Today I am decking the halls with boughs of holly. This cute Holly Jolly Gnome just pulls at my heartstrings. I have a stack of stamped and colored gnomes just waiting to be included in cards and projects. You either love these gnomes or … well, I don’t know what!

FACTOID: According to my book on Gnomes by Poortvliet and Huygen, gnomes “see” a great deal of the world through their nose. A gnome can smell the types of trees, grasses, herbs, bushes, mosses, all the cold-blooded and warm-blooded animals, stones, metal, water, and above all human activities.

Are you surprised that there is such a book? I have had it for years. It really is the authority on all things gnome.

Now that I have wondering about my sanity, here is my card

Red & green gnome Christmas card with holly and berries

There are quite a few elements on this card. The little holly sprig is from the retired Carols of Christmas bundle. But, if you do not already own that bundle, just draw them with your Stampin’ Markers.

  • Thick Whisper White cardstock:
    • 4-1/4″ x 11″ scored at 5-1/2″
    • 3-1/4″ x 3-1/4″ for die-cutting square
    • 2-1/2″ x 1-1/2″ for stamping gnome (But honestly, you should just stamp bunches)
  • Shaded Spruce cardstock: 3-3/4″ x 5″
  • Basic Black cardstock: 2″ x 2-1/2″ for sentiment
  • ‘Tis the Season DSP:
    • 3″ x 3″
    • 1/4″ x 5″ (3) – one is for inside message panel
    • 3/8″ x 5″ (1)
    • 3″ x 6″ for envelope flap

Stamp the Good Morning Magnolia image onto the vellum panel using Basic Gray ink. The lines will be blurred by the Stampin’ Blends and the alcohol to create a faux watercolor effect.

Color the image starting with the lightest color. Use Dark Daffodil Delight for the center. Dip a fine-tip paintbrush into the rubbing alcohol and gently move the color. I added Champagne Shimmer Paint to my rubbing alcohol.

Next, color non-adjacent petals with Dark Flirty Flamingo. Gently blur the stamped line. Let dry and repeat on other petals. Do the same for the leaves. TIP: Blow into a straw to gently direct the ink flow in the desired direction.

Add a second layer of color after the image is dry. Repeat the process of alcohol painting and gently blowing the ink.

OPTIONAL: Pick up some clean rubbing alcohol with the paintbrush and flick it over the image. This will create small droplets that will lighten some areas by moving the color outward.

Adhere the vellum panel to the Basic White cardstock panel using Stampin’ Seal or a light amount of Multipurpose Liquid Glue. Add to Basic Black card base.

Stamp the sentiment in White Craft ink and heat emboss with with embossing powder. Trim to you liking. Add to card panel with small black Dimensionals.

Customize the message insert and the envelope with some flicks of color from the brush end of the Stampin’ Blends.

GNOME

  • Stamp gnome on Thick Whisper White using Memento Tuxedo Black ink
  • Color with Stampin’ Blends: Ivory/Bronze, Shaded Spruce, Cherry Cobbler, and Daffodil Delight
  • Add a very very light touch of Real Red Watercolor pencil to the cheeks and nose, then go over the area with the Ivory HINT: It will look too dark, be patient and let it dry
  • Add a little Wink of Stella to the apron and berries
Close-up of gnome colored with Stampin' Blends and Wink of Stella

SENTIMENT

  • Stamp the sentiment from Christmas Gleaming stamp set in White Craft Ink on Basic Black
  • Heat emboss with white embossing powder.
  • Die-cut the sentiment using the Tasteful Label dies
  • Use a sponge wedge dipped in White Craft ink to lightly drag onto the die-cut sentiment TIP: Only drag from the top/bottom toward the center about 1/4″ or so. Then lightly drag ink down the sides from top to bottom.

BACKGROUND

  • Emboss the Shaded Spruce panel with the Scripty 3D embossing folder
  • Add strips cut from the ‘Tis the Season DSP at a diagonal as shown

SQUARE FRAME

  • Using the Layering Squares dies cut
  • 2-7/8″ straight-edged square from Thick Whisper White
  • 2-3/4″ scalloped-edge square from ‘Tis the Season DSP

HOLLY (OPTIONAL)

  • Color directly on holly/berry stamp from Carols of Christmas (retired) with Stampin’ Markers: Real Red and Shaded Spruce TIP: Huff on stamp to re-hydrate ink before stamping your image
  • Die-cut or fussy cut holly/berry image
  • ALTERNATIVE: Use Stampin’ Markers and draw a small holly/berry cluster about 3/4″ square then fussy cut. (as shown)

ASSEMBLY

  • Layer as shown TIP: I used liquid glue – lightly applied
  • Use Black Dimensionals behind sentiment panel and gnome.
  • Stamp inside message panel with a sentiment (add a holly/berry cluster)
  • Use an envelope die from the NEW Ornamental Envelope bundle to add a scalloped edge on the envelope flap. (See how it coordinates with the scalloped-edge on the card front!)

This is another fun Holly Jolly Gnome card to make in multiples. Prepare each of the pieces then work in an assembly line while chatting away with friends or family.

Did you miss my other gnome cards? Check them out here Card #1 and Card #2.


 

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