Black, white, colour

It's my second week hosting the 52 Christmas Card Throwdown for August, and we have a colour challenge for you.

We're looking for cards in black, white and only one other colour - and I'm being strict and asking for no other neutrals as well!

I started by cutting card to size for a 6x6 card, then painted it with black gesso. I made two, for different versions.

I then added gesso using the edge of a scrap piece of cardboard, in vertical and horizontal lines.

I have a selection of circular "mark makers" - bottles and caps, the middle from sticky tapes, even a cotton reel that I don't know where I got! So I used those to apply paint, magenta on one piece and red on another.

Once dry I cut apertures into the card with dies - hexagons in the magenta and stars in the red.

I placed the card over the 6x6 card blank and gently drew round the apertures in pencil so I knew where I was aiming for.

I then stamped inside with archival black. For the magenta card, I used a Clarity sentiment, with a stars and swirls stamp from another of their sets.

I added more magenta paint around the edge of the card and the apertures.

The plan had been to run the black card through an embossing folder before attaching it. But I completely forgot to do this! I think it would have helped added more interest. I'm not sure if I can detach the card to do this without ruining it - I used a tape pen, but did put quite a lot on! Maybe I'll be brave.


For the red, the Merry Christmas sentiment didn't fit in the aperture, so I went with another set (not sure who from!) and used three different Christmas words. They're unmounted red rubber, and very small. I find the spray adhesive a pain to use, so put a strip from the tape pen onto the mount. It worked really well, I was pleased with my innovation, although may regret it next time I try to use that mount.

I had intended to add more stamping, but quite liked the simplicity of these words alone. So decided that I'd add more detail on the black card (and still didn't remember about the embossing folder!). I tried stamping with the red paint, but it was too thin a layer to show well on the black. After a moment's pondering, I remembered a new stencil I got, from Clarity, with a holly design. That worked brilliantly added to the corners.

I think I prefer this version. 

I'm not sure whether I'd emboss this one - maybe start with the other and see what I think!





To join in with this challenge, head over to the 52CCT page. You have until Friday 17th August to enter your card.

Have fun playing with this colour option!