Can this be a Christmas Card?

Continuing on with the acrylic block collage technique posted HERE, today I want to share with you another 'aha moment' when I finished the next card using this technique.

On this card I used a long acrylic block and stamped it with River Rock and Crumb Cake inks.  Using the same stamp set Garden Silhouettes, I selected the  flower bunch stamp for the collage images and stamped it multiple times in Cherry Cobbler ink.  Then I stamped the contrasting image in black StazOn.  When I was trying to decide on the sentiment I saw that the flowers look like poinsettias and that this could be a Christmas card, the aha moment!  I added the sentiment in black and admired my card.  See for yourself if you think this is a Christmas card or not.

After I took the picture I decided it needed a ribbon.  I used Cherry Cobbler Seam Binding Ribbon.  I love working with this ribbon, somehow I always get perfect pretty bows I can't get with other ribbons.

If this is gonna pass for a Christmas card I better add some sparkle to it.  So I added dots of glitter adhesives called Dazzling Details on the center of each "poinsettias".

Trust me it's sparkly in person just can't capture it on film.  I'm definitely making more of these for Christmas with a slight adjustment on layout.  As it is now, it looks bottom-heavy.

What do you think?  Christmas or not?

Until the next post ............. Cheers!!!

All supplies used were from Stampin'Up.

Acrylic Block Collage

I came across this technique a few weeks ago but haven't had a chance to try it.  Today, as I was putting away all my Halloween stuff I saw my rough notes on how to do the technique.  I thought this is as good time as any to give it a try.

You need acrylic blocks, two or three coordinating inks or markers, a water spritzer, white or vanilla cardstock and stamps.  The first step is to ink your acrylic block with either ink pad or markers starting with the lightest color and moving onto the darkest color.  Spray block with water and immediately stamp onto your cardstock.

Mask around your stamped block with post it notes and stamp multiple images using light and/or dark inks.  Remove mask.  Stamp another image and/or sentiment in the darkest color, I used black for a better contrast.

My first try was not good, the ink combination got muddy.  Altogether I did seven and only four were usable.  You definitely have to find the right color combination as well as the right block size for your stamps.  TIP:  I had better results by doing the colors separately.  Ink block with one color, spritz with water and stamp onto cardstock.  Then repeat the steps with the next color until you get to the darkest color.  If you try doing the colors separately make sure you are using heavy weight cardstock or watercolor paper since you will end up with three spritz of water instead of one.  If you're mounting your cardstock to a panel, let it dry for a few minutes.

I initially did my stamping on a folded white card as I planned to do a CAS (clean and simple) no layer card but the block was off center so I had to cut it and center it on a panel.  Here's the end result.  I think it turned out okay after all.

No, make that better than okay, it's gorgeous!  I love it when an idea in my head works out well on paper.  When I first saw this technique I knew I would use a stamp set called Garden Silhouettes.  After 5 years, this is still one of my go to stamp set.

For those of you who might be inclined to play with this technique my recipe is as follows:
Inks:  Baja Breeze and Marina Mist for the block, Summer Starfruit for the collage images and StazOn black for the main image and sentiment.  Cardstock: White, Black and Summer Starfruit.

Stay tuned for the Christmas card created with this technique.  Until then ............

Cheers everyone!!!