Christmas Leaves

Welcome to my blog!  Today I'm excited to share my first project using brand new products from Scrappy Tails Crafts!  If you'd like to see all the goodies in the Countdown to Christmas collection, click HERE.

Let's check out my card shall we?

I knew when I saw the Assorted Christmas Leaves die set that I had to have this fantastic set in my stash.  When I sat down with it to cut apart the individual dies, I started to imagine the leaves clustered together in a wreath pattern.  I made a loose sketch and got right to it!

My first step was to pick a color scheme.  I opted for a non-tradtional Christmas color scheme.  I pulled several colors of cardstock from my stash and got to cutting.

Next I cut some scrap pieces of paper into a circle and a square.  I needed to have a template of sorts to work with to make sure I got the spacing correct.  I played around for some time trying to figure out what layout I liked best.  I settled on the one below.  I carefully placed Press 'n Seal over it all and pressed down firmly.

I flipped the whole thing over and removed the white square.

Then I carefully added small dots of liquid adhesive over the leaves.  I flipped it back to the front and glued the leaves to a 5 1/2" square white panel.

I peeled off the Press 'n Seal and the white circle scrap.  I glued a circle cut from silver foil in the center.

Next I stamped the candle from the Candle Light Poinsettia (an older set) with Versamark ink.  Then I sprinkled on silver embossing powder.  I heated it with my heat tool until melted.  I also stamped the sentiment from the same set with a coordinating pink ink.

I used pink, green, blue and yellow inks that I smooshed on my craft mat and a water brush to lightly paint the images.  I used a Versamark marker to run along the outside edge of the circle.  Again I used silver embossing powder.

I set that piece aside while I created my card base.  I needed a base that was going to be 5 3/4" square.  The cardstock that matched was only 11" long.  I needed 11 1/2".  So I cut one piece 5 3/4" square and the other piece 5 3/4" x 6 1/4".  I scored the larger piece on the 6 1/4" side at 1/2".  I folded it, added some strong adhesive and glued the other panel on top.  You can see in the photo below how I attached it.  Now I was set with the right size base!

I added a generous amount of silver splatters to the leaves panel.  Then I added foam tape to the back of the stamped circle and adhered both to the card base.

For my finishing touches I added Stickles to the flame and the berries.  Then I kind of went crazy with the Metallic Silver Lining Nuvo drops.

I hope you'll check out all the amazing goodies in the store at Scrappy Tails Crafts!  And if you want to save 10% off your purchase, use code STCBLOG!

Have a most amazing day!

~Kristina

Compensated affliate links may be used - I may receive a small commission at no additional charge to you should you make a purchase using my link.

Nesting Circle dies - Waffle Flower Shop at: SBC | EH	Teflon bone folder Shop at: EH	Neenah Solar White Shop at: SBC | EH	Tombow Mono Multi Liquid glue Shop at: SBC | EH
VersaMark Watermark ink pad Shop at: SBC | EH	Silver cardstock - Lawn Fawn Shop at: SBC | EH	Therm O Web Foam Tape Shop at: SBC | EH	Crystal Stickles Shop at: SBC | EH
Versamark Pen Shop at: EH	Heat Tool Shop at: SBC	Ranger Tim Holtz Water Brush - Fine Brush Shop at: SBC | EH	Silver embossing Powder - Hero Arts Shop at: SBC | EH
Assorted Christmas Leaves dies - Scrappy Tails Crafts Shop at: SCT	Candle Light Poinsettia - Scrappy Tails Crafts Shop at: SCT	Large Stitched Circle dies - Sunny Studio Shop at: SBC	Silver Lining - Nuvo Drops Shop at: SBC | EH

Build Your Stash Holiday Hop

Hello!  I'm excited to make my very first Christmas card of the year!  Even better, I get to join a linky party for the very first Build Your Stash Holiday Hop.  You can find the details (and prize list!!) and the link up right HERE.  #byshhchristmasinjuly2020

I'm using two different digital stamp sets from Polka Dot Orchard.  They are having an awesome 50% off sale on Christmas/Winter sets.  Plus all other sets are 35% off for a limited time!

I'm using the Poinsettia from Poinsettia Greetings.  You can find that set right HERE.

I sized it to be larger than an A2 size card panel.  I printed it out using my laser printer onto regular copy paper.  Yes.  Regular copy paper.  You see, this wasn't supposed to be a card.  This was a sample I printed out that was laying on my desk.  I had a technique on my mind and I thought I'd just try it out.  And then I just colored the whole thing.  I was so happy with how it turned out I knew I was going to go ahead and figure out how to use it for a project.

The technique is simply to use a standard pencil and a smudging tool to add a hint of a shadow.  This is not my idea at all.  I picked it up from YouTube of course.  My major influences are Amber Rain Davis and Jaycee Gasper.  It's so easy AND satisfying!  I would lightly scribble some pencil in the areas where I wanted the shadows to be.  Then I grabbed a blending stump to smudge it out.  Here's how it turned out!

Obviously copy paper isn't strong enough for a card layer so I glued it onto a piece of cardstock.  I wanted to keep it simple.  I added the yellow at the center of the flower and touches of Gold pen.  I also added random dots with the gold gel pen.  That's it.  I added it onto the black and white patterned paper and then onto a black card base.

The sentiment is from the Holiday Poinsettia set.  I reversed the font color to white.  Then I created a black rectangle in Adobe Illustrator.  I put the white sentiment on top and printed it out.  I added foam tape to the back and added it to the card.

Here is a close up.

I appreciate you stopping by.  I'm off to link my card up to the Build Your Stash Holiday Hop.  Hope to see your cards there!

~Kristina

PDO Mixed Media Monday

Oh my goodness!  I can't believe how quickly December is passing.  I've got lots of wrapping to do and I haven't made a single card to send.  I *might* be a bit behind.  However, I've got some crafty goodness to share with you.  Today's theme for Polka Dot Orchard is a mixed media project.  It is definitely not my strong suit but I'm giving it a go!

I'm using two different PDO stamp sets, Home for the Holidays and Swinging by with Holiday Cheer.

Home for the Holidays

Swinging by with Holiday Cheer

I printed the truck from Home for the Holidays onto a Copic friendly cardstock.  I had an idea to create my winter sky background using Distress Inks and blending tools.  Now I need a a mask for my truck.  This is a pretty easy fix.  I printed the truck out again on regular copy paper and cut it out.  I applied a thin coat of Tombow Mono Multi liquid glue to the back and spread it out with my finger.  I let it dry for a few minutes and now I've got a mask!  I put it over the truck on the card and started blending with Distress inks.  I started with Chipped Sapphire, then moved to Seedless Preserves, Victorian Velvet and finally Antique Linen.

The background blend isn't perfect but no worries!  I love the reveal when you take off the mask.  It looks so crsip and clean!

And now for some coloring magic with Copic markers and some background splatters.

Truck: N5, R59, R37

Tree: N5, G85, G82

Tires: N7, N5

Hubcaps: C3, C1

Truck Shadow: W1

Windows: RV0000, RV000

Now you're probably wondering where the multi media aspect comes in.  Let's take a look at my finished card first.

For the tree in the truck I added dabs of white embossing paste.. While it was still wet I added glitter.  For the truck windows I added glossy accents.  I set this aside to dry and went to work on the sentiment. 

I took a label shaped chipboard and smooshed on clear embossing ink.  Then I sprinkled it with Wow Midas Touch embossing glitter.  Learn from me, emboss from the backside if you don't want a glitter explosion.  LOL!  I added another coat of embossing ink and the Midas Touch glitter.  I heated it again until it was all melted.  I added some purple ribbon through the holes and tied a knot on one side.  Then I wrapped it around the back of the panel and tied it through the other hole.  I added foam tape to the back of the tag and attached it to the card.  Next I printed the Merry Christmas sentiment out and cut it into an oval to match the tag.  I added foam tape to the back and added it to the tag.  I then added the whole panel to a gray card base.

There ya go!  One of my first attempts to create a multi media card.  How'd I do?  Here's a few more pictures of the finished card.

And a side view to try and capture the embossing paste texture.

Toodles!

~Kristina