Can you feel the excitement building? Every time I pop over here to add a new post, I can just FEEL how anxious you all are through the manner in which you write your comments. What a blessing to be able to bring a little sunshine to someone’s day just by sharing what I love here on the blog!
So only two more days to go until the BIG reveal at Papertrey. Out of the four sets that we will be debuting Friday night, I have yet to share any images of the fourth and final set. I have to say that this set is really a labor of love! It is my very first linear image set that I have drawn by hand. We had been receiving several emails from people requesting that we do a Santa, but every time I even tried to THINK about approaching that subject, I just became overwhelmed at the task. Then one day the idea for this Santa just popped into my head. I have no idea where it came from, but I was so happy to receive the "random act of inspiration"!
So I drew him up that very night. It took some time for him to evolve into something just right, but in the end I am SO happy with the results. If you’ll notice, he doesn’t have any hands! I promise, that it isn’t an error in the image! I wanted him to be able to hold different objects, without having to do any time consuming masking (especially if you needed to mass produce 50+ cards!) So I gave his sleeves a little extra length and omitted his fingertips.
Now, to choose what he shall hold! You will notice that there are six different options! Fun, isn’t it!
For today’s project I selected the wreath (it’s one of my favorite little pieces from this set!) I just inked it up and stamped it directly into the space between his sleeves. Super easy!
Now onto the subject of coloring. Anyone that has followed my work would most likely notice that I am not a big "colorer". (Is that a word? Well if it isn’t, then I am now making it an official term. How do I get in contact with Webster’s?!?!?) Solid image stamps appeal to me and the idea of coloring kind of, well, scares me! Don’t know why, it just does! Coloring just usually doesn’t mesh with the clean approach I usually take with my projects. (You would really chuckle if you happen to have the current October issue of Paper Crafts. They assigned me with the task of doing a special feature in their Face Your Fears column on watercoloring…bwahhahah!) So, I figured after I designed this stamp set, I would have to get over it and play a little bit.
While playing I made the COOLEST discovery! If you color with normal water-based dye markers (I used the Stampin’ Up! brand) on Kraft cardstock, your stroke marks virtually disappear! I know, it may be hard to believe, but I swear it works! Here is a close-up view of my results. Now granted, it makes your colors a tad darker than they are originally intended, but just go with the flow and coordinate your cardstock based on ink results rather than their "real-life" hues. The white areas were colored in with a White Sharpie Poster Paint Pen (love these things, the paint rolls evenly when coloring in large areas, more so than the Signo white gel pen ink). The poster paint pens can generally be picked up at any Wal-Mart.
Here is a look at my final project. All the images used on the cover of this card are included in our new Santa set.
And you can’t forget the inside, can we? Do these fonts look familiar? This interior sentiment is from the set I introduced to you yesterday. It was a perfect compliment to the Santa set, I think. I stamped the sentiment in white and added the berry accents in black, going back in and coloring the images appropriately. The color looks so vibrant!
And last but not least, the back! If you look through our stamp sets, just about every single one of them includes a "handmade by" stamp that coordinates. This set is no exception. This "handmade with love by" stamp has a miniature version of the berries to accent it.
So tell me what you think of the Papertrey version of linear images? Is this style something you would like to see more of? Or is it not really your style? I would love to hear your thoughts!
You will want to be sure to stop by tomorrow. I will be answering questions posted here the last few days along with more fun projects. I’ll see you then!
Yes… I was waiting up to see if I could catch your next reveal before I went to bed. And, it was definitely worth the wait. I love this little Santa! What a wonderful and fun set! Thanks for the tip on the white Sharpie pen. Will pick one of those up soon!
Thank you for a new Santa image!
Oh Nichole, this is just AWESOME!!! I CANNOT WAIT to see the whole set! These PaperTrey sets are making me so excited, and it’s so much fun to see the new ones each month. . . I LOVE IT! Your card is just beautiful, I can hardly wait to see what the team did with the sets! The gallery is going to be FABULOUS!!!
OMG!!!! I love this guy!! I can’t wait to see what PINEY does with him!!! I know she and all the others will do something fabulous that makes me wish I had a MONEY TREE!! Nichole this is sooooo cute!
Gorgeous! I love the versatility of this set already. For a first linear image set I think you did a fab job. I can hardly wait to ink it up and play.
I seem to love everything you do, so, yes on the linear images. 🙂 I love the fact that you have also included the sayings inside the card. So much easier for me. I always look forward to your countdown/s and am glad I am wide awake when the 15th of the month ticks in!
I like your santa’s style! It’s simple and classic looking.
OH be still my pounding-with-excitement-heart!!! WOW! I LOVE Santas, and yours is beautiful!! Simple but beautiful!!
I love the tip about the kraft paper and SU markers……saving money from buying Copics!
But Santa images are never my ‘thing’ so Im not too in love with him. I like that you left the space for him to hold items though.
Even though I dont care for Santa images you did a great job in creating him! And Im still looking forward to the next few days and the final release!
I don’t care much for linear Santa images either, but I am definitely in awe of your creativity, Nichole! I love the teeny-tiny berries! Can’t wait for release night!!!!
PS. I’d definitely go for a nice nativity set, though… 🙂
OK – I think you should just sell us all of the sets already! Maybe you can make a special item number for those of us who will want ALL of them! Seriously- these are really great and I loved the tip about the Poster Paint pen.
Well Nichole I love Santa and have many to choose from but I have to say simplicity is what makes yours so special. You did a fabulous job at coloring! I’m definitely a fanatic over Christmas and can barely wait to see the sets in their entirety. It’s also going to be wonderful to see what your design team does with them all. I bet Debbie does a great job with Santa! I haven’t had much luck trying to locate that white Sharpie paint pen.
I am about to EXPLODE! I LOVE this stamp and I love coloring images so I’m all for the open stamps.
I am always looking for a better white pen, ink, or marker this sounds like a great idea. TFS.
This is lovely. Stunning actually. I love the simplicity of the images and now that you have shown that it’s possible to color the image in without a bunch of streaks, I say why not more? All of your work is so classy and elegant. I am so excited about the release! Hurry up September 15th! 🙂
aww that santa is just what i was hoping to see !! i cant wait to have one set in my hands
I love the clean lines of your Santa and you did a super job coloring him! Can’t wait for the new release!!!
I really like this Santa, because I think he looks a little more like the German St. Niklaus…so I will probably have to get this set to make cards for our German friends over here! I can’t wait to see all the new sets on Saturday morning German-time!
Wow, wow, wow! Nichole I love this Santa and all his little possessions. I hope you will continue to draw line art. He has such a clean and classic look — like no other Santa stamp I’ve seen.
Give me something to color and I’m happy! Love it Nichole. Can’t wait!
Your Santa is FABULOUS!!!! Love that he has the look of an Olde World Santa — love the simple lines — and it was pure GENIUS on your part to leave off his hands!!!! This little Santa is a standout!!!!
not too much of a santa fan here but i do like his versatility- could he also be the three wisemen? So looking forward each and every day to your posts-thanks!
Rochelle
I am in so much trouble now… I was going to wait and order a set but now I know I will be placing an order on saturday…
Wonderful – I love your Santa! I can hardly wait for the big release. Keep ’em coming!
you have no idea how much I look forward to your countdowns (probably because I dont’ post that often as I’m trying to check them out so early before I have to head off to work!) but, this Santa…man, Nichole…he has such a vintage feel to him…you did an AWESOME job with him & I LOVE the items he can hold!! I never really ‘do’ Santa (that sounds bad) but because of YOU I will HAVE to!! LOVE the tip about the markers on Kraft! It goes PERFECTLY with him!!
I love Santa, and I’m not a huge Santa image fan. This card is sweet!! I love to color and this is delightful. I would love more line art (is that the right word??) LOL
Oh, love it! You did terrific with the linear stamp!! I don’t in general like Santa stamps but I’m in for this one!
thank you, thank you, thank you for using su markers 🙂 oh my good… what a great feeling 🙂 if YOU use the su markers maaaybe i do not need the copics as soon as is thought 🙂
nichole i cant wait to see your new release! your sets are always so pretty and versatile.
Nicole,
I own every set Papertrey has made so far so I can’t wait to see these. You can bet that I’ll be there Friday night anxiously awaiting their arrival. I’m not too big on linear images but I LOVE LOVE LOVE the way you can make him hold things. That will make the difference for me about whether or not I wuold purchase this set. Fabulous job on all that I have seen so far. Any chance of some winter florals (poinsettias ect..). Or even a nativity set with a bible verse or two in them? Great job. Keep the creativity flowing.
Oh, great – so not only do I now need your new set, but I need Kraft cardstock and a Sharpie pen……good thing it’s nearly my birthday 🙂
BTW, I saw your tutorial in the Papercrafts magazine and I loved it. I would never have guessed you have a fear of coloring but obviously a fear of it and a talent for it are two different things because your pumpkin was beautiful!
What a great Santa, Nicole! Along the same lines HO!HO! a Holy Family with faces…SU had one with no faces and It left me feeling they forgot to add it ….
I love how you can add different images to his hands ….you rock!Can’t wait to order all 4 sets.
when I 1st started stamping I never would buy a set if I had to color it in because I was so afraid of making my project ugly. I have faced my fears of coloring & I’m glad you have too. I LOVE what I’ve seen so far with these sets and I am so excited to have a PaperTrey set to color in. This simple linear Santa image in genious
Another winner! I love your pictures…like the signature! Hurry 9/15! But I too love the countdown!!!
Good job Nicole!!! Love the santa. Can’t wait to see all the new sets.
Nichole, you never cease to amaze me. I love this Santa and all the little things he can carry. I can’t wait to own this!
This card is beautiful, love the simplicity and elegance of it. That image with the ability to customize it with other items is great.
That is such a cool Santa! Really looking forward to the 15th!
You are amazing. This card has such a vintage feel to it that I just LOVE! While I’m not a Santa fan myself, and don’t do a lot of coloring, I can see the appeal of these images. I DO like that he looks more like St. Nicholas, than the typical “Santa Claus”.
I don’t send Christmas cards, but I might have to change my mind this year.
Yikes-a-bee!! I am SO going to be ordering this set….and probably a couple of the others!! Oh my!! Good thing I’ve been good with my spending lately!!! Heehee!!
I am not a Santa fan, but I would love to see a nativity set similar to this.
What an awesome project, girlie! I am loving the line images, and another hint for you…your marker lines disappear on YOUR cardstock just like on the Kraft! Amazing, huh?? Try it!
Wonderful illustration. the coloring turned out great. I love using markers on kraft paper. I did a tutorial on my blog that shows using SU! markers on colored paper and Prismacolor pencil.
http://hopartstudios.typepad.com/hop_art_studios/2007/05/prismacolor_pen.html
Thanks for sharing your talents with us.
I love the Santa. I am like you though, I am terified of coloring in my images so therefore I rarely use them, I should just get over it!
I do not have any of your stamps I have the hardest time with clear stamps…….. but I think I am going to have to get over that because I dont think I can live with out that santa!!!!!!!! I just cant stay off of your blog and I think you did a swell bob on your coloring!!!!!! I cant wait!
I do not have any of your stamps I have the hardest time with clear stamps…….. but I think I am going to have to get over that because I dont think I can live with out that santa!!!!!!!! I just cant stay off of your blog and I think you did a swell bob on your coloring!!!!!! I cant wait!
Fantastic! I’m just beginning to dabble in coloring, and your pointer about Kraft cardstock is wonderful! I have a few Prismacolors, but haven’t wanted to make the Copic leap and have been trying to figure out how to make my coloring with my SU! markers look better. Thanks so much for the tip, and I can’t wait for the reveal!!!!
I, too, am afraid of coloring! I’m *so* glad that I’m not the only one. Because of this, I also try to stay away from line-drawn stamps, which has been pretty difficult since they seem to be all the rage right now. But, this santa is *too* cute, I may just have to invest in a line-drawn stamp for once!
Thanks for tips on Kraft paper (just bought some, too) and the White Poster Pen (sounds like I need to make a Walmart run!).
Can’t wait for the 15th! 😀
I see a run on White Poster Pens at Walmart!!!
I love the Old World look of the Santa!!
Any hopes for a nativity set?
Your amazing girl!
I love all the stuff you have done so far in the countdown. I tend to shy away from a lot of linear images cause I don’t enjoy all that detail work. That being said, I DO enjoy the clean linear images (like Bellas) and I think you have captured that with your Santa. Wonderful job, that one just might be added to my collection. I love that card you made! Thanks for sharing all you know:)!
Dang – I love it!
I was hoping that I would say, Nah! I don’t need it!
But I need it! Don’t I?
Love the poster paint in white! WOW! Looks like I am taking the six to Walmart! Yeah baby!
If I wasn’t a struggling SU demo I would buy every product PaperTrey sells! Your stamps sets are among the best on the market–so fresh and sophisticated. Often I find SU sets to be too cartoonish and more often very limited in scope. You would have to buy 3 or 4 of their sets to get the variety you offer in just 1! Prime example is your amazing Halloween set. Kudos for creating such awesome products for such a reasonable price. SU should follow your lead!
This has to be one of my favorite Santa images ever! I have some new Copic markers, so it will be fun to experiment with this set. Awesome!
ohmyheck I love it!
Ok, now that I’ve actually READ your post instead of just drooling over the card I will answer the question:
Yes I love this set, I think you are very talanted with the line images. But I’d hate to see you get entirely away from the solid images, because they do make such quick clean cards and I have come to expect that from PT and think of you first for that look. So I’m all for both and love this Santa (and he would be cute with a reindeer friend?)but my favorite stamps of yours are the solid. No wait, my FAVORITE is your phrases and stuff. I like that each set has a bunch of words for it. Ok, I like everything. 🙂
I would love to see more stamps sets that I can color…Im a big colorer…I know some people hate to color, but I thrive on it. I will be purchasing these Christmas sets when they come out for sure. I hope they are not all sold out before I get a chance..lol
Also, when you say you used Kraft paper, where do you get that?
Thanks
Sonya
i used to tend towards complex, realistic images. then i got a set of SU images that were crisp, clean, “linear” and was hooked. the look is so professional, like it was “printed”. i love these new papertrey sets and haven’t even seen them yet! could this be BETTER than love at first sight?
The linear design is great! Although I too find myself drawn to bold, solid images, I can certainly appreciate the line art and enjoy colouring quite a bit. You did a fabulous job with your first linear set. I would LOVE to see more this in the future!
I *LOVE* the santa image!! I like more simple images to color so this is perfect. And I love that you always include a “handmade by” stamp that coordinates with your stamps – it just finishes off the card so nicely!
Wow, Nichole..your new sets are fabulous! I’m so loving the new Santa and would love to see some more linear sets. I’m like you, I prefer solid image stamps over coloring, but judging by that Santa you’ll change my mine!
I love the trick with the objects in the missing hands area… I have a couple stamps that I have to mask off an area to insert my own images… so I am excited to see you build it into the stamp! From a customer perspective I feel like it adds value–more possibilities from one stamp set. Nice looking Santa–still clean/crisp (just your style).
P.S. You revealed too much! You should have just said “here is the wreath… and there are more!”
Can you tell I love the suspense and excitement of your marketing techniques? 🙂
Great work Nichole!
OMG! I’ve been looking for a Santa set that I like and this is it! This is exactly the style and type of Santa I was looking for. I can’t wait! Thanks so much!
I love this Santa! I think you did a terrific job with him. I love line art images, but am especially drawn to those that have clean, straight lines and don’t look like they were drawn freehand. Don’t get me wrong, the freehand approach and look is nice, but when you want a card to have an elegant, polished feel I just think they look so much nicer when the lines are smooth and even across the image. Great job Nichole!
I’m so excited about the new release, just a few more days!!!
Susan
This is a beautiful set and I love how you make sets that have mix and match elements and work with so may different things. Honestly though, the lack of hands freaks me out a little. I like how you can put the little items there, but they look like they are floating on the Santa to me and I’m not crazy about the final look. Other than the hands I really like it, and you do such a beautiful job with the coloring.
I just absolutely LOVE this stamp set. it is so cool for christmas. 🙂 make a great addition for my collection of stamps. lol.
Another faboulous reason to be a kraft paper believer 😉 I LOVE the santa and wreath – absolutely some of my very favorite images from the release!
Love the Santa and the saying. Can’t wait for midnight–1 more day.
Thanks for all your hard work.
Great stuff, Nichole! I love your images… all of them! Now I just need to find that money tree so I can get one! Your prices are great, I just need to prioritize my stamping money better! 😉
I have a long letter written to you, too long for the comment box, will send later. I think you’re the greatest. Can’t wait for tomorrow, will be at the chat!
OH! You are so tempting! I love this Santa! I can hardly wait to see all the new stuff!
The santa is ADORABLE!! Love the idea of him holding things – too cute! Can’t wait to see it all!!
Oh my Gosh! I am now an official PaperTreyInk addict! I have truly fallen in love with your stamp sets, and the company itself! I eagerly open my email the last few days to see the newest project and sneak peak of the 9/15 countdown! I can’t wait to order all 4 (much to my husband’s dismay), and get working on my Christmas cards! Thanks for all the great ideas and tutorials. Can’t wait for tomorrow!
I’m thinkin’ I’m likin’ it! What a cute set,Nichole!
I don’t know which set is my most favorite. This Santa set is awesome!! I know I’ll be owning all 4 sets, can’t wait until midnight tomorrow night! Great job on all your new creations, you are very talented. Thanks for the inspiration.
Oh Yeah….he’s adorable. But is it just me or is that BELIEVE stamp the greatest sentiment stamp ever?!!! hee hee.
I can’t wait to see the complete sets you have for us on the 15th. Midnight where I live is earlier than where you live, good for me!!
I noticed you saying your weren’t a colorer, I didn’t used to be either until I discovered Prismacolor pencils and gamsol and Copic markers! That makes you a DD kinda girl. That’s Definately Decorative in SU talk. =)
I love all your sets you have. You are one very talented girl. This Santa is what I have been looking for, he is just right. Looks like all the Christmas ones will be great. Can’t wait till the 15th!!
Absolutely beautiful!
I love all your stamps; they are so clean and innovative. The Santa is just wonderful; please do more images like this! Can’t wait to see the full sets!
Okay….I’m dying here? Is there no post for Thursday night? Ugg! I soo love all you have been showing! I can hardly wait for tomorrow night! : )
P.S. I ordered my first set with last month’s reveal and WOW! I think one of the things that I loved the most about the whole thing….was your presentation, your packaging….I felt like I was opening a gift when I recieved my stuff! Even the lable for the white paper is beautiful! Thank you for spoiling us!
I have just started working with coloring images as well, I have a fear of this. I use more of the other style of stamps ink and go not so much the other. However, you set looks like it is going to be a great one. I can’t wait to see the new sets!
Best of luck on the launch.
I’m new to PaperTreyInk and I can’t wait to see what’s in store. The projects are great! Keep them coming!
Wow What a gteat new set. Thanks for sharing!
I love these. I’m a newbie and just learning, but I love your directions too. They are most helpful to me.