Merry Christmas

Hi Bloggers.

Change of plan - no show today. I think the plan is to include the Heartfelt Stamps & Dies in my first show tomorrow. That may, of course, change! There's also a change in the time tomorrow, the first show is now at 10am and not 11am. So now I have to get up an hour earlier and I have a 7 hour gap between shows instead of 6! The good news is that the first show appears to be with Dean so that should be a giggle! I'm surprised we're allowed in the studio together. The 6pm show is currently with Dawn but please do re-check the schedule during the day for any changes.

Here's a card I've made with the Heartfelt dies & stamps -

For the background, I stamped around the edges of a piece of Milk Card with the pine cones stamp from the Sweet Memories Stamp Set using Pine Needles Distress Ink. I made sure the ink was dry and then ran it through the Grand Calibur with the Couture Creations Wild Poinsettia Embossing Folder. I ran it through a second time to extend the design -this is a repeating pattern and very easy to line up. I inked around the edges with Fired Brick Distress Ink using Cut n Dry Foam.

I stamped the main image from the Christmas Song Stamp Set using Jet Black Archival and added Cosmic Shimmer Clear Embossing Powder. I stamped the sentiment inside the image, added clear powder and heat set the lot. I coloured in using Cosmic Shimmer Matt Drawing Inks.I used Scarlet Flame from the Autumn Shades Set, Jade Teal from the Garden Twist Set and Blue Lace from the Soft Velvet Set (more stock due in soon). I swiped a little Antique Linen Distress Marker onto my craft sheet and diluted it with my water brush. I used this as a wash around the edges of the scroll. I cut the image out using Spellbinders Decorative Labels 8 and inked through the die with Fired Brick. I cut a mat out of burgundy card using Spellbinders Labels 8. I stamped the 2 smallest flowers from the Heartfelt Petite Poinsettia Stamp Set (from last year) using Jet Black Archival. Using a template, I cut them out using Spellbinders Layered Poinsettia. I shaped the leaves/petals and glued them together using Cosmic Shimmer Dries Clear Glue. I put a spot of glue in the centre of the top flower and added 3 Cream 3mm Pearls. I added this poinsettia to the top of the one in the image.

I stamped 2 of the largest holly swirl stamps from the Holly Berry Stamp Set using Jet Black Archival. I coloured them in using Scarlet Flame and Jade Teal Cosmic Shimmer Matt Drawing Inks. I cut them out using the Ornamental Add On dies. Now, usually I would make a template first and then cut them out. And I did actually cut a template. However, I heard Sue say on her show last week that it was easy to line die up over the stamped image. I didn't really believe her but I had a go and - surprise, surprise - she was right! How could I ever doubt her? Now, don't expect to get it perfect every time - you don't always with a template. But it looks pretty good even when it's not perfect. I tucked them in either side of my image panel as shown.

I tied a bow using Burgundy/Ivory Grosgrain and added a Fancy Pearl Embellishment.

I assembled the card as shown adding some Cream Pearls in the left-hand corners and some dots of Cosmic Shimmer Pearlescent PVA in Berry Red around the edges.

I'll be back tomorrow with a card from the original line-up on tomorrow's shows.

Julia.