Pretty Paper….

Welcome to InKing Royalty’s December Blog Hop! This year’s Blog Hop themes are inspired by popular songs – this month’s song is “Pretty Paper, Pretty Ribbons.” As you can guess, our Blog Hop today is filled with projects that are inspired by beautiful paper and beautiful ribbons – how clever! We are excited to share our creations with you today! After you read my post, I hope you’ll hop over to the next person on the list at the base of this post.

I’m not really sure what my card has to do with the theme of this month’s Inking Royalty Blog Hop, Pretty Paper Pretty Ribbons.  This is what I know.  This song brings up memory of record players (the big furniture type), Elvis, Willie, and that wandering thought as a child “why do adults love such a sad sounding song at Christmas”. Side note, my sweet Granny always claimed to be kin to Elvis…

What I decided to do for y’all was completely change plain white watercolor paper with a little ink, embossing, stamps, and watercolors.

The holidays are always full of the hustle and bustle of the season that we forget to relax and just enjoy the moment.  Making Christmas Cards helps me to stop, breath, and just be.  How???

Well, by breaking each set of cards down into easy steps….compleating one step at a time. So, I do all my cutting at one time, I make all my card Bases at once, I stamp all at once, then color, and so on and so on…in the end I have a set of completed Christmas Cards

For today’s card my first step was to stamp and heat emboss the ornaments from the Beautiful Baubles Stamp Set.  The second step was particularly relaxing. Using some of my favorite watercolors, I loosely and sloppily watercolor each ornament. I did this over Thanksgiving weekend.  Watching football and watercolor was just a perfect combination. People who know me know, I very rarely create while watch tv.  But, I do enjoy repetitive creating while watching football

The next step was to fussy cut the ornaments out.  Fussy cutting is another very relaxing process.  Just get your paper snips and the paper and cut away.  It really is something you can do while enjoying the lights of the tree or watching your favorite Christmas Movie.

The next step was to watercolor backgrounds.  I have been in love with the Daniel Smith watercolor for a while now. One of my favorite combinations this holiday has been Sap Green, Ultramarine Turquoise, and Ultramarine Blue.  So, one night I sat down with a glass of wine, a good podcast, Christmas lights, watercolored backgrounds,  relaxed and enjoyed the process

The next step was to heat emboss the edges.  Heat embossing to me is a perfect morning activity.  Just me my coffee versa mark ink, embossing powder and a heat gun. No taking or communicating needed Just simply completing a task…

After finishing the heat embossing It was time to assemble the cards.  I normally take all my watercolor panels and stick them under a stack of cook books on top of my refrigerator. That’s where they will stay for several days. This helps flatten them out . But, with Holiday creating and life who has time for that??? So, instead I used the multipurpose adhesive sheets. I cut strips of the sheets and added it to the back of each watercolor panel!! Then popped the ornament up with dimensionals.  The very last step was to add the pretty bow. I went with the prettiest bakers twine I have ever seen…Sliver and Pool Party….swoon

Each bauble and each background is unique!! I have not decided if these guys will stand on their own or if I will add a sentiment on the front as well.  What do you guys think????

Each of your comments makes me smile! Please, comment HERE.

Thank you for stopping by today.  I hope you’ll hop along to the next stop on the blog hop, Sue Jackson, at Just Peachy Stamping.  There’s lots of inspiration to be found in this group – and you don’t want to miss it!

 If you get stuck during the Blog Hop, please use this line-up as a guide:

1. Brian King at Stamp with Brian
2. Julie DiMatteo at The Paper Pixie
3. Candy Ford at Stamp Candy
4. Pam Morris at Tap Tap Stamp
5. Robbye Hamilton at Miss Hammie’s Crafts
6. Jackie Beers at Blue Line Stamping
7. Rachael Shedeed at Bluebonnet Stampin’
8. Nina King at InkPaperSequins
9. Shawn de Oliveira at Shawn Stamps
10. Jennifer Spiller at Westside Paper Creations
11. Sue Jackson at Just Peachy Stamping

Thank you for stopping by today!!! I would like to wish each of peace and Happiness in the New Year!

Merry Christmas to you all