God's Art Work

It's cold in my part of the world today, in the low 30's. I know for some that's just barely cool but for me here in Central Texas, that's a lot colder than I like! It was in the low 20's last night. So anyway, I'm feeling cold so I've given you this cold card. No matter what I think of the weather, it's still part of God's creations so I'll praise Him even when I don't like the temperature.

Materials needed:
Marina Mist card stock 4 1/4 x 5 1/2"
white card stock
Zoo Review stamp set (#122197)
Trust God stamp set (#126702)
Early Espresso ink
Early Espresso marker
Island Indigo ink
Versa Mark ink pad
Stampin' Emboss Powder clear (#109130)
Heat tool (#129053)
Large Oval punch (#119855)
Stampin' Dimensionals (#104430)

1. Stamp the polar bear image with Early Espresso ink on white card stock. Rub Versa Mark ink on top of the image. Sprinkle the embossing powder on top of the ink and heat until the powder melts.

Just to show you the difference in using clear embossing powder and just to stamp it on white card stock, I've got a picture to show you.

The bear at the top is just stamped in Early Espresso ink. The bear on the bottom has been embossed. The embossed image has more shine and the ink seems to pop out better.
2. Cut the bear around the outside of the image.
3.  Stamp the saying from the Trust God stamp set in Island Indigo ink on white card stock. Punch it out using the large oval punch. Rub the edges of the punched out image across the Island Indigo ink pad. IMO, this helps it to pop better.
4. Using your Early Espresso marker, draw some lines on the Marina Mist card stock to look like ice.. Place Stampin' Dimensionals on the back of the bear image and place it on the "ice."
5. Place dimensionals on the back of the saying and place it on the top left side.
6. Adhere this to a card base and you have a card that you could send to anyone who is one of God's special works of art.

4 Views of Christmas

I wanted to see how this would look using 4 different types of "sparkle." This is a simple card to make. You just have to determine which look you like the best.

Materials needed to do all 4 versions:
Old Olive card stock  4 1/4 5 1/2"
Tempting Turquoise card stock 4 1/4 x 5"
 Basic Gray card stock  4 1/4 x 5 1/2"
Evergreen stamp set (#127973)
Calm Christmas stamp set (#132739)
Clear Embossing Powder (#109130)
Gold Embossing Powder (#109129)
Dazzling Diamonds Glitter (#102023)
Heat Tool (#129053)
Heat & Stick Powder (#100625)
Season of Style Designer Washi Tape (#132155)
Patterned paper 2 x 3 1/2"
Whisper White card stock
Pear Pizzazz ink
Old Olive ink
Primrose Petals In Color ink
Stampin' Dimensionals (#104430)

1. Place a strip of Washi tape across the center of the card stock.
2. Use 2 step stamping to stamp Christmas trees from the Evergreen stamp set on white card stock. Use the lighter color, Pear Pizzazz, for the solid tree and the darker color, Old Olive, to stamp the highlights on top.
3. Stamp the highlight stamp from Evergreen stamp set with VersaMark over the trees. Use Heat & Stick Powder and glitter, or embossing powder and your heat tool to add to the trees.
4. Cut out the tree loosely around the outside edge. Adhere the tree to the small patterned paper or pop it above the paper with Stampin' Dimensionals. Adhere this to the center over the Washi tape.
5. Add the "Peace on Earth" greeting to the top of the card.
The first card picture here has clear embossing powder on the tree. You can't see it but you can feel it.

This tree is simply 2 step stamped with nothing else added. Because the Tempting Turquoise card stock is a little smaller, I stamped Peace on Earth on the top & bottom of the base card. I then centered the card front on that.

This tree has Dazzling Diamonds glitter on it. It's hard to see on here but you can see it on the card. Because the Tempting Turquoise card stock was a bit smaller, I adhered it to the center of the front section of a basic gray card base.

This tree has the tree outline in gold embossing powder. I think it is the one that shows up best but it's just in whatever look you are wanting.
On the last 2 cards, I also stamped the greeting on white card stock and punched it out with my Extra large Oval punch (#119859). One of them I adhered directly to the card stock. The other one I popped up with dimensionals.

I hope you enjoy seeing different ways of doing the same basic design and I hope that this gives you different ideas on how to make cards using different mediums.