Wednesday, November 6, 2013

Friends Across the Miles

     It's so good to be back posting with The Crafter's Cafe again after taking a leave while I was doing all that moving.  Having gotten the craft room into a manageable state (which is not to say it's organized or even completely unpacked), I'm excited to be fulfilling my DT obligations again.

     This challenge our theme is "Friends" and our wonderful sponsor is QKR Stampede.  I love QKR digis and I found this image in my own collection, although QKR provided images to the team.  I wanted to do something that would celebrate all those friends and loved ones who are so many miles away but are still counted among those dear to us.


I chose to use the sketch at CAS on Sunday.


     I really love coloring QKR digis and watching them come to life.  I used my favorite ProMarkers, and then added Metallic Silver EP from WOW! to the mailbox and the larger gift.   I used a glitter gel pen to make the snowflakes and shadow the snow on which the snowman is standing.

     I used a VersaMark pen on the bits I wanted to emboss, then sprinkled on the EP and used my heat gun. That's one of my favorite ways to heat emboss digital images.  I always color the image first, then use an Embossing Buddy to powder the image before applying the EP.  That way,  I don't get unwanted spots of EP on the digi.  Here's a tip for you:  When you want to heat emboss really small areas of a digital image, use a very small 'spotter' type paint brush, stroke it across your embossing ink pad (or dip it into your refill bottle if you have one) and then 'paint' the area you want to emboss.  The embossing ink sticks to the paper and you can emboss smaller areas than the VersaMark pen tip would allow.  The biggest problem with VersaMark pens, I think, is the relatively large size of the nibs.

     The bow is one of those I sew and I used ribbon from Really Reasonable Ribbon to make it.  Paper came from DCWV, their "Winter Magic" stack from a couple of years ago.  I used a strip of washi tape and mounted the sentiment on it.  The rhinestone bling was in my stash.  (It's amazing what you can find when you have to pack and then unpack due to a move!!)   After all I've done on this card (or should I say "haven't done" -- meaning I left off most of the embellishments I wanted to use), I certainly hope it has a CAS feel to it.  I know the open space isn't 'white' space but there was so much white in the image piece, it just needed a patterned background to showcase it.  At least the bow & rhinestones are the only embellishments and it will definitely fit in to a standard envelope.

     Challenges:
2 Sisters -- Christmas with no red or green
A&T Emerald Faeries -- Ribbon/lace & bling
A Little Bit Crafty -- Sparkle and shine
Card and Scrap -- Christmas cards
Catered Crop -- Washi tape
Challenges 4 Everybody -- Anything goes
Christmas Card Challenge -- Dimension
Christmas Cards All Year Round -- Winter wonderland
Corrosive Challenges -- TicTacToe: bling/ image/ layers
Crafting Cafe -- Winter blues
Die Cut Divas -- Holidays and celebrations
Flat Friends -- Christmas cards
Great Impressions -- Holiday card or tag
Hobbycutz -- Song inspired (Blue Christmas)
One Crazy Stamper -- Christmas
Outlawz PAM -- Snowmen
Really Reasonable  Ribbon -- Christmas + ribbon
Tok Bobok -- Christmas
Whoopsi Daisy -- Monochromatic
WOW Embossing Powders -- Christmas/Winter

     Goodness, I haven't done a single card for that many challenges in many months!  But this week/month seems to have so many challenges with Christmas or winter themes, how could I resist?  :-D  I hope we're going to see you playing in our challenge at The Crafter's Cafe.  Remember, it doesn't have to be Christmas -- just anything that fits our "Friends" theme.  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

34 comments:

Benzi said...

Oh, I wish I could find a cute snowman like that at my mailbox....just an adorable image. Thanks for the tip about embossing small areas and on digis.

Crafting Vicky said...

soooo cute!!! Love the use of this image and how you have colored it. Perfect card for across the miles.

jimlynn said...

It has just the exact right amount of embellishments - and is darling!! Great card to "go across the miles" too! VERY cute.
Lynn

Unknown said...

Such a gorgeous Christmas card - beautiful colouring and loving the glitter and sparkles x Thank you so much for joining us at the Flat Friends challenge, Em xx

cuilliesocks said...

Hi there, popping in from CCAYR to say thank you for joining us for this months challenge, and with such a gorgeous card too. I love the snowman image, he is really jolly and your colours are fab. good luck with the challenge, Kate x

Shelly Schmidt said...

So cute- love the image and your coloring is fab! Love your embossing tips- I have used an erasable pen- but like the idea of a paintbrush for an even smaller tip for embossing.

Linda Simpson said...

Such a fabulous card. I love the snowman and fabulous card design.
Hugs
Linda xxx

Unknown said...

I love love love love LOVE that snowman NanaConnie. Wow, what a fabulous job coloring too!!

Teresa Arsenault said...

One of the sweetest snowmen I've seen and I love all the glitter you have added. I recently discovered QKR myself and really like their images.
You unpack and reorganize fast, g/f. :)

Debbie said...

This is so sweet!! Such a cute image!!

Arlene said...

What a great image and I love your shading.

So glad you could join us at Die Cut Divas.

Malika said...

Lovely card so cute

malika

Sassy Raggedy said...

So adorable Connie. Sorry I have not been around much but I have had a lot of sickness...Such a great card...hugz, joann

cass said...

Wonderful card, such a friendly snowman

La Papera Gialla said...

So cute!
Thanks for playing with us at Christmas Card Challenges this week!
Monica - CCC DT

Sparkly Engineer said...

I totally enjoyed your Christmas card. I like what you did with the sketch.

I also liked your kitties on the sidebar.

Mary Anne, Great Impressions DT

Dawn said...

Fantastic little card! I love that sweet snowman! While I'm here, let me don my hat! Thanks for sharing with us in our Winter Blues Challenge at The Crafting Cafe this time!
Good Luck
Hugs
Dawn xxx

Unni A said...

What a cute snowman :) Wonderful card. Thank for joining us at Card and Scrap!
DT Unni A

Donna Ellis said...

happy and glittery! sweet and festive! This is darling, Connie. hugs, de

Craftin Suzie (Susan Wykes) said...

What a gorgeous snowman! Beautifully coloured too, love the DPs and pretty bow. Thanks for joining us at A Little Bit Crafty this month, Susan x

Carolina Girl (Cely) said...

The moment I saw you card, I was in-love!!!!! What an awesome card! Yes, gorgeous snowman and coloring and precious presentation.

Marlene Atkinson said...

A beautiful card. Thank you for joining us at the Crafting Cafe challenge. Marlene DT

Glenda Atkins said...

Beautiful interpretation of the sketch, love the QKR snowman and your wonderful job of colouring him Fabulous card,
hugs
Glenda

*Vicki* said...

AW! This is such a fun snowman! HE makes me smile! :) Fabulous blue colors! HUGS

Nancy said...

Grat colors and LOVE the image!!!! This came together wonderfully...thanks for joining us over at CAS on Sunday!

anja curvers said...

Thanks for joining us over at CAS on sunday.

Scrappy Scatty said...

wonderful card
Thank you for joining us at Hobbycutz this week
Love Jan
xx

mags said...

A lovely creation. Thanks for sharing with us at The Crafting Cafe and good luck.
Mags
x

Jessie L. said...

Aww! I love this chubby little snowman! Also love the shimmery, silvery mailbox! Very realistic! Thanks for joining us at Really Reasonable Ribbon. Hope to see you again for the next challenge!

Dawn T said...

delightful card. So happy to have you join us at Die Cut Divas this month.

Unknown said...

Adorable winter card! Love your coloring.

Thanks for joining us at Really Reasonable Ribbon.

Jenn
DT

Debora said...

Fabulous card! Thanks for joining us at The Corrosive Challenge Blog.
Hugs

Toni said...

Lovely image and great card! Regards, TokBobok.

Cindy Groh said...

Perfect image for our challenge. Love the added bow and rhinestones. Thanks for joining us at Christmas Cards all Year Round. Stop in tomorrow for the new challenge.