Linda's One Layer Challenge

Earlier in the week my friend Linda set a challenge to make a one layer Christmas card. I rarely make one layer cards but it was fun, and I have to admit a little challenging, to give it a go. Midweek I was in the process of making a card and as there was a lot of colouring left to do on it I brought it into work on Friday to finish it at lunchtime. Then what did I do - left it in work by mistake! So this morning I started again from scratch using the same images but made a less "busy" card which I think I prefer to the one that's still sitting in my drawer in work.

I started by heat embossing the sentiment in gold and then stamped a mix of images on part of the card. After that I used Promarkers to colour the flowers and pine cones. I wish I was brave enough to try a bit of splattering but after dropping an inky block and messing up what was my first attempt at this morning's card, I left the card as it was.

Stamps (Hero Arts) - Color Layering Dimensional Bird, Very Merry Christmas and Build a Wreath by Lia

To finish I just added diamond stickles to the flower centres - hopefully it's okay to do that on one layer cards!

Next up was the matching tag which I think I'll redo as I wrinkled it a bit when trying to flatten it after it got a little warped from heat embossing. Lol it has been a day for stampy mishaps so I think I'll try my hand at something else today!

Stamps (Hero Arts) - Color Layering Dimensional Bird, Very Merry Christmas and Build a Wreath by Lia

Poinsettia Wreath

Today we’re going to decorate the house for Halloween and here I am thinking about Christmas again. I still have quite a few Christmas cards to make so hopefully you won’t get sick of my Christmas card posts between now and Christmas!

I wanted to make a wreath for a card and thought the pretty little flower in Hero Arts Color Layering Dimensional Bird set would be perfect for making a poinsettia wreath.

To make the background I embossed a panel of kraft card with the Snowflake Trim embossing folder from Darice and distressed the edges. The sentiment from Hero Arts Polar set by Lia was white embossed. I stuck the tail end of a piece of string to the back of the embossed panel before adhering the panel to the card base with foam pads.

Stamps (Hero Arts) - Color Layering Dimensional Bird and Polar Set by Lia
Embossing Folder (Darice) - Snowflake Trim

Next it was time to make flowers and leaves for the wreath. I stamped the flowers in barn door distress ink and the leaves in mowed lawn distress ink. After cutting out the flowers and leaves I layered the flowers and added gold sequins to the centres. Then I adhered the flowers in a circular shape and added the leaves and string bow to finish.

I’m submitting this card into Hero Arts Holiday Card Making Challenge and Simon Says Stamp Wrap it Up Challenge. Now I'm off to spookify the house:)

Bird Crazy Challenge with Linda

Recently my friend Linda and I ordered some Hero Arts goodies and as it turned out we both bought a lot of the same items. Linda came up with the great idea of challenging each other to use the same product on our next cards. To start with we both used the Color Layering Dimensional Bird from this set. I haven't seen what Linda has made yet but can't wait to see her creations on her blog.

I love the way this set works with stamping the bird outline initially and then stamping the patterns using separate stamps. It would be fun to use the outline for paper pieced birds too or even for straightforward colouring. Well let me tell you I went a bit bird crazy trying out different colour combinations and here are just some of the birds I stamped on a soggy Saturday afternoon.

Stamp (Hero Arts) - Color Layering Dimensional Bird

I saved these birds for times when I need to make cards in a hurry but made three cards using other birds I had stamped. As I wanted to makeover this card

for the current Hero Arts challenge I went with neutrals and added white to the stamped image using a white watercolour pencil.

Stamps (Hero Arts) - Color Layering Dimensional Bird, Everyday Sayings & Let the Angels

Next up I stamped the bird using Hero Arts mint to emerald ombré ink. The branch was stamped with Hero Arts cup o' joe shadow ink.

Stamps (Hero Arts) - Color Layering Dimensional Bird, Everyday Sayings & Let the Angels

As I had used neutral and monochromatic birds on the first two cards, I thought for my last card I'd go with a blast of colour and used a mix of quiet morning and summer splash inks.

Stamps (Hero Arts) - Color Layering Dimensional Bird & Everyday Messages

The little nest was made from scraps I had left over from making the first two cards.

I'm submitting these cards into Simon Says Stamp's Use a Stamp Challenge.