613 Avenue Create - December 2020 Challenge: Anything Goes with Optional Twist: Anything Vintage

Hello, Crafty Peeps!

Welcome to the final challenge of the year at 613 Avenue Create!  The Optional Twist to our Anything Goes Challenge is Anything Vintage!

Wishing you happy holiday celebrations!

I had an interesting time creating this card!  I knew that I wanted to use the traditional colors of red and green.  I knew that I wanted to use the ornament stamp, and I also knew that I wanted to use kraft paper for both my base and my card face.

As much as I love Kraft paper, I knew that Kraft on Kraft would not be visually interesting.  I decided that I would add color to my layer using Vintage Photo Distress Oxide Ink and Glycerine. Glycerine is wonderful for smoothing out colors. I added in a touch of Memento "Bamboo Leaves" dye-based ink for contrast in random areas.

I love these ornaments. They remind me of the Christmases of my childhood.  I am going to attempt to recreate this card but I will probably make the ornaments blue and yellow.  I hope it works out.  I need at least three more of these!

Hugz,

Chana Malkah

Stuff I Used

STASH PARTY 2020 #56 - NAUGHTY OR NICE

 Hello, Crafty Makers!

I am having a "Christmas Card" swap with my two youngest granddaughters because Ms. "Rona" has made it impossible for us to Celebrate Christmas and Chanukah in person!

I will have to post the second card separately!  I am not entirely happy with it and my dissatisfaction only increased when I uploaded it to this post.  Back to the drawing board!

I have so fallen in love with Gnomes this year!  Now I only need to find more creative ways to craft with them!

Thanks for stopping by!

Hugz,

Chana Malkah

Stuff I Used

Shopping Our Stash #430 - On Trend: Create A Slimline Card

 Hello, Crafty Makers!

Two weeks passed quickly!  We have a new challenge for you at

Shopping Our Stash - Create A Slimline Card!

I was never a fan of tall cards!  Their reintroduction as slimline cards has not really changed my opinion.  In my mind, there is too much real estate and they are difficult to photograph.  When I start the creation of one of these cards, all I see is a vast wasteland and all I feel is the need to remind myself that I don't have to "over embellish."  

I spent almost two hours trying to decide the best way to deal with the empty space at the top of this card.  I was happy with the placement of my image and my sentiment but very unhappy with the "vacant" space above them.  The first thing I did was to add the black linen cord in the center.  I knew this would give the eye some relief.  I must have spent twenty minutes just playing around with the placement of the banner.  This card took 2 and 1/2 days to complete and most of that time was spent in decision making around the components.  I really do envy those makers who can whip out four and five cards in a day!

I kept the inside simple!

Maybe I will do one more of these but with the landscape orientation!  At least the photography will be easier!

Thanks for Stopping by!

Hugz,

Chana Malkah

Shopping Our Stash- Challenge #429 - Make A Mess

Hello, Crafty Peeps!

This fortnight, at Shopping Our Stash, the challenge is to 

MAKE A MESS!

I wanted to practice the double stenciling technique and I thought this challenge presented the perfect opportunity to do so!  I used three stencils and four Distress Inks as well as stickles, wet glue, and glitter.

I invite you to join us in this challenge!  Looking forward to seeing your creations!

Hugz,

Chana Malkah

Stuff I used:

DecoArt-Art Nuveau Medallions

A Place To Start - Create A Children's Card - September 2020 Challenge

Hello, Crafty Makers!

It is time for a new challenge at 

A Place To Start!

This month, we are interested in seeing the kinds of cards you would create for children!

In this case, a child is anyone from 0-18 years old so you do not have to limit yourself to "cute" kiddie creations.

Unexpected Friendships

If only we could get the entire world to believe this!  When my kids were growing up, the one phrase they were not allowed to use was, "because it has always been like this!"  We wanted them to learn that while there are many things in life that don't need improvement, most things in life can benefit from a slight tweaking every now and then.  As a result, they grew up learning to enjoy a diverse array of music, dance, literature, sports, and most especially, people.  

For two years, my grandson attended a private international school and we were amazed by his knowledge and acceptance of other cultures!  This past year, he attended a private homeschool academy located in a super-wealthy community!  I was terrified that he would be bullied not only because of his skin color but also because although he is from an upper-middle-class home,  you could put ten of my daughter's home into one of the homes of some of his classmates.  It took exactly one week for this child to develop friendships that have continued to this day.  Because my daughter chose to not have him return to a brick and mortar environment, he is back to full-time homeschooling in a Cyber Academy, however, he and his friends have "bullied" their parents into allowing them to have a "fully masked, socially distanced" Art Meet Up!  The thing that convinced my daughter was a comment from one of his former classmates, "Please, Mrs. Brooks!  It simply would not make sense to do this if Joshua cannot be there...we miss him!"   I really believe the next two generations will teach us old fogeys quite a bit about friendship and inclusion! 

Thanks for Visiting!

I hope to see an entry from you in our challenge!

A PLACE TO START

I am entering this project into the 

September TCP Tuesday Challenge

#372 "Includes an Animal"

Shopping Our Stash #396 - Get Your Drink On

Hello, Fellow Crafters!

The fortnight challenge at
Shopping Our Stash is 

"Get Your Drink On"

We want to see your creations paying homage to your favorite beverage.  I am a tea person but I also love coffee so I tossed a coin and it came up coffee!  Here ya go!

I don't do a lot of masking and I wasn't sure that I could get the image in my brain successfully from my brain to paper.  Masking was the only way to make it work.  I had a coffee ring stencil but the detail is not as good as the stamp that came with this image.  I also believed I would have more control using the single stamp.

Stuff I used:

Distress Oxides: Squeezed Lemonade, Broken China

Distress Inks: Tea Dye, Weathered Wood

Papers: Neenah Solar White, Bazzil "Hummingbird"

Images: Java Nice Day

Misc: Copic markers, foam tape, sequins, "Wink of Stella"

Thanks for stopping by!

Hugz,

A Creative Brush with Brushes - Using Toothbrush/Mermaid Brushes for Blending

 Hello, Crafty Makers!

After much cogitation, I have finally entered the Realm of The much touted "Mermaid/Toothbrush Blending Tool." 

Hex Appeal

To color this stencil, I used three brush sizes (only two are pictured below).  Additionally, to test and compare the two brands, I used brushes from both the Laromni and DSC Beauty brand. I was pleased with the performance of both brushes. I was able to control the ink application to achieve the look I wanted.

Ode To Jessie

For this project, I used the Laromni brushes exclusively.  I must admit that the Laromni set is probably the better of the two.  I just like the feel of these brushes in my hand when I am coloring or blending, the process seems smoother but, as I wrote previously, both do a good job of blending and coloring.

 Two brushes were used to color this project.  Because of all the tight spaces, having a thinner brush made it easy to get into all the crevices between the petals. Details for this project can be found here

Cleaning the brushes between colors is a simple matter of brushing them across a microfiber cloth.  This takes seconds and speeds up the work process. 

The DSC Beauty Brush Set came complete with 10 brushes and this handy drying/storage rack.  I ordered a drying stand on Ali Express ($5.06 + $1.79 for shipping) for my Laromni Brush Set.  These stands are convenient and reduce desktop clutter.

The only true difference I spotted in the brushes was the head size.  The Laromni brushes are just slightly larger. 

The Laromni Brush Set 

 Now that I am using these brushes on a frequent basis, I have taken this chart and fashioned one that helps me decide which type of brushes work best on my stamps and stencils.  

For Example, the Hexagon Stencil would be 09, 05, and 04.

~~~~~~~

 Why I switched to Mermaid/Toothbrush Blending Tools.

Thanks for Stopping By!

HUGZ!

Challenges Entered:

Polkadoodles Craft: Anything Goes

Color My Heart Color Dare: Color Challenge Love of Color

Aud Sentiments Challenge Blog: Love or Valentine

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