Now that the Thanksgiving holidays are over, I finally feel like I can jump into Christmas. No, the tree is not up, nor is there a wreath on the door but I can start making things with more of a Christmas theme which I love (
mostly because it is an excuse to use glitter).
So I am kicking off the week by using Core'dinations Seasonal Impressions cardstock to create a Christmas card. Each 12" x 12" embossed cardstock pack includes 20 sheets total, with
the following holidays: Valentine, Christmas, Halloween, Fall, Spring
and 4th of July. As you might imagine, I am using the paper with the Christmas words.
Each paper has a boarder surrounding the words as you can see in the top of the picture. I cut off one side of the boarder and sanded it a bit to reveal the kraft paper below.
Then I used my ink blending tool, to ink the raised portion just a bit with Bundle Sage.
Next I decided to give it a little shimmer with Perfect Pearls - Heirloom Gold. I just added a bit of water and Perfect Pearls to the craft mat. Give it a quick stir and you are ready to paint. A little goes a long way.
Next, I edged the band with Vintage Photo Distress Ink then set it aside while I created the card base.
For the card base I cut Ranger manila cardstock 5 x 8 1/2", then folded it in half to get a card 5 x 4 1/4". I used a collage glue stick to cover the front of the card with vintage music.
Vintage Photo Distress ink on the edges.
I cut the band to fit the card front, then distressed the edge with my Tonic paper distresser tool (
love that little thing).
Back it with 1/2" wide Wonder Tape and adhere it to the card.
I stitched the band to the card front with my sewing machine.
Then added 1/8" Wonder Tape (love this skinny size red line tape) below the embossed band to add some crocheted trim.
The crochet trim was very delicate so I didn't really want to sew in place. The narrow Wonder Tape was the perfect solution to avoid sewing.
I wanted to use Crinkle ribbon but I just wanted it to look aged not dyed so I put some Vintage Photo Distress Ink on my craft sheet and sprayed it with water from a Mini Mister. Perfect...just enough to age the Crinkle ribbon. Dry with Heat Tool.
I wound the ribbon around 3 fingers about 3 or 4 times....
Then tied it in the center with another piece of ribbon.
I clipped the ends to size then used the Tonic Scratch tool to fray the ends.
Just a couple more elements and then I can put it all together.
For this one I used a Memo pin, Glossy Accents and flower from the Idea-ology Foliage set.
NOTE:
The Idea-ology brand also has Festive Foliage that is a poinsettia shaped flower. I did not have this one in my stash but I suspect the card may look more "christmas-ie" if that was used.
Add a bit of glossy accents to the memo pin...
then add the flower.
Let dry.
Use the same method I used
here to add glitter with sticky embossing powder. I like to give it an extra little heat with the Heat tool after the glitter is on the metal flower. It seems to almost embed the glitter onto the metal flower.
I added another part of the Foliage set and a vintage pearl to the flower with Glossy Accents.
I sanded a leaf from the same set and bent it just a bit.
I put all the pieces together on the card and then decided it needed a bit more of what I like...detail.
I cut a long piece of dyed cheese cloth and tied it around the flower pin.
Then took a leftover piece of a small Tattered Banner (seriously, it was a torn off scrap on my desk), wrapped it around a big pearl corsage pin and stuck it under the band just like I had done with the flower pin. I clipped a dovetail in the chitchat word "believe" and stuck it to the tattered banner. The word is only stuck down on the left side so it is almost like a double flag. I did add 1/2 of a pop-it dot under the tattered banner to keep it in place.
Super pleased how this turned out. I will say the Perfect Pearls was the needed touch to the pine garland. Super shiny in the evening light. A great touch with just a couple minutes work.
I will be back on Wednesday with another simple project using Core'dinations Seasonal Impressions cardstock. Until then...
cheers!
paula
