What do you do when its hot in July?

Well as all crafters know when the thermometer reaches SCORCHIO we make Christmas cards, what else would we do? As I was lucky enough to win a £10 prize with Lilli of the Valley I decided to get instant gratification and used it to buy some of their new digi stamps and this image was one of them. I thought this scene would be fun to colour in and I wasn't wrong but I needed to look at Vixx card on the Lilli of the Valley World web page which she had made with this image to know exactly where the snow ended and the car began - thank you Vixx.

what I used:

Lilli of the Valley Snow Shovel digi stamp - £2.99 instant download 

Lilli of the Valley Christmas Grungy Messages Black digi stamps  - £3.99 instant download

NitWit Festive Trimmings paper pad

Le Crea multi die flower 004 (large Poinsettia)

Marianne Poinsettia dies (small Poinsettia)

Creative Expressions Sue Wilson Berry Sprig die

Tim Holtz distress inks - Ripe Persimmon, Fossilized Amber, Vintage Photo

This card is 6" x 6" and I made my digi image 9cm from side to side and the digi sentiment 3.2cm from side to side.

I cut the Poinsettia from white card and then thoroughly wet the card with a water brush, I then applied the Ripe Persimmon and Fossilized Amber inks with the water brush and allowed the colours to run into each other. I repeated this process a couple of times allowing the card to dry in between each colouring until the required depth of colour was achieved. I then dotted red water colour pen down the middle of the flower petals and blended this with the water colour brush. When the card was finally dry it was too bright so I toned it down by dry rubbing (very lightly) some Vintage Photo distress ink over the top.

If I want to make snow flakes and not see the stamped outline I blob some Liquid Pearls over the stamped flake and then either leave it to dry pearly or as I have done with this card cover it with Dazzle Dust glitter and allow it to dry.
Once again I used fabulous ribbons bought from Brenda Exeter.

 

I always find that when I make Christmas cards in the summer the colours are altogether brighter than when I do them in the winter months and I think if I had been making this card later in the year the Poinsettia would have been much redder and darker. The Berry Sprig die is a recent acquisition of mine, I just love it and have used it in the past as a solid colour for a funky leaf on a card but I love the way that colouring it has made it stand out for this card - definitely a must have die.
Now that I`m in a Chritmassy mood I think I will try and get some more done this week (whilst its hot and sunny).