Friday 9 November 2018

The first CCs

Hello friends, hope you are having a good creative week!
It's only early November but I have started my Christmas Cards. I know some of you make them all year round, but I usually hold off until November and then get on with it full blast. So today I am sharing the first 3, all using stamps from the new 2018 Tim Holtz Stampers Anonymous collections.
The moment I saw all the stamps on Tim's Facebook Live a while back, I fell in love and ordered several sets, including the Simon Says Stamp Stamptember limited edition one.... (I know, I know, as if I needed more Christmas stamps)....
Anyway, below a few details.
This one uses the Stamptember set, I just love that little bird.
On this card I stamped it in archival black and then coloured with watercolour pencils. The little stars in the background were done with one of the new layering stencils, using Wendy Vecchies Gold Embossing paste.
This one uses two other stamps from the same set. I embossed the branches, which made them very dark, so I won't do that again.
For both these cards I used the Lumber 3D texture folder, I always love how it looks so much like real wood. The sentiment was stamped on a very old woodplanks die, to match the rustic look.
This last one was done using the Watercolour and Overlay sets. If you are wondering what these are all about, check Tim's video here. He not only shows the stamps, but also some amazing and very inspiring samples!!
Another embossing mistake, the little bird was stamped in Iced Spruce, overlayed with the Merry and Bright stamped in Brushed Corduroy and then clear embossed, which really does not do the bird justice, - like usual, love and learn..... The photo also does not help, the light has just been awful around here....
I finished the bottom half of the card with one of the 3D Dresden Trims, some twine and a snowflake charm.
Well, that's it for my cards today, but before I  leave, just a couple of photos still of my latest mail art envelope, this time in a much softer, romantic style. I photographed it in the plastic card sleave I will be sending it in, just to give you an idea of what that looks like. I will adhere the address label on top of it.
Front
Back

Thank you for taking the time to visit and I do apologize for the quality of the photos. I am a hopeless photographer anyway but the light at the moment makes it even worse....
xxxxx








16 comments:

Maryann Laursen said...

WOW I´m the first one here today, I don´t think, that has ever happened before, so guess all is kept busy these days.
But all 3 of your cards are really beautiful as everything you ever do. I must confess, I´+m also really blown with that little birdie on the first one, it´s just lovey and somehow scream warmt and hope all over it. Can´t really say what it is, but it makes me feel good. The other two is also really beautiful and I just absolutely love your envelope too, that is fabulous work and there´ll be a really lucky recipient, who recieve that one day, that´s for sure.
Have a wonderful week-end ahead now everyone and lots of fun.

Valerie-Jael said...

The cards are gorgeous, and I love that beautiful envelope too. Have a fun weekend, hugs, Valerie

chrissie said...

Such beautiful cards with a vintage look and beautiful additions. I am definitely going to put something on my envelopes this year so will have to start thing about what.

Always something inspiring on your blog Astrid

Love Chrissie xx

Felix the Crafty Cat said...

You surely don't need all that new stash but lets face it needs don't come into...right! Gorgeous cards Astrid. Have a lovely crafty weekend too, Angela xXx

froebelsternchen said...

Such gorgeous cards and a wonderful enverlope! Always a feast for the eyes to visit here!
Happy weekend Astrid!

Dorthe said...

Dear Astrid,
Your cards are so beautiful, especially love the last one, with the wreath , it is stunning, the white flower,the Dresden trim everything so lovely,- and almost falling from the chair , lol- over the pink envelope , it is adorable , truly it is ,in the faded tones .
Gorgeous Astrid . <3 xoxo

Redanne said...

Your cards are really lovely Astrid, I love the new stamps and you have used them so beautifully. Your mail art is gorgeous. Hugs, Anne xx

Paper Profusion said...

Beautiful vintage cards and envelope Astrid. They have lovely layering effects yet are perfect for the post. Happy weekend. Nicola x

Meggymay said...

Beautiful Christmas cards Astrid. The new stamps look lovely especially the sweet little bird. The mail art envelope looks beautiful.
Yvonne xx

itsazoo said...

I enjoy absolutely everything you do.....Thanks for sharing.....

Brenda Brown said...

Oh my what wonderful Christmas cards Astrid and three at once, you’re already on a roll. Love your romantic mail art too, just delightful. Have a great weekend xxx

Margaret Mifsud said...

Gorgeous Christmas cards Astrid! Good on you for starting them already. I haven't even looked at what I need to get done this year but I think I'm going to have to pull the proverbial finger out soon! Love the vintage look of your cards and the touches of gold look so elegant!
Your mail art is so beautiful and I think it's such a great idea to post them in the celephane. Have a fabulous weekend!! hugs xx

Words and Pictures said...

I was also really tempted by the Stamptember set, but resisted. (I always plan that one day I'll make Christmas cards, but so far it's never come off - and I really do have plenty of Christmas stamps to be going on with if I ever do get round to it!) I'm feeling a little sad about it now, though very happy that I did get the Watercolour set... I think that delicate wreath is my favourite of all these lovely cards. Love the woodgrain backgrounds, too, though, of course. And the mailart envelope is so beautiful. What a lovely post - and bravo on getting the cards started.
Alison x

Patty O'Malley said...

Fantastic cards, Astrid, and the envelope as well. They are wonderful gifts in themselves.

Anita Houston The Artful Maven said...

These are gorgeous Astrid! I love each one, and the envelopes are a fabulous addition!

Jackie PN said...

Astrid,
your cards are absolutely amazing!!Lucky are the receivers of these! I really love the way you color in your stamped images, they always love so vintage and natural.
beautiful my friend! xoxo

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...

One World One Heart

Photo

FEEDJIT Live Traffic Feed

Birthday Card

Birthday Card
Just got a whole lot of new stamps from a brilliant place called the Stamp Smith. This is the image that I first saw on Docraft and really liked. I asked the friend who has used it in an ATC, where she got it. Well she borrowed it from a friend who got it from ebay as a one off. But.... it had a title. I googled the title, and hey presto found the site. They have great stamps and offer a really friendly fast service. I highly recommend them!

Gothic Arch Trifold inside

Gothic Arch Trifold inside

Back of Gothic Arch Trifold

Back of Gothic Arch Trifold

Gothic Arch Within the Heart

Gothic Arch Within the Heart

Gothic Arch, the Key

Gothic Arch, the Key