Christmas in July--Plus!

As most of you know, I love making Christmas cards.  When I was a kid at summer camp one year, the girls in my cabin agreed with my suggestion of Christmas for the cabin decorating contest.  Can't remember if we won, but we sure had fun!  When I saw Tracey's combo of Red and White for Color Hues, Christmas was my first thought.  I die cut Spellbinders Poinsettia Bloom from white cardstock weeks ago.  Amazing I didn't loose any of the little pieces! 

The outline which includes a lot of solid design was brushed with Altenew white metallic watercolor.  It gives such beautiful shimmer and shine.  The little pieces were brushed with fired brick Distress Oxide ink first and then with fired brick Distress Spritz--more beautiful shimmer!  I didn't want the berries to compete with the petals.  Since they were first covered with white watercolor, I was able to add a layer of the Distress Spritz making them match, but with much less saturated color.  You can see the shimmer and shine in my IG post.  I love SSS Holiday Greenery embossing folder which I used with PTI Soft Stone cardstock for the background.  Another favorite is Birch Press Vintage Merry Christmas.  The letters were colored the same way I did the poinsettia petals.  I try to keep my cards pretty flat for mailing, but the white glittery dot was perfect for the center.  I'm also entering SSS Monday and SSS Wednesday.  

Next I just want to show you how I fixed what was bugging me about the card in my last post.  I rushed finishing it to meet the challenge deadline.  It's been laying on my table and I knew it'd never get sent as is.  The gold watercolor splatters are beautiful, but using that watercolor as emboss resist over the sentiment was way too bold.  Decided to add another layer of the sentiment diecut attaching it slightly down and to the right.  Now there's just a bit of the gold showing and I will actually send the card. 😊

I really miss the PTI blog hops and challenges, so was happy to see they're having a Summer Challenge requiring ink blending, die cut layering and stenciling.  Gave me the motivation to make a card using 3 of the products in my recent order:  Into the Blooms: Anemones dies, Delicate Circle die and Script Background stencil.

I blended Sweet Blush and Berry Sorbet on the pieces of the largest bloom and Aqua Mist and Hawaiian Shores on the smaller one.  Vintage Jadeite was brushed on all the branches.  The card front was stenciled with Soft Stone which I softened with a vellum overlay.  I used to add ribbon to most of my cards and now I seldom use it.  But sometimes it's worth the extra postage needed!  I actually threaded the ribbon through an opening in the beautiful circle diecut.  The sentiment from Scripted (a set I reach for often!) was stacked 2 high with the top layer cut from Soft Stone and clear embossed.  I've been hoarding my Rainstones until now--love them!  

Thanks so much for taking time to stop by.  If your blog address is in your profile or comment, I will visit you.