Monday, December 20, 2010

Stars, Snow, and Trees

I love the quiet of a snowy night when the air is crisp the moon is shining bright and you can see the stars.  Of course it is too cold to stay out too long and look at the stars, but especially in the holidays it is nice to step outside and enjoy the peace of of the stars.

Here are two projects for the Hero Arts Monthly Challenge and for Louise's Tag Tuesday Challenge. Louise challenged us to use the colors Yellow, Green and brown in a tag for the holidays. The Stamp Man challenge is anything goes for a tag.   Hero Arts challenge is to create a project for thank you, color challenge and / or make it shiny.

My tag started from the colors and this beautiful Hero Arts stamp called Starry Night.

The starry night was stamped on white cardstock using Versafine Vintage Sepia and heat embossed with Zing Chestnut embossing powder.  Sponge forest moss Ranger Distress ink over the tree and stem. Add a little brown color pencil to the stem. color the stars using yellow watercolor pencils. Sponge around the edges of the tag using Vintage Photo and Antique linen. Stamp the little birds and emboss using the same ink and embossing powder as the background. The shiny is in the embossing powder and the gems added to the sparkly stars.

The top of the tag was stamped using Hero Arts DesignBlock Starry Sky using a variety of Ranger Distress inks (yellow, light orange, and brown).

I always get asked about this sentiment. I love it and it is from Penny Black called All the Stars.

My card started from a beautiful new stamp from the Hero Arts 2011 catalog:


 I had this idea to create birch trees in the forest and had to add the pop of the cranberry for the cardinals. The sentiment is another favorite of mine which is from Northwoods Rubber Stamps.  

To create the background: Ink up trees with versamark watermark ink pad entirely. Smudge edges of tree with Memento London Fog. Stamp onto white cardstock. Heat emboss using clear embossing powder. Sponge on grey, light blue and dark blue dye inks over background. Stamp snow flakes and emboss using white and kaleidoscope embossing powder.

The birds are from a Martha Stewart clear set and stamped using Memento Rhubarb Stalk dye ink. 

Hope you are all ready for the holidays. We are having a cookie party today for my youngest and a few of her friends and then off to some friends for dinner and gift exchange. 

Suzz


34 comments:

  1. Oh Sue, these are two stunners! I love the wonderful, peaceful snowy scene on your tag. Fantastic colours, distressing and details. Love the sky and pops of red with the cardinals on the card. I can't stop admiring your birch trees - they look amazing and so realistic! Thanks for sharing your techiques:) Hope you have an enjoyable evening!

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  2. Love these both, Sue - those birds melt my heart on both! Ditto what Heather said, the birches are wonderfully realistic - well done!

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  3. Sue, these are so gorgeous, your tag as well as the card! I am amazed at the effect you got with the birch stamp... never expected that!

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  4. LOVE the tag and the CARD! Wow, I love the beautiful effect of the birch trees. The shading that you created is absolutely breath-taking!! You just help me to put that tree stamp on my wish list! Yes, Virginia ...Resist Is Futile! Is there a Santa out there...there...there...there...?

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  5. These are stunning, Beautiful!
    I'm new to following your blog, linked here from The Artistic Stamper, I think, after seeing the fantastic tag with birdcage you made for Dec. 1st.
    I LOVE your art style!!!
    HAPPY HOLIDAYS
    VickiR in OH

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  6. That card is truly a work of art, Suzz! Your birch trees look amazing! As if you snapped a picture in the woods! Love the added cardinals! And your tag is so beautiful! Love what you've done with the two "starry" stamps!

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  7. I love your tag, Sue, it's so fun to see Starry Night stamped with different colors! I am amazed by your card using the new tree background! At first glance I thought it was a photograph; clearly you have some serious art skills (we all knew that) but this gorgeous card just sends you to a whole new category of talented!
    Have a wonderful Christmas holiday!

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  8. This is absolutely stunning Sue. you have captured the beauty of a winters night in the forest - your creation is amazingly beautiful! Thanks for sharing.
    JeniferAnn

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  9. Fantastic projects Sue! Love the simple beauty of the tree trunk card! You captured the look of the birch trees perfectly!

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  10. Two wonderful, beautiful projects - thanks for sharing. Happy Holidays!

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  11. Both are beautiful. LOVE the birch trees with the added pop of red from the cardinals!

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  12. Both are just lovely Suzanne. I always love your tags. :)
    I am missing snow for Christmas. Alabama just isn't very festive.
    Hugs!

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  13. Beautiful tag and card, Sue! I love
    the effect you created on your card;
    I can feel the snowy winter night
    when I look at it.

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  14. Your tag is heavenly, Suzanne. Such a peaceful quality to it.

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  15. Love both of these. You've done an fabulous job. The trees on the tag are awesome and your card is like looking at a winter wonderland! If I don't get a chance to visit again before Christmas, I want to wish you a very Merry Christmas!

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  16. Luv them both Sue, the tag is creative and the birch trees are FAB. Merry Christmas to you and your family.

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  17. oh my gosh.... both of these are stunning Suzz. Love your starry night and the trees is so cleverly done.

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  18. Such a gorgeous tag! At first I thought the trees were gold embossed! I love the touch of snow...And your card is simply amazing--the tree trunks look so realistic! Congrats on the HA Tweet!

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  19. These are both fantastic. LOVE using the second stamp and making birch trees. I've ordered this stamp and you know what I'm going to do when I get it- your great idea.

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  20. Gorgeous tag Suzanne! The gold embossed trees look stunning and I love how the cardinals pop on the second card!

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  21. Howdy from Texas! I found your blog after seeing your fabulous tag and card on the December Hero Arts challenge. Thanks for sharing how you made them! Looks like I HAVE to get a couple more Hero Arts stamps ;) Is the adorable bird trio on your tag Hero Arts too?

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  22. WOWOWOWOOW! I love that tag--with the snow on the trees! So much detail! LOVE IT! I love your card too--beautiful! You make my jaw drop!

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  23. Wow love your tag and that new Hero Arts tree stamp is fabulous. Great touch with the sweet red birds.

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  24. These are both gorgeous, Sue! Your tag is just lovely and the tree/cardinal card is fantastic!

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  25. Gosh!! Those birch trees - what an amazing look!! Beautiful projects today! Congrats on the HA Tweet!

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  26. You are so so talented!
    Love your tag and card!! STUNNING!!

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  27. oh wow, these cards are just plain GORGEOUS, Sue!

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  28. Both of these project are stunning.. Your card almost looks like a paintng to me.. It's Beautiful! Hugs, Linda

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  29. OMGOSH SUE!!! Not one but two AMAZING creations!!! Just trying to get my jaw off the floor,especially for the birch tress!!!!!! STUNNING!!!

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  30. you are amazing, Sue! these are stunning! wow! LOVE THEM!!

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  31. Oh, just so lovely once again Sue! Thanks for sharing the 'how to' on both these wonderful pieces. I received a card from a blogging buddy using the image on your tag. It's amazing how different they can look when using different colours and techniques but all equally gorgeous.

    As for the birch trees ........... it has all been said by my fellow commentors. Simply stunning!

    Hugs
    Lesley Xx

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  32. Wow...this is absolutely breathtaking! I love, love love how you shaded the trees so perfectly..they look real! Very inspiring! Merry Christmas!

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