Merry Christmas

Hi Everybody,

I made this Christmas card for today's post using Brutus Monroe products and I'm also up on the Brutus Monroe blog today. 

I don't make a lot of square cards but sometimes when I'm using a 6"x6" stencil and I want to keep most of the background, I'll make it square.  This card base is 5-1/2"x5-1/2".  

I started by using a sheet of this pretty gray cardstock from the Kaleidoscope Wings Inspiration Kit.  An alternative would be to use the Lunchbag cardstock that is the Kraft color.  I wanted to use the Snowflake Stencil and make it glittery and dimensional.  I decided to use some Cosmic Shimmer Glitter Embossing Paste in Frosted Dawn Sparkle.  It has the exact look that I was going for!  You just spread the paste over the taped down stencil with a palette knife, get the excess off to put back in the jar and then pull off the stencil carefully.  It needs to dry for a few hours so keep that in mind when using this, but it's worth it.

Next I grabbed a cup of Gevalia Mocha Latte (because it is expresso coffee) and sat down to color some of the stamps in the new Comfort and Joy Holiday Kit. I stamped the images with Memento Black Tuxedo Ink and colored with Copic Markers, just using 2 reds and 2 greens.  I use Xpress It Blending Card when coloring with Copics. I decided to fussy cut them out which was a little bit of a challenge with the holly leaves but I took my time and was able to do it.  I popped these up with Scrapbook Adhesives Black 3D Foam Squares.  

I embossed the Merry Christmas sentiment on Wagon Cardstock with Brutus Monroe Ultra Fine Alabaster Embossing Powder and cut out with a banner die. 

To finish it off I added some gold glitter Stickles to the center of the poinsettia and glossy accents on the berries. 

This was a fun card to make!  Grab the coloring media of choice and a stencil and make a beautiful Christmas card. 

Thanks for stopping by and have a great day!

Regina

Oxide Ink Background for Christmas Card

Hi Everybody,

I have been somewhat MIA the last few days due to a knee issue but I'm back now.  I love this card that I'm showing you today.  I made an Oxide Ink background using Worn Lipstick, Candied Apple and Abandoned Coral.  These colors look really great together!  I did the smooshing technique where you put some ink down on your craft mat, spritz with water and 'smoosh' your watercolor cardstock into the ink.  I usually do it in two colors and use the heat gun for a few seconds. You may or may not need to dab with a paper towel. Then I'll dab it in another color or two and use heat gun again for a few seconds.  It's totally up to you because it will turn out different each time you do it so you just have to judge it for yourself to see when it looks right to you.  I love it when there is a little bit of white left. I took the spray bottle top off and flicked some water drops from the tube part of the sprayer.  You can use a paint brush as well.  You can also flick little spots of paint if you'd like. I used Bristol Smooth cardstock for this card. 

I used the stamp set from Sweet 'N Sassy Stamps called Christmas Botanicals. This is a lovely stamp set and I think you can do so much with it since there are two different kinds of flowers and also separate pieces such as holly leaf, berries, etc.  I love the font for Merry Christmas too.  I stamped everything with Versamark Ink and embossed with Stampendous Detail Fine Gold Embossing Powder.  Even though the flowers and leaves were somewhat colored in when I stamped them on the Oxide Ink background, I colored in the poinsettias and leaves with Zig Markers.  I used a Gold Wink of Stella pen for the center and then went over the centers of the flowers and the berries with Glossy Accents for some added shine and dimension.  

That's it!  When you make an Oxide Ink background, half of your work is done for you!  Did I inspire you to make an Oxide Ink background and use your Christmas stamps on it?  I think this gives the stamps a totally different look than the traditional way that I usually do them. 

Thanks for stopping by and have a great day!

Regina

Christmas Wreath

Hi Everybody,

This week I am on Sweet 'N Sassy's Blog using stamp sets called Christmas Wreath and Christmas Wishes.  This is the first Christmas card I've made this year!  I promised myself I would start in July and make a few each month and that did not happen.

The card stock I am using is from Gina K Designs called Cherry Red, Black Onyx, and Layering White.  I am really liking the brighter green and red together this year so I stamped the wreath with Colorbox Ink in Jalopeno.  I stamped the berries with Gina K Designs Cherry Red and it covered beautifully.

I got married this past April so I thought it would be nice to make cards using stamps such as 'from us' or 'from the family' so I used a stamp set called Christmas Wishes.  I really like the fonts in this set. I stamped with Versafine Onyx Black and embossed with Zing Clear Detail Fine Embossing Powder to give some dimension and shine.  I love how crisp and black Versafine ink looks.

I cut the letter 'B' out with the Silhouette machine.  I have been wanting to get a wooden letter B to go on the front door ever since I got married in April. Monograms are very popular where I live in Mississippi so I liked the idea of using the Letter 'B' on the card making it more personal since the card is 'from our family' and we're newly married this year.   The bow was also cut out with the Silhouette, folded and glued together.  I brushed Wink of Stella in Clear over the bow and put some Glossy Accents in the center.

To finish it off I used some red and silver metallic twine from my stash. Glossy Accents were used on the berries and the letter 'B' to give lots of shine and dimension.  

HERE IS A LINK to the Sweet 'N Sassy online store for more Christmas stamps, dies, etc.

I hope I inspired you to make some Christmas cards, especially ones that are personal and unique for your family.  

Thanks so much for stopping by and have a great day!

Regina

I Brake For Beautiful Hair!

Hi everybody!

I've been feeling a little stressed so I decided I needed to color something.  That always relaxes me.  I have to say that I really enjoyed coloring this one.  If you like coloring hair, you will love it.  

It is from I Brake For Stamps.  She comes in stamp or digital form.  Her name is Trieste.  

I love this stamp because you can color her hair a normal color like I did in browns or can use reds or greens.  Some people like non-traditional colors for Christmas so why not color her hair pink or turquoise?  :)

If you use COUPON CODE SAVE10REGINA, you will receive 10% off your order. 

 

For the inside, I used Tim Holtz dies from the set, Holiday Words Script.  I cut them out using some glitter paper in a pretty white, glitter color.

I colored her with Copic Markers and added Glossy Accents to her lips, Wink of Stella glitter pen on the star and used a Sakura Clear Star glitter pen over the jingle bell on her necklace and accented the ornaments in her hair.  

I used Red Hot and Black Onyx card stock from Gina K Designs and the patterned paper is Echo Park, Christmas Cheer by Lori Whitlock.

Did I inspire you to get out your Copics?  Again, Trieste comes in a rubber stamp and a digi.  I really enjoyed coloring her and I know you will too!  

Thanks for stopping by and have a great day!


Regina - Design Team Member