SHC - Retro Christmas ....

.... Morning! Can you believe that it's July already, no, me neither!!! Sorry I've been missing for a while, so busy at home. However, it's time for my new post at Seven Hills Craft blog - I've made a couple of retro style Christmas cards. Here's the first:

Stamps: Hero Arts - Mod Pattern Bold Print Background, Stylized Christmas Trees, Retro Christmas Messages
Inks: Delicata - Golden Glitz; Gina K - Jelly Bean Green, Jet Black Amalgam
Dies: Spellbinders - Petit Ovals Small (S4-140) #5; Hero Arts - Stylized Christmas Trees, Retro Christmas Messages
Accessories: White Card; Red Glitter Paper

I'm submitting this card to Merry Little Christmas Challenge - MLCC#24 where it's Any Christmas Goes.

I really like this background image - I think the repeating star gives quite a festive look, especially in shimmery gold ink. I die cut a large red glitter oval and adhered it to the centre of the card. Using the same gold ink I stamped a funky, neon sign style message, and die cut it with the matching die. I was going to leave the card there, but decided to add a retro Christmas tree too. On the inside, I cut a mat layer of glitter paper and on the white panel simply added a Christmas greeting and another of the funky Christmas trees.

For my next card I had in mind a lovely winter scene at a mountain resort with fir trees, snow, decorated trees and neon signs - this is it - sort of:

Stamps: Hero Arts - Mod Pattern Bold Print Background, Stylized Christmas Trees, Retro Christmas Messages; Waltzingmouse Stamps - Alpine Christmas (discontinued)
Inks: Gina K - Stormy Sky, Fresh Asparagus, Jet Black Amalgam
Dies: Spellbinders - Petit Ovals Large (S4-138) #6; Hero Arts - Stylized Christmas Trees, Retro Christmas Messages
Accessories: White Card; Red Glitter Paper; Clear and Iridescent Embossing Powders

As you can tell from the picture, this turned out a bit wonky!! The papers slipped when they went through the Big Shot, but never mind, it's part of the charm of a handmade card 😀. I stamped the mountain scene directly on the card. On white card I stamped the 'bauble' tree and two Christmas messages. I cut them out the the matching dies. I adhered the decorated tree directly to the card, then added the oval frame and finished with the two 'neon' Christmas messages. On the inside, I cut a mat layer of red glitter paper and on the white panel added a simple greeting and another tree.

That's all from me today - see you soon.

C24C - Merry Christmas ....

.... Hi! I was on a roll the other day and made another card featuring a Christmas tree for our challenge at Christmas 24 Challenge - C24C#06. I know that many people think it's too early to start on our cards for Christmas, but getting a headstart now means that you'll have less to worry about come December.

Stamps: Hero Arts - Stylized Christmas Tree
Inks: Versafine Clair - Cheerful, Green Oasis; Gina K - Black Onyx, Jelly Bean Green
Dies: Hero Arts - Stylized Christmas Tree
Accessories: White Card; SU Card - Granny Green Apple; Clear Embossing Powder; Copic Markers; Staedtler - Pencils; Clear Embossing Powder

I've kept this very clean and simple. I stamped the tree, coloured the background with a green Copic marker, restamped using Versafine Clair, a pigment ink, so I was able to heat emboss with clear powder. I then added some shading using my Staedtler pencils. I cut out the tree with the matching die. I finished the front by adding the bright yellow star and simple greeting. On the inside, I cut a mat layer of green card and on the white panel added another greeting and another of the trees from the stamp set.

You still have a few days to join in with our challenge at Christmas 24 Challenge and I look forward to visiting your blogs to see your creations. That's all for now!

C24C - Merry & Bright ....

... Good morning! I spent most of yesterday afternoon playing in my craft room, it's my hiding place, apart from the fact that everyone knows that's where I am!! Anyway, I made a very clean and simple Christmas card:

Stamps: Hero Arts - Stylized Christmas Tree
Inks: Versafine - Onyx Black; Gina K - Black Onyx, Sea Glass
Dies: Hero Arts - Stylized Christmas Tree
Accessories: Cream & White Card; SU Card - Calypso Coral; Copic Markers; Nuvo - Clear Aquashimmer Brush; Clear Embossing Powder.

I'm playing along with The Colour Throwdown - CTD#585 and Freshly Made Sketches - FMS#427, and the theme is from our current challenge at Christmas 24 Challenge - C24C#06 where we want to see Christmas Trees.

I stamped the tree on scrap white card, coloured it with Copic markers, restamped in Versafine and heat embossed with clear powder. I used the matching die to cut out the tree. I cut a strip of coral card onto which I stamped the sentiment. I used a clear shimmer brush to add sparkle to the tree, otherwise, I kept it ultra simple. On the inside, I cut a mat of coral card and on the white panel stamped another of the trees from this set and added a simple greeting.

I think this card has quite a retro feel - the colours remind me of my Nanna's house in the late 60s, early 70s. It's a fun design and I think will be used again.  Do visit our Christmas 24 Challenge, you have until the end of March to join in.  That's all for now. See you soon.