More Windows on the World

I had mentioned that I had a few more Windows on the World inspired cards.  I'm back to share the last of the set.  It is picture heavy, but here goes.

As I mentioned in the last post, I found all the wood grain and/or inside wall looking patterned paper for the mating on the front.  The curtains were also from patterned paper packs that I stamped and die cut the curtains, applying the top panel with foam tape to give a little dimension.  The table and vase are stamped on scraps of white cardstock and colored using my Zig Clean Color Real Brush markers.  Each one had to be fussy cut because I don't own the matching dies to the MFT Make Yourself At Home stamp set. The sentiment is from the SSS Tiny Word sentiment stamp set.

On the inside, the Windows on the World stamped onto Bristol paper and colored with my Zig Clean Color Real Brush markers.  I tried to color in a palette that match the curtains on the outside of the card.  The inside flap was dry embossed with an embossing folder and some WPlus9 Warm Wool ink used to make it look a little like siding on a house.

I remember why I purchased all those Windows on the World stamps - I really like them.  I like using them, I like coloring them, and I like how they turn out in the end.  So delightful!

Spending Time at Home - An Inspired Card Set

I have been thinking through the stash and some stamps that haven't gotten some inky love and realized that I've amassed quite a stash of Art Impressions Windows on the World stamps and dies.  I have the window dies and the curtains stamp and dies.  So, I pulled those out and began a massive stamping expedition.  This is the first set.  The second set of cards is yet to be finished, photographed, edited and posted.  Whew!

On the inside, the Windows on the World stamps onto Bristol paper and colored with my Zig Clean Color Real Brush markers.  I tried to color in a palette that match the curtains on the outside of the card.

On the outside of the card, I searched my stash of patterned paper for wood grain and/or inside wall looking patterned paper for the mating on the front.  The curtains were also from patterned paper packs - those that had a curtain-y feel to them.  I stamped and die cut the curtains, applying the top panel with foam tape to give a little dimension.  The table and vase are stamped on scraps of white cardstock and also colored using my Zig Clean Color Real Brush markers.  Each one had to be fussy cut because I don't own the matching dies to the MFT Make Yourself At Home stamp set. The sentiment is from the SSS Tiny Word sentiment stamp set.

The inside flap was dry embossed with an embossing folder and some WPlus9 Warm Wool ink used to make it look a little like siding on a house.  I made quite a few of these so it was more production line than anything else.

I'll either use these for gifts or give the set away to a card drive.  I believe they are delightful and so will likely use a few for my own purposes as well.  Off to finish the set...

Celebrating 94 Years!

My grandfather turned 94 earlier this month and I needed a special card for the occasion.  I shared that my grandmother, his wife for 72 years, passed away in early August.  The loss is fresh and raw and birthdays aren't much of a celebration.  Still, 94 years is important to mark and finding happy is possible when you have the perspective of almost a century of life.  I used my Art Impressions Windows to the World stamp since the sentiment seemed the most appropriate:

He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.  Psalm 91:1

My handwritten sentiment expressed an understanding of the tension that exists now (and probably for the rest of his life) between celebration/happiness and his keen sense of loss.  When he opened the card, he looked at me and we both knew.... knew that the card hit just the right "note".  Exactly the reason that I make cards.

A Happiness Today Card Set

I was able to spend a little time this weekend and finish up another set of cards featuring my Art Impressions Windows to the World stamp, Swans window.  Just like the Garden Window stamp set shared last week, I had previously stamped these images last spring onto Bristol cardstock.  Then when I've had occasion to travel, I simply take a watercolor brush, a small tin cup and my Inktense Watercolor Pencils.  This allows me to color in the small spaces of time between a comittment and allows an activity to de-stress and unwind.

I used my HoneyBee Cherish stamp set to finish these cards just like the Garden Window set.  The sentiment was stamped in Black Archival Ink and the flowers in a yellow (contrast!) dye ink.  Using my SSS Stitched Squares dies, I die cut the stamped image and a navy cardstock background.  It's a nice finish.

These four will go into the stash and become one of a set.  It is so satisfying to use my small set of Intense Pencils.  I don't see a lot of traveling in my future, so I just might have to be intentional about some coloring time to finish the other "windows" in the set.  Stay tuned!

A Quiet Day Card Set

I'm stopping in today to share a card set featuring my Art Impressions Windows to the World stamp, Garden window.  I had previously stamped these images last spring onto Bristol cardstock.  When (rarely) I've had occasion to travel, I simply take a watercolor brush, a small tin cup and my Inktense Watercolor Pencils.  This allows me to color in the small spaces of time between a comittment and allows an activity to de-stress and unwind.

I just recently decided to use my HoneyBee Cherish stamp set to finish these cards with a flourish.  The sentiment was stamped in Black Archival Ink and the flowers in a pink dye ink.  Using my SSS Stitched Squares dies, I die cut the stamped image and a pink cardstock background.  It's a nice finish.

These five will go into the stash and become one of a set.  I've more of these Window to the World stamped images to finish up.  I'm hoping to get them assembled and pictures posted soon.

I'm so glad I picked up my small set of Intense Pencils.  I've just loved traveling with them and they are small enough that they don't take a lot of space. What do you take on trips to craft?  Anything? I will wish you well to finish one of the those projects that have been hanging around your craft table.

I'm going to enter this card into the following challenges:

City Crafter Challenge Blog Week #326 It's All About You (did you notice my "you" in the sentiment around the image?)

Word Art Wednesday's Challenge Weeks 244/245: Anything Goes

Art Impressions Windows to the World

This is just one set of cards so far made using my Windows to the World stamps and matching window die from Art Impressions.  I had originally shared with you in this post how enamored I was with these stamps.  I can tell you that the stamps did not disappoint.  Here's a few of the details:

• All images were stamped using black Archival Ink onto Canson watercolor paper.  
• I colored the images with Inktense pencils and a watercolor brush.  Nothing fancy here - I tended to scribble color onto the image and blend with a damp watercolor brush - pinching off the water to ensure that not too much made it's way to my card.  Look close - this is not a professional job
• I used Inktense to scribble some blue color onto the card base and large amounts of water to distribute the color to create a background for my image.  I raised the image with foam squares.
• The window was cut out of brown cardstock and adhered to the opening made with the matching die.  I simply trimmed the "window panes" from the card base so the view of the image was less obstructed.

 In the end I purchased five different images.  I'm sure there are more cards to come.  I just couldn't wait to share these with you now. 

I adore how these turned out.  This makes such a fantastic gift - I'm going to make a few and have them on hand for when I need them.  If you haven't checked out the Art Impressions stamps, I'd recommend you at least have a look.  They are wonderful.