Winter Wonderland and Anything But a Card

Happy Saturday and thanks so much for visiting! I have two posts to share today, both using new stamps from Penny Black. 

First up I'm so excited to have been invited as a guest designer this month at the Penny Black Saturday challenge!  Do check them out, there is a great prize to win, but you do have to use Penny Black products (stamps or dies) as the focal point. However the challenge theme is optional, this month it's 

"Winter Wonderland" 

or Anything Goes.

Please note, some of the links included are affiliate links, meaning I may earn a small commission if you purchase something through the links. As always this is at no cost to you! Thanks so much for supporting this blog!

For my card I used a new stamp from their recent Christmas release, Birdhouse Blessings. I fell in love with this beautiful image and had to have it. 

Related Products:

The image  has been stamped on Bristol Vellum paper using Walnut Stain Distress ink and I colored using  Distress markers (Peeled Paint, Mowed Lawn, Festive Berries) and Zig Clean Color Brush Pens (Light Blue, Mid Gray, Mustard and Bright yellow - I mixed these two to color the star).

After coloring I used an old brush and Gesso to splatter some paint over the image panel to create some "snowflakes". An old die set was used to create the hills (similar die set) and I added a large snowflake also a retired set, but there are many snowflake dies available. A sticky back rhinestone placed in the snowflake's center and frosted lace stickles finish off the card.

The large sentiment is from the set Season's Gifts and the small sentiment is from the set Holiday Snippets, both by Penny Black. Stamped with Walnut Stain Distress ink.

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My second project is for the new Allsorts challenge theme where Tracy is hosting. I recently mentioned that I decided to step down from the team as there were issues with my card uploads and it had caused me a lot of frustration. We are trying to find a solution (hopefully), so this is a trial only and my card may still not show up at the challenge blog but here's hoping. 

Tracy chose the theme of:

"Anything But a Card"

 with an "Anything Goes" option.

Several months ago I found a set of ceramic coasters at a local thrift store and purchased them for a "re-do" project in mind. They already had a pretty wine themed image on them and my family liked them that way so I never ended up re doing them and we used them just the way they were. But then when it was time to come up with something for this theme, I decided to venture out of  my usual papercrafts and get out my coasters. (I messed one up and need to re-do it, and I'm keeping the other two as they were so I am only showing you one). 

By the way, plain ceramic coasters are available for purchase on Amazon.

I started out by painting two coats of Gesso over the coaster to cover up the original image. (I let the coats dry in between). My stamp platform (options) was used for stamping. The coaster is heavy enough so it won't move when stamping and I was able to repeat stamp without any issues. (Tip: Be sure to place the coaster away from the middle fold and more towards the right side - I messed up my second tile because it was too close to the middle.)

The beautiful stamp I used is another one from Penny Black's recent Season of Hope release - Season's Tweeting. This is a brushstroke stamp and I think I love it just as much as I love the outline stamp on the card above. 

I colored directly onto the stamp with Distress markers (Mowed Lawn, Wild Honey, Festive Berries, Faded Jeans). I had to repeat stamp a couple of times and then I used a slightly wet paint brush over the stamped image. 

Next I used Stampin Up's retired French  Script background stamp and Old Paper distress ink to stamp some words onto the tile and I also sponged some of the same ink along the edges of the coaster. I repeated the script with with black ink (Versafine Onyx) but only stamped at the very bottom. I wanted to be sure the ink wouldn't smear so I sprinkled clear embossing powder over the finished coaster and  heated it up with my heating tool. I had to place the coaster into an old frying pan so I wouldn't burn my fingers. It did take quite some time to finally melt the embossing powder, much longer than it does when using it on paper, but it did eventually melt. I haven't done this yet, but will also spray it with a sealer. 

Thanks so much for taking the time out of your day to stop by my blog!

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November Crafty Wednesday               Anything But a Card

Linking up with these wonderful blogs:

Project No. 1 (Greeting Card)

Aud Sentiments Challenge - Add a Sentiment // Crimbo Crackers - Anything Goes // Cute Card Thursday - Anything Goes // Creative Knockouts max10 - Tis the Season // Simon Says Stamp - Dies // A Bit More Time to Craft - Anything Goes // Country View Crafts' Challenge - Christmas //  Creative Craft Cottage Challenges - Christmas or Winter // Crafty Sentiment Designs - Anything Goes // Christmas with the Cuties - Feature a Creature // Double Trouble Challenges - Something new with Snow // 

Project No. 2 (Altered Tile Coaster)

Dare to Share // Krafty Chicks - Stamp Act // Christmas Craft Creations - Anything But a Card // A Perfect Time To Craft - Anything Goes // Artistic Stampers - Christmas // Bleeding Art Challenge Blog  - Anything Altered Goes // Crafter's Cafe - Anything Goes // Through The Craft Room Door - Anything Goes // Inspire me Monday