ARCHIVAL ALCOHOL SPRITZ

 I've had my Distress Archival ink pads for quite a few years, but have never used them for this particular technique. They are my go-to if I want a permanent ink, and if you're quick, you can emboss them with embossing powder too. This technique gives a very blended, smooth transition when using multiple colours, and it's the 99% isopropyl alcohol that makes this happen. This is an easy background for my Christmas-themed ATCs this month.

The least knobby dot
(I had to explain this one to my hubby, as he's
not well-versed with Christmas songs.)


I identify as a Xmas tree

Come let us ignore you

Sparkle

I'm tired


Spooky

CHRISTMAS EASY FOIL

 Each year my final class of the year is a Christmas theme. Of course, the girls in the class don't have to do this, it's just that I like to challenge myself to see if I can keep to my style while still keeping it in the Christmas style (relatively). I used foil on my die-cuts for this class as I like to make sure that we use what we have and everyone has lots of gorgeous colours of foil. 

I usually go quiet on my blog over the Festive Season but I'll be kicking off again in the new year. Seasons greetings and a safe and happy New Year to everyone. 💖

"Festively wrapped package"


"Well hung"
(I didn't have any ornament dies so I used 
the smallest circle die I had and then decorated
them with Liquid Pearls.)


"Dismember"


"Gold and myrrh"
(Hubby took a bit of time to understand
this one. 😉)


"Sparkly"


"Happy Horrordays"

GESSO OXIDE CHRISTMAS BACKGROUNDS

 This year, as every year, the final class is always a Christmas theme.  During the year I spend time trawling for Christmas images and Christmas quotes to use for this specific class.  The technique for this background is a simple gesso and Distress Oxide ink pad class on watercolour card.  As long as you don't cover all of your card with gesso, you will get varying degrees of colour when applying the Distress Oxide, even when you are just using one colour as the sample below shows.  This first one has only Milled Lavender on it, apart from a smudge around the edge of Black Soot.  Of course, if you spritz with water after inking, you will remove the ink and get back to the white of the gesso so there's lots of room for playing with this background technique.  Yes, I had to include a couple of my more naughty ones, I wouldn't be me if I didn't!  😏

I'll be back early February for Book #25!

"Dark Christmas"

"BRB"


"Cole"

(The black lumps down the bottom are black

texture paste coal lumps)


"Wine"


"Balls sparkle"

"Fat in August"

MATT & SHINE CHRISTMAS

Each year the final class of the year is always a Christmas theme.  This year I've created some backgrounds that have a matte finish, but with a bit of shine to them as well.  A couple of the samples are just Distress Oxide ink backgrounds as the colours just worked really well with the pics that I chose but the others are all the Matt & Shine backgrounds.  Luckily I get a great choice of creepy Christmas quotes and images to use along with my embellishments and backgrounds.  Have a Creepy Christmas and I'll be back in 2020.  🖤💝🖤

"Merry Creepmas"

(Matt & Shine background)

"Zombies"

(Distress Oxide background)

"Mediocre"

(Matt & Shine background, along

with some white ultra thick embossing

powder and some silver sparkles)

"Nice package"

(Matt & Shine background.   Sorry,

couldn't help myself.  Actually, not

sorry at all.)

"Deck the halls"

(Matt & Shine background)

"Santa Claws"

(Distress Oxide background)

DISTRESS OXIDE WRINKLE

Our last class of the year, is, as usual, a Christmas themed class.  This is a particularly easy background technique using the Distress Oxide Ink Pads and Glad Wrap (plastic wrap) to create the subtle wrinkle background that shows just how amazing the Distress Oxide colours are.  I applied the Distress Oxide (usually 2 colours only per gloss card), either by brayer or direct from the pad, then spritz a piece of Glad Wrap and lay down over the card, smooshing with your fingers to create the wrinkles.  You need to let it dry but as you don't use very much water, it dries pretty quickly.  Peel off the Glad Wrap and it reveals a gorgeous soft background.  I had a lot of fun looking for pictures and sayings for these Christmas themed atc's and have made up a Christmas sheet for the girls in class so they too can have Jason Momoa as a very non-Christmas Santa.  🤤🤤🤤

"Prosec-ho ho ho"...

"Ignore you"...

"Your soul"...

"Over-eating"...

"Shark!"...

(love this one)

"Not Santa"...

(& yep, this one as well)

WATERCOLOUR TISSUE PAPER

The last class of the year is always a Christmas theme with a technique thrown in for good measure.  The technique this time is Watercolour Tissue Paper.  Tissue paper can be a little temperamental to handle when it's really wet but by doing this technique directly onto your craft sheet, then drying it in place until you can move the tissue easily without it tearing, makes it a whole lot easier.  Virtually anything that can be diluted down with water to make a wash will work.  I used Distress Stains and Distress Sprays. 

I have found some of my Distress Stains have totally changed colour so I am always cautious about using them straight away and test them first on a scrap piece of paper to see if it has altered.  My Pumice Stone looks like Forest Moss!  My Tumbled Glass looks like Broken China.  But you work with what you have.  After colouring the white tissue paper and then drying it, I've stuck it down to a piece of white cardstock using a Xyron.  You can either stick the tissue paper down flat or scrunch it up first to add extra wrinkles to it.  

Merry Christmas everyone... see you in 2018!

"I don't smell".... (this is my FAVOURITE!!!)

"I like your balls"...

"Happy Yule"...

"Wreck the tree"...

"Fleece Navidad"...

Christmas ATC's

The last class of the year we generally do some Christmas ATC's.  This year that's all I've done!  I have half a page of quotes that I have collected with a Christmas theme so all of the girls will have something witty (and some naughty ones too!) to use on their atc's.  The background is a simple one using Distress Ink Pads and Embossing Folders.  I love the cat and dog cubes from Stampotique stamps!

I hope everyone has a wonderful Festive Season and see you in 2017!

"Ornaments"... 

"Fleas Navidog"... (these words come as a stamp 

from the Stampotique website!)

"Ho Ho Ho"...

"On Dasher"...

These next two are from the Chalkboard & Alcohol Class.

 "Mood Swing"...

"Nightmare"...

Finally, this is one from the last class Shimmering Alcohol.

"FURniture"...