Music in the Air for As You See It Challenge #289b

 Well, Merry Christmas from the Design Team at As You See It Challenges. We've completed our regular rotation of challenges for 2022, but we got to thinking that just when our readers had perhaps a little more time to play with some challenges (and perhaps a little more loot for their craft room under the Christmas tree!!) most challenge blogs took a break over the holidays and challenges to play were few and far between.

So we thought we could help with a bonus challenge! This one is a different type than our regular rotation of challenges - it's an inspiration challenge! That means you look at the photo and use something you see: either colour, images, theme or layout, etc. to inspire your own creation. Here's the Challenge Banner:

I used the colours and theme for my card, and found an older hoarded stamp set and coordinating dies called Musical Season, long since retired, that it brought to mind:

• I loved the rich browns and oranges in the inspiration photo so I captured those with the card base of Early Espresso and the first layer of Pumpkin Pie. 
• Then I added a layer of Sahara Sand, embossed using the Merry Melody 3D embossing folder.
• I stamped the lute image in Cajun Craze ink and the lyre in Mango Melody and die cute them with the coordinating dies. 
• The treble clef and the English Horn were die cut from Gold Brushed Metallic Cardstock.
• The branches of greenery were coloured right on the rubber stamp with Shaded Spruce and Cherry Cobbler Stampin' Write Markers, then stamped on Very Vanilla card stock and die cut again.
• The sentiment was stamped on Very Vanilla with Early Espresso ink and added using Dimensionals.

I was happy to get the warmth that I felt when I looked at the inspiration photo!

What inspires you when you look at the photo? I hope you'll play along with us at some point before January 11th when this bonus challenge closes.

You have a huge opportunity to save oodles on your favourite products from the July/Dec Mini Catalogue that are retiring, just in time for Christmas! From now until Jan 4, **while supplies last** you can save up to 60% on many products from that amazing catalogue. Your best bet is to go to my Online Store under Last Chance Products and you can see exactly what's still available in real time and purchase from there directly. While you're there, you might want to also check out the Clearance Rack, because it has been substantially updated with dozens of new bargains from the last mini catalogue and other offers at greatly reduced prices. You can either purchase directly from my store or message me and I'll submit the orders for you. Here is a link to help you check out the Last Chance Deals in a list form.

If you live in Canada, and don't have a Stampin' Up! demonstrator,  I'd love to be yours. I can help you with ideas, get you catalogues and provide you with Stampin' Up products. You can leave a message in the comments or contact me using any of the methods listed in the right side bar at the top of the page. You can shop with me from anywhere in Canada by clicking on the SHOP NOW button in the top menu or clicking on any of products below from my Online Store.

Product List

*Musical Season Wood-Mount Stamp Set [144814] $33.00	*Musical Season Wood-Mount Bundle [146048] $63.75	Brushed Metallic Cardstock [153524] $21.00	Early Espresso 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock [119686] $12.75	Pumpkin Pie 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock [105117] $12.75
Sahara Sand 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock [121043] $12.75	Very Vanilla 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock [101650] $14.00	Early Espresso Classic Stampin' Pad [147114] $11.00	Cajun Craze Classic Stampin' Pad [147085] $11.00	Mango Melody Classic Stampin' Pad [147093] $11.00
Regals Stampin' Write Markers [147155] $42.50	Merry Melody 3 D Embossing Folder [156392] $13.75	*Musical Instruments Framelits Dies [144677] $38.00	Stampin' Cut & Emboss Machine [149653] $170.00	Stampin' Seal [152813] $11.00
Stampin' Dimensionals [104430] $6.00

* Retired items: no longer available for sale

Musical Season for As You See It Challenge #165

It's time for a new challenge at As You See It Challenges and this time it's another wonder sketch challenge by Amanda:

I love the composition of this one and the many possibilities it allows! Of course, we don't have to use trees, and since the Musical Season bundle is retiring, I wanted to get at least one more use out of it before it's gone for good! I love having a musical set, and I'm thinking I just might keep this one for myself!

• I had fun creating the background using my brand new *Brusho Crystal Colour for the first time. You need watercolour paper for this as you want wet paper to use it. You get your paper wet and then you sprinkle the Brusho colour or colours you have selected onto the wet paper. You do this by poking 3 or 4 holes in the top of the container so it acts somewhat like a salt shaker with smaller holes. You can get really neat effects depending on how wet your paper is and whether or not you use a paint brush to move the crystals around. They dissolve fairly easily, but if you sprinkle them where it is not too wet, or where you've dried it a bit, you can get interesting sprinkle patterns of individual crystals. You will be able to get the *Brusho Crystal Colour in the upcoming Occasions Catalogue.

*Product will be available to order when the 2018 Occasions Catalogue is in effect starting Jan. 3, 2018.

• I stamped the harp and the lute from the Musical Season stamp set and then die cut them along with the Whisper White treble clef using the Musical Instruments Framelits. The music staff die cut you see is one I've had for a while from poppystamps called Elegant Musical Staff.
• I used a scrap piece of Merry Music Specialty DSP for one of the panels in the sketch while the staff was the other. The sentiment was die cut using the Noel greeting from the Christmas Stocking Thinlit dies.  

                                                                                                                 

I now have copies of the new 2018 Occasions Catalogue and the 2018 Sale-A-Bration Brochure. I will be adding them to my customers' orders before I deliver them, so the fastest way to get your copies is by placing an order with me, if you live in Canada. If you place an order online that is delivered directly to you, I will make sure that a catalogue is mailed to you. 

If you would like to receive a catalogue from me and are a new customer, or someone who hasn't ordered from me in a long while, I welcome the chance to connect or reconnect with you by sending you a catalogue. Contact me and I will get a hold of you to get your details so I can send you one!

Enjoy your weekend! I'll see you Monday!

Click on the links below to take you to my On-Line Store, where you can read about, look at, and purchase if you wish, the products used to make this card today.

Product List

Musical Season Clear-Mount Stamp Set [144811] $24.00	Musical Season Wood-Mount Stamp Set [144814] $33.00	Musical Season Wood-Mount Bundle [146048] $63.75	Musical Season Clear-Mount Bundle [146049] $55.75	Watercolor Paper [122959] $6.75
Merry Music Specialty Designer Series Paper [144623] $17.00	Whisper White 8-1/2" X 11" Thick Cardstock [140272] $9.25	Whisper White 8-1/2" X 11" Card Stock [100730] $11.25	Basic Black 8-1/2" X 11" Card Stock [121045] $10.00	Pumpkin Pie 8-1/2" X 11" Card Stock [105117] $10.00
Basic Black Archival Stampin’ Pad [140931] $9.25	Basic Black Baker's Twine [134576] $4.00	Black Rhinestone Jewels [144639] $6.50	Musical Instruments Framelits Dies [144677] $38.00	Christmas Stockings Thinlits Dies [141841] $40.00
Big Shot [143263] $136.00	Multipurpose Adhesive Sheets [144106] $13.50	Liquid Multipurpose Glue [110755] $5.25

*Brusho Crystal Colour

*Product will be available to order when the 2018 Occasions Catalogue is in effect starting Jan. 3, 2018.

Sheltering Tree for Stamps, Ink, Paper

I think I'm almost 'Christmased' out! I needed a Christmas themed card for my Mom & Me class on Saturday, and I wandered my craft room for a long time trying to find a stamp set I felt like using. Finally, I came across a set I haven't used in eons, Sheltering Tree, and a theme challenge from Stamps, Ink, Paper:

Finally, I knew what to do, but Christmas burnout was a close thing there! Is anyone else feeling it? Luckily, I'm expecting my Occasions Catalogue pre-order any day now and I'll have some new toys to play with. That should help my mojo to pick up again! Here's how I was able to use Sheltering Tree to create a snowy day image:

• It can be a bit tricky using the Whisper White Craft Ink and Silver Embossing Powder together. In my first attempt I stamped the Whisper White first, then, using the same foliage stamp, stamped over it in Versamark and added the Silver Embossing Powder. Even though I had thoroughly dried the craft ink (I thought) and used the Embossing Buddy, I still had Silver Embossing Powder sticking all over everything. So then I embossed first and then stamped, but the Craft ink rubbed right off the embossed area, as I expected it would, leaving not much left over. 
• My final solution, which you see here, was to stamp the foliage in the Whisper White Craft ink then let it dry longer than you think necessary and use the heat tool on it for a while to make sure it's perfectly dry. Then really go over it well with the embossing buddy. Finally use the smaller snowflakes stamp to add some silver embossing to the tree area, especially the middle where the ink intensity lightens up.
• I used the same small snowflake stamp to add falling snow around the outside of the tree.
• The sentiment is from the Musical Season stamp set, and it is also embossed in Silver Stampin' Emboss Powder.
• I added some Rhinestone Basic Jewels and some snowflakes die cut from Silver Foil Sheets using the Seasonal Tags framelits.

How is your Christmas shopping going? Is the stress getting to you? If you have some crafters on your list, or if you are a crafter, I have some suggestions that may help:

1. Paper Pumpkin prepaid subscriptions make wonderful gifts especially for busy people who would love to craft if only they had the time, space and equipment! Paper Pumpkin takes care of all of that in a once a month, all inclusive kit that is delivered right to the recipient's door! The projects are fun, high quality and for a good price. You can order the prepaid subscriptions right from me.

1 month = $27.00

3 months = $79,00

   6 months = $154.00 

(save $1 a month)

12 months = $295.00

(save $2 a month)

2. Gift Certificates: I have 'em! In any denomination you want! I can even email one to you if time is tight. Then your crafter can redeem them for the exact products or classes they most want!

3. Gift Registry: Send me your wish list and let your friends and family know that I have it. I can make sure there are no duplicates and steer them toward the things you most want. The deadline is looming, however, for ordering with a guarantee of getting the products before Christmas! It's Dec. 7! Yikes! That's tomorrow! If anyone orders for you I will include a treat from me in the order as well!

4. Stampin' Up! All Inclusive Kits - These make great gifts for crafters, especially those without a lot of tools or room to stamp, or beginning crafters! Everything they need is included. Look on pages 11 - 15 of the Annual Catalogue. 

Hope that was helpful! But don't miss the deadline! I have an order going in! Contact me!

Click on the links below to take you to my On-Line Store, where you can read about, look at, and purchase if you wish, the products used to make this card today.

Product List

Sheltering Tree Photopolymer Stamp Set [137163] $31.00	Musical Season Clear-Mount Stamp Set [144811] $24.00	Musical Season Wood-Mount Stamp Set [144814] $33.00	Whisper White 8-1/2" X 11" Thick Cardstock [140272] $9.25	Silver Foil Sheets [132178] $5.25
Crumb Cake 8-1/2" X 11" Card Stock [120953] $10.00	Versamark Pad [102283] $11.25	Early Espresso Classic Stampin' Pad [126974] $8.50	Whisper White Uninked Craft Stampin’ Pad & Refill [145406] $12.25	Silver Stampin' Emboss Powder [109131] $6.75
Embossing Buddy [103083] $8.00	Heat Tool [129053] $40.00	Rhinestone Basic Jewels [144220] $6.75	Seasonal Tags Framelits Dies [144685] $38.00	Big Shot [143263] $136.00
Fast Fuse Adhesive [129026] $13.50	Liquid Multipurpose Glue [110755] $5.25	Glue Dots [103683] $7.00	Mini Stampin' Dimensionals [144108] $5.25