Christmas Card Class June 2011

Christmas card classes are always fun, but it is not always easy to come up with new designs that showcase new products. For last nights class I used a technique that we were shown at our recent Stampin' Up! Convention in Melbourne - a technique that I knew I'd love as soon as I saw it demonstrated. 

That technique is the TORN PAPER FRAME TECHNIQUE that was generously shared with us by a very talented SU demonstrator, Sharnee Torrents

For my class I gave the participants 5 packs using different colour combinations. I was wanting to go non traditional with colour, while still using a traditional stamp set, and what better tool to help me out of a dilemma than the fantastic COLOUR COACH from Stampin' Up!®. This is a wonderful, compact little tool that gives you lots of ideas for combining colours. And yes, sometimes the combinations are a complete surprise, but they work. If you don't have one of these - you need one!

I also wanted to use my home made SHIMMER MIST (ask me how if you'd like the recipe) but at the same time have an earthy feel to the cards. What a contrast! Glimmer and Earth!

Oh well this is what I came up with...

This is the first card I made using 

Night of Navy, Pumpkin Pie and Cherry Cobler card stock.

The image is clear embossed then highlights are created with bleach.

Stampin' Up! stamps used are from the "A Wish for Peace" (p. 29)  and "Tiny Tags" (p. 93) and "Delightful Decorations" (p. 23) sets in the current Idea Book and Catalogue. It's easy to combine images from different sets together, and doing this gives you unlimited creative possibilities from just a few sets. 

This detail shows up another technique that I used - the COLOR SPRITZER TOOL. This is fantastic for "aging" your creations - it's easy to use and you can use it with the  SHIMMER MIST or by itself. You can control the amount of "spritz" that goes on your card too. 

Bleaching is another favourite technique of mine. (Yes! I love them all) This detail shows how you can get a variety in tints by adding more or less bleach.

Now let's look at a couple of other colour combinations. You'll see I've rearranged some of the elements a little and added details such as the faux stitching, different Vintage Brads and string/cord.

And finally after the girls went home I decided to go really grungy for my next and brightest colour combo.

Colours are Elegant Eggplant, Melon Mambo, Perfect Plum.

I sprayed the double layer of card with water and crumpled it in my hands. Flattened it out slightly and swiped the Mambo side with Eggplant Classic Ink then I worked out approximately where I wanted to tear open the card to create the torn frame. The card was still damp and very malleable at this stage. I sprayed with my White Frost Shimmer Mist that was nearing the bottom of the bottle and was quite strong in consistency - it came out quite thick! Next came the Color Spritzer with the Eggplant Stampin' Write Marker to tone that shimmer down a little!

I also added some sponging around the edges that had been distressed with a Bone Folder. Everything was then matted onto a Perfect Plum card base.

And here are the 4 cards I finished yesterday, showing how different cards can look by changing a few elements such as colour and accessories. 

Hope you like this idea and you'll give it a try. It's so much fun trying different things. I don't think I'll ever settle to a particular style.

I'm sharing these cards with the following challenges:

Oldie But A Goodie –stamp more than 6 months old       

The SpotlightChallenge  - try something new    

KB Cute Monday   - Anything Goes

Make It Monday      

The CorrosiveChallenge Blog – must be Christmas

Paper SundaesChallenge blog      - Vintage/Shabby Chic

You are more than welcome to join my monthly Christmas Card Classes if you live in the Canberra Regional Area. They are held on the first Wednesday of each month.

Hope you will give these techniques a try

Until Next Time,

Stay Crafty!