Christmas in July - 1

Good morning! I have a theme this month – Christmas in July! I’ve used Colorado Crafting Company’s Big & Bold Nordic Ornament on all the cards. This is a huge stamp, so you can use some of it, or all of it. I’ll start with a card where I’ve used all the image.

I stamped the ornament in Versamark ink on to watercolour card and heat embossed with clear powder. I used my Gansai Tambi watercolour set to add colour. I love the way the design is revealed as you paint the watercolours across the image. Once dry, I used a large circle die to cut out the ornament. To make the mat layer I simply drew around the outside of the circle die I used previously and then fussy cut it out. I adhered the two pieces together and added them to the front of a 5¾” square card. I finished the front by stamping one of the greetings from Nordic Ornament.

Inside the card, I cut a mat layer of black card. I cut a piece of white card slightly smaller and stamped part of the image at the bottom of this layer using several inks. I finished by adding a Christmas greeting.

The next card features part of the Nordic Ornament. I stamped the whole image onto white card and embossed it with gold powder. I used a stitched edge die to cut out part of the image and then blended three shades of red and pink ink over the image. I stamped another of the sentiments from the stamp set. I layered the finished piece of card onto a black mat layer and added it all to a red A2 (US size) notecard.

Inside, I cut a piece of black card for the mat layer and on the white panel I stamped the ‘Merry Christmas’ greeting in black. I finished by adding some of the gold embossed elements that I cut out from the left over ornament.

My final card is, I think, my favourite. I stamped the large Nordic Ornament on black card and embossed it with silver powder. This time I selected the central part of the image and simply cut a piece to size. I cut a piece of silver holographic card for the mat layer to echo the silver embossing. I found some shimmery vellum in my stash and wrapped that around the bottom of the image and finished by adding a die cut greeting – ‘noel’ from Concord & 9th’s Merry Mantle die set. I added the completed panel to the front of a black A2 (US size) notecard.

Inside, I cut a piece of the holographic card for the mat layer. I stamped the whole image in silver ink on to white card and selected the central portion, cut it to size and adhered it to the holographic panel.

That’s all from me today. See you again next week.

Deborah, x