Nostalgia overload here with the new Nativity Play stamps from Kindred Stamps. When I saw this set, I knew I had to have it. As a child the magic of the holidays fills your entire being. The awe of the lights, the sparkle of the trees, and then the traditions. One tradition in our family was setting up our nativity scene and listening to my Opa read from the Bible. The warmth of family, love, joy, and hope for the future topped with the sparkle of lights, singing of carols, and hot chocolate to this day still fill me up every holiday. The projects I made with this set echo the feeling of childhood. You just had to believe in Christmas! The Kindred Stamps release is on October 25th, 2024. You can nab up some nostalgia for yourself!

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Project One: Joy. Hope. Love. Peace. Believe.

Showcasing the amazing typography in the sentiments of the Nativity Play set, this simple gradient provides a graceful Christmas card. The card base was cut with the Cards Basic Die set after the ink blending to ensure a smooth transition. This simple ink blend utilized one color, Grape Crush (Catherine Pooler) with the repeated application pulling the blending down from the top of the paper with lessoned application towards the bottom of the card front. The sentiment is the star of the show on this card and was heat embossed with silver. The panel was adhered to a matte silver card stock with some foam tape to give that fancy dimension that makes handmade cards pop. If you want to bling it up you sure can!

Card Size: A2 top folding card (5.5 inches x 4.25 inches). Easily converted to any size card.

Project Two: O Holy Night

A simple glass cloche is a perfect way to set the scene for this special family on their debut night.

The family from Nativity Play were colored with Olo Markers and fussy cut out (someday I will learn to use the expensive machine I bought to do it for me- insert eye roll). Colors will be listed at the end of this post.

The cloche was made with a simple oval die with the bottom cut off. Bringing in some blue ink with a very light hand gives the illusion of glass (Juniper Mist Catherine Pooler). While ink blending was drying, I drew a base on a piece of scrap paper and fussy cut it out. To make the illusion of a wood base, I used Altenew Artist Markers (Y932/Y762) with random lines and flicks. While laying out my little family to see where I wanted to place my sentiment, I noticed my family was floating. I mean, I know they are special and all, but they definitely needed to be grounded. I made a mask with a post-it note and ink blended some brown ink( Altenew Espresso) and then some texture with the same marker family from Altenew. Now my family had some solid ground to stand on.

The sentiment “O Holy Night” matched the simplicity of the cloche and serine scene. This was heat embossed in white. Every Christmas card needs some sparkle, its a law. So I added some iridescent Stickles as twinkle stars inside my cloche. The British Invasion Paper Pack had just the right amount of texture and contrast to make the cloche be front and center. This was cut to cover the entire card front.

Card Size: A2 top folding card (5.5 inches x 4.25 inches)

Project 3: The Weary World Rejoices

Nativity Play stamp set screams “ACTION” on first glance. As soon as I saw it I knew there would be a single layer card on stage! Each cast member made it to this full panel A7 card with masking to create the set design.

With the magic of masking paper, the scene was laid out and cast member were stamped in alcohol safe ink. Some simple hand sketching of a back stage line added the grounding for the cast. Utilizing the Curtain Die, I cut out one topper to provide me the swooping curtains I was looking for. Freehand drawing of swoop lines to give the toppers texture.

The cast was colored with Olo and Altenew Artist markers (colors listed below). The stage floor, backdrop and curtain toppers were colored with Altenew Artist Markers (respectively: WG05/ WG03; S; R318/ R335).

Once the panel was dry (yes alcohol markers need to dry completely- ask me how I know…) I heat embossed in white “the weary world rejoices” in front of the new family.

Card Size: A7 (5 inches by 7 inches) Landscape

Project 4: Nativity Ornaments

Nostalgia ran full force through my body when I saw the Nativity Play stamp set. The warmth I felt made me think of sitting in front of the Christmas tree with some hot chocolate (or chocolate martini… either warm your soul) and gazing at the twinkling lights and ornaments. The Nativity Play works perfectly as ornaments. By the time you are reading this, the tree will be set up in my studio, and I may or may not have a hot chocolate or chocolate martini in hand enjoying the twinkling lights and ornaments.

Each of the designs were stamped in alcohol safe ink and then colored with Olo and Altenew Artist Markers. Colors are list at the end of this blog. Then fussy cut out and foam tape applied to the back for added dimension.

Using circle dies the frame and bases were cut out for each ornament (2 bases and 4 frames for each design). One of the bases will act as the background for the design to be centered on. A little gradient ink blending with one color (Altenew Dessert Night) and then spatters of Distress Mica Spray in Frosted Fog and Distress Spritz in Peacock Feathers to give the shimmer and shine. Because you can never have enough sparkle, bring on the Stickles!

The second base was heat embossed with silver with the 3 large sentiments from the Nativity Play stamp set. The dried inky shimmery base was adhered to the clean embossed base for stability and to hide the mucky muck on the back of the colored base. The frames were stacked up and topped with holographic paper to up the reflectivity. Each design was placed in the center. Added a topper for the ornaments to hang. Now I’m set to dig out my little silver tree for my studio and enjoy a soul warming beverage and admire my twinkly lights and shiny ornaments.

Project 5: Curtain Up

Raise the curtain to show the royalty of Nativity Play stamp set. This interactive card utilizes no speciality dies. If you plan ahead you could even make this card to be sent through the mail without extra postage unlike me. I did not plan ahead. I used the images that were already colored and fussy cut out. Learn from my mistakes. Or be cool like me and hand deliver this thick card!

The images were colored with Olo and Altenew Artist Markers. Colors listed at the end of this blog.

Using nesting A2 dies, I made a frame. With the largest die of the frame, I cut one solid base, this will be the base of the stage background. With the same large die, I cut one piece of acetate with a piece of copy paper behind the acetate. This will help the die cut cleaner and then you will not loose the acetate on your table. Or am the only one?? Finally, with the inner die of the frame, I cut one piece of card stock for the pull out curtain. Why not use the piece that came out of my original frame cut? You can take that up with my dog. He’s faster then me and then thought it was a game of keep away. Again, don’t be like me, don’t drop your stuff.

Since I was die cutting, I pulled out some rich red card stock and cut out the Curtain Die. 2 right curtains, 2 left curtains, 3 curtain toppers, and finally 2 sets of tiebacks out of a matte gold card stock.

The stage background was up first. Using colored card stock in light gray and a deeper gray I glued down the stage floor and background. Trimmed with some scissors (I was done with die cutting at this point and no one is going to see it). Tada! That was the easiest assembly ever.

Next up was the ink blending station. The curtains and curtain toppers got a dusting of brown ink to deepen the shadows and give a little dimension. To prep the pull up curtain piece, I did simple ink blending on the inside frame cut out to match my curtain color. I then cut a quarter inch off each right and left side of the landscape piece.

While the pieces were drying, frame assembly began. The frame was colored in a black alcohol marker. Because I just happened to have 2 frames (thank you Oscar, said dog), I sandwiched the acetate between the two frames. I adhered one set of the curtain sides to either side of the front facing frame. I then layered the second set of curtain sides inset on the back side of the acetate. This gave the illusion of depth on the stage. Two of the curtain topper were attached to the top of the frame. The stage was coming to life.

To allow the curtain to raise up, there has to be a gap between the top curtain frame and the base. To accommodate for the space foam tape was placed on the right, left, and bottom of framed panel. Do not put foam across the top or you will not be able to pull the curtain up. Now, as we identified early on, if I would have planned ahead, I could have stamped the royalty using masking paper as a single layer for my background. I did not, so I had to adapt. I added a second layer of foam to ensure that the curtain would clear of any uneven speed bumps from the fussy cut images.

With the frame complete, I can now visually see where to place my royals. I lined up the stage base with the foam lined frames and was able to get my royals in just the right spot and glued down edge to edge (again, trying to avoid the curtain catching on the images). Once they were positioned I was able to focus on the where to put my sentiment on my curtain pullout. Using my stamping platform and a sticky mat I lined up the internal curtain and the foam lined frame. Centered my sentiment on top of the acetate. I was able to pick up the stamp from the acetate with ease and remove the frame from the stamping platform. After prepping with an antistatic tool, “Joy to the world” stamped in embossing ink and heat embossed in gold onto the curtain pullout.

The frame and the stage base assembly was next up. The foam tape holds the two layers together. Because the frame and base sizes match, it was easy to line them up. If you struggle with lining up the elements, you can use any cornered object to aid in your alignment (stamping platform/ score tool/ box lid). Place one piece in the corner snuggly and use the same corner to snug your next piece into place.

To make the curtain pullout, I used a piece of scrap paper a smidge thinner than the last curtain topper that was diecut. To make sure that the paper would not get stuck on my royals, I positioned the paper to the base of the pullout leaving a long tail that I will cut off later. With the insert in place, I used a strip of thin foam tape to act as a stopper at the top ledge of the stage and to adhere the top edge of our last topper. This allows the curtain topper to over lay the other toppers. I stamped “pull here” and trimmed the excess paper off of the curtain pullout.

The stage needs to be lit up, so I embellished the card with some pearls as my lights. I pulled out my A2 card base, and ummmmm nope. Well crud, this designing on the fly was not my friend…. A6 Card to the rescue! I layered the same deep red card stock to the card base and then centered my stage. TADA! It worked and the royals are center stage. Don’t be like me… plan ahead.

Card Base: A6 (4.5 inches by 6.25 inches) Landscape

The entire Kindred Stamps release will be available this Friday at 8am PST/11am EST. Be sure to subscribe to the Kindred Stamps blog to see a daily line up of sneak peeks from our amazing Design Team! Come join the Fan Club and release event to be part of the release fun, and you may just win some Kindred Stamps credit!!

Coloring Guide:

New Father:

Headpiece/ Robe: Olo R1.7/ R1.5

Shirt/ Socks: Olo Y2.2/Y2.3

Shoes: Olo CG0/ CG1

Skin: Olo OR4.4/ OR4.2/ OR4.2

New Mother:

Headpiece/ Dress: Olo B0.5/ B0.3

Shoes: Olo CG9/ CG7

Hair: Olo B/ CG9/ CG7

Skin: Olo OR4.4/ OR4.2/ OR4.1

Baby:

Body: Olo Y2.2/ Y2.3

Blanket: Olo BG2.3/ BG 2.1

Manger: Olo O7.7/ O7.8

Hay: Olo YO2.5/ Yo2.7

Drummer Boy:

Headpiece: Olo G1.7/ G1.5

Drum: Olo R1.5/G1.5/ YO2.0/ O7.3

Body: Olo CG1/ CG0

Ears/ Spot: Olo CG9/ CG7

Collar: Olo CG7

Shepard:

Headpiece: Olo B0.2/ BO0.3

Shirt: Olo R0.6/ R0.5

Pants: Olo CG9/ CG7

Shoes: Olo O7.7/ O7.8

Skin: Olo OR4.4/ OR4.2/ OR4.1

Staph: Olo O7.7/ O7.8

King 1:

Crown/ Container: Altenew Artist Marker C014/ C013; Olo R0.6/ R0.5

Hair: Olo YO2.5/ Y2.3/ Y2.2

Skin: Olo OR4.4/ OR4.2/ OR4.1

Gown: Olo BV2.6/ BV2.3

Sash/ Shawl: Olo CG0/ CG1

Shoes: Olo O7.7/ O7.8

King 2:

Crown: Olo WG1/ WG3/ BV4.2/ BV4.4

Robe: Olo O1.3/ O1.2

Gown: Olo BV4.5/ BV4.4

Hair: Olo CG7/CG9

Skin: Olo OR3.7/ OR3.8/ OR3.4

Shoes: Olo O1.3/ O1.2/ CG0/ CG1

Container: Altenew Artist Markers C014/ C013

King 3:

Crown/ Container: Altenew Artist Markers C014/ C013

Headpiece/ Gown: Olo YG8.3/ YG8.5/ YG8.7

Shoes: Olo WG5/ WG3

Skin: OR4.4/ OR4.2/ OR4.1

Dirt: Olo O4.6/ O4.3

Angel:

Crown: Olo WG1 or metallic ink pen

Hair: Olo YO2.5/ Y2.3/ Y2.2

Skin: Olo OR4.4/ OR4.2/ OR4.1

Dress: Olo R2.2/ R2.4

Wings: Olo CG0/ CG1

Socks: Olo R2.4

Shoes: Olo CG0 CG1

Horn: Altenew Artist Markers C014/ C013

Kindred Stamps October 2024 Release: Nativity Play

Project One: Joy. Hope. Love. Peace. Believe.

Project Two: O Holy Night

Project 3: The Weary World Rejoices

Project 4: Nativity Ornaments

Project 5: Curtain Up

Coloring Guide:

Cardigans & Cards