Pages

Friday 25 November 2022

Berry Branch

There is a Christmas Challenge run by Beccy Muir from Beccy's Place called A Month of Holiday Cards Challenge and I am rather late to the party but thought I would try and at least make a few cards before the end of the month.  I was going to start sooner but have had a busy month with birthdays to make for and also unfortuately hubby had to have an emergency hernia operation four weeks ago and so the start of the month was when he came home so didn't have so much time for a week or two, but thankfully he is much better now.  I used one of Beccy's freebie images called Berry Branch.


I started with the digital image on some 160gsm paper, as my printer does not like thicker card.  I read somewhere that if you use white gesso over the paper you can use watercolour techniques without it buckling too much.  I maybe should have used it straight out of the tube but I did water it down a bit so it didn't obscure the digital image lines too much, and this did make it warp a little, but after drying it wasn't bad and I did find the colour went on better without going through to the other side, but I did end up fussy cutting it out as it wasn't completely unwrinkled.  I used some Lyra Water Brush Pens in a light and dark brown and also a red, orange and a bit of purple for shading, applied to my mat and then using a waterbrush to paint with.  I also used some 3D Clear Gloss Pen over the top of the whole thing which gave it a bit more strength and a lovely gloss finish.  I used a black and white plaid paper as a background and adhered the berry branch to a piece of white card, both layers cut with a rectangular stitched die, and backed with red card.  I finished with a Versafine Satin Red Ink for the sentiment heat embossed with WOW Clear Gloss Embossing Powder.

Thank you for visiting my blog today and I'll see you again soon.





I am also entering the following challenges:

Rudolph Days November Challenge - Anything Christmas Goes.
The Holly and Ivy Christmas Challenge - Anything Christmas Goes.
Happy Little Stampers November Christmas Challenge - Anything Goes/Santa.

13 comments:

Suzanne H said...

I've hopped over from Beccy's Place. Your card is really lovely. I love this color combination. The black and white plaid is perfect. I'm glad that your husband is feeling better.

Beccy said...

Your card is gorgeous Pat, you really did a great job with the berry branch. I was surprised to read that you had actually cut it out, what a job! The effort was worth it though, it's really beautiful. Wonderful choice of paper for the background, the black, white and red is an awesome combination.
Glad to hear your hubby is doing well following his surgery.
Cheers,
Beccy

Loll said...

So pretty. Love the berry branch with your patterned paper framing, Pat. The gloss on the berries gives them shine and dimension. My printer is the same about not wanting to take thicker card stock. I did find a way to make mine work, cutting my card front to size and taping it down to copy paper so that it's at the bottom (and making sure that's where my image would print). Once the copy paper was already feeding through, it seem to transition to the thicker paper without much trouble. I hope this might work with your printer too, but they are all so different. xx

Kathyk said...

Oh this is just lovely, Pat, the perfect combination of image/colour and pattern

Have a great weekend

Kathyk

cuilliesocks said...

It's a beautiful card Pat, lovely foliage image and colours, lovely design too, Kate x

Jenny L said...

Hi Pat,
Happy Rudolf Days.
What a very wonderful card and a brilliant design too.
Love that image and the plaid paper used and the red sets it all off perfectly.
Thank you for joining the Rudolf Challenge.
Lots of crafty love. Jenny L. DT

Alyson Mayo said...

This is so pretty with the plaid background. Thanks for sharing with us at HLS Christmas :)

Aimeslee Winans said...

Hi Pat, what a gorgeous card! I am in awe at your fussy-cutting skillz. Every year I try to participate in Beccy's event, but like you this month got away from me as far as doing that, but 2 days ago I found the image I'd printed out on Nov. 1 with papers all ready to make and am almost finished just in time for Day 27 Y(ellow). So I too will get to participate - Serendipity! Get well wishes for your hubby, that must have been traumatic for you both. XOX

Marjan said...

Didn't hear that tip about the gesso before, so thank you!! My printer also doesn't like thick paper and watercolour paper is usually quite thick. The image is a beauty and you made it come to life beautifully! Love the fresh look of this card, Pat!

Liz said...

A very striking card, Pat. Your fussy cutting was a real labour of love to it out so accurately. The plaid make a perfect background. xx

Sue's Crafty Corner said...

A beautiful card Pat. Thank you for joining the fun at Rudolph Days this month.

Sue xx

Faith A at Daffodil Cards said...

Fussy cut? You deserve a medal! This card has huge impact, I love it.
Faith x

foleysfriend said...

Pretty Christmas card. I love how you repeated the red - for the berries and mats; the choice of the black and white plaid was a good one for a bit of contrast. Thanks for joining us at Happy Little Stampers ~ Christmas Challenge.

sue n.