Sunday, August 26, 2018

August Rudolph Days

Hi everyone.  I'm playing along with Rudolph Days.  The challenge runs from the 25th to end of month and it's always Anything Goes - Christmas.

I made this card using a snowflake dry embossed card front sent to me by my dear friend Bonnie.  Have to say that I've had this for a LONG time.  I put it away in a safe place. :)  I just found it the other day, so wanted to use it for today's card.

This was dry embossed onto Mixed Media paper.  I used the Splash Watercolouring technique (click link for video) with Brushos to make the background.  I love the randomness of this technique.  I love how the turquoise and ultra marine colours have lots of pigments .. you can even see a bit of purple.

Once it dried, I took a metallic silver pen and went along the tops of the dry embossed image.  It turned out pretty well considering my hand sometimes is not very steady. :)  I cut the panel down to size to just show a portion of the snowflake image.  I popped up the image on a piece of foam and added a silver embossed black banner to finish.

Here's a close-up ...
I had so much fun making this, I did a second one that I will donate.  My stash of Christmas cards is already well underway with over 60 cards done.  I do love to make Christmas cards! :)

Why don't you build your stash and come play along at Rudolph Days.  Maureen is the host and she is super friendly as are all the participants.  It's a fun place to be!






Stamps:  Snowglobe Sentiments (My Favorite Things)
Paper:  Mixed Media paper; White card base (Neenah 110 lb.); Black (SU!)
Ink:  Brushos:  Turquoise, Ultra Marine
Accessories & Tools:  Snowflake embossed image (gift from Bonnie - unknown origin), water mister, silver metallic pen, silver embossing powder, heat tool

Challenges:
Rudolph Days August Challenge

31 comments:

Kath said...

A beautiful card - such a lovely design.
Kath x

nancy littrell said...

Gorgeous Brushos background for your beautiful dry embossed snowflake. I am impressed, even with a steady hand it is not easy to trace over an dry embossed image. TFS your beauty, my friend. Awesome stash already too! Hugs..

Trina P. said...

Stunning card! Absolutely LOVE the colours with the silver snowflake frame! Your splash background is gorgeous. xx

mycardattic said...

Just stunning Loll! I know Christmas is going to get away from me this year! Have a lovely Sunday! Hazel xx

Susan said...

Good for you for going over the embossed snowflake with the silver pen - I think I'd have made a real mess of that! Lovely brusho colours behind it! And perfect with the silver heat embossed sentiment on black.

Nstiz said...

As I read this I'm thinking "no way!" That freehand work is just amazing and certainly nothing I'd ever attempt. That's so perfectly done I was sure it was embossed with powder. What a gorgeous effect and beautiful background too.

aussie aNNie said...

STUNNING and another technique to check out.x

Christine Alexander said...

Loll, I'm in awe of your silver pen work, I would have made a real mess of that one. so perfect with your brusho splash background.

Quillish said...

This is so gorgeous and what a cool way to highlight the embossed image. love the background and the whole idea. Your work is always so inspiring!

kiwimeskreations said...

What a stunning card Loll - will there be four similar ones, as it looks as though you only used a part of the original embossed sheet :). i thought the snowflake was actually a die cut when I first saw your card!
Blessings
Maxine

Linda said...

This looks so pretty .... I love how you've coloured over the snowflake with the silver pen. I was just thinking I must get my Brushos out and play .... thank you for the inspiration my friend. Have a lovely week xx

Jenny L said...

Ho Loll,
Happy Rudolf Days.
oh this card is so delightful and the colours are stunning.
What excellent work with that silver pen I thought is was heat embossed till I read how you made it.
I always love your style of cards they are always so imaginative and lovely.
Thank you for joining the Rudolf Challenge.
Lots of crafty love. Jenny L.

Jeanne said...

That background is so wonderful and interesting. I really like how you added the silver to the embossed portion. Fabulous card!

Faith A at Daffodil Cards said...

Your background and colour is so beautiful and for once you have done something I tried (unsuccessfully) that is draw over an embossing feature, but after seeing your so VERY beautiful result, I may just have another go?
Faith

Bonnie said...

Ooh! This is so pretty, Loll! Love how you've made the snowflake silver and the contrast with the beautiful splashed background! It reminds me that I need to do something with this embossing folder myself!

Julie B said...

Love the silver with the blue Loll, v pretty. :)

Brenda said...

Wow Loll, this is one stunning Christmas card! I love that background and the snowflake looks just amazing on it! What size are your little panels you used on your card fronts, 2x3? You and Bonnie are very talented ladies! Hugs, Brenda

Mac Mable said...

Love the unique and colourful background and great technique, which sets off the beautiful dry embossed and super sparkly snowflake to perfection. Love how you cut the background down and offset the snowflake X.

Marcia Hill said...

LOVE this card Loll! I have this snowflake embossing folder and can't wait to try your idea of using a silver (or gold) pen along the raised edges of the snowflake...what a cool idea and looks FABULOUS!! Love your Brusho background and little sentiment strip too...BEAUTIFUL card my friend!! :0)

Brenda in IN said...

I can't imagine when you had time to make this stunning card, let alone two, when you spent so much time with me! It is so beautiful with that silver snowflake shining on the splashed background. Thank you so much for updating my blog, it is gorgeous.

Loll said...

You were close on the size Brenda. The snowflake print is 2 1/2" x 3 1/2" (includes the sentiment at the bottom). Usually I have 1 1/4" difference between the width and length, but didn't this time because of the shape of the snowflake. 1 1/4" is the difference between an A2 card ... 4 1/4" x 5 1/2", so keep it that ratio or close, works best for me. xx

Liz said...

Gorgeous card Loll, love the vibrant colours of the background.

You've done brilliant job on Brenda's blog makeover. It looks beautiful. xx

MaryH said...

What a splendid idea to emphasize the embossing with that silver glitter pen. It really makes the beautiful brusho background stand out so great too. I'm glad you remembered the 'safe' place -- good to know I'm not the only one who does this! TFS & Hugs

scrappymo! said...

What a stunning card, Loll. I love the background with this dry embossed snowflake. Going over the snowflake with the pen was a great idea!
Brilliant design and a lovely card. I am impressed that you have 60 done already...I need to get creating!

Thanks for taking part in the August Rudolph Days Challenge.

PS I met your friends from the retreat at Mggies last garage sale at Country Lane. There were two ladies manning the booth, one was the lady whose hosted the group with Darnell, and the other was the lady from North Van. I am not mentioning names to keep their privacy. Lovely ladies and they had a great booth!

Sue's Crafty Corner said...

Such a beautiful card.

Sue xx

Whisper said...

Oooo what a simply stunning card and thanks for joining us at Augusts Rudolph Days Challenge, luv Sam x

Barb Ghig said...

Absolutely gorgeous card, Loll! I love the effect of Splash Watercoloring with Brushos...WOW! Love your silver snowflake, too...what a great way to showcase the raised embossing on your panel!
I'm so impressed that you have 60 Christmas cards already! Way to go!!!

Anita in France said...

Frsty loveliness, Loll ... what a gorgeous splashy background ... and fabulous silver tracing of that delicate snowflake ... love the texture! Hugs, Anita :)

Papercraft Boutique said...

Your Brusho splash background is absolutely stunning, Loll! I love the colors and the effect. I thought you heat-embossed over the snowflake in silver, but you went along the tops of it with a silver pen! AMAZING!! I would not have the courage to do that because the gorgeous background is too good to be wasted (knowing that I would probably mess it up)! Fantastic job, my friend! Hideko xx

BożenA said...

I love the colorfulness of this background. The beautiful embossing was further enhanced by the silver line. The proportions are perfect. So beautiful inspiration, Loll

Jo said...

Such a brilliant approach to the silver snowflake, I have just learned something new to try. That delicate blue matches the delicate flake, the perfect duo ...Let it snow! xxx