OLW27 - Christmas kindness ....

... and a Give-away, is how Susan introduced her OLW challenge at Simplicity, this week.  Susan has received an email from Rhonda Schmidkunz (part of group who make cards for inmates at North Dakota Penitentiary).  Rhonda's group usually made layered cards, but the rules changed and now only one-layer cards are allowed - so Rhonda asked for Susan's help.  Thus, the OLW challenge this week is to:

"Make a December Holiday card that meets the North Dakota State Penitentiary rules for cards, as follows:

• No metal (brads, wire, etc.)
• No gemstones or pearls
• Limited glitter
• Flock, ribbon, embossing, and punched shapes are okay"

I think many of the girls in the States will be sending their cards to Rhonda to forward to the Penitentiary, but my card would not get there in time to be included, but it will form part of my Christmas collection for 2010.

Stamps:  Stampin' Up! - Contempo Christmas;  Papermania - Filigree Christmas Tree; Waltzingmouse Stamps - Text-It
Inks:  Versamark; Memento - Cottage Ivy; Distress - Pine Needles
Embossing Powder:  Stampendous - Detail Clear, Detail White

I've been doing a course on stamping techniques, run by Glenda Waterworth, on the My Creative Classroom site.  We've been learning about the versatility of using Versamark and resist techniques.  I'd done this technique a long time ago and sort of forgotten it.  But it's great for getting some detail into one layer cards!! 

On my card I stamped a background of green Christmas text using the Text-It set.  I'd already put on the main greeting using Versamark and embossing with Detail White.  I then rubbed my anti-static pad (but missed a bit, as can be seen by the slight glow around the bottom of the tree) over the card.  I used Versamark on the big Christmas tree and this time embossed with Clear Detail.  The final bit was to use a direct to paper technique; I used dark green pine needles distress ink, which also brought out the texture in the card.  Finally, I wiped the excess ink off the Christmas Tree and Greeting - to reveal text under the tree!!  Very pretty!!  Click on the picture to see the detail.

I'm really pleased with how this has turned out.  That's all for this evening - I'll be back tomorrow.