Monday 18 June 2018

Twofer Trees

… and trees for two, Yew for me, and me for Yew....

Right, having given you all an unexpected ear worm, on with my entry for this months Twofers challenge, where the theme is TREES.


You may have read about my UTEE saga that meant my first attempt to create an entry for this month's challenge was a dismal failure as I killed my poor stamp after making just one card. So I dusted off another old favourite tree stamp and started again. The stamp is All Night Media "Winter Trees"  and I've had it for about 20 years.

I use it most often in sympathy cards, because of the simplicity of it, and having unfortunately needed to make several sympathy cards recently, it was the first thing that sprang to mind.


I don't like fussy, ornate sympathy cards, I prefer simple, calm designs, and  this stamp is perfect for the purpose.

And of course being a winter design, the stamp is perfect for Christmas cards too. Here I have recreated the view from my childhood bedroom on Christmas Eve each year. I always SWORE I could see Santa flying over the treetops in the lane across the field from our house!


I masked a space for a "window" and filled it with sponged blue Colour Cloud blending ink, then stamped the tops of the trees along the bottom of the window, stamping again either side without reinking the stamp. Then I stamped the Santa silhouette above it - the stamp was a gift from a friend, so I don't know the origin of it but I think she got it with a magazine. I removed the masking, ruled a "window frame" and then finished the sky with starlight from a silver glitter gel pen. In the photo it just looks like grey dots but in real life it has a pretty twinkle.

The sentiment is stamped with a Uniko stamp set.

6 comments:

Lisa Bird said...

Wonderful cards Jane, you've just shown that you don't need lots of elements on a card to make it standout.

Lisa xx
craftycard-designs.co.uk

Liz said...

Gorgeous card, Jane. The CAS sympathy card is beautiful in the colours you've used and I love the scene you've created on your Christmas card. I need to get my skates on for the Twofer Challenge, the weeks seem to pass so quickly! xx

Darnell said...

This is another elegant tree image, Jane. It does make a beautiful and calming sympathy / thinking of you card. And it worked equally well as the tree tops you saw from your bedroom window! Excellent to offset the trees a second time on each side which gave it some depth! Ah, the powers of persuasion in a child's mind. I've no doubt you did see the big man and his sleigh pulled by reindeer across the starry sky! Thank you so much for supporting and joining in Twofer Card Challenge #6! Hugs, Darnell

Susanne Vargas said...

I also like sympathy cards calm, serene and without too many embellishments and yours came out beautifully! That stamp is perfect for it but goes equally well for your Christmas card! Yay, for using one of your older stamps, this one is a classic!
Thank you for joining us at the Twofer!

Loll said...

This is a gorgeous tree stamp Jane. I could see how this would be a "go to" stamp for many occasions. Lovely as a sympathy card. Love the addition of the soft mauve butterflies and framing. Your Christmas card is beautiful with the soft sponged sky and sparkly falling snow. What a gorgeous font on "Christmas". Thanks for playing along with us at Twofer Card Challenge!

Brenda said...

What beautiful tree's you have used! I love your "thinking of you" card and agree that sympathy cards need to be more on the plain side, serene. Your Christmas card is so cute! I used to think the same thing, swearing I could see Santa and his reindeer flying high in the sky. I love this card! Hugs, Brenda