AWH Heart of Christmas #8

Christmas with Forever Forrest

Hello. Welcome to Valley Inspirations with Andrea and the Art with Heart Heart of Christmas Blog Hop.

This week I am showcasing the Forever Forrest bundle for a few Christmas cards. I started with the emboss resist technique and some water-colouring. Afterwards I was looking at the Mini Catalogue and really liked one of the decorated presents using the Forever Forrest dies. The following day, I saw Sue Campfield, a US demonstrator, create a fun fold card. My mind started whirring and ended up combining the 2 concepts.

CARDS 1/2: Emboss Resist with Water-colouring

A group of trees from the Forever Forrest stamps was stamped in Versamark ink onto Fluid 100 Watercolor Paper and then heat embossed using White Emboss Powder, the Embossing Accessory Kit and a Heat Tool. This was repeated a number of times to enable me to play with colours. The two cards shown are coloured to create part rainbows - one using yellow/greens/blue and the other blues and purples. Both cards were wet on wet water-coloured using the flat brushed tip from the Water Painters set of brushes. The Classic Stampin’ inks used were Daffodil Delight, Lemon Lime Twist, Granny Apple Green, Garden Green, Blueberry Bushel & Boho Blue on one panel and Starry Sky, Blueberry Bushel, Boho Blue, Fresh Freesia & Highland Heather on the other panel.

Both water-coloured panels were cut to span a landscape card layout, with the yellow/green/blue combo fully spanning across the card base, where as the other panel showed the mount on all four sides. The card above was mounted onto to thin strips of Silver Adhesive-backed Glimmer paper (an online only special) and then onto Pretty Peacock card-stock. The card below was only mounted onto Boho Blue card-stock. Both mounted panels were popped up on Dimensionals when adhered to Thick Basic White card bases.

As the Forever Forrest bundle doesn’t include sentiments, I chose the ‘Merry Christmas’ sentiment from the Beary Christmas stamp set. The sentiment was white heat embossed onto card-stock that coordinated with the mount. 

Both cards had bows using the Silver & White Sheer Ribbon. It is a beautiful ribbon and copes very well with being sliced in half or into 3s. The blue water-coloured card was finished with the Facetted Gems Trio pack, where as the yellow/green combo was given some extra shimmer with the Silver Festive Pearls. Basic White tree die cuts were added to the sentiment panels.

Trees were stamped along the base of a Basic White card inner. A strip of coordinating card-stock was layered at the bottom of the card inner. A C6 Basic White envelopes were also stamped with the trees.

Two other Fluid 100 paper panels were also water-coloured in rainbow like colours. These panels are yet to be created into alternative colour Christmas cards. They are brighter than my usual style, but I love the rainbow effect.

CARD 3/4: Swinging Forrest Fun Fold and Gift Tag

As mentioned, I saw Sue Campfield demonstrate a fun fold yesterday. I converted her US measurements into our centimetres and A4 size card-stock. As I heard a friend’s voice in my head about the extravagance of having a card using more than half an A4 piece of card-stock, I scaled the card down a little to enable 2 cards to be made from one piece of card-stock. It easily fits within a C6 envelope.

A piece of Thick Basic White card-stock was cut, scored and burnished. The small tree design from the gorgeous Winter Meadow DSP was cut 2mm smaller than the panels of the folded card. DSP was adhered to all the forward facing panels.

The largest Tailored Made Tag dies was cut from a piece of Lost Lagoon card-stock. A little White Craft ink was added to the tag’s edges. The hole was die cut larger using the circular hole reinforcement die. Trees, clouds and rocks were cut from Basic White card-stock, together with the smallest Stylish Shapes circle.

One sentiment from the Hope and Peace stamp set was stamped on Basic White card-stock and fussy cut, while the other was stamped on the panel that will carry the personal message. The rocks were lightly coloured with a little Lost Lagoon ink. The were all arranged on the tag and adhered with Multipurpose Liquid Glue or Mini Dimensionals. Wink of Stella was spattered over and little die cut silver stars were added.

A swinging mechanism was based on a Mini Dimensional, with the tag laid over and the stitched circle adhered on top. A bow was created from Silver & White Sheer ribbon (cut in half lengthwise) and Silver Elegant Trim. The bow was attached with Glue Dots. and a little cloud was adhered on top. The tag can swing from side to side - see the pictures above and below.

Here is a photo of the panel for writing one’s personal message.

A Basic White C6 envelope was stamped with the multiple tree stamp in Lost Lagoon ink.

The card easily stands upright for display.

Thank you so much for dropping by to check out this week’s Christmas projects using the Forever Forrest bundle - both stamps and dies. It is a wonderful bundle. I have many other ideas for Christmas projects so please call by again over coming weeks to see if some of my ideas come to fruition.

There is more Christmas creativity so do continue with the blog hop. Just click the "next" graphic below to be taken to the blog of the lovely Rachel Woollard. I am looking forward to checking out Rachel’s creation. I do love seeing everyones' projects - there is always so much inspiration.

I do hope to see you next week as we continue the weekly Heart of Christmas 2023 Blog Hop series. We are also blogging for the Colour Creations Blog Hop on Wednesday evening where we are featuring Early Expresso. I think I may be creating a different fancy fold.

Stay well, stay safe and be kind to yourself and others.

Andrea 💕🐾

If you find a broken link or would like to view the full list of participants go to Sharon Davern’s blog @ Rhapsody in Craft. Sharon is our wonderful Art With Heart Team Heart of Christmas Coordinator.  She is a special lady. Check out her delightful creation while you are there. It may be another fun fold.

If you live in Australia, don't already have a Stampin' Up! demonstrator and would like your own copy of the new Stampin' Up 2023-2024 Annual Catalogue and or the September-December Mini Catalogue, then let me know and I will be delighted to send them to you.  Please don't hesitate to make contact with any other queries about these projects or Stampin' Up!. 

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