Bespoke Shelf Art

I wanted a piece of Christmas art for the shelf above my wall tree.

It's snowy and cold outside so not too interested in heading outside and shop.

I use the frame with the JOY word in the previous photo.  I cut a piece of paper to fit inside the frame (8x16 inches) approximately. 

I printed a few words with fonts that I liked and adjusted the size to suit the composition.

I traced the words onto the white paper then painted them with black acrylic paint. 

I added the holly in the corner for a bit of color. It was a quick solution for this year.  I really like it!

Christmas Card Challenge - March - Large Greetings Small Cards

I continued my large greeting Christmas Cards making with the aim to create A2 (4.25"x5.5") sized cards. 

I continued to use the Winter Frolic Cricut Cartridge. This greeting is 3.5" T x 3.5" W. I cut it from Champagne pearl card stock and paired it with an ivory card base.   

The acrylic ink background features royal purple color with some bright spots.

I used copper accents layers with the crown is part of the shift layer of the greeting then I cut stars with the Sizzix Star#2 die.  

These were adhered to the acrylic ink background and the large greeting was adhered with 3D foam tape.

I spattered it with copper acrylic color, a toothbrush and straight edge.

 

 This next card I chose a blue green piece of acrylic ink background on glossy photo paper.  It was trimmed from 4x6 to 3.75 x 5 inches.

It was adhered to a white card base.

The pearl white large greeting was mounted aligned to the bottom of the background with 3D foam tape.  

I added a silver star in the upper left hand corner.  It was cut with the Sizzix die.

It was spattered with an iridescent liquid acrylic.

 

 

Another ivory card with the champagne large greeting.  

I cut the crown from gold card stock and adhered with double sided tape. 

I added sequins in gold and copper adhered with Bling Zots. 

Since the copper was out this one was spattered at the same time as the other.

I added seasonal quarter inserts and white envelopes and they are ready for December 1st.

Framed Photo - Joy to the World

I created this art with my Alphabet Photography. 

I did "JOY to the World" where Joy is created with my alphabet photos. I  mounted it onto a barn wood background which is another photo I took along the way. It was printed in black and white to a size 5x7 inches.

It was mounted to a piece of white card stock.  I added a deep navy mat into the 8x10 inch silver matte frame.

It will be in the Miniatures Show on the weekend.

Card Fronts Relayered #3

This is another church card.  The frame with the clear centre is one from Photo Elements.  I placed the music sheet with O Little Town of Bethlehem behind it and created a graphic I could use in my layout software.
I added the greeting in red at the top of the card front and a script font.  The leaves for the red flower were added too.
The card front was color printed.
The red silk flower was added to the bottom right hand corner with a gold sequin and a gold tiny brad.
This card front was trimmed and layered onto a red new card base.

This is a card I designed from an advent class several years ago.

I trimmed the card front and layered it onto a new navy blue card base which matched the navy scallop oval in the centre of the card.

Another church card.
I designed the large greeting with fonts.
I added the faded green oval background and printed it on white card stock.
The flower is made of 2 confetti daisies held in place with a white tiny brad.

This card front was trimmed and layered onto a new red card base.  A new insert was added and it's ready to give again.



Not all the cards donated come to me in good shape. Sometimes the card back has been punched with holes because the recipient put it on their bulletin board, so the front is salvaged and re-layered.  Sometime only the card front arrives, again it likely can be re-layered.  Sometimes the card front was not assembled very well, the elements may not be glued on straight, maybe there is glue residue where it should not be, or some other aspect that makes the card front not able to be re-used.  It happens.  I give a second life to as many as I can.

As I reviews cards and kits I have made years ago I am amazed at how many I have done.  Christmas is my favorite time of year and I don't need a big excuse to participate in it at any level.  Cards have been a natural go to for me for a long time. Sending paper cards is in decline.  I'm working on digital Christmas cards.  I made some last year and have to design new ones for this year.

Christmas Cards - 5x7 Panels

I received a last minute Christmas card order.  These are two of the three options I presented.  They are 5x7 panel cards with a 4x6 photo placed in the center of the frame. 

For the one on the left I used my Alphabet Photography with JOY to the World featuring burgundy accents in the frame around the letters, in the words of the greeting and the printed frame on the panel front. 

For the one on the right I designed a Christmas sentiment with a selection of words and graphic elements.  I added color with a yellow star, the burgundy JOY and the green in the Christmas.  It is very graphic and will not be everybody's cup of tea.

The back of the panels were customized with a scripture verse, an appropriate sentiment and the couple's name.

I will reveal the one they selected a little later.

Digital Art Christmas Cards

I have designed some Christmas Card with my art.

On the left, I used my Alphabet Photos for the JOY and added the rest in text.  It can be personalized with a family name and individual member names along with the year.   

The background on the ornament one is a photo I took a while back which I adjusted with filters.  The branch is another of my photos and I drew the ornament myself and filled with my own decorative paper.  Again, it can be personalized with a family name and individual names along with the year.

These cards are 4x6 photos so they can be taken to any photo developer to be printed. Envelopes for 4x6 photos are available on-line or at Staples.

I have placed them on my digital tab.

Joy to the World

I started with the chalkboard JOY which was cut from a card with the A2 Matting Nestabilities.  I then cut the red envelope with the next size up rectangle.  I then created the banner and color printed it on white card stock.  Cut the banner ends with the Stampin Up Triple Banner Punch.  Adhered it below the large greeting.  I then printed some red music background onto white card stock and trimmed it to leave a small border.  Once adhered to the front of a black card the greeting layer was adhered as well.

Challenge - 1 Layer Splatters

I started with a white card.  I created spatters with a toothbrush brushed against a craft knife for the small ones and a wetter toothbrush slapped against the knife for the larger ones.  The colors I used are: Vivid Teal dye ink and Nick Bantock Rose Madder.  I then stamped the large Joy to the World by InkaDinkado in Versafine Black Onyx which I quickly added embossing powder and heat embossed.  I added a star in the left hand corner by hand with a black marker.

I'm submitting this card to this challenge.
Less is More - One Layer Splatters.

Christmas Image Swap 2014

I created these black on white stamped images for a Christmas Image Swap on one of my on-line groups.  The top one is Joy to the World - InkyDinkyDo.  I like the calligraphy words.  The one on the right is Angelica - Stampendous.


While I was stamping I made a few for myself so keep an eye out for what cards I make with these.

Christmas Card Challenge - June - Banner

I tried it again, and I'm happier with this one.  I made the card wide or landscape orientation to have more room to lay out my banner.  I changed the color to a more Christmas green in the layer and the color printed words.  I chose a green baker's twine which I toned down the white with a bit of Tim Holtz Antique Linen Distress ink.  I taped the twine to the back of the ivory layer then mounted my letters JOY with 3D foam tape to accommodate the thickness of the twine.  It gives more dimension to the letters too.

Here's my first attempt at a card with a banner. I think there's something missing but I'm not sure what.  I was going for a graphic look but I think it's too stark. It needs softness but I'm not sure how to add it. I will play some more and post another later.

The Joy banner was created with the Cricut and the Creative Memories Tiny Treasures cartridge. The monogram in red metallic paper at 1.5" tall.  I mounted these on a piece of cream card stock and repeated the banner motif.  I then added the 'to the world' color printed on the bottom half of the same piece of card stock.  I trimmed it to leave a space between the two.  These cream piece were mounted on a piece of dark green card stock which just leaves a small border.  This was then adhered to the front of a cream card.

R2G Card Kit - Scallop Oval - Joy to the World

Another kit for my upcoming class. These are leftover from this class.

I chose a oval greeting from Graphics Fairy which was all ready red. There were several color choices.  I printed those on white card stock and cut them out with one of the Spell Binder smooth oval nestabilities.  I glued that to the large scallop oval.  I glued the snowflake designer paper background to the moss green card.  I added 3D foam tape behind the scallop oval and mounted it to the card front.  Just a nice quick easy card.

Letterhead - Digital - Christmas

I was asked this year to prepare some letterheads for Christmas letters.  For the Bethlehem one, I started with my original drawing and embellished it with the Peace on Earth and a large snowbank.  I'm happy with it.

This Joy to the World one involved layout and design and less drawing.  I think they both turned really well.

I can start a library of these digital files which provides an alternative to what is commercially available.  Of course they can be adapted to any color scheme one might like.

Card Kits - Christmas - Joy to the World

The raspberry foil paper was trimmed to the card front. The greeting was ripped on the top and bottom. Then it was glued to the lower third of the card. The star is cut from silver cardstock with a Sizzix star die. It was glued above the greeting.