Where to Wonder

 I'm a firm believer that most ideas from the creative mind happen when you least expect it. In my case the middle of the night. Instead of making notes, I jumped at the chance and grabbed the supplies I needed to make this fun loving Christmas card. 

Tim's ideaology paper stash Christmas/Noel makes the perfect background. Double sided for the win! The possibilities are endless. For this make I went with non traditional Christmas colours. One side for the card base and the other side die cut with Sizzix thinlits layered stripes. This die is perfect for adding dimension to the background.

The candy cane stamp from cms169 Christmas blueprint 3 + Rudolph from STAMPtember 2024 are the perfect size for the focal point.

Enjoying the process of bringing the candy cane to life, using distress watercolour pencils. They blend like butter. No water is needed for this technique. The best part is creating a palette, deciding which colours play well with others. lol After a few attempts, I was finally satisfied with the outcome.

Tim's recoiling scissors are perfect for fussy cutting. The comfort grip makes it easier and gives you more control where you need to cut. I fussy cut the candy cane twice + an extra bow with pop ups for dimension. Making the bow more authentic by using Tim's + Sizzix shaping kit to the rescue. The stylus is perfect for bow shaping.

Pop ups add great dimension to cards. I added a few to the candy cane and Rudolph. 

I love the font from Tim + Heidi's SSS STAMPtember festive stamps and coordinating dies. Embossed with Ranger embossing powder white and my go to for embossing, the Ranger Handle IT tool while heat setting. Tip: for die cutting, to keep die from shifting, use a low tack tape that's easy to remove. I used washi tape. 

SSS (Simon Says Stamp) 3D foam strips (left over from Tim + Heidi's Christmas in July class, fit perfectly behind the word wonderland. cut down to size and place on card front. If you're feeling adventurous like myself, and would like to stalk up on these beauties, you can find them here.

Finishing touches: adhere card base to white card stock add pop ups to red card stock.

I hope you enjoyed my detailed tutorial and it leaves you feeling inspired.

Christina

With Brave Wings she Flies

 Have you ever looked through your stamp collection and realized one of your favourite stamp sets was at your fingertips? Tim + SA cms213 perspective. I use the butterfly a lot, always wanted to try out the numbers background stamp. There’s a first time for everything.

The Base:

Starting with a piece of watercolour card stock for the base, smoosh distress ink lost shadow and distress oxide pumice stone onto craft sheet, mist with water, then tap card base. Dry between layers.

It’s all in the layers:

Using the background number stamp from the stamp set perspective and distress oxide in pumice stone, ink portions of stamp to go on background in random sections.

Apply texture paste sparkle through your favourite stencil, I used dot fade. This stencil has been loved a lot lol. Let air dry.

One of my favourite stamps and most loved from this set is the butterfly. Distress watercolour card stock is my go to for mixed media and especially watercoloring. First ink the stamp. I used Simon Says Stamp VersaFine Clair in Nocturnr. Any permanent ink will do. Using my all time favourite distress watercolour pencils to colour the butterfly. The beauty of these pencils is they blend like butter. With or without a water brush. 

Normally I don’t have the patience for fussy cutting, however I discovered an easy way to persevere through it. Draw an outline of the butterfly, using Tim’s recoiling scissors carefully cut around outline. They have a really good grip and easier control to cut.

TH/SA cms394 tiny text is so versatile. You can use it as a background or choose different sayings to put on cards. I chose ‘with brave wings she flies’ distress embossing ink on black Kraft stock and heat embossed with Ranger embossing powder in white. Making sure I have my Ranger Handle It tool. Less likely to burn my fingers lol.

Finishing touches:

Next I machine stitched part way in the upper right hand corner and lower left hand corner to give balance. Then added a mini action wobbler to create the illusion of the wings fluttering away.

I hope you enjoyed my tutorial and it leaves you feeling inspired.

Christina