Monogram Cards for Christmas Gifts

I made these cards for Christmas gifts for my dh coworkers and friends. The stamps are by PSX and since they are OOB they are hard to find and are quite pricey but worth it, I think. Most of the papers are Basic Grey, Lily Kate. This is my favorite printed paper company. I made three covered tins and four matching totes. Each had ten cards and envies. The pink paper is by Doodlebug Designs and the red/purple paper is by Paper Adventures. All teh other paper is Basic Grey.

I made the "S' tin first. I used Mod Podge to stick the paper to the tin. You need to use quite a bit of it to stick the paper to the tin so that it does not separate later. Then you coat it with thinner smooth coats after it has dried. Be careful - once the paper sticks together you cannot safely remove it without damaging the paper. Also, be careful not to touch the uncoated paper with sticky hands or you may damage the paper. I would suggest you practice on a cheap tin or box first. By the third tin I was feeling more confident with the technique.

I used watercolor pencils for the letters. After the first set I decided to go get some Copic markers. I read how much others like using them on other blogs. They did blend well but I don't think they are worth the money. They are a lot like Pantone markers I used when I worked at The Houston Post. They look good blended - you cannot see lines like regular markers. But I like the look of watercolors so I went back to the pencils. I definately like the Prisma Pencils the best. The leads seem softer and the colors brighter once you add water. The Copic markers may be better with larger areas to fill in. I got some larger Hot Potatoes stamps this week so I may try the Copic markers with these stamps and let you know how it goes. I only bought 7 markers. They were 30% off at Hobby Lobby and I still spent about $30. Ouch!

Another new item I used with these cards was the ATG. I got it for my birthday. I used to use about $4.00 worth of adhesive on six cards. I like things to stick!!! With the ATG - Adhesive Tape Gun by 3M I use about $2.50 worth of adhesive for 30 cards. You can read more about these on Split Coast Stampers Discussions Boards. The gun is about $35 plus postage but after a while it more than pays for itself and you don't have to feel guilty if you have a lead hand with the tape :-)