Merry Christmas Blueprints

Hello everyone! We are not having a challenge at Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge this week, instead we are going to post some inspiration. Today six members of the team will share inspiration using Tim Holtz stamps.

If you are like me, you might discover that you made too few Christmas cards once again and need some quick cards. Tim Holtz blueprint stamps are perfect for this.

In the past, I used to make different Christmas cards for each recipient. Nowadays, there isn't time for that since I do lots of other types of projects too. In those days, I would only make Christmas cards the last months of the year. Last year, I made quick inky cards, you can see them here. This year there is more variety since I've made quite a few cards at a time, for various tutorials and posts. But I was still lacking.

The blueprint stamps are fun to colour and since they are pretty large, you don't need much more on the card. Here I used a fabulous bauble.

I added some extra sentiments with rub-ons, but you could skip this step, the blueprint stamps don't really need sentiments.

I started out by die cutting eight backgrounds from watercolour paper, using Tim Holtz Cameo Frame and Postage Stamp Frame dies. The blueprint images were stamped with Archival Jet Black ink. It is important to use a waterproof ink since we are going to use water. The images were watercoloured with Distress Ink. Smear Distress Ink on your craft sheet, mist once with water and pick up with a paint brush.

If you work relatively quickly you can drop in a darker colour while the first colour is still wet, which creates nice wet-on-wet effects as you can see here on the ice skate. Don't add in more colour when the previous layer is almost dry, since then you'll get cauliflower effects.

I wanted some more shine and painted around all the images with Biscotti Perfect Pearls. You don't really see the effect on the photos, but it adds a great shimmer.

 I painted a shadow under some of the images with Iced Spruce.

When the Biscotti mist was dry, I splattered the panels with Walnut Stain ink. Press the ink on your craft sheet, mist with water and pick up with a paint brush. Tap the brush with your finger. Remember to protect your clothes and work surface since the splatters fly far.

The edges of the panels were inked with Gathered Twigs. 

I picked out some kraft-core cardstock, which works great for quick cards, since it adds extra detail and texture. The card fronts were embossed in different embossing folders, sanded and inked slightly.

The panels were stapled to the background and finally I also added a piece of Silver Tinsel Twine for that extra festive feeling.

If you use the small blueprint stamps instead, you can easily turn these ideas into quick gift tags.

There won't be a challenge to link up to this week, but of course you can still head over to Simon Say Stamp for some shopping.

I hope you will all have a very Merry Christmas!! I still have a few Christmas projects to share, so I'll be back tomorrow again.

Anna-Karin

Supplies:
Surfaces: Ranger Watercolor Paper; Tim Holtz Core'dinations Kraft-Core cardstock
Dies: Sizzix: Cameo Frame, Postage Stamp Frame
Embossing folder: Sizzix: Dot-Matrix & Gridlock, Harlequin & Stripes, Holly Pattern & Wreath, Snowflake Pattern & Plaid
Stamps: Stampers Anonymous: Christmas Blueprint, Christmas Blueprint 2,
Ink: Distress Ink: Antique Linen, Frayed Burlap, Gathered Twigs, Iced Spruce, Peeled Paint, Walnut Stain; Ranger Archival Ink: Jet Black
Mist: Ranger Perfect Pearls Biscotti
Embellishments: Tim Holtz Idea-ology: Silver Tinsel Twine, Christmas Time Remnant Rubs
Tools: Sizzix Big Shot; Tim Holtz Tiny Attacher, sandpaper