Very Merry Holly

Hello! Here is a card I made for the Gina K release party. I used my new set, A very Merry Christmas and colored with Koh-i-noor pencils for the first time in ages. Since I got my Copics, my Koh-i-noor pencils barely get any use, so I decided to pull them out for a quickie card.

I love using colored pencils with OMS (odorless mineral spirits), but find that it can be difficult to get really intense colors, like you can with markers. So my solution to this is to start with markers to fill in the darkest areas and then switch to the colored pencils.

I started by stamping my image with Memento ink and then using a Memento marker (cottage ivy) to add some shading to the holly leaves.

Then I used Rhubarb Salk to shade the bow and berries and Rich Cocoa for the stem.

Then I pulled out the medium green Koh-i-noor pencil and added it around the edges of the holly leaves and along the center vein.

Dipped my blending stump in OMS and used it to blend the colored pencil.

Used the same process with the red.

I used an opaque white pen to add some highlights to the leaves, berries and bow. I also used a brown pencil to color in the stem. Then I cut out my image.

Another thing I like to do when using Koh-i-noor pencisl is heat emboss with clear. I find this makes the colors look brighter. I inked up my image with Versa Mark ink so the embossing powder would stick and then heat embossed. I repeated twice for a nice even coating.

I cut a small square of Pure Luxury White and sponged lightly with So Saffron ink, to mount the holly to. Used the new All Spruced Up card stock to layer and for the card base. I love this new card stock. It is a linen textured card stock and feels so good!

The red layer is cut from Rocket Red card stock by using a Spellbinders Pendant Die, called Fluer Di Lis.

Check out the new Idea Center at StampTV. It is a great new resource where you can find stamp set specific inspiration for all the stamp sets by Gina K Designs. Each set is shown along with samples from the design team, links to tutorials and more. If you have any GKD stamp sets, this is where you can go any time you need inspiration. This is still a work in process and much more will be added over the weeks and months to come.

Thanks for stopping by. Have a great day!