Birthday and Christmas

Wanted to make another card for the Altenew Inspiration Challenge.  Again Therese inspired my card.  She mentioned in her Card Summit tutorial that a layered stamp set can be used for faux watercolor.

I pulled out Altenew's Majestic Bloom and inked the solid blossom layer in Hydrangea and spritzed heavily with water.  Then I stamped by rolling the stamp side to side--not straight down.  When it was dry, I stamped over it with the outline layer using Ultraviolet.  I added a bit more color with a brush and diluted ink in the centers and on the petal edges.  The leaves were done the same way using Grass Field.  My new Branches and Berries die set gave me just the right accent image for my bouquet.  I inked the diecuts in watered down PTI Canyon Clay.  The sentiment from Sweet Bouquet was stamped in Hydrangea and Canyon Clay.  I wasn't happy with the plain white background, so used a panel embossed with Deck Planks--huge difference!  Decided a bit of sparkle was needed, so covered the berries with Paprika Stickles and the flower centers have a dot of Starry Night.  See the video in my IG post.  Love how this turned out.  

My next birthday card is very different and uses an old, favorite techniques--emboss resist. 

I double heat embossed an image from SSS Warm Wishes.  Then I used direct to paper with VersaMagic ink pads in Red Brick, Purple Hydrangea and Gingerbread for a Fall look.  The PTI sentiment was also heat embossed and then swiped with the Gingerbread ink pad.  PTI Classic Kraft card front was splattered with black Altenew spray ink and I finished the card with CN9 black enamel dots.  I entered challenges via IG and Flickr.  

Christmas cards are my favorite to make and here's my latest using a couple new products.  

I'm always intrigued by seeing how people use stencils.  The technique I tried to use was simply to lay the stencil on a panel, spritz with shimmer mist and use a paintbrush to move the mist to color in the image before removing the stencil.  I used Paper Rose's Poinsettia stencil and crooked broomstick Distress Mica Stain Spray.  My attempt did not look like the one Katie Pertiet showed in a reel recently, so I'll have to try again.  Luckily, after removing the stencil and before cleaning it, I added a light spritz of the Mica spray and laid it on another panel--"stamping" with a stencil technique.  That one I loved and die cut with GK Master Layouts 2.  Altenew Fancy Peace was stacked 2 high and I added dark red gems to match the card front.  Such a simple card, but I always love classic and elegant.  You can see the shimmer and shine in my IG post.  By the way, the plate in the photo is an antique given to me by my grandmother.  I'm entering JUGS and SSS Wednesday.  

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