A blog devoted to the cards I make in my tiny upstairs space. When my sister stays there, she calls it an "artist's garret". I'm not an artist, but am an enthusiastic cardmaker - hence the title "Cardmaker's Garret".
___________________________________________________________________________________________

Thursday 3 December 2015

Christmas Stockings, Gifts, and Pears in a Pear Tree

A couple of cards I made today for challenges.

First up is one that I've done for a few challenges:
It was very hard to pick my favourite technique as I enjoy doing so many.  But I went back to what got me hooked on card making in the first place - heat embossing.  I saw the Old Island Stamp Co. people do it at a craft fair years ago and I was hooked.  So in honour of them, I used one of their stamps that is perfect for heat embossing but also works for the fruit challenge and the birds challenge.


It's like a lovely old woodblock print of a partridge in a pear tree and it deserves to have lots of open space around it.  I heat embossed it (and the sentiment) in gold and bordered both with red, mounted them on a stitched rectangle, and popped that up on the card base.


My second card today is for today's SCS Ways to Use It "Put a Sock in It (Christmas Socks!)" and Christmas Stampin' All Year Long "Christmas Gift" challenges.

I used a Penny Black stamp that is perfect for both challenges as it has stockings and gifts.


I stamped it on watercolour paper and coloured it with Zig brush markers. I sponged around the edges with Antique Linen, and did the same to the sentiment label.

I had fun doing bits of the image with different things - red stickles on the ornaments / lights on the garland, a cream pearl pen on the candles, gold stickles on the candles' flames, and Flower Soft on the animals' hats.

Thanks for dropping by!






Supplies Card One:
Stamps: Old Island Stamp Co. partridge, A Muse sentiment
Paper: Gina K ivory cs, red cs
Paper Size: A2
Ink: Colorbox gold
Accessories: gold embossing powder, Lil Inkers stitched rectangle die, SU sentiment dies, foam tape

Supplies Card Two:
Stamps: Penny Black dog and cat, Simon Says Stamp sentiment
Paper: red cs, watercolour paper
Paper Size: A2
Ink: Distress Archival black, ColorBox Evergreen, Distress Antique Linen
Accessories: Zig brush markers, label die, red and gold stickles, cream pearl pen, white flower soft

11 comments:

  1. Beautiful layout and beautiful embossing! So glad you decided to use this oldie but goodie! Thank you for joining us at Merry Monday!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Loving the elegant and classy fruity take on the first card - gold embossing always works brilliantly for Christmas. Loving the fun and cuteness of the second one too! thanks so much for playing along this week!
    Sarah xx
    Less is More

    ReplyDelete
  3. The first card looks amazing I love the colours you used!
    Sorry it's taken me all week to get around to visiting!
    Thanks so much
    Chrissie
    "Less is More"

    ReplyDelete
  4. What an elegant partridge card, Susan! This stamp and embossing would have hooked me too! And your Christmas scene with all the different textures and wonderful painting is adorable! Thanks for sharing these with us at Merry Monday and Happy Little Stampers!

    ReplyDelete
  5. Love your old-fashioned stamp ... gorgeous design and perfect with the gold heat embossing. The red framing makes it pop off the white background. And LOVE that sweet Christmas scene with the critters dressed up in their Christmas finery! :) Adorable!! xx

    ReplyDelete
  6. I love the red and gold combo on your first card, really classy and a lovely image. And what a fun colourful creation your second one is.
    Thanks for sharing at Less is More and Happy Little Stampers, Anita x

    ReplyDelete
  7. Beautiful cards! Thank you for joining us at Happy Little Stampers with your gold embossing card! Love the red details and gorgeous stamp!

    ReplyDelete
  8. Beautiful, thanks for joining us at CSAYL. Sue x

    ReplyDelete
  9. Two super cards, both different styles. Love that gold woodblock, really sumptuous!
    Thank you for joining us
    Anne
    "Less is More"

    ReplyDelete
  10. Such a beautiful CAS card. Thank you for joining us at CCAYR!! Sarah :0)

    ReplyDelete

Thanks for leaving me a message! I love hearing from you.