The Retiform Technique meets Christmas!

I just finished doing the Retiform Technique for a SWAP that I had joined.  Doing this technique over and over again to make sufficient cards to swap almost did me in.  It's gorgeous!  I love that grid effect.  It also takes time and making a whole bunch at once isn't easy.

I began with a 3 ¾” x 5” piece of Very Vanilla, a 4 ¼” x    5 ½” base cardstock of Cherry Cobbler, another cardstock layer of Crumbcake and a final cardstock layer of Early Espresso.  The Very Vanilla would be used to make the Retiform (grid) pattern and stamping, it would be adhered to the Early Espresso to frame it.  The Crumbcake would be mounted on the base Cherry Cobbler cardstock.  Then I would use dimensionals to mount the stamped and framed Very Vanilla layer to the base.   

I also used 3 stamp pads (Cherry Cobbler, Crumbcake and Early Espresso), the Clockworks stamp set, the Open Sleigh stamp set, the Scentsational Season stamp set and the Jolly Bingo Bits stamp set , 3 sponges and copy paper cut into three strips.

I stamped my centre image in Cherry Cobbler and then  began using the strips of copy paper to mask off sections in a grid pattern around the image.  To sponge in the sections around the centre image, I used only the Crumbcake and Cherry Cobbler, making sure to keep the mask in place to get clean, crisp lines. Once I had all my sections sponged, I dabbed a bit of Early Espresso lightly in areas to create more contrast.  Then I stamped images into each section, primarily using Crumbcake but also adding several stamped images in Early Espresso and Cherry Cobbler.  I finished by sponging a bit of Crumbcake lightly over the centre image.

Just for a little "WOW" I stamped the cardinal from the Jolly Bingo Bits and fussy-cut him out.  Then I covered him generously with Crystal Effects.  Once dry, I mounted him on dimensionals and added the "Merry" from tiny tags.

This is an eye-catching technique once you get started.  It lets you create a mood using a variety of stamps and colours.  I just love the way the Christmas card turned out, don't you?