Michael Strong Card of the Day - Technique Thursday

Awhile back my technique Thursday was "One-Sheet Wonder" and I created a bunch of cards using one 12x12 sheet of paper.  People asked how I made that designer paper so I figured I'd show you around Christmas time since it'd be a perfect thing to do for Christmas cards.  Here's basically what I did:

Step 1: Emboss a piece of paper (here I used an 8.5x11 sheet of paper and silver embossing powder for a festive look)

Step 2: Stain the paper with a distress stain (Tumbled Glass) -- I tried to make streaks in it for a less uniform look but you can make the staining more even if you desire.  Let dry before you go on to the next step.

Step 3: Rub another ink over your paper (Broken China) -- just go directly on the paper and smear.

Step 4: Rub another colour ink over that (I used Broken China again so as to not be too radical!) -- I probably should have done the lighter colour first but whatever...

Step 6: Spritz with water

Step 7: Use the paper to make lots and lots of different looking cards!!!  Here are a couple:

Michael Strong Card of the Day - Wednesday

I first stamped the tags in Early Espresso and punched out.  I stamped Mike's small Christmas Tree three times on Soft Suede paper in Versamark and embossed with white embossing powder.  Then I cut out the top third of one tree, the top two thirds of another tree and all of the last tree and layered them on top of one another.  I used Stampin Up! clay dyed with Early Espresso to make the button and tied with some linen thread.  I used a woodgrain embossing folder to emboss the Early Espresso core paper and then sanded so the woodgrain really stood out.  I cut a bit of burlap ribbon and took out some threads and moved the rest around to get the look I liked.  Then I assembled the card and added a bit of silver trim and paper punching to make it a bit more festive!

Michael Strong Card of the Day - Tuesday

Here are a few more Christmas cards.  For both these cards I took Mike's largest Christmas Tree die cut and cut out a scrap piece of paper so I had a stencil of the outline of the tree.  I covered up the holes and then used this stencil to sponge ink (Tumbled Glass) onto the white card stock so I had a large tree sponged on it. 

For this tree I took away the stencil and then stamped (in Broken China) the second largest and smallest tree on top of the sponging.  I stamped a third smaller tree behind without reinking so it's a bit more faded but that way I didn't have to mask the other trees.  I sponged all around the edges and added the sentiment.  Then I put on a couple of pearls, misted with some shimmer mist and added a ribbon.

For this tree I kept my stencil on the cardstock and then stamped (in Broken China) the second largest tree on top of the sponging.  I masked it and then stamped a couple trees behind it.  I added the sentiment and a couple of pearls on just the largest tree and misted with some silver mist. 

Michael Strong Card of the Day - Monday

Here is the first of my week of Christmas cards.  This one uses Mikes Medallions stamped on Crumb Cake, Soft Suede and Early Espresso.  The medallions are accented with some tiny pearls.

Santa's Clothesline

Here's a card I made for a very little girl and her family.  It uses the CottageCutz "Santa's Clothesline" die cut.  This die cut was a pain to use because there were no little holes to poke the items out with so the paper was stuck in the die most of the time -- even when I used wax paper!  Anyhow it did turn out VERY adorable -- but I won't be making too many more of these!  The background has snowflakes stamped in shimmer paint.