What could be better than getting a card? Watching its video tutorial so you can make it yourself! Click on my video, get the supplies list, and use the links for whatever you need, so you can start creating adventures with these Lavinia Stamps best friends!
The Story Behind the Card
Once upon a time there was a lonely bunny who wanted a friend. Every single day she looked. She tried to sing to the birds but she didn’t know what to say. She hopped over a cricket but it didn’t want to play. She turned each stone and followed each vine – “I’ll never find a friend,” she whimpered and whined. “Oh my beautiful bunny, please don’t cry.” A sweet voice answered and scooped bunny up high. “I’ll be your friend! Just you and me! Oh the adventures we’ll have… just wait and see!”
Lavinia Stamps Inspired this Card Created by Linda Fields
I get so much joy and therapy when I create. Today I’m sharing my latest Christmas Ornament card and all the amazing things I used to make it. A big hugs and shout out to Tim Holtz. After years of using some of the best products around, today, your videos helped me learn how to finally use Wax Foundry the right way! Join me in this first of many Christmas Card Making tutorials! Enjoy!
Christmas Monday Challenge
Challenge Accepted! This week’s theme? Christmas! This is my first time entering a Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge. I’m very excited. I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to use my Tim Holtz goodies!
Cut and fold your card base. I made a slimline card 3.5 x 8.5″ (folded).
Create your backdrop using Spray Stains.
Use a craft gun to dry the paper then layer with Mica Stain.
Again, dry your backdrop.
Stamp Music Sheet Notes with coordinating color (green).
Grab a stencil, a stipple brush and Distress Ink to stencil design.
Cut backdrop down to card front size 3.25 x 8.25″.
Cut your black mat 1/8″ larger than your card front.
Tape card front to mat.
Die cut Ornaments A & B from black cardstock.
Using Gilded Wax Foundry to apply the liquid to ornament A.
Use glue to attach ornament A to ornament B. Heat set.
Use Wax Foundry on ornament hanger in silver. Glue to ornament.
While paper’s warm, gently bend ornament so it appears dimensional.
Twirl strands of silver thread together. Tie at top of ornament. Tape to back.
Use Gilded Wax Foundry to frame the paper. Use gun to melt it.
Attach ornament to card with glue, back on the sides only so it pops up.
Repeat stencil pattern to the inside of card and stamp sentiment.
Attach card front to card base using foam tape.
Enjoy your beautiful card!
Final Thoughts
I loved playing with these amazing products. Give yourself the freedom to explore the colors when creating your backdrop. Don’t worry if you can’t find some of the items listed. There are endless creative possibilities when making this Christmas card so be inspired and find the endless joy in creating!
In remembrance of those lost, and of the kind hearted doing all they can to give, I dedicate this card, the last in the Three Virtues series, to the native people of Maui. God bless you. This neatly ties up anything I might have missed in the previous two tutorials with some added commentary.
All in the Details
Altenew has some of the most beautiful flower stamps you’ll find anywhere but I like to broaden their versatility by adding details that aren’t in the stamps. Here’s where Micron drawing pens and mechanical pencils become must have tools in your creative arsenal! This stamp I used did not have the extended stem, didn’t have the tendrils or the large leaf at the base. I drew those in and you can too with a little practice. Leaves are very fun to draw.
Notice the lines in the flower? I added these to give added texture, movement and depth. Because I used colored pencil over the petals, I really need to go back in with the pen and redo those lines to make them pop.
Building Your Toolbox
Let’s break down some of these tools. I used the silver Compass to create the circles. The curved lines guided me when writing the main word for each card like “Charity” but you can use a compass for many things like finding the center using arcs. A great tool!
The grey blob on my Glass Media Mat is called a Kneaded Eraser. As the name suggests, you must knead it like a little piece of dough before using it to “pick up” unwanted graphite. Use it to create highlights or to clear up your paper. It won’t mar or ruin the surface. When the eraser becomes too saturated, just knead the graphite away and start again! You can even form tiny arms for fine details so you leave the rest of your illustration alone. Amazing tool. Past the paint brushes and colored pencil is a white Tortillion or Blending Stump. It’s tightly rolled paper used to smear and/or blend pencil marks. You can tear away what’s old and sharpen what’s worn! Last but never least are the Micron Pen and Mechanical Pencil. The right tool for the job is important and these are must haves.
Colored Pencils
Who hasn’t heard of Prismacolor Colored Pencils? They used to be my absolute favorite for laying down color but I must say, my dedication has been persuaded by another! I recently purchased a wonderful set of colored pencils by Castle Arts. Besides being reasonably priced, they are incredibly soft with rich, vibrant colors that don’t break or crumble! The 120 set I got from Amazon was only $60 dollars and it came in a portable zipper case with pages that flip while holding every pencil in place. These pencils are amazing.
The Three Virtues
I’m in the last stages of certification in Altenew’s Educational Program (AECP) so I’ve been creating a lot of cards, my last being the Three Virtues set. I began with Hope, created Faith and finished with Charity. I used watercolors, colored pencils, inks, drawing pencils and pens. I love the finished set.
