Independent Stampin' Up! Demonstrator - Coldwater, Michigan - KatheD@gmail.com

Sunday, September 20, 2015

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:



26 comments:

Anonymous said...

Gorgeous, gorgeous, Kathe! I love all three projects - and aren't you clever to combine challenges with the hop? I love your "official ombre" card, but the star is beautiful. I love the mixed media elements. And the pumpkin is very whimsical and fun. TFS!!

Gail said...

Kathe - great to have you back! Your Altered Playing Card story made me LOL! I could totally relate to your story about finding the card next to the recyle bin. Is that serendipity or what?

Deborah Smart said...

So glad to have you back with us, Kathe! Thanks for sharing your creativity - loved the mixed media!

Stampin' Amigos said...

I'm so glad you stopped yourself, Kathe, from digging through the trash bin ON YOUR WAY TO DINNER! But I would love to see what else you alter--great project.
I like the ombre effect on your first card--it highlights the simplicity of the stamped image. Very nice.
Fun projects! Thanks for sharing.

Penny Hanuszak said...

Nice to have you back Kathe. Awesome projects as usual. Mixed media is really such
a fun realm of experimentation and you've created one fantastic card with it. I loved the Carl Sagan quote. Thanks for sharing all three projects.

Unknown said...

The ombre card is very pretty! I had to giggle over your APC story! love what you did. Your pumpkin card is so cute, it made me smile. TFS

Janis said...

Totally awesome projects!!! I am in love with that first one. The white twine absolutely glows against the shaded background of your lovely botanical.
<3 J

jwoolbright at gmail dot com
HerPeacefulGarden.blogspot.com

Christine said...

Kathe, what fun you had with these projects. Those APCs are also about the right size for PL. I love playing with little cards.
Your ombre turned out very pretty.

Unknown said...

Wonderful take on the colors! I love the distress look on the sides, very subtle, soothing and the wonderful green silhouette. Thank you for joining us at Colour Me!

Bev said...

Now you can add dumpster diving to your creative repertoire. So funny Kathe! Love how you showed your experiments with ombre, mixed media and trading cards. It is so very personal when we get a glimpse of the creative process in an artist's work. Wonderful .. Thank you so much.

Yapha Mason said...

Great cards! That pumpkin is perfect! Thanks for joining us at Nacho Average Challenges this week!

DDstampin said...

Kathe, I love your pumpkin card! Super cute!!

Heidi Weaver said...

Kathe, you have been missed and I'm so glad to see you're back to being part of this terrific blog hop. I love that you've combined your first card as an entry for our Watercooler Wednesday challenge (great ombre effect, btw) and also for our hop. It works so well for both. The pumpkin simply makes me smile. But your Altered Playing Card---that one goes into my CASE file. Love it and have to try something like this. What a great use you've made of such limited space!

Marsha Reed said...

Wonderful projects, Kathe! My favorite is the Serene Silhouettes card. Very pretty.

Jean Fitch from jlfstudio said...

Clever you to mix it up with watercooler goodness spread across the ether in two different venues not to mention mixing it up for your mixed media project. That Sagan quote has always been one of my favorites though I'm not sure I knew it was his quote. Many of my favorite Sci-Fi shows have made use of it in one way or another. Usually with an alien saying it! Who knew Carl was an alien? LOL
Just for the heck of it I Googled that saying and discovered even more fun star stuff: http://quoteinvestigator.com/2013/06/22/starstuff/
Hugs thanks for sharing the inspiration Miss Kathe.

P.S. No fair adding to the enabling with the spooky pumpkin!

Kathya said...

Wonderful cards Kathe! Thanks for including our challenge in your blog hop, very cool! Glad you created with the Nachos!

Marsha Reed said...

Lovely card, Kathe! Thanks for joining us at Watercooler Wednesday Challenges. Marsha DT @ WCC

Created by Kath said...

great projects.

Amanda said...

Gorgeous! The star one is my favorite! Thanks for joining us this week at Use Your Stuff!

Lori said...

All of these are great projects! Love your altered playing card - everything about it is just perfect! Thanks for joining us this week at Use Your Stuff!

Lori said...

All of these are great projects! Love your altered playing card - everything about it is just perfect! Thanks for joining us this week at Use Your Stuff!

Majo said...

Wow, such beautiful creations! Thanks so much for joining us at our UYS Challenge ♥

Tammy said...

Awesome pumpkin!!!

Vicki Hodgman said...

Great cards Kathe. Love your choice of colour for the Ombre Card. Lovely.

Anne Hayward said...

"Spooky" is too cute. Thanks for playing along with the Nachos!

Darnell said...

All of your cards are fabulous, Kathe! I think you did very well with the ombre look! And your spooky NBUS card is just wonderful!! Thank you so much for playing in my NBUS Challenge #5 ~ which was so long ago now! I’m sorry that nursing the Mister back to good health has delayed my visit to thank you. Enjoy your day! Hugs, Darnell