I always start thinking about my Christmas cards early in the year but then keep changing my mind or being tempted by new papers, or new dies, or new techniques I have seen and want to try. Most of my projects has some embossed element on them - either heat embossed or using embossing folders or masks. When I started out paper crafting many years ago I heat embossed everything in sight and then decided to buy some bargain price embossing powder from the online auction site. It was a disaster - the results were rubbish and this put me off of embossing for ages. I thought it was something I was doing wrong - perhaps the wrong paper, the wrong ink, heating too long or not long enough. I kept wasting my lovely stash. Anyway after leaving it for a while I bought some good quality embossing powder and OMG - the results were just amazing. I can't believe the difference good quality crafting items make to the final outcome. We are always on the look out for a bargain but to be honest a smaller amount of something good and lovely and that will be used to good effect is so much better value than a large amount of something cheaper that won't be used and will just stay in the cupboard.
This year I made a few different style of Christmas cards. The first ones were in ivory and gold. The stamped images were stamped in gold and embossed with a sparkle embossing powder. The Crafters Companion Embossalicious embossing folder was inked and the card debossed and then sprinkled with sparkle embossing powder for a different look. I tried also with gold embossing powder but found this a bit too heavy for this occasion. The ribbon is some from my stash.
The next card was made using a Craftwork Cards Twister card blank and heat embossed. The stamp was from Elusive Images which is now Chocolate Baroque, I have lots of their stamps and often find myself going back to them. For Christmas again I used some sparkle embossing powder. I am loving the twister cards.
They really are beautiful cards Jacky, I love the tartan type ribbon on the first one, it appeals to my Scottish roots! You are so right about EP's, I went off them for the same reason but now I am addicted again...... have you seen that CB now have a sale on? Hugs, Anne x
ReplyDelete