Christmas Inspiration

This time of the year is filled with making Christmas cards. This year I made over 300. Yes I was a very busy gal.

Here is one i just made last evening as I caught up on missed TV shows.

Two stamps were used.

MERRY CHRISTMAS

GIRL WITH KITTEN AND DOG

Now when I got the Merry Christmas stamp I was surprised at the size , its small.
Once I sat back and thought about it, I got a bit excited. I mean as a person who loves to make miniature books, ATCs, small tags, this became a brilliant stamp.
Its perfect.

The card is pretty simple to make.

1. Card measures 4 1/4 x 5 1/2, cut out of Kraft cardstock.

2. Adhere a 3 3/4 x 4 1/2 piece of patterned paper to the card.

3. Using alcohol inks, color a 3 1/4 x 4 1/4 piece of glossy paper. Use colors that compliment your overall color scheme.

4. Using alcohol inks, color a 3 x 3 piece of glossy paper. Again use inks that compliment each other. The alcohol inks are designed to be used together so really you can't go wrong with whatever colors you choose.

5. Rubber stamp the "Girl with Kitten and Dog" onto the 3 x 3 piece of glossy paper, using a permanent ink such as Staz-On, as this is a non porous surface so it must be permanent after you have inked it with the alcohols inks.

6. Put three complimentary brads on the larger glossy paper,take a piece of ribbon and place it on the left long side tape into place and then adhere it all to the patterned paper.

7. Adhere the 3 x 3 as the top layer, placing it at a different angle, this promotes a visual pleasing to the eye.

8. Stamp "Merry Christmas" onto the bottom right hand side , bottom glossy paper with a permanent ink such as Staz-On, as this is a non porous surface so it must be permanent. Looks pretty nifty there doesn't it.

9. Paper punch the bottom of the card and then adhere a 4 1/4 x 2 piece of alcohol inked border to the bottom the the card.

10. Make a matching envelope. (The key to this, use elements on the envelope that you used on the card, this pulls the whole package together. Example: I used the "Merry Christmas" stamp, to stamp a border around the front of the envelope. I used the same pattern paper and the same paper punch that i used on the card)

11. One thing i did forget, all edges of my card was edged in the Krylon Gold Leafing Pen.

12. Send card to a friend.

Take care all my crafty arty friends.

L.
ANg

Tropical Toucans with a "Tangled" Resist Background

Hello and Happy MONDAY at Viva Las Vegastamps!!! Susan here to share a resist technique using the new "TANGLED" stamps by artist Sandra Strait from Plate #1427.

For my card I am also using Two Toucans on a Branch #8829 stamp. 

I stamped this twice on a piece of Kromecote, a Glossy Cardstock also available at Viva Las Vegastamps! This glossy paper really makes your image pop! 

I needed to use this glossy coated stock to use with the Ranger Resist Ink Pad. I tried the resist ink with the woven and the bamboo tangles from Plate #1427 and the results are completely different.

Start by mounting rubber and inking up with the resist ink.

After stamping onto Kromecote cardstock, heat set until completely dry.

**A NOTE** Be careful when handling Kromecoat.

Your fingerprints will act as a resist ink for this technique.

I applied ink using a brayer and the magic happens.

After fully covering with ink, gently rub with a paper towel and high gloss shine will return. If you would like deeper coloring, you can apply a second layer by repeating process.

This is a detail view of the resist area which remains white. This resembles a scratchboard etching with the hand-drawn detail of the stamp. LOVE IT!!!

Here is the bamboo tangle also done using same technique using a blue to green rainbow ink pad. The positive and negative space of this stamp is high contrast and gives this an entirely different effect. This background I am using to create my "Tropical Tangled Toucan" Card.

I hand-colored the birds and branches with my Ranger Distress Markers and fussy cut them out. 

On one of the stamped birds I overstamped with the resist ink and brayered on the same blue to green ink. I mounted this onto blue cardstock and colored leafs and branches green. I adhered the colored birds on top of the uncolored birds on this piece. I layered this over the center of the other two sections of large blue resist bamboo tangle, and mounted onto a green A2 card base.

Presenting "Tropical Tangled Toucans"

Thanks so much for dropping by today! Viva Las Vegastamps! now has creative posts every day! If you haven't subscribed to the VLVS Blog - you want to!!! Don't forget to check out the Viva Las Vegastamps! store - new stamp releases have just been added. If you would like to see more of my creations please visit my blog, sbartist : painting in the dark HERE. I'll be back with another stamping adventure on June 24th. Have an inky day! Sb