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

Pretty Bird Tags

I love stamps that are very clear and deep. I like them to stamp impressions that are vibrant.

This ELEGANT BIRD STAMP fits the bill. NO pun intended HA HA!

Here is my completed project, two pretty unusual Christmas tags.

I just love decorating my handmade Christmas gifts with Handmade tags, it adds a certain something to the gift.

And as I always say Art does not have to be complicated.

These are SO easy.

1. Stamp your ELEGANT BIRD IMAGE onto a piece of cardstock.

2. Grab your favorite medium, watercolor, markers, paints. Whatever you want to use, i used my trusty Sharpies. YUP, i love Sharpies. The colors are fun and vibrant, and cheap. No, they probably won't be around forever, the colors will fade but it doesn't matter to me, so if this matters to you, plan accordingly.
3. I then paperpunched my borders.
4. Strung some ribbon on them which adds even more elegance to an already elegant stamp.
5. Give gift.

I told you, easy. Do something today, fun and easy, something that just makes your heart hum.

From my humming heart to yours,
ANg