Woodland Christmas

There is a new Art Impressions release today, with six new foundation style winter/holiday scenes.  This is 6088 - Woodland Bench Scene.

I have used Copic markers to colour up my image, then spattered some of the PH Martin's white paint to give the look of falling snow.  

I matted the image on some dark grey cardstock that I adhered to my base with 3D foam adhesive.  The two patterned paper pieces are from the 5853 - Christmas Magic paper pack.  Before adhering them, I wrapped the gingham piece with some fine silver thread.

The Merry die cut is from an old Echo Park word die set, that I stacked twice before attaching it.

Cozy Toes

This sweet set is the Cozy Toes stamp and die set from Concord & 9th.  I loved it from the moment I saw it, especially for this sentiment.

The set includes a bunch of options to cut two lengths of adult socks, and a cute pair of tiny ones, all of which you stamp first, then use the dies to cut them out.

The details are so amazing, there are two clotheslines, clothespegs, and even sock details like toes & heels, and frilly tops.

There are several other great sentiments, so you're sure to see more of these from me in the future, but this is my new go-to set for baby cards!

Fall Keepsake and an Ornament

I am on the Art Impressions blog today for their Watercolour Weekend post!

I have a couple of projects featuring some of the newly released sets today!  First is a card using the 6105 - Fall Keepsake Set:

I coloured the images with my N45 Tombow Dual Brush Marker, and stamped them on my Canson XL Watercolour Paper.  I started with the fox, then the toadstool, and added masks to both of them.  The pumpkin and pail followed, and finally the fall bouquet was added to the pail.  After pulling the colour out of the lines with a damp brush, I added a pale coat of #993 to the pumpkins and fox, followed by several layers of #947, and finally a mix of #947/977 to create the really dark areas.  Shades of #N55 were painted on his paws and to the bucket, layering to keep the sides of the bucket and bottom of his paws darker.

I wanted the leaves to be multicoloured, so did sections of #993/947/856/126/346/977, blending them together.  I added #346/126/977 to the stems of the pumpkins, and the stem of the toadstool, and painted shades of #856 on the top of it, touching the dots with a little 346.  I used the N55 to add shadows to the fox's white areas, and finally painted a wash of #126/346 for the grass, and stamped the small grass from 4051 - Foliage Set 1 in #126, and then I used the fine point of the 346 marker directly on the paper to add a few darker lines of grass.  A wash of #493 was painted in as the sky.  I used my Grey Twintone marker to colour in the eyes/features and redefine any areas that needed it.

My scene was die cut using the 5724 - Nested Rectangle Dies, and adhered to a brown mat with 3D foam adhesive.  The word 'hello' is from the 5718 - Mini Journal Template set, cut twice in brown and stacked to be a more stable die cut.  Both pieces of background paper are from the 5838 - Fall paper pack.

My second project is featuring the new 6117 - A Cozy Christmas Set, that creates a sweet little ornament!

I have a lot of photos for you today!  I tried to capture a few steps in the assembly process, but I highly recommend that you watch the Ai video by Kim to see how to assemble it.

In addition to the stamp set, you need to purchase the 6121 - Storybook Template die.  The die cuts out the box (at the top) and you cut three of the inner frame piece.  The images were stamped on Mixed Media paper with #N55, and painted in with #349/993/493/837/N55, and a few touches of gold ink.  Images were cut out using the coordinating dies that are included with the stamps.

I cut a piece of patterned paper from the 5838 - Fall Paper Pack at 3 1/8" x 2 5/8" to act as the background, and glued it to the back of the box.  I fussy cut the fireplace out, and glued it down so that it would appear behind all the other pieces.  Each of the stamped images is drawn along the curve of the oval opening, so each piece was die cut and glued under one of the frames (there is a tab where you can add the glue, see the photo below from the backside).

Each of the frames got pieces of 3D foam adhesive attached to the corners and in a few other spots, and then each of them is layered on top of each other starting with the tree.

After the tree comes the Mama bunny, and finally the baby bunny on the top layer.  *I used 2mm thick adhesive, but there is plenty of room to use a thicker adhesive if you prefer.  I'm happy with how this looks, though.  When you adhere the layers, you want to make sure that the openings are stacked directly over each other.

The Storybook die includes a tab piece which I cut out of some woodgrain paper from the 5812 - Christmas S2 Paper Pack.  I wanted the woodgrain on the outside of the box, so I used the inner frame piece to cut it out, then attached it to the front of the box.  I added pieces to cover the sides, top and bottom also.  The tab is adhered to the top back of the box after it's assembled.  Glue was added behind each of the tabs, the box was folded and attached to the other side, enclosing the scene.

Market Place Suite

I've put together some cards following Betsy Veldman's design using her new release from The Greetery.  These are the 3 Market Place die sets, that create the sweetest European Market style of buildings.  They work great on their own, but Betsy did a wonderful tri-fold card that I tried to recreate.

SOOO many little pieces!  I don't mind working with fussy die cut bits, and found it easiest if I kept to a fairly limited palette, which allowed me to cut multiple pieces at one time.

It definitely took a little planning, but I am really happy with the end result - and plan to make a bunch of coordinating tags in the near future.

In addition to the three different building designs, there is a set called Market Place Holiday Festoons - all the little wreaths, bows and a few garlands.  There is also a the Market Place Holiday Sentiments stamp set that gives all those wonderful little business signs - such an amazing detail.

After my houses were put together, I cut two hinge pieces that are scored down the middle, that were glued between them to create the tri-fold.  I also cut each house out of cream cardstock and adhered it to the back of each one, which not only gave a clean finish to the back, but provided the 'filler' for the windows from the front side.

I was able to put three of these together, to give to some special people in my life.  Not sure if they're quite done, I may add a little gold or white spatter, or possibly a little glitter.

Shaped Sweet Moments

I made a bonus card with the August Betterpress Society plate, 'Sweet Moments', using the Essential Arches dies from Spellbinders.

I pressed the plate in ombre fashion on some aqua cardstock using four of the teal inks from Pinkfresh Studio, using a blending brush to soften the colour transitions.

I cut out my panel with the Arches dies, then adhered it to a slightly larger arch shaped base in a deep teal.  I used the same die to cut a folded piece of white cardstock to serve as the card base.

You can get a Betterpress Society subscription from The Papercrafter's Workshop.

Giant Happy Birthday

I have a whole host of family birthdays over the next few months, and needed to build up my gender-neutral stash of cards.  I pulled out an old favourite - the Giant Happy Birthday die from Lawn Fawn to get started.

I love that literally any papers will work with this die!  I dug out some ancient Basic Grey papers in a couple of coordinating colours and got cutting.  I cut the large die also in black and offset it under the patterned paper.  I used die cut bits from Spellbinders Holiday Blooms stamp set for some extra decoration with a black jute bow.

I did my favourite thing - sewing on a card!  Just added a row of black stitching around the exterior.  I am happy to get four of them made (one was already in the mail when the photos were taken).

Bolder Sweet Moments

My third project with the August Betterpress Society plate, Sweet Moments, was pressed with 49th & Market's new ink in Arctic Blitz, which gave a nice crisp image!

I used a mix of Distress inks and Pinkfresh Studio inks along with the coordinating stencils to colour in my flowers, sticking with bold, strong colours.  The panel was cut with the Hemstitched Rectangles die from Spellbinders.

Since the Arctic Blitz is an unusual blue/green colour, I didn't have any cardstock in my stash that matched it, so I created my own, by inking up the edges of some white cardstock - worked out really well.

The panel was adhered to the inked cardstock mat, then glued onto some patterned paper from my stash - it's a larger 5"x6.5" card.  The sentiment from the set was also pressed in Arctic Blitz, and was attached with some 3D foam adhesive.  A few pale blue enamel dots finished off the card.

You can get a Betterpress Society subscription from The Papercrafter's Workshop.