Happy Christmas!

Hello again,

I have been catching up with the dreaded cardmaking for the season. I really do struggle to make Christmas cards, I don't know why but I have this bad habit of leaving it right to the last minute. I guess I should be more organised and stop playing with my new Bind It All machine!!

Anyways, here are a few of the cards I have made for 2007. I have enjoyed making these as it is a departure from my usual sticker and peeloff cards. I only started stamping about a year ago so this is my first Christmas using stamps and inks.

Card 1



For this one, I used alcohol inks on glossy papers. I started by squeezing a dab of Stream, Stonewashed and Denim inks onto the felt applicator. I then dragged the applicator across the length of the card to make a lined pattern. I re-inked the felt pad and dragged the applicator across the width of the card, so I now had a checkered pattern.
A few drops of silver mixative onto the felt pad and then dragged over the card gave me a lovely metallic sheen to the design. I then sprinkled some blending solution onto the card, like shaking a vinegar bottle, and then used my heatgun to dry the solution.
Next I inked up my jolly Santa stamp (Tim Holtz collection) using Imperial Purple Versafine. I then used the holly stamp (another of Tim's) and stamped this image onto all the corners. I then used a small piece of the patterned card to add my message (another of Tim's!!), matted both of the images to silver mirri card and then attached them to the card.
Finally, to tie in the whole theme, I re-inked the holly stamp (still Tim's) and stamped this in all the corners.
I love the combination of these colours, and also, thank you to Andrea for showing me how to do this technique with the inks! *sorry about the naff flashback on the photo, am rubbish at taking pics :O)) *


Card 2


For this card I used Cranberry, Red Pepper and Butterscotch alcohol inks and used the same technique as before. I used a gold mixative for the shimmer and then stamped, in Sepia Versafine, the other jolly Santa stamp (another of Tim's). I love this stamp too, he is a real cheeky chappie! I used a Hero Arts message stamp and matted both images onto gold mirri card. Again, I used the holly stamp on the corners of the card to tie in the design.


Card 3



For this design, I used the felt pad from the first card and added a little more ink and lots of Blending Solution as I wanted a paler version of the colours. I used a pearl mixative so it is more subtle than the silver. The stamp for the main image is a Ltd Edition collage from the Tim collection...can you see a theme developing here? LOL I used the Merry Christmas message stamp and then matted both onto silver mirri card. I used a "yew" sprig stamp for the corners to tie in the design.
This card was the one that OH chose to send to his Mum & Dad...which chuffed me as I liked this one most of all :O))


I have a few more piccies to upload later and I also have another 20 cards to make. I had better get off the computer and get into my craft room pronto!!

Thanks for looking...Hels x