Braided Christmas Papers

Hi everyone.  I thought it was about time I started including the odd Christmas card and so I set to, and wanted also to use some snippets as the latest Snippets Challenge is a Christmas in July using snippets.  I have had these 12" square papers for an exceedingly long time and I looked at some techniques using strips and came across this blog here which has a video demonstration by Lyssa.  I also used a Sue Wilson die  called Noel Star.

I started with the braiding.  On the video she uses double sided paper which unfortunately I don't have and so I cut a piece of card to fit a DL card, and decided looking at the design to try to replicate it without folding it over.  I cut the four 12" long strips two of each of the patterned paper snippets to build up this pattern.  I started by laying the first two at right angles to one another sticking the pieces down just at the edge overlapping the card to be cut to fit afterwards, adding those onto the card either side of the first two under and over.  I cut each of the strips to tuck just underneath the next one being put down so that it saved on the amount of strips and so that it didn't become terribly thick.  In the end the two strips of each colour was sufficient to cover the card.  I then cut the die from a piece of purple card backed with Stick It adhesive, which I thought went with the background and stuck it to the card and then put the pieces back into the letters and star.  When I put it onto the card I thought that the purple looked a bit dark and heavy so I used a Sakura Starlight gold pen over the whole thing and at least the gold sheen has lifted it a bit, in fact now it looks more like aged metal I think which is OK.

Obviously if you have double sided papers it would be easier to do it as she demonstrates.  I made my strips an inch wide as I wanted to end up with a wider panel to fill the card.  I do quite like the look of it though and it does lend itself to using lots of different papers and you could build up the pattern differently by using some plainer paper strips to break up the pattern as Lyssa has done.  Thank you for dropping by today and I'll see you again soon.  

I am entering the following challenges:

Snippets Playground Challenge - No. 459 Christmas in July using snippets.
Rudolph Days Challenge - July - Anything Christmas Goes.
The Holly and Ivy Christmas Challenge - Anything Christmas Goes.
Merry Little Christmas Challenge - No. 51 Anything Christmas Goes.
Peace on Earth Christmas Challenge - No. 44 Anything Christmas Goes.

Anemones

Hi there.  Hubby and I have just returned from two weeks in Pembrokeshire.  After all the settled warm weather in June it was rather changeable, and unfortunately due to the cool breeze which was evident most of the time, no sitting on the beach and a jacket was needed most of the time, but we did enjoy the break and the scenery especially the coastal scenery is absolutely beautiful.  I always find after a break that the mojo is not anxious to return but I needed a birthday card so got out this stamp from a recent Indigoblu magazine - Mixed Media No. 7, and luckily once I started it went OK.  The set also has dies and a stencil with three different designs and papers and sentiments, and I used the bubbles and the distressed cross hatching stencils in the background, and also some Distress Inks to colour.

Using a piece of mixed media card cut to fit  6" square card I used Tumbled Glass and Shaded Lilac ink spritzed with water and smooshed these over it, doing this several times to build up some soft colour.  I then stamped the flowers, used for the first time, and sentiment using Versafine Clair Nocturne Ink and then added the stencilling around the edges using the two inks mentioned above applied with a blending brush.  I then coloured the flowers using a waterbrush and used slightly darker colours ...Dusty Concord and Broken China on the flowers and Mustard Seed for the centres, and for the leaves Peeled Paint and Forest Moss, and for the slender foliage just a little of the Mustard Seed.  I finished by adding a bit of the Dusty Concord around the edges before adding it to the card.  

Whilst away I did manage to do some commenting and the two posts I put up were scheduled.  Although I did manage some commenting obviously I didn't have so much time and I apologise to those that I haven't yet caught up on.  Thank you for visiting me here today and I'll see you again soon.

I am entering the following challenges:

NBUS Challenge - No. 52 Where we use our Never Before Used Schtuff.
We Love Stamping July Challenge - Fabulous Florals/Anything Goes.
Stamping Sensations Challenge - Summer Flowers/Anything Goes.
Happy Little Stampers July Watercolour Challenge - Anything Goes/Christmas.
Happy Little Stampers July Birthday Challenge - Anything Goes.
Happy Little Stampers July Stencil Challenge - Anything Goes.
Beautiful Blossoms Challenge - Anything Goes with Flowers/Mood Board No. 7.
Triple B Challenge - July - Anything Goes with Birds, Butterflies and Blooms. 
Stencil Fun Challenge - July -Anything Goes/Birthdays.

Steam Train Birthday

Hi everybody.  It is hubby's birthday and I bought this steam train stamp from Crafty Individuals called Chunky Steam Train Tag and have been saving it to use the first time for this occasion.  I also used a stencil which came with a recent Indigoblu Magazine Mixed Media 7 and also a Kaisercraft stamp called Background Postmarks but I have had it for quite a while so not sure it will be available now.  

I started by making a 7" x 5" card from a piece of kraft card and used another small piece to stamp the steam train onto using Versafine Vintage Sepia Ink, and then I coloured it with my Inktense Pencils and a waterbrush, and added a few white highlight using the one from the set but with no added water.  I cut around it and then matted it on to dark brown and light orange card.  I then started on the background using Dark Brown, Orange and Emerald Green Brushos on a piece of mixed media paper/card well spritzed with water and patted dry with a paper towel to keep it light.  Next I added the circles stencilling in opposite corners blending several browns including Brushed Corduroy, Tea Dye and Aged Mahogany together with Carved Pumpkin, and then added the postmarks inking just a small portion of the stamp with Toffee Versamark Ink in the other two corners.  I finished by ink blending around the edge of the background with the same brown Distress Inks but added Ground Espresso to the very edges too.  Finally I mounted it all up and added a sentiment using the Versafine Vintage Sepia Ink heat embossed with WOW Clear Gloss Embossing Powder and also used the Ground Espresso round the edges.

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

Toucan Do It!

Hi everybody.  It is our 41st anniversary and I made hubby this card using a set by Lawn Fawn called Toucan Do It which I was lucky enough to win in a giveaway over at Marjan's Blog and I thought the toucans would make a fun card.  

I started by cutting a piece of blue card to fit a 6" square white card and decided to emboss a heart onto it using a Sweet Dixie die large enough to fit the toucans inside...not something I have done very often but it worked well.  I placed the first toucan and heat embossed using WOW Metallic Platinum Embossing Powder, and then masked it to place the branch it is perching on, and at the same time I placed the other flying toucan and the little hearts, and also the fun sentiment..all from the same set and also heat embossed with the Platinum EP.  I then ink blended around the card to frame the heart using Blueprint Sketch Distress Ink applied with a blending brush, and then to darken the edge Chipped Sapphire DI.  I attached this to the white card and then decided to add a die cut sentiment, and in order to match it to the other embossing I covered a piece of white card with Versamark Ink and heat embossed it with two layers of the Platinum EP.  I also added a piece of Stick It Adhesive to the back before die cutting it, and then I attached it to the card as you can see just slightly overlapping the embossed heart.

Thank you for dropping by today and I'll see you again soon.