A crop party is a modern quilting bee. A group of friends gather to have girl friend time, sharing joys and sorrows while preserving memories and creating a special keepsake.

Friday, December 4, 2015

A Christmas Card with Sparkle and Non Traditional Colors



I have been in the mood to make a Christmas card in non-traditional colors and the 52 (Christmas) Card Throw Down technique challenge to use a sponge or brayer was the perfect opportunity/excuse.  The background was done using the bokeh technique with Pomegranate, Juniper, and Lagoon on the base layer and the circles sponged, not with the usual white, but with Metallic Gold pigment ink by ColorBox.




  After cutting the snowflake with a Tim Holtz die cut and embossing it with the accompanying folder, I used a brayer to ink the ridges with Versamark and embossed them with Ranger Gold embossing powder.  I then sponged the edges with Pomegranate and some Lagoon lightly along the ridges.

After making sure the background was completely dry, I embossed the sentiment and the edges by pushing the bokeh panel edge perpendicularly into the Versamark pad and then into the embossing powder.  I used a paintbrush to remove any excess powder before heating.  Now all that was left was to put it all together and add a sparkle.  And wash my hands because I definitely got inky!

Now you may be wondering how I came up with this color scheme.  I discovered a new (to me)  color challenge blog called Chocolate Baroque.  I have to love a blog with a name like that!  Anyway, there was an absolutely beautiful card and I just had to use those colors.




The next morning it was obvious that I need an Ottlite (are you listening, Tim) because the colors were not quite right.  I felt that the Pomegranate was too purple, so I made a second card using Lagoon, Juniper, and Ruby with the Gold Metallic ink.





Thank you for stopping by!  Until next time, Hansi

Materials used, all Close to My Heart unless otherwise noted:
Paper:  Colonial White cardstock
Ink:  Pomegranite, Juniper, and Lagoon with Metallic Gold pigment ink by ColorBox
Stamp:  Winter Flurries (retired)
Embellishment:  Ranger Princess Gold embossing powder, Purple sparkle
Other:  Tim Holtz die cut and embossing folder




8 comments:

  1. Absolutely love the colours you've used to create your background - so warm and rich. Fabulous texture on the big snowflake too. Thanks so much for playing along with 52CCT this week!

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  2. I love your background, it's so opulent, it's almost exotic. I went and looked up the bokeh technique as I didn't know the term, so thanks for introducing me to that. Something to experiment with at the weekend!

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  3. Stunning card! I love how you have used a brayer to apply Versamark to the details on the snowflake. Very clever! Thanks for joining us at 52CCT, April x

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  4. love the gold bokeh background - thanks for sharing your project at the 52CCT

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  5. Gorgeous results! Worth all the inkiness and gold embossing powder everywhere...

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  6. Hi Hansi, thanks so much for your entry into the Chocolate Baroque challenge. It is always lovely to see new participants, so welcome, and we hope to see you back really soon. Your card is fabulous, love the big embossed snowflake and the bokeh background, Judith xx

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  7. Beautiful project, Hansi! LOVE that big snowflake. Thank you for joining Chocolate Baroque’s 17th Colour Challenge. A new challenge has started and hope you see your work again.
    x Asha

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  8. Stunning card. Love the misty background and the bold tattered snowflake. Good luck with the Chocolate Baroque Challenge, Anne x.

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