Friday, November 3, 2017

It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year & Merry Christmas...Inkspirational Challenge #147~Trend

Hello,

On this cold, snowy morning, I'm happy to join my fabulous team 

SandieShaunaMarinaYvonneNonni - 

and our talented guest designer, Linda, with a warm - very warm! - invitation to join us at Inkspirational Challenge #147~Trend.  Talk about opening a door of possibilities, right?


Trends in card-making are plentiful - be they images, such as unicorns and mermaids, or techniques, such as smooshing and watercolouring, or 'little additions for that extra special touch, such as Nuvo Drops and sequins.  Since my mind is on Christmas right now (out of necessity!!), I went for a wander around the blog-iverse, to see what trends caught my eye. Out of the many that did (Santas, elves, starry skies, snowflakes...) I went with one that's both pretty and, for the most part, fairly easy: creating your own background (plus, I wanted to play with some new goodies *grin*).

A simple way to create a background: embossing folders. Lovin' these pine needles (Richard Garay) and, with the addition of a sentiment and a trio of Nuvo Drops, you have a card made in a matter of minutes...


A new illustrator has created a new line of stamps at Serendipity Stamps and I'm ever so lucky to have both sets: Happy Holidays and For Unto Us. The sketched images and fonts of the sentiments...swooning! The mistletoe makes such a pretty background...and those of you far more talented that I, will see all kinds of possibilities with this set. I'm happy with this rather simple rendition, even if the copic colouring took a bit of time, as I'm still learning...



I made two, and even though they're identical, both *needed* to have their photo taken...


That's it from me; heading off into the wintry chill to officiate a bike race today - and tomorrow. Current temperature is -19C. Great. Anyway, fun times to be had, even though I'll be transformed into an ice cube...
Looking forward to seeing your 'trendy trend' cards in the gallery!

Also sharing at:

Addicted to CAS Challenge #123~Leaves

House of Cards November Challenge~Holiday and/or Colours


Thank you for dropping by!


19 comments:

Nonni said...

Your self-made backgrounds look beautiful, Carol! How fun you've started to color with Copics, they are wonderful aren't they! You did great job with shading those beautiful images. I absolutely love the die cut sentiment in your first card, I think you didn't mention where it's from -do you happen to remember the maker? The font and size look perfect to me! Have a relaxing weekend, hugs! xxx

Jeanne said...

Oh Carol, these cards are wonderful. That pine embossing folder adds such wonderful texture and the vintage looking font on the die sentiment is stellar. I think your Copic coloring on the second (and third) card is fabulous. I hope you don't turn into a human ice cube. I know you will bundle up, but don't envy you having to hang out in the elements! And the bike riders...oh my, I'm cold just thinking about them! Hugs!

sandie said...

Super cards, wow to creating your own background, amazing look

Shauna said...

That pine needle embossing looks fantastic! Also, the pine needle stamping is lovely and paired with such a wonderful, big Christmas sentiment! Great design! I also struggle to know which card to photograph when I make 2 identical ones!
- Shauna

Mimi said...

I love all three of these, but the mistletoe ones caught my eye at Inkspirational. Hope all is well... Stay warm at the bike race!

Bobby said...

These are so lovely, Carol. I have that pine branch ef and will remember your simple but elegant card when I'm hurrying to make last minute cards. The mistletoe is perfect for background stamping and where one is good, two are better.

Marina said...

Beautiful, peaceful wintery cards. Great job!

Susanne Vargas said...

You are so right, I tend to forget about my embossing folders and the fact that they often don't need more than a sentiment to make a beautiful card like yours! I'll have to remember that!
That mistletoe stamps is charming and I adore the background you've created with it!

Gwendolyn said...

2 simply gorgeous cards Carol, but those leaves... when I saw them in the DT inspirations, I thought you drew them yourself and they are really trendy! You coloured them perfectly too. Thanks for the inspiration and you inspired me to do another post! Hugs, Gwendolyn

Mary Dew Lee said...

Wow! So love what you've done with Hadley's new designs - you're coloring on that Mistletoe from the Happy Holidays set is fantastic! This is going on my pinterest board of cards i plan to CAS!

Cornelia (fun stamping) said...

You trendsetter, you!!!! Wonderful cards - embossing folders are underutilized. I think and they really make beautiful backgrounds. So pretty your duo of identical cards! Now for bike racing at -19 C - that sounds like torture and asking for frostbite. Yikes!!!! Bundle up!!!!

Anita in France said...

Beautiful white texture with those tiny pops of colour, Carol ... and gorgeous backgrounds with those fabulous new stamps! I was admiring them just the other day ... and am even more tempted having seen your wonderful showcase of them! Stay cosy! Hugs, Anita :)

Ksenija @Sweet Kobylkin said...

Carol, wonderful cards! And I must admit I missed out this trend, but you are absolutely right - making own backgrounds is very trendy now! - Sweet Kobylkin

Kim S said...

A bike race at -19?? You're crazy!! Thanks for introducing me to the new stamps - they are lovely sets. I love the crisp, clean cards you created with them.

anja curvers said...

Such pretty cards love them both. Thanks for joining us over at ATCAS.

Greta said...

Totally love that embossing folder--just may have to find it! These cards are great, Carol!

Jaydee said...

Gorgeous card and beautifully colored, too. So glad you joined us at ATCAS this week
jaydee

Shelly said...

These are simply, perfect! Each have just the right amount of everything...beautiful!

foleysfriend said...

Gorgeous holiday cards. Love the backgrounds of both your cards. Thanks for joining us at House of Cards.

sue