Christmas Countdown

I'm writing this on the first Sunday of Advent. I decorated my house, sang the first verse of the Carol of the Advent, made a bunch more gifties for the 12 days of Christmas Mingle(mail fail) and got this card together.
I'm in love with this new rubber . The trees, I stamped and cut out, one embossed with glitter, one with distress ink and one I gessoed first then inked- bottom left- i like that one the best. Added some stickles ornaments. The star was stamped and embossed in gold.
The background was the resist technique Wanda taught us. The snowflake stamped with versamark on glossy paper, then distress ink added and wiped with a tissue.
Let's all remember the reason for the season and be gentle with ourselves as we count the days in awe and wonder and joy of the miracle of birth and rebirth.

Thanks where thanks is due

This weeks Created Byhand Challenge theme is Giving
Thanks/shades of brown.
I've been having so much fun lately playing with ink and stamps, I want to give thanks to Suzanne Cannon of Quietfire, everyone at Ranger and Maryella at A Stamp Artist Place, my LSS, for all they do to create and produce these amazing products for us to play and create with.
I love these new stamps from Suzanne and the oldly and goody grateful stamp
the background is linen and tea dye distress ink, and the stamps of many shades of browns are various ranger inks and a pearlex two tone stamp I found when I was cleaning ; and you can't see the doodles in stardust pen- better give thanks to
the Sakura folks also.

12 Days of Christmas-Byhand Artists

An unexpected day off put me into elf overdrive and here are my 12 Days of Christmas Gifties ready for the mail. Most are going to BC and Ontario so I'm excited to have them ready with lots of time to spare before the Dec 10 delivery date.
I'm not sure if this is a swap, a mingle or exchange and I can hardly wait to receive my 12 gifties.
I make 12 of the same- they had to be flat to fit in a first class envelope and mail them out to 12 Byhand artists- there is a 13th participant so we all get 12 to open, one each day, starting on December 13th.
My day is day 12, and no spoiling allowed, so this is all you will see till after Christmas.

S**W

I'm trying to simplify the Created Byhand Tuesday Challenge themes to get more participation. S**w in my life is a four letter word and I hope folks want to create around the theme of s**wmen-I would have made it s**wpeople to be more gender neutral, and that would have voided my simplicity factor.
The background is antique linen and tea dye distress ink.
First I stamped the snowmen with versa magic white and heat embossed clear. If you are even close to needing a new heat gun, get the Ranger heat it tool. you won't believe how quiet it is and it covers a wide area fast and doesn't blow off your powder.I applied the ink over the embossing, rubbing the snowmen with a tissue when it was dry.
I love the seasonal textured letters, snow, stamped here in white and doodled with stardust pens. I also doodled with the Ranger Inkssential white pen and stickles.
I think I would like s**w if it didn't have to be cold.
I hope you enjoy it and get some if you want it.
Please enter the challenge and leave a comment.

Byhand Artists Halloween Rolodex Swap

I've never been much of a halloween person and being a part of this swap made this one a lot of fun. These rolodex swaps are amazing. You can see pix of the other cards in the swap here.The artists of the Byhand Artists yahoo group-mentored by calligrapher Suzanne Cannon, are inspirational , educational and sharing, fun group of folks.
I bought these orange and black Ranger distress inks and stickles thinking i would never use them. Never say never.

I encourage you to join in the swaps and challenges. Leave me a comment if you need more encouragement and hand holding to get started.