2018 #22 C&S Christmas All Wrapped Up with EKC {by Carol Fox}

 2018 Topic 22: Clean and Simple Christmas Ideas

We wind up the topics of this year with more fast and fun ideas from Carol. Anything to personalise your gifts at Christmas is always a nice touch, and Chris has a range of quick makes in this post. Bright and Cheery! 

Wishing you all a wonderful Christmas break ~ Leandra

Hi everyone, it's Carol with you today, and I'd like to share with you some quick one layer cards and wrapping ideas. I like quick cards, I quite often use them to try out a colour combo or a new idea, be it a new quick border or a doodle idea, cards are handy for that as it's only a small space to fill and if it all goes wrong, well that's what the bin is for.
So today I have some one layer cards that incorporate a bit of masking and stenciling and of course Rubber Stamping because after all this is the PaperArtsy Blog.

Lots of cards and a gift bag from only one set of stamps and two stencils.

I thought using Fresco Finish Paint in Bougainvillea through my Kay Carley Stencil PS070 stencil gave my bag a bit of a retro look.

 

I stamped directly onto my tag, using Stamp set EKC22 by kay Carley splitting the image on the long edges, then using the Circle mask on the Tracy Scott stencil PS111 as a template to add Fresco Finish Glacier Ice over my masked off image, finishing with the Bourgainvillea as on the bag, then bumping the stencil a few times to draw black lines around each half circle.

For this card I used lots of the elements from Stamp set EKC22, masking off the center bauble before adding the holly stamping. I coloured my bauble with Fresco paint in Tangerine Twist.

You can see here how I added detail over the paint with a white coloured pencil to make the bauble seem a little less flat. The chalk paint is very good to colour over with most types of pencils.

 Here I stamped my bauble, masked it off and used the circle element from Stencil PS111 and Glacier Ice for my circle, and then used the same circle to bump 3 circles around my paint to give me little areas to colour in.

 

I used Cherry Red to paint my bauble, and Gold for the stenciled snowflake. I used Glass Blue to add my background detail with Stencil PS070 and then complimenting colouring pencils to add my detail to the rims and top of the bauble.

Again simple stamping and masking, using the same colours, stamps and stencils as previously listed.

I used pencils in similar shades to my paint to fill in little areas of my hand drawn border, and I do love how the Sentiments fit into the bauble areas on this stamp set.

When I have time I like to make my Christmas cards but I don't like to do them all the same so I like this stamp set, as it has  lots of elements that you can swap around for lots of different cards. Add in a couple of stencils and really that is all you need to quick and easy Christmas cards.

Thank you for visiting today and you can find me at the places below.

Carol xx

Blog: http://gingernonutsbits.blogspot.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GingersAlteredBits

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gingernonuts/

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.co.uk/gingernonuts/

There will be no challenge for this topic as we know you are super busy in the lead up to Christmas! So kick back and enjoy the inspiration from our designers instead!

2018 #22 C&S Christmas: A very happy Christmas with ESN {by Nikki Acton}

 2018 Topic 22: Clean and Simple Christmas Ideas

As we are working through this topic it has struck me how many of our mixed media designers have struggled to strip back what they do most naturally - layers and layers of paint...down to a couple of colours of ink, and allowing more white space. Nikki has executed the brief perfectly, and in the process she also realises how one stamp set can stretch to many different cards so beautifully! Love how she shows different colourways too! ~ Leandra

Hi everyone, it's Nikki from Addicted to Art with you today. I'd like to share with you a few cards I have made using one of Sara Naumann's 2018 stamp releases.

I love all the elements of this stamp set inspiring lots of different designs. I run a local card making class and one of the ladies there was equally taken with this set, commenting 'I didn't realise there were so many things you can do with one stamp set'.

The topic this time is Clean and Simple - not my natural style, and for some I am sure these cards aren't quite clean and simple enough. But there is still some white card I haven't covered with ink or paint, so I am going with it!

Sometimes I like to cut stamps (scary!) - I have done this for the long greeting on this set (ESN29) to allow me to use it in a smaller space.

On the 4x4 inch cards above I added some stencilling in the background using PS018 - perfect for Christmas.

The Christmas song lyrics work well for the background too. This card is a little bigger but the design similar.

I loved using the '25 December' raised with foam pads as a feature on these cards.

Finally a slightly different design using some of the other stamps in the set - and I can see myself using some these stamps all year round. The background here uses Sara's stencil - PS092.

The big day is nearly upon us, so I wish you a very Happy Christmas! If you need some last minute cards, I hope these have inspired you. 

Nikki

Blog: Addicted to Art
Instagram: @A2Acardscraft
Pinterest: nikacton

There will be no challenge for this topic as we know you are super busy in the lead up to Christmas! So kick back and enjoy the inspiration from our designers instead!

2018 #22 C&S Christmas: Whimsical Cards with Zinski Art {by Josefine Fouarge}

 2018 Topic 22: Clean and Simple Christmas Ideas

It's so satisfying when you can make your own coordinating papers from scratch. Josefine shares how with her Frescos and wonderful Zinski Art stamps with a dress-a-bear brief...this would keep the kids quiet at Christmas too!!!! ~ Leandra

Hi everyone, Josefine here and I'm super excited to share my "clean & simple" Christmas cards with you. Clean and simple usually means one layer and white space. I stretched this a little bit. The project is still clean & simple (for me)!

Usually, I add a lot of layers of paints and patterns to my projects, so it was exciting to try something different and challenge myself. Even though, my cards have a few more layers, they are still simple designs. Enjoy!

I started by coloring my characters from the Zinsky set ZA35. 

But instead of just stamping and coloring them I decided to paper-piece them. To do that, I prepared a variety of scrap pieces of paper and brayered paint onto them. 

One in a brown tone using Taupe (FF60), Caramel (FF75) and Stone (FF59)

One in green using Hey Pesto  (FF49), Winter Green (FF118) and Green Patina (FF126)

One in red using London Bus (FF37), Peach Nectar (FF144) and  Lemon Meringue (FF142) 

And one in pink (using Blah-Mange (FF140), Vintage Lace (FF18) and  Eggshell (FF138).

Next, I stamped the bears. Not just once, but several times onto the differently colored paper.

Now I cut out all the pieces. The entire bear once, then just the trouser or the hat from the other colored pieces.

Once I had all the pieces cut out, I adhered them together. It's important to cut the main piece entirely, so all the smaller pieces have a base they can be adhered to.

Now I prepared the background of my card. First, I blended some Lemon Meringue (FF142) to the card stock.

... and then I used PS116 to add a Christmas tree with Green Patina (FF126) and Taupe (FF60).

Then I moved the stencil just a bit to the right and blended the tree again, using Winter Green (FF118).

Finally, I added a few snowflakes with Snowflake Color Fresco Paint (FF15) and the bear and adhered everything onto a card base.

I did the same for the second card.

The only difference is that I stenciled "Merry and Bright" from the PS117 stencil.

Aren't these bears just adorable? The good thing is that they can be used for so much more than just Christmas cards. The one with the glasses is the perfect California bear ;)
It's so easy to "color" them and put the individual pieces together.

Thanks so much for stopping by. I hope you enjoy this topic and checkout all the other posts from the design team.

Blog: www.holylise.com

Facebook: HolyLise

Instagram: @HolyLise

YouTube: HolyLise Designs

There will be no challenge for this topic as we know you are super busy in the lead up to Christmas! So kick back and enjoy the inspiration from our designers instead!