International Art and Soul Challenge 88

Now, I know it's July, but the challenge for this fortnight is to make a Chrismas card based on a song or carol. When I had  a think about this, I thought of all the songs and carols about snowy wintertime and couldn't quite bring myself to start creating a snow scene. And then I thought of Oh Christmas Tree  (which I actually know better in French since that was what I learned first ... Mon Beau Sapin).

 But that's beside the point. So, I headed for my stamps to find a Christmas tree and came across one that seemed perfect.

Which has first (and occasional second) lines of several Christmas songs/carols. I think it's from a Creative Expressions set that I've had for quite a long time.

To start, I prepared two background sheets using Brushos in scarlet and yellow, and then added a little Pixie powder in green. I stamped the tree on to the smaller piece, and some music and texture stamps on to the larger. I matted, and completed the result with some stick-on lace from Tiger.

And that's it. Quite straightforward, but the end result seems to me to be quite bright and cheerful.

I do hope you can jjoin us this time.

International Art and Soul Challenge 87

The theme for this fortnight is Tiny Things. How you interpret that is up to you!

I used quite a few 'tiny things' in my card, and even came up with a sentiment that seems to me to work too.

I started with some Mixed Media paper and gave it a background tint using Distress Oxide ink, then added some flowers and butterflies using some Card-io Majestix stamps (the first 'tiny' thing.) I added a little Perfect Pearl powder to add a little shimmer, but that's not obvious in the photo. Next, I cut a 'trellis' using a Tonic die, and added some branches and lots of tiny flowers. The branches are a combination of Spellbinders and Cheery Lynn as were the flowers. I then added some flower centres and 'leaf buds' using liquid pearls.

Finally, I designed the sentiment in Photoshop Elements and printed it on photo paper. In case it's hard to read, it says, 'The Greatest Successes in Life are the Culmination of Lots of Tiny Things'.

I do hope you can join us this time.