Hi friends! It's Christmas cards today. I did better than last month in that I have three more to add to the box. Loll's CAS Christmas Challenge is back and I was eager to play. I'm not good at clean and simple as I tend to want to add that little something extra, but I always loved this challenge. The theme this month is "Bird" -- yes, please!
My bird is colored with Tombow markers on hot pressed watercolor paper. I painted the snow on the berries with white acrylic paint and then applied Stickles Stardust glitter. I probably shouldn't have embossed the background as the guidelines say "no pattern", oops, but I sure do love the way it looks. I used a double-sided adhesive sheet to apply thin vellum to cardstock before embossing it and was surprised at how white the embossed patterned turned out.
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| Stampendous Chickadee Holiday, Spellbinders Scallop Labels and Tag, Spellbinders Pinecones & Berries 3D embossing folder, older retired Stampin' Up Joy die |
CAS Christmas Challenge -- Bird
CAS Definition
The next two cards are not intended for the CAS Christmas Challenge. Pictured below is the same Stampendous bird set as the first card, called Chickadee Holiday. I did not color them as Chickadees and that's just okay. They're cute little birds that probably look like something, but I'm not sure what. I carried on with the vellum and double-sided adhesive, this time on dark green cardstock. It appears as though I applied white ink which smeared onto the non-embossed areas, too. I'm flabbergasted by the whiteness.
Next, I switched to another Stampendous set called Heavenly Birds. These plump little cutie birds and the starry background are all one stamp. I stamped once in Ranger Archival Black for Tombow coloring, and once in white ink on navy cardstock for the white embossing. Cut each with a frame die, mounted on navy, then white, and finally a navy card base. Added the star and gem. Definitely not CAS, but not too much, either.
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| Stampendous Heavenly Birds, Scrapbook.com North Stars die Memory Box Oval Master Frame, Poppystamps Christmas banners with dies |
Total Christmas cards in the box: 17
I may do more Christmas cards this month, but I'm not sure. No pressure, just come what may.
Thank you so much for your time!
Cute cards. With the weather we’re having it almost feels like winter. Have a great day
ReplyDeleteNever too much! I agree that's true of all your cards, Leslie, as you are so good at placing elements together that seem made for each other and adding just the perfect details. How I love these bird cards for Christmas. Amazing trick with embossing the vellum and card stock together. I love the result!
ReplyDeleteI adore the embossed vellum and am always surprised by the 'whitened' look of the details when vellum is embossed - it's also fabulous over top of the green! He could be a Chipping Sparrow! LOve the snowy berries - sure to bring JOY this Christmas!
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Hi, Leslie! These are not only heartwarming, with little birdies singing cheerfully, but they are beautiful! I am always amazed at the numbers of techniques you employ on a single card, and the cards never look "over-busy", but like miniature works of art. I especially like the inked EFs and the pretty watercolor effect in the background. Three Christmas cards done! I am jello. lol - hugs, de
ReplyDeleteAll three of these Christmas card are fantastic. First I love the sweet birds and the embossed vellum adds another delicate element. You should enter all three in the challenge at Seize the Birthday. The topping is to use vellum. I think you have some winners!
ReplyDeleteA trio of fabulous birdies Leslie!! You've colored all of them beautifully, and I'm really loving your embossed vellum backgrounds...so need to remember to try that!! And I agree with Michele that your 2nd bird could very well be a Sparrow...we have all kinds of them around our house! Lovely, lovely cards my friend and YAY for 3 more for the Christmas stash!! Hugs. :0)
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