Let There Be Snow...

Hello friends and welcome to a brand new week over on the Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge Blog! This week our thoughts are turning to Christmas and I think we're all hoping that it will be a white Christmas with our theme ~ "Let There Be Snow"! Whatever you choose to create, we can't wait to see what you make and hope you'll join us for our fun challenge...

For my project, I created a panel inspired by a vintage photo from Tim Holtz's ChristmasTime Ephemera pack and I'm telling the story of a cold and frosty morning and three friends who I've affectionately named ~ Holly, Ivy and Myrtle! As always, I hope you love what I've created!

...and here's how I made this panel!

 

To begin with I cut a piece of canvas paper to measure, 28 x 19cm and prepped the paper by adding a layer of Picket Fence Distress Paint. I add this because I'm going to be using Distress Crayons and I find that the crayons blend really easily when I've added this layer underneath.

I then began adding my layers of colour and as I mentioned I used Distress Crayons ~ Tumbled Glass, Cracked Pistachio, Shaded Lilac and a touch of Blueprint Sketch, blending and layering up the colours to create this beautiful aurora borealis effect. Finally, for some added depth, I went in with Hickory Smoke and also added this around the edges. Once I was happy with the colour, I then needed some texture and for this, I used the Speckles and Snowflakes Layering Stencil and applied Grit Paste through the stencil. Whilst the medium is still wet, I then sprinkled the paste with a light dusting of Rock Candy Dry Distress Glitter and set it aside to dry. Layer the background onto a piece of silver metallic card stock, followed by a layer of corrugated card and a final layer of black Nostalgic Core'Dinations card.

For the snowflakes I actually used a background that I'd previously made but in the end didn't suit the project, so it never saw the light of day. Again it was created using Distress Crayons and then had Grit Paste applied over the top through a stencil. I added a touch of gold over the top of the dried paste. So once I'd found this old background, I decided to use it for the snowflakes which I die cut using the Stacked Snowflake die from Tim Holtz.

I layered the snowflakes using foam pads to create two dimensional pieces and added a jingle bell to the centre of each before flicking Picket Fence over the top to create a fine splatter effect.

For the focal point of the project, I used the beautiful vintage photo, inked lightly around the edges with Frayed Burlap and then matted it onto a piece of Core'Dinations cardstock, leaving a border around the outside.

I then roughly tore some pieces of corrugated card and added some gesso over the corrugations. I attached the card together with some Ephemera pieces onto my background, attaching the ephemera pieces with Collage Medium and the card layers with foam pads to create some dimension to the whole piece. I also had one die cut snowflake left over and cut this in half and just tucked it underneath the corrugated card pieces.

I then added some floristry fibres before attaching the photo into place.

To add some more texture, I smeared some Collage Medium onto the corrugated backing card and then sprinkled Glass Glitter and Micro Beads over the top. Leave this to dry before adding the gorgeous layered snowflakes to the opposite corners of the photo.

Finally, I added a message, die cut from Metallic Card using the "Greetings" from the Holiday Words die set and then layered over the top of a silver deco sheet. I love how these deco sheets sparkle when the light hits them...

Pop the message onto the canvas using foam pads and then to complete the canvas, I added one last die cut snowflake with an added a crystal in the centre.

As always, if you do need any further inspiration, then you need 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 Stamp. You have until Monday 8am Ohio time. 1pm UK time, 2 pm CET to join in and good luck....

Recipe for project:

Tim Holtz Dies: Stacked Snowflakes, Holiday Words

Distress Paint: Picket Fence

Distress Crayons: Set 5 and 6, Hickory Smoke

Distress Ink: Frayed Burlap
Layering Stencils: Snowflakes, Speckles

Idea-ology: Christmas Time Ephemera, Jingle Brads

Surfaces: Nostalgic Kraft Core Card, Metallic Kraft Core, Deco Sheets

Mediums: Gesso, Collage Medium, Rock Candy Distress Glitter, Grit Paste

Pearl Art Ingredients Glass Glitter

Tim Holtz Splatter Brush

Ranger Craft Sheet

Heat Gun
Micro Beads, Floristry Fibres and Canvas Paper are from my own stash