Back in November, I ordered supplies to make this year’s Christmas cards. They arrived after Christmas, long after I designed and sent photo cards instead. I decided to make a couple cards this weekend though, before packing my Christmas supplies away, just to play and get a feel for the new supplies.
First tries rarely come out exactly like you’d like; that is the point of trying and playing with your supplies. Seeing what they do and look like, and deciding how you want to use them. They are your tools for creativity. Made for practicing and playing. Here’s my play with these new tools.
Both cards have card bases of 110# card stock, cut 8.5” x 7”, scored at 3.5”, to make a Slimline card of 8.5” x 3.5”. Both cards have ink blended backgrounds, using Distress Oxide Inks from Tim Holtz. Candied Apple on one, and Antique Linen on the other.
Both use the Mistletoe Slimline Coverplate die from Honeybee Stamps, that I cut out of green cardstock from my stash, then ink blended over with Rustic Wilderness Distress Oxide Ink, for a bit of visual depth.
The white berries are created with the co-ordinating Berries Stencil, from Honeybee Stamps. I tried several techniques. Picket Fence Distress Ink, didn’t give enough coverage. Distress Texture Paste by itself didn’t either. Dylusions White Linen acrylic paint was the best, and I particularly liked it over the raised texture of the paste. I adhered the panel with Matte Distress Collage Medium. I love the fine tip, and mostly love the matte finish that doesn’t show if you overglue, for these small areas.
The Joy card uses the Joy die set and Joy stamp set, also from Honeybee Stamps. The red layers were made by blending Candied Apple Distress Oxide Ink onto Bristle Smooth cardstock. The silver layer is just silver cardstock from my stash. The black stamping is Tim Holtz Archival Ink, Black Soot. That layer is raised used Scotch 3M foam tape. Inside the card is stamped with Candied Apple Oxide Ink.
On this card, the triptych stamp, from Magenta , is stamped with Archival Black Soot, also, and colored with Distress Markers, then blended with a water brush. The backgrounds are Antique Linen. The leaves are colored with Peeled Paint and Mowed Lawn, with a touch of Lucky Clover in the Mistletoe. Mistletoe berries are Picket Fence, and Holly berries Candied Apple. The Poinsettia is colored with Candied Apple and Fired Brick, with Mustard Seed for the center. (Yeah, I’m not a colorist.)
Merry Christmas, is from a set by Art C with Christmas sentiments stamps and a Star die. It is stamped with Versa Mark ink, and embossed with White Fine Detail embossing powder from Ranger. The red and black card stocks and green gems are from my stash. Both panels are raised with Scotch 3M foam tape.
Before packing away your Christmas crafting supplies, have another play, especially if you have products you haven’t tried yet!
Living Coram Deo
SDG!
~ Liberty
