Wednesday, November 18, 2020

Lino Cut Wren and Framed Trees

Hello again in this busy card making season!  I'm doing my best to use my newest Christmas stamps, but some may have to wait till next year.  I did, however, want to have a play with my Woodware lino cut stamps, starting with Wren.  This was the stamp that caught my eye on Pinterest and set me on a Woodware lino cut journey.

There are actually 4 stamps in this set -- wren, sky, small tree, and sentiment.  So incredibly quick to make a card like this.  The image stamps crisply, but I did several stampings just for good measure.  SU Bashful Blue and Brilliant Blue inks with Brilliant blue cardstock for the base.  The stamping was done on SU Whisper White.  The snowflake die is one of three that popped out of the background.  Added a rhinestone, popped up the sentiment.  The square card is 5".


(Memory Box Stitched Circle Layers, Amy Design Keep it Cool Rounded Frame, Spellbinders Fancy Framed Tags One)

That was so easy I made another one, this time in SU Almost Amethyst and Lovely Lilac.  Stamped on Neenah Super Smooth, which is nice, but the image is more crisp on SU Whisper White.  Each paper has it's own value and purpose.  I love to color on Neenah, but cannot color well at all on Whisper White.  See more info below pic.  Can you see the texture of the lilac card base?  That's done with SU's Subtle embossing folder.  Love that thing!


(Precious Marieke Snowflake Border, Impression Obsession Small Snowflake Set, silver self-adhesive trim, rhinestones)

The next cards are made with a Woodware lino cut called Framed Trees.  Sorry, no link, but I have to tell you I had a little trouble getting a good impression with this one.  I tried first with the MISTI, then my old SU Stamp-a-Ma-Jig.

Best results came by stamping with Versamark and embossing -- that's the gold and black card.  I used my own embossing powder mixture which is rather chunky with gold and silver, something glittery, even a little yellow.  I've forgotten everything I put in it.  Just playing, you know.  Some of the stamp's detail was obliterated by the chunky powder, but still looks pretty cool (more so in person).  After I embossed the gold on black I let it cool and then smooshed with Versamark and embossed with clear powder.  A nice glaze.




The blue card is my first time to try embossing Distress Oxide inks.  It worked great, other than the parts of the stamp that did not impress well no matter how many times I stamped over.  I used Peacock Feathers.  One die cut snowflake partially covers the most flawed area, the other two snowflakes are just for show.

This is a lot in one post, I know, but I tried to be quick about it.  I'm in a rush to get Christmas cards done and still do my other stamping, as well.  It's all fun for me!  I hope you're enjoying your holiday season, even though things are a little weird this year.  Hugs all around!





22 comments:

Glenda said...

All of these are lovely. It is definitely a very busy cardmaking season! I'm slowly but surely finishing all my cards and will start mailing early next month!

Cat Craig said...

Lovely collection of cards, great way to add to your stash.

Ros Crawford said...

Wow! They are all amazing... Lovely designs and the gloss is perfect for the season

Lynette said...

Four beauties, Leslie! I love the variety of colors. That embossing folder looks like a great one. I don't think that I have any SU! folders. Well, maybe one. :) Happy card-making!

crafty-stamper said...

All fabulous cards love the stamps but especially the little Wren one-we have one that nests in our garden.Love the die-cut borders and the embossing on the trees
Carol x

Margaret said...

Stunning. These are all so fabulous! I really do love the darker blue with the wren stamp and the black and gold embossed trees. They are both so striking. You always have the best die borders to enhance your stamped images.

Verna Angerhofer said...

Your cards are all so very gorgeous!

HilaryJane said...

Wonderful collection of Christmas cards, I am so impressed that you kept going with your framed trees card and got there in the end. The embossing looks amazing xx

Yogi said...

very pretty. Have a great day

Bonnie said...

Wow, Leslie, you have been busy! The wrens are so pretty in both the blue and the purple! Love the snowflakes bordering and scattered around! The trees are awesome in all their embossed glory! Your mix of embossing powders is gorgeous! I hope you made lots! The blue trees are so pretty too and I would never known you had trouble stamping them. All gorgeous, my friend!

Nanny's Pansy Patch said...

Well, you certainly have been a busy stamper. Great cards! I can't decide which one I love the most - they are all so beautiful! The colors you choose are just perfect! Great images as well as your coloring - don't see any stamping issues!! Hard to believe that Thanksgiving is next week!

Christine Alexander said...

Beautiful effect with the Woodware stamps, love your wren and the foliage around and the trees are gorgeous with your special mix of embossing powders :)

aussie aNNie said...

These are just gorgeous Leslie, gorgeous woodware stamps, I have the first one somewhere in my stash, gorgeous. xx

Alice (scrAPpamondo) said...

Wow!! They are all so impressive!! Love the idea and especially those blue creations!!

Cindy Beach said...

I am thrilled to see how you've used these unique stamps! Your gorgeous color choices, and playing at techniques gave beautiful results! The first one is my favorite, in the SU blues. Thanks for your tips on the papers and I didn't know you could emboss with Distress Oxides! That sure is a game changer.
Oh, and the dies - you are so creative in what you choose and they add such an impact! Glad you are having fun stamping, Leslie. It shows!

Evelyn S. said...

Oh my! The first blue caught my eye...and what a delight that elaborate blue and white creation is! (I can only guess that lino ware is a stamp made of some kind of vinyl tile?) And the second stamp...another blue beauty! The final two are amazingly embossed....don't believe I've ever seen a full embossed scene before. It is done so well. They are all gems, Leslie.

Conniecrafter said...

I can see why that stamp caught your eye, the detail in the bird is so pretty, that stamping makes for a lovely scene. I love the snowflakes all around! The second is neat with the design you have done with it too, like how you used the border sticker to go between the die and stamping and having the snowflake on the border looks great!
Your own combo of embossing powders turned out looking great against that black, I have not tried embossing with the oxides myself but I love how that turned out also!

pam said...

You have been busy Leslie, beautiful cards and love the colours
Pam x

laurie said...

How beautiful! I especially love the color!

Pauline said...

Oh Leslie, these are all so lovely. and you know my favourite would be the 'wren' cards, what a very unique stamp. Love the monochromatic tones of blue, and the lilac. Love the snowflake borders on both. Love the way your embossed trees turned out, the black and gold is very striking! You seem to have quite a collection of interesting stamps, and I love that you share them with us. I know you have more of these woodware stamps, can't wait to see what you create!

Ida said...

You always find the best stamps and dies to use on your cards. I love the 2nd card with the Almost Amethyst color scheme. I've had a few stamps like the tree one that are hard to get good impression of. One trick I have found reasonable success with is to ink the stamp, lay the piece of card stock down on the stamp, put a piece of paper over it and rub a block of wood or ink pad on top then lift it up off the stamp.

Stacy Morgan said...

You have been busy and these are all lovely. That tiny silver adhesive is a great touch and so simple. The embossing on both of the second trio is fantastic. Great set of cards.