  I used the detail layers full strength. The sentiment is done with Always Artichoke.

These images have a nostalgic feel to them, I think. I didn't want to use Whisper White - thought it would be too bright. So I stamped the images on Very Vanilla for a softer look. It also  gives a warmer tone to the colours.

The DSP is from Delightful Daisy, and  the card base is Cherry Cobbler.

For a little bit of sparkle, I used some of the Glitter Epoxy Shapes, from the 2018 Occasions Catalogue, on the berries. Here's a close-up look at those:

For more Christmas inspiration, check out Watercooler Wednesday and have a look at the wonderful projects from the other Watercooler Artists.