Clarity Challenge 31 - Shaped Cards

Hi All
New month, new Clarity Challenge. 
A great one this month and endless possibilities for "Shaped Cards".
And another Christmassy one from me.

Do you get the idea that I love Christmas?
So the ingredients I used this time are:
8x6 blank base card
Clarity Olive Branch Wreath
Selection of green & blue dye based inks and Fern Green, Red Geranium & Black Archival inks
Clarity Stencil Brushes
Snowy acetate sheet
Trees, Santa & Sleigh stamps
A moon mask
"Christmas Greetings" & Small & Large Holly stamps
Red & iridescent glitter
Glue runner and Ballpoint-tip Glue Pen
Scissors and craft knife
Clear embossing powder
(Links for the Clarity ingredients are below for you)

First place the stencil directly onto the blank greeting card and brush on the different greens to build your wreath

Next, with scissors (or craft knife) cut out the upper part of the card.  At first I just cut the front part  of the card as I was going to build a scene on the inside of the card above the wreath, but then decided it would be better to cut the front & back above the wreath, so fixed that!

Next cut the centre aperture out of the wreath on the front part of the card only.

Use the piece you've cut out as a template to cut the snowy acetate.  Remember to cut slightly larger so that you have enough of a border to run the glue tape round.  Stick the acetate in place inside behind the centre of the wreath.



On the open card, mask off the left-hand side with post-it notes and stamp the trees in first and second generation inks so that they are visible through the aperture when the card is closed.  (For those not familiar with the term -  second generation ink - ink up the stamp, blot on copy paper, then plot on your artwork, giving a paler image).
Add the moon mask and brush on the blues for the moody sky, gives a nice darker edge where the leaf shaped card has been cut too.

Stamp Santa flying to deliver the presents, again so that he is visible through the aperture, and use the white pen to highlight his sleigh.

Add some iridescent glitter to the trees and leave to dry.

Now on the front of the card, stamp the "Christmas Greetings" using Red Geranium Archival ink and clear emboss.
Stamp the holly using first & second generation dye based green ink.
I used some green Spectrum Noir colouring pencils to darken the wreath leaves and a grey to add a bit of shadow to both the wreath & greeting.
Using the Ballpoint-tip Glue Pen, dot on the berries and add red glitter to finish off.

There's another Christmas card made (and an idea for you for the challenge), but still lots more Xmas cards to make, so on my day off today, I guess I may well be doing some crafting!
So get your thinking caps on, and don't be shy, have a try.  You could be in the random selection draw at the end of the month to win a Claritystamp voucher to spend on some fab goodies. 
As the saying goes "You've got to be in it, to win it!"
There's lots of inspiration again this month from the other Design Team members too, so check out their blogs for lots of hints, tips and ideas.
Look forward to seeing your entries this month, and Good Luck to you x


Click on these useful links for ingredients above:
http://www.claritystamp.co.uk/Clarity-Stencils/16532-/Olive-Branch-Wreath-Stencil-7-x-7-Inch
http://www.claritystamp.co.uk/Clarity-Stencils/13450-/Clarity-Stencil-Brushes-Set-Of-4
http://www.claritystamp.co.uk/Information/Offers/17998-/Sprucescape-amp-Cabin---Unmounted-Clear-Stamp-Set
http://www.claritystamp.co.uk/Clear-Stamps/Christmas/18367-/Christmas-Miniatures-amp-Window-+-MASK---Unmounted-Clear-Stamp-Set
http://www.claritystamp.co.uk/Clear-Stamps/Christmas/5277-/Christmas-Greetings---Unmounted-Clear-Stamp
http://www.claritystamp.co.uk/Information/Search/17221-/Deck-The-Halls-amp-Holly---Unmounted-Clear-Stamp-Set