Peace on Earth for Christmas Craft Creations

Hello friends!  I hope you're having an enjoyable holiday season!  Today I'm sharing my reminder card for the current challenge at Christmas Craft Creations, where our theme this month is decoration. 

Christmas Craft Creations

I decided to use a beautiful embossing folder with ornaments for my card.

I started with an A2 panel of white cardstock and ink blended three shades of green over it, then embossed it with the Simon Says Stamp Verdant Ornaments folder. Next I used a silver gel pen on all the highest raised areas.  This really isn't a hard process and I think the results are beautiful!

The sentiment was silver heat embossed on dark green cardstock then die cut with a sentiment label die and layered across the entire panel before adding to the silver mat and green card base.  No need for bling with the silver highlighting the beautiful, embossed images!

Thanks for taking time to visit!  Now I realize most are done making Christmas cards for this year, but it you're wanting to build your stash for next year, come join us this month and every month next year (we have a lot of fun challenges coming up in 2024!).  This challenge will remain open until Tuesday January 9th 6pm GMT.

Take care!

Stef

Stamps: SSS Making Spirits Bright

Paper:  Neenah Solar White, SSS Midnight Green and Matte Silver

Embossing:  SSS Verdant Ornaments folder

Ink:  Altenew Jade, Eucalyptus, and Forest Fern; Versamark

Other:  SSS Ultra Fine Silver embossing powder, Altenew Silver Gel Pen

Festive Bouquets v2 for The Flower Challenge

Hello my friends and happy holidays!  I hope things are going smoothly for you and that you're able to have time to enjoy the season.  I actually finished my Christmas cards earlier this year than the prior 2-3 and got the house decorated on December 1st, so I've been feeling a little ahead of the game.

But that's probably not why you've dropped by my blog, so let's get to it!  This is my reminder post for The Flower Challenge, where we're asking everyone to use gold on their cards.

The Flower Challenge

I loved the lilies and the colors I used on my first TFC card here, so I decided to stick with them and go a bit bolder.

As with my prior card, the image was stamped, colored with alcohol markers, restamped with Versamark ink and gold heat embossed. The gold embossed sentiment is from the same stamp set and it, along with the flowers were die cut with matching dies.

For the background a panel of magenta cardstock was embossed with the Spellbinders Beveled Diamonds 3D folder, then lightly brayered with gold pigment ink across just the very top of the panel to make some of the embossing stand out.  When dry, the floral image was adhered and the overhanging parts trimmed off, then I added the sentiment with some thin foam squares.  

I hope you'll find a few minutes for a crafty break from the holiday busyness and join us - the challenge remains open until the 25th and we'd love to see your card in the gallery.  The team will be taking a much-deserved break in January, returning with a slate of new challenges for the new year beginning 2/4/24.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Stef

Stamps and dies:  Simon Says Stamp Festive Bouquets

Paper:  Neenah Solar White, C&9 Dragonfruit 

Ink:  Versamark, Altenew Antique Gold

Other:  Spellbinders Beveled Diamonds 3D embossing folder, Altenew Antique Gold embossing powder, Tim Holtz Brayer

Sketchmarker:  V111

Copics:  RV06, 04, 02, R39, 37, 35, YG67, 17, 03, BG32,11, G00

Festive Bouquet for The Flower Challenge

Hello friends! Here we are, time for the final challenge for the year at The Flower Challenge.  This one is perfect for those last minute holiday cards or, if you're like me, you love using metallics on your cards anytime.

The Flower Challenge

 

I'm also joining the current challenges at The Paper Players and Time Out Challenges.

PP669

TOC 252

Using a large floral stamp created an opportunity to create a slimline card, which I haven't done in a while.

I started with the stunning Festive Bouquets stamp set from Simon Says Stamp (and designed by the endlessly talented Emily Midgett), stamping the larger of two florals bouquets in the set.  It was stamped in alcohol marker friendly ink, colored using bright pinks for the flowers, then restamped with Versamark and gold heat embossed (yay for stamp positioners!).

Next came the background panel, which was die cut using the SSS Detail Bohemian Slim Plate, sprayed with shimmer then adhered to a white card base after it dried.  I used my trimmer to cut the floral image so I could use the two parts on each end of the card.  The sentiment is from one of my favorite holiday stamp sets by Poppystamps, also gold heat embossed then die cut with a rectangle die.  The flowers were adhered directly to the card, the sentiment popped up with thin foam tape and finally a few gold glitter gems were scattered about.  

I do hope you find time during the busy holiday season to join us! the challenge will remain open until 5 pm on 12/25/23, plus we'll be back with more inspiration on the 15th with our reminder post.  But, before you head off to your craft room, be sure to take a peek at the stunning array of cards my teammates have created - lots of inspiration there!

If you don't have a chance to drop by for my reminder post on the 15th, I wish a happy holidays to you and yours!  

Stef

Stamps:  SSS Festive Bouquets, Poppystamps Christmas Sparkle

Paper:  Neenah Solar White

Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black, Versamark

Dies:  SSS Detail Bohemian Slim Plate and Festive Bouquets, Hero Arts Nested Rectangle die

Other:  Hero Arts White Iridescent Shimmer Spray, Altenew Antique Gold embossing powder, Studio Katia Gold Glitter gems

Copics:  RV06, 04, 02, YG67, 17, 03, BG32, 11, G00, R39, 37, 35

Sketchmarker: V111

Pink Shimmering Season for Color Hues

Hello friends!  I'm back with a card for the final challenge of 2023 at Color Hues.  The lovely Nancy has chosen a gorgeous non-traditional color combination sure to work for any of your last-minute holiday cards!

Color Hues

For my card I used the beautiful Gina K/Simon Says Stamp Stamptember 2023 stamp set Shimmering Seasons.

I started by silver heat embossing all the images on a panel of pink cardstock, then used a darker pink ink to blend around the edges.  I really fussed and debated about the sentiment.  I had one idea in mind, but it didn't look right and then I realized some the of embossing didn't come out well. Rather than toss the panel, I came up with a new plan.

I opted to use a large sentiment die cut from matte silver cardstock but the background was too busy without something behind it plus I wanted to hide the areas where the embossing didn't take properly.  A band of vellum took care of that and was the perfect home for that beautiful sentiment and I really like how the card turned out.  I hope to create some other cards using this stamp set before I'm done making Christmas cards, the images are so pretty.

What are you inspired to create with these colors?  Please take a moment to check out the cards by my wonderfully talented teammates and hopefully you'll be inspired to join us!  The challenge will last all month, so you have plenty of time to play along.  The challenge will close at 9 am EST Thursday December 28th.

I wish you all the best during the holidays!  I'll have a new post on the 4th, so I hope you'll swing by and take a look.

Take care!

Stef

Stamps:  Gina K/SSS Stampember 2023 Shimmering Season

Paper:  Neenah Solar White, Concord & 9th Carnation, Lawn Fawn Pearlescent Vellum, SSS Matte Silver

Ink:  Versamark, C&9 Sweet Pea

Dies:  Poppy Stamps Poe Script Merry Christmas

Other: SSS Fine Detail Silver embossing powder