Sunday, December 7, 2014

Marathon Cardmaking Day

Greetings...my Saturday marathon of cardmaking started with the Bi-Weekly Hero Arts Flickr group scramble.  Natalie was our hostess, and she asked us to use some of our oldest Hero Arts holiday stamps to make a card.   I picked out two stamps that I purchased when I first became interested in cardmaking, CG230 Happy Holiday Trees and CG472 Snowflakes N Ornaments.


Both of these cards were stamped and heat embossed, one of my favorite techniques.  A bit of ribbon, twine and some bling...and they were done.




After completing some chores and making dinner, I again sat down to see if I could make a couple more cards.  I still had the Happy Holiday Tree Stamp out, so I thought about what I could do differently. This is such a fantastic stamp.  Stamping the image shows snow topped branches, and when you clear emboss it and use a resist technique it still shows snowy branches - Genius stamp.
   (it is available at Hero Arts in limited supply)

I decided to clear emboss the image after stamping it twice across the landscape orientation of an A2 card. I decided to color in a night time sky with Distress Inks in Chipped Sapphire and Black Soot.  I added a few white dots with a white gel pen for stars and then a simple Simon Says Stamp Sentiment from the Be Joyful  set.  The sentiment is heat embossed in gold.

I fell in love with this card. It is so simple yet, I can't help but smile looking at it.  Hubs promptly requested it  be "his" card for the season.  So, I gathered supplies, cut card stock and stamped, embossed and inked for much of the night into the wee hours recreating this card for him to mail out his Christmas greetings. 

I am entering it in Virginia's View Challenge #10 - All Things Distressed.  The challenge is open til the 17th.

Thanks much for stopping by!

9 comments:

Sarah G said...

I can see why your hubby was so taken with the card, Cat - it is gorgeous! Love the added dimension to the night sky with the black soot...one to remember :) That tree stamp looks magical embossed against the rich blues. Perfect!

Jeanne H said...

Well done!!

Greta said...

Would you please sneak my name & address onto your hubby's list?! I can't stop looking at this gorgeous creation! This is a winner, Cat! Loved your Scramble cards, too.

Heather T said...

Three lovely cards but I think your husband did pick the star of the collection. It is beautiful in crisp white and rich blue.

Jean said...

These are fantastic! I love that blue sky - it's stunning!

Darnell said...

All three cards are really pretty, Cat! I love heat embossing, too. But the "hubs" card? Oh, my, it really did make me gasp. It is extraordinary!! Your talent is amazing!! Happy Holiday Hugs! Darnell

Cathy said...

Gorgeous cards Cat, the inky sky in the last one is awesome, so beautiful with the white embossed trees, Cathy x

Lisa Lara said...

So gorgeous Cat.

Viv said...

Fabulous cards Cat, you are sooo clever, ......adore the last one esp.....wow! ;) Viv xx