Wacky Watercooler September Mix-up adventure

Although I haven't been in a blog hop for several (too many!) months, the watercooler gang is still going strong and hopping monthly. Pin or bookmark the Home site so you can keep up with all the wonderful creations!  This month I'm sandwiched between two amazing artists, Bev and Priscilla - you can hop to either blog using the buttons at the end of this post.  Keep hopping until you've been to all the participants - you'll want to see all the Stampin' Up!® Annual and Holiday Catalog creations mixed-up in this free-for-all!

My first project doubles up on the wonderfulness of the watercooler - I've been experimenting with ombre for Jean's Colour Challenge.  I had trouble deciding (I know, no surprise there) which colors to use but I think the ColourMe! challenge provided the right answer:

supplies available from the Annual Catalog unless noted HC (HolidayCatalog):

stamp set - Serene Silhouettes, The Wilderness Awaits; ink - Archival Basic Black (HC), Garden Green, Island Indigo, Pacific Point; card stock - Garden Green, Island Indigo, Whisper White; baker's twine - Whisper White; Stampin' Dimensionals

For my next project, I decided to take the free-for-all mix-up theme to an extreme, and do something different - an Altered Playing Card, or APC.  I've always been intrigued by them and the similar Artist Trading Card, or ATC.  I've made a few (very few) ATCs but the only playing cards I own are used for playing games.  Last week I found a playing card from a board game, on the ground next to the township recycle bin - perfect!  (yes, I was tempted to look in the bin for more, but it's a very big bin and I was on my way to dinner.)

all supplies (except other, noted at the end) available from the Annual Catalog:

stamp set - Summer Silhouettes; ink - Island Indigo, Night of Navy, Rich Razzleberry; Stampin' Spritzers with re-inker - Island Indigo and Rich Razzleberry; Stampin' Glitter - Silver; card stock - Soft Sky, Vellum; tools - Hearts & Stars stencil, Project Life journaling pen, Stampin' Sponges, Stampin' Dimensionals; 

other - Deco Art crackle paste, Artist's Loft gesso, playing card

The star was my first experiment with ombre - I've been trying to get a circle-effect - I think I was a bit more successful with the softer colors in the first photo.  This whole APC was experimental fun in mixed media, something else that has intrigued me. The Corrosive Challenge Blog is new to me this week (thanks, SmilynStef!); and the current challenge is Mixed Media, so I'm excited to link there. I'd like to link this little gem at Use Your Stuff as well, since I used my stencil.

Finally, I couldn't let you go without showing you something from the fabulous Holiday Catalog!  I used the Nacho Average Challenge sketch for this one because it fit so well with my NBUS (Never-Before-Used-Schtuff) Sparkly Seasons + Seasonal Frame Bundle:

supplies available as noted Holiday Catalog (HC) or Annual Catalog (AC):

stamp set - Sparkly Seasons (HC); ink - Archival Basic Black (HC), Versamark (AC); card stock - Hello Honey (AC), Tip Top Taupe (AC), Mellow Moss (AC), Tangelo Twist (AC): designer vellum - Winter Wonderland (HC); Big Shot (AC) with Seasonal Frame Thinlits™ dies (HC); Fine -Tip Glue Pen (HC)

Hopefully I haven't distracted you too much with all the links, because we'd love for you to continue around our Watercooler Hop by clicking one of the links below: