Friday 23 December 2011

Merry Christmas by Hels

Goodly Morning Stampfans! Today I am here showing you a quick Christmas card I have made Linkusing one of my favourite Artistic Stamper stamps... this old Santa looks like a jolly old chap and I love how detailed the stamp is. He is from Christmas Plate #3.


I wanted to make a statement with the stamp as the focal image of the card so... here's how I did it;
I stamped Santa in Jet Black Archival ink onto cream cardstock and gave it a quick zap with a heat tool to set the ink. I used Vintage Photo Distress Ink and a Blending Tool to make a vintagey edge to the card and then used Fired Brick and Peeled Paint Distress Ink, along with my water brush, to paint in the colours over the image. I then popped a teensy dollop of SnowCap Dabber onto my craft sheet and watered it down and then painted in his beard and hair... because the paint is thinner, you can still see your stamped image but the white really makes his beard and hair pop.

Link

I used a thin paintbrush to pick up some Gold Dabber and painted around the circle and gave this a zap with the heat tool to dry it. Next, I used a thin paint brush to pick up some Rock Candy Cracklepaint and I painted carefully right over the top of the Gold circle. Once this had dried, I used Distress Embossing Ink and coated the whole piece of card with it. I used Clear UTEE over the top of this, heated it up and it gives a nice enamelled look. I waited until it had cooled and repeated the process, in the end the card had three coats of UTEE... the pics don't really pick up the crackles too well but they do look really pretty... like cracked ice.



Well, that's about it from me. I would just like to take this opportunity to say a big thank you to Jennie for the past four years being on her Creative Team and co-ordinating it. I will be stepping down from the team on December 31st and I am going to miss Jennie and the girls on the team - they are all such a fantastic bunch of artists and it has been an honour to craft alongside them all these years. Thank you to all you lovely folks for all your wonderful comments you have left me here since this blog started... I am sure that Jennie and the team will have some treats for you to see in the coming months... I will shut up now before I need the Kleenex... THANK YOU all for looking... Bye bye ... Hels x

12 comments:

craftimamma said...

Aw, you're going to be so missed Hels but nothing stays the same for ever does it and that's good. I know you'll do fantastically well with your new ventures just as Jennie and the team will keep giving us fab inspiration.

Good luck to you all and Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

Hugs
Lesley XX

Lynn W. said...

I will miss you here Hels, but wish you all the best for the future. Love that card!
Have a good Christmas and new year,

Lynn x

Anonymous said...

Beautiful card!

Helen said...

Gorgeous card to finish with Hels - you will be missed but we will see you around I am sure.
Hugs.

Maggie said...

Fabulous vintage Christmas card Hels I love this Jolly Santa. I wish you well with your new ventures.

Merry Christmas to you all eat drink and be merry and I will see you for the next challenge

Maggie x

Astrid Maclean said...

Stunning card and the way you have finished the image really makes it pop! Whoever gets it is one lucky person!

All the best with your new ventures, you'll be missed here for sure!

Crafting Queen said...

Wonderful card. All the best.

Unknown said...

Stunning Card Hels. Julia xxx

Inkypinkycraft said...

Gorgeous card, good luck with the next part of your adventure!!thanks for being so kind to me hugs trace x

Mandy Makes and Mends said...

You'll be missed good luck with your new ventures ....love that Santa.....merry Christmas to all at artistic stamper xx

Shazza said...

aww bless you Hels, this is gorgeous
x

Kirsten Alicia said...

Gorgeous card Hels, you'll be missed on here. I can't remember who I found first, you or Jennie & the AS team blog, but oh boy, I am so glad I did. You are all so inspiring & creative. I look forward to the continuing adventures of you all, in whatever form they take.