Monday, December 16, 2019

Christmas Card saga one more time

    Since I was 18, I have made Christmas cards every year. The number keeps creeping up, and every year I hold my breath to see if I can make it. This year I made 110. I don't like copies, so each one is handmade. I find people always love my cards and tell me so, but I can hardly ever sell a painting when I exhibit them. Hmm.
    This year, I experimented with Brusho, a watercolor crystal product, I saw demonstrated at a rubber stamp show in September. By the time I started this last week, I totally forgot the demos and had to reinvent the wheel. I used two Brusho blues sprinkled for the sky, a fine spray bottle, Arches cold press watercolor paper, a self carved stamp of an evergreen, brushes, kosher salt, white paint, and regular watercolor paint. The Brusho is a dye, so my fingers have been blue all week. 
Brusho skies
Skies with trees, ready for cropping
My mess, stamps, gelli plate, etc.


    I painted the skies in long strips, stamped and painted the trees, spattered paint and added shadows with a brush. Then I cut the strips into compositions for the cards. I bought A7 cards and envelopes with coupons from Joanns. 
     I printed out the poem I used for the inside (Longfellow's original "I heard the Bells on Christmas Day") on white paper, rubbed yellow/yellow orange pastel dust over it and glued it inside. Now I am writing a greeting in each one- the hardest thing for me to do. The out of town ones are mailed- I keep on writing in the rest.

14 comments:

Exuberantcolor/Wanda S Hanson said...

Once more they are beautiful. You are very talented.

Mystic Quilter said...

Once again you have created beautiful and original Christmas cards Linda. It's fascinating to read about your process here, you must have lots of patience and you obviously a love and a talent for art.

Pat McDonald said...

They are beautiful, an outstanding job as always.

Quiltdivajulie said...

BEAUTIFUL!!! Your artwork is marvelous.

Debbie said...

Every year, each season, I am amazed at your creativeness in producing so many cards! Each is a beauty an expression of you:)

Gene Black said...

Those look great, Linda. I love the creativity in them.

Alycia~Quiltygirl said...

Wow!! Those are so beautiful!!! I find the same thing with my Print photos... the y love them until ... ha ha!!! Hope your fingers get back to normal colors!

The Joyful Quilter said...

I treasure the cards I have received from you, Linda. What lucky recipients you will have this year. The cards are gorgeous!

Karen - Quilts...etc. said...

wow - what beautiful work - I followed Wanda's link to you and now must look through your blog to see what else you do!

Frog Quilter said...

Truly beautiful.

JustCallMeElle said...

These are so beautiful. I know that the recipients will cherish them.

Preeti said...

These greetings will not end up in the recycling bin next year :-) You are making keepsakes, Linda :-)

Anonymous said...

Each one is lovely but all together they are just stunning! I enjoy seeing your cards each year.

ceci

Cheryl's Teapots2Quilting said...

What beautiful colors! Those trees pop with that lovely sky. Another win for you (despite the blue fingers).