Wednesday, November 2, 2016

Handmade Christmas card prototype for TioT


Today I'm joining Try it on Tuesday with a project that is near and dear to my heart.  Their latest challenge theme is "Handmade by you."  Two requirements are, you are not allowed any purchased embellishments and nothing digital.  I have no problem with either of these requirements, because I still have no idea how to make digital art and I love making everything on my Christmas cards.

Let me take you through how I made my Christmas card prototype.  For the basic supplies, I used 140 lb card stock, 91% Isopropyl Alcohol, StazOn reinkers, and a cup for mixing.

I'm so glad you can see the colors I used, so I don't have to remember them.

I began with a bit of the alcohol and a few drops of StazOn reinker.  After I had used it all, I made a bit more, but added the other two colors.  Subtle differences, which may not show up on camera.

I've mentioned this before that one of the reasons I love this background technique so much is because the ink/alcohol mix dries quickly.  That ensures the card stock dries flat, important in card making.

Next, I cut the pages in half width wise.

I'd give anything for one of those score pad thingies.   It's hard getting the exact center on the card and even harder to get a good fold.  One of the few things I learned from Tim Holtz that didn't involve his merchandise was, once you had determined the center of the card, start in the middle of the fold and fold outward.  It works for me, as it did for him!

Now that my cards were folded and ready to embellish, I decided to paint some white printer papers.  While waiting for the paint to dry, I got out a couple of punches.

A single punched flower I hoped would make a star, was all I got before this punch quit working.  I admit, I have the worst luck with punches.   Even though I'm not a big fan of Martha, I do love her punches.

I found another punch that I thought I could use, and once I punched once, I realized it was smaller.  Still, I felt it would work fine.

I punched until my arms and hands got tired, and decided I had enough embellishments for the time being. 

As you can see, I love using book pages to decorate my cards, but this turned out to be a disaster.  This was obviously NOT what I was going for.  So it was off to the drawing board, and an hour or so later,

I had revamped the design.  Now it actually looks like a tree.

I was even pleased enough, it was time to add Bleubeard's signature stamp.  Mine is in my office because I used it for another entry nearly two weeks ago, and forgot to bring it back to the craft room.

On Tuesday, after going with my friend to the doctor, I went to the early voting facility downtown, where my alter ego Wendy showed she was ready to cast her vote.

Once we got home, she was ready for me to attach her sticker showing she voted earlier in the day.   For those of you who don't live in the U.S., we are holding a presidential election next Tuesday.  I was so glad I cast my votes early, and avoided the possibility of long lines on voting day.


Thanks for joining me on this Try it on Tuesday challenge journey.   I'm really grateful for your visit and your support of my art.


Today is Day 3 of AEDM.

20 thoughtful remarks:

Jeanie said...

I love the tree made from the words! What a clever idea. Very cute cards, Elizabeth. I have a feeling yours will be keepers for the recipient!

Helen said...

your book paper tree is great! Love the background, too.

Valerie-Jael said...

Beautiful card, thanks for showing us how you made it. And thank for joining us at TIOT. Good for you for voting early! Have a fun day, hugs, Valerie

chrissie said...

Wonderful idea for the card and the hand made challenge. Thank you for joining us at Try it on Tuesday

Love Chrissie xx

Claudia W | ImagesByCW said...

Oh I love to see your process. The solvent in alcohol result totally looks like beautiful watercolor washes and I was wondering why you used alcohol - now I know :) I'd love to have the time (and space) to do mixed media like you do. For me, while I picked up pen & paper & watercolors etc. again last year, most of my art is still digital. Among other things it is so portable.

pearshapedcrafting said...

A beauty of a card Elizabeth! So pleased you have joined us at Try It On Tuesday again! Trying to wok out how Wendy got to vote…….!!! Hugs, Chrisx

pearshapedcrafting said...

Ha! That's 'work out' :-)

pearshapedcrafting said...

Ha! That's 'work out' :-)

Nigel said...

I'm playing catchup with AEDM; you knew I'd turn up here eventually ;)

Love the card, it's quite different. Maybe I'll get around to doing something with inks at some point in the month.

P.S. The glue is dry at last!

Meggymay said...

Its a fantastic handmade card Elizabeth, so pleased you showed us the step by step. the book page tree is a great idea.Tell Bleubeard his paw stamp looks good.
We cannot miss the fact you are having an election in the UK. nearly every main news bulletin talks of one or the other of your candidates..
Good for you to manage voting early. I hope Wendy gave you lots of support casting the vote.
Thank you for joining us over at TioT's, I thought you would like this theme.
Yvonne xx

DVArtist said...

Ohhh I love this. Thanks for showing our step by step. I too use the alcohol with inks and acrylics. Love the effect.

Krisha said...

I love the alcohol effects on your card bases, and the second tree design looks........well, like a tree...LOL!

I really need to get by brain back to thinking Christmas cards, I had a good start a couple weeks ago and then......oh look! Something shiny! But before I get back to THAT I have 3 birthday cards to get made....hopefully today!

froebelsternchen said...

What a beautiful card Elizabeth!A lovely idea!
I have to try out your technique with the alcohol thinned reinkers on normal cardstock... makes me curious- I just used glossy cardstocks until now to use alcohol inks ... I would love to know how you apply the mixture to the paper as well.

Great that you have voted early- I am sure I know whom you gave your vote---lol.
Thanks a lot for joining us at Try It On Tuesday with your lovely card project and the whole post my friend!
oxo Susi
.

Rita said...

Cute tree idea for Christmas cards. Love the little bird on the tree, too.
I already voted by mail. :)

sirkkis said...

Wondeful project. Thank you for sharing with us at TioT.

Linda Kunsman said...

what a sweet really hand made card! You are so good with using materials on hand and recycling things. Love the background!

Divers and Sundry said...

I also voted early. I hope we get a good turnout for this election. How people can just not vote is a mystery to me!

sheila 77 said...

This is another great blogpost, Elizabeth. I love the way you tell us things that have not gone quite right, with photographs, then you move smoothly on. Your "dyeing" background technique gives superb results and a lovely colour, and I really liked the end result with the text tree, the bird and the punched shape. And of course I was entranced with Bleubeard's signature stamp. Immediate first thought was he did it each time with his paw, haha! There are so many ideas in this post I might just bookmark it, thanks a lot.
And thanks for coming back a second time to my blogpost - what happened was I must have pressed a combination of keys that published the post and I had just started with the first picture, so I hurriedly reverted to draft, but blogger had put the thumbnail up on other bloglists, so I couldn't do anything about it.

NatureFootstep said...

you made a tree :) I love that :) Very nice!

Anonymous said...

Dang fantastic card. Cute dolly too! Xox