Merry Christmas from the Black Forest

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The rain is making little pitter patter noises on our skylights and the early morning daylight has just begun to rise here in Germany.  The lights on the tree are twinkling as I listen to my Diana Krall, Harry Connick Jr. and Jazz Christmas CD’s this early morning.  The house is quiet as everyone is sleeping.  The fire in the fire place is crackling and the presents are perfectly placed under the tree, that’s all Michael – not me, he has a gift for it!  I’m fighting off some sort a bug and refuse to let it dampen the excitement of this day!  You can hear nothing outside – no cars, no hustle and bustle and it’s nice.  Just the Black Forest, the rain and us!

Last night we went to a Christmas service in the actual Black Forest.  There was a live manger scene with an orchestra and about 800 people came from far and wide to stand out in the cold and listen to the Christmas story (even on big buses!).  A bonfire twenty feet high crackled in the background and you could hear a pin drop as the pastor enthralled the masses with this joyful story as children dressed as angels with massive wings and shepherds also looked on.  It was quite something. 

After, we ventured the 20 minutes back through the Black Forest back to the Bad Wildbad valley to the town center.  We gathered at the town square just outside the Church and sang German Christmas carols with 1000 other town folk while a 60 piece orchestra filled this quaint small village with beautiful music.  It was the perfect way to start our Christmas Eve.

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I would like to wish you a very Merry Christmas.  Thank you for taking the time to visit here and leaving comments this past year.  I hope you have enjoyed all the creative inspiration this past year.  I’m excited for all the great creative inspiration that will be shared in 2014!

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I made this special card just for you today.  The poinsettia flower is embossed and water colored from behind.  It is delicate, just like a stained glass church window.  The small details like just a tiny bit of gold embossing on the raised embossed words in the background really make this card special.  This card is my all time favorite of the 2013 season, and I hope you love it too.Christmas Eve 2013 027 edited_edited-1From my home to yours – I hope you have a safe and happy holiday this year! 

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Stampin’ Up! Joyful Christmas

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Do you need a quick but colorful Christmas card?  This clean and simple card is powerful with its intense color, yet quite easy to mass produce.  Let me show you how.

For me, when I make 100 Christmas cards, I need something that will keep me excited through the process, are you like that?  One of the things that I love is the color Cherry Cobbler.  I just love it – it makes me happy just to look at it.  Do you have a color that just makes you happy too?  I’d love to know what colors you absolutely love – tell me in the comment section.  Cards like this one with interesting detail keep me fascinated as well.  Last month I showed you how I made this clean and simple Regarding Dahlia’s card:

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Can you tell how this card is based of that one.  When you have a great idea – duplicate it!  To make this one, you’ll start with a center image, use a mask to cover it and stamp outward from there. 

  • Tip – be sure to stamp a mask onto a piece of printer paper – not cardstock.  The thickness of cardstock will give you a white space and won’t allow you to get your second image to flow into the main image. 
  • Tip – cut your mask on the inside of the line, not on the line and definitely not outside the line.  That will give you a gap.

Since the cardstock is so rich, you will want to give your sentiment an opportunity to pop off the color by embossing it in Black.  Some glitz and glamour was added using Rhinestone basic Jewels and Dazzling Diamonds Glitter (hard to see on the photos as it’s rather light just on the veins.

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To help the white poinsettia banner pop, you may wish to matte it onto a piece of Basic Black card stock.  To add depth without taking away from the beautiful Cherry Cobbler color you can use Old Olive for the leaves.  It doesn’t take away from the images, rather it compliments it and supports it with a neutral rich color.

  • Tip – stamp your flowers on a larger piece of white and then cut it down to the desired length.  That way you don’t stress yourself out with getting it perfectly centered.  I began with a 4”x 11” piece that I cut down.
  • The final strip is 2 1/2” x 5.5” and the Basic Black is 5.5” x 2 5/8”.  The Cherry Cobbler is an A2 card – 8 1/2” x 5 1/2”
  • Tip – If I was mass producing this card, I would pre-cut my Whisper White Strips.  I would also perfect one and keep it above my working strip as a master.  This would help you as a guide to get each one just right.  You can also draw a box on your grid paper to show where to stamp.

The inside panel is just Whisper White with the same images stamped in the corner.  Keep it small, just a touch.  Joyful Christmas 001 002

It’s a fun card that pops and is easy not only easy to stamp, but gives you that richness that you are looking for.  And added bonus – this is rather easy to prep and cost effective. 

Online Stamping Classes

Do you want to learn how to make creative scenery cards or Christmas Cards?  Try our Brayer 101 – Introduction to Creative Scenery online class or the Class of the Month – Festive Flurry.  You’ll learn how to master this technique using a brayer to create unbelievable scenes that will leave you feeling like an artist or make the coolest cards that will leave your friends and family stunned.  Find out more here.

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Stamps – Joyful Christmas Ink – Cherry Cobbler, Old Olive, Versamark Paper – Cherry Cobbler, Basic Black, Whisper White Cool Tools – Heat Gun, Black Embossing Powder Finishing Touch – Pearl Basic Jewels, 2 way glue pen, Dazzling Diamonds