Minimal Color with Maximum Impact w/Kara

Hello! It's Kara and I'm back again with another old favorite, Winter Pals. This set was released December 2014 and it's just as cute today as it was then. I love it! Especially the adorable owl.

My last post was very detailed with a lot of Copic coloring, ink blending, and layering. It was a lot of fun to create and took a bit of time to complete. This time I was able to create all 3 cards in about that same amount of time. Minimal coloring and layering made these quick and easy, but just as effective. They are bright and fun!

I used some Copic markers to color their scarves, feet, and cheeks. I added a bit of detail with a white gel pen. I used the 4 Bar Stitched Rectangle die on the stamped panels. I cut the card bases down to size as well.

This fox is going to my nephew who has a December birthday. I adhered the extra owl inside the card with the little "hi" word bubble from the Friends For All Seasons: Fall stamp set.

I just love these! I hope you do too. Thanks so much for stopping by today!

Simple Tree Shape with Holiday Trimmings Stamp with Yana

Hello, friends! I hope you are having a great stamping week! Today I have a simple to make Christmas card that features images from the new Holiday Trimmings stamp set.

This is a great set if you like to mix and match and customize images to your liking. I used just the ornaments and compiled them into a Christmas Tree shape. I wanted to stick to traditional Holiday colors so I went with red and green. I used Last Leaf and Appletini as well as Gala Red and Cranberry Crush inks.

I started working on this card by stamping the sentiment, Merry Christmas, in black ink. This one comes from the Hand Lettered Holiday set. Next, I stamped bottom line of the ornaments forming the base of my Christmas trees. You can make your tree smaller and have more white space on the card by skipping one line and having the shape consist of 3 lines only.

I did stamp one of the ornaments upside down, but I kind of liked it and keeped that ornament as is (after I added the ornament topper you can’t even tell it was stamped incorrectly).

I tried to alternate shape and color to make this card look more interesting. Once my tree shape was done I used filler elements and stamped them in same colors as well as black making my ornaments multicolor.

I trimmed my panel to 4 x 5 ¼” and foam mounted onto an A2 side folding card base. I thought about adding gems and at one point added a strip of patterned paper, but later decided to go without any additional embellishments and keep this card as simple as it was.

Have fun stamping!

Featured Supplies

For your convenience, here is a list of the featured supplies used on today's project(s), along with links to purchase. Please note: this list contains affiliate links.

WPlus9 Holiday Trimmings Stamp Set Shop at: WP9	WPlus9 Hand Lettered Holiday Shop at: WP9	WPlus9 Gala Red Dye Ink Shop at: WP9	WPlus9 Cranberry Crush Dye Ink Shop at: WP9	WPlus9 Last Leaf Dye Ink Shop at: WP9
WPlus9 Appletini Dye Ink Shop at: WP9	Simon Says Stamp Small Teflon Bone Folder Tool Shop at: SSS	Neenah 110 Lb Solar White Cardstock Shop at: SSS | AZ	Tsukineko VersaFine Onyx Black Ink Shop at: SSS | AZ	Scor-tape 2 1/2 Inch Crafting Tape Shop at: SSS
White Fun Foam 12 Pack 9 x 12 Shop at: SSS | AZ	Tonic Studios 8.5 Inch Paper Trimmer Shop at: SSS

Autumn Leaves Gift Card Holders

Hello Crafters!

I can't believe Thanksgiving is right around the corner. I actually have to wear a coat when I leave the house now. I'm already over it and it's only snowed once. Silver lining to all that cold? It's beautiful outside.

I'm blessed enough to live in a state with four individual seasons and while I love Spring and Summer, Autumn might inch them out as the prettiest. Even if I do have to wear a coat.

When I started these cards I had two things on my agenda.

1. Say "Thank You".
2. Try Gamsol Odorless Mineral Spirits.

Spoiler Alert. We accomplish both.

I love bold bright colors. This love affair is one of the big reasons why I shy away from colored pencils. However, while I was on a crafty retreat a friend showed me how Gamsol not only blends colored pencils, it also brightens them.

I wanted to do a side by side comparison to see just how bright these colored pencils were. I also wanted to create a fun way to say thank you to my son's two pre-school teachers for Thanksgiving. Honestly, I'm in awe of all teachers but especially the ones who run around with little toddlers all day. :)

You can see the entire card being created below.

Watch above or watch in HD at YouTube

Are you not in love with all things gold right now?! I know I sure am! The gold spatters with the gold sequins are making my little heart go pitter patter. I was surprised by how bright the colors actually were with the gamasol. Plus, they really did blend like buttah. I'll definitely be giving them another try!

Which version is your favorite? Copics or colored Pencils? Let me know in the comments section below!

Thanks for visiting!

Featured Supplies

For your convenience, here is a list of the featured supplies used on today's project(s), along with links to purchase. Please note: this list contains affiliate links.

Wplus9 Gift Card Layers Die Shop at: SSS | Wplus9

Wplus9 Beautiful Bouquet: Ranunculus Shop at: SSS | Wplus9

Autumn Leaves Shop at: SSS | Wplus9

Autumn Leaves Die Shop at: SSS | Wplus9

EK Success WRITING PEN FINE TIP Shop at: SSS	Sizzix BIG SHOT PLUS MACHINE Gray And White Shop at: SSS	Fiskars PREMIUM CUT LINE Paper Trimmer 12 Inches Shop at: SSS	Tombow MONO MULTI Liquid Glue Shop at: SSS	3M Scotch DOUBLE-SIDED FOAM TAPE Permanent Shop at: SSS
Ranger Inkssentials Non Stick CRAFT SHEET Shop at: SSS	Simon Says Stamp LARGE GRID PAPER Pack Pad Shop at: SSS	Ranger Inkssentials GLOSSY ACCENTS Shop at: SSS	Simon Says Stamp Premium Ink Pad INTENSE BLACK Shop at: SSS
Wplus9 White Cardstock Shop at: Wplus9	MISTI PRECISION STAMPER Stamping Tool Kit Shop at: SSS	MINI MISTI PRECISION STAMPER Stamping Tool Kit Shop at: SSS	Silver BLACK VELVET Brush Size 2 Round Shop at: SSS
We R Memory Keepers TRIM AND SCORE Board Shop at: SSS	Prismacolor PREMIER COLORED PENCILS 24 Set Shop at: SSS	Neat & Tangled WILD ORCHID SEQUIN MIX Shop at: SSS | Neat & Tangled	Ranger Perfect Pearls PERFECT GOLD Shop at: SSS
Prismacolor PENCIL SHARPENER Shop at: SSS	Prismacolor 150 PREMIER COLORED PENCILS Shop at: SSS	Prismacolor PREMIER COLORED PENCILS 72 Set Shop at: SSS	Inky Antics GAMSOL KIT Shop at: SSS

Copic Sketch MARKER C3 COOL GRAY Shop at: SSS	Copic Sketch Marker YG03 YELLOW GREEN Shop at: SSS	Copic Sketch Marker YG95 PALE OLIVE Shop at: SSS	Copic Sketch COLORLESS BLENDER Marker Shop at: SSS	Copic Sketch Marker R05 SALMON RED Shop at: SSS
Copic Sketch Marker YR04 CHROME ORANGE Shop at: SSS	Copic Sketch Marker Y08 ACID YELLOW Shop at: SSS	Copic Sketch Marker Y38 HONEY Shop at: SSS	Copic Sketch Marker R35 CORAL Shop at: SSS