#TGIFC496 — Inspriation Challenge

Hello and Happy Friday! For this week’s TGIF Challenge, we have the inspiration photo below. I decided to focus on the layout, including the painted background, layers of stamping, and both horizontal and vertical focus areas. While the colors initially made me think of Halloween, I changed it up to create a holiday card. I usually make around 70 holiday cards each year, so I’ve got to get cracking!

My card features the Peaceful Evergreens Bundle and coordinating Season of Elegance Designer Series Paper. Both are so beautiful and elegant.

I picked an analogous color combination of Pretty Peacock, Lost Lagoon, and Summer Splash for my card. Analogous colors are right next to each other on the color wheel. You can find a Stampin’ Up! color wheel on page 132 of the 2024-2025 Annual Catalog. I highly recommend reviewing it, along with the Color Theory suggestions on that two-page spread for great inspiration.

I selected a piece of Season of Elegance DSP with a vertical focus similar to the inspiration photo. Then, I enhanced it by adding splatter (both dark Pretty Peacock and white.) Next, I added a stamped horizontal focus by stamping the smaller trees and snow.

I used a few fun techniques on the trees. Starting with the largest one, I inked up the stamp with Summer Splash ink, used a Sponge Dauber to add Pretty Peacock ink to portions of the stamp, spritzed it lightly with water, and then stamped it on Basic White Cardstock. Spritzing the stamp makes the image appear painted. After it dried, I stamped the tree again, slightly offset, with Versamark ink and heat embossed it in white.

For the background trees, I die-cut them from Lost Lagoon and Pretty Peacock Cardstock. Then, I used a Blending Brush to add Pretty Peacock ink blending from the base of the tree upward. The addition of the ink really darkened the Pretty Peacock die-cuts and made them much more visible against the background. Then, I used a Sponge Dauber to add Versamark ink to the tops of the tree branches and heat embossed them with white to create “snow.” Afterwards, I layered the Lost Lagoon die-cuts over the Pretty Peacock ones for a shadow effect.

I also used a Blending Brush to add Pretty Peacock ink to the layer under the DSP, blending the ink upward to create an ombre pattern.

I borrowed a sentiment from the Reindeer Fun Stamp Set, because it was a better fit for the card layout, and cut it out with a Greetings of the Season Die. Then, I added a bow tied with Gold Twisted Thread. This is a new Online Exclusive that will be available to purchase 11/5/24. (It coordinates with the beautiful new Marbled Elegance Suite.)

Here’s the inside of the card. I used a couple leftover die-cuts from Summer Splash Cardstock.

Click over to the TGIF Challenges Blog to see all of the designers’ projects based on this week’s inspiration. You can also join our challenge at the bottom of that post.

Have a wonderful and creative day!

Use Host Code 9ZEM4RAE for purchases at my online store to qualify to receive free exclusive project tutorials. This month’s PDF includes 12 fantastic tutorials designed by my demonstrator friends and I to inspire your creativity! The projects feature products from the 2024 Annual Catalog, Online Exclusives, and new January-April Mini and Sale-A-Bration Catalogs. Enjoy!

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