Creative Expressions Thursday

Hi Folks

Another card made with our Johns Lovely 12 days of Christmas papers pad and Phil's Holly Background stamp from Creative Expressions.

This time I thought Id try some different papers but mix them up and keep it all to the red and white theme with the touches of grey here and there in some of the papers. I like how it turned out and of course where would we be without the chocy box bow.

So to get started you will need the paper pad or papers of your choice , I chose once of the striped ones with just a hint of red in it and some Red Geranium archival ink to stamp Phil Martin's Holly Background onto the patterned paper , I know it sounds a little busy but we will only see flashes of it on the card once it is decorated and it seems to work and its all about giving it a go isn't it folks?

Here is a close up so you can see the paper I used.

 Next I chose the snowflake backing paper and gave it a darker red mat using the usual foundations red card stock.

I went back to the first paper now the ink was dry and gave it a mat of red card and wrapped a piece of white Crinkle edge ribbon around the bottom third of the card , I added some thick foam around 3mm to the back and mounted it on top of the mat we created in the last step. ( as you can see when I stamped the holly I didn't apply enough pressure on one part of the stamp in the middle to the left but it will not matter as I knew this is where the bow would reside haha) happy accidents and it is fun to work out ways to still use any little faux pas' as it were  haha.

I decided as if there was not enough going on to give the top third of the card a little row of swans as they were so cute on the paper so I cut out a strip and inked the edges of course with just a tiny amount of the same ink.I didn't give it a mat I wanted it to blend right into the paper as if it was always there.

So here is how it is looking so far with all the paper mixes and stamped section. 

 I then went to the section of the pad that has these little ready made toppers and cut out the 12 days of Christmas as you see here I used a white gel pen ( this is such an invaluable part of your tool kit if you like to enhance anything or draw etc) I used it to add a few highlights on the music notes and a few patterns on the snow flakes etc just to break up the red a little.

 I just needed to add a couple of the pearls sprays and a bow , which I tied just a single one this time as I didn't want to over power the side as the focus should stay with the papers I feel rather than we focus straight on the pretty bow.

However, here is a close up on the bow with a large flat back pearl in the centre. I also added a couple of pears in some of the corners to match and of course the two pearl sprays under the bow just poking out slightly.

And here is the finished card again, I did go back and just use that white pen again to further outline the inside of the swans necks as in person it gives the shape in between the swans which looks like a heart a little more dept and stands out more as a heart , It is difficult to see on Camera but it works, Just like adding dark gives a shadow and makes things pop or drop back depending how you use it and a white line brings light and helps things stand out too especially if your showing which way a light is cast on an object.

Anyway I won't bore you more,  if you just came to see the card rather than the tutorial haha.  Have a wonderful Thursday and if you have our Johns pad  I would love to see what you have created and would be happy to show it on here if you would like others to see it too.

Crafty hugs as always

Kim

XXXX

Another Santa note..

Well good evening my lovelies!

Well hasn't it turned cold woooo every night from work I rush in and shiver 'til I get my steaming tea to wrap my hands around! Winter is definitely breathing down our necks now... with the icy fronds encountering our extremities turning them red first then blue... Making patterns in the air with our breath on the icy morn. Ooo I should write a story with literature in that vane.

I started this  card really by making up all the little flowers from Craftwork's Christmas pad. so I had them all sitting there jostling in the box for my attention, pick me! pick me! haha...

Next I took an 8x8 card base (still my favourite size) and with Versamark ink, I stamped holly leaves around the edge, I used Pan pastels to rub over and add the green to the inked sticky surface. I water coloured some red berries in in odd places to just draw your eye in.

• I matted the first mat with a sheet of red glitter paper from Craftwork Cards Christmas pad on to gold mirri.
• Next, I took a sheet of the embossed card in one of their pads and ran over 2 colours of Ink from His lordship sir Tim holtiness.. fired brick and pine needles. Just lightly to bring out the embossing a little, which was then matted onto mirri too.
• My bow was American seem binding which is so soft and lovely and flexible to work with. Adding a button to the centre of the bow and 2 stick pins made sure Mr Bow was not naked...
• I die cut the labels 20 large sheet of paper and ever so slightly inked and added it to the card, I coloured my sentiment from the pack, cut out a little die cut to add to the frame around the sentiment and then piled on all the gorgeous flowers and flourishes, some card candi too.
• Added my gorgeous Clarity personalised stamp with my name on to the back, et voila... tis done..

As always I hope You enjoy looking at the card and maybe trying a few things out too
Crafty Hugs.
Out for now
Kim xxx