Cracking on with Christmas!

Hello and Welcome to Magpieheaven! I've surprised myself over the last two days! I've been really enjoying using a Master-board as a basis for creating Christmas cards - and - guess what, I think I might actually manage to complete more than six this year! I have set myself the challenge of using the same stamp for a session and seeing how many different ways I can use it! First things first, though: here is my Masterboard for today's makes.

I love 'bumping' with the Rebekkah Meier doily stencil and  creating 3D effects. I saw Leandra of PaperArtsy demo this technique back in September and I've been 'hooked' ever since! I'm also challenging myself to adapt one or two die-cuts per session.

For my today's project, I used a Tim Holtz arch with a little snowflake at the centre. The stamp I chose was a 'Lost Coast' one which I bought last year. It's not Christmassy at all, so I challenged myself even further to make it festive!

Here is my card. I stamped the 'Lost Coast' image onto tissue, using Wendy Vecchi Cobalt Archival ink and then stuck it onto the top of my arch with PaperArtsy Satin Glaze. The cut-out in the centre opens onto some vintage lace. I've been having such fun using Jo Firth Young's Mini snowflake both with ink and Snowflake paint. It is such a lovely, simple design; but you can create fabulous effects with it. I've used it on the hand-made Washi tape and on the arch.

Here is the same 'Lost Coast' stamp, but this time I've stamped it straight onto the background, using Inky Pool, Fresco Paint and then sprinkled with Clear Embossing powder and heated. The 'Winter' sentiment is torn from some of my own Washi again and it's from a Lynne Perrella set.

Finally I stamped onto to tissue again, but this time with Jet Black Archival. These cards are my 'take' on Christmas angels. I have to say, though, that in life the angels I've met have not had wings or drifted down from the sky! They have come in all shapes and sizes, but one thing they have all had in common is that they have appeared when life was hard and their kindness has given me wings! Tomorrow I'm going to see how differently I can use a Tim Holtz window die-cut. Thank you for stopping by Magpieheaven today. I shall try not to get too carried away with Christmas cards and try to create some non- Christmas makes in the coming weeks too. I should like to link this post to The Artistic Stamper Challenge here, where they are having a 'Christmas is Coming' Challenge for the month of November! Have a lovely week one and all!: