{Spotlight Project} Creating a Quick CAS Christmas Card with Simple Masking and Stamping

Hi, guys! I have a very simple project to share. The holidays are upon us. How's your Christmas card stash going? In today's project, I'll share how to create a quick clean and simple Christmas card with simple masking and stamping. This one took me about 7 minutes to make. At the end of the tutorial, I include a few ways to modify the design for variety.

Here's my card:

I started by stamping the framed sleigh (Framed Christmas: Believe in the Magic).

Then I masked the frame and stamped the ink splatter (Mixed Media Elements) on the upper left and lower left. I also added faux texture by stamping the script background.

To provide contrast to the solid frame, I added a second grungy frame using a brush stroke stamp and stamping it at an angle.

I finished the card by stamping the sentiment (Christmas Bell Medley).

Here's the card up close. I could have colored the sleigh but then I felt it would fight with the colored background. Leaving it black and white gives the card a stronger visual impact. (Besides, coloring the image in would add more time to making the card -- my primary objective was to make a card that is easy and quick to replicate.)

Some ideas for modifying the design if you're not pressed for time:

• Stamp the background in black or gray and then color the focal image.
• Apply a thin coat of gesso on designer paper that has a newsprint background before stamping the focal image and coloring it.
• On a dark-colored card base, emboss the focal image in white (or gold or silver), and stamp the background in white ink.
• Cover card base with Distress inks. Spritz water on the splatter stamp (or whatever stamp you use for the background) and then stamp. This will create a watermark by removing some of the Distress inks.

Hope you enjoyed this tutorial and that it's given you ideas for creating your stash of Christmas cards.

Products Shery used in today's project:

         


Mixed Media Elements (October/November 2015) is one of several premium 5x7 sets offered in the STAMPlorations stamp club! We've got lots of perks, including free worldwide shipping, a free 4" by 6" stamp set sent every 3rd shipment (or immediately after signing up for the semi-annual subscription), 2 personal discount coupon codes, and choice of 2 ARTplorations stencils ($10 value) in every stamp club package mailed out to subscribers! For more info and to sign up, click here.

Prize alert! Leave a comment in this post for an entry to our Spotlight Projects random drawing for November. We'll pick ONE (1) commenter to win a $10 gift certificate or her choice of 1 ARTplorations stencil. We'll announce the winner in December.