Post early for Christmas

Well, perhaps not this early though! I had a pre-loved Penny Black Christmas stamp lying on my desk witing to be used, recently bought from a very sweet blogging friend (and if you're reading this, I haven't forgotten my promise either!). Am sure it still counts as NBUS for Darnell's latest challenge 'cos I've never used it before. I made a batch of six cards all the same, just like this one:

I used:

- 5" x 5" square white card blank

- slightly smaller piece of white card, embossed using Darice's 'Snowflake Background' embossing folder and glued onto the card front. Over time I've learned that if possible it's best to trim your card to size before embossing it. Sometimes, if you guillotine it afterwards, you find the card fibres have been broken down a bit and your cut line won't be as sharp

- the images were stamped onto white card using Ranger Black Archival ink and such a cute Penny Black stamp called 'Royal Mail'

- then coloured the images using  my Zig brush pens and added some shading using Faber-Castell Polychromos pencils

- die cut the image using one of The Works 'Stitched Squares dies'

- added the sentiment, using Ranger Black Archival ink and a stamp from the Hobby Art 'Christmas Post' set

- mounted the image panel onto SU 'Real Red' card as a frame

- backed the panel with white fun foam and glued it onto the card front

- final touch, clear Wink of Stella to add some subtle sparkle to the snow

I almost did a big boo-boo with these cards - although I used the right waterproof stamping ink for Ziggies, I forgot to use water colouring card instead of my usual stamping card, which is fine for Pro markers and coloured pencils - but 'pills' at any sign of water if you try to do some blending! Too late I realised, fortunately when working out colour combinations on a scrap of the same card. I'd already done practically all of the colouring using 'neat' Ziggies with no problems (yup, on six images!) and just wanted to add some additional depth to the scarf and envelope, as well as the hedgie's cheek and skin. Tried the Polychromos pencils and they saved the day! One to remember, don't be afraid to try mixing different colouring mediums - although I did test the theory out on some scrap card first! :) Me not totally stooopid!!

I was going to delay this post due to the very sad events in Las Vegas. However, I'm having a wisdom tooth out today and truly don't know how I'll feel afterwards. The extraction itself isn't worrying me but I don't always react well to such things so thought I'd best post this and link up to Darnell's NBUS whilst am still in charge of my faculties, sigh.

And a bigger sigh over Las Vegas - makes our day to day worries seem minuscule in comparison.