There was no way I would miss this week's 52 Christmas Card Throwdown technique challenge - Smooshing!
I love this technique, so easy yet looks so amazing (I think!). The randomness of not being able to control exactly what you get appeals to me, especially when it's amazing!
This time, I wanted to put a slightly different spin on it, so I started by gessoing through stencils onto my card. This creates a resist, but it's matt and more subtle than something like clear embossing.
I made four backgrounds, well in advance, and thought I was well ahead of myself! I even managed to add the smooshed ink (distress inks) to them all. But making them into cards - well, only one got done in time, the rest will follow!
My favourite was actually my least favourite at the gesso stage. It uses the Clarity birch trees stencil, and I didn't think it was very clear. So I inked this first as a trial run - I used brushed corduroy, crushed olive and pine needles. And absolutely loved how it came out! Funny how with crafting things can reverse so quickly and surprise you.
To convert my background into a card, I dragged my frayed burlap distress oxide over a spare scrap of card, then die cut my reindeer (Tattered Lace) and sentiment. I cut the background down, edged in the same frayed burlap, added the die cuts and mounted on a 6x6 card blank.
If I'd had more time, I might have added a drop shadow around the die cuts for depth - and I still might. But I love the light in this card, it's like the sun shining through the branches.
To join in this week, head over to the 52CCT blog. The challenge closes on Friday 1st November.
I'm back with this week's 52 Christmas Card Throwdown card.
Branka has chosen "Snowmen" for her theme.
I had this planned out all week, but ended up making it at the last minute so it's actually a pretty quick one.
I started by die cutting three ovals from my card, and stamping the figures (Clarity wee folk stamps), then using a sponge and torn paper to add hills and ground them.
The snowman is a bit wonky - I might redo him before giving it to anyone!
On the background, I stamped the red band across the middle, then ran it through a Tattered Lace embossing folder, with just the top inside. I sponged a bit of the blue ink over the dots.
For the bottom half, I used second and third generation ink and three more stamps from the same Clarity knitted stamp set as the red border.
I then used green and blue to edge the card and the oval apertures, and put together onto an 5x7 card blank.
I think the bottom half of this turned out really pretty! And I like the contrast between the areas.
To join in this week, head to 52CCT. You have until Friday 25th to play.
I think the colour challenges at the 52 Christmas Card Throwdown are my favourites!
This week, Branka has chosen white, blue and brown.
This is such a classy combination - I wanted to try a shaving foam background as well, but first I played with my new 6x6 gel press plate again. (And didn't get to the shaving foam in time!)
This is a card design from Barbara Gray at Clarity, I claim absolutely no originality. There's a ClarityStamp video on Youtube that's basically this card - but a bit more complex I think!
So no step by step photos from me this week, just the cards I made. The base layer is a mix of browns, a bit of cream in the smaller ones, and a touch of gold to add shimmer. For the second layer, to lift it all off the plate, I used a mix of blues, including a metallic.
I stamped the sentiment with teale archival ink, and spiced chai stazon. I used the stamping platform to offset it slightly.
I also have a few backgrounds that didn't work out - I tried swapping the colours round but it was a bit dull - I think I'll try doodling in gold on it. Another one, the stencil slipped on the plate; not sure if there's anything I can do with that one, although it might die cut well.
This and the next one I cut down, edged with brown sharpie, and mounted on a 7x7 card blank.
I cut down the first one as there was a blob of paint of the edge, but liked it so did this one too.
This one I left with the natural shape from the gel plate. I didn't cut down (7x7 stencil card from Clarity), but edged with the brown sharpie and mounted on an 8x8 card blank. I find this a bit too big!
To join in with our colour challenge, head to the 52CCT blog. You have until Friday 18th October to join in.
Have fun crafting!
Hurrah, a card on time for the 52 Christmas Card Throwdown - although it was close!
Branka is our host for October. This is the sketch she's chosen for us.
I got myself a new gel press plate last week, a 6x6, so had to have a play with it. I used acrylic paints, and stamps to lift the paint off.
I only got to make a card from one of these this week, I'm sure the others will get used before long.
Not a lot of photos this week.
After cutting to size, I placed a circle stencil over the edge of the card, then a leafy swirl (from Clarity) over that. I spread champagne modelling creme through the stencils.
Once dry, I sponged red then black permanent ink round the edge of the card. I put the circle stencil inner over the area I'd applied the modelling creme, and sponged ink out from it to form a shadow. I used dark red, and a little brown over the red paint for more contrast.
I die cut "Merry Christmas" from black card. I used the negative as a stencil over the card to apply more of the modelling creme.
This worked better than expected - I thought it would spread under the card to give a more diffuse background. I bet if I wanted to be readable it would spread!
I then attached the black sentiment over the creme to form a highlight.
I had moments while making this that I wondered where it was going, but I really like the finished result. The detail in the gel plate background really comes through for some gorgeous interest.
To join in, pop over and visit the 52CCT blog, for loads more inspiration from my DT colleagues. The challenge is open until Friday 11th October for you to play. You'll see that we're also looking for new members to join our lovely design team, could that be you?
Ridiculously late with my 52 Christmas Card Throwdown DT card this week - but I'd started and really liked what I'd done, so was determined to finish it off!
Myrna has chosen "Easel or Tri-fold" for her technique challenge.
A super speedy run through the "how to":
Sponge antique linen distress oxide over an A4 sheet of Sheena's stamping card.
Sponge gesso through two stencils - Clarity's brick and holly.
Put another Clarity stencil (don't know the name!) and sponge through with fired brick and mowed lawn distress ink, watered down. The gesso acts as a resist.
Cut to size (13.2 cm square) - two pieces for an easel card.
Stamp in versamark with a music stamp and a holly one. Brush bronze mica powder over.
Edge with vintage photo distress oxide and mount on charcoal card.
Grab the "NOEL" I stamped for the black and white challenge, cut down, edge and mount in the same way. Add to one of the pieces.
For the stand, take an offcut of the background, stamp the sentiment (from Clarity again) in versamark and add the mica. Add holly around the edge. Edge and mount as above.
Put it all together onto a 6x6 card blank, folded to make the easel.
I love this background, and the layers within it. So pretty and Christmassy.
To join in, head over to the 52CCT blog. Only a few days left - you have until Friday 4th October to play.
