Not Only for Christmas (by Carole)

Hello everyone, Carole is back to share a couple of super projects with you today. She is showcasing the versatility of one of our individual stamps, Serena, and showing you how to make two beautiful projects.

Good morning everyone.
This is my second spot as a Guest Design Team member for September.

I have used the beautiful Serena stamp, which is a great design, as it can be used for Christmas but, 'not only for Christmas'.
It is always useful to have stamps with versatility.
This is my 'not only for Christmas', as I thought it would be beautiful as a Winter Birthday or Winter Wedding card too.

Stamps used: Serena, Hark the Christmas Rose, words are part of a Let's Get Festive stamp.
Distress inkpads
Versafine Onyx Black inkpad
Clear embossing powder
Watercolour pencils

For the background, I clear embossed a swirly tree design and lightly coloured with Distress Inks.
Serena and the Christmas roses were stamped with Versafine and clear embossed.
The halo and the candles are easily cut away from Serena, and the candles can be used on another card. The Christmas roses were cut away from their background.
I have coloured the design with watercolour pencils, which is still a favourite method of mine, and the colour was blended with a water brush.
On my blog I have another sample that I showed a while back which is a 'not only for Christmas' sample.

Serena is also perfect for making a decoration for your Christmas table as shown below.
She fits perfectly onto a 12.5 cm plastic, faux candle.
Ink up the stamp with a permanent inkpad, keeping it flat on the table.
Position the candle and roll it over the stamp, putting a little pressure on as you do so. Try not to slip, or the image will look smudged.
This can be left uncoloured, as I have done, or coloured with alcohol inks.

Thank you for visiting, and I hope you enjoy these stamps as much as I have.

Happy crafting,

Carole.