Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas!

I’d like to wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

I’d also like to take a moment to thank you all for taking the time to visit my blog and for all your support and encouragement this past year.  I really appreciate it!

(The above image was found on google and is not my own.)

Happy Hanukkah Menorah Card

Happy Hanukkah Menorah Card

This card features the menorah die (DIE303-J) from Impression Obsession and one of the dies from the “Happy Hanukkah – czd149” set from CZ Design. The star is called “Blessed Hanukkah Die Set” from Altenew. The background was embossed with the Cuttlebug “Modern Wallpaper” folder. Recollections navy and white card stock was also used.

I needed to make several of these so I was trying to keep it simple. The biggest challenge was not losing all the flames (and of course adhering them to the card)! I also cut and stacked 3 of the greetings so that made it less simple as well. Hmmm…

I would love to find a Hanukkah themed embossing folder, but my search turned up empty.

Thanks for checking out my card project!

Merry Christmas with Buffalo Plaid Ribbon – Take 2

Merry Christmas with Buffalo Plaid Ribbon – Take 2

This card features buffalo plaid ribbon that I embellished with a stacked die cut called “Winterfun Corner” from Precious Marieke and the “Elegant Merry Christmas” die by Frantic Stamper (#FRA-DIE-10339). I debossed the background panel with my score board to add some texture. I had to cut off the “corner” part of the “corner” die cut as it went in the wrong direction for my design.

This was my original card design…

I really loved this ribbon with the snowflakes and was excited to use it on this card design. I originally worked on this card sample in the evening with lamps on in my craft room. Later, when I went to make a bunch more of these cards to send, it was a very sunny afternoon, and in the natural sunlight, I realized the ribbon was blue and not black! I had already cut and adhered all the black greetings and had cut all the black mats so I scrambled for a plan b (the sample above). Glad I caught it before completely finishing all the cards! I’ll need to come up with another card design for this ribbon.

Thanks for checking out my card project(s)!

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Star of David Hanukkah Card

Star of David Hanukkah Card

I saw this card base design online (I wish I could remember where) and went to work to figure out how to make it. (No instructions were given; I’ve included instructions below on how I made mine.) The sample I saw was also a Hanukkah card; I think it would work well for a snowflake themed card as well.

The patterned paper is from a digital pack called Silver and Blue Hanukkah Paper by KlouiseDigiArt that I purchased on Etsy. The focal star is from “Menorah Medley Die Collection” from Papertrey Ink (no longer available?). I added another circle panel to the back for my sentiment which is from the “Blessed Hanukkah” stamp set from Altenew.

This card folds flat for mailing and fits in an A2 sized envelope. (The flattened card measures 4 1/4″ x 5″.)

If you care to see how I made this card base, continue reading…

Continue reading

Gel Press Printed Holiday Cards

Gel Press Printed Holiday Cards

Day 3 of the Holiday Card Workshop 2022 focused on making fast backgrounds. One of the lessons was called “Gorgeous Gel Press Printing” taught by Lydia Fiedler. I still had plaid on my mind from the day 2 class, so I thought I’d try a plaid stamp with this technique for today’s lesson.

Lydia used alcohol inks and acrylic paint for her backgrounds. I used Distress Oxide inks. She also used dies to create her images while I used rubber stamps. (I’d get a “does not follow directions” on my report card for this class – lol!)

The background on this one (above) was made with ink that was picked up by the stamp from the gel plate after the inks were blended with a brayer. (The gel plate acted as an ink pad.) My stamp seems to have an imperfection in the center, and I have never been able to get a clean image with it. This technique is very forgiving in that the image is not meant to be clean and crisp so it is perfect for this particular stamp of mine!

The background on this next one was made with the ink that was left behind after lifting the ink with the stamp for the first one. I simply placed the card stock on the inked gel plate and gently rubbed.

And one more card to share…

I reinked and blended the gel plate and cleaned my brayer off onto another piece of card stock that I used for the background (mat) on this nativity card design. I then inked the stamp from the gel plate and stamped the image onto the card stock.

The supplies used for these cards are: a gel plate, “Plaid 4×6” stamp from Echo Park, the “Merry Stamp & Cut” set from Hero Arts, “Tree Punch” from Stampin’ Up, “Star Punch” (unbranded), “Stacked Merry Christmas” Die from Creative Expressions, “Cling Manger Scene” from Stampendous, “Subtle” embossing folder from Stampin’ Up, and Broken China, Faded Jeans, and Peeled Paint Distress Oxide inks.

I have a bunch of stamped and inked panels for additional cards. (You really can make a lot of panels quickly with this technique!)

If you are interested in seeing how to create some fast backgrounds using a gel plate, check out the class over at Online Card Classes!

Thanks for checking out my card projects!

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