Cyber Week Surprise - Joy to the World

Hi friends,

Cyber Week at Simon Says Stamp continues with a brand new stamp set.  Today I'm sharing a card with you from the set, Joy to the World.  The set includes a manger, Christ child, Mary and Joseph, a little donkey and lamb and of course the star and several sentiments.   I think it's an adorable set for creating cards for little ones who are beginning to understand the nativity story.   My first card focuses on the Christ child and uses one of the sentiments from the set, O' Come Let Us Adore Him.

One layer cards are so nice, especially at Christmas when you have so many to mail.  With that in mind I decided to do some masking.  I stamped the manger and Christ child images twice using my Tim Holtz Tonic Craft Stamp Platform.  Once on the card, and the second time on masking paper.  After covering the stamped images, I sponged the galaxy sky and sand dunes with Distress Inks.  I also spritzed water blotting afterward with a paper towel.  Distress ink reacts to water and lifts it - a technique which provides a soft look to the sky.  Next, I flicked some white gouache across the sky for a thousand stars.  Once everything was dry I stamped the star above the manger in Simon Says Stamp Clear Watercolor Ink and embossed with WOW Embossing Glitter Metallic Sliver Sparkle.

I removed the masking and colored the manger and Christ child with Copics and deepened the shadows with Polychromos Colored Pencils. 

The sentiment is embossed with Simon Says Stamp Antique Gold Ultra Fine Embossing Powder on Woodgrain vellum from Hero Arts.

I love the versatility of using other die cuts to give a different look.  I used Lawn Fawn Cuts Stitched Hillside Pop-up with this card.

Two cards, different looks.  I hope you've enjoyed my offering as we continue a week of surprises with the Simon Says Stamp Cyber Week celebration.   Simon Says Stamp will be promoting the new DieCember release on Friday, December 1st on Facebook.  So grab a hot beverage and join in the holiday fun!  I'll be back on Friday with another card using a brand new die from Simon Says Stamp. 

Sincerely,

Susie ~

Simon Says Stamp | Grit Paste and Glitter

Hi Friends!
I'm back sharing another card with you using products from Simon Says Stamp.  You can find this card on both the Simon Says Stamp Blog Monday Challenge, and the Simon Says Stamp Flickr Challenge.

It's countdown to Thanksgiving and it always seems to go to fast - yes?   I love November and all that it brings.  Is it my imagination or are people trying hard to be more patient with one another.  I hope so.   The goal each week at our house is being kind and thankful.   We can always use a second helping of each, how about you?

My card is simple but provides a punch by using the beautiful Birch Tree Window die from Simon Says Stamp, and one of the lovely papers from the November Simon Says Stamp Card Kit, Kind Flowers.    The frame around the Birch Tree is the lovely Die-namics Stitched Oval Scalloped die.

The Birch Tree Window was cut on white card stock and sponged with Distress Oxide Inks with a little bit of Copic on a few leaves. I also sponged a light halo around the trees to give the appearance of looking through a forest window and seeing the first rays of sun on the frosty branches.  I spread a little bit of Distress Grit Paste and sprinkled it with Distress Stickles Dry Glitter for that frosty look with just a wee bit of green still showing on a few leaves.

The frame around the Birch Tree Window is Die-namics Stitched Oval Scalloped from MFTs.  The sentiment, Thanks, is cut out of gold mirrored paper to match the mirror behind the trees.  I've cut the word die three (3) times from white card stock and once from gold and stacked them.  This technique grounds and provides dimension across the focal point of the card.

I love the beautiful patterned paper from the November Simon Says Stamp Card Kit, Kind Flowers.  The whisper soft print background and the raised gold autumnal elements all add to the lovely Birch Tree Window.

I'm thankful for the season, our family, friends, and the blessings so graciously bestowed upon us by our Heavenly Father.

Sincerely,

Susie ~