More is More

If you’ve been on Splitcoaststampers much lately you’ve probably seen the banner ad for Elzybells stamps.  When I clicked on the link it was love at first site! If you want to see what I mean click here, but be forewarned…reisitance is futile!  When you get to the blog look on the right hand side and click on the Holiday or Winter Collection under “shopping”.

Now you have to know that I have been resisting non-SU stamps for the most part lately.  I bought a couple of Memory Box penguins from eP and just a couple of stamps from the latest Whipper Snapper release, while I’ve managed to avoid ordering MFT, Lizzie Anne, CHF, Hannah, and even Paper Trey (that was a tough one).  But when I layed eyes on those Elzybells my reslove melted like butter on a hot chocolate cake just out of the oven!  I wanted them ALL!!!  I finally managed to pare down my order to a few to start with and they arrived Saturday.  I was absolutley bouncin’!

Here’s my very first Elzybells card – this image is in the Holiday Collection and it’s called Reindeer Star.

The image was stamped on Shimmery White cardstock with Palette Hybrid Noir Black ink and colored with Copic markers (which I’m not very good with) and cut using square Nestabilities (playing a friend’s supplies *wink*).  I wanted to use the purplish color to depict the night sky and I wanted red for his nose.  Oh my goodness, have you ever tried to make a Christmas card with red and purple?  What was I thinking?  I think I managed to save my efforts by using a piece of Close to Cocoa cardstock as the main piece layered onto a purple Bazzill card base.  The snow is Liquid Applique and Dazzling Diamonds glitter.

The Cocoa cs was stamped with the SU retired background stamp Ticking in Chocoloate Chip.  I love that stamp and I think they should bring it back!  I then used a tiny star from the PTI set Text Box and a tiny snowflake from an Inkadinkadoo clear set stamped over the Ticking to acheive the type of background I wanted.  The edges were then rubbed with SU white craft ink direct to paper.

The sentiment was embossed with white craft ink and white embossing powder.

Outside:  The star that led the wise men then…

Inside:  still shines to guide the hearts of men.

   May the light of Christ fill your heart and home

This is a set from SU from 1998 I think.  I so wanted to use this sentiment with this image, but I really didn’t think the font would look right – I couldn’t remember exactly what the font was.  When I dug out it out last night I was excited to see that it would work. I thought it was a great way to have a cute image, but still convey the true meaning of Christmas.

I should have another Elzybells card for you tomorrow.  If you love the images like I do, you might also want to check out their original UK site here.  The Spring images are to die for also!  Elzybells originated in the UK and the images there are larger.  A Muse is the exclusive North American distributor of these images and has had them all sized down which is more in line with the A Muse style.  I’m really thinking I would also enjoy some of the larger stamps and have been sitting on my hands to avoid placing an international order!

Do you want to be entered into a drawing to win a little gift from me?  You still have time to play my Dashing Challenge – details here.  Deadline is Tuesday at midnight and you must post to that blog entry.  So come play!

Thanks for stopping by and Happy Monday!