Thursday, April 19, 2012

More for Christmas

I have some more Christmas cards that I thought I'd share today.  These cards are for this week's Merry Monday challenge.  Here's the sketch that Lesley gave us...


This is the first card I did.


I kept trying different panels and couldn't be satisfied so I decided to use the Stripe Embossing Folder instead.  I couldn't get a good picture of them, but hopefully you can see the stripes.

The stamp is a bargain from a local craft store.  I stamped it 3 times in Always Artichoke.  The white gel pen added some snow to the branches.

The sky is sponged with Bashful Blue and Not Quite Navy and the birds are from the Up, Up and Away set.  In this picture the snow looks gray.  It's quite shimmery IRL, painted with Frost White Shimmer paint.  It's mounted on Naturals White which has a snowy look.

I wasn't sure if this would be too far from the sketch so I did another and spent far too much time on it and created an awful mess of glitter and Dazzling Diamonds.  LOL!   I'll sparkle for months!


This is true to the sketch.  I just hope all that sparkle is still on the card at Christmas.  To achieve that sparkly effect, I patted the whole design area with VersaMark and sprinkled with Dazzling Diamonds.  I had seen a similar technique by Cristina of the My Paper Secret blog.  She has a wonderful clean and simple style that is never boring.  I love visiting her blog for inspiration.

I found out that VersaMark is not exactly a glue pad.  Think I need to visit a craft store again and get a real glue pad so the glitter will stay put better!

I punched some little snowflakes from each panel with an old EK Success punch.  Then I changed my mind and decided to put the snowflakes back but with dimensionals.  I used the Northern Frost Sizzlit Decorative Strip for the larger snowflakes and cut them from Shimmery White and Night of Navy.  The Navy helps to show the snowflake up better.

Now I don't know which one to enter.  I love the simplicity of the first one, but the second is closer to the sketch. Decisions decisions.

All supplies are Stampin' Up! unless otherwise noted

Card Recipe (Card 1)
Stamps: Pines (Inkadinkadoo), Up, Up and Away
Ink:  Always Artichoke, Bashful Blue, Not Quite Navy, Early Espresso, Frost White Shimmer Paint
Paper:  Naturals White, Always Artichoke
Other:  Big Shot, Stripes EF, Always Artichoke Seam Binding

Card Recipe (Card 2)
Stamps:  Winter Post
Ink:  Jet Black StazOn, SU Markers (Not Quite Navy, Garden Green, Real Red)
Paper:  Night of Navy, Shimmery White, Naturals White
Other:  VersaMark, Dazzling Diamonds, Northern Frost Sizzlit Strip, Snowflake punch (EK Success),  Basic Rhinestones

I'm so glad you stopped by to visit.

Enjoy!

18 comments:

Wendy said...

Oh Bonnie, I think you should add them both! I love the first one with the embossed stripes and the scene that you painted with those pretty trees and gorgeous bow! The second one is oh so sparkly but beautiful too! I love how you made the main image sparkle and the added snowflakes! Navy & white make such pretty Christmas cards! Thanks for playing along this week over at Merry Mondays!

Cynthia said...

Yeah, add them both! They're both gorgeous!!! And VersaMark is not exactly a glue pad....I died laughing at that one!! ;-)

Kathie said...

The trees are absolutely stunning. Very nice!

Lisa said...

I love both cards Bonnie. The first one really reminds me of my area during the winter, I just love those trees! The ribbon is the perfect tough to finish it all off.

The 2nd card looks amazing with the Dazzling Diamonds and the embossed panels are fantastic.

Beautiful cards!

Darnell said...

Amazing work, Bonnie! You should link them both!

Vicky Hayes said...

Enter them both of course Bonnie! I adore the top one where the image looks as if it's fading into the card stock and the second with its wonderful sparkling winter wonderland!

Susan said...

Both are lovely but my favourite is the one with the skaters. I also think it is closer to the sketch so if you're only allowed to link one, then I say go with that one.

Catie Cuddles said...

I like both but particularly the first one ... I love the scene you created.

Lesley said...

Both are gorgeous Bonnie, although I love the glitter on the second one. So happy you play along!
Hugs,
Lesley

Benzi said...

Oh, what beautiful creations, Bonnie. I love the first card with the beautiful, sponged sky...great job.
And, the second one is gorgeous...love the sparkle you achieved.

Super work on these cards!!!

Aileen said...

They are both fab Bonnie. Love the snowy scene on the first and all the glitter on the second. It was worth getting glittery for. Lol! x

Shelia said...

both cards are so pretty. I really like the trees in the first one!

Notes by Nina said...

Beautiful cards, love colours you used.

LeAnne said...

Both cards are beautiful! I do love the second one. If you use Iridescent Ice embossing powder by SU, along with the versamark, you'll get a wonderful Dazzling Diamonds effect. The glitter will probably fall off the versamark by itself. (Someone might have already commented on this in a previous comment, I didn't read them all!) Anyway, I think the first one is very serene and I love the snowy effect on the trees, too! Thanks for participating in the Merry Monday challenge with us this week!

Victoria said...

WOW WOW WOW! These cards are incredible beautiful! The serenity of the first is amazing and the wonderful Christmas sparkle of the second is fabulous. I have no patience whatsoever for glitter but you really make me want to try to achieve that result!

Colleen Dietrich said...

Great scene on the first card, paired with the striped embossing on the bottom. THe second one razzle-dazzled me with that glitter! Wow!

Faith A at Daffodil Cards said...

Really like this Bonnie, love vintage Xmas cards, but yours has a modern twist, love it

Doris said...

Well, if I ever get to Cary, NC and see someone sparkling in the distance, I'll know it's you! I've added glitter by mixing it with a small amount of clear embossing powder, just enough to sprinkle on the Versamark piece.

I just LOVE that first card with the sponging and the snow effect.