When I saw this cute pilot stamp from Katzelkraft an idea began rattling around my mind so I just had to translate it into my first Christmas card of 2018. It made me smile making it so hope it raises a smile for you!

Here's What I Did:

I usually start with my backgrounds but on this occasion I started with my characters. All the character stamps are from Katzelkraft which I will list for you. I stamped onto stamping card all my elements the pilot, the stack of presents 3 times and the flying hippo's twice but I needed one of the Hippo's to be flying in the opposite direction so had to reverse stamp it to get that effect. There are several techniques out there for reverse stamping but I have found I get the sharpest stamped impression by doing it as follows. I use a Stamping Platform for this to ensure that I get an even impression of the ink. I ink the stamp up on the platform, and use Versafine ink as it is slower drying, and I then stamp my image onto a rubber mat I actually use the rubber mat used in a die cutting machine for embossing, a silicone mat will work the same, once I have stamped my image onto the rubber I then lay my stamping card over it and apply even pressure over the card to pick up the image from the rubber and hey presto you get a clean reversed stamped image.  Once I had all my stamped images I coloured them with coloured pencils and cut them out. I assembled my little pilot together with all his presents behind him in his plane.

I then had to give the hippo's their reindeer look, this I did by using a deer die from my stash and cutting the antlers off cutting them off with a headband to allow them to wear them.

Once I was happy that my characters had worked I created the night sky for them to fly around in delivering their presents. This I did using Distress Oxides which I just swooshed onto my craft mat with some water and picked up the colour onto the card. I added some stars to the stay by stencilling through the Dinky Star Shower stencil with white Distress ink and added a few sequin stars I had in my stash. I then edged the background with the original Distress ink of the same colour. I stamped my sentiment and added the 'Under New Management' banner which I created on the computer. All was then matted onto black card and added to an 8" x 8" card blank.

Here's What I Used:

Distress Oxides - Faded Jeans, Chipped Sapphire & Hickory Smoke

Distress Ink - Chipped Sapphire

Stamping Card

Katzelkraft Stamps A5 - Les Pabos Serie 2, Les dioles d'accessoires & Les Jungles 

Colour Blend Pencils (I used similar to these)

Pencil Blending Solution

Paper Stumps

JOFY Paperartsy stamp from my stash but similar font sentiments HERE

Distress Ink - Picket Fence

That's Crafty! Dinky Stencil - #37 Star Shower

Stamping Platform

Versafine Black Ink Pad or similar slower drying ink

Star Sequins

Sizzix Deer Die

Black Card

8" x 8" Card Blank

I hope that you're not to disappointed that Santa's not coming this year but at least I have warned you that Christmas is under new management!!

See you next Tuesday

Love

Amanda X