Peace

I've had some 8x10 canvases in the stash for a year or so now and thought I'd employ one to make a gift Christmas collage.  By using the center section of Graphic 45 Christmas Past "Ode to Joy" 12x12 paper, this lovely piece looks very detailed, but was actually quite simple and easy to put together.

 

The Details:

• I started by painting the sides and edges of my canvas to match the golden background of the snowflake patterned paper.  Once dry, I added the patterned paper using Claudine Hellmuth Matte Multi Medium, however next time, I think I will just use spray adhesive.  Faster and guaranteed no wrinkles!
• I fussy cut the center section of the G45 Ode to Joy page and used multi medium again to add it on top of the snowflake paper.
• The remaining layers and embellishments were few since the patterned paper really did most of the work.  I focused on the lower left corner since it had the least amount of pattern and could be easily covered without interrupting the base image.
• Next came a paper doily and a small digi print of French sheet music from The Graphics Fairy.
• To this was layered a gorgeous portrait of the Madonna and Christ Child from Vintage Holiday Crafts surrounded by an embossed paper frame from K&Co (love these!).

• The large "peace" flash card becomes the focal point.  The edges of the card were distressed and aged with Old Paper Distress Ink.  Some gold fretwork and rhinestone complement a corner and a couple bands of soft green velvet ribbon adorn the opposite side.
• Every time I stamp on Tim Holtz grunge paper, it looks very blah because of the greyish base color.  But I love its sturdy, yet flexible, durability.  Finally, it dawned on me...cover it in book paper, paint it, THEN stamp on it!  A little Snow Cap paint dabber did the trick.  And a little Old Paper Distress Stickles made it even more vintagey.  Our little bird dangles a pretty brass snowflake charm from A Charming Place from his beak.

• The final touch was to give key areas some holiday sparkle.  For this, I added very thin and light applications of Platinum Stickles around the borders and on the halos.

Challenges:

The Graphics Fairy:  Brag Monday
Anything But a Card Challenges: #8 - Celebrating the Light or Seasonal Holiday
The Ribbon Girl: December Challenge - Christmas
Craftymess: 23rd Challenge - Vintage Christmas

Supplies:
Cardstock:	Grunge paper
Patterned Paper:	Graphic 45 Christmas Past ‘Ode to Joy’; vintage book page
Image:	Vintage Holiday Crafts ‘Vintage Christmas Card Jesus and Mary’; The Graphics Fairy ‘French Ephemera - Sheet Music Postcard’
Stamps:	My Mind’s Eye Lost & Found ‘Christmas’
Inks:	Americana acrylic paint ‘French Vanilla’, ‘Antique Gold’; Adirondack paint dabber ‘Snow Cap’; Distress Stain ‘Picket Fence’; Distress Ink ‘Old Paper’; StazOn ‘Timber Brown’
Embellishments:	7 Gypsies flashcard; Hobby Lobby paper doily; K&Co. Ancestry.com embossed frames; Starform stickers ‘Gold’; velvet ribbon; A Charming Place snowflake; Distress Stickles ‘Old Paper’; Stickles ‘Platinum’; gold twine
Tools:	Tim Holtz paper distresser; Making Memories ribbon glue; 3M spray adhesive; Claudine Hellmuth Matte Multi Medium; glue dots
Misc:	8x10 canvas