Holiday Sparkle Blog Hop

Hello, hello, hello!! Welcome to Day 2 of the Holiday Sparkle Blog Hop. As always, I’m super excited and honored to be a part of this hop so let’s get crafty.

GIVEAWAY INFO:

Let me start off by sharing the above blog hop exclusive code. If you spend $50 or more and enter code: CUTEBAG you will receive this adorable zipper pouch for free!! This offer is valid while supplies last or until November 13 at 11:59pm EST. How cute are the little snowflakes and paw prints??

Simon Says Stamp is ALSO giving away a $25 coupon to every stop on the hop from our comments section so be sure to comment on every stop to increase your chances of winning!! Simon will announce the winners on the Simon Says Stamp Blog on Wednesday, November 16.

To view the entire release click HERE.

I used the Warm Christmas Stamp Set from this release and let me tell ya, this is my kinda holiday!! Oh how I wouldn’t give to spend the holidays on the beach somewhere warm and sandy. In fact, I just might have to add that to my bucket list.

So for this card, I started out by coloring all of my images with my Copic markers on X-Press It Copic Blending Card. I fussy cut them all and set them aside to move on to the ink blending. For my sand, I created my own stencil awhile back and it was perfect for this card. I had the On the Horizon Lines Stencil in mind and at the time it was out of stock so I thought, I have the stencil material, why not create my own hilly landscape. Starting off with an A2 size piece of Bristol Smooth Card Stock, I masked off the top of the panel and used Antique Linen , Scattered Straw and Gathered Twigs Distress Inks to create my sand. I splattered the sand with Gathered Twigs mixed with a little water and then with White Gouache and water.

I used the other half of the homemade stencil and just a straight edge from another stencil and masked off the sand to work on my ocean. I ink blended Tumbled Glass, Mermaid Lagoon and Prize Ribbon Distress Oxide inks for my ocean. I reversed the straight edge of a stencil so I could move on to my sky. I ink blended Mustard Seed, Abandoned Coral and Wilted Violet Distress Oxide inks for the sky.

To add a little interest to my sky, I added a few rolling clouds by adding a little water with a fine paintbrush. I heat embossed my sentiment using Alabaster White Embossing Powder. I trimmed my entire panel down to 4″ x 5.25″ and I started to assemble my card.

I popped Santa and the palm tree up with some 3D Foam Squares and then I glued everyone else into place using my Bearly Art Craft Glue. To make my tree shine a bit, I added Crystal Glaze over all of the lightbulbs and the round ornaments. I also added a touch on the Blue Hawaiian cocktail that Santa is enjoying. For a final touch I added a few Tiny Iridescent Bubbles by Studio Katia. I attached my card panel to a top folding landscape card base.

For my second card, I used this adorable snowman from the same Warm Christmas Stamp Set. I started out with an A2 size piece of Bristol Smooth Card Stock. I used my homemade stencil to mask off the sky and did the sand the same way as I did above. I went a little heavier with the Gathered Twigs though. I also used one of the A2 Masks Stencil to keep this card clean and simple.

I masked off the sand and worked on my sky. I ink blended Tumbled Glass, Mermaid Lagoon and Blueprint Sketch Distress Inks. I set that aside to dry and I colored my snowman. I know this isn’t going to sound good but I fussy cut the snowman out and I respectfully trimmed off his arms as they were too thin to fussy cut.

Before gluing my snowman in place, I stamped him on my background panel so that his arms would no longer be missing. See, no snowman was harmed during the making of this card.

I heat embossed this sentiment from the same stamp set with Alabaster White Embossing Powder. To finish off my card, I added a few Flat Silver Sequins and a thin strip of Silver Glitter Card Stock at the bottom. I attached my panel to a side folding card base.

Now that I’ve shared what I made, it’s your turn!! When you get your goodies from this latest release, be sure to add your projects to the Holiday Sparkle release gallery and anywhere else you choose to share on social media! We LOVE seeing what you all create.

If you haven’t checked out Day 1 of the Holiday Sparkle Blog Hop, then click HERE to be directed to even more inspiration!!

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