For Fabiola's colour challenge at the 52 Christmas Card Throwdown, she's chosen something typically stylish - all white.
Texture and movement are the name of the game when there's no colour to create contrast.
I started by cutting a 6x6 card blank down slightly. I die cut a corner lattice (Tim Holtz) into the bottom right. Above this, I used two embossing folders. The corner is designed for envelopes, and the snowflakes are a border folder.
To add depth, I die cut a layered snowflake - this is a new die set that I couldn't resist buying!
The bottom layer is shiny coated card, which I stamped and heat embossed in a pearly white.
The next layer is matt white, then white vellum. The centre is a white glitter paper I found, and I added a tiny white pearl in the centre.
I drew clusters of dots over the card and heat embossed in the pearl white too.
The corners were cut with a punch.
I placed this over a full size 6x6 card base, and attached at the top of the back, so it moves freely.
This isn't exactly how I envisaged the card would turn out, but I'm happy with how it hangs together. I think I've created interest without colour - I'm not usually good with leaving open space, and that turns out to be true even with a white card!
I hope you have fun playing with this challenge theme. To share your card with us, pop over to 52CCT, where you'll also be able to check out the amazing inspiration from the other DT members - such a variety of styles, but all gorgeous cards.
You have until Friday 17th July to enter this challenge..
Oh, it's good to be back - I've had a horrible few weeks with hospitalisation for a back/nerve problem, so painful! But I'm on the mend, and making cards again, albeit a bit late for the launch of this challenge!
Netta is hosting the 52 Christmas Card Throwdown for August. Her colour challenge is:
Tuquoise always brings brushos to mind! So I got them out and had a play with a new (to me) technique of using a stamp to pick up the colour from one part of the card and using it to fill empty spaces.
I used a script stamp from IndigoBlu and a favourite snowflake stamp - I can't remember the make. It's Sheena stamping card, cut into A5 sheets, to be cut down further for the cards.
Top left has merged a bit too much (too much water) and bottom left I used ultramarine which has come out too purple, but the two on the right (turquoise and cobalt blue) are great for this challenge. (The others will, of course, be kept and used.)
I cut them to size for cards. I use templates I've made from copy paper to choose which section I want to select.
I edged with chipped sapphire distress ink, to frame and add a bit more of the dark blue.
For the sentiment, and the copper element, I tore strips of vellum, and heat embossed the sentiments in copper. I folded these around the backgrounds and secured on the back to avoid adhesive showing through.
And then mounted onto card blanks. Simple!
I love the splatter at the top left of this, and the way it merges into the script, which always looks good.
Snowflakes really are my go to Christmas motif, and with these colours it was hard to resist. You can see the snowflake on the left where it's been lifted off, as well as the stamping on the right, which is lovely.
To join in with the challenge, head to the 52CCT blog, you have until Friday 16th August to enter.
Another week, another 52 Christmas Card Throwdown Challenge. It's a colour challenge this week, white and metallic gold.
It's an easy challenge in some ways, it's obviously Christmassy, but then you have to narrow down the options, and try to find something interesting to do.
I tried to get my card done early this week, as I've been away at my mum's since Wednesday - I nearly managed it!
I decided to use a pack of vellum sheets, with gold Christmas patterns on, that I've had for ages. I selected sheets with small designs on, some were mostly gold, some mostly white. Then I cut circles (again - must do a different shape at some point!) with dies. As the vellum is so thin I could cut through all the sheets at once, so it was nice and quick.
I then arranged them over the card - I was trying to achieve a bokeh type effect, using translucence on the vellum where they overlapped.
The first layout was on a white background, with another sheet from the vellum pack. It didn't quite work, so I tried a gold background - which I liked better.
I started with a layer of the more gold circles, attached with glue dots...
...then added the white circles over the top, overlapping.
You can see I also added the word "Joy" to one of the circles, to give a focal point. I stamped in gold pigment ink then heat embossed in gold.
I thought about leaving the circles overlapping the edge, but in the end decided to trim it back.
This is where I got to on Tuesday night, before coming away. I like it, but have the usual issue with vellum or parchment, that the glue dots show!
So, I scoured the local shops here in the New Forest for something to add. I was going for white gems, but didn't find any big enough. So instead, I got gold sequins - maybe not what I'd have used at home, but actually, I quite like the effect - adds to the glittery, out of focus feel.
I'm not sure I've quite pulled off the bokeh effect, but I'll live with that. I think the design is attractive nonetheless, a bit different but undeniably Christmassy. Maybe one for a man's card (despite the sequins!).
