Christmas Madonna by Judy Jackson - Day 9

Good day to you.  Hasn’t it been wonderful to see all the different cards Pat has been creating for our Christmas card inspiration! Just in case you haven't see her blog, go here to begin the series:  http://patstamps.blogspot.com/2014/11/introducingthe-30-days-of-christmas.html

This is Judy Jackson and I have the privilege of being a Guest Designer today on Pat’s blog for the 30 Days of Christmas series. Today is Day 9. My first question to you, “Have you checked out the Christmas stamps in the Technique Junkie Stamps online catalog?”  Here is the direct link - http://www.stampcamp.com/christmas.html.  Pat is offering a 15% discount on the entire Technique Junkies stamp site until December 10th!  Use code Xmas15.

I have two cards for you today. They both use the same stamp –  #S313Madonna- and it is just a beautiful stamp. http://www.stampcamp.com/bigstamps17.html

This card was easy to color and I like the soft way it turned out. I used a circle sponge on a sponge applicator picked up dye based ink on the sponge and then just burnished color in the different areas.   I used this technique to color in Mary and the baby Jesus. The background cherubs were also burnished but with the same color. I wanted Mary and Baby Jesus to be the visual foreground. By burnishing the background cherubs all the same soft color, they tend to fade into the background.  The verse “joy shared” was stamped and heat embossed on a small piece of vellum and added to the ribbon with my small Xyron adhesive.  The words are from this set - #PS005 Sentimental Sayings and is part of one stamp.  The full stamp says “joy shared is multiplied.”

This card is just colored with my Copic markers. I tied a pale blue ribbon edged in silver to create a bow.

Both cards were sprayed with glimmer spray.

I love stamping and I love using stamps in different ways than other people might use. 

I have already created about 115 Christmas cards to mail out this year.  My hubby and I mail about 120-130 cards every year.  I cannot enjoy making all these cards if I have to do the same card over and over, so I make 20-30 of several different cards. When I mail them I never know exactly which card I am mailing to whom, with rare exception. 

How many card do you mail each Christmas? Do you make them all?  Have you started on your cards yet?

Don't forget, by using the code XMAS15, there is a 15% discount on  ALL the Technique Junkies stamps until December 10th. Have a great day! 

Judy Jackson