One Concept, Two Techniques, Completely Different Results

We will pick up on the Thanksgiving Crusade tomorrow, but for today, we're looking forward to Christmas. Remember there's an Altenew Ultimate Blog Hop Challenge and a One-Layer Simplicity Challenge going on right now as well. Have fun with them all!



For today's post, we'll take a look at two versions of one of my favorite layouts using the exact same stamps but two very different techniques.

First up. the super easy, clean-and-simple version.

Each stamp uses just one color, and the results turn natural sketch stamps into something more graphic and unexpected. There's a crispness to this version that really makes me happy.

But these stamps are vintage-looking and not intended to be used this way. So I decided to color. Y'all know that I lack mad coloring skillz, but here's how I approached it with an aqua painter and StampinUp ink.

The aqua brush is, in my opinion, the easiest way to watercolor images. I keep a folded Bounty paper towel in one hand to control the amount of water, but basically, it's pretty easy.

After punching, here's the result.

Honestly, this version looks better to my eyes, and it also feels truer to the spirit of the stamps, which are from Hero Arts' Vintage Christmas Post. The blue background for all four squares adds contrast with the background. The softness contrasts with the crisp squares and symmetry of the layout.

The mistletoe square looked a bit skimpy with the the other three more densely colored images, so I added a smidge of Stickles to the berries to add interest there.

The looks are so different that I can understand people having a strong preference. While I prefer the second card, the first still works for me, too, so my feelings aren't polarized.

What do you think?

Supplies
stamps: Hero Arts Vintage Christmas Post
ink: various
paper: Papertrey white
accessories: square punch (3/4"), dimensionals, aqua painter, Stickles

Thanksgiving Crusade Challenge 2016

Welcome to my annual quixotic crusade to save Thanksgiving. I hope you'll play along and make Thanksgiving or thank-you cards to send to friends, family, your favorite barista to let them know how much you appreciate them.

May I remind you that if you live in a country that doesn't formally celebrate Thanksgiving, you are still entirely welcome and encouraged to participate in the Thanksgiving Crusade. It doesn't take a government-sanctioned holiday to show gratitude, now, does it?

An InLinkz button will go up in the next few days on the Thanksgiving tab at the top of Simplicity's page for this year's entries. Before that, feel free to check out last year's beautiful entries. There will be a prize awarded in December.

I'm going to kick it off with this clean-and-simple card that makes me very happy.

These non-traditional colors add interest but also work really well with a crisp white background.

Pull out your Thanksgiving- or gratitude-themed stamps and show your gratitude. After all, what is card making about but showing love and appreciation for the awesome people in our lives?

Stamp grateful.



Supplies
stamps: Simon Says Stamp Autumn Blessings
ink: can't remember
paper: Papertrey white
accessories: rhinestones

Altenew Gets Challenging

We're back, I'm exhausted, and George is an Ironman...for the seventh time. Thanks to all who showed their support for him, and especially to Amy, Marcia, and Nicole who made me feel so welcome in Madison!


Altenew asked the One-Layer Simplicity Challenge to participate in their Ultimate Challenge Blog Hop, and I jumped at the chance. I encourage you to play along...you might win prizes! And orders will receive a free gift while supplies last.

So YAY!

Check to OLS post for details.

I posted on the OLS Blog with a one-layer card because, you know, OLS. But I made several others to share here. These two cards demonstrate the very different results you get with different techniques, even with just one layer.

First up, soft watercolor effects. The base of the card is watercolor paper, and the image comes from coloring the stamp with markers, spritzing fairly heavily with water, and stamping. The results are soft and soothing, yet still pink and sweet, too.

Next, softness and simplicity combined to make a crisp yet pretty card. The second card base is Papertrey white cardstock. After masking and sponging, I stamped the image in Memento Luxe pigment inks, drew the line with a silver Prismacolor metallic marker, and added the sentiment.

Blue and green are my favorites!

I hope you'll check out the Altenew Ultimate Challenge Blog Hop! 18 blogs are participating, and there's already amazing work on the link-up!

Supplies
stamps: Altenew Botanical Garden, Sentiments and Quotes
ink: Memento Luxe
paper: watercolor (top), Papertrey white (bottom)
accessories: Memento markers, water spritzer, silver Prismacolor marker, ruler, post-its, sponge

Ironman Sunday

To follow the race, please check out my other blog at the link below. I'll be back on Simplicity Monday night or Tuesday.

Questioning my Intelligence

Blessings to you all!

Christmas Inspiration

Note: You can follow our weekend in Madison as my husband prepares to do Ironman Wisconsin on Questioning my Intelligence. 

Rita Perfater has a card in the latest issue of Take Ten that caught my eye.

I particularly liked the upper left corner of the card, with the postage cancellation stamped over text with a sentiment. It's just so soft and pretty and made me think it would make an excellent Christmas card.

My card started as one layer, but the lack of anything in the bottom right of the card looked far too bare, so I stamped the text again but put it too far toward the middle of the card so there was too much in the bottom right. Sadly, there was no recovering the balance of the card after that mistake.

Circular file and start over.

The second time, I used a scrap and got the placement and balance much better. Yay! The silver border adds just the right frame.

Thanks, Rita, for the inspiration!

And thanks, also, to Simplicity reader Amy Doyle, who saw me at Starbucks this morning and introduced herself to me and George. We only spoke briefly, but her kindness made my day!

Supplies
stamps: Hero Arts Vintage Christmas Post, sentiment from another Hero Arts set whose name I can't remember
ink: Hero Arts green, red royal, soft granite; Memento Luxe black
accessories: silver Prismacolor pen, craft foam

Finding Joy

Note: Marcia Peck, please send me an email at susanraihala at roadrunner dot com. 

Today, I concentrated on finding joy...even if it wasn't an everyday sort of day. George and I traveled to Madison today, driving through some nasty rain and heavy traffic in the process.

But it's been a day full of blessings. Like seeing, inexplicably, a recliner set up on the side of I-74. Like arriving safely at our destination. Like finding our hotel freshly renovated and updated. Like eating a delicious meal filled with the laughter of friends.

Find your joy. Whether it's an everyday sort of day or out of the ordinary, find the joy.

What were your everyday blessings today?

Supplies
stamps: Altenew Botanical Garden, My Favorite Things Cheerful Blessings
ink: Impress Fresh Ink grass, Memento Luxe espresso truffle
paper: Papertrey Ink white
accessories: ribbon, circle punch, craft foam

Something Cheerful for Ironman Wisconsin

It's that time of year again. That's right. This Sunday, my insane husband will, for the tenth time, start an Ironman race. He's finished six and didn't finish three, and no one knows what Sunday will bring.

But, either way, I'll have fun because I'm an Ironmate, not an Ironman. Those folks are crazy.

In honor of the start of our Wisconsin journey, I'm posting two cheerful cards inspired by this pin.

If you're interested in following our adventure in Madison, I'll be blogging it on Questioning my Intelligence. Maybe it will jumpstart my writing over there. It's been a while since I posted.

Swim 2.4 miles. Bike 112 miles. Run 26.2 miles.

A whole bunch of crazy is about to happen.

Supplies
stamps: Hero Arts Borders and Arrows, My Favorite Things Party Patterns, Hero Arts discontinued sentiments
ink: Kaleidacolor (arrows); Hero, Memento, Archival (dots); Memento Luxe black (sentiments) 
paper: Papertrey
accessories: rhinestones, craft foam, glue