{Christmas in the Air} CAS Christmas Cards by Nancy and Monika

Happy Wednesday, STAMPlorations friends! We're just coming out of the holiday season but hey, it's never too early to start building up your stash of Christmas cards, right? Our Christmas in the Air blog feature with STAMPgirls Nancy and Monika will hopefully help you do just that -- that is, every 2nd Wednesday in January, March, and May. 

We'll also randomly draw one lucky winner of a $15 gift code from all the comments left on this post, on Nancy's post and on Monika's post. Let's have a look at their cards.

  

  

Here is a more detailed look at

Nancy's Christmas Cards

Never too soon to start your 2020 Christmas cards! STAMPlorations has many wonderful clear stickers available, which are perfect for adding to artsy watercolored backgrounds.

I made the watercolored backgrounds using Distress Inks onto a ziplock freezer bag. Then spritzed ink with water and flipped over to lay onto ATC die cut Strathmore Mixed Media paper to get the smooshed results or you can do your smooshing onto craft mat or glass mat. I used Distress Inks: Barn Door and Mowed Lawn.

Finished the cards by attaching the Tis the Season clear stickers to the dry ATC backgrounds. Die cut card front with the Crazy Running Stitch Rectangle Die and stenciled with the Dots All Over stencil using glittery Nuvo Glimmer Paste..Moonstone. Let paste dry and then added the popped up ATC to the card base and Done!

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Sharing two more Christmas cards using Tis The Season Clear Stickers and ATC Tag Builder Dies

After making the first two cards, I decided to try making a couple more cards using a Quick Clean and Simple (QCAS) design.

I added texture to the card base by dry embossing with a SU Embossing Folder "Subtle". I had more backgrounds in my stash using the same smooshed technique as my  first two cards, but this time I used Yupo paper and Distress Oxide Inks: Faded Jeans and Pumice Stone for a warmer effect. Popped up the backgrounds with foam, added the Tis the Season Clear Stickers and Done!

Have fun hoping along and being inspired to start your 2020 Christmas Stash!

Hugs, Nancy

Dots All Over Stencil, Tis The Season Clear Stickers, ATC Tag Builder Dies, and Crazy Running Stitch Nesting Dies.

      

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Monika's Christmas Cards

Hello Crafty Friends! Welcome to January's Christmas In The Air feature.

You can never start too early making Christmas cards. That way you won't be caught out, at least that's what I've decided to do this year.

I thought I'd start with sharing a couple of one-layer cards, perfect for sending abroad and overseas.

First up is a card with a stencilled holly border.

The inspiration for this card came from my chosen sentiment 'Have a jolly holly Christmas'. It was perfect for a stencilled holly background. My latest toy for blending ink, little eyeshadow applicator brushes, would come in handy too. 

I first masked off the strip, positioned the Holly Background Mini Stencil and taped it down.

Next I chose 2 shades of green, 2 shades of red, 1 shade of yellow and simply used the brushes to blend my inks through my stencil ...

... and around the holly before removing the masking tape. I ended up with a nice decorative strip. The stamped sentiment finished my card off perfectly.

TIP!: For a different look, try moving the stencilled strip to the top of the card front and/or change the position of the sentiment.

Holly Background Mini Stencil, Christmas Elf

  

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Next up is my second card featuring a little pencil coloured Elf.

This little elf was so delicate that I felt a CAS card would be the best way to help it take center stage.

To colour the elf I used metallic pencils. Their subtle shimmer adds some extra interest when it catches the light. Sadly the shimmer doesn't show up in photos, but looks pretty on the card. A few stencilled stars and stamped sentiment finished my card off.

I decided to stamp my sentiment towards the top of my card front for a more balanced look. I felt it would look too heavy right next to the elf.

Christmas Elf, Oh, My Stars! Mini Stencil

  

Hope you're having fun hopping along.

Hugs

Monika xxx

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For a chance to win a $15 gift code to the STAMPlorations store, leave a comment here and on the designers' blogs (Nancy's blog here and Monika's blog here) by February 8. We'll announce the winner in the January winners post on February 10.

If you enjoyed today's feature post, Nancy and Monika will be back in March for more festive inspiration. Jane and Tanja will be back next month with another helping of wing themed projects, so keep your eyes peeled!

This month we are a Winter Sale. Check out the details of all our promotions on our store's current promotions page here.