Blended Engineering Tree Christmas Card

 

I previously did a basic engineering tree christmas card which was a single layer card and I did it mainly to enter a CAS christmas card challenge. However as part of the creative process, I wasn't fully happy with it and as I mentioned in my blog post, I honestly felt it could be improved. So, I decided to try and improve the card. As you'll see below, the main change is adding a blended background to the tree but I think it improves the card a lot.

For the process video showing how I made the improved engineering tree christmas card, click on the following link or watch the video below:

https://youtu.be/Sjdd-1c5JW4

The first step in making this card was to make a cardboard mask. I spent a lot of time getting a nice triangle to arrange my engineering stamps into and I liked the size and shape so to save time, I cut a piece of card that covered the 'tree triangle' on the original card.

Making a triangle mask

I then used that triangle cut out as a template to mask around on the new card front. I used 300gsm white card stock cut to A6 size for my card front taped to the inside of my stamping platform, which is a We R Memory Keepers precision press. Quite simply, I placed the triangle where I wanted my tree shape and taped around it with washi tape. Now I know where to arrange my engineering tool stamps and I can ensure that I get a crisp triangle image for my tree. The bonus of creating the triangle cut out is that I can now create other christmas cards with a similar design and tailor the theme of the tree to different genres, crafts or industries depending on who the recipient will be.

Washi taping around triangle mask

After masking it was time to create the blended background. I stuck with the traditional green hue for the tree and used three Ranger archival inks, "Olive,"Leaf Green" and "Sap Green." To do the blending I used a blending brush I bought off Aliexpress.

Colour blending the tree

Next step is to stamp the engineering tools inside the triangle tree shape to make this an engineering tree christmas card. I arranged stamps from Altenew's Engineers Rule stamp set inside the triangle with slight overlap over the edge to try and fill the triangle as much as possible. Then I closed the door on my stamping platform to collect all the stamps. 

Placing small engineer tool stamps in triangle

 

Using my Jet Black Gina K Designs Amalgam ink, I inked and then stamped the stamps. I ink and stamp the stamps a few times to make sure I get I good image. I also pressed down hard on my platform and rubbed it with my sleeve to ensure even contact across all the stamps. To make sure I didn't accidentally stamp onto areas outside the triangle, I strategically placed a couple of post-it notes.

Placing post-it notes to protect card front outside of triangle

Used gina k designs amalgam ink in jet black to stamp images in triangle

Grabbing a baby wipe, I clean the stamps and then grab the smallest image (a screw) and placed it onto an acrylic block. I then tried to fill the gaps inside the triangle using this little stamp.

 

Using small stamp and acrylic block to fill in the gaps

 

To finish off the card front I decided to stamp "merry christmas" under the triangle (this stamp is from a stamp set I bought off Aliexpress). I chose this particular stamp because the size and arrangement of the text meant I could stamp it under the triangle to symbolise the stump of a tree. I stamped this sentiment stamp using a Stazon ink pad in 'Saddle Brown' and an acrylic block.

Stamping 'merry christmas' below tree

Used StazOn in Saddle Brown ink for sentiment

As I wanted a border or mounting for the card front, I decided to trim down the card front.

Trimming the card front to fir card base with border

Finally, I use double sided tape to attach the card front to a dark green A6 card base. I used 180gsm card but I should have used a card base with more weight as it did feel a little floppy.

Using double tape to adhere card front to card base

And that's another finished card!

Finished blended engineer tree christmas card

Here is another card I made using the same technique. Instead of engineer tools stamps I used summer themed stamps to give it a warm summer christmas feel. I'll link to the blog post of how I made that card here too once I complete the post.

Summer Christmas Tree Christmas Card

 

If you are interested in my original engineering tree christmas card, click on the following link: https://craftyepicurean.com/cas-engineer-xmas-card/

 

If you want to see the process video for the original card click the following link or watch the video below: https://youtu.be/un6lx4D1nJI

Happy crafting!

Mel Crafting.

CAS Engineering Tree Christmas Tree Card

 

This is a very simple CAS christmas card. I used the Altenew stamp set "Engineers Rule" so it is a more masculine christmas card perfect for engineers or handymen. The motivation for this card was to enter the CAS Christmas card challenge which you can find here.

If you prefer to watch a video on how I made this card there is a link below or just here.

The first step was to mask the triangle for the tree. On a standard note card I used a ruler to mark the centre of the card then used purple masking tape to form a triangle. I taped the notecard to my 'We R Memory Keepers Precision Press' (just a stamping platform!) then arranged the small engineering images from the Engineers Rule stamp set inside that triangle.

Using Gina K Designs Amalgam Ink in Jet Black, I stamped the images onto the notecard a few times to make sure I got a good impression.

I then removed the masking tape. I used a ruler and a black ink pen to draw a dashed line to outline the tree.

The tree needed a stand or trunk and I found a 'Merry Christmas' sentiment from Simon Says Stamp's Clean Line Christmas stamp set that lined up perfectly with the base of my 'tree' to give a metaphorical stump. I decided to stamp that sentiment using Stampin' Up Cherry Cobbler ink and my precision press stamping platform.

I then trimmed down the edges - mainly to trim off the tear in the card (caused by my impatience when removing washi tape in an earlier step). Then I used double-sided tape to adhere the notecard to a navy blue card base.

In hindsight, I think it would have looked better had I heat embossed the sentiment and spotlighted some of the images making up the tree. However, it was a very quick card to make and I'm sure one of the engineers in my life will appreciate it.

Happy Crafting!

Mel Crafting.

Christmas Card - Engineering Tree

Engineers Christmas Tree Card

Once again, I'm inspired to use Altenew's Engineers Rule stamp set. This time I created a simple single layer Christmas card and here's how I made it happen.

Firstly, I masked a triangle onto dark navy blue notecard. Placed the notecard in my We r Memory Keepers stamping platform and arranged various stamp images from the Engineers Rule stamp set inside the masked triangle. Closed the door on the stamping platform to capture the stamps then used versa color ink in Hyacinth to stamp the images onto the card.

In order to define the triangle (tree) outline, I used a white gel pen to draw a dotted line along the inside of the masked area.

I then removed the masking tape and used my heat gun to dry the ink.

For the sentiment, I used "happy holidays" from My Favourite Thing's Hand Lettered Stamp set. I placed the sentiment stamp under the 'tree', stamped it with clear embossing ink and heat embossed the sentiment using silver embossing powder.

To finish off I adhered the notecard to a silver card base using double sided tape.

All done! Hope you liked this card and can draw inspiration from it for your own creations.

Happy crafting!

Mel Crafting

Christmas Card - Engineer's Blueprint

Engineer's Blueprint Christmas Card

I'm slightly obsessed with the Engineers Rule stamp set by Altenew I recently purchased so here is another card inspired by that stamp set.

This time I was going for the look of a blueprint image well-known to be used in the drawings world and thought it would be similar if I used light colored inks on a blue cardstock and here's how I went.

I took a A6 piece of navy cardstock and placed in my We R Memory Keepers stamping platform. I them arranged the varioius engineering tools and equipment from the Engineers Rule stamp set around the outside of the card before closign the door on the stamping platform to grab the stamps.

Using Hyacinth Versa Colour ink I stamped these images a few times using my stamping platform. I decided to use the lilac Hyacinth colour over a white pigment ink because it gives a more subtle look which appeals to me.

To make sure the ink was dry I gave it a quick drying with my heat tool before rubbing my anti-static powder bag tool all over the notecard in preparation for heat embossing.

I decided the sentiment "Wishing you a Merry and Bright Christmas" would look good on this card. As a bonus it meant I could utilise stamps from both My Favourite Things' Hand Lettered stamp set and Simon Says Stamp's Holiday Greetings Set 1. I stamped these using clear embossing ink and then heat embossing it all using white embossing powder.

To finish off I adhered this note card to the front of a silver card base using double-sided tape.

Overall I really am fond of the outcome of this card. I love the look of it, the idea of it and the masculinity of it - it's hard to make cards for guys sometimes! If I were to make this card again I would probably place the words closer to another so the sentiment is more centred in te middle of the card but that is the perfectionist in me coming out.

Hope you enjoyed the card and can draw some inspirations from it for your own creations.

Happy Crafting!

Mel Crafting.

Christmas Card - Engineer's Christmas

Engineer's Christmas Card

This is the first card of many that I intend to make using Altenew's Engineers Rule stamp set. I also used My Favourite Things' Hand Lettered Holiday stamp set too.

Firstly I took some black note card and stuck it to my We R Memory Keepers stamping platform using low tack masking tape.

Then I arranged the various tools and images in the Engineers Rule stamp set around the edge of the black note card. I used Versa Color in Hyacinth to stamp a surrounding border of engineering tools and images.

Using clear embossing ink I stamped Happy Christmas from MFT Lettered Holiday stamp set. Then I hear set it using white embossing powder from ranger.

To complete the sentiment I stamped "wishing you a" above Happy from Simon Says Stamp's Holiday Greetings Set 1. Then I used letters from an alphabet set to stamp "engineer's" above Christmas. I used Stampin Up whisper white ink for both.

Finally, I adhered the notecard to the front of a silver cardbase using double-sided tape.

I quite liked the watermark look of the border and I love how masculine this card turned out. Please note this card was largely an experiment, I would have liked to line up each part of the sentiments much straighter to give a cleaner and more engineered look. However, it hopefully gives a good idea of what I was trying to achieve and gives you inspiration to create something similar.

Happy Crafting!

Mel Crafting.