Handmade Holiday Blog Hop!

I am so happy to be a part of today's Simon Says Stamp Blog Hop over at the Simon Blog, celebrating their newest release, Handmade Holiday!  There are so many wonderful stencils in this release, as well as new beautiful glitter gel!  I chose the wonderful new Layered Holiday Grid stencil set to make a couple cards to share with you for today's celebration!...

I used Pixie spray on the back of the grid stencil, to help it firmly stick to the cardstock as I brushed the ink onto the paper.  The cool thing about this spray is that the stencil will come off the cardstock as soon as you're finished!  I used black ink and after it dried, I began using the pretty glitter gel, to fill in the squares with the other stencil from the set.  I used my Eclipse tape to mask off the areas I didn't want gel, and used one color at a time, allowing each gel to dry before using another one.  So, it took three attempts to get all the glitter onto the squares.  This was SO MUCH FUN to work with and to do!  Seeing the different colored glitter after each time I would pull up the stencil was sheer happiness!!  After I was finished, I popped up the panel onto my card and done!  I have to say, the glitter against the black and the intensity of the shine is lost on these pictures!  Much like metallic paper, it would seem that it's hard to photograph glitter, but let me tell you...it's sooooo pretty!!!  Here's a close up...

The second one, has squares that were actually the first ones I made...and this one needs explaining...

I was intent on making the black ink pretty black in the squares.  To do this, I thought I would stamp my blending tool onto the stencil, rather than brush it on.  What happened, by doing this, is that the ink went beyond the stencil and gave the squares ends that look a little jagged.  I originally dismissed it, but then kind of liked the more rustic look that the ends gave the squares, and the fact that the jagged ends showed on ALL of the squares, rather than just on some, made me think that making a card of these squares was not out of the question, and would be kind of cool.  SO...I used the other side of the stencil for the images and sentiment,  and then a few of the images for an extra line of squares above the "JOY", and done like the first...such fun!!  And I am so happy I got to use what I thought I would throw away, to make another wonderful Christmas card!  Here's a close up...  

I've had fun making my cards, but the fun is just beginning for you!

Simon is generously giving a $25 coupon to every stop on the hop from our comments section, so if you leave a comment, you have a chance to win!  The winners will be posted on the Simon Blog on Wednesday, November 17th, so make sure you check the blog on the 17th, to see if you're a winner! 

The list of participants for today's blog hop are below:

Simon Says Stamp Blog

Nina-Marie Trapani

Caly Person

Nichol Spohr

Jennifer McGuire

Cathy Zielske

                                          Lisa Addesa<------ YOU ARE HERE

Amy Rysavy

Sidnie Des Jardins

Heather Ruwe

Suzy Plantamura

Yana Smakula

Heather Hoffman

Lea Lawson

 

Before I go...two things:

Don't forget the offer in the banner at the top of my post!  Simon is offering a free Salvaged Patina Distress Oxide Ink during this blog hop, with ANY purchase!  Just use the code HDMADE4U to get your ink pad!  Just remember, the offer is only good until the end of the day on November 14th OR until supplies last!

Second...there is another blog hop tomorrow!  So please visit the Simon Blog tomorrow for another day of celebration and inspiration!

Keep on hopping!! Hugs!! Lisa