4 more Christmas cards

 So, in my "work in progress" tray I fished out these 4 6" square card bases, they had squares with brads in the corners, the ribbon was sewn to the layer of printed paper and they were all slightly different.

And I started eyeballing them because, the pile of Flowers and Foliage from the Stamptember class so, I started pushing things around on them.

I ended up adding stickles glitter glue to these pieces after they were glued down rather than doing the liquid glue and dry glitter. 

It was so dark and gloomy over the weekend when I was doing this that I think all the colors are "off" 

 I had stamped the sentiment from our home to yours on the green printed paper strips but, it faded into the paper and then I spent a lot of time covering that up. 

The gold diecut sentiment here on this one is from Sue Wilson. 

I tend to like the ones with a plaid ribbon more than the dotted one. 

 The white diecut under the JOY is from Impression Obsession, the Joy is from Newtons Nook Christmas words die set and the big flowers in the center are Tattered Florals ( Sizzix TH) 

By the time I got to the last one I had started digging through other ready to play with things in the diecut drawer and bins. That Santa image is printed paper. The frame around it is an Impression Obsession one with tiny recollections brads in the corners. I did ink the outside edges of that with some vintage photo ink and also along the shadow layer of the big "Joy" diecut.  The stamped sentiment here was stamped a long time ago and is from the Unity Stamps "Santa must like you" set. I am trying to remember what die I used for it but, mind is blank. maybe something from Poppy Stamps or Memory box? The tree here is an old die from Taylored Expressions. And I added the bow die cut I think it may have been an PTI die. the "gift boxes" are just paper scraps and then I added that bitty bow diecut to the one in the front.  I think this one is my favorite from this batch. That's about it from me, I hope you are doing well & Thanks for stopping by. 
 

What I did during the Tim Holtz & SSS stamptember class

 I started out with good intentions... ( see this post, I did "play" with the stamps and dies ahead of time... none of that was needed during the class That pile can be seen in this blog post here.) and we were also still painting the house when this happened so, I only seen the first hour and 45 minutes or so of the class live and so, I eventually did finish watching the video playback of the class but, have just finished moving the piles out of the way on the main table this week. 

 This was using the watercolor pencils on the stamps with the TH watercolor paper. and I guess I missed the whole fact that there was a "smooth side" for a while...

 So, while they were chatting I did pretty much blow through almost an entire pack of his watercolor paper stamping some of the stamps from the class kit with the pencils. 

The first background sheet I tried, the shimmery spray did photograph kind of dark and not really "shimmery" as it appears in person.

This angle may catch some of that shine.

 I did cut some of the tags from the backgrounds a few days later while I finished watching the video and also ended up die cutting all the foliage and blooms I had stamped as well, this shot I took so I could remember which pencils I used but, it probably doesn't really matter as I probably would not try to duplicate any of the color combo's anyways. I think it is more interesting to just do what ever each time. 

 Did some others with colors maybe more for the snowflakes I was thinking. 

 And I did try the some little bits of glitter on a few of the pieces. I did make and finish two tags but, evidently I have not shot those as of yet and I did gift all the loosed glittered and shimmery things to June at work later the next day as well.

 I did end up with a nice sized pile of "stuff" to glue with some day and I did not do any of the cards. The good news is we are finally finished with painting the house and the last of the rain gutters were hung back up today. I am trying to empty out my "to be uploaded" folder and so there just may be a few more blog posts this weekend. (after coffee) Thanks for stopping by. This class has a Hash Tag of  #SSSFestiveWorkshop Since this is the second one I have tried of theirs I am thinking I need to come up with a label section for the blog but, I am also thinking I just might call it "Class Projects" 

Inspired by {The Blue Peony}

 This week Denise has chosen the Blue Peony Site for inspiration They also have Pinterest boards here. and I came across this shot of Christmas items. I loved each piece of this pin from the colors to the textures. And I also received the Simon Says Stamp Tim Holtz Stamptember kit in the mail this week. I believe the kit has sold out but, they are selling the dies and stamps and such without the other things that come in the kit. There is a video seen here on YouTube that talks about what to expect from the class on the SSS YouTube channel. And there is no homework for this class but, they did mention that you could you know cut and stamp some of the pieces so you have bits and pieces ready for the class without using the coloring and other bits and pieces. So, I decided to start stamping and die cutting things from my stash with mine.

I used some Distress Oxide inks on Neenah environmental Kraft cardstock and I die cut those things.

Made a pretty good sized pile of "stuff" and I don't usually do foliage like this, I am more of a line art stamped image person so, I was trying to figure out the colors and or definition to the bits. 

 So I decided to add some definition to them with Daniel Smith watercolors. To the stems and berries and such. 

And then I did some of the sentiments. I did not do every sentiment in the set but, did do multiples of the words I did stamp. I picked ones that I think I may use and I started with some Black on Kraft but, then ventured out to heat embossing on scraps as well. and I thought OK this is a lot of words...

So, I decided to see what these would look like as a tag to start. The Detailing on the edges of the tag I love that detail. It did make me think this will play well with the labels dies Tim Holtz came out with a while back. ( I have not tried that yet but, I think it is coming) I put the Wishes up on foam pop dots and then added Christmas red stickles to all the berries that were peeking out around that big Poinsettia. The Merry Christmas here is a Sticker from one of the TH sticker books. ( I have a stack of them and I don't remember which one this came out of) The ribbons are unknown and I tied on some natural colored hemp string around them. I really like the subtle colors of this. And it will be interesting to see how the others play together. I am thinking about breaking out other SSS sets and seeing. but, so far, this is what I have done ahead of this class which happens at the end of the month and I think this is probably good enough. That's about it from me, If you'd like to play along with us you can find this challenge here at SCS. Thanks for stopping by.  This class has a Hash Tag of  #SSSFestiveWorkshop for social media.

 

Create Together Collage tag Trio

 The third project in Create Together the class that is Tim Holtz & Heidi is some size 5 shipping tags that get totally collage covered with the ephemera papers. and then layered up over that. So, I did start with picking out a handful of bits of paper to cover 2 of the tags, but as I trimmed the edges of the first one. I walked around the table where I have piles and picked up more bits and a third tag. This turned out to be something I really enjoyed the finished tags of. 

I did try to minimize some of the mess by using a piece of plastic packaging for the collage medium smears for using a glue brush. 

 

A closer look at the base layer of those tags. 

I did use a piece of plastic packaging to lay the tags on the glass mat as I did the seal them with the medium with your fingers step. off to the left out of this shot is a box of baby wipes and now I am not as nervous about getting it on my skin as I was before I started but, they do mention you need to get this off your fingers while its wet or you are wearing it for days. That freaked me out a little and I almost put on rubber gloves. 

Once they were dry shiny cello tape stickers came out to play along with more Paper dolls and shiny foliage bits. and then some stickers that were cut up to look more ransom note type style. the people and foliage are all up on the foam dots from the kit and surprisingly enough they felt a little more sticky adhesive wise than the ones I have been buying so those have now gone on the mental shopping list to get more of when I get low again. I found I do not have a 1/4" hole punch. ( who knew?) so, that went on the wish list as well but, I used a 1/8" hole (4 time haha) which made little funny shapes in the hole of the tag so, then I tucked in some red skinny velvet yarn fiber through the hole. I am pretty tickled with how these turned out and I know I will be making more of them at some point. This class has an hashtag of #SSSHolidayCollage if you are playing along. Thanks for stopping by. 

Create Together Slotted Tag Collage

 The second project in the class is a slotted size 8 shipping tag that ends up with slots to tuck the collage inside and so its interactive ( and can hold a gift card) so, later when I end up out and about I will pick one up. 

 This is Iced Spruce distress ink on the diecut tag that I received in the kit I decided it did not have enough water drops on it when I was looking at it and I did hit it again.

Like so, I could see the "Wintery snow effect" in the ink better on this one.

 

You can see on the Santa's hat one of the Mica flakes is a little big, ( that one eventually fell off as I was putting him in and out of the tag later) 

 I am not really a dried glitter person so, it surprised me how much I like the sparkle of this Snowflake mix in the kit. ( I have also been trying really hard to keep my fingers out of my eyes because, I have 2 fans going up here and the little portable AC tucked in the corner so, I think some of its gone airborne ) 

 I had to laugh when I looked closely at my Santa after I got it on because, at one point in the class Tim Mentions that you have to look at the Mica flakes in case you end up with a pirate patch over an eyeball and I really did. the second largest flake on the brim I wiggled that while it was wet to turn it more over the glitter and not over his eye. This view gives you that scale of how big the mica is compared to the glittery mix parts. 

 These are the pieces I thought I might tuck into my slots, I did end up editing this down as I filled it up pretty quickly.

 So this is where I ended up. I need a gift card to tuck the pointing hand to and so its just ready for that later. I also ended up trimming away some of the background color between the Petals and stems of the Poinsettia sprig so that I could tuck the little piece of "seals" layer between it. I did glue that little circle red Dec 25th to the front of the little snapshot piece, so she does not tuck all the way into her slot because of that bump. Well, I didn't force it anyways just in case the glue is not all the way set. I do think liquid glue has a learning curve but, I am finding its not as steep as I thought it would be. 

 I did decide that after the sparkle paper was layered to the good tidings sticker that I needed one more sparkly spot in the tag so, the flowers received some glossy accents with the snowflake mix as well. This was just shot wet on the table with the cell phone. I am trying to decide if I should put something to the left of the clipped on Believe flash card and so, while it dries I am going to let that thought percolate. That's about where I am at the moment at 1 hour and 43 minutes into the class. There is a hashtag for these projects and its #SSSHolidayCollage if you are playing along. Thanks for stopping by. 

Create Together Tim Holtz & Heidi Holiday Collage Card

 A funny true story. I have a ton of Tim Holtz products, you knew this already right? but, I don't really use much of the papers and chipboard pieces I think I am more of a collector of them more than a collage person. I use a piece here and there so, I was really excited about the live class they were offering from Simon Says Stamp and teaching it as an YouTube video. (you can watch the replay here) I also had assumed that the 11th was going to be a Saturday when I bought it without looking at a calendar so, I heard part of it at work yesterday between payroll and customers and our IT guy coming by so, This morning I started watching the video where I could just sit and watch it. It starts with a collage card. 

 

I opened my box this morning so, no homework done here. I do have packs of some of these packages from last Christmas that are open in a container so, I picked and chose from both the kit box and my Tim Holtz papers stash box.

This is what I was thinking my card might turn out to look like. 

I built my shaker frame piece and I had not used that liquid glue much and I got it too close to the acetate and I thought ok, you're going to have all this shaking sparkle inside anyways it does not matter, but the glue leaked out the front of the frame under where you see this girl sitting. and I thought OK but, as I was moving piece around to do the collage building part I thought, you know you could move her to the other side of the frame the way her back is in the mugshot she'd probably look more natural posed there, so. I did. I also stacked one of the smallest poinsettias tilted on top of the medium one under her feet so, the flowers are a little 3-D here also. 

I think she turned out pretty cute, I shot all of these photos with my cell phone and the colors are a little off to me but, not in a this is terrible kind of a way. (that card base is a very deep green color in real life) I did use the Candied Apple crayon on her hat and the mowed lawn green on her coat for tinting, the cheeks are worn lipstick. I had not ever thought to do this, and I love how that turned out.  

I am excited to see what the next project is. I am also thinking I just may add some stickles or something to the center of that poinsettia for a little more sparkle. I probably could have added a little more to my shaker window but, I do like that you can see the corner bit of the layer under it as well so, there is that. 

The bits and pieces I did not end up putting on the card, some have been inked with the iced spruce ink. I am thinking I may also add some of that cello tape to the top of the green ticked under her feet as well but, I have not gotten that far. I have replenished my cuppa Joe however and this means the creating can continue. I hope you are having a really creative Saturday as well, Thanks for stopping by. 

and I stopped the video too soon, they added tape after I thought they were done with the cards haha.

 So I cut a piece of the tape sticker and used it at the top and bottom and decided the flower stamens just needed that sparkle as well. I am not sure how it works but, this class has a hashtag that is #sssholidaycollage if you are playing along on maybe Facebook?  I know there are some people from Splitcoaststampers who have also bought the kit and will be playing along, so I am just going to try the hashtag there in the gallery as it is keyword driven. That's about it for the moment. Thanks for stopping by.