Peeking Santa

While shopping online I purchased some window cards at The Paper Cut. I'm sure it would be very easy to make your own window cards but gosh they are handy and it's such fun to see a jolly Santa peeking out the window.

I'm totally nuts of this card stock, Signature Suite by Jan Wilson. The light polka dots remind me of stylized snowflakes. Which prompted me to carry the theme farther by heat embossing more stylized snowflakes using Hero Arts Pinwheels set. Gives the design a fun retro look.

Santa is stamped on a panel and then centered inside to peek out perfectly through the window. I've colored his cheeks and nose with a little pink chalk and highlighted his glasses with a stardust pen by Sukura.

Next stamp Share the Spirit by Hero Arts and attach layered over a coordinating ribbon.

Resist Technique

Today's card is a simple resist technique that will make them think you worked for hours. On glossy card stock stamp Christmas Light by Penny Black in Timber brown Stazon. Use an ordinary white crayon, or a small candle and highlight the lines that you want to stay white. Next sponge on various shades of Colorbox chalk inks. Start with the lightest shade of yellow over the image. As soon as it dries, wipe the ink off the stamped image with a soft cloth or tissue. The ink will easily wipe off the wax crayon and revealed the white card stock below.

Continue to sponge dark shade of amber, blush rose and burnt sienna to the edge of the card stock. Notch corner and mat with card stock. Stamp Winter Scroll by Penny Black in black on a green scrap of pattern paper and arrange both elements on a pattern paper background. Gotta love pattern paper.

I challenge you to give this simple but effecting technique a try. I think you will find it simply irresistible! (sorry, I couldn't resist, oops! I did it again!)

Take Ten Time Again

I had a happy surprise when I went to my mail box on Monday. Inside I found my complimentary copy of the new Winter 07 Take Ten. Let me tell you this is a great issue and not just because they have a few of my cards published! Take Ten just gets better and better.

The Christmas card above is one of my featured cards. The card was designed for my Holiday Cards and Tags class and was a favorite for my students. It's an easy card although it has plenty of visual energy.

On a burgundy 3”x5 ½” panel stamp diamond border (Stamper’s Anonymous) in black ink. Stamp rejoice (Stamping Studio) and dove (Art Impression) in Versamark and heat set white embossing powder. Mat with gold metallic card stock. Attach panel to a black card. Stamp leaf swirl (B Line Design) in gold pigment ink and heat emboss with gold and copper embossing powder

Christmas Star

yes, it's been a long time since my last blog.... too much to do and too little time.

This card was designed for my Holiday Headstart class for next summer. Christmas cards are too fun to make to only make them at Christmas time. Plus there is always a time crunch that time of year (maybe you noticed?). So why not make Christmas cards all through the year?

This card has a rustic masculine feel and yet the Winter Scroll background stamp by Penny Black gives it a classic feel. Base pattern paper is K&Co. Nantucket Plaid and stamped background is good ole Basic Grey Stucco. The quote is by Post Modern Design. The focal image by Make An Impression is stamped on a natural card stock and double matted with the Nantucket Plaid and olive green card stock.