Hero Arts Christmas Card & 3x3 gift box set

Edited to add: Hello You fabulous people You,

Sorry no weekend posts. Life got in the way...in lots of good ways mostly, but I'll be back to blogging early on Monday. See you then & hope you have a wonderful weekend.

Mel

Just a little mish-mash post today... a Christmas card
& some random links to clever ideas that some talented people have shared. Happy Friday!

Older project, Newer stamps! This is an older gift set for the last Varks Winter Challenge that I hadn't blogged yet (slowpokey me!) ;o) but it uses some brand new Hero Arts stamps.

You can play along with the current Caardvarks Challenge here:

(Gorgeous Colour Challenge cards there
by the crew & readers too!)

Hero Arts stamps used here:
(available in their Holiday 2009 Catalogue)

1) Make Your Own Snowman (the holly)
2) the HO! HO! HO!s from "Holiday Sentiments"
& Hero Arts Pearls ( coloured red with Copics) :o)

Enabler alert: There are too many cute things in those new H.A. catalogues. (Sorry in advance for the wicked sweet temptation!)

To make the card I did this stuff:

For the images:

1) Stamped three holly images from the Hero Arts "Make Your Own Snowman" set: Stamped in Distress Ink (Pine Needles) and embossed them in clear embossing powder, then Coloured the leaves in with Copic markers
2) Stamped HO! HO! HO! from their "Holiday Sentiments" set on in Distress Ink (Broken China) and embossed it with Iridescent Ice.

Made the berries:

A) Pearls on the top image: Coloured Hero Arts Pearls with a Lipstick Red Copic marker & adhered them where the berries are
B) Beads on the middle image: stitched on red seed beads
C) Crystals on the bottom image, Coloured Swarovski crystals with the red Copic & adhered them
D) Added three mats behind the berry images (red, green, & turquoise) and sewed on 3 stitches.

For the main card:

1) Cut a circle of patterned paper (BasicGrey)
2) Folded a piece of 12x12 cardstock in half & cut to make a matching round card.
3) Stitched the patterned paper with green embroidery floss & edged it wit a copic marker to distress it.

To make the scallop edge & assemble:

1) Punched one inch circles Core'dinations Whitewash cardstock (red core)
2) Embossed them with a Swiss Dots folder & sanded them
3) Sandwiched them between the patterned paper & circle card.
4) Added a strip of white ribbon (dyed with Copic reinker-Frost blue B00), folding it over the patterned paper & hiding the end by...
5) Sticking the patterned paper onto the round card

Made glitter snowflakes by...

A) ...inking a piece of cardstock with a DIY turquoise tinted Versamark pad, adding heat'n'stick powder & Iridescent Ice glitter e.p. Heated after glittering to set it.
B) ...punching them with a Martha Stewart snowflake punch
C) ...snipping snowflake points with scissors to make varied shapes & sizes.

The 3x3 box template (& tutorial)
can be found here:

Hope you have a lovely lovely weekend!

P.S. Some nifty things from clever people:

1. Using a stamped image as a base for a pencil sketch
2. Make your own rub-ons
3. Altering stickers (oulala!)
4. Make your own acrylic embellishments
5. Customizing chipboard
6. make your own glitter embellishments
7. Hand tinting photos (from Opus)
8. Altering photos with distress ink
9. Colour on your stamp images by Lisa (SO brilliant!)
10. Donna's swatches here & here (stunning!)