Jingling Deer

Greetings to you and welcome! It's been dismally grey here in recent days so I was glad to be able to play with sparkle.

I usually have the end design already in mind before I start a card but then sometimes what was in my head turns up on my desk as a sorry mess! This card was one such example and several reworks were needed to eventually deem it passable. Having put in so much effort I then set up a little production line to make a few similar versions of the card.

The deer have been diecut using Sizzix 'Prancing Deer' and Sizzix Mini Movers and Shakers 'Mini Reindeer'. The paper I've used is SEI Velvet paper in 'Chocolate' so that the deer have a nice plush coat. For sturdiness the velvet paper is glued to a backing of corrugated cardboard. Their necks are adorned with gold tinsel and diecut/stamped tabs and jingle bells (Stamps by Cat's Life Press). Lots of gold stickles coat the antlers.

I've used TH/Sizzix 'Birch Trees' die to make the backing layer. This diecut's width is 4" which is a little narrow for my liking so I cut some extras and 'joined' them as seamlessly as possible so that the 'forest' is wider. Plain cream cardstock was used which I then inked with DIs 'Walnut Stain' and 'Ground Espresso'. Then splattered lots of 'Ground Espresso' paint over the trees to make them look more birch-like. Once heatset, coated them liberally with crackle in 'Clear Rock Candy' and left to dry overnight. This layer is affixed on top of foam pads for height.

Lots of frantage work has been done to the next 2 underlying layers. Dotted around several wood veneer stars by Studio Calico topped with little clear gems.

Cards still needed some glitzing so I diecut gold foil paper to make the star at top right and foliage underfoot. The gold foil is very thin (similar to that in cigarette packets) so for strenght I affixed it with glue stick to cardstock before diecutting. Dies are Sizzix 'Holiday Greens' and Memory Box 'Star of Wonder'.

That's it for today - hope you like!

Thanks so much for your visit,
Nicola x

I wish to enter cards to the following challenges:
Simon Says Stamp Monday - Throwback - to July 27th 'No Ordinary Paper'
Country View Challenges - Add some Texture
Eileen Hull Art with Heart - Hauntings and Holidays
Winter Wonderland - Jingle Bells
Christmas Card Challenges - Anything Goes
Use Your Stuff - Diecuts / Punches
Try It On Tuesday - Lots of Layers

Skates in Blue

Hello and welcome!

Another quick post showing how I placed crackled ice skates in alternate colour scheme to previous post. They look a little chiller here!

Papers: Maja Design
Dies: Sizzix 'Ice Skates', Sizzix 'Holiday Words', Sizzix Framelits 'Enchanted' by Prima, Sizzix Decorative Strip 'Holly, Snowflake, Beaded Garland'
Glitter: Melissa Frances Silver glass glitter and Ranger Clear Rock Candy
Media: Crackle glaze by Decoart. Weathered Wood DI. Ground Espresso Distress paint. Waco Chrome pearl pen. Krylon Silver leafing pen.
Other: Silver metallic string from stash

Thought I'd share that I've recently bought the Sizzix Precision Base Plate to use with my Big Shot. It's a great buy! Much handier to use with one cutting plate (that will stay flat) rather than struggling with the usual bent plates. One pass and it's cut.

Thank-you for your visit!

Nicola

I wish to enter card to the following challenges:
Eileen Hull - Art with Heart - Hauntings and Holidays
Allsorts - All sentimental
We Love to Create - Anything Mixed Media Goes
Country View Challenges - Add some Texture
Christmas Cards all year round - No Stamping

Crackled Skates

Hi there,

Thanks so much for the lovely comments on my last post, it was a pleasure to read them all. A quick post from me today - I'm getting into stride for some Christmas card production...

Papers: Pion Design
Dies: Sizzix 'Ice Skates', Sizzix 'Holiday Words', Sizzix 'Mini Holly', Sizzix 'Stacked Snowflakes', My Favorite Things 'Stitched Fishtail Flags'
Stencil: Heidi Swapp
Glitter: Melissa Frances and Ranger
Media: Crackle glaze and Texture paste - both by Decoart. Krylon pale gold leafing pen
Other: May Arts string. Charms, lace and pearls from stash

As always, huge thanks for stopping by!
Nicola x

I wish to enter card to the following challenges:
City Crafter - Paste It!
Scrapyland - Anything Goes using die carried by Scrapyland
ABC Christmas Challenges - Unusual Christmas Colours
Picture & Scrap - Shabby Chic
Christmas card challenges - Anything Goes
Country View Challenges - Add some texture
Live & Love Crafts - Pink Again
Inky Chicks - Think Pink
Papertake Weekly - Two by Two (Two skates!)
Jingle Belles Rock - Deck The Halls in Pink