Countdown to Christmas - Stamping Soiree

It's the last Sunday post of the Countdown to Christmas blog event! But we still have something in store for you on Christmas Eve! So remember to be back then! You can find the previous posts under this tag here at my blog (link) and from this link at Terhi's blog (link). 

As Christmas and the Holiday season is all about giving and gatherings Terhi and me thought to arrange a blog event or a Christmas calendar to ease with the anticipation of the Holidays. We want to give you inspiration and ideas and most of all to thank you all for your visits and comments. And there's lovely giveaways in all our posts! 

The event started on November 29th and there's a new "Countdown to Christmas" post in every Sunday on both of our blogs all the way to Christmas. So that was on December 6th, on the 13th and today on the 20th as well. There's also an extra post on Christmas Eve, like a gift under the tree. 

So welcome on board and hope you'll enjoy!

How do you use stamps? With ink or with other mediums as well? They are really versatile tools so today we're hopefully inspiring you to think out of the (ink) box and go experimenting with different mediums! Terhi has a lovely video with three great stamping techniques so pop over to her blog to see it (link)! 

My page is about beautiful Norway. I've only visited there once but the land is almost right out of a story book! While driving from the airport to the venue I was really bad company in the car as I was mouth open but not chatting away but just gasping and gawping of the awesome sights. There were snow topped mountains, meadows, hills and still lakes and little villages growing upwards to the sky on the side of the mountains. I just need to go back someday!

While Terhi went really out there, I stayed with more traditional mediums. Underneath you can see steps and mediums I used to create the stamped layers in the background.

The first stamped layer I did was using VersaMark, two different stamps and white embossing powder. 

First I stamped here and there with the two stamps and VersaMark ink layering the two designs on top of each other thus creating an unique design. Then I sprinkled the white embossing powder on top, poured extra off and melted the powder with a heat tool. 

If you are new to heat embossing, you can find more info about the technique for example here at Wow Embossing Powders site (link).

Next I added some color in. The embossing powder acted as a resist for the color in the middle and I softened the edge with some "crayon stamping". For that I used the script stamp I used before as well and Prima Oil Pastels. 

First I colored the two blues directly to the stamp and then added a bit of water to the stamp with a water mister. As the Prima Oil Pastels are water soluble this created a lovely, soft look. If you want to see the technique in a video, I'm using it for example on this video (link). 

Last I went with my absolutely favorite way of using stamps. It's the basic one, using them with ink, but the way you hold the stamp really changes the way the design looks. So as my last stage I chose two other script stamps and used them with Archival Ink Jet Black. If you want to see the way I stamp as I'm very, very rarely using an acrylic block please visit my YouTube channel (link) as almost any of the layout videos will have that.

Now to the giveaway part! With the help of some generous sponsors we have a giveaway in each post and here's how it works. 

You have a possibility to have two tickets to each giveaway by leaving a comment to both of our posts - a comment here gives you one and comment on Terhi's blog gives you another. Each of our Sunday giveaways is open until 30th December 11.59 pm CET and the winners of these raffles are announced on both of our blog's on January 1st 2016. So be sure to stop by on the first day of the new year to see if you've won!

Today's giveaway is sponsored by Create a Smile. The name says it all: Create a smile stamps are made for cardmakers, scrapbookers, stampers - people, who like to create things that make others smile. The company's stamps are made from high quality photopolymer and are produced in Germany. Fun designs, cute images and punny sentiment are exactly what Create a Smile loves - and they create a smile! Please visit company site at: www.createasmilestamps.com and the blog over at: createasmilestamps.blogspot.de.

The price is a gift certificate worth 15 euros. Imagine how many smiles you could create with that! So leave a comment here and on Terhi's blog to be in for the giveaway. We wish you best of luck!

Materials: 7 Dots Studio, Prima Marketing, Wow Embossing Powder, American Crafts, A Flair for Buttons, Design Memory Craft, Ranger, Fiskars, Docrafts