Monday, December 19, 2022

2022 Favorites

 The majority of 2022 was spent adult coloring. 
However, I do have a couple of favorite cards that I made. 

I made my sweet friend, Paulette, this card for her February birthday.  
My birthday is also in February. 
The most awesome part is that both of our favorite color is PURPLE....
February's birthstone is Amethyst!

I'm especially happy with how my Christmas cards turned out!



Now for the colored pages.
This was very hard for me to narrow down, 
but I limited my choices to a baker's dozen.
They are in order by creation date,
from earlier in the year to present day.
Links to original posts are embedded in the titles.


Thanks for stopping by to see the favorites I chose this year.
I always enjoy looking back on the work I've done throughout the whole year. 

Have a great 2023 - 
I pray!
Lisa

2022 Christmas Cards

  Hi Y'all!
Another year has quickly passed and it's once again the Christmas season!

I gained inspiration for my handmade cards 
from a fellow paper artist, Sandi Clarkson.

Papers & all embellishments were purchased before the end of 2021, 
as I usually plan next year's cards in the previous year.


I worked on the cards off and on throughout 2022;
completing each step consecutively on all of the cards until completed. 
I make around 25 cards each year.
This really takes time and effort to create them. 
Some steps in the creation process are tedious, while others are quick.

I'm happy that this year's cards had a bit of both for a challenge!

I'll begin with what I named Deer1 - 



Next is Deer2 - 




And Deer3 - 



As you've noticed, each card is the same design,
with only the deer being different. 
They came in 3 designs in the pack, 
so that's what I used.
Each raw chipboard deer is colored 
by dabbing a natural sponge on a gold ink pad, 
to produce a distressed look.


I computer printed the inside sentiment & the scroll below it. 
Cute pre-made bows & a decorative strip make this look like a Christmas gift!



The poinsettia flower on each card is die cut and glued together. 
Gold beads in the center act as stamen.


Here is a close up of the berries & holly leaves. 
Each leaf is carefully heat embossed and
tiny red rhinestones serve as the berries.


Every card I made has my signature stamp on the back.


I LOVE the process of creating my very own Christmas cards each year 
because when the end result is achieved, 
I know & understand the whole background creation process.
That's very rewarding for me!

In case anyone is wondering what the cost is to make Christmas cards,
well that depends on how much embellishing you decide to do.

I personally use premium papers, usually from Maja Design. 
The paper has to be thick and strong to hold all of the embellishments.
My yearly cards usually cost me $4-$5/card to make. 
So I spend around $100-ish each year
 making these for my closest friends, family and great neighbors. 




Thanks so much for visiting!

Lisa

Products used:

Maja Design - "Happy Christmas" paper collection
Santa is Busy (main card)

Santa is Busy - backside (strip on bottom for inside the card)



Snowflakes (poinsettia flower)

Twinkle (poinsettia flower)

Joy (the strip on the front behind the deer)


Creative Embellishments dies
Holly & Berry Frame

Jumping Deer



Impression Obsession Die - Poinsettia



Media
Ranger - Tim Holtz Distress Ink - "Tea Dye"
(for the holly & berry frames)

Craftsmart Dye Ink - "Pine"
(edge inking of strip on front of card
and signature stamp on back of card)

Tsukineko Pigment Ink - Delicata "Golden Glitz"
(applied with a sponge on the deer)

Lindy's EP - Tannenbaum Green Gold
(for holly leaves)

Liquitex Professional White Gesso


Tsukineko VersaMark watermark pen


Want2Scrap - Baby Red Rhinestones
(for the Berries)


Tools
Fiskars Portable 12" SureCut Paper Trimmer

Martha Stewart - Scoring Board

Martha Stewart Hot Glue Gun



Adhesives
Nuvo - craft glue

Scor-Tape Sheets

Scor-Tape 

Elmer's Adhesive Foam Tape