Northern Lights Christmas by Trina Pham

Hello everyone.  Inspired by this month’s challenge, I have another holiday card to share today.  One of my favorite Winter scenes to create is the Northern Lights/Aurora Borealis.  It’s simple to do, and yet it gives the most “wow” factor.   There are many different mediums that could be used, but my preference is ink blending.  But before I got inky, I did some partial die cutting with the Pine Tree Hill die to create the row of trees from black cardstock.

Laura did a post on partial die cutting and essentially, anything under the cutting plate will cut.  

Used scissors to connect those partial die cut trees and create the front row of trees.

Partial die cut the double trees twice to create the back row of trees.

Forgot to take a picture, but these lined up to create the row of trees as seen on the finished card.  Now onto the Northern Lights... but be forewarned, it’s going to look like a hot mess before things come together in the end. 😂

Started by adding streaks of Twisted Citron, Mermaid Lagoon and Wilted Violet distress inks (di) to a piece of Bristol paper using the edge of a mini blending tool.

Next applied Chipped Sapphire di in between the colors and Black Soot di around the edges... and that pretty much completes the background.  I know it still doesn’t look that great, but persevere till the end and it will turn out. 😉  For sone sparkle, spritz it with a DIY shimmer spray (couldn’t capture it in the photo).

Adhered the trees to the bottom, then splattered with white gouache paint.  Die cut the Peace Airy Script sentiment three times from Bristol paper and stacked them for dimension to finish.

Hope you will give this a try.  Thank you for joining me.  Have a great day.

 

Supplies

 

94295 Pine Tree Hill craft die

 

94335 Peace Airy Script craft die

 

Masculine Christmas by Trina Pham

Hello there.  Inspired by this month’s Holiday Cards challenge and needing more masculine cards, I have a masculine Christmas card to share today.

Started by trimming three 1-1/4” wide strips of pattern paper from the Dashing Stripes and Dots paper pack.  Lined up the Vintage Varsity Alphabet letters on painter’s tape as shown in this post HERE, then die cut “merry” from each strip, staggering them from top left to bottom right. Adhered the negative die-cut strips to a black A2 sized panel.

The camouflage/hidden sentiment technique was used here, so I made sure not to lose any of the die cut pieces.  In this particular case, the centers of the R’s.  Placed the R die-cut into the appropriate spots and used as a guide to position and adhere the inner pieces to the black panel.  Each letter was then die cut four times from black cardstock and stacked with the pattern letter for dimension.  Inlaid the stacked letters to complété the hidden sentiments.  Finished off with a trio of sparkling snowflakes and a Christmas script sentiment all die cut from Bristol paper.  

The camouflage sentiment technique is one of my favourite die cutting techniques.  And before I go, I want to respond to a question left by Kathie on my last post.  She asked if I have a YouTube channel.  The answer is yes, but I’m not set up to make process videos {yet}, so I’m afraid my channel would be of no use at this time. 😂  Thank you to everyone who leaves encouraging comments.  I really appreciate it.  Thank you for joining me today.   Have a great day.  

 

Supplies

 

94341 Vintage Varsity Alphabet craft die

94357 Merry Christmas Noted Script craft die

94287 Sparkling Snowflake Trio craft die

PP1002 Dashing Stripes and Dots 6x6 pack

Nativity Scene by Trina Pham

Hello everyone.  I made my very first nativity theme Christmas card to share today!  I actually set out to create a clean and simple (CAS) card, but as you can see, I failed miserably and the card just took on a life of its own. 😂

Started by die cutting a rectangle from light blue cardstock using Basics Rectangle. Dry embossed the Drop Nativity die to use the impression as a guide to die cut the Starry Burst background around it.

Ink blended Mermaid Lagoon and Blueprint Sketch distress inks (di) in circles around the stars.  Made sure to leave the stars/center area untouched to get that glow effect.  I should have stopped here to keep it CAS, but then decided to ink blend Chipped Sapphire di over a cloud edge stencil on the bottom.  For some texture and interest, added white gouache paint splatters.  Set aside to dry.

The Drop Nativity was then die cut from Bristol paper.  Keeping all the parts of the die-cut together, ink blended Squeezed Lemonade and Scattered Straw di to color the inside stitched ray area.  Didn’t matter that the image outline was inked too because it was going to be colored with a black Copic marker.  For some sparkle, inked the inside yellow portion with VersaMark and heat embossed with clear glitter embossing powder.  

To make the holy star at the top of the drop stand out, it was die cut from silver foil paper and added over top.  The custom sentiment was created with the Mini Vintage Varsity Alphabet.  It was die cut from Bristol paper and each letter was doubled up for some dimension.  Didn’t want them to compete with or get lost in the white splatters, so adhered the letters on a torn strip of vellum to finish.

That is all for today.  Thank you for stopping by.

Supplies

 

94313 Drop Nativity craft die

94356 Starry Burst craft die

94342 Mini Vintage Varsity Alphabet craft die

30086 Rectangle Basics Set

Sparkling Snowflake Christmas by Trina Pham

Hello there.  I have a clean and simple Christmas card to share today.  I’m a big fan of alphabet dies and as I mentioned in my last post, I love the Vintage Varsity Alphabet die.  They are a good size with beautiful stitching details.  I especially love pairing it with the Merry Christmas Noted Script die as I’ve done here.

Started by die cutting a light gray piece of cardstock with the second largest die from Rectangle Basics.  Took the necessary letter dies to spell “merry” and lined them up on a piece of painter’s tape sticky side up.  For the second “r”, used the letter “p” to help with the spacing... but removed it before die cutting from the gray panel.  Repeated the die cutting for the second “r”.

Adhered the panel to a white top folding card base then die cut all letters again from Bristol paper.  Applied Blueprint Sketch distress ink with a blender brush to the tops of the letters, then covered them with VersaMark and heat embossed with clear embossing powder.  Inlaid the letters into the gray panel.  Oh, forgot to mention to keep the gray centers of the “r’s” for this step.  

The Christmas script sentiment was die cut three times.  Twice from Bristol paper, once from blue foil cardstock, and then all were stacked for dimension.  Added the three snowflakes die cut from Bristol paper to finish.

I love blue and non-traditional colour Christmas cards so I think this would look great in other fun colours.  That’s it for today.  Thank you for dropping by.  Have a wonderful week.

 

Supplies

 

94341 Vintage Varsity Alphabet craft die

94357 Merry Christmas Noted Script craft die

94287 Sparkling Snowflake Trio craft die

30086 Rectangle Basics Set

Noel Poinsettia by Trina Pham

Hello there.  I have a quick and easy Christmas card to share today made with products from this year’s Holiday release.  As mentioned before, I rarely use pattern paper on my CAS cards.  Even when I did on my snowman card last time, it was used sparingly.  This time I went all in and used a whole panel! 😂  Actually it wasn’t that difficult when the pattern paper is this beautiful.  

Anyway, this card is pretty straightforward since it was created with all die-cuts (supplies listed below).  The oval frame was one of the leftover pieces from this card.  The rest were die cut from Bristol and red glitter paper.  For dimension, the white Vintage Varsity letters (LOVE these) were die cut twice and stacked.  A hole punch was used to punch out the poinsettia circle centers. 

Die cut and assemble... that was pretty much it.  But if you have any questions, please leave them in the comments below.  That does it for me.  Thank you for stopping by.  Have a wonderful week.

 

Supplies

 

94297 Simple Poinsettia Frame craft die

94309 Winter Tree Oval Frame craft die

94341 Vintage Varsity Alphabet craft die

94337 Antique Pine Label craft die

PP1001 Dashing Holiday 6x6 pack

Blog Blitz Day 7: Let It Snow by Trina Pham

Hello and welcome to the final day of the Holiday Blog Blitz week.  More fabulous products have been added to this year’s Holiday collection and I used a few of them on my card.

Started by negative die cutting the new Snowman Circle Collage off the edge of a white slightly textured panel. A circle frame was then die cut from Bristol paper using two dies from Circle Basics to frame the opening and give it a finished look.

Now being mostly a clean and simple cardmaker, I don’t use pattern papers very often, but the new Dashing Holiday papers in this release are so pretty and festive.  I thought the snowman’s scarf and hat would look cool in pattern.  The coordinating strip down the left side and the snowflakes were an afterthought to give the card a more cohesive look.  The gray snowy pattern, which Anne has already used on her cabin card (great minds think alike), is also from the same paper pack.

A piece of black cardstock was adhered behind the snowman for the buttons.  The custom sentiment was die cut from white cardstock using the new Mini Vintage Varsity Alphabet die.  It is one die and can cut four of each letter all at once.  They were colored with violet Copic markers then attached to the card following the shape of the slope.  Clear glitter on the snowman (couldn't capture the sparkle in the photo) and Crystal Glaze on the sentiment finished off the card.

Very straightforward.  Now it’s giveaway time!  For your chance to win the Snowman Circle Collage die, leave a comment on this post by 11:59 pm EST tonight, October 20.  A winner will be randomly selected and all randomly selected winners from each blog blitz post will be announced right here on this blog tomorrow, October 21, at 6:00 pm EST.  Thank you and good luck!

 

Supplies

 

94330 Snowman Circle Collage craft die

94342 Mini Vintage Varsity Alphabet craft die

PP1001 Dashing Holiday 6x6 pack

94287 Sparkling Snowflake Trio craft die

30087 Circle Basics Set

Autumn Thanks by Trina Pham

Hello and happy Sunday. Thanksgiving is tomorrow here in Canada, so that was the inspiration for this simple watercolor thank you card.  I don’t make autumn themed cards very often, but the beautiful Grateful Autumn stamp set from the holiday release sure makes it easy when the need arises.

Started by diecutting a rectangle panel from mixed media paper using the second largest die from Recrangle Basics die set. Ink smooshed Fossilized Amber, Wild Honey and Gathered Twigs distress oxide inks in the top right corner, ensuring to dry with a heat tool in between each color.  Stamped in VersaMark and heat embossed the Grateful Autumn image with Liquid Platinum embosding powder. 

I love rich vivid autumn colors, so watercolored with red and orange Zig markers without adding too much extra water.  For some texture, spritz with water and splattered with white gouache paint.  I thought gold splatters would have gotten lost in all that yellow.

The Thanks Jotted script sentiment was die cut from gold foil paper and its shadow from black.  Assembled the panel onto a split black/white card base to finish.  Very simple.  Before I go I want to wish my fellow Canadians a happy thanksgiving, and everyone a wonderful week.  Thank you for stopping by.

Supplies

 

CL5243 Grateful Autumn clear stamp set

94011 Thanks Jotted Script craft die

30086 Rectangle Basics Set

Mistletoe Swag by Trina Pham

Hello there.  Today is going to be a quick post since the Christmas card I’m sharing is super easy.

Started by watercoloring the stripe background on watercolor paper alternating between Shaded Lilac and Salty Ocean distress inks.  Used a heat tool to speed up the drying process.  Spritz with a Sparkle spray for some shimmer, then splattered with white gouache paint.  Set aside to dry.

In the meantime, the mistletoe from Mistletoe Swag was white heat embossed on vellum then fussy cut out.  The Christmas sentiment from the same set was white heat embossed on black. The Wishes Jotted script sentiment was die cut from black foil paper and its shadow from white.  Assembled the card onto a white card base, and added clear glitter drops on the berries to finish.  

Attaching the vellum mistletoe without the adhesive showing was a bit tricky, but a matte liquid glue applied behind the embossed lines worked just fine.  I think vellum is so pretty and makes it so easy to create beautiful cards. Instead of creating your own background you could use pattern paper.  And that's it from me.  Thank you for visiting.  Enjoy the rest of your week.

Supplies

 

CL5247 Mistletoe Swag clear stamp set

94122 Wishes Jotted Script craft die

Pine Tree Frame by Trina Pham

Hello there.  I have (surprise, surprise) another Christmas card to share today.  I love Christmas, but you probably can’t tell. 😂  So last month at a crafty get together, we played with alcohol inks (AI).  Instead of using yupo paper, we tried them on vellum! Not only did it work, it’s a more cost-effective alternative to yupo.  

It is best to use thick vellum.  The process is exactly the same as working with yupo, except more blending solution was needed to move the inks.  I also used a marker spritzer to blow air and assist in the ink movement.  To finish the snowy background, white gouache paint splatters were added.

To complete the card, started by die cutting the frame from Pine Tree Frame out of Bristol paper three times.  Took the three resulting inner rectangles and die cut them with the tree image.  Stacked the frames and trees for dimension.

Assembled the card onto a textured cardstock panel.  A frame was die cut from silver foil paper to go between the trees an outer frame.

The Peace Cheshire Script sentiment and the bird from Birds and Blossoms were die cut from blue foil paper to finish.  And with that, I wanted to remind you there is still time to enter our Framed challenge ending September 29 EST.  Thank you for stopping by.  Have a wonderful week.

 

 

Supplies

 

94280 Pine Tree Frame craft die

94017 Peace Cheshire Script craft die

94243 Birds and Blossoms craft die

Merry Mistletoe by Trina Pham

Hello there.  Today I am sharing another simple Christmas card.  It used a technique I was intimidated by, but I finally tried it at a retreat back in May thanks to Susan.  The smell was what put me off, but then Susan recommended the splashless type.  Problem solved!  I barely even notice the smell.

Started by ink blending with blending brushes on hot press watercolor paper to create an ombré monochromatic background.  Stamped the mistletoe from Merry and Bright Mistletoe with Archival black ink.

Next, applied bleach to the image with a small brush.  The bleach will lift the color.

It’s a good idea to use a stamping tool, so the image can be re-stamped, if needed.  The image can be left as is or colored in.  

As you can see, I did both.  Left the leaves and only colored the berries with a red water-based marker.  For some shine and dimension, added Crystal Glaze to the berries.  And lately, I love my splatters, so added some to the upper part using white gouache paint. The sentiment from Mistletoe Swag was white heat embossed on a black strip to finish.

 You can save yourself a step by using color cardstock instead of coloring your own.  Keep in mind, the bleaching will not be immediate and will be noticeable only after some drying time.  And that does it for me.  Thank you for stopping by.  Have a wonderful week.

 

 

Supplies

 

CL5246 Merry and Bright Mistletoe clear stamp set

CL5247 Mistletoe Swag clear stamp set