Darling Christmas

Hello, Crafters.

I arrived back home later than I expected yesterday, which left me a bit short on time to get a card done for today! 

I decided to use the large bell sentiment in the Darling Christmas Stamp Set because it wouldn't take long....I thought!

Unfortunately for me, I just can't make quick cards! 

Although it doesn't show up very well in the photographs, I gave my Clear Wink of Stella Glitter Pen a really good work out! 
 
It looks beautifully glittery in real life!

I started by stamping the bell image onto a piece of Whisper White Cardstock (CS) using Basic Black Archival Ink. 

I used my Pear Pizzazz Marker Pen to colour the holly, the leaves, and to draw over the lines of the fir, making sure I went over the edges so the green could be seen. 

Next I used my Real Red Marker Pen to colour the berries. 

I felt it all looked rather flat, and to give it a lift, I went over all the snowflakes with my Wink of Stella. 

I liked the effect, and decided to carefully paint over the sentiment which was quite easy as it's fairly large, and also very thick in places. 

Although I took care while I was doing this, I didn't worry too much if I went over the edge. 

I was really pleased with the effect, and decided to go over the writing and the snowflakes again, which made it all look more glittery. 
 
Next I went over all the Pear Pizzazz colouring with my Wink of Stella, and then the berries. 

I was extremely cautious with the berries as Wink of Stella can make colours bleed, and I find the colour this is most likely to happen to is Real Red! 

Finally I went round the outside of the bell twice, so everything sparkled!  

I cut the bell out and left a narrow edge of white round the outside, and was then ready to start assembling my card. 

I cut some Merry Music Specialty Designer Series Paper (DSP) for the top layer, and adhered it to a layer of Whisper White CS. 

I adhered some thin red ribbon over the top of the layer, and on the front where it'd be disappearing behind the bell. 

I used Fast Fuse to anchor both ends of the ribbon, and Dimensionals to adhere the bell. I tied a small bow, and adhered it in place with a Glue Dot.

I wanted a bell to decorate the inside of my card but the only one I could find was in Seasonal Bells.

It was too big for my liking, so I went for some holly and berries from the Hang Your Stocking Stamp Set. 

I used Pear Pizzazz and Real Red Ink on a layer of Whisper White CS, which I adhered inside the card using Tombow. 

A simple but very pleasing card, methinks!

I hope you have a great weekend. Until tomorrow, happy crafting.

JanB.

Darling Christmas

Hello, Crafters.

As requested, earlier this morning I uploaded my video explaining how I line up the two-step stamps in the Iconic Christmas Stamp Set. 

Hopefully, I've explained everything I can about this superb bundle, but please ask if you have any questions.

Yesterday evening, I moved onto to the Darling Christmas Stamp Set.

I used Pool Party and Silver for one card and Pool Party and Whisper White for the other card. 

I started the card with a base of Pool Party Cardstock (CS), a layer of Whisper White CS and a top layer of Pool Party CS. 

I dry embossed the top layer using the Softly Falling Embossing Folder. 

I took a piece of the Pool Party snow-effect design from the Christmas Around the World Designer Series Paper (DSP) and wiped over it with my Embossing Buddy. 

I inked the bell stamp in Versamark and stamped onto the DSP. 

I dipped it into my box of Whisper White Embossing Powder and made sure I gave it a good covering. 

After tapping off the excess powder, I heat set it using my Heat Tool.

I cut the bell out freehand and I wanted to pop it up on Dimensionals, but hesitated as it was DSP and not as thick as CS. 

I took a piece of Whisper White CS - any colour would work - and laid the bell on it so I could draw around the edge. 

Then I took my Paper Snips, and cut inside the edge by about 1/8" all round. 
 
Before I adhered this to the back of the bell with Tombow, I lined the two up together to make sure the backing couldn't be seen from the front. 

Then I added Dimensionals and adhered the bell to the front of the card. 

I added a bow made with our 3/8" Pool Party Shimmer Ribbon. 

I was disappointed with the heat embossing at the bottom of the bell; it looks like I moved the stamp! 

I finished the card by adding an insert of Whisper White CS.

I made the second card, and changed the middle layer to Silver Foil, instead of Whisper White.

Likewise, I used  Silver Embossing Podwer instead of white. 

There were two other changes I made to this card. 

One of them was the ribbon, and the other was the inside layer. 

I used a sheet of Smokey Slate as I thought white would have been too stark, but I don't like it!

What I should have done, (and still might do!) was to add a layer of Silver Foil and then Whisper White!

The ribbons I used on the front were our 1/8" Silver Ribbon, and I threaded a piece of our Silver Mini Sequin Trim through before I pulled the "bunny ears" tight! 

I think this looks fabulous! 

I wasn't too keen on the regular size sequin trim we used to have, but this Mini Trim is gorgeous. 

I think I'm going to buy the Black and the Gold, too!

I obviously did a much better job stamping the bell on this card, because the heat embossing really shows the detail on this stamp!

That's about it for today. Until tomorrow, happy crafting.

JanB.