- Dec 24, 2021

Flat Layered Christmas Card

First of all I would like to take this opportunity to thank all of you for your support this past year and I also would like to wish you a Merry Christmas (if you celebrate Christmas), I hope you will enjoy the upcoming days with family and friends!

Today I’m sharing with you all a project that I created as a guest designer for Crealies. When this fabulous stencil came out in October I just had to have it and it didn’t take long before I had a play with it (and today I’m showing you the result)!

Being a fan of Marianne Reijgersberg’s work I let her work inspire me and I gave my own twist to it.

Step 1:

I started my project by die cutting a square panel from thicker scrap paper (this will be my template) using one of the nesting die sets by Crealies (Crea-Nest-Lies XXL no. 22). I used a square die that is two sizes smaller than my card base.

Out of this square panel I die cut a circle shape using one of the dies from the Crea-Nest-Lies XXL no.7 nesting die set (sixth largest size, counting from outside inwards). I placed the die slightly towards the top and die cut it. Now my template is ready.

Next I die cut another square panel, same size as the previous one, but this time from Clairefontaine Paint On Multi-Techniques a Grain paper (because this paper takes all the mediums that I’m going to use today very well). I temporarily adhered both square panels together using removable tape.

With my lightest chosen ink colour I can now apply this ink evenly over the circle design using a stencil brush. I used Spectrum Noir Water-Reactive Ink in the colour “Frosty Jade” for this.

Step 2:

To be able to decide on my lay out I’m than going to stamp the flowers that I’m going to use on another piece of the same Paint On paper using black ink. I also heat emboss the flowers using clear embossing powder, because I will be going to add a water medium later on to colour the flowers. I colour around the flowers using a Spectrum Noir Aqua Marker in the colour “Sage” because this is the colour that matches my inked circle best. I use a waterbrush to wash the colour outwards and lighten the colour as well. Next I fussy cut all he images and decide on my lay out. For today’s flower images I’m using the Crealies A Perfect Match Flowers A (CLPMS02) stamp set.

Now that I know where my flowers are going to be (they are not adhered yet though) I can stamp my sentiment using black ink: this one is Crealies Text & Co Stamps Merry Christmas (outline) CLTZHLE01A.

Step 3:

Now I’m taking this gorgeous new Crealies stencil called “Amber (full design)” and I placed that over the square panel. I used my magnetic mat to keep the stencil in place. Next I’m going to apply my darker green ink colour (SN Water-Reactive ink in “Green Topaz”) over parts of the stencil using a stencil brush, focusing on the left hand side. Next I’m taking my SN Opaque Pigment ink pad in the colour “Bordeaux” and I’m applying some of the colour on the right hand side mostly in the circle shape, also using a stencil brush (I have one for every colour family).

Step 4:

Time to take the project to the next level: adding more details:

first I’m going to add more details onto the stencilled design and onto my stamped sentiment. For this I use my Spectrum Noir AquaBlend pencils in the colours “Jungle Green” and “Cherrywood” in combination with a waterbrush.

Step 5:

Next I stamp onto the background using black ink and a Crealies stamp called “Old Handwriting 3 Lines” (CLBP133). I didn’t use the whole stamp, just a few impressions here and there.

Step 6:

Now I’m ready to colour in the flower images to make them match with the rest of my card design: for this I’m again using the SN Aqua Markers and this time I use the colours: Amber, Marigold, Burgundy and Flame Red for the flowers itself and Evergreen and Alpine Green for the leafs. I use a waterbrush for washing out the colours (I prefer the Pentel one with the small brush nib). After the colouring is done I add back in some highlights using a white gel pen.

Step 7:

Time to put my project together: I die cut a slightly larger square panel using one of the dies in the Crealies Crea-Nest-Lies XXL no. 8 nesting die set and I die cut this panel from matching deep red card stock. I adhere both square panels together using liquid glue. This combination I adhere onto a white linen textured card base using one millimetre thick foam tape. And to finish the project I now only have to adhere the coloured and fussy cut flowers/leafs on top using liquid glue.

Detail picture: