Thursday 22 November 2012

How many sleeps? {scratches head}

Deep breath. Really? Do I need to face up to chrimbo being around the corner and start to get ready now?

Every year I aim to be more organised than last year, and every year there seems to be a new crop of stuff land in my lap that distracts me from getting ready before December strikes.

So, maybe I just need to accept that this is how it is always going to be for me.

However, I did spend a very pleasant day last Friday with (Essex) Lynne (aka @bodgerbird) making a few simple cards with a bunch of Lynne Perrella and Hot Picks Christmas stamps.

So if you are looking for some easy peasey card ideas, then eyes peeled....here are a few ideas to consider if you too are down to last minute, quick make options for friends and family again this year.

I love this stamp. It's from Hot Pick Xmas plate 2, and the design style is a bit like a slightly eroded tree. On this card it has been stamped in black versafine onto a greenish tinged scrapbook paper, and embossed in clear powder. The edges were lightly distressed, inked, and layered to red, then white card with a simple ribbon embellishment to the side.

You can't tell from this angle, but this fantastic image LPC016 has been stamped in crimson directly onto white card. She was then stamped again, and cut out (cutting the leaves off her coat), then layered onto the card with foam pads. The snowflakes are blinged up in the centre, then simply embellished and hey presto.

Again, very easy, stamp and emboss the image from Lynne Perrella Plate 017. Watered down Fresco Finish Acrylics are then used to colour the image. The card is then layered and lightly embellished with ribbon and lace. This would also be a great tag for a present.

These 2 are from different plates (LPC016/ LPC019), but they are fast to colour with frescos, then layered to a card. The quote comes from LPC017 .

This stamp from LPC018 is simply stunning. Adding colour truly brings out all the intricate detail. The quote is from Hot Pick Xmas 03 . Colouring in this manner is an ideal opportunity to use your translucent fresco paints.

Ok, a slightly more complicated one to finish on. The background is a crackle painted tag. An orange tag stamped is the next layer, and then the image LPC017 is stamped a few times onto different shades , sections cut out and layered. The spotted tag is another layer, made with frescos and using a stencil for contrasting opaque layers of paint.

So hope you might find a few hours this weekend to enjoy making some cards, and perhaps these may inspire you to keep it simple !!

Take care

Leandra