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5/27/2015

Rudolph Day - May 2015 - Vintage Santa

Hi Again. Gosh, 2 posts in one day (and who knows I might yet get one more in later tonight? After such a dry spell as I had, I feel like I'm really on a creating roll! Don't get too excited, it won't last long! LOL). Also have some pretty cards I've been blessed to receive from some super talented bloggers, which I will photo and share soon.

The Rudolph Day Challenge for May 2015 opened May 25 and still has 4 days to run, so I  hope you'll find time to make a Christmas card, get a head start on having plenty of holiday cards ready by December 25, and have fun while being in the running to perhaps win a nifty die.

Off we go:


- LaBlanch image stamped with Versafine Sepia on white Copic Xpress paper. Used Bonnie's Best Speedball Stamp Press to get a good inking. I've not always had the best success with getting a good sharp image with several of these LaBlanch silicone stamps. They are certainly lovely though, when it does stamp out clearly; this one is a fairly large stamp, and the press helped get a crisp image of this very detailed stamp. Decided to color with the Polychromos pencils. When using Copics, I usually know which markers will give me the color I'm attempting. Not that confident with the pencils, and especially for the flesh tones. Had to do some experimenting with colors to try to get Santa's face right and not have it look garish. On the holly, I started with a light turquoise base for some of the leaves, and then added different greens. Berries were given a base of red pencil, then used a Staedtler fine line pen to brighten them up, as just the pencil did not show up well.

Once the piece was 'done', background was much too white. Used Copics E41, E42 & airbrushed the background, keeping a bit of paper towel over Santa's face & beard as best I could. The beard has shades of light blue & gray toned pencil coloring over the shadows. As I see the photo, it looks a bit pale, but IRL it does look nice, I think, not garish. I did want the added holly to look brighter though, hence the copic marker coloring. Gold pen was added around the edges. Sentiment will be placed inside.

- white snippets for the PBlack holly die cuts were colored with copics.

- Design paper card front is from an Authentique 12x12 Christmas pack - several years old.

Off to join in with May 2015 Rudy Day and the Snippet Playground (weeks 178 & 179). Hope I have encouraged some of you lovely readers to jump right in and join us. There's a pretty nice prize on offer at the Playground too. Big Hugs & many thanks for visitin' today.

35 comments:

  1. Great Rudolph Day card Mary, he's such a lovely traditional looking Santa and I think leaving him sepia with just the glint in his eyes works really well.

    I have found La Blanch stamps a bit hit and miss as well, I like inking detailed stamps with distress markers but these stamps just don't like that medium. I even tried inking with versamark first to get some 'stick' on the stamp but the results still don't come out much better with DI's.

    B z

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  2. Love this "proper" Santa Claus Mary, I have to say I don't have too many stamps featuring the jolly chap as some of them are a bit scary and look a bit sinister!! xx

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  3. Wonderful card Mary!! I was always a tad scared of Santa as a child too :)

    All packed and ready for my trip tomorrow - will catch up when I get back home, although I might manage a teensy bit of peeking just to check that Parsnip isn't being bullied :)

    Hugs

    Di xx

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  4. I love this jolly Santa stamp and the lovely card you made with it. I like the red backing paper as well which lends it a lovely festive look and the pretty die cut holly is a lovey finishing touch.
    Jean x

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  5. This is one fab vintage Santa image. The Santa of my youth!

    You got a lovely result with your stamping...will google the press you mention later. Love the holly and the sepia ink for the image!
    Wonderful!

    Thanks for taking part in the May Rudolph DAys Challenge.

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  6. Gorgeous cards you've made Mary!
    Keep up the good work!

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  7. That fabulous stamp looks great against the red! Great coloring with the pencils too!! He looks so real. Love the touch of adding the berries!
    Lynn

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  8. Beautiful stamp, I love this Santa's face and the nostalgic look of its design. I think you colored it beautifully, and that striped paper goes so well with it too.

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  9. Gorgeous vintage card, Mary. What a fabulous Santa, beautifully coloured. xx

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  10. Another fab card. You are going to be ready for the big day in plenty of time.

    Hope you've had a good day. Sue

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  11. This is a lovely festive design Mary, such a jolly santa!
    (Thank you for your lovely comments and for your concern, I much appreciate it)
    hugs Jacee
    Simply Paper Card Design

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  12. Hi Mary, oh just love your fabulous Santa, it's a gorgeous card, brilliant colouring too, hugs Kate x

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  13. A super Rudolph Day make Mary, it's a fab image. Carol x

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  14. Super smiley Santa, expertly coloured in xxx

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  15. just loving this jolly Santa Mary....and how vibrant yor holly and berries are....super card xxxx

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  16. Fabulous card, love the Santa and he is beautifully coloured. Love his blue eyes.

    Thanks for joining in this months Rudolph Day challenge.

    Kath x

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  17. This is gorgeous, Mary!! I love the vintage Santa and his blue eyes!! What a fabulous card!! Have a great day :)

    Lisa
    A Mermaid's Crafts

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  18. Great card, Mary. The berries really at that something special as do Santa's gorgeous blue eyes. Enjoy the evening.

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  19. I love this stamp which I also own ( but only used once). He looks great on your card Mary. Hugs Mrs A.

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  20. Love the way you have kept Santa's face uncoloured apart from the eyes - that is stunning! Another beautiful card Mary.
    Blessings
    Maxine

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  21. Your coloring of Santa is amazing. Very classy indeed. Then the pop of the page holly leaves and berries gives a wonderful contrast. Super job Mary.

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  22. This is how I think Santa looks. Happy and jolly. I love the red and white striped paper and holly.

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  23. Wow! This is a beautiful image and a beautiful Christmas card Momma Mary! I love the red paper you used, your image is colored beautifully. I love the holly leaves and berries added on extra and the touch of gold just frames this image out so perfectly! Hugs, Brenda

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  24. Lovely card Mary, the brighter colours give a traditional image a more contemporary feel.

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  25. Such a happy Santa, Mary!!!! Beautiful colouring and I love how you've added all the bright red and green!!! Such a beautiful card, Mary!!!
    Have a great day!!!
    Hugz

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  26. I have heard it said that Santa Claus in a jolly old elf. This image really does look like an elf. A little on the naughty side too!!
    Sandy xx

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  27. What a sweet Santa and embellished so beautifully!

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  28. You did a lovely job coloring the image. And the die cut holly is the perfect touch. Another fabulous card.

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  29. so very nice. getting ready for xmas!!! nice
    bibiana

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  30. This is just brilliant Mary. xxx

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  31. Oh....this is my favorite look for Santa, vintage is the way to picture this jolly old man. And your card is amazing, makes me want to pop It's a Wonderful Life into my DVD player. Love it!

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  32. What an awesome BIG stamp, Mary! You've colored it beautifully! I love the subtle coloring of Santa and the contrast of the bright holly! Love how the holly "hangs off" the design too! Beautiful!

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  33. This is fabulous Mary! I love those holly and berry sprigs with that faded Santa image, and the red striped paper and gold trim look just perfect! I bought one LaBlanch stamp and used it but one time and tossed it into a box never to be used again! I give them all thumbs down because regardless of what ink or paper I used, I could never get a good stamped image. I'm glad you're able to use yours though, because your card is wonderful!

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  34. I love the traditional vintage looking Santa and love the holly
    carol x

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  35. LOVE the vintage Santa and your holly, great background too. Must look up those Polychromos pencils.

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