Every year I say to myself that I will start my holiday cards early and each year I reach this point and tell myself, "It's that time again."

This is one of my first Christmas cards for 2008 and I used the Poinsettia Blocks image from Inka Stamps and magic leafing flakes for the coloring. On black cardstock it looks really festive.

Remember . . . next week is a blog candy offer with an added surprise. Hope you will check back and participate.

Yes, I have changed as a result of my art and the numerous friends and contacts I have made along the way.

This card was created for Inka Stamps as a member of her Design Team. The wonderful mystic fairy collage is also from Inka Stamps.

Just wait until you see her new fairy images for the holidays. AND, I will be listing blog candy and another surprise next week, so do check back.

My good friend, Inka, would not let me throw in the towel. She came by the house today with all of her tools and expertise to walk me through soldering. The most important tip was making certain you have the right tools. (Wonder where I've heard that before.) Secondly, the soldering tip must be clean or the bits of carbon will transfer to your piece which is not a good thing. She taught me to clean the tip after each use and then apply the solder sparingly. Not in globs as on my first attempt.

With a lot more practice, I might just like this technique. My dear hubby saw my earlier post and surprised me with a soldering iron and coil of solder. However, it had to be returned because it was not the type for crafts or jewelry making. He was so thoughtful and I hated to return a gift but like Inka said, "You have to have the right tools."

Now don't you see some improvement from my first attempt? I may have a soldering iron and tools back on my shopping list.

Carolyn

Left overs -- this card is the result of leftover watercolor cardstock that started out as a wash using several different colors of watercolors. I stamped the Heather image from Inka Stamps in black and when dry bleached out the details and recolored with alcohol markers (Copic and Tria). The background was a combination of stamps, also from Inka, inked with Adirondack Latte. The verse was stamped in black and as much as I tested to make certain it would be straight, it is crooked. The ribbon can be attached with a glue dot to straighten but the verse will just have to do and those who believe in magic won't concern themselves if it is a little lopsided.

I love the Heather image because it can be interpreted so many different ways.

I am hoping you can see the fish images on my card I created using the soot technique. I had some glossy background paper I made a while back with shaving cream and I used it for this card. I held the cardstock thru the flame of a candle to pick up the soot. Then I stamped my image which removed the soot. I cleaned the stamp before I applied it a second and third time. Then I used a final fixative to seal the soot; otherwise, it would smear. The Gyotaku fish stamp is from Inka Stamps and the seashells were from a string of beads.

Cuttlebug embossing folders are all the rage and I used a leaf to embellish this card. The background was created by using two Nick Bantock ink pads swiping the lightest shade first and highlighting with the darker shade using alcohol on a cotton ball to blend the colors.

For the contrast for the leaf, I reversed the colors and swiped the darker pad first and then the lighter shade. The cardstock was first crumpled into a ball and ironed flat to create a texture.

At our local stamp club this week, the project selected by one of the members was soldering. She provided one-inch glass pieces, tape and equipment and we were to bring photos or items to encase.

Well, let me say that I failed terribly. I have had a soldering iron on my wish list for some time but can honestly say it has been removed. What started out as a perfect square turned into a glob wrapped around the glass.

However, the images I used are still pretty -- Asian Inchies from Inka Stamps.

Henceforth, I'll leave the soldering to the experts and focus on other techniques.

One last Halloween card and then it is on to fall, Thanksgiving, and before we know it Christmas. I recently purchased some of the new Cuttlebug embossing folders and just had to make a card to go with the Halloween background. Besides, the skeletons from Inka's collage sheet were a perfect match.