I thought it was time to make a start on Christmas cards (never too early!) so what better way to begin than to use some of my Artistic Outpost stamp sets - 'Midwinter' and 'Snowy Woods'.
Firstly, thank-you to Linda Coughlin for spotting how well the cabin fits into the TH / Sizzix window die!
The green background paper is by Maja Design. I've used the TH 'Holiday Knit' stencil to create a border around the page and sprinkled the embossing paste with 'Clear Rock Candy' glitter whilst paste still wet. I think the pattern suits the rustic scene. The foliage is cut using TH Sizzix 'Holiday Greens' die - again liberally applied glitter. There are also stencilled little snowflakes in the background but true to form I went and covered most of them up!
Painted ranger manila cardstock with white paint to lighten it but still left enough 'yellow' to suggest a soft glow. Stamped the cottage, rabbit and sentiments with versamark and then embossed with Sparkle and Sprinkle EP 'Japanese Lacquer'. Added snowy effects to the scene with paint, paste and glitter.
The window is made using chipboard that I diecut with the TH / Sizzix window die. It was first coated with Kromacrackle and left a day to dry. Then I inked with lots of DIs until I thought it looked sufficiently faux wood. Coated with Ranger crackle paint in 'Clear Rock' for even more distress effects.
Dabbed much of the scene with Snow-tex and assembled it all. As a finishing touch included some pine cones that I collected last winter (from the ground) at Dublin's Botanic Gardens. Hope that's not an offence!
(Edited to add, since posting it is bugging me how 'twisted' the card appears - it honestly is one of my straightest cards so am blaming lens aberration or odd angle I held camera!)
Enjoy the rest of your weekend and thank-you so much for your visit.
Nicola x
I wish to enter card to the following challenges:
Artistic Outpost - Show us your art - June
Craft for the Craic - The Big Occasion
Anything But Cute - Make It Masculine
Use Your Stuff - Wood
52 Christmas Card Throwdown - Mixed Media
Sparkles Forum - Christmas Animals
Stamping sensations - dies and punches
Christmas card challenges - #30 Anything Goes
Fab n Funky - Christmas
A Vintage Journey - Celebrations - (I'm going with Christmas and a hot whiskey!)
Oh Nicola -- Love this (and even if collecting pinecones at the botanic gardens, it was well worth the offense). Gorgeous!!! I love all the sparkle and how you have arranged everything. Wonderful color palette for this snowy scene. I sincerely enjoy winter cards when it is so hot during the summer. Hugs to you my friend!! Mary Elizabeth
ReplyDeleteit's very lovely.. so much texture..and the layering is gorgeous. I really love the entire look. And it makes me think of snow ..one of my favorite things..what a nice thought here in the hot Arizona mountains. best wishes for your day.. Tamara <3
ReplyDeleteThat stamp certainly does fir the window perfectly Nicola and your choice of colours and stenciling give a real Nordic feel, this will be a very special card for some lucky person.
ReplyDeleteB x
HI Nicola, Beautiful card, the image is perfect for the window die, and the stencilled border creates a beautiful frame. Love all the textures and gorgeous little details.
ReplyDeleteAvril xx
Oh wow, what a stunning card this is!! I love the scene framed through the window!! The stencil border is perfect!! All of the details are so fabulous!! What a gorgeous card!! Have a great day :)
ReplyDeleteLisa
A Mermaid's Crafts
How fabulous, if I received a Christmas card like this I'd be over the moon and have it framed!
ReplyDeleteJoan
Oh wow Nicola, you always do the most fabulous Christmas scenes and I think this is my favourite to date! I love how the scene fits the window so beautifully and the window frame is just stunning as are all the embellishment you added. I LOVE this gorgeous card!! Hugs, Anne xx
ReplyDeleteWhat an absolutely gorgeous card, Nicola - perfect use of one of my favourite AO winter stamps - how inspired to look out of the window at it! Gorgeous weathering on the window frame itself, and the whole surround is perfect. Wonderful work!
ReplyDeleteAlison xx
Great creation! Lovely take of WOOD challenge!
ReplyDeleteTHanks for sharing at Use Your Stuff!
A gorgeous winter scene and stunning embellishments! Love it! Thanks for sharing your wonderful card with us at Stamping Sensations.
ReplyDeleteLynne
Wow this is beautiful Nicola I love all the texture and the design
ReplyDeleteKevin xx
Beautiful card. Yes the scene is perfect behind the window die. I love how you did the border around the card. Thanks for joining us at Christmas Card Challenges.
ReplyDeleteLook at you getting ahead! LOVE the red, and love the whole scene!!! Gorgeous!
ReplyDeleteWow, this is just stunning! It totally reminds me of my best bud's little cottage in Sjöbo all covered in snow. Thanks for joining in the fun with us at Fab 'n' Funky for our ‘Christmas’ challenge. We’re so glad you did. Hugs, Wends x Fab 'n' Funky DT
ReplyDeleteI agree with you - it's never to early to start making Christmas cards. I should start thinking about the holiday season as well. But knowing myself I will leave everything to the very last minute - as usual. *sigh*
ReplyDeleteYour card is absolutely gorgeous. I just love the idea of creationg a window with a snowy scene behind it. Brilliant!
Have a great day!
Hugs! xx
Gorgeous card Nicola!!! Love that rustic feel to it! Thank you so very kindly for joining our Make it Masculine challenge at Anything But Cute!
ReplyDeleteSamra DT
Wow Nicola, you never fail to blow me away with your stunning creations! I love this stamp set and you have really done it justice with this gorgeous Christmas card! I love the vintage, masculine feel to this one...like a rustic cottage, awesome! Your snowy textures are fabulous and I love the addition of the pine cones!!
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for joining us at Anything But Cute for our 'Make It Masculine' challenge, your rocked it girlfriend! Hugs, Pamellia DT :)
what a lovely winter scene you've created Micola! love the colors - all the paste (like snow!) the wonderful window and the cottage scene outside - thanks for joining us in the AVJ Celebrations Challenge! Julia xx
ReplyDeleteOh I love this, Nicola, it is soo beautiful, and all about ,how a real winter, and christmas should look like !! The colourtones are wonderful ,for the nature look, and glitter is a favorite of mine for christmas,- also love you used the cones ! So very gorgeous !! Dorthe, xo
ReplyDeleteGorgeous Christmas card Pamellia! Love all the layers and texture! Wonderful vintage vibe!
ReplyDeleteI got so wrapped up in your gorgeous card I forgot to say thank you for joining in at A Vintage Journey with your stunning card!! Hugs, Anne xxx
ReplyDeleteStunning card Nicola, such a real beauty.
ReplyDeleteHave a great week.
hugs Brenda xxx
This is so beautiful! I love the embossed borders and all the gorgeous detail. The pinecone 'offence' made me giggle! Thanks for joining us at 52CCT, April x
ReplyDeleteOh Nicola, this is just amazing! Wow, what a totally stunning Christmas make, I love everything about this from the beautiful textures to the colours and amazing LO. Thanks so much for adding it to our challenge at AVJ!!
ReplyDeletewow this is a really gorgeous creation ! I love this x
ReplyDeleteA winter dream on a sunny hot day in SC. Makes me cooler thinking about it! What a beautiful entry with such delicate detail. Love this!
ReplyDeleteYou are so right, it's never too early to think about Christmas and you have done it is such a lovely way. Thanks for joining us at A Vintage Journey.
ReplyDeleteGorgeous card! Love the colors!
ReplyDeleteThanks for entering our Christmas Cards Challenge this week and good luck!
Monica - CCC DT
Lovely project! Beautiful framing. Thanks for playing along with us at Use Your Stuff!
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely brilliant Nicola! LOVE how you've picked up on Linda's idea for the window scene and that snow texture is superb. Thank you so much for joining us at A Vintage Journey. Jenny x
ReplyDeleteNicola, I love your Christmas card and you certainly nailed the masculine theme with the colour palette and the vintage look. The snowy touches and the pine cones add to your gorgeous scene. Thanks for joining us at Anything But Cute.
ReplyDeleteHugs!
Cec
Beautiful Christmas card. Love all the details :) thank you for joining in the June challenge over at Craft for the Craic.
ReplyDeleteEIthne (owner)
So pretty and beautiful colours and design thank you so much for playing along at Fab'n'Funky this week hugs judith x
ReplyDeleteYour Christmas cards are always something to behold.
ReplyDeleteA gorgeous warm fuzzy feeling exudes with that lovely natural color palette conjuring up images of fir trees and logs thrown on the fire. I love the way you set the scene of the view of the cottage through the window. Magical.
Wishes
Lynne
Wonderful! There is so much detail and texture on your card. Love it. Thanks so much for playing along with 52CCT this week!
ReplyDeleteOh Nicola!!! I am always thrilled to see your blog...especially when you have posted a vintage Christmas piece. This card is so lovely. You always pack so much detail into your work and it pays off in such a huge way! Looking at the snowy wintery cottage through that Gorgoues window pane die cut is such a sweet scene. But the addition of the beautiful lace and stamped sentimrnts and bunny perfectly frame the cottage. BEAUTIFUL, Nicola.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful! Love the rich colours and details! Sitting here in 35 deg I wouldn't mind a few minutes in that scene!! Thankyou for joining us at Craft for the Craic
ReplyDeleteHi Nicola, this is just such a stunning Christmas card. I love the scene behind the window - looks amazing! Thanks for playing along at Anything But Cute xx
ReplyDeleteI could look at your creations all day Nicola. Stunning card hun, so many beautiful details, think I need that stencil now, and the window die, oh and some lessons from you lol xx
ReplyDelete