Come to Bethlehem

Hello everyone and welcome to a new Weekend Sketch Challenge from the Stamping 411 Operators! I hope that you had a wonderful and blessed Thanksgiving celebration with family and friends this week! The cooking is done and left-overs are packed away and it's time to let yourself relax with a little stamping therapy! And we have just the inspiration for you!

 

As you can see, I took this week's sketch and flipped it on it's side. I also took some liberties with the direction of the focal image and the shape of it .... but then, isn't that what working from a sketch is all about .... using it as inspiration and making it your own!

I began with the beautiful stamp set called "Come to Bethlehem". I stamped it with Black Craft Ink and embossed it with Black Embossing Powder and the Heat tool. Using my brayer, I applied 3 colors of ink until I got the smoky-dusky feel that I wanted for the night sky. Elegant Eggplant is on the bottom, Tangerine Tango in the middle and Pacific Point on the top. The colors blend so that you can't really recognize them, but those are the colors that I applied.

That beautiful, flowing curved line on the bottom of the stamp just begged for some attention so when I trimmed the piece, I used the curve as my guide. I ten mounted it on Basic Black Cardstock and finally on the stunning Silver Glitter paper, increasing the side by 1/4" with each layer and again following the outline of the curve for the bottom edge. I used the Rotary tool in the Cutter Kit to cut the curve on all layers. I added a Basic Rhinestone accent to the star and mounted the entire assembly onto Concord Crush Cardstock. I stamped the sentiment with Versamark Ink and Silver Embossing Powder and used the Heat Tool to heat set the embossing. The Card Base is Bashful Blue.

 

I didn't ignore the inside of the card either. It is embellished with an inside sentiment (something that I rarely do but it seemed to fit for this project. I also applied a small strip of the Silver Glitter Paper to the bottom (love that paper) and a length of Wisteria Wonder Ribbon to finish it off! Click on the image to view it larger. This card is definitely a little different from the norm, but I think it turned out really well. And I love the shimmer of the Silver Glitter Paper and the Rhinestone star ... perfection!

 

If you would like to duplicate this card, here's my measurements to give you a jump start. Building up from the bottom, I used:

1. Layer One -- Bashful Blue Cardstock cut at 5.5 x 8.5", scored and folded to make the Card Base.
2. Layer Two -- Concord Crush Cardstock cut at 3.75 x 5"
3. Layer Three -- Silver Glitter Cardstock cut at 4.25 x 3.25" -- trim the bottom to match the curve
4. Layer Four -- Basic Black Cardstock cut at 4 x 3" -- trim the bottom to match the curve
5. Layer Five -- Whisper White Cardstock cut at 3.75 x 2.75" -- emboss, brayer and trim the bottom to match the curve
6. Inside of Card -- Whisper White cardstock cut at 4 x 5.25" and Silver Glitter Cardstock cut at 5.25 x .75"

 

Well, that about covers it for this project! I do hope you'll find the time to visit the Stamping 411website and check out the card that the other Operators created this week! There is some beautiful inspiration awaiting you! Have a great weekend, everyone ... and Happy Stamping!

Comments

[Selene]

Absolutely gorgeous!!

[Erika Clark]

Gretchen, this card just stopped me in my tracks! Everything about it is just beautiful. The color blending, the graceful curve at the bottom, and the right sparkle in the right places :) you should frame it!

[Diana]

Gorgeous card Gretchen,
I love the inside of the cards decorated and when I get one that isn't it seems naked to me. I use a less expensive brand of white CS for the inside. Whisper white is too expensive to decorate the inside. I see it done on Utah Diva's Int and Anne Marie is the first one that I noticed that does the insides. I love it and now I do the insides besides the sentiment I always put in anyway. It just makes the card looks so finished.

I love all your cards Gretchen.

Hope you had a great TG
Diana

[Lorri]

WOWOWOW!! I am supposed to be cyber shopping right now and saw this card that stopped me in my tracks!! GRETCHEN this is absolutely beautiful and so elegant! Into my fav's folder. Ok, back to what I originally started doing...Christmas shopping!
Have a very MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

[Lee]

This is the prettiest card I've seen done with this set Gretchen. It took my breath away! Lovely!

[Jenn Seaver]

I love your interpretation of this sketch, it's beautiful.

[Jan Dicaire]

I just love this card... it is absolutely gorgeous.

[diane oliver]

Gretchen this is gorgeous! who would have thunk! Purple/orange/blue! LOVE the curved edge... it adds soooo much to the image. I can just feel those camels crossing the sand dunes.... It's a fantastic finished beauty!
Love it. Hugs.

[Carol Carriveau]

WOW! This is a fabulous card, Gretchen...inside and out!

[Patti Chesky]

Gretchen, this brayered card is over the top amazing!!!!

[Marlene Peters]

Amazing, amazing colouring. YOur colours blended so perfectly. Your card was truly an inspiration for mine.

[Paula Rough]

Everyone before me has said it already but I just have to say it. WOW, your card is amazing. The brayering adds so much too it and the curve, well and everything else too. Great card. If you send it I hope they appreciate it. You could frame it for a decoration for sure.

[Deb]

Just Beautiful!

[RitaR]

Gretchen .... The true Christmas story is beautifully revealed in your creation! This is the MOST BEAUTIFUL Christmas card I've seen this year!! Your curved design and brayering are outstanding!