Tuesday 29 December 2020

Oh Christmas Tree


Welcome
I hope you had a wonderful Christmas despite this nasty virus.
I'm in Ontario, Canada and we are in a lock down again although our numbers are not nearly what they are in the U.S.  I'm so thankful that our Government here has taken mandatory steps to help fight this.
I'm off work for awhile, so card making is on the agenda.
I did make this card a few weeks ago but never had time to post it.

So here's what I did to create this card.
  • I began with a piece of paint roll off from my brayer when I was using my Gel Plate. (*to clarify:  when you are using a Gel Plate, you must brayer off paint from the plate to make it smooth before taking a print.  I always roll onto scrap paper and keep them for card fronts*) I keep all the roll offs to use as backgrounds or even to use for die-cutting.  This one just had a faint bit of greens on it so that was my starting point.
  • I placed the piece into my Misti, then positioned the Evergreen from Darkroom Door, over the painted bkg.  Using my Tombow markers, I coloured directly onto my stamp, sprayed with water and pressed onto the paper.  I repeated that process a number of time using different shades of green inks.  It really does give the appearance of watercolouring.
  • When the branches were dry, I used the end of my paintbrush to dot some red paint over the branches to look like berries.  (for some reason they would not photograph red!)
  • I stamped the sentiment from SU with some Versafine Clair in the bottom corner and clear heat embossed it.
  • To add more interest, I added the green lines using an old credit card rubbed onto my Peeled Paint Distress Oxide pad.  
  • I mounted the piece onto some green cardstock, then onto a heavy white card base.
  • Lastly, I added 3 little black gems under the sentiment.


Thanks so much for coming by and taking a look.

Supplies
Stamps- Evergreen (Darkroom Door); Happy Holidays (SU)
Inks- Tombow markers; Versafine Clair; Distress Ox
Paper- heavy white (Scribes Nook)
Accessories and Tools- Misti (My Sweet Petunia); black gems; Mister (TH); old credit card;
clear eb powder; heat tool; brayer to paint the bkg.

15 comments:

Faith A at Daffodil Cards said...

So Beautiful and then to read how you did it is awesome. Love the idea of the credit card. The leaves look really beautiful and the berries, no matter what colour, look like berries! Love the green surround also.
Faith x

Verna Angerhofer said...

This is so gorgeous. I love the watercolor look. The red berries really finished it off. Take care.

Char said...

Your card is beautiful! I so appreciate the details. Just got a gel plate and brayer and appreciate your tips. Enjoy your time off and thanks again.

Sarn said...

Love this classy card. Great starting point. X

Viv said...

Beautiful as always Karen

nancy littrell said...

Hi Karen..Even just a little bit of brayered off green paint added such a nice starting point for your beautifully watercolored stamped evergreen image. Love your added gift card marks and sentiment too. Sorry you are locked down again, but happy we will be seeing more of your Gorgeous Creative cards. TFS and added your technique details, my friend. Love and Hugs...Nancy

Jan said...

Such a lovely card....TFS Karen!
Paper Hugs,
Jan

I Card Everyone said...

Karen, nothing is wasted in your craft space! You always find the coolest 'jumping off' point to your wonderful creations!
Just gorgeous!
=]

Susan said...

I too am grateful that I'm in Canada where our government has handled the pandemic in a more responsible way. Vancouver isn't in as total a lockdown as you are, but we're not allowed to mingle households so Christmas was pretty quiet. Love your card - and what a great idea to save all the pieces you roll off your brayer on - I must do that. Great layering on top of it and beautiful shades of green. Enjoy your time off work.

Pat said...

Another beautiful one off background and the lines look great using the credit card Karen. The DD evergreen boughs go perfectly and look so pretty over the top, and a great sentiment and three little black gems to finish. x

Carol Cel said...

I love this card -- whenever I really stop and study a card, I know it's a beauty.
I'm jealous of you living in Canada . . . enough said.
Stay well - have a Healthy New Year.
Keep creating.

Bonnie said...

What pretty greenery, Karen! They look so pretty against the brayered off background! I wish our country would go to lockdown again to get this Covid under control. I fear that it's going to be getting a lot worse in the next weeks.

Christine Alexander said...

wonderful effect with all the greenery :)

Lin said...

How lovely, Karen! I love this study in greens for the season!

Ellie Knol said...

Beautiful...I LOVE the greens you have used.. a stunner.. wish I was the recipient of this beauty hehe... have a blessed new year (too late for christmas now 🙂 )
... same message on FB... I rather have comments on my blog, so I thought you might like it too..