Monday 11 December 2017

The First Snow Had Fallen...

Hello friends and welcome to this week's brand new Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge...

Our theme for this challenge is called ~ Christmas/Winter Holidays and as the big day approaches, we can't wait to see what you will be inspired to create!

For my project this week, I decided to make a very special Christmas card that I will be giving to my parents. It's full of Christmas cheer and uses another of my favourite ever dies from Tim Holtz ~ the Ice Skates.
So, let's begin and this is how I created this card...

 

To begin with I cut a panel of watercolour card. I then applied Broken China, Antique Linen and Cracked Pistachio Oxide Inks to my craft sheet, spritzed the inks with water and swooshed my card through to pick up all the gorgeous colour before heat drying the card thoroughly.

To create more depth to the background, I applied some torn tissue tape to the central area of the inked card. I then used an old credit card to scrape some gesso over the surface before adding some more colour using Pumice Stone and Chipped Sapphire Distress Crayons, blending out the colour with my fingertip, to create a soft diffused look.

Ink around the edges of card before adding a machine stitched border in ivory coloured thread.

To add some texture, I applied Grit Paste through my favourite Layering Stencil of the seasonal release, Starry! I then sprinkled Rock Candy Glitter over the top of the wet paste and allowed it to dry.

Once the paste is dry, I matted the background onto silver metallic kraft card, followed by a layer of kraft card, distressed around the edge with some gesso. Wrap some twine around the bottom section of the card, securing the ends at the back.

I then prepped my card blank, which is 20 x 18cm by adding a layer of paper from the Christmas Paper stash, matted onto some more kraft card. Mount the inked background onto the front of the covered card blank.

For the ice skates, I cut these from chipboard and then primed them with gesso before adding some colour to the heels and blades using Black Soot and Brushed Pewter Distress Paints.
To give them a more worn, vintage feel, I ran the Black Soot Distress Crayon around the edges, blending the colour out to add just a subtle hint.

Lace up the boots using twine, tying the ends into a bow at the top.
Arrange them onto the front of your card blank.
For the foliage, I cut a selection from the green classic kraft card and silver metallic kraft card using the Holiday and Festive Greens dies. I then added a touch of Picket Fence to the tips of the foliage. Once the paint was dry, I brushed a small amount of Collage Medium over the top of the foliage and dusted each piece with Rock Candy Glitter.

I then arranged my greenery around the tops of the boots.
To complete this section, I added some berries to some of the foliage, using Autumn Red Nuvo Drops and finished this arrangement with some baubles that I frosted in the same way as I frosted the greenery. I also added a Mirrored Star which you can see just popping out from behind the frosted baubles.
I love creating dimension to my work and in the photo below, you can see the depth that this card has.
Finally, I added my wording and used the Vintage Tidings Die to die cut the word, 'Wish' from silver metallic kraft card. I used the Sanding Tool to lightly sand the surface and then ran the Black Soot Distress Crayon around the outside of the lettering.

I then attached my word to the bottom section of the boot to create the look of it being suspended.
For the finishing touch, I added a Christmas Clippings sticker beneath the boots.
I hope you've enjoyed the creative process behind this card and that you've loved the techniques I've used to build up the texture, the layers and the dimension.
As always, if you do need any further inspiration, then look no further than our blog to see all the wonderful creations from all the very talented Design Team members and every week, one lucky random participant has the chance to win a $50 gift voucher from Simon Says StampYou have until Monday 8am Ohio time. 1pm UK time, 2 pm CET to join in and good luck....




Thank you so much for stopping by today and see you again very soon!
Love Emma xxx


33 comments:

  1. Oh my Emma...this is so beautiful! I bet your parents will be delighted...huge hug! ❤

    ReplyDelete
  2. Beautiful Emma, the foliage is gorgeous and I love the layered textures. Tracy x

    ReplyDelete
  3. Swoon!!! this is so pretty! I just love the whole design of this and I am sure your parents will LOVE it! I would frame it!! ;-)

    luv
    Lols x x x

    ReplyDelete
  4. Oh Emma, the first time I saw this I literally gasped. It's stunning! It reminds me of growing up in Wisconsin when I would sling my tied together ice skates over my shoulder and go down to the neighborhood lake in the winter to ice skate for hours. Your parents are going to LOVE this!

    Cathie ♥

    ReplyDelete
  5. this is STUNNING! I have no words...okay, STUNNING.

    ReplyDelete
  6. I am always in absolute awe of your projects, week after week! This is a favorite!

    ReplyDelete
  7. This is my all time favourite die too Emma, what a gorgeous card to give to your parents! xx

    ReplyDelete
  8. So Beautiful I'm sure your parents will love this card. So many pretty details; love the background ( as usual ); the textures, layers ... just beautiful ! <3

    ReplyDelete
  9. So very beautiful and wintery. I love this card! Thanks for giving how to directions.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Gorgeous Christmas card, Emma! This is so much more than a card - it's frameable! Love the skates with the lacing, the pretty blues, and the baubles peeking out at the top. hugs, Maura

    ReplyDelete
  11. Beautiful as always! The ice skates are so real like made of leather due to your coloring. I also always admire all the layers below the main one. They are heroes behind a scene :-) Hugs, Macarena.

    ReplyDelete
  12. Oh my word, Emma! This is just pure winter magic! The skates look like real leather and the stitching and background are so perfectly frosty. I am such a huge fan of your gorgeous work! Thanks for always inspiring!

    ReplyDelete
  13. This is gorgeous Emma! Your parents will love it. TFS!

    ReplyDelete
  14. I'm blown away by your creativity Emma! Your parents will be so proud to receive such an amazing card from you. I love how you brought those skates to life, incredible!
    ((hugs)) & Merry Christmas.... Christina

    ReplyDelete
  15. Your card is out of this world beautiful, a wonderful composition. Hugs, Valerie

    ReplyDelete
  16. You make the most mazing cards Emma, totally stunning!!!

    ReplyDelete
  17. This has to be my favourite card of the year Emma. Everything about it is so elegant, and its beautifully thought out an put together. I love it, but not as much as your Mum and Dad will! xx

    ReplyDelete
  18. Wowww Emma....amazing card!!!!! Love the details!

    ReplyDelete
  19. Lucky you with all the snow, and what a super gorgeous card. Pinned!!!

    ReplyDelete
  20. I can not say anything other than ... perfection! As always a masterpiece my friend! barbara

    ReplyDelete
  21. This is so gorgeous. It reminds me of when I was a young teenager and me and my best friend use to walk about a mile in Ohio to go to the skating rink. We don't skate anymore but we are still friends. So pretty! I love your blog.

    ReplyDelete
  22. As always, I love how you have put this piece together! You have such a great eye for making things have a great visual impact without being too over-the-top. Your work is so professional and pleasing every single time! I especially love how you incorporated the "wish" sentiment down by the ice skate blade.

    ReplyDelete
  23. WOW!! Stunning!! At first I thought it was an altered box and then I had to go back to read it again...WOW!! Such a gorgeous card!! Love all of the beautiful & elegant details!!I would adhered it on top of a canvas and hang it in up any where because it is Beautiful!!
    Have a wonderful day,
    Migdalia
    Crafting with Creative M

    ReplyDelete
  24. This is so pretty Emma!! I love everything you tucked in at the top of the skates, and the finish of the skates is gorgeous.

    ReplyDelete
  25. Love love love this gorgeous holiday card, Emma. The skates and all the embellishments are stunning. :)

    ReplyDelete
  26. in a word "Stunning" Emma, love how you tucked all that beautiful foliage into the skates...hugs kath xxx

    ReplyDelete
  27. What a gorgeous card, Emma! Love the classic vibe of the card, so pretty and elegant! The skates look amazing! Hugs, Sandra

    ReplyDelete
  28. This has to be THE most exquisite Christmas card I have seen this year, Emma, infact I'd even go as far as to say 'any' year . It really is above and beyond Stunning and your lovely Mum and dad must have truly adored it . They must be so proud to have such a talented daughter as you, who captures the creative hearts of so many of us. big hugs x

    ReplyDelete
  29. What a faboulos card. I'm sure your parents loved it. X

    ReplyDelete

Thank you for all your comments and messages, they are all appreciated and I hope you'll come back and visit again soon...
Emma ~xx

Powered By Blogger

Total Pageviews