Hello there! Happy Hump Day!! I wish it wasn't here yet as I have so much to do I feel a little panicked, like I am drowning!! It's very difficult to say no to great opportunities you've wished for for years & people tell you to enjoy the moment when it finally arrives but all these things are easier said than done.
I am always torn between how to balance my studio time with my computer time & how to split my time between different design teams, comment support, etc. It only seems to get harder as time goes by but I believe in "Kairos Moments" & striking while the iron is hot so I am trying to juggle it all & work out my "Anything"!!
I made a set of 3 Christmas cards for Scrapmatts, as one of my Design Team given assignments this month. I did not relish the thought at all as I don't enjoy making cards & I don't manage to make them quickly either! It turned out really fun though!!
I decided it was time to work out how to create a card that stayed true to my scrapbooking style. I have been all about that for the last few weeks & am very happy with the results.
Suddenly my style has fallen into place after years of roller-coaster riding & it's a huge relief to me! Of course I decided to settle on something using what comes most naturally to me - lots of mediums, texture & clustering with a real artsy feel to it.
I love the look of long, narrow cards so made my own template & cut these out of plain white cardstock. They measure 9 inches down & 4.5 inches across the back. The front measures 3.5 inches as there is a 1 inch strip showing (the back is wider than the front).
I really enjoyed working with this different format. It made things more interesting for me & I love the way the cards turned out. I cut & made each card individually but next time I would like to try decorating them all together before folding & cutting, to compare.
MIXED MEDIA CHRISTMAS CARD TUTORIAL
{10 EASY STEPS TO MAKING YOUR OWN!}
Step 1. Cut cards to size using measurements provided
{I added an extra half inch to the back so that I could
fold a seam under the visible strip - it just looks nicer}
2. Start by choosing & using a stencil, together with some
texture paste, somewhere on the front of each card then dry off.
3. Choose & use 3 different colours of mist. (I chose 3 from Lingy's Stamp Gang). Purple, green & gold. Apply in short bursts, tipping your card vertically to cause drips & spraying with water for the pooled effect. Use your heat tool to dry off & also to channel the direction of your drips & shape of your pools.
4. Ink up a background stamp with archival ink
& stamp randomly in a few places on the front
of your card. Don't forget to include the
side-strip in all these steps too.
5. Use a toilet roll dipped in white acrylic paint
to create a few random circles here & there.
6. Cut down your mesh tape to be slightly narrower
than the side-strip of your card then adhere.
7. Paint your chipboard, dry off & adhere.
8. Stamp a frame in which to place your sentiment.
9. Mount onto gold cardstock.
10. Add your titles using alpha stickers or chipboard words
then fussy-cut around your title & adhere into position.
then fussy-cut around your title & adhere into position.
Supplies List for Christmas Card Set
White cardstock - American Crafts
Gold Cardstock - Coredinations
Spray inks/mists - Lindy's Stamp Gang
Fibre Paste - Golden Gel Mediums
Stamp - Prima 2013 Vintage Vanity Collection
Frame stamp - Prima
Ink - Black Archival from Ranger
Mesh Tape - Hardware store
Chipboard - Scrapmatts
Paint - Gold Paint Dabber by Ranger
Black alphas - Creative Memories
Rhinestone flourishes - Flourish with a Bling
These definitely aren't the fastest Christmas cards to make this season but I reckon they are pretty original & will give your non-scrappy friends & relatives a good idea of "what you do" :)