The Holly and The Ivy

Morning all. I hope you're having a lovely Bank Holiday weekend. I'm having a fun one, as you've probably read Barbara Gray challenged her DT to do the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge and I did it yesterday. Oooh, it was cold and I think Hubby enjoyed soaking me far too much. Maya kept well out of the way as she'd already had her drenching (a bath and she's not keen on them!) that day.

I've also just spent a few days in London, which I why I haven't blogged for a bit (I only got around to scheduling one post). It was fantastic but so tiring. As we weren't there for long we wanted to cram in as much as we could and we just didn't stop!

Anyway, back to crafting..............

This is another card from this month's One Day Wonder shows on Create and Craft TV featuring the personalised Christmas stamps (I understand that they will soon be available from Claritystamp too).

I thought that the smallest tree stamp would make a lovely background for the largest one.

I started off by inking the grid background. I worked out the size of box I needed for the stamp (4.5 x 5.5cm) and made little pencil marks along the edge to help me position the inked lines. I never have a lot of luck with making tape (I always manage to rip the paper) so I tend to use my blending mat to ink off of. It gives me a nice straight line, is easily moved and the mat itself helps with getting a nice soft edge.

Once I'd done the vertical lines I did the horizontal ones to complete the boxes.

After all that work I didn't want to mess up the stamping of the trees so I made myself a little gadget to help position them.

I cut a Post-it to the size of the rectangles (4.5 x 5.5 cm) and stuck it to my acrylic block. I then went around the edge with masking tape.

I removed the Post-it and replaced it with the stamp. Then I just had to line the masking tape up with the inked box and all my trees were nice and central and in the same place. I know if I'd done it by eye I'd have messed one up!

The main image is stamped on a Spellbinders Floral Ovals die cut. I stamped it once, then moved the stamp slightly down and to the left before stamping it again (without re-inking). This gives it a lovely shadow.

The ivy flourish in the corner is cut with a die from Joanna Sheen. I added some holly to it that I cut on my Cameo and some Cosmic Shimmer Berry Red PVA berries.

A matching insert finishes it off.

That was a long one, it's a good job it is a Bank Holiday. I'm off to do a spot of Bank Holiday DIY (painting the bathroom) but before I go I couldn't resist adding this. I've just about warmed up now...... 

.........and it is for a good cause.

Stamps Used

Large Calligraphy Tree

Small Calligraphy Tree

Personalised Name and Christmas Greetings Set

Lynne

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