Pages

Thursday 25 December 2014

Happy Christmas

Hi there everybody.   Here is a card I made after seeing something similar over at Heather Telford's bits & pieces.  I only found her blog relatively recently and on looking through some of her posts you can see what wonderful work she produces.  I looked at the video tutorial she made and couldn't wait to have a go.  I used the tree from a freebie set from Penny Black which I got recently with a magazine, and although more of an indoor tree I thought it would probably work OK.


 Now it is no way as good as hers and it is similar as there isn't a lot of different ways to do snow and trees, but I hope she wouldn't consider this too much of a copy.  I cut a piece of copy paper with the shape for the snow, and the moon I cut using a circle die, cut the inside of the die to make it a bit smaller, pencilling the shape on to a 'post it' note and cutting out.  I used watercolour paper this time as I wanted to make it wetter and this does allow you to wet with a spray where ordinary card disintegrates much more easily.  I used  a brush and some water with my Distress Inks in  Tumbled Glass and Faded Jeans to build up the sky.  The trees were stamped with Adirondack - Bottle.  I actually spritzed the stamp with a bit of water before stamping so it blurred a bit and then went over again when dry with the same colour without the added water and on one or two I used a bit of Black Soot over the top instead of Bottle.   I did have a bit of a problem with the copy paper getting too wet and transferring the green  in several places.  I did try lifting the colour out with lots of water on the brush and a tissue which worked a little, but I just had to incorporate these in to the design as best I could.  If the tree looked a bit too thin I used a little extra Bottle ink with a brush and water to make the foliage more dense.  I used some more of the blues round the trees to give the appearance of the trees sitting in snow hollows and blurred lines of blue to give the snow depth.  I think this worked a bit but Heather's is fantastic.

I finished by stamping the sentiment and added some Perfect Pearls for the falling snow.  I think my blobs are a bit too regular.  Her brush and masking fluid gives a much more random effect.  Overall I was pleased with the way it turned out, but please if you don't know Heather and have never seen her work do go and take a look as you will be blown away by it.

After photographing it I decided that as it was what I considered to be my best and most creative card, artistically speaking, of the season,  I put a new sentiment tag over the top making it more personal and sent it to our son.  I didn't bother to take another photo though so this is it prior to the sentiment change.  

I would like to say a big thank you to all my lovely followers and fellow bloggers who I have come to know in the last fifteen months and hope that you all have a lovely Christmas, and for those that don't celebrate, an enjoyable break, and that 2015 will be happy, healthy and fulfilling. 

Pat x 


8 comments:

Jean said...

I love your card Pat, lovely trees.
Happy Christmas to you and your family, and best wishes for the new year.
Jean x

Darnell said...

Oh, Pat, I agree with you! This is your most stunning card, every bit as lovely as Heather's cards and she is one of my card idols!! I aspire now to be as good as both of you!! Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! Thank you for all your wonderful comments and visits!! Hugs, Darnell

MaryH said...

Pat, I think you have CASed Heather's card just splendidly, and I'm certain she would be very proud of your efforts. (she's very encouraging!). You did a fantastic job with the snow dunes and those trees are just like Heather's. There is a product called Eclipse tape that makes a great mask..also the masking fluid Heather uses works well. Don't know if those products are available in the UK. (Maybe at an Art supply?) But yours looks terrific I think, and your Perfect Pearls falling snow is just wonderful! Hope that your Christmas Day was uber special. Hugs & TFS (and once again, Great job!).

Paper Creations by Shirley said...

Gorgeous artstic design Pat ! I love it. I hope you had a wonderful Christmas and wishing you a great 2015, Shirleyx

Sarn said...

Heather's work is simply amazing - she is very talented. But I must say your card is FABULOUS Pat - and just as good.

Happy New Year to you. xxx

Cathy said...

Stunning card Pat, you've CASED Heather's card beautifully. I love her work too. Best wishes for a wonderful New Year, Cathy x

Bonnie said...

This is gorgeous, Pat! I tried this technique when I watched Heather's video and it didn't turn out anywhere near this good! I'm impressed!

Lagene said...

Absolutely GORGEOUS! Excellent card!