Elves On Christmas

I couldn't wait to pair up this image from Elves On Christmas (clear set) with this "Nightmare Die".  They just seemed to me to be made for each other.  And with the addition of making my own striped paper using the Sun Rays Stencil, I was all set! The placing of the red and white striped paper took some fancy cutting and maneuvering, that's fer sure, but once I got it placed where I wanted, with just a little peeking out from the edge, I was all set! I had to cut the striped layer in half in order to get it to show on both the top and the bottom by placing it in an offset way under the first die cut layer.  

The image was coloured with Copics and then I masked it off (a home made mask) so I could sponge on some Oxide inks for a background. I spritzed a few drops of water on the ink while I still had the image masked, and then added some droplets of Copic White paint as well.  I layered it on a red card base for the final touch. 

All the product links are listed below - and If you make a purchase at Whimsy Stamps by following one of my links,  I get compensated (at no extra cost to you) even if it isn't a product from my line -  And of course I get compensated for every purchase you make from my line of images at Whimsy too.  Thank you so much for your kind support - because it means I get to continue drawing for Whimsy and having fun with all of you!

Sun Rays Stencil: 

Nightmare Die: 

Elves On Christmas Clear Stamp Set: 

Thanks so much for stopping by!

 

Teddy Bear Christmas

Excited to be starting Christmas Cards!! eeek!! And super excited that the "Nightmare" die was created at Whimsy because even though it is from this year's Halloween release, it reminds me of Elf-like designs (think of their slippers and hats!) so I've got it employed on my Christmas card! It was a bit complex to get it looking like this - I used a four layers to get this effect, and created the red and white striped one using the Sun Rays stencil and some red ink. It took some fancy shmancy handling to get them to layer in this way- cutting the layers in various ways to make them fit and inset the frames underneath the subsequent layers. Not easy, but man I love the final effect! It's so Christmassy!

And the new Teddy Bear Christmas Eve set was the perfect addition to the scene, I think!

I coloured up the bear and gifts with Copic markers. They were fussy cut and glued down onto the layer beneath, which was inked with Oxide inks.

All the product links are listed below - and If you make a purchase at Whimsy Stamps by following one of my links,  I get compensated (at no extra cost to you) even if it isn't a product from my line -  And of course I get compensated for every purchase you make from my line of images at Whimsy too.  Thank you so much for your kind support - because it means I get to continue drawing for Whimsy and having fun with all of you!

Sun Rays Stencil:

Nightmare Die Set:

Teddy Bear Christmas Eve Clear Stamp Set: 

Thanks so much for looking!

 

No Fuss Masks - I'm in love! Cat-o-lanterns purple card

Ok, well, I had to do up another card using the No Fuss Masks that are new from Whimsy Stamps.  OMG what a BREEZE these are to use, I just LOVE them!!! This is one I used for a third time!! Third and final, for it finally tore as I was lifting it - but after the third pass, it's no wonder, they are not made to last forever.  But there are four of each image included in the set so that's not a concern at all.  So if I can make each one last for three cards each, that means I can get a dozen uses out of each image mask! I'm going to begin my collection right now because these are an absolute must-have for me, esp. as I love doing up an inky background for my images!

I wanted to do up a purply one for a purple loving girl I know.  I think it turned out pretty good! All the product links are listed below - and If you make a purchase at Whimsy Stamps by following one of my links,  I get compensated (at no extra cost to you) even if it isn't a product from my line -  And of course I get compensated for every purchase you make from my line of images at Whimsy too.  Thank you so much for your kind support - because it means I get to continue drawing for Whimsy and having fun with all of you!

Tree Assortment Die Set:

Cat-o-lanterns No-Fuss Masks:

Cat-o-lanterns Clear Stamp Set:

I coloured the image using Copic markers, and then used Shabby shutters, Wilted Violet, Villainous Potion and Back soot to create the background.  Thanks for stopping by!

 

Cat-o-lanterns and No Fuss Masks!

I am super excited about a new product launch at Whimsy Stamps! They are now offering some No Fuss Instant Masks for those of you who like to mask off an image so that you can safely colour a background.  They work incredibly well and save a ton of time and energy on making your own masks! I am so proud of Denise and Deb for coming up with this fantastic idea.  It really is a time saver for someone like me, who loves to mask images to create a background!  

I used to have to carefully cut ("fussy cut") around a second stamped image to create a mask for my first stamped and coloured image.  Then I would apply a few drops of glue around the mask, close to the outer edges, and wait five minutes for it to dry to a semi-permanent state. Then adhere it, and colour my background.  The scary part was always lifting it off later - did I wait long enough for the glue to dry to a tacky state? Or did I get impatient and adhere it while the glue was a little too sticky - in which case, lifting it off the image would damage the paper and colouring underneath!  I have had a few images get "hurt" with the old method.  Well, out with the old and in with the new! Ha! Thanks to Whimsy!  I can now adhere these masks that are already cut perfectly to fit my stamped image, and I can remove it without fear of damaging the paper underneath, as it is just the right "tackiness" without making a permanent bond.  Not only can I mask without damaging images, but also the time it used to take to stamp and fussy cut the image is now mine to just keep playing and creating! Yay!! And I have noticed that I can get at least a couple uses out of the mask, as long as I remove it with care.  Win win! 

All the product links are listed below - and If you make a purchase at Whimsy Stamps by following one of my links,  I get compensated (at no extra cost to you) even if it isn't a product from my line -  And of course I get compensated for every purchase you make from my line of images at Whimsy too.  Thank you so much for your kind support - because it means I get to continue drawing for Whimsy and having fun with all of you! 

Cat-o-lanters Clear Stamp Set

Tree Assortment Die Set

Cutie ABC Die Set

Cat-o-Lanterns NoFuss Masks:

 Thanks so much for stopping by today!

Halloween Night 3

I think I am done (maybe!) with my Halloween cards (for now!) but oh, I am having fun with creating them! For this one, I used one of the witch characters from the Halloween Night set.  I actually coloured her, the bat, and the moon separately this time, and fussy cut them out.  I used both Copic markers and coloured pencil on top later, to really deepen the shadows and even to extend the witch's cloak a bit further to fit the scene better. 

Then on a separate white card, I blended Oxide inks (Squeezed Lemonade, Stormy Sky and Black Soot) to make the background.  I cut out a frame using the Notched squares and carefully placed my witch in the corner, partway behind (her lower part) and then overtop (her upper part) the frame.  I glued the frame onto the inked background, glued on the bat and the moon, and then I drew the trees.  I started with a grey gel pen to do some trees in the background, and then used a black acrylic paint pen to do some black silhouetted trees that look a little closer to the foreground.  I also added some grey gel pen on parts of the branches where some of the light of the moon would be reflected. 

I hand drew the spider and web as well with the black acrylic paint pen (and a bright orange paint pen for the glowing spider eyes!)

Finally, I made a frame using the Oxide inks Crackling Campfire and Mustard Seed, to complement the orange of her clothing and hair. 

All the product links are listed below - and If you make a purchase at Whimsy Stamps by following one of my links,  I get compensated (at no extra cost to you) even if it isn't a product from my line -  And of course I get compensated for every purchase you make from my line of images at Whimsy too.  Thank you so much for your kind support - because it means I get to continue drawing for Whimsy and having fun with all of you!

Notched Squares Die Set:

Halloween Night Clear Stamp Set:

Thank you so much for looking!

 

Halloween Night 2

This is another of the cute little witches from the Halloween Night clear stamp set at Whimsy Stamps, just released last month (Aug 2023).  I thought it would be in keeping with the frightful theme to make it look like she was floating in the air! I coloured the image with Copics and also went over it in coloured pencil. I then masked the image, and sponged on some Oxide inks - around her I put Scattered Straw, Squeezed Lemonade, then Twisted Citron, Pine Needles and lastly, Black Soot.  The tree silhouettes as well as the grass were done with a hand made stencil and more Black Soot (which, by the way, after this many uses has bit the biscuit!) and Oxide inks, and then gone over with a black pencil crayon to add a few more twiggy branches. 

The product link is listed below - and If you make a purchase at Whimsy Stamps by following one of my links,  I get compensated (at no extra cost to you) even if it isn't a product from my line -  And of course I get compensated for every purchase you make from my line of images at Whimsy too.  Thank you so much for your kind support - because it means I get to continue drawing for Whimsy and having fun with all of you!

Halloween Night Clear Stamp Set:

Thanks for looking!

 

Otter Variety 2 Birthday card

This one is for someone special who loves otters! I had fun combining some of the otters from the Otter Variety 2 clear stamp set at Whimsy Stamps.  I went all out with this one, making a scene! I first arranged the images where I wanted them on white Hammermill 100 lb cover copy paper.  I then masked the images and used Oxide inks to rough in the sky, water, and rocks.  At this point I removed the masks and proceeded to colour the otters with Copics, and a wee bit of coloured pencil on a couple of them.  Then I used coloured pencil to create some dimension in the rocks and give them shadows underneath.  Following that, I used a white acrylic ink pen to start doodling some foam and water trails coming off the rocks.  The ink was not "strong" enough, so I took my Copic white and a paint brush and filled in more and more foam and waves.  I used more coloured pencil on the water and sky to really bring it out and to brighten up the sky a bit, as I found the Oxide inks were a bit too dark for the sky. All in all I am happy with the result and I would use this method again for a seascape, minus the Oxide inks in the sky - next time, I would use Copics on the sky, as that way I can get the brightness I want. 

The product link is listed below - and If you make a purchase at Whimsy Stamps by following one of my links,  I get compensated (at no extra cost to you) even if it isn't a product from my line -  And of course I get compensated for every purchase you make from my line of images at Whimsy too.  Thank you so much for your kind support - because it means I get to continue drawing for Whimsy and having fun with all of you!
Otter Variety 2 Clear Stamp Set:

Thanks for visiting today!

 

Halloween Night

My Halloween card making is in full swing and here is another sample from this year's Halloween Night clear stamp set,  with a spooky sentiment and setting.  I am loving the process of making these scene cards using stencils (this time hand-made stencils using card stock which I hand cut) and Oxide inks.  Nothing sets the sinister, misty atmosphere better than some well placed and blended Oxide inks, with a few stencilled on trees and grasses that appear silhouetted against the bright moon.  I just love the effect this creates on a dark and spooky card! I used Black Soot, Scattered Straw, Tea Dye, Victorian Velvet, Aged Mahogany and Villainous Potion and blended as best I could.  Of course I masked the images first in order to lay the colour down without getting any on the images themselves (the bat and the witch!)
I did colour the image with Copic markers initially, then after I had completed the background, I went over the shadows to darken them using Prismacolor Pencils. I added some white coloured pencil on the branches to make them appear kissed by the moonlight. 

The product link is listed below - and If you make a purchase at Whimsy Stamps by following one of my links,  I get compensated (at no extra cost to you) even if it isn't a product from my line -  And of course I get compensated for every purchase you make from my line of images at Whimsy too.  Thank you so much for your kind support - because it means I get to continue drawing for Whimsy and having fun with all of you!

Halloween Night Clear Stamp Set:

Thanks so much for looking!

 

Cat-O-Lanters 2nd card!

I can't tell you how fun it is to create these glowing spooky scenes with these Halloween cats and some colourful oxide inks!  Thanks again to Sylvie of Kaliscards for inspiring the colour scheme.  She is such an amazing card artist, and if you haven't been to her blog yet, you really must go.  I used the Tree Assortment die for the trees on either side of the image - both the die cuts, and also, I used the paper that I cut the trees from as a stencil to ink on some other branches in the background.  I like that they look like they are fading into the mist.  You may have already had that idea before, about making your own stencils using the paper from die cuts, but this is the first time I have ever done so! And it's cool!  I used Black Soot as my faded tree ink, and didn't overdo it so that they came out a nice soft grey.  I actually cut my own stencils as well for some blades of grass that I placed around the pumpkin using Pine Needles Oxide ink.  Again, not using a lot of pressure, nor a lot of ink, and being careful not to fill in around the base of the blades - but just fade it out into the foreground. 
I coloured the image with Copics, however, I found I needed to reach for my coloured pencils to deepen the shadows, as this image called for it (I thought!). 

Again, pasting on the tree die cuts was probably the hardest part of all of this - this time I used a spray glue, but too much of it in places, and so it did leave a bit of a mess, unfortunately.  Oh well, this was a learning experience after all, as every card I make is. :-)

All the product links are listed below - and If you make a purchase at Whimsy Stamps by following one of my links,  I get compensated (at no extra cost to you) even if it isn't a product from my line -  And of course I get compensated for every purchase you make from my line of images at Whimsy too.  Thank you so much for your kind support - because it means I get to continue drawing for Whimsy and having fun with all of you!

Cat-O-Lanterns Clear Stamp Set:

Trees Assortment Die Set:

6 x 6 Paper Pack - Bokeh Bliss

Thanks so much for looking!

 

Cat-O-Lanterns!

 

I didn't used to make Hallowe'en cards, but I have gotten bitten by the bug (or spider, since it is Hallowe'en, heheh!) I now have a bunch of grandkids to give them to as well, so hey, I have joined in the fun! And fun it is, to make a spooky looking card (and still keep it cute, as that is after all, my wheelhouse!) I love how the cat on the ground is eyeing the tail of the next cat up on the pile, heheh, just so cat-like... he's going to pounce any second and you know it, heheh!

A big shoutout to Sylvie of Kaliscards for making me stop dead in my tracks (ha, another fright night reference there!) with her oh-so-gorgeous Got Peepers card!  Her card inspired my colour palette and I was so excited to copy-cat (heheh, yeah, cats were involved!) because she inspired me so much! Thank you Sylvie, for sharing your stunning Halloween card and for being such an inspiration!  Please go visit her blog and take a peek around.  She is really an amazing card artist!

I coloured my images with Copics, and used Distress Oxide inks for the background.  I had to make a mask for the moon and the main image before I sponged on the inks. I just had to be careful around the moon to preserved the bright yellow so that I could get that "moon glow" effect.  The trees were so easy - just die cut from the Tree Assortment die set, on black card paper.  The only tricky part was gluing all those thin branches.  I used the moon from the "Halloween Night" set. 

All the product links are listed below - and If you make a purchase at Whimsy Stamps by following one of my links,  I get compensated (at no extra cost to you) even if it isn't a product from my line -  And of course I get compensated for every purchase you make from my line of images at Whimsy too.  Thank you so much for your kind support - because it means I get to continue drawing for Whimsy and having fun with all of you!

Cat-o-lanterns Clear Stamp Set

Halloween Night Clear Stamp Set:

Trees Assortment Die set:

Thanks so much for popping by!

Gnome So Thankful

I had the sweetest time making this card (heheh) using a cute gnome with his harvest of apples!  I loved colouring the details on the apple - a bit of an obsession of mine, when it comes to colouring fruit! I did allow some realism to sneak into my colouring, just a bit!  Coloured with Copic markers and touched up slightly in places with coloured pencil.  I kept the background on the circle panel simple by sponging on some Twisted Citron Oxide ink, and the apple basket and gnome were fussy cut and placed where I wanted them.  I printed the starry sky background with the gorgeous Starry Night printable digital papers at Whimsy.  One of my fav. digital packs from them. And again (as I use them a lot) I used the Pierced and Stitched Circles die along with the Notched Squares die to frame it all up. 

All the product links are listed below - and If you make a purchase at Whimsy Stamps by following one of my links,  I get compensated (at no extra cost to you) even if it isn't a product from my line -  And of course I get compensated for every purchase you make from my line of images at Whimsy too.  Thank you so much for your kind support - because it means I get to continue drawing for Whimsy and having fun with all of you!

Starry Night - Digital Papers

Gnome So Thankful clear stamp set:

Notched Squares Die Set: 

Pierced and Stitched Circles Die Set:

Thanks for visiting today!