Trees by Amanda Pink

 Hi Everyone 

Today I have more cards to share that I've created using KatzelKrafts 'Winter Wonderland' stamp set and Tim Holtz Distress and Distress Archival inks. That's all, nothing more, nothing less so they are CAS in  design, minimal in products used, super quick and easy makes that can be produce on mass in a short space of time. 

I'm going to be non committal with regards calling them Christmas cards as I think their design lends itself to several occasions.  As well as Christmas cards they would also be suitable to send to anyone who doesn't celebrate Christmas that you still want to send greetings to at this time of year. They could be given as autumn/ winter birthday cards, Thank you cards for seasonal gifts, New Year cards or general note cards - just a few ideas!!

I created three differing sets of sizes, one tall and slim, one square and a third almost square but just not quite.   

The tall slim cards lent themselves to the design of the KatzelKraft Tree stamp used.

I worked on a light cream/ivory card for all the cards, cutting the card to the required sized panels.  (That's Crafty! Ultra White Card would be an alternative and a pack of 5 sheets would be enough to make all the focal panels and card bases with some left over)

 On a long slim panel of card I stamped the tall slim Katzelkraft Tree with Tim Holtz distress inks: Rustic Wilderness, Pine Needles, Ground Espresso. 

For the square and 'not so square' cards I featured another of the trees from KatzelKraft's 'Winter Wonderland' stamp set. 

I stamped the chosen stamp using first, second and third generation stamping to create a sense of depth  distance.  

For those of you who aren't familiar with 'generation stamping' it simply means you don't re-ink your stamp before you stamp the image again or if you do re-ink your stamp you stamp off some of the ink on a scrap of card/ paper before stamping the image again.

This technique allows you to create gradual colour variations when using the same colour ink.

So, I stamped off the ink twice before stamping the tree furthest back (third generation stamping), once before stamping the tree in the middle (second generation stamping). The tree in the front was then  inked and stamped without any of the ink being stamped off at all.  

Some light penciled shadows at the base of all the trees on all the cards helped ground them. 

 I used a 2b and 4B pencil as the lead is softer and is therefore easier to apply and blend out with a finger. 

The sides of all the stamped panels were caught with Rustic Wilderness Distress ink before being mounted on a handmade card appropriately sized.  

All the cards were stamped with the one of the word stamps from the same KatzelKraft stamp set:

'Wintertime' 

Any left over card I used to make tags 

I used the same colour Distress inks as I did for my cards but featured yet another wonderful Tree stamp from the stamp set! 

It was the perfect fit for the slim design of my tags. 

Products used: 

Light Cream /Ivory Card - That's Crafty! Ultra Smooth White Card would be a great alternative

That's Crafty! Multi Surface Craft Adhesive

Tim Holtz Distress Inks: Rustic Wilderness, Pine Needles (o/s) Ground Espresso (o/s) but Tim Holtz Ground Espresso Distress Archival ink would be an alternative 

Tim Holtz Distress Archival Ink: Black Soot.

KatzelKraft 'Winter Wonderland' Stamp Set (KTZ280)

Stamping Platform

Ranger Ink Blending Tool and Foams

Well, I think that has to be one of my shortest 'products used' list here at That's Crafty! but I guess it shows that sometimes a few sheets of card, some inks and a quality stamp set with great images and words is all you need. 

Thanks for stopping by today. 

Hope you have a lovely creative week 

Take Care

Amanda

x

(ink-a-pink)