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 Stamp. You 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

Recipe for project:

Tim Holtz/Sizzix: Ice Skates, Festive Greens, Mini Holiday Greens, Vintage Tidings
Distress Oxide Inks: Broken China, Cracked Pistachio, Antique Linen
Distress Inks: Walnut Stain

Distress Crayons: Pumice Stone, Chipped Sapphire, Black Soot
Layering Stencils: Starry

Idea-ology: Tissue Tape, Christmas Clippings Stickers, Baubles Findings, Mirrored Star
Mediums: Collage Medium, Rock Candy Dry Glitter, Gesso, Grit Paste
Surfaces: Metallic Kraft Stash, Chipboard, Christmas Paper Stash
Ranger Craft Sheet

Big Shot

Heat Gun
Hemptique Cord Twine
Tonic Nuvo Autumn Red Crystal Drops
Sisal Fibres from my own stash