Merry & Bright

Today's Tag for the 12 Tags of Christmas with a Feminine Twist is inspired by this beauty by Sharon Harnist.

I am also calling this the Messiest Tag of Christmas, since each step created a different mess in my studio ... all fun messes, but messes nonetheless.

First mess - inky background.  I started with gelatos, but didn't get the intensity of color I wanted ... so I added some sprays ... still not there.  Next I dropped on Distress Ink re-inkers and smooshed that around ... then more gelatos, more spray ... you get the picture.  I love the final effect, but there was a lot of color to clean-up (and dry overnight).

Next was my Prize Stag (which if I had been thinking, I also would have inked and let dry overnight ... but of course, that would have been too easy).  I crimped some kraft cardstock and then die cut.  The crimping didn't work quite as well as the corrugating, so it was harder to see.  

Next I applied color with my Hero Arts White Ink Dauber, which pretty much obliterated what was left of the crimping ... so I decided to sprinkle on glitter (mess #2 due to over-pouring).  It's hard to see in the picture, but it is very pretty and sparkly. I also added a pink gem for a feminine nose.

I didn't have the wreath die cut, so I used lots of leaf punches to create my wreath effect (and lots of tiny glue dots).

Finally I decided to stamp my sentiment from Brushstroke Christmas rather than die cut, but after stamping with white ink and clear embossing, it didn't show-up enough.  So I stamped a second time (hence the slightly off-set effect that makes you think you're looking at this card after having a few too many Christmas toddies) and embossed with white embossing powder for more contrast.

The final touch was an SRM Christmas Sticker sentiment and a wide white ribbon (neither of which created any mess).

So despite this project feeling like a 4th grade art class, I had a ton of fun making it ... and love the finished effect.

As always, you can use Coupon Code STEPH15 for 15% off your order of $25.00 or more (before tax and shipping) in the a2z Store, your stop for all things Hero Arts.

Comments

[donna mikasa]

Love this, Stef! The little gemstone on the nose is the perfect touch!

[erin]

Love the blow by blow mess scenario (glad to know I wasn't the only one). Great tag.

[~amy~]

This is awesome.