Hello and welcome! Today I have another simple one layer Christmas card idea to share featuring coloring with a shimmer pen. Recently I’ve been looking into simple ways to color images and I shared a video showing how to color using a single white pen, I also made a few cards and colored them using Nuvo Drops.
For today’s video I wanted to explore another simple and quick way to add color to outline images and I decided I’d use my shimmer pen. We wont be necessarily adding color to the images, not technically coloring them in a traditional sense of the way, but we will use the shimmer pen to highlight these images and help them pop off the background.
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VIDEO TUTORIAL
As always, I filmed a video tutorial showing how to create this project from start to finish. I’m hoping you’ll enjoy it. Watch it below or on my Youtube channel.
Like this video? Please give it a big thumbs up (you can do this on Youtube video page right under the video) and share with a crafty friend! Leave me a comment too, I love hearing from you!
CARD DETAILS
I used Ornamental stamp set by Cathy Z for Simon Says Stamp from the Fun & Festive release and heat embossed images in Antique Gold embossing powder on Island Blue cardstock.
This is fun Holiday stamp set with modern imagery and sentiments that allow you to create Christmas ornaments. My idea here is to have a sentiment on my card and surround it with pretty ornaments. Each ornament is different, with a different pattern or sentiment. This stamp set offers a number of options to decorate the ornaments – you have several sentiment and several images that all fit inside that ornament image. I love stamp sets like this with lots of versatility to them and clever and modern designs.
Next I ink blended my background for an ombre look. I used Deep See ink as my mid color and Navy as my dark color (also blending Black at the very top) keeping the bottom of my panel the way it is. I really love doing these ombre ink blended backgrounds lately, they are simple to make, but look beautiful.
To color each ornament I used shimmer pen from Tonic Studios. I simply added a generous amount of shimmer onto each image (I did to so twice to have as much shimmer as possible). You can totally color these using markers, watercolors, or anything else you like to use, I wanted to try alternative ways to color so I’ve been exploring other mediums I could color with.
Once the shimmer was dry I adhered my panel onto an A2 white side folding card base and I also added several nuvo drops in Red and White to add a pop of color to this Holiday card. I love the way it turned out, I kept my stamps in the MISTI tool as I plan to mass produce this card design.
You can also try and do this in a different color, you can go with red and add a really deep red ink blending, you can go with pink, teal, even green would look stunning. I hope you’ll give this idea a try using these or other stamps from your stash. If you do, remember to share online and tag on social media – I also love seeing what you guys are making.
SUPPLIES
I’m listing the products I used below. Click on the link to go directly to the product. Where available I use compensated affiliate links which means if you make a purchase I receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thank you so much for your support!
 CZ Design Clear Stamps Ornamental Shop at: SSS |
 Neenah 110 Lb Solar White Cardstock Shop at: SSS |
 Simon Says Stamp Island Blue Cardstock Shop at: SSS |
 Hero Arts Navy Ink Pad Shop at: SSS |
 Simon Says Stam Deep Sea Ink Pad Shop at: SSS |
 Simon Says Stamp Intense Black Ink Shop at: SSS |
 Tonic Gloss White Nuvo Drops Shop at: SSS |
 Tonic Red Berry Gloss Nuvo Crystal Drops Shop at: SSS |
 Hero Arts Heat Embossing Gun Shop at: SSS |
 Versamark Watermark Emboss Ink Pad Shop at: SSS |
 EK Success Powder Tool Applicator Shop at: SSS |
 Mini Misti Stamping Tool Shop at: SSS |
 Spellbinders Circle Replacement Foam Shop at: SSS |
 Ranger Mini Round Ink Blending Tools Shop at: SSS |
 Tonic Aqua Shimmer Pen Nuvo Shop at: SSS |
 Scor-tape 2 1/2 Inch Crafting Tape Shop at: SSS |
BLOG HOP
Use code FEST587 for a free gift (festive Stickles) with any order! The code will expire Sunday, 10/14 at 11:59 pm ET.
If you arrived from the lovely Debby Hughes the next stop on this hop is amazing Yoonsun Hur. You can also start over at the Simon Says Stamp Blog.
GIVEAWAY!
Simon is giving away a $25 coupon to every stop on the hop from blog comment section. Comment below for your chance to win. Winners will be posted on Simon Says Stamp store blog on Wednesday.
SAVE ME/PIN ME TO PINTEREST
Like this card idea? Be sure to save it to one of your Pinterest boards for future reference!
How fun and simple too!
I have only ink blended with distress inks, I really like the dye ink blending you did. I need to give this a try. Your card is simple and stunning!
I love the dimension that the crystal drops give!
What a fantastic idea for a card that is easy and elegant all at once. 🙂
I love the blue and gold!
Great card! Very elegant!
Stunning card. Love the added sparkle. TFS
Love, love, love this card!!
Thanks for showing how you created these fun creation using the new collection from SSS!
I really like how your card turned out. It’s lovely and that shimmer totally made it pop!
Love the Island Blue!
I LOVE the gold embossing on the blue card. It is so bright and festive!
Beautiful blues with that gold, too gorgeous. Do I love coloring with that shimmer pen….. Nicely done.
Very pretty card and fairly easy to reproduce multiple times. Thanks for the video. I love the ombre shading.
Adorable one layer bauble card!
Love the blue card.
Love your card- thanks for sharing!!
Thank you so much for always walking us through how you made the card! It is so helpful.
Thank you for sharing your technique and tips. Very beauriful!
This is a simple card to complete but absolutely stunning. I love the blues but the other colors would be gorgeous as well. I love your card designs. Always get such good ideas from you. Thank you for sharing.
Very pretty design, love this.
You’ve been rockin’ these one layer cards lately and I love it! This card is gorgeous and easy enough to reproduce. The shimmer shows up so nicely on the dark card stock. Red would be really pretty too!
Love the modern, graphic feel on this CAS card, so elegant with the gold and navy!
Yana, thanks for the great video on this card!!!
I love the simplicity of this card but at the same time it is elegant and quite beautiful.
Love the simplicity and festiveness of this card!
That isn’t left over paint from the hallway is it?? Love your embossing on dark cardstock. I have some dark on order.
Love the ombre look!
I love using shimmer pens too! This card turned out really pretty, and I like the simplicity of it also!
Wonderfully festive card Yana! Gorgeous color combination and design.
Blue and gold is one of my favorite color combinations, so classy.
Lovely card!
Pretty card—love the rich blue and gold together. I have a new shimmer pen, but doesn’t seem as sparkly as examples I’ve seen on the blogs.
I love how your card came out, it’s elegant, fun, festive, shimmery (my favorite), and easy to do! Thank you for sharing it and for the inspiration to make this beautiful design. (mardy14@bellsouth.net)
Wonderful card, love all the shine!
I love the shimmer!
BEAUTIFUL blue for Christmas! wonderful card and sparkly, too!
Another fun one-layer card! Loving these clean and simple card ideas, they are super adorable and elegant!
I love the blue and gold together! Great background!
Simple and pretty, FANTASTIC !
I like the effect of the shimmer pen; perfect.
I love the effect that the shimmer pen has on the blue ink and blue paper. Beautiful!!!
I always love your cards!
Beautiful card, love the new collection.
A really cute card! I love those dew drops.
Very pretty card!! Love the blue and gold.
Fabulous card, love the blue with the gold!
Love this card
Great card!
Oh my gosh, this is so cool! I love how you did this card! I haven’t embossed in quite a while but I remember the first time I showed my little niece, who is now 24, how embossing worked, & saw the expression on her face when the powder melted, that this was something beautiful looking & fun to do. She was young so I didn’t let her play with the gun but the look on her face was priceless. That’s how I feel about your card. I’m going to try to make your card because I have tons of really pretty embossing powder & a new gun. Thanks for showing us your pretty card & for giving us the chance to win something. I want those ornaments when I win!