Yesterday was a “Fall” day and today is a “Christmas” day. In card land. In Atlanta-land, it’s summer. In the very worst sense of the word. Hot. Humid. Afternoon thundershowers that just up the humidity even more. We’re considering scuba gear. To go to the grocery store. We’re scrubbing mold off the mold. It’s my very least favorite time of the year. I think that’s why I ended up with a card that – for me – evokes a crisp winter evening, bright with stars. The “bright with stars” part makes it pretty obvious it’s NOT in Atlanta. I know the stars are there….but….
My mom would point out that the Colorado mountains have stars galore. And she’d be right!
This card uses two Holiday Catalog stamp sets – To You & Yours, Too and Wonderland. I used a fun, and easy, clear-resist technique. Take a look-see:
I used a piece of Whisper White Card Stock as my card front. I started by inking the To You & Yours, Too (available 1 Sept) image with Basic Black Archival Ink (also 1 Sept). I stamped the very bottom of my card front – and I ended up doing it twice (this is a photo-polymer set, so it was easy to go back over the first image), because I wanted it black black black. I even touched up a few tiny spots of white with my Basic Black Stampin’ Write Marker. Did I mention that I wanted it black?!? With the stamp done, I went away for a couple of hours to let it dry absolutely completely and totally. The next step is embossing, and I didn’t want to risk stray powder!
When I came back – I vacuumed….yuk – I pulled out my Embossing Buddy and patted the entire white section of the card front. I got quite a bit of the powder on the paper, and then wiped it down to remove some of the excess. This is a lot of embossing, and I really wanted the powder to only go where I wanted it – and the Embossing Buddy is the way to achieve that! Then I pulled out the Wonderland stamp set (available 1 Sept) and inked up the sentiment with Versamark Ink and stamped it on the card. I switched stamps to the snowflake, and stamped it all over the rest of the “sky”. The Versamark gives you some time, but you want to move at a steady pace!
I sprinkled all over the card with Clear Stampin’ Emboss Powder, shook off the excess and heat embossed it.
To make the sky, I used a sponge dauber and sponged Tuxedo Black Memento Ink across the top of the card. I only extended it down the card a little – maybe an inch or so, and I let it get lighter as it dropped down. Then I switched to Night of Navy and sponged it the rest of the way down to the “horizon”. I really laid the ink on at the top, and I overlapped the black I’d started with. As I got to the “horizon” I let it lighten up.
Once I was happy with the depth of the color, I went back over the card with a paper towel, removing the ink from the embossed images. Letting the Whisper White shine thru.
I SNAILd the art piece to a mat of Silver Foil and then wrapped a length of Basic Black 5/8″ Stitched Satin Ribbon around it all, securing it in the back with tape. Then I wrapped some Silver Metallic Thread around the satin ribbon – 4 times – and tied a little bow.
I added a few Rhinestone Basic Jewels to the night sky, popped the card front onto my Whisper White Note Card with Stampin’ Dimensionals and that did it for the outside of the card.
On the inside, I stamped the snowflakes from Wonderland in Night of Navy. I stamped a lot of them. A veritable flurry. A blizzard even. I might have even gone a little crazy. It’s too hot here, I tell ya. I’m not in my right mind. Or my left mind. Or any part of my mind!! 😉
Once I was able to stop stamping snowflakes, I stamped the sentiment from To You & Yours, Too in Night of Navy.
Then I spied my envelope. And realized it was snowflake-less. Unacceptable. So I kind of lost it again…. I’m ashamed of my lack of self-control….
But admit it! It looks chilly and starry and beautiful. Like a crisp winter night. Borderline too cold. Maybe you’d even need a down jacket. And a wool cap. And mittens!! Maybe alpaca wool socks…..sorry. Had a little moment there. 🙂
So – hope that you enjoyed my little mental foray into winter. It really IS right around the corner, as is Christmas! Hope that you’re thinking about getting your Christmas cards done!!
TTFN and see you tomorrow!
Mary
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BACKORDER LIST AS OF 18 Aug 15
20 August
104181: 12″ x 12″ Craft Keepers (supply item)
138281: Lots of Labels Framelits Dies
21 August
138135: Bold Butterfly Framelits Dies
138378: Tin of Cards Project Kit (fourth shipment)
24 August
138296: Washi Label Punch (third shipment)
25 August
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28 August
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7 September
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138402: Silver Metallic Thread
14 September
138395: Natural Elements Expressions (second shipment)
Card Stampin' With Clara
Inky Bee Stampers
KarensCardCorner
Stamp with Amy K
Stampin With Shirley G
Tarabeth Stamps
TL's Bright Spot
Wild Wing Creations
I am trying to channel some of the coolness of your card…I’m so done with summer!!! 🙂 Beautiful card, love the way that your background turned out. Fantastic!!
I know, right? It’s not even helping for it to rain these days. Really really looking forward to the end! Thanks, Amy! 🙂
Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful. Yes, the stars are here … my favorite is the winter sky so am ready. This card captures it so well…
Thanks, Mom. I was really happy with how it turned out – and it does look like a CO winter night sky! 🙂
Love the depth that the multi-shaded sponging brings to this card! Still wondering about the silver and gold thread… I see it turning up a lot these days. Thanks, Mary!
Thank you, Patricia! Get the metallic thread. It’s a LITTLE persnickety to make bows with, but the result is so cool. I personally love doubling it with a length of Linen Thread, on a more rustic card. Adds just the tiniest bit of bling! 🙂
Hi mary hope this note fines you well, I’m looking for something i seen on youtube yesterday, a lady from stampin up was making a halloween spider out of beads and wire by chance are you going to have them again for halloween and if you can get them i would love to order a few from you, have a great night and thank you for my catalogs . bonnie greenhoe
Bonnie – I sent you an e-mail a couple of days ago about the beaded spider. Did you see it? And – you’re most welcome for the catalogs!! 🙂