2020 Topic 21 'O, Christmas Tree...' with EEV (by Amanda Pink)

  2020 Topic 21: Masterboards

You might be forgiven for thinking that so many masterboards in one topic would end up all looking quite samey. It's not turned out like that at all. Amanda wraps up our topic with a set of cards and tags that boast really painterly backgrounds and shiver with a beautifully cool atmosphere.

~ Keren.

Hi everyone, it's Amanda Pink (ink-a-pink) with you today, and I'd like to share with you the project/s I have created for the current Topic 'Masterboards'. 

I always seem to be on the last push when it comes to creating my own handmade Christmas cards and often end up resorting to shop bought ones so this topic was perfectly timed and offered me the ideal opportunity to create a couple of masterboards, which I then turned into backgrounds and trees that I used to make some Christmas cards. I couldn't resist making a few gift tags as well! 

I chose to create with a more contemporary Christmas colour palette so used a few of the new PaperArtsy Fresco Finish Acrylic Paints: Cloudy, Azure and Crispy Blue along with Aquamarine, Midnight, Inky Pool, Glass Blue and Snowflake.  I do love blues and whites together for Christmas.

To create the masterboard that became the backgrounds of the cards and tags I brayered a piece of Heavy Smoothy with the Frescos to build up layers and depth of colour.

PaperArtsy have some fabulous stamps that lend themselves to masterboard creativity. I used stamps from the following stampsets: PaperArtsy Eclectica (Ellen Vargo) Collection EEV05 and EEV06. 

A very small part of the PaperArty Vintage I&D Collection (A6) Background (plate 5) plus PaperArtsy Minis MN108.

 

I stamped all around the board in either Archival ink (Cobalt Blue, Blue Violet, Garden Patina, Jet Black) or PaperArtsy Fresco: Snowflake. 

A few close ups may help you identify the stamps I used from Ellen Vargo's 2 stamp sets. Some are more obvious than others which I personally favour as it lets the eye seek them out! 

I only stamped part of the stamp design too. I just prefer a somewhat 'broken' impression for this kind of creativity. Helps prevent things getting 'over cluttered'.

To create the masterboard that I made into trees I again brayered a piece of Heavy Smoothy, (A4) with a couple of the Frescos mentioned above: Cloudy, Snowflake and a touch of Inky Pool. I wanted this masterboard to be much lighter than the other.

I then stamped and embossed a repeating circle design onto about half the masterboard using one of the stamps from EEV06.

I think this stamp is a favourite as the 'grungy' in me loves how some of the circles have an unfinished appearance.

The two masterboards were then made into cards and tags simply by cutting them up into backgrounds and trees.

There's 3 small square cards.

The Triangle trees were cut out of the embossed masterboard. I freestyled the cutting but a triangle die could be used instead. On one of the cards I kept the tree one dimensional...

and on the other 2 cards I made one half of the tree two dimensional by adhering half a triangle to one side of the full triangle trees.

The dimension can be appreciated more when the cards are viewed at an angle.

I felt the cards needed a sentiment so I stamped and embossed the words 'Merry Christmas' onto the lighter masterboard using part of the word block stamp on PaperArtsy (Hot Picks) Collection (HPXM07).

There's also a trio of small gift tags.

No room for a sentiment on these but that's ok as I will be writing Christmas wishes on the reverse before hanging them on presents.

With some of each of the masterboards left I also created a couple of tall slim cards, well this style does seem to be 'on trend' at the moment, doesn't it?

I changed up the tree embossed stamping for these two, using the long 'interwoven' stamp on EEV05.

They were each topped with a metal star and the sentiment on these two cards was split in 2 to fit. 

It seems these are masterboards that just 'keep on giving' as believe it or not there's still  enough left to make another couple of small cards and tags!! 

Creating masterboards and turning them into cards and tags makes for happy, fun creativity. It enables you to create cards/ tags/ gift cards/ money wallets in batches very easily. Although your 'makes' will be similar they will also be unique to themselves as each of them will have been created with a different part of the masterboards.

It's very much a stress free activity. Just pick out some colours a few stamps and stencils and away you go. If its something you don't often do why not give it a go? Be warned though as if you are anything like me once you've created one masterboard you'll no doubt be keen to create another and another and .. 

Before I go I would like to wish you all a very Happy Christmas/Happy Holidays and however you may be celebrating the festive season this year take care and stay safe and well!

Thanks for joining me today/ tonight.

Keep on Creating 

Amanda

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