Thursday 30 October 2014

Christmas Elegance {with Eclectica³ Elizabeth Borer Stamps by Lesley Ebdon}

Hi, it’s Lesley here tonight and I was really pleased when Darcy asked if I’d like to do a Guest Blogger spot using fabulous PaperArtsy products.  I decided to use Elizabeth Borer’s stamp sets EEB01 and EEB02 again because when I took part in their blog launch night I focussed mainly on the fairies and foliage stamps and this time I wanted to concentrate almost exclusively on the beautiful baubles.  As few Christmas cards using Elizabeth’s stamps have been featured on the blog, I chose to make some for my contribution tonight.

Whilst I love creating painty/inky layered and textured backgrounds using different media my current favourite card style is clean and elegant so I took inspiration from the elegant bauble stamps themselves together with Fibralo pens and matting and layering co-ordinating card, I wanted to show anyone new to rubber stamping and card making how easy, given beautifully designed stamps, it is to create a Christmas card that any none ‘arty’ recipient would love to display.

All my cards feature the baubles stamped onto separate card, coloured directly with Fibralo pens and cut out then given a little dimension with either a bone folder or any round ended tool you have in your kit (mine is an acrylic tool that came from a wire working set).


Card #1 had the long bauble from EEB01 stamped into a ‘flower’ design by masking some to give the illusion of dimension and then colouring before cutting out as a whole piece then adhering to the card top layer on the card base. 


EEB01
 The photo below shows the original full ‘flower’ on a scrap mock up but I thought it was too much so I did less bauble layers and placed it to one side on the card and trimmed it down. 

 I then stamped a few individual baubles, shaped them and layered them over the ‘flower’ with a little dimensional glue (silicone or Pinflair). I finished off with a metal flower, button and tiny bow and a sentiment from my stash (I don’t yet have any PaperArtsy Christmas sentiments in my stash ….…soon!).



Card #2 had flowers created in a different way as you can see from the photo below.  This time they were stamped and embossed with blue metallic embossing powder before colouring with Fibralos and I also created a co-ordinating card layer by scribbling the Fibralo colours onto my craft mat, spritzing with water and flicking the drops onto card from a paintbrush. 

 I dried each colour before doing the next one so the colours stayed true.  I used a full A4 piece of card for this so that I had enough to die cut the snowflakes and rosettes.  I finished those off with dabbing ‘dries clear’ glue on with my finger and then dipping them (the snowflakes not my fingers ;D) into clear glitter.



Card #3 uses the last of the three bauble stamps in the traditional way and I combined it with the lovely Art Deco mistletoe stamp from EEB02 to hang them from. 


EEB02
This time for the co-ordinating card mat I used the same method of scribbling Fibralos onto my craft mat as the previous card except instead of flicking with a paintbrush I applied it with a piece of textured natural sponge.  So simple but I really like this effect.


The mistletoe border was cut out and attached with 3D foam pads. Again the baubles were stamped, coloured, cut out and shaped before adhering to the top card layer with dimensional glue. 

                 
I hope you like my cards and that they inspire you to create some of your own if you’re like me and you’re late getting started with your Christmas cards, lol!  Thanks to Leandra and Darcy for the opportunity to appear on the blog again and if you would like more details of how I made these cards please drop by my blog later.

Lesley. 

A huge thanks to Lesley from all at PaperArtsy HQ. These cards are so beautiful, really elegant. You have shown the stamps off perfectly with simple designs and striking colour choices. Your coordinating card is a wonderful compliment to the focal designs, the sponged Fibralos is a great technique. 

We would love you to join in with our monthly challenge. If you are inspired by any of this month's guests who have blogged between Oct 1st 2014 and Oct 31st 2014 then join in and link up your creativity HERE. You will go in the draw to win a voucher to spend on products of your choice from the PaperArtsy online store. You need to add your link by 19:00 (London time) Oct 31st 2014

24 comments:

Helen said...

Oh, Lesley, these cards are fabulous! It makes you look at the stamps in a totally different way. Love them!

Deborah Wainwright said...

Wow lesley these are stunning I'm all excited as I've been putting off starting my cards bored with current themes but as these are so gorgeous I now cannot wait to play. Fab backgrounds and excellent stamping and arrangement of the feature. love em! Xx

Hazel Agnew said...

Lesley, these are genius. As I read your post I kept nipping back to identify the pieces from the stamps. Gosh, you have once again done her stamps proud. They are elegant and delightful. Good on Yer! Xx

craftytrog said...

They're all gorgeous Lesley! xxx

Ruth said...

Stunning cards Lesley, love how you've used the stamps to create truly elegant cards. Ruth x

Lucy Edmondson said...

Oh wow these are amazing, Lesley! I had no idea these stamps were so versatile. It shows the power of blogging that ideas can be shown off in this way. Your designs are so elegant and original. I love your ideas for the Fibralos too (which I have!). Well done!!

Lucy x

Linda Jones said...

Gorgeous Lesley. You must be so proud ☺☺☺

jojo79 said...

These are very elegant Lesley, a very clever use of the stamps.

sam21ski said...

Fabulous xx

Unknown said...

Hi Lesley , When I found what you had done with these stamps I couldn't believe how beautiful the cards were . Love them .
Liz .

Craftyfield said...

Stunning and definitely elegant! Love the dimension of the popped up pieces.

Julie Lee said...

Wow, Lesley, these cards are indeed elegant. You have really shown the potential for these stamps beautifully! Some really inspirational cards! We should all be fired up now to get stuck in with those Christmas cards! Julie Ann xxx

Unknown said...

Beautiful cards giving lots of inspiration for using these stamps.

Dana said...

Such a beautiful and totally unique use of these stamps!!

massofhair said...

Beautiful, classy and understated elegance is what your cards display Lesley. Loving the CAS designs and the colours you used. Fantastic inspiration! :-) xxx

snazzyoriginal said...

Stunningly elegant cards xx

Art By Wanda said...

Gorgeous cards!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Kirsten said...

Such beautiful cards!!! And they're so elegant too.

Etsuko said...

Oh! These cards are amazing Lesley!! You made fabulous flowers and ornament from Elizabeth Borer’s stamps. It's great idea and absolutely beautiful. I love them xxx

craftimamma said...

Thank you for your encouragement and appreciation everyone. I had 2 of my grandchildren staying last night so couldn't get online to say thankyou properly till now.

Hugs
Lesley Xx

Suzanne C said...

Beautiful! Love the pretty colors you used!

Elaine said...

So nice to see your work showcased with these PA stamps Lesley. As always you bring a touch of elegant style to your designs. I really like how you have left plenty of space in all the designs which works so nicely. The use of the mistletoe motifs on the last design as a means of hanging the baubles is great. My favourite is the first though. Traditional Christmassy colours but with a modern twist. That flower looks perfect offset in that way and your planning really worked. Smashing work. Elaine xxx

Words and Pictures said...

What fantastic cards from Lesley - fabulous to see you here, Lesley! The bauble flower you created for the first one is absolutely inspired - great colouring too!
Alison xx

Kezzy said...

Wow wow wow truly gorgeous awesome cards and such a fantastic way to use the stamps, stunning. Happy Creating :-) Kezzy xxx