Lavinia Stamps "Fir Cone Branch" embossed card

Well, I seem to be on a bit of roll with my card making today.  Here's another one! 

For the central image, I've used the Lavinia Stamps "Fir Cone Branch", stamped in Versafine Clair "Acorn" brown ink.  I have used the same ink to stamp the "Just For You" sentiment, which is part of the "Heartfelt Verse Stamp Set".  I used a water colour pencil to colour the fir cones and then die cut into a stitched edge square.

I had a rummage through my basket of embossing folders which I sadly don't use often enough.  I cam across one with holly leaves, which I think came free with a magazine, that I thought would be a suitable background.  I die cut a larger square, again with a stitched edge.  Popped it in the embossing folder and ran it through the Big Shot.  I then assembled the card.  I used foam pads to elevate the central fir cone area and also added some gold shimmer to the fir cones and branches using a gold gel pen.

24 Days of Tags with Karen Telfer 2022 - Day one

For the past two years I have taken part in Karen Telfer's "24 Days of Tags challenge".  Today is the first day of the 2022 challenge.  Here is the link to the Day 1 tag.

I've used Tumbled Glass and Blueprint Sketch Distress Oxide ink for the background colour.

I've used both "Twilight" and "Morning Mist" Versafine Clair ink to stamp the following Lavinia Stamps:  Red Pines, Forest Scenes, Winter Magic and Snowflakes.  I've used touches of Silver Glitter Signo pen on the snowflakes.

Funky Fossil Designs "Star Wreath" and "Nordic Noel" Christmas Card

 

I've been playing with a selection of Funky Fossil Designs products to make this card using kraft card stock.

I die cut a circle of craft card stock.  I used a foam blender and white Pan Pastel and blended the middle of the card, making it slightly lighter in colour.  I tapped a white Posca Pen over the surface, creating light splatters to replicate distant stars.

Using white card and the Funky Fossil Designs "Star Wreath die" and ran it through the Big Shot.  I adhered the die cut on to the kraft circle, adding a selection of the stars that come as part of the die cut. I then glued the circle on to white card and then on to a kraft card blank.

On an off-cut of white card stock, I stamped the two gnomes, which are part of the Funky Fossil "Nordic Noel" stamp set, using Versafine Clair "Morning Mist" grey ink.  I then immediately sprinkled the stamped area with Wow! Clear Embossing Powder and heat set.

I coloured the gnomes using an assortment of Distress Oxide Inks (Weathered Wood, Mowed Lawn, Festive Berries and Worn Lipstick) applied with a paint brush. I then fussy cut the gnomes and adhered into position over the wreath.

Finally, using Versafine Clair "Chianti" dark red ink, I stamped the "Gnome For Christmas" sentiment, which is also part of the Funky Fossil "Nordic Noel" stamp set.

Lavinia Stamps "Nadolig Llawen Reindeer" Card

In my head this card was going to have lots of white space and minimal detail... well I got that wrong didn't I! 

I started by masking off the edges of the card using low tack tape, to ensure I kept them clean from ink.

I positioned a moon mask and then lay the Lavinia Stamps "Charming" stencil over the top, securing with a small strip of masking tape.  I used five shades of Archival Inks (Pink Peony, Violet, Cornflower Blue, Bluebird and Watering Can) through the stencil, applied with blending brushes.  I deliberately faded the strength of ink out towards the edges as I wanted the image to gently blend into the edges that had been masked off.

I used two of the Lavinia Stamps "Hill Masks" to create the landscape uisng "Watering Can" Archival ink.

I stamped "Magnus", the "Small Reindeer" and the "Nadolig Llawen" sentiment (part of the Welsh Words" stamp set) using Versafine Clair "Nocturne" black ink.

Using Versafine Clair "Morning Mist" grey ink, I stamped the trees, using the top of the trees in second generation stamping to create the impression of winter hedges on the top of the hills.

Finally, I used a white Signo gel pen to add detail to the fur on the chests of the reindeers and used a 2B pencil to ground the reindeers.

Visible Image "Snowman Jack Penguin" Christmas Card

I'm back from a night away at the caravan and couldn't get back quick enough to craft while Hubby watches the World Cup Football games. 

I started this card, by using Versafine Clair "Nocturne" black ink to stamp the penguin, part of the Visible Image "Snowman Jack" stamp set.  I then used a post-it note and stamped the penguin again, cutting out the shape of the penguin and then popping in position over the stamped image.

I used the Visible Image "Breaking Glass Stencil" with a selection of Archival Inks to create the background colour.  I started with the darkest in the middle and worked my way out, these are the colours I used Cobalt, Watering Can, Forget-me-not, Sky Blue, Pink Peony and Shadow Grey.  I coloured the edges of the card with Versafine Clair "Warm Breeze" Ink.

I removed the mask from the pengin and coloured him using Derwent Inktense wate colour pencils applied with a paint brush.  I used a 2B pencil to ground the penguin.

I used Versafine Clair "Nocturne" black ink to stamp the words.  The Brrr! was part of the "Snowman Jack" stamp set.  The "Merry Christmas" was part of another Visible Image stamp set called "Christmas Chaos.

I then mounted the image on to a white card blank.  Finally, using a Signo Silver Glitter pen, I went around all the cracked pieces of ice. I also added some sparkle to the penguin and to the edges of the card.

Penny Black "12 Days of Christmas 30-016" Card

I didn't have any firm ideas where I was going with this Christmas card.  It kind of evolved over the day. The finished card makes me smile.

I started with a white square piece of card. I used an anti static bag across the surface and stamped the "Merry Christmas" circle of text in Wow! Clear embossing ink, coated it with Wow! Super Fine Silver embossing powder and heat set.  (I have had this clear stamp set for maybe 15 years, long before I knew I might need the packaging to blog the details of the item, so apologies, I don't recall who made the set).

In the middle of the circle, I used an "ink on 3 Fade Out" ink pad to stamp the bird, which is part of the Penny Black Inc. "Twelve Days of Christmas 30-016" clear stamp set.  Using Versafine Clair "Morning Mist" grey ink, I stamped the "4 Calling Birds" sentiment, also from the same set.

I coloured the bird using Derwent Inktense Water Colour Pencils adding a little detail to the bag, hair and tail feathers using a glittery pink/purple gel pen.  This dictated the colour around the outer edge of the circle.

I opted for "Seedless Preserve" Distress Oxide Ink blending from the edge towards the text.  I felt it needed more, so I grabbed the Funky Fossil Designs "Holly Background Stencil" and used the same ink through the stencil to provide the holly detail.

As is often the case, I wasn't happy with the size of the card, so I chopped of 1/4" from each side, I felt it looked a better scale and then adhered it to a white card blank.

Visible Image "Nothing to Wear" Christmas Card

Today I'm sharing a Christmas card I made using Visible Image products.

I started on the base, using three shades of Archival Inks (Pink Peony, Cornflower Blue and Forget-me-not) through the Visible Image "Fibres" stencil.  

On a plain piece of white card, using Versafine Clair "Morning Mist" grey ink, I stamped the t-shirt, which is part of the Visible Image "Nothing to wear" stamp set.  I then die cut the t-shirt using the "Nothing to wear" die.

I stamped the penguin and the Brrr! on to the front of the t-shirt using Versafine Clair "Morning Mist" grey ink, the penguin and the Brrr! is part of the Visible Image Stamp set called "Snowman Jack".  I coloured the Penguin using Derwent Inktense water colour pencils.  I coloured the t-shirt itself with a wash of "Tumbled Glass" Distress Oxide Ink.

Finally, using Versafine Clair "Morning Mist" again, I stamped the "Merry Christmas" sentiment, which is part of the Visible Image "Christmas Chaos" stamp set.

I thought this would be a good card to give a male teen I know!