Merry Christmoose

It’s time for the new release from The Rabbit Hole Designs and we’re getting a jump on Christmas. If you love to color, don’t miss the new Christmoose stamp set; it’s adorable! The main image is a great size too. It’s big enough to mostly fill an A2 card, or trim the bottom and use it on a mini-slimline like I did. Let’s take a look…

Before cutting the moose out with the coordinating die, I stamped him in Warm Glow ink, then colored him with Copic markers for a no-line effect. To add the fine details, I used a Sepia Copic Multiliner. (It coordinates nicely with the Warm Glow ink.) For the highlight details, I used a white gel pen.

Recently, several people have asked me about gel pen highlights. I have a few tips to keep in mind. First, hold your pen with the point down and give it a good shake. That helps get the ink to the tip. Next, start the ink flow on a piece of scratch paper, or your finger. (Kathy Racoosin taught me the finger trick. It also helps wipe away any crusty ink that may have dried on the tip from previous use.) Once you have the ink flowing, go slow. That helps deliver more ink and avoids a ditch, or void of ink, in the center of your lines. As the ink dries, it might absorb into the paper, or pick up color from underneath. Just let the ink dry completely, and draw over it again. Building up layers will give you a nice bright finish. If you want to use gel pens for soft highlights (like breaking waves, or gold highlights in hair), draw lines or dots, and quickly smudge them with your finger.

When using gel pens with Copic markers, color with the markers first, then apply gels on top. Do not color over gel pen ink with Copics, or you can gum up the tips of your markers. (If you need to add more color after you’ve applied gel pens, use colored pencils.) If your gel pen highlights get out of control, or you get a blob of ink, you can wipe it off with a damp cloth. Water will not smear alcohol ink. (If you want to add both shimmer pen and gel pen highlights, apply the shimmer first. Since most shimmer solutions are water based, they will smear gel pen ink.) I hope these tips are helpful. Gel pen highlights are a great final detail that can help your colored images pop. Shameless plug, I’ve found a great manufacturer, and now carry Essential Gel Pens in our shop.

Back to my card. With the moose colored and die cut, it was time to attach him to a card. I opted for a mini-slimline because that’s my favorite size right now (3¼” x 6¼”). To cut the blue scalloped layer, I had to do some partial die cutting with a scalloped rectangle die to extend the length. Similarly, I had to shorten a stitched slimline die for the white sentiment layer. After stamping the sentiment in a coordinating light blue ink, I glued it flat to the scalloped panel, then popped them up with foam tape. I popped the moose up with more foam tape, and trimmed the bottom flush with the card. To add a little sparkle, I scattered on some gems.

What do you think? Isn’t he cute? This card fits into a #7 coin envelope and mails with a single stamp in the US (in case you are looking for mass production ideas). I’ll be teaching a class in the Card Maker Success Summit in July, featuring this same Christmoose stamp set. It’s a free online event; I hope you join me! (Click here for more information.)

Are you ready for more inspiration? Hop along with us!

[row]

[column size=”1/2″ stack=”sm”]

The Rabbit Hole Designs
Amanda – you are here
Jenn – next stop
Joy
Kelly
Kim

[/column]

[column size=”1/2″ stack=”sm”]

Tangii
Terra
Vanessa
Jenn Shurkus
Becky Roberts

[/column]

[/row]

 GIVEAWAYS:

To celebrate the new release, The Rabbit Hole Designs is giving away two savings vouchers; one to a lucky Instagram Follower and one to a lucky Facebook Fan Page follower. Winners will be chosen at random from the comments left on the Instagram post, and comments left on the Fan Page post. So make sure to head on over to Instagram and look for the giveaway post @therabbitholedesignsllc and look for the post on The Rabbit Hole Designs Fan Page. Comment by 11:59 p.m. PDT on July 1, 2021 to enter. Winners will be announced on The Rabbit Hole Designs blog July 2nd.

Thanks so much for stopping by today. It’s going to be a busy week here. I’ll be back with more inspiration from The Rabbit Hole Designs on Wednesday. Thursday I’ll be sharing an adorable pop-up card, and Friday we have an awesome collaboration and special guest designer! You don’t want to miss any of the fun, so be sure to check back then. I plan to go LIVE on YouTube again this weekend; I hope you will join me! (If you are not familiar with my channel, click here, then subscribe, and turn on notifications so you don’t miss out.) Oh, and since Sunday is the 4th of July, we’ll be cancelling Crafternoon. But we’ll be back on the 11th. See you there!

This site uses affiliate links whenever possible (at no additional cost to you), but only for products I actually use and love.