Star of Light - quick and easy Christmas Card

Good News! I got two really quick cards on video this weekend.  Bad News! It gets dark so early now that it is hard for me to get them done in Natural Light.  So - you will see that they both have some shadows and don't show all the sparkle that is on the cards.  That said they are done!

My goal in my videos is to keep them as quick as possible.  I don't really care to watch someone stamp for over 25 minutes to make one card and I bet that some of you are like me.  If you need to slow it down, your video player should be able to do that.  This week both videos are just over 3 minutes.  Quick enough to give you some inspiration - and watch on your break!

This card uses the holiday mini bundle Star of Light.  I love when sets have enough stamps that you can really make the inside special - and this one does!  There are several star images included, but this was letting the paper literally shine, so I didn't include any.

A few things:
*Endless color combos are possible - Silver and Gold, Blue and Silvers, Black and metallics, Copper and Pink - start with a background paper you love and base your star colors from that.
*Glitter paper - it is available in so many colors now!  When using a more intricate die and the glitter paper in the Big Shot - I find it best to roll it few a couple of times and then flip it over and roll once with the cutting edges off.  It ensures that all parts are cut through.

Starburst Angel Card

This was my favorite card from October's camp!  I don't know if I have enjoyed any technique in over 20 years of stamping as much as watercoloring with the Wink of Stella.  So very pretty!

Here is a quick 3 minute video to show you how to make this gorgeous card!

A couple of things you will notice as you watch:

I am coloring with ink refills,  you only need a drop or two of each color.  While she would be even more stunning in multitudes of color - this is geared for multiples so you can use it for Christmas cards.

For her wings - they are straight Stella, the gold and the clear.  Her skin I didn't want to sparkle (she isn't in a Twilight novel, lol) so I colored with a blender pen.  When using the refills, always be careful to just pick up a TINY BIT of ink - it is easier to add more than to try to work in a way too dark blob!  You will notice that when I begin, I start on her foot.  Don't start on a main focal point (her face) that was as the ink becomes lighter on your pen you can move to the more important areas.

I always start coloring from the left of the image - and don't fill all the way in - leave some areas of lighter color and even some white.  On her dress you might think at first it looks a hot mess....but the longer you go, it evens itself out.  I start with the lighter color (Pool Party) and once that is finished, I pick up a tiny bit of Bermuda Bay and add that between the very left edges and the darkest edge of the Pool Party.  Once you watch, you will see what I mean!  When you look at the card closely, the coloring is done with a light touch - it is rare that I color in so it is all color from edge to edge

When you have to fussy cut (there is no Big Shot to help cut her out!) don't cut right to the edge of the design, leave a small border of white.

Fuse holds this all together nicely - although the acrylic printed paper is SO pretty - and it gives some depth to adhere it with dimensionals.

Let me know what you think of this card - and if you have any questions about watercoloring!

Santa's Sleigh

This card takes a bit longer than some Christmas quickies - but the results give you something to send that will earn it's place on someone's mantle!

This is a great bundle.  You can see that I let the embossing powders be the 'star' of this show on this card.  Originally I also had the sleigh embossed in copper, but it was one step too much - so I chose the sleigh to shine with the copper foil paper.

I did use red, green, black and silver powders.  They give a nice strong outline to the images.  Note if you use the red and green that because they are glitter based - you will want to use them heating from the underside of your paper.  Once they are melted a quick wave of heat over the top ensures they stick and don't lose the shimmer.

I think I am addicted to the watercolor with the Stella - especially on the Christmas cards it gives such a nice shimmer to all of the colors!

The folder embossed snowflakes were too pale on just white - too blue on the pool party - but a quick wipe over with the white craft ink gave a perfect backdrop for the sleigh.  My original card had more trees and an another reindeer - but even this "more is more" girl recognizes when it's just too much!

Those of you attending October camp will get to make and take this home!  Can't make it?  Watch for my camp to go offering!

Glamper Birthday!

This card is almost as much fun to make as it is to give!

A little bit of two step stamping - and a little watercolor with a blender pen - all you need to pull off this.

Not only is the camper old style, but the stamp set is too.  What do I mean by that?  There is no Big Shot accessory set with it, so it will require just a touch of fussy cutting.....Not too much as most of the photopolymer allow for perfect positioning while stamping.

Because we had made this card at camp in September, I opted to use the ink spots (collected from past Paper Pumpkin kits) - but you can easily swap those over for full size pads and/or markers.

Multi texture Paisleys and Posies card

This card has a lot of texture - as you will see by the number of different papers used on it.

The colored paisleys are stamped on watercolor cardstock and painted with clear Stella and ink pads.

The large paisley is cut with the gold foil acetate and the smaller more intricate from the new copper paper.

Add some copper cord - a pretty stamped background (almost too pretty to cover up!)

Happy World Card Making Day!

Happy World Card Making Day (seems like they should have combined this with World Coffee Day that was earlier this week, lol). Do you have plans to make a card? If you make any Stampin Up card THIS WEEKEND, snap a quick pic and add it to the comments on this same post on my Facebook page! I will draw from the names for a $10 gift certificate!! Watch this space for further specials! Happy Stampin!

You can find my Facebook Page here -  https://www.facebook.com/Cherish-art-and-inspiration-150399058335135/