Raiding the gel print stash!

It feels like ages since we've had a new 52 Christmas Card Throwdown challenge - the last one was two weeks. But a new month means a new challenge, and Myrna, our host for the month, has given us this sketch to play with:

I have to admit, I wasn't sure what to do with this one for a while! Having made quite tidy, inky cards for a few weeks, I wanted to do some thing messy and painty again.

I dug out some old gel press prints from my stash as a starting point, here's the first.

I cut them down to size (for a 6x6 card blank), then used solid Clarity stamps to add my circles and border (reinterpreted as a row of petal shapes!) I added white acrylic to a small gel press plate with a brayer to pick the paint up from.

I used the matching outline stamps, with versafine black ink, to edge the shapes. I didn't want it too neat, so tried not to line up exactly - I missed a few times and got it spot on!

I then used a black drawing pen to doodle on and around the shapes, for more interest.

I used gold embossing powder for the sentiment, with the Clarity word chain Merry Christmas.

It didn't show that well initially, especially on this background which has gold in anyway. But a bit of work with a white gel pen and...

... ta da! I love these pens, how did I manage without them?

I also gold embossed snowflakes over the petal border.

I edged with black ink to frame and finish, then mounted onto the 6x6 card blank.

The other card was meant to be the main, one, this was just using a more scrappy piece of card to see how it went, but I think I may prefer this one in the end! Funny how that happens.

To join in with our sketch challenge, pop over to 52CCT. You have until Friday 13th to enter.

Have fun playing!