Joy!

This card, a response to  Global Design Project's GDP#054 sketch Challenge, represents something of a  learning curve for me and since learning how to do new things is one of my favourite activities, making it was a pleasurable experience.

The first thing I learnt was that it's extremely tricky to emboss watercolour paper. I was happy with my lightly sponged background and muted green/brown tree, and wanted to finish it off with a gold star and baubles. The gold star went okay, but the baubles just didn't stick. I was going to throw it out and start again, but then paused, looked at what I'd done and realised I'd ended up with a light dusting of gold on the whole image, which I really liked - so I went ahead and heat embossed it anyway. (I assure you that is gold dust and not dirt, but I know it didn't photograph very well.)

My next issue was what to mount my tree on. Nothing seemed to work, until I hit upon the idea of making my own background (a JoMo DSP!) by layering two Kaisercraft clear stamps - a square music one in stamped-off Cherry Cobbler, and  'Script' embossed in gold.

My last barrier was when I realised I don't really have many sentiments that are Christmassy - (a problem I intend to remedy forthwith!). For the last 25 years, my Christmas cards have been a very simply mounted photo of our two children. I've had a copy of each photo mounted in similar frames and they're on the wall in a big 5x5 square that, as I'm sure you can imagine, tells the story of how they've grown up.

Now, however, my son has moved to England and so I have to make actual Christmas cards (and live with getting a bit tearful whenever I think he won't be home for Christmas). Anyway, I found this little Heidiswapp 'joy' in a 2013 set of 9 stamps and thought the sentiment apt and the size and shape perfect.

Made using

Paper: Stampin' Up Very Vanilla and Cherry Cobbler, The Art Department watercolour

Ink: Stampin' Up Mossy Meadow, Cherry Cobbler, Chocolate Chip

Stamps: Stampin' Up Thoughtful Branches, Totally Trees (the star), Kaiser Art Script and Music, Heidiswapp sentiment.

Other: Franceville adhesive rhinestone

CAS Colors and Sketches #191

A colour challenge that really challenged me! I love both Bermuda Bay and Cucumber Crush, but haven't warmed to Delightful Dijon, although this challenge did help me change my mind.
I used the challenge to try sponging a background on to a roughly edged piece of watercolour paper and then stamping over it.

Made using: 

Paper: Stampin' Up Bermuda Bay, TAD watercolour paper

Ink: Stampin' Up Bermuda Bay, Delightful Dijon, Cucumber Crush

Stamps: Stampin' Up Totally Trees, heidi swapp 8pc Thanks

Global Design053 Project GDP#

I was immediately drawn to the colours of this challenge (Gold, Night of Navy and Watermelon Wonder), but ended up puzzling over how not to let them overpower each other. I remembered how much I'd liked the round(ish) stamp from Totally Trees, and so, in the end, decided to try some polka dots:

Made using:

Paper: Stampin' Up Whisper White, Night of Navy

Ink: Stampin' Up Night of Navy, Watermelon Wonder, Memento Black

Embossing: Stampin' Emboss Powder Gold, Versamark Watermark Pad

Stamps: Stampin' Up Totally Trees, Stampin' Up Endless Birthday Wishes (for sentiment)

Pals Paper Arts PPA317

I'm completely in love with the new Stampin' Up' Totally Trees stamp set - I'd marry it if I could (at least it wouldn't fall off motorbikes - see previous post). I especially love its retro look. In an alignment of the planets, the Pals Paper Arts colour challenge of Tangerine Tango, Rich Razzleberry and Crushed Curry exactly suited a retro looking card. I've kept it really simple, in keeping with that style.

Made using:

Card: Stampin' Up Crushed Curry, Whisper White, Kraft Cardstock

Ink: Stampin Up Crushed Curry, Rich Razzleberry, Tangerine Tango

Stamps: Stampin' Up Totally Trees, Vertical Greetings