Fairy lights on red

When I started thinking about Christmas cards, I decided that I would try creating a couple of masterboards — basically, my own patterned paper made using a brayer and acrylic paints with layers of stamping over the top — to use as the base for a few cards.

I didn’t want to make lots of the same design — I already have a couple of sets of Christmas cards done — but I did want to make sure I have enough cards, so I compromised and made two of each design… I absolutely refuse to be rushing around making cards in December this year!

For these, I cut A7-sized panels of the red masterboard and mounted them flat on pearlised card bases, leaving extra room for the stamped sentiment at the bottom.

I stamped the string of lights across the top; I had to stretch the stamp out slightly to make sure it would overhang onto the card base. The black stamping would have worked on its own, but this set also has a small stamp for the inside of the bulb, so I used that to lightly stamp in white. I added a stronger white highlight and some black lines for extra detail on the bulb holders.

A white hand-drawn border, one with crosses and one with squiggles, and they were finished.

These are really simple to make, especially if you use patterned paper as the base rather than making your own. Not everything has to have an hour or more’s Copic colouring on it 🙂

(I keep telling myself that and then remember I’ve still got my mum’s card to make — I’m not sure exactly what I’m going to do for that one, but it will definitely involve colouring critters…)

Supplies:

• stamps:
  WPlus9 – festive greetings
  Clearly Besotted – sentimental type
• inks:
  Distress – ink pad – picket fence
• pens:
  Sharpie – extra fine point paint marker – white
  Copic multiliner – black 0.25
• paper and card:
  Papermill Direct – pearlised – ultra white
  Papermill Direct – pearlised – natural white

Supplies – masterboard:

• stamps:
  Hero Arts – tiny flakes
  Create A Smile – snowflake whispers
  Create A Smile – color your polka
  Create A Smile – snow flurry
• inks:
  Distress ink pad – picket fence
  Delicata – golden glitz
  Delicata – silvery shimmer
  Ranger – archival – watering can
• paint:
  Dylusions – postbox red, white linen, cut grass
  Pebeo – iridescent gold