A Vintage Merry Christmas

Hi Again Stampers!

I had a few minutes this evening in my craft room and decided to create another Christmas card using the HSSTC131 Hand Stamped Sentiments Vintage Theme Challenge- if you have not already had a chance to do so, stop by their site to see the wonderful creations from their Design Team as well as the other entries.

Originally I had signed up for the Splitcoaststampers CCC12 Christmas Card Challenge with the goal to create 25 cards a month and I am extremely behind schedule.  I believe what is hampering my progress is the idea of duplicating 25 cards:-).  There are no restrictions that they have to be all the same design,  so for the next month or so, I am going to try to create 5-6 Christmas cards a week (possibly all different designs) and see if this is a better way for me to meet my commitment....there, I said it out loud so you can hold me accountable :-)

To create this card:

Stamp the focal image using Basic Black Classic Ink onto Whisper White cardstock.  Color the image using SU! Watercolor Pencils with the Aqua Painter and once dry, distress the edges with the Distressing Tool along with your fingernail.  

Use a Sponge Dauber to lightly sponge Crumb Cake, Soft Suede and Early Espresso ink to “antique” the image and “spritz” with the Soft Suede marker and the Color Spritzing Tool.  Mount onto Early Espresso cardstock and distress the edges to mimic the focal panel.

With the Big Shot™ emboss a piece of DSP and a small piece of Early Espresso cardstock with the Lacy Brocade Textured Impressions™ Embossing Folder (I used a retired piece from this past year’s Sale-A-Bration "SAB").  Lightly sand the DSP with the Sanding Block to expose the white core.

Ink the interior smooth side of the Fancy Fan Textured Impressions™ Embossing Folder and emboss a piece of Very Vanilla cardstock.

Assemble the back panel with the embossed pieces.  Add the Very Vanilla border cut with the Finishing Touches  Edgelits™ die,  string pearls, ½” Very Vanilla Seam Binding triple bow and punched oval with sentiment/pearls to finish off the card.

Stamp Sets:  Winter Memories, Bells and Boughs

 Ink: Basic Black, Crumb Cake, Soft Suede, Early Espresso

Paper: Whisper White, Very Vanilla, Early Espresso, Retired DSP (SAB 2012)

Accessories:  Big Shot™, Fancy Fan and Lacy Brocade Textured Impressions™ Embossing Folders, Finishing Touches Edgelits™, SU! Watercolor Pencils, Aqua Painter, Sponge Daubers, X-Large Oval Punch, Distressing Tool, Color Spritzer Tool, SU! Soft Suede Marker, ½” Very Vanilla Seam Binding, Pearls

Thanks again for visiting- I hope all of you have a wonderful week and God Bless!

CCC12- Twenty Six Christmas Cards- Yea!!

Hi Stampers!   

As I mentioned in an earlier post, I decided to start early this year creating my Christmas cards for 2012.  First, I signed up for the 2012 CCC12 Splitcoast Christmas Card Challenge again this year and have committed to making at least 20 cards per month!  I know it sounds ambitious, but for some reason, I was unable to follow thru with mailing my cards this year and barely had enough for hand distribution (last year I had created 110 cards). 

I did not want to fall short again this year, therefore the minimum of 20 per month should be enough for our church family and relatives.  I am going to make sure that I follow through on the multiples as well and try to create more CAS cards with fewer layers and embellishments (except for the hand delivery cards).  Thankfully, I have this blog and my friends that visit me to help keep me accountable :-)

This card was fairly quick and easy (once I decided on the background color- almost went with Crushed Curry since I had it out from the previous project- still need to use up the huge stockpile from the Clearance Rack :-))  I even  ended up making 26 total - not an easy task with my Angel "girl" helping me- isn't she cute? :-))

This card incorporates My Digital Studio for the main image  (what a time saver!) along with traditional stamping for the sentiment only.   I had to resize the main image a few times before deciding that eight images per 8.5 x 11" piece of Whisper White would be the best size (therefore there are two sizes of cards). 

Print the MDS image onto Whisper White cardstock using Black printer ink and layer the image onto Basic Black cardstock.  

Use the Decorative Label Punch to punch out labels from Whisper White and line up the sentiment on the upper and lower half of the label (cut the punched image in half so you will have the sentiment label for two separate cards).

Adhere the sentiment behind the main image and onto the Perfect Plum embossed panel (emboss using the Big Shot™ with the Snow Burst Textured Impressions™ Embossing Folder).  

Add the 5/8” Basic Black Satin Ribbon bow and a Rhinestone to the star to finish off the card!

Stamp Sets:  Come to Bethlehem (My Digital Studio and Clear Mount)

Ink: Printer Ink- Black and Basic Black

Cardstock:  Whisper White, Perfect Plum

Accessories:  Big Shot™, Snow BurstTextured Impressions™ Embossing Folder, 5/8” Basic Black Satin Ribbon, Rhinestone

Thanks again for visiting!  I hope you enjoy New Year’s Day and have a great week (possibly you are starting on your Christmas cards for 2012 as well?) If so, I would love to hear about them and possibly see a sample..if you leave a comment with your link, I will visit you as well .:-)