Beary Christmas

Despite my efforts yesterday, I didn't quite get my theme card for the 52 Christmas Card Throwdown finished and posted in time for the launch. But better late than never.

Myrna has chosen "bears" for us to play with this week.

It took me a while to figure out this one, as I don't usually do characters. I did buy a Forever Friends stamp set at a sale a while ago, but the images were too custsy for me (it was 50p so don't mind!) Then I remembered I had a polar bear die, and eventually came up with something to do with it.

I started by cutting card to size and embossing with an Embossalicious snowflake folder.

Then I put it back through the mangle as I didn't want it too raised - seems backwards but I had a plan!

Next some die cutting from the card I'd cut away - as well as the polar bears, I cut some Merry Christmas sentiments.

I then added the bears to my background, glued on and put through the die machine again, so they're into the background like an emboss. This is why I flattened the background, so they'd stick flat onto it.

I then tore away the edge of the card.

Colour next - broken china and faded jeans distress oxides, blended over. The snowflakes pick up the ink depsite the flattening, giving more interest.

Next some gilding was in bronze, trying to pick up the edges of the bears.

I played with this a lot more - dry brushing white gesso over to lighten it, and splattering with watered down gesso.

I ended up painting the bears with the gesso and a water brush, so it wasn't solid, but made them stand out more. And adding a black soot drop shadow. Given that they're the theme of the card, they were getting a bit too subtle!

For the other half of the card, I used the remains of the cut away card. I started by stamping in distress oxide, using an IndigoBlu script stamp.

I then over stamped with a funky snowflake stamp I bought months ago and re-found the other day, in versamark and heat embossed with clear powder. Hard to photograph but I had a go!

I then did a wash over in a very pale blue, so the embossing would resist. I misjudged it a bit though, it ended up darker than I wanted. I tried to bleach it out with water but not much lifted. So I was wishing I'd used a different type of card!

I then joined the two pieces together.

I coloured some of the sentiment die cuts with the same distress oxides, and some picket fence white distress ink, and added them to the bottom. I saw a Clarity YouTube with Sam Crowe the other day, she was talking about repeat stamping sentiments so I decided to try the same here but with die cuts. The white stands out as a bit of a focus, the others drop into the background more.

Finally I edged with faded jeans and black soot, and mounted onto a 6x6 card blank.

This didn't quite turn out as I'd planned! But then, they rarely do. Lots of fun inky and embossing techniques in here.





To join in with your take a "Bears", visit us at the 52CCT and share your card. Entries close on Friday 27th September.