Turning a branch of tiny leaves into Christmas Lights--who would have thought of that? I wish I could take credit, but I can't. This was another idea from the Creativity Now Event.
Aren't the little lights adorable?
Now I have a confession. I had set out a large Christmas sentiment to stamp on the card front, but since I typically stamp my sentiments last, I started with the lights. I stamped them with Tuxedo Black Memento ink and then used various colors of Stampin' Write Markers to color the lights. My hint when coloring the lights is to leave a tiny white spot on each light as that makes it look like the light is on! I also found that the Stampin' Write Markers made more realistic lights than Stampin' Blends. The blends wanted to "blend" and I wasn't getting the white highlight spots that I wanted.
Next, I stamped and colored the bird with Boho Blue and Lemon Lolly Stampin' Blends and die cut it with the coordinating die. I also found that Peach Pie is a perfect color for birds' beaks.
I added the torn strip of DSP at the bottom edge below the lights and colored a piece of white Baker's Twine with a Cherry Cobbler Stampin' Write Marker for a bow below the bird. I then stamped my sentiment, added the bird with dimensionals and adhered my completed assembly to the Cherry Cobbler card front. Lastly, I colored three clear Faceted Gems with a Cherry Cobbler Blend and adhered them to the completed card front.
I was cleaning up my very messy workspace when I saw my large Christmas sentiment stamp laying there -- looked at the card, and realized I had grabbed the friend like you stamp and stamped it on the card rather than the Christmas stamp. I was not happy! I called it a day!
Day 2: I tried various things to salvage the card. My first thought was to stamp the large Christmas Sentiment on a separate piece and pop it up it over the friendship stamp. That solution didn't work as it either covered part of the bird's head or extended too far over the edge of the card. I was about ready to start completely over, when I tried adding the tiny Merry Christmas below the existing sentiment. Appropriately, I found it in a retired set called Teeny Tiny Wishes.
I thought it worked. What do you think?
I found the inside sentiment in another retired stamp set, Brightest Glow, and added a string of lights below it.
I'm happy that demonstrators can now place a pre-order from the Fall Mini catalog as I need some current Christmas Sentiments. Don't get me wrong. I love many of my retired Christmas sentiments, but I feel bad showing you things that are no longer available.
Use this link to download a tutorial for today's card.
Below are the items in the Nests of Winter Suite that you will be able to order September 4 -- unless you are a demonstrator, then you can order them now! Getting my hands on items early is one of my favorite Demonstrator Perks!
- Nests of Winter Suite Item # 164072
- Winterly Tree Tops Bundle (stamp set & dies) - Item # 164066
- Natural Tones Linen Thread - Item # 164071
- Birch Wood 3D Embossing Folder - Item # 164069
- Earth Tones Shimmer Gems - Item # 164070
- Nests of Winter 12" x 12" DSP - Item # 164183
Below is a list of current items used on today's card.
Product List
