Pink & Black for Christmas?

Hello there, Michelle Short here and I am delighted to be back on the Spellbinders blog using the Amaryllis Christmas Collection by Yana Smakula. This beautiful collection features amaryllis, poinsettias and sentiments – all perfect for the holidays.

CHRISTMAS CHEER

For my first card, I wanted to use Yana’s Amaryllis Etched Dies. This set is great as you have the flower and stem as one die and then separate dies for the leaves and shadow pieces. I like that you can customise it as you wish! To make this card:

• Cut Yana’s Amaryllis main die once from white cardstock, making sure not to put too much pressure on it, so that the inside pieces of the flower stay inside. Because I was using less pressure, I did have to cut around some of the outside area with scissors.
• Cut it again from white cardstock, but this time cut normally, so that all the pieces fall out and you just have the outline.
• Add ink blending to the piece that is intact with shades of pink ink.
• Adhere outline piece on top.

• Cut leaves from white cardstock.
• Cut shadow pieces from vellum and adhere behind.
• Create 4” x 5.5” card base from Onyx Cardstock.
• Mix Splatter White Opaque Watercolor with a little water and splatter onto card base and set aside to dry.
• Adhere leaves on top using Bearly Art Glue, followed by stem and flower. Add thin foam tape behind flower head for added dimension.

• Hot foil sentiment from Home for Christmas Sentiments Press Plate & Die Set onto white cardstock using Black Foil - heat up Glimmer Hot Foil System, place foil shiny side up onto cardstock, place press plate facing down on top, hold in place with Best Ever Craft Tape, place on platform, press button and once heated, run through Platinum Six.
• Die cut with coordinating die and adhere to card.
• To finish, embellish Pink Color Essentials Gems.

As you can see, I went with a non-traditional colour scheme for my projects today. I really love using pink at Christmas time, it gives a bit more softness compared to traditional red, but then I combined it with black for a more modern look.

FESTIVE POINSETTIA

For my next card, I am using the Festive Poinsettias BetterPress and Stencil Bundle. I love that this press plate can be used on its own, with any other colouring, or you can use the stencils to add ink blending too. This plate would also look beautiful hot foiled! To make this card:

• Place Festive Poinsettia Press Plate onto the Chase of BetterPress Letterpress System.
• Ink stamp using BetterPress Black Ink.
• Place Porcelain BetterPress A7 Cotton Card Panel onto the Platen and hold in place with Best Ever Craft Tape.
• Place Platten on platform and run through Platinum Six.

TIP: I find with background plates that you need an ink pad that is quite juicy. I reinked mine before using it on the plate and got a beautiful impression!

• Place stencils one by one onto the panel and add ink blending with inks and blending brushes (I used pink for the poinsettias and berries, teal for the leaves, and brown for the pinecones and branches).
• Cut panel down and adhere to A2 white card base.

• Press sentiment from Home for Christmas Sentiments Press Plate & Die Set onto Porcelain BetterPress A2 Cotton Card Panel using BetterPress Black Ink.
• Die cut using coordinating die.
• Cut another two of the die and adhere behind the pressed one, for added dimension, before adhering to the card.
• To finish, embellish with Berry Color Essentials Gems.

SEASON’S GREETINGS

For my last card, I am using the Amaryllis Garden 3D Embossing Folder. What a beautiful embossing folder! This, like the other sets, can be used in lots of different ways, but I kept my card quite simple today. To make this card:

• Add ink blending to 3.5” x 4.75” panel of white cardstock with pink ink and blending brushes, making it darker at the bottom and lighter at the top.
• Place inside Amaryllis Garden 3D Embossing Folder and run through Platinum Six.
• Adhere to A2 sized white card base using thin foam tape.

• Hot foil sentiment from Home for Christmas Sentiments Press Plate & Die Set onto white cardstock using Black Foil.
• Die cut using the coordinating die.
• Cut another of the die and adhere behind foiled one, before adhering to the card with thin foam tape.
• To finish, embellish with Pink Color Essentials Gems.

Whilst not traditional in colour scheme, I really love how these cards turned out, especially the poinsettia one. I think I will make a few more of those to send out! Thank you so much for stopping by today, I hope you have a wonderful day!

Other Supplies

Thin foam tape, Altenew Cherry Blossom Fresh Dye Inks, Altenew Sweet Dreams Fresh Dye Inks, Altenew Coffee Break Fresh Dye Inks.