BLUEPRINT XMAS

Tutorial by Linda Fields

Welcome to another Minute Monday! I challenged myself to create a set of 7 Christmas cards using a blast from the Tim Holtz blueprint past! I wanted to make these fun cards in as little time as possible without sacrificing quality. I’m so excited to bring you my end results. Note, the gingerbread house took the longest because of all the tiny details so keep this in mind when figuring your creative goals.

Materials

Simple Steps

  1. Use straight edge guillotine to cut 8.5 x 11″ cardstock in half, creating two 4.25 x 11″ strips.
  2. Turn one strip and emboss halfway at 5.5″.
  3. Use folding tool to press and close top fold A2 card. Repeat. (1 sheet = 2 card bases)
  4. Use deckle edge guillotine to cut 8.5 x 11″ cardstock in half, creating two 4.25 x 11″ strips.
  5. Turn one strip and deckle cut halfway at 5.5″.
  6. Trim remaining straight edges until you have 4 deckle edged sides measuring 4 x 5.25″.
  7. Repeat step 6 until you have 4 card fronts measuring 4 x 5.25″ each. (1 sheet = 4 card fronts)
  8. Use a stamping platform to stamp each card front with the main stamp and sentiment.
  9. Repeat step 8 to stamp however many card fronts you want.
  10. Using Copic pens, color the stamped images. Use light to dark colors then return to your first light color.
  11. Use Wink of Stella and/or White Gel Pen to accent your images for that special touch.
  12. Use double stick tape on the back of the card fronts. Attach to card base and enjoy!

Tips ‘n Tricks

If you look in the photos you’ll see a pair of green rimmed glasses. These are wonderful if you’re eyesight isn’t what you need it be. I put these on over my regular glasses. They have lights built in that turn on or off depending on whether you’re wearing them or not.

When it comes to coloring using alcohol ink pens, use 2-3 colors different shades in the same color to create a beautiful blending effect. Start with your lightest color, add the next shade and the darkest last but go back with the lightest shade after to blend them together.

I love to use a white gel pen to add light accents. I also used a Wink of Stella pen to add silver everywhere color was not used in the stamped image.

These clean and simple cards are incredibly fun to make so don’t stop! There are so many creative things you could do to embellish these designs to the next level. Most importantly, have fun!

JOY TO THE WORLD

Tutorial 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!

Materials

Steps

  1. Cut and fold your card base. I made a slimline card 3.5 x 8.5″ (folded).
  2. Create your backdrop using Spray Stains.
  3. Use a craft gun to dry the paper then layer with Mica Stain.
  4. Again, dry your backdrop.
  5. Stamp Music Sheet Notes with coordinating color (green).
  6. Grab a stencil, a stipple brush and Distress Ink to stencil design.
  7. Cut backdrop down to card front size 3.25 x 8.25″.
  8. Cut your black mat 1/8″ larger than your card front.
  9. Tape card front to mat.
  10. Die cut Ornaments A & B from black cardstock.
  11. Using Gilded Wax Foundry to apply the liquid to ornament A.
  12. Use glue to attach ornament A to ornament B. Heat set.
  13. Use Wax Foundry on ornament hanger in silver. Glue to ornament.
  14. While paper’s warm, gently bend ornament so it appears dimensional.
  15. Twirl strands of silver thread together. Tie at top of ornament. Tape to back.
  16. Use Gilded Wax Foundry to frame the paper. Use gun to melt it.
  17. Attach ornament to card with glue, back on the sides only so it pops up.
  18. Repeat stencil pattern to the inside of card and stamp sentiment.
  19. Attach card front to card base using foam tape.
  20. 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!

DAISY DEW

Handmade Card by Linda Fields

The beautiful state of Florida was my inspiration today. A lazy, daisy, kind of day with the summer sun and softly falling rain, leaving pretty little dew drops on all the plants and flowers.

AECP Level 2 Homework – Magical Marker Techniques

The Materials

Techniques – Shake It Up!

  1. Tim Holtz Stripe Stencil, Altenew’s Citrus Yellow Ink and an applicator creates a pretty backdrop.
  2. I used Altenew’s African Daisy sentiments with Tim Holtz Lost Shadow Distress Ink to create a repeating pattern.
  3. I used Spellbinders Circle Dies to cut out the center and used two dies to create a circle frame.
  4. Used a Tim Holtz Embossing Dobber to put cinnamon smelling Embossing Ink on the frame.
  5. I covered the frame with Altenew’s Silver Embossing Powder then melted it with a heat gun.
  6. I used a little Tim Holtz black ink to hide the white inside the circle and on the edges.
  7. I cut a piece of plastic 1″ smaller than the card front and stamped the Wildflower Daisy on it.
  8. I used Alcohol Ink pens by Altenew to color in the petals and leaves (backside).
  9. I used double sided sticky foam tape, created a place for the sparkles to sit after attaching the plastic sheet to the card front.
  10. I poured clear sparkles into the window and attached the card base to the front.
  11. The last thing I did was attach the silver frame to the card window using Nuvo glue.