Thursday, November 19, 2015

It's all about Christmas!

http://wackywatercoolerstamping.blogspot.com

Welcome to our last Blog Hop for 2015! Soon, everyone will be caught up in the excitement of the Christmas season and we have a lot of project ideas for all your Christmas card giving needs. And maybe a home decor item or two as a bonus.

 If you are following the Hop in order, you have arrived here from Marie's blog and your head is probably still spinning from her creativity! At any point in your journey, if you get off track, simply click on the Wacky Watercooler image above to go to the home blog.

My first project is a CAS - clean and simple - one layer card. Very suitable if you want to make multiples quickly and not worry about mailing issues because of weight or lots of embellishments. This is CASED (Copy And Share Everything) from a card I saw on Pinterest. It was created by Tracy May,  a fellow Stampin' Up! demo from the UK.
The sentiment is from the Wonderland stamp set - you know the one with those awesome trees! - and it's embossed with gold embossing powder. Of course, Basic Black cardstock is the base.

Using the Tree Punch, it was really easy to punch some trees out of the Winter Wonderland Specialty Designer Paper. Love all the patterns in the collection!

A tip as to how I lined up the trees: just put a mini glue-dot on the tip of one and attach the next one.

The sparkly gold detail behind the trees is strands of gold from the gold cord that is available in the Holiday Catalogue. I didn't have a star punch or die small enough, and also didn't have any of the gold thread. As I was pondering what to do, I cut a length of the gold cord and coiled it up, but it was just too thick.

Then, a lightbulb moment! Taking my paper piercing tool, I separated the strands and Ta-Da! - gold thread.

I think this is an elegant and sophisticated Christmas card. Do you think so too?

My next card is also a CASE - from the talented Sandi MacIver. Again, I found this on Pinterest. Hmmm - looks like I spend a lot of time on Pinterest!


The ornament shape was cut out of a scrap piece of paper and used the negative image to sponge the shape onto Whisper White cardstock using Island Indigo and Pool Party inks. I didn't have the lovely new snow flake stamp set, so I substituted the little snowflakes from the Wonderland stamp set and stamped them with Island Indigo - stamped off once.

Taking the positive image next, use it as a mask to cover up the sponged image. Sponge bits of Pool Party in the background. Two of the little spots and stars stamps from the Jingle All The Way stamp set, inked with Island Indigo, add groupings of detail.

Apparently, I'm all about bling for this Hop. Not sure why the 'merry' from the Christmas Greetings Thinlits and the sequins look gold. Everything is silver: Silver Glimmer Paper, silver sequins, a strand of silver from the silver cord (love that trick - will use it often!). A tiny rhinestone is placed beside each sequin.

My third project gives into the bling completely! I've seen many samples of using the Delicate Ornaments dies to make a Christmas tree ornament, so this was inspired by all of them.
The solid ornament shapes are cut from Silver Glimmer Paper and the lacy shapes are cut from the Red Foil. A few rhinestones set off the centre detail, also cut from Red Foil.

I did have a problem trying to glue the red foil pieces to the Silver Glimmer Paper. Neither the Tombow liquid glue or the fine tip glue pen would work. Ended up using Mini Glue Dots.

 And now, you are ready to carry on. Click on the 'Next' button below, and be transported to the wonderful world of Heidi's creations!

http://heidistampinalong.blogspot.com





http://mytanglewoodcottage.blogspot.com





http://wackywatercoolerstamping.blogspot.com

7 comments:

  1. Love your creations, Gail. The "ornament" card is stunning--great shading in the negative space. And your ornament is spectacular! I'm betting this is really shiny and glittery in person...really lovely! I'd love to hang this on my tree!

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  2. Gail, what fun projects. My favorite is the sponged ornament card. Love the choice of colors and all the bling! Great job!

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  3. Wonderful projects as always Gail! I really love the sponged ornament - beautiful colours.

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  4. These are lovely projects, Gail! I love the sponged ornament card, and the foil/glimmer paper ornament is beautiful. The black & gold trees are fun, too.

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  5. Hi Gail, thanks for having been such an active part of this wonderful blog hop all year. I hope you'll have a wonderful Christmas and that your new year has less stress.

    Your time on Pinterest is well spent, Gail. Yes, that first card is definitely elegant and I prefer the look of your "thread" to the one available to buy. It has more character and looks great against the dark background. The ornament card uses a technique I really enjoy: masking. And it's beautiful done in that selection of blues. Your decision to use glue dots is what I find I have to do frequently as well. The Glimmer paper is gorgeous but very little sticks well to it except for those glue dots.

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  6. Gail, beautiful projects. I am also a fan of Pinterest and also of Sandi MacIver. The first card is really pretty. I am such a huge fan of that DSP I may have to order a bunch for future use. What a great idea to separate the strands of the gold cord.
    I often use hot glue with my glimmer paper projects. I will probably have to go through the star book and tack some things down with it because I used so much glimmer paper in that. Love the ornament.

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  7. Great projects, but you had me at the third one....love the shiny red foil paper....fabulous design!

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