When it comes to Christmas design and decor, I almost always choose traditional elements. Red, green, white and gold are my go-to color choices but I always admire a non-traditional design for the holidays. I find it challenging to do myself but I’m pretty happy with how both of these cards turned out. Using the same Hero Arts Layering Poinsettia Window Stencils and Fancy die, (and some of the tiniest pieces of foam squares, ever) I created, I think, two very different cards. For the non-traditional card, I used Pawsitively Saturated Inks and lots of gold accents. There’s matte gold cardstock, gold embossing powder and, although hard to see in the photos, gold pigment ink used for a subtle text background.
The traditional card is, if I had to choose, my favorite. But that’s no surprise. For this card, I used Hero Arts inks and brass accents of embossing powder and glitter against a kraft background, stamped with the same text as the first card. I love all the little details and embellishments that I got to add to these card designs. All the steps and supplies are listed below. Thanks for taking time to read about what brings me JOY!
1.) First, I recommend die cutting the window portion from an A2 sized card front before inking the stencils. I did this with the non-traditional card after having the alignment off slightly with the first, traditional card. After die cutting with white cardstock, I used the four layering stencils to apply my inks. Then for the poinsettia centers, I used gold paste for the first card and for the second, traditional card, I used multi-matte medium with the brass glitter.
2.) Next, I used the Hero Arts Noel Print text background stamp for both background panels. One is gold pigment ink on Hero Arts Ultra Pink cardstock and the other is Hero Arts Espresso Ink on kraft cardstock.
3.) After trimming the stenciled window panels about an 1/8″ smaller than A2, I attached them to the background panels with foam tape. Then, I die cut the sentiment, “Joy” three times in white cardstock and once in matte gold cardstock. After inking one of the white die cuts in red, I double-stacked the red and the gold for more stability. My plan all along was to use foam strips to attach the sentiment across the window opening. But now, this is when I realized that I would also have to somehow attach the tittle of the “i” with a piece of foam tape. It wasn’t easy but I think I pulled it off.
4.) Next, I heat embossed the smaller sentiment strips, gold for the first card and brass for the second and adhered them with glue and foam squares where needed. I used Hero Arts Crystal Lacquer for the berries on both cards. Lastly, I attached them to A2 side-fold card bases.
SUPPLIES
Hero Arts Color Layering Poinsettia Window Stencils and Fancy Die
Hero Arts Joy Stamp and Cut
Hero Arts Crystal Clear Lacquer Pen
Hero Arts Noel Print Bold Background
Hero Arts Hero Hues Premium Cardstock Ultra Pink
Bazzill Card Shoppe 100lb Cardstock Peanut Cluster
Simon Says Stamp Matte Gold Cardstock
Tsukineko Golden Glitz Delicata Ink
Hero Arts Gold Embossing Powder
Hero Arts Brass Embossing Powder
Ranger Simon Hurley Slippery When Wet Lunar Paste
Hero Arts Gold EarthSafe Glitter
Hero Arts Hero Hues Ink:
Espresso
Cherry
Fresh Lawn
Green Apple
Gina K Designs Fresh Asparagus Ink
Simon Says Stamp Premium Ink Barely Beige
Simon Says Stamp Pawsitively Saturated Inks:
Sweets
Taffy
Dublin
Lucky
Pine
Morning
Citrine
Neenah 110# Classic Crest Cardstock Solar White
Simon Says Stamp White A2 Side Fold Scored Cards 120#
We R Makers Quickstik Precision Pickup and Placement Tool
Sizzix Curved Fine-Tip Tweezers
Spellbinders Platinum Die Cutting And Embossing Machine
Bearly Art Precision Craft Glue
Scrapbook Adhesives .25″ 3D White Foam Squares
Tim Holtz Tonic Craft Mini Snips
Misti Precision Stamper Tool
Waffle Flower 6.5×8.5 Grip Mat
Lawn Fawn Bone Folder
Scotch 3M Post-It Masking Tape
Simon Says Stamp Blending Brushes Small
Waffle Flower 1/8″ Foam Strips
My Crafty Trails 