Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas! Here's my last Christmas card created for Topflight Stamps this year! This one was created with the llama and the tall cactus from the Zinski Art 59 Rubber Cling Mounted Stamp Set by PaperArtsy. The llama is wearing a Santa hat from the Baa Humbug Clear Polymer Stamp Set by Hobby Art Ltd and carrying presents from the Funny Accessories Unmounted Stamp Set by Katzelkraft. The desert scene was created with the mountains stamp from Marlene's World Happy Holiday Clear Stamp Set by Studio Light and a sentiment from the ever useful Classic Sentiments Clear Stamp Set by Heffy Doodle.

Topflight Stamps Products Used:

Zinski Art 59 Rubber Cling Mounted Stamp Set by PaperArtsy

Baa Humbug Clear Polymer Stamp Set by Hobby Art Ltd.

Funny Accessories Unmounted Stamp Set by Katzelkraft

Marlene's World Happy Holiday Clear Stamp Set by Studio Light

Classic Sentiments Clear Stamp Set by Heffy Doodle

Periwinkle Prism Ink by Hunkydory Crafts

Other Products Used:

Solar White Classic Crest® Cardstock by Neenah Papers

Classic Green Cardstock by Bazzill Basics Paper®

Tuxedo Black, Desert Sand, Toffee Crunch, Peanut Brittle, and Lulu Lavender Memento™ Ink by Tsunkineko®

Jet Black StazOn® Ink by Tsukineko®

VersaMark® Ink by Tsukineko®

Copic® Markers:

   Hat: R27, R39, B60, <B91, BV0000, RV0000, Y0000, C00, C0, C1, C2

   Llama: BV000, E40, E41, E42, E70

   Glasses: G05, BG17

   Blanket and Gifts: G05, G17, R27, R39, B18, Y23, Y26

   Cactus: G05, G17, G29

   Mountains: E41, E42, E43

   Desert Plants: YG61, YG63

Red and Green Stardust® Glitter Pens by Sakura® of America

Clear 3D Glaze® Glossy Gel Pen by Sakura® of America

Gold Tinsel and Jeweled Gold Embossing Powder by Stampendous!®

Assorted Gemstones from Ye Olde Stash :D

Gold Star Brad from Ye Old Stash

Vellum by Strathmore®

Speech Bubble Die by Spellbinders®

Sookwang Tape

Removable Label Paper by Avery®

STAY-tion™ by Wendy Vecchi for Ranger Ink

Stamping Platform

Instructions:

1.  Trim Green cardstock to 10" x 7" wide.
2. Score at 5" and fold to form a 5" x 7" card. Set aside.
3. Use Tuxedo Black Memento ink to stamp the llama cactus, the pile of presents, and the Santa hat onto white cardstock.
4. Fussy-cut all images, color with Copic markers, and edge with a dark marker to get rid of those annoying white edges.
5. Add several layers of Clear Glaze pen to the frame and lenses of the sunglasses allowing the gel ink to dry between the layers. This process adds dimension and shine. 
6. Use Red and green glitter pens to add sparkle to the llama and the blanket tassels. Then smear the ink and swear loudly. Upside to this is that you'll scare the cat away before he eats more ribbon.
7. Stamp the mountains onto label paper, fold the label paper, and fussy-cut through both layers to create masks which will be used to create both the mountain range and the desert sky.
8. Use magnets to secure a piece of 5" x 7" cardstock to the STAY-tion.
9. Tear a piece of scrap paper and place horizontally towards the top of the image panel, secured with more magnets.
10. Adhere the label paper mountains on top of the horizontal torn paper.
11. Brush or sponge Periwinkle Prism ink to create a lovely blue desert sky.
12. Remove the label paper mountains mask and reserve for another day.
13. Heat set the image panel.
14. Adhere the negative part of the fussy-cut label paper over the sky, which should reveal the mountains.
15. Brush Lulu Lavender Memento ink on the base of the mountains and along the edges. 
16. Brush Desert Sand, Toffee Crunch, and Peanut Brittle Memento ink onto the mountains.
17. Remove the mask covering the sky and reserve. 
18. Touch up the mountains using Copic markers.*
19. Create the desert with the torn strip of paper by brushing or sponging upwards from the torn edge from left to right with Desert Sand ink.
20. Move the torn paper strip downwards and continue to brush the ink over the top of the torn edge. 
21. Repeat Step #18 until the the background panel is covered.
22. Use Copic markers to touch up the desert background and to add desert plants.
23. Trim the background panel to 4.75" x 6.75".
24. Adhere the background panel to the reserved green card.
25. Use Peanut Brittle Memento ink to edge the panel.
26. Adhere the Santa hat to the llama, then adhere the llama to the image panel as shown.
27. Add a large red gemstone to cover the heart.*
28. Adhere the cactus to the image panel as shown.
29. Add self adhesive gemstones to decorate the cactus.
30. Squish the star brad onto the VersaMark pad.
31. Use either a hemostat clip thingy or reverse tweezers to hold the brad.
32. Dip the brad into Jeweled Gold Embossing Powder. Shake excess into the jar.
33. Heat set. Let cool.*
34. Press the star onto the VersaMark pad.
35. Dip the brad into the Gold Tinsel Embossing Powder. Shake excess into the jar.
36. Heat set. Let cool.
37. Cut the brads' wings off and flatten any spurs.
38. Adhere to the top of the Christmas cactus.
39. Cut a strip of vellum and back with a strip of Sookwang tape.
40. Use Jet Black StazOn ink to stamp the sentiment onto vellum.
41. Clean the stamp immediately.*
42. Use the speech bubble die to cut the sentiment.
43. Adhere the speech bubble sentiment to finish the card as shown.

Notes:

• Memento ink was used for the mountains and the desert because it's Copic friendly and I knew I'd want to use Copic markers to add detail.
• I had found super-cute little epoxy stickers and had one that said Santa on it. It was perfectly sized to fit inside a sequin and to cover the heart. I put it together, put it aside, and promptly lost it. 
• If you don't let the brad cool, you will melt your VersaMark pad. Again. 
• StazOn ink is a solvent ink. Solvent inks may/may not hurt your clear stamps. So if you must use it (for instance to stamp on vellum), clean the stamp immediately.

Thanks for visiting today!