Happy Wednesday morning, everyone! I am in full holiday-making mode. I decided to “up” my wrapping game this year and am attempting to “match” tags to my Christmas wrapping paper. This tag will be paired with a red & white candy cane striped paper. I think it will be adorable. If you want to join me in my quest to match this year, I’d love to see what you make; paste a link of your project below. Hoping some holiday magic comes your way this week!

Directions:

Cut a tag using the framed tag die(medium), brayer and Distress Ink and allow to dry. Cut two rectangles one at 3.5″x1.75″ and the other at 1.5″x2.5″. Withe the lines stamp and Distress oxide ink, stamp the larger rectangle using a stamping platform. Stamp your tree with Archival ink. Place some embossing ink on a mat and thin it with a little water; splatter your tree lightly with the ink and then sprinkle with silver embossing powder. Heat it up. Stamp some stars in the background using distress oxide. Add your sentiment, stamp and #25 using archival ink and a stamping platform. Adhere your layers together. Add some ribbon. Finally, you get to place your stars and candy. Enjoy!

Supplies used:

• Papers: Nina Solar White 110lb cardstock
• Inks: Distress Oxide (Lumberjack Red); Distress Ink (Lumberjack Red), Archival ink (Black Soot, Rustic Wilderness); Ranger Emboss it Dabber
• Stampersannonymous sets: Darling Christmas CMS 457(stars&tree), Department Store CMS 458(#25), Holiday Postmarks CMS323 (air mail), Tiny Text Christmas CMS424, Composition and Lined CMS 332 (lines)
• Embellishments: Silver embossing powder, Candy and stars from shaker packs, white ribbon, red & white cord
• Die cut: Tim Holtz framed tags
• Tools needed; stamping platform, brayer, embossing gun, fan brush

Challenges:Tic Tac Toe Challenge (Red, Free=star,Holiday floral=tree), Pearly Sparkles Challenge, ABC Christmas Challenge (X=Extra special), Shopping Our Stash Challenge, The Dream Factory Challenge,

Happy Tuesday morning, everyone. Just had to share a surprise that awaited me on Tic Tac Toes’ Challenge. Thank you, ladies, for choosing my card Christmas Giftcard! I had such a fun time making it! Just had to share some joy that came my way today! Cheers, Makira

My Christmas Gift Card holder was chosen. Thank you, ladies!

Happy weekend, everyone! I have a watercolor-based card to share today. I cased a card of mine from last year, Christmas Magic, as I liked the overall color scheme I used. The process took a few days to allow for the drying of the different layers. Here’s the recipe:

Directions:

Cut the watercolor paper to desired size (6″x4.5″). Place your masking stencil down and ink the background. Spray with water and allow some of the colors to run onto the moon.Using the other stencils, add details to your moon. Allow the paper to dry. Stamp your images using archival ink and allow to dry. Paint the images using oxide, pencils and watercolor. Allow for drying time between layers. I lost a lot of the detail on the tress and had to add the detail back using a fine liner. Add snow to the trees using gauche. Allow your paper to dry. Add white puff embossing powder to Santa’s coat and hat using the embossing pen. Use the gold pen to add details to Santa’s bag. Add your glow effects using a fine paint brush and stickles. Splatter “snow” using white gauche over the card. Create a black border using a ruler and the Sharpie. I couldn’t find a cardstock in green that matched well enough for my liking. So, I created the color I wanted with bristol smooth cardstock and Iced Spruce. Emboss the sentiment on a scrap of the Iced Spruce cardstock with Aged Mahogony. Assemble your layers and enjoy.

Supplies used:

• Papers: Arches Cold Press Watercolor Paper 140lb, Fabriano Black Black 300g paper, Strathmore Bristol Smooth cardstock 100lb
• Inks: Distress Oxide (Speckled Egg, Tumbled Glass, Old Paper, Bundled Sage, Iced Spruce, Aged Mahogony); Archival ink (Black Soot); Versamark Embossing Ink
• Stampersannonymous sets: SSS+Tim Holtz Stamptember 2022 and 2021; Christmas Tiny Text
• Embellishments: White Puff Embossing Powder; Aged Mahogony Distress Embossing Powder, Stickles in Unicorn, White, and Green; Gold gel pen; Copic 0.2 fine liner; Tim Holtz embossing pen; Black Sharpie
• Watercolor pencils: Black Soot, Hickory Smoke, Fired Brick, Tattered Rose, Walnut Stain, Rustic Wilderness, Peeled Paint.
• Watercolor and Gauche Paint in white
• Stencils: Tim Holtz Moon Stencil

Challenges entered: Tic Tac Toe Challenge (Green,Holiday Floral=trees,Embossing AND Green, Snow, Wood=ladder AND Green,Free=Sparkle,Elf=Santa is the head Elf…..The Santa Clause), The Fairy and Unicorn Challenge, Pearly Sparkles Challenge, NBUS Challenge, ABC Christmas Challenge (X=Xtra Special), Allsorts Challenge

Hello everyone! Welcome back! I have a fun gift card holder to share with you today. A festive mixed-media, fun-fold card.

Supplies used:

• Papers: Tim Holtz Idea-ology CHRISTMAS Backdrops th94277; Tim Holtz ephemera, Tim Holtz Paper Stash
• Inks: Distress Oxide (Ground Expresso); Archival ink (Black Soot,Rustic Wilderness, Barn Door); Versamark Embossing Ink
• Stampersannonymous sets: Department Store CMS458, Forest Floor CMS 422, Darling Christmas CMS457,
• Embellishments: Nuvo drops in Black; Emerald Creek’s Chocolate Dream embossing powder; Brown Velvet Ribbon by Tim Holtz; ephemera items from TH; Foundry Wax in Statue; Metallic Luster Gold Leaf
• Mediums: Distress Collage Medium, Grit Paste in Snowfall
• Acrylic Paint: Distress Paint (Lumberjack Plaid, Rustic Wilderness, Ground Expresso)
• Stencils: Holly Berr
• Thinlits: Framed Tags, Collector, Festive Bouquet

Directions:

Choose coordinating papers for your card. Score one at 2.25″ and 3.5″ for your base. On the outside of your base paper, apply grit paste mixed with paint and allow to dry. Cut two pieces of postcard cardstock down to size with the deckle trimmer. Glue them together. Place in a stamping platform and stamp with Archival ink in green. Color the red and brown with paint while in the platform. Once dry, stamp the berries, pinecone, and ribbon with black Archival ink. Splatter Versamark Ink randomly on the center image and the back of the card; apply Chocolate embossing powder. Adhere the ribbon and stamped image to the center back of the card.

Find coordinating ephemera pieces and glue the base pieces together. Repeat the stamping, painting, and stamping technique for the center image. Adhere all to the center inside of the card. Using the element stencil and foundry wax, apply to the left inner panel. Add pine cones with ground expresso and embellish them with nuvo drops.

Cut a coordinating piece of paper using the collector to make your pocket and embellish with Metallic Luster. Adhere the pocket and foliage pieces to the inside

Cut your tag out of coordinating postcard paper using the smallest framed tag and Rustic Wilderness. Place the tag in a stamping platform and repeat the stamping, painting, and stamping technique Distress the edges with Ground Expresso. And you are finished!!! Enjoy!

Challenges entered: Tic Tac Toe Challenge (Red, Sparkle, Holly), ABC Christmas Challenge (velvet ribbon), Everybody- Art – Challenge, Fusion Challenge,

Hi Everyone…welcome to another month on the Colorful Options Blog. Thank you for joining us for last month’s challenge, and we hope you can join us this month, too, because it’s time for a new challenge.

And the theme for this month is……

BURGUNDY

I created a highly-layered, mixed-media card. Like many mixed-media makes, this is not a CAS nor a fast card to make

My card started out by cutting out the paper for the background and adhering it to a white cardstock; ink the edges as desired for a more vintage feel. Cut the bag out of bristol cardstock and ink using a combination of distress oxides in Aged Mahogany and Ground Expresso. For the tree, acorns, bows, presents, candy cane, bear, and garlands: cut using coordinating dies and cardstock stash, inked and non-inked. After assembling the candy cane, coat it with a collage medium and cover it with clear rock candy. The kitty is cut using linen for her head and cardstock for her body; using distress paint, paint the body and head to add your Siamese points. Cover the Siamese’s head with Modge Podge Stiffy; once dry, assemble your cat. I cut a slit in the bag with an Exacto knife to allow the present and the bear to sit “in” the bag for a more 3D effect. Tie a ribbon around the bag and secure on the back with some tape. Layer and glue everything down. Add the Liquid Pearl drops to function as ornaments. Enjoy!

Supplies used:

• Papers: Tim Holtz Idea-ology CHRISTMAS Backdrops th94277; Cardstock from the stash in: green, burgundy, ivory; Inked cardstock remnants from previous projects: browns & greens; Linen cardstock; Tim Holtz Gold Cardstock; Nina solar white card stock 110lb; Strathmore Bristol cardstock 110lb
• Inks: Distress Oxide (Age Mahogany, Ground Expresso, Iced Spruce)
• Sizzix dies – Tim Holtz: Festive Bouquet, Deck the Halls, Toyland, Mischieveous
• Embellishments: Kreinik Metallic (#8) brown ribbon; Liquid Pearls in Garnett; Distress Clear Rock Candy
• Mediums: Distress Collage Medium, Modge Podge Stiffy
• Acrylic Paint: Distress Paint (Ground Expresso, Antique Linen),
• Embossing Folder: Tim Holtz, 3d Cobblestone
• Impresslit: 3D Snowflake

Why don’t you pop over to the Colorful Options Challenge and check out the amazing creations from my very talented Design Team-mates. As always, you have until Monday, November 28th, 11:59pm US CST time…5:59am(Tuesday, November29th) UK time…6:59am(Tuesday, November 29th) CET to join in with the chance to win a  SimonSays Stamp-Tim Holtz 2021 exclusive die: Dashing Through The Snow.

You can also follow the Colorful Options Challenge on Instagram

and if you use Instagram…

please add #colorfuloptionschallenge to your entry uploads so we can see them there too

I look forward to seeing what you create this month…

Have Fun and Happy Crafting

Happy Halloween, everyone! I am starting the Christmas season today with this cute box. I was inspired by Zoe Hillman‘s make for the new Distress Color – Lumberjack Plaid. This is one for you if you need a quick and cute box.

Supplies:

• Papers: Tim Holtz Idea-ology CHRISTMAS Backdrops th94277; Cardstock from the stash in: craft, burgundy, black glitter;
• Inks: Aged Mahogany in Distress Ink and Distress Oxide Ink
• Sizzix dies – Tim Holtz: Festive Bouquet, Vintage Labels Thinlits Dies 665929,CURIO BOX Bigz XL with Framelits Dies 664419
• Stamps: Stampersanonymous CMS456 Holiday Sketchbook
• Embellishments: CHRISTMAS Linen Tape Patchwork th94299
• Distress Watercolor pencils

Directions:

Cut the plaid cardstock and the craft cardstock using the Curio Box Dies. Using the linen tape, tape around the bottom of the box to secure the sides. Cut the front labels using Distress Ink and the Vintage Labels. Stamp the images using Distress Ink. Color the image with watercolor pencils and then stamp it a second time. Cut your foliage using scraps from the stash. Layer them together, and you will have a perfect little gift box. These are fast and fun to make. Have fun!

Challenges entered: SSS Monday Challenge, Craft Roulette, Allsorts Challenge

Happy Sunday, Friends! I am going vintage this weekend. Why? Why not?! This is not a style that normally inspires me. However, it did this weekend. 😁 The card started with the concept of using a sheet from an old pattern; I figured that clearly paired well with the Haberdashery stamp set. The remainder of the card was just going with what worked. Let go and go with what you have!

Supplies:

• Papers: Mixed Media Strathmore Cardstock, Blue-green Tim Holtz Cardstock, Craft Colored Card Stock from the stash, old unused patterned tissue paper from Simplicity
• StampersAnonymous: Tim Holtz Haberdashery CMS 105
• Inks: Distress Ink (Speckled Egg, Salvaged Patina), Distress Ink Pad(Ground Expresso, Aged Mahogony), Distress Archival Ink (Faded Jeans)
• Distress Crayons: Faded Jeans, Speckled Egg
• Embellishments: Embossing Douber, Frosted Crystal, Collage Medium, Paper Dolls, Omber thread, Tim Holtz Fabric Tape

Directions:

Cut the mixed media card stock down to 3″ x 6″. Using collage medium, adhere your pattern paper to your cardstock and allow it to dry. Apply Distress Ink to the background randomly using a cotton ball. Stamp your images with archival ink and a stamping platform; ink some images more than others for a duotone/multitone effect. Ink the edges with Ground Expresso and Aged Mahogony. Go over the paper randomly with Ground Expresso for a more weathered effect. Stitch the edges of the base. Cut a “seat” for your doll, cover using Tim Holtz Fabric Tape, and then stitch it to the background. Choose an Ideology paper doll and emboss it with Frosted Crystal. Once dry, color the dress with a combination of distressed crayons. Adhere the doll to the background. Mount the background to your paper “frames.”

Enjoy your week! Hopefully, I’ll be able to catch the live next Saturday for the new Distress Color on Tim’s YouTube Channel at 9am CST,10/30/22!

Challenges entered: Allsorts Challenge, Double Trouble Challenge (circle lower right), NBUS Challenge, The Card Concept Challenge 182a, Twisted Thursday Challenge, The Dream Factory ( a little girl)

Happy Sunday, everyone! It is still Inktober and decided to play with some ink today. My envelope was inspired by the envelope Nathifa made for the Tim Holtz Sizzix Christmas. If you would like to play along, everything I used follows.❄🛷🎄❄

• Papers: Stonehenge Aqua Coldpress Black 140lb, Blue shimmer paper from stash, Clear Vellum, Dina Wakely Collage Paper, Black sparkle cardstock remnant from stash, black fun foam
• Distress Spray Stain: Prize Ribbon, Black Soot, Uncharted Mariner
• Distress Oxide: Prize Ribbon
• Distress Mica Stain: WinterFrost
• Distress Ink: Picket Fench
• Ink: Archival Ink in Black Soot and Prize Ribbon, Versamark Watermark, Donna Salazar Mixed Media Inx in Pewter
• Embellishments: Distress Grit Paste-Snowfall, Ideology Doplets-Halloween, DecoArt Metallic Lustre in Silver Spark, Ranger White embossing powder
• Stamp sets by Stampersanonymous Tim Holtz: Stamptember 2022, Exquisite CMS453, Bold Tidings Mini CMS440
• Die Sets by Sizzix-Tim Holts: Thinlits Bowtied(666063), Thinlits Festive Bouquet(665565), Thinlits Framed Tags(666065), 3D Impresslits Snowflake (665376)
• Tools: Stamping platform, Splat Box, Envelope Punch Board, Sizzix Big Shot, small brayer

Directions:

Cut the watercolor card stock down to 8×8. Get out your splat box and have some fun with your stains! Allow drying time. Cut the watercolor card stock down to 8×8, score (3 3/8in) and cut using your punch board. Cut your tag using the pewter ink, brayer and leftover inked watercolor cardstock. Emboss your sentiment and then add metallic luster to the edges. Cut the foliage out of black sparkle cardstock and add grit paste randomly. Cut the bow out of the blue cardstock. Add metallic luster to the accent pieces of the bow. Cut your snowflakes out of vellum and apply grit past to the top of them. Layer and assemble your envelope. I used foam on the edges of the bow to stabilize it as this envelope will be mailed and the bow needed more support.

The liner is very simple and fast to make. Use the collage paper, archival ink, and stamp the flowers in Black Soot and then the snowflakes in Prize Ribbon. Cut down and glue inside. Yes, you will see your glue line; however, the envelope will be sealed and when opened I would expect these edges to be destroyed in the process.

“Have the Courage to Be Imperfect.” – Alfred Adler

Challenges entered: ABC Christmas Challenge, Allsorts Challenge, NBUS Challenge, Tic Tac Toe Challenge (embossing (sentiment), free (monochromatic), glitter (paper, texture paste) ), Twisted Thursday Challenge

Happy Monday evening, everyone. Just had to share a surprise that awaited me on SSS’s blog today. Thank you, Lols, for choosing my card Parisian Evening! I had such a fun time making it! Just had to share some joy that came my way today! Cheers, Makira

Happy Sunday, everyone! I went looking for a combination of orange, purple +1 color and ended up at the Color Catalog by Sara Rene Clark. I was completely inspired by her photo for this combination (dark blue, dusty blue, orange, purple, black). Although my photo does not show it well, all the “light” sources, including the reflections, are Distress Oxide Jack-O-Lantern Crayon. An ORANGE!! There is something peaceful and beautiful about this image. Thank you, TH, for all the wonderful products you give us to play with.

So, here is what you will need if you would like to make this:

• Papers: Arches Cold Press Watercolor Paper, Black Black Cardstock, Blue “sequin” cardstock from the stash, Black Fun Foam, clear acetate
• Distress Spray Stain: Wilted Violet, Prize Ribbon, Stormy Sky
• Distress Oxide: Black Soot, Picket Fence
• Distress Mica Stain: Jack-O-Lantern
• Distress Oxide Crayon: Jack=O=Lantern, Wilted Violet, Prize Ribbon, Black Soot, Stormy Sky
• Ink: Archival Ink in Black Soot, Versafine Onyx Black Ink, Copic Black fine liner 0.05mm, Black Sharpie
• Embellishments: Glossy Accents, Perfect Pearls, Foundry Wax in Sterling, Black Cherry Aroma embossing powder by Emerald Creek, Perfect Pearls in perfect pearl
• Stamp set: Stampersanonymous Tim Holtz, Cityscape CMS 224
• Tools: Stamping platform, Exacto blade/knife, Waterbrush

Directions:

Cut the watercolor card stock down to 3.5×12. Get out your splat box and have some fun with your stains! Dry with a heat tool. Cut the cardstock down to two equal sizes. Decide which you will use for your base and which you will use for the Paris stamp. Stamp Paris on your inked background using multiple layers of Archival ink and Onyx Black Ink. While the ink is wet, apply your embossing powder and emboss. Cut out your cityscape using an Exacto blade. Color the highlights of your city using crayon or mica spray and a water brush on your city as you like. Using your cut-out, decide where the line of demarcation will be for the city vs. the water. Using Versamark Onyx black ink, the stamping platform, and acetate, stamp the city a second time and then use the acetate to “transfer” the city for your reflection on the paper. This is textured watercolor paper, so it will not stamp perfectly. GREAT! It is a reflection and not to be perfect! Scribble crayons on a glass mat and use the water pen to pick up colors and add more color and softness to the reflection. Tired? Go get some coffee! Order Starbucks for delivery. YUM!!! White Chocolate Mocha Venti, please!!!! Cover the “water” with paper and add “stars” with Gilding wax. Then cover the city, using Perfect Pearls add the stars’ reflection on the water. Add the light reflections using either DO crayon or mica stain in Jack-O-Lantern. Ink the city’s and sky’s edges with Black Soot and a blending tool. Using a fan brush, add “wisps” and water lines to your water using Glossy Accents. Allow drying time. Ink the edges of the water with Picket Fence using a blending tool. Place your city on the card front and outline using the Copic fine liner. Fill in the outline with Sharpie to give the city a dark “glow.” Mount your city on black fun foam and glue to the card front. Frame with Black Black cardstock and blue sequined cardstock. Add to a card base made from Black Black cardstock. Have fun!

Here’s the inspiration photo and color guide:

Thoughts? Let me know in the comments below!

Here’s to the ones that inspire us and don’t even know!!!

Challenges entered: Craft Roulette, SSS Monday Challenge, NBUS Challenge, The Card Concept Challenge (Paris-obviously!), Time Out Challenge, The Dream Factory Challenge (stars)

Designer Spotlit card at SSS Monday Challenge, The Dream Factory Challenge