MFP Blog Hop Day #1 Ivy & Blossoms

Welcome to Mark's Finest Papers December Blog Hop! 

This month's New Stamp Set Releases are

Ivy & Blossoms Featured December 18
Oh Beans Featured December 19
Recipe Card Featured December 20
Kilt Fun Featured December 21

Please hop along with us! You have a chance to win one of the above stamp sets! Just comment on the following blogs (don't forget this one), each day for more chances to win! (You do NOT have to comment on all the blogs each day! The names are drawn randomly!) All four winners will be announced on December 22, 2012 on the Mark's Finest Papers blog. You can go back and comment if you missed a day. (HINT: The more you comment, the more chances you have to win and comments on the MFP blog count twice!) The deadline for commenting is 11PM EST (12AM ATL) on Friday December 21, 2012.

WOW can you believe it is December already? All of us here at Marks Finest Papers, a Heinrich Co want to wish all of you and your families a very Merry Christmas! It is time for our December Blog hop and we Scotts some great deals and stamp sets for you this month. 

 The special stamp set we have for you this month is called " You've Got Style".

Today we are featuring a set called "Ivy & Blossoms":

I love this set!  I thought it was pretty when I got it but it wasn't until I started working with it that I realized how much I love it.  I have more ideas for it, but due to the time of year I didn't have time to follow through with them all.  I guess that just means you'll have to keep checking my blog to see what I have up my sleeve! In the meantime here is what I came up with today:

I decided to make a note card set as a Christmas gift (I won't say who it's for, lol).   I decided to make the same card in a variety of colours, and I used the 'Thinking of you' sentiment with a blank inside so the person I'm giving the set too can give these cards for a variety of occasions.  I also kept the design relatively simple so I wouldn't be making the set for days lol.

I started by choosing card stock colours and ink to match.  I stamped the ivy image in each colour on pieces of cream that had been corner rounded at the top and torn at the bottom.  

The sentiment was stamped at the bottom of the panel, the edges inked, and then treated with the cracked glass technique.  I  didn't start out thinking I was going to use this technique  so I was just using regular 80 lb card stock.  I used UTEE  to emboss,  and I usually use three coats for this technique, but I found that three coats was really too heavy.  Not only did three coats make the paper curl quite a bit (I don't mind a bit of curling, but this was more than I was comfortable with), some of the embossing flaked off after cracking.  I discovered that two coats of UTEE really worked best here.

I always love the result of this technique and this time is no different.  The intricate image on cream, the blended beige ink, and the crackle really made the panels look like old ceramic - the blue in particular reminds me of my grandmother's 'Blue Willow' dish set, even though the shade of blue isn't quite right. I love how the torn edge became almost translucent with this treatment.

Finally I added twine and a gemstone to each panel and adhered them to the card fronts with foam squares.

For the centre of each card I stamped the corner ivy images on inked cream panels and adhered.  I left lots of room for a handwritten sentiment.

Since I was making a gift set I included some premade envelopes and decided to make a box with the help of my Martha Stewart scoring board.

Sadly I forgot to write down the measurements of the card stock and scoring I used, but it was really easy with the score board.  I will definitely be making more of these boxes and I will post more detailed instructions in the future.

Because the cards themselves are so colourful yet simple I decided to make a simple kraft box with the same image and sentiment stamped on the lid and heat embossed in white.  

To echo the decoration on the cards I used twine to finish off the little gift box.  I love how this turned out so when I have more time in January I will probably try to come up with some similar sets.  I think they are a great gift for loved ones who may enjoy giving cards to their friends but don't make them themselves.  :)

You can see how much I have enjoyed this set so far, but this isn't the only amazing set this month.     Why not go to Mark's Finest Paper's Store and have a closer look at what is being offered this month!

Oh, and this is a blog hop after all so don't forget to check out what the rest of the DT has come up with!  The main blog has lots of inspiration as well.  Happy Hopping!  :)

I used the following supplies with my projects:

Card Stock:  Stampin' Up!  Dusty Durango, Rich Razzleberry, Garden Green, Very Vanilla, Gina K Designs In the Navy, Neenah Desert Storm.

Stamp:  Mark's Finest Papers Ivy & Blossoms

Ink:  Colorbox Fluid Chalk Ink Creamy Brown, Pumpkin Spice, Dark Peony, Blue Iris, Stampin' Up! Garden Green, Versamark Watermark Ink.

Embossing Powder:  Ranger Ultra Thick Embossing Enamel Clear, Martha Stewart Bright White

Embellishments:  Scrappin Supplies Rhinestones, May Arts Jute twine.

Envelopes:  Staples A2 size invitation envelopes.

Adhesive: Scotch ATG, foam squares, Scotch Quick Dry

Tools:  Paper trimmer, bone folder, Martha Stewart scoring board, Ranger Blending Tool, heat tool, freezer, We R Memory Keepers Corner Chomper.