A doodled sketch

It's time for another sketch challenge at the Christmas Card Throwdown.

I had a card planned for this sketch, but when I came to make it today, I felt like doing something completely different!

I started with a 7x7 piece of Clarity stencil card, and added distress ink with a blending tool - mowed lawn, fired brick and wild honey to lift the colour.

The wild honey is really juicy, hence the flash on the left - which I was able to lose when I trimmed it down to size for a 5x7 card base.

I then got out a selection of small Christmas stamps, and, using black archival ink, stamped them in rows down the side, for the stripes of the sketch.

With a fine permanent pen I joined the stamped images with doodles, which made the three lines clearer.

For the sentiment, I used part of the off cut from my inked card. I stamped a doodle style frame, and the words "Merry Christmas", plus a couple of stars. I then added more doodles with the pen.

I edged this, and the background, with a black sharpie. I then mounted the sentiment on a scrap of white card.

To finish the background, I over stamped in mowed lawn and fired brick, second generation ink. I used a curly stamp from Leonie Pujol, snowflakes and the stars, and some swirls.

There's one section on the middle I wasn't that happy with, so that's where the sentiment goes!

The final touch was a bit of clear sparkle overlay pen on the doodles. As it's water based, I got a bit of faux bleaching thrown in, which I like. I got a bit carried away on the sentiment, and I managed to get the angle for the photos where it really shines!

But it's Christmas, so I think I can get away with a bit of bling.

To join in with our sketch challenge, visit us at the Christmas Card Throwdown - you have until midnight GMT on Friday 17th March.