Festive Phrases Elf - Step It Up Blog Hop

Welcome to the December 2017 Edition of the We Create Bloggers Step It Up Blog Hop! The theme is to inspire stampers with a basic design, and at least one alternate "stepped up" version of that same design. My projects this month feature the ELF from the Festive Phrases stamp set (available in clear-mount & wood-mount).

I actually started this month's card with the Stepped Up version, then scaled it back. I think the elf from the Festive Phrases stamp set pairs so well with the diagonal plaid from the Christmas Around the World Designer Series Paper. And I just noticed that the Festive Phrases Wood-Mount Stamp Set is 20% OFF on our Year-End Sale that started this morning...so go grab yours in my Online Store NOW!

Below is a little closeup of the paper piecing on the elf. I stamped him once on Garden Green Card Stock--and that layer is barely larger than the image, so I made sure to use the Stamp-a-ma-jig to get the placement just right. Then I stamped the sign part of the image onto Real Red Card Stock, and I cut out only the sign from that stamped image, and adhered that over the sign on the Garden Green layer.

Stampin' Supplies: Festive Phrases stamp set, Basic Gray Archival ink pad & Card Stock, Crushed Curry Card Stock, Garden Green Card Stock, Real Red Card Stock, Christmas Around the World Designer Series Paper, Mini Stampin Dimensionals, SNAIL Adhesive, Stampin' Trimmer.

On the Stepped Up version, I wanted to use Watercolor Paper and an Aqua Painter, but I also wanted the images to be vivid, so I embossed the elf before watercoloring. That helped keep my color in the lines. To do that, I rubbed the Embossing Buddy over the Watercolor Paper, then inked up my image FIRST in a VersaMark ink pad, and then inked it up in the Basic Gray Archival ink pad. Then I poured the Clear Embossing Powder onto it quickly, and poured off the excess. The Watercolor Paper likes to hold onto the powder, even with using the Embossing Buddy, so I took a *dry* Aqua Painter and brushed off the rest of the excess. After that, I heat set the powder with the Heat Tool.

You can see in the closeup below how the color stays in the lines when you emboss, and the embossing is more functional than decorative. You can barely tell it's been embossed, which is fine with me...I didn't really want the outline to be shiny. I dabbed my Aqua Painter on a paper towel before picking up any reinker, so the colors would be very vivid. On the sign, I used more water from the Aqua Painter when I picked up the Marina Mist Reinker than I used with the other ones, because I wanted a more washed look.

Stampin' Supplies: Festive Phrases stamp set, Basic Gray Archival ink pad & Card Stock, VersaMark ink pad, Embossing Buddy, Clear Embossing Powder, Heat Tool, Garden Green reinker, Real Red reinker, Crushed Curry reinker, Marina Mist reinker, Aqua Painter, Watercolor Paper, Christmas Around the World Designer Series Paper, Stitched Framelits Dies, Layered Oval Dies, Mini Stampin Dimensionals, SNAIL Adhesive, Stampin' Trimmer.

Be sure to pop into my Online Store and check out the Year-End Sale going on NOW!

Click the pointing hand image below to hop to Libby's blog next, and see what fancy stepping she's got going on this month...

DECEMBER Monthly Perks Code: JWB6VZCH
(if your order total equals or exceeds $150, please do NOT use the Monthly Perks Host Code...you will have earned Stampin' Rewards of your own!)

Get your Stampin' Supplies in my ONLINE STORE, and Be sure to check out these Deals:
CLEARANCE RACK (Up to 60% OFF Retired Product)
BUNDLE & SAVE!!! (Annual Catalog Product Bundles at 10% OFF Everyday!)
BUNDLE & SAVE!!! (HOLIDAY Catalog Product Bundles at 10% OFF Everyday!)

~Kimberley Morris Colorado Springs, CO
Stampin' Up! Independent Demonstrator since 1994
procrastistamper@gmail.com
http://kimberley.stampinup.net (SHOP ONLINE 24/7!)
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