The starting point of this card was CAS(E) This Sketch #247 and Create with Connie and Mary #483. Initially, I thought the colour combo could make for a soft Christmas card and I decided to reach for the Brightly Lit Christmas stamp set to fit in the left edge of a big, bold sentiment. Then, when I started digging for current sentiments in my sets, I spotted one in Heartfelt Sympathy that I had not used often up until now because of how big it is. I thought that a sympathy sentiment could actually work well with the lamppost. Something about brightening up a dark spot in someone's life. It was a good opportunity to get a different use of this stamp set and dies as well. From there, the card evolved quickly and easily. I used a paintbrush to create a very soft background using the brick stencil from the Pattern Party Decorative Masks.
The sentiment initially felt a little bare, so I added the bow from the same stamp set, the flourishes from the Christmas Lampost Thinlits dies and little flowers made with a tiny flower die I found in the Quilt Builder Framelits set. I used a paper doily for the oval shape from the set - I haven't purchased the new design from the current catalogue because I want to finish the ones that I have from the past catalogue first, and I topped the bottom scallop with a clear gem.
The inside of the lights was created with the die for this purpose (if you are wondering what the three trapeze shapes are on the same die, it's to die-cut a little piece of yellow cardstock that will go inside the lights. In this case, I sponged a bit of So Saffron ink on a piece of Whisper White cardstock and covered it with Clear Wink of Stella before die-cutting and adding to the lights.I also ran the Wink of Stella brush around the lampost lights to give a sparkly halo.
Tip: There's a lot of small details on the dies I used. I made sure to cover the back of all of my papers and cardstock with a piece of Big Shot adhesive sheet to make my life easier when gluing everything in place on my project. We carry precision glue, but the adhesive sheets are definitely easier and cleaner to use. You just have to remember to use them before running your pieces through the Big Shot.
Stampin' Up! Supplies
Stamps: Des adieux du fond du coeur (Heartfelt Sympathy), Pleins feux sur Noël (Brightly Lit Christmas)
Cardstock: Thick Whisper White, Night of Navy, Powder Pink, Pool Party, Silver Foil Paper
Ink: Night of Navy, Powder Pink, Pool Party, So Saffron
Accessories: Quilt Builder Framelits Dies, Christmas Lampost Thinlits Dies, Clear Wink of Stella Brush,
Pattern Party Decorative Masks, Paintbrush, Clear Faceted Gems, Paper Doily, White Medium Envelope,
Sponge Dauber, Big Shot Adhesive Sheets