Muse 213 - Merry Christmas

I am falling behind in my Christmas cards. I haven't really started my church Christmas cards and I've only made a few of my own. I think it's because I've been spending time learning to make my quick videos. So I combined this week's Muse challenge (with the fabulous Kay Miller as Guest with amazing inspiration!) with a Christmas card and a quick video.

Here's Kay's inspiration:

I focused on Kay's:
-colours
-soft-stamped background
-bright red floral focal point
-black sentiment

I started by stamping the background panel in a soft grey ink. Then I stamped and embossed the flowers and leaves and then watercoloured these with distress inks. Because I was cutting them out with matching dies, my watercolouring was very loose and messy.

I really find that using more than one shade of a colour creates more interest and depth. I used 3 different reds and 2 different greens (including Forest Moss, which I don't think I've ever used before - it's so dark and adds so much drama to those leaves!). I finished with some gold stickles in the poinsettia centre for sparkle and shine.

I used:

Essentials by Ellen Clear Stamps, Mondo Poinsettia by Julie Ebersole

Essentials by Ellen Designer Dies, Mondo Poinsettia by Julie Ebersole

Lawn Fawn Ink Pad, Narwhal

VersaFine Ink Pad, Onyx Black

Ranger Super Fine Embossing Powder, Clear

Ranger Distress Mini Ink Pad, Festive Berries

Ranger Distress Mini Ink Pad, Barn Door

Ranger Distress Mini Ink Pad, Ripe Persimmon

Ranger Distress Mini Ink Pad, Fossilized Amber

Ranger Distress Mini Ink Pad, Peeled Paint

Ranger Distress Mini Ink Pad, Forest Moss

Essentials by Ellen, Julie's Smooth Bristol, 10pc-8.5" x 11"

Avery ELLE-ments Dies, Double Pierced Square

Hero Arts Embossing Gun

Sizzix Big Shot White & Gray

Tonic Comfort 8.5 Inch Guillotine Paper Trimmer by Tim Holtz

Ranger Stickles, Gold

Essentials by Ellen Clear Stamps, Merry & Bright by Julie Ebersole