CCC #6: A Merry Christmas

Have yourself a merry little Christmas,

Let your heart be light

From now on,

Our troubles will be out of sight

Not sure that our troubles are out of sight, but I do know that the theme for our sixth two-week Creative Cutting Challenge is "Christmas".  Click here to check out the creative inspiration from our Design Team and join the challenge.  Even if you don't use SVG files, you will find some great ideas from these talented ladies!

The Details:

• I have always loved The Creative Pointe's 'Poinsettia' SVG file and finally put it to use on this vintage-y and feminine Christmas card.  It's so easy to make a three-dimensional, realistic looking blossom that becomes a spectacular focal point.  And it's only $1!
• I selected three shades of red patterned paper scraps and cut them using the darkest as the bottom layer and the lightest as the top layer.
• Each layer was stained with Aged Mahogany Distress Stain and spritzed with water.  Before drying with my heat gun, I carefully crinkled and pinched the petals.  Applying heat dries the ink and locks in the dimension.  
• Pop Up Glue Dots separate each layer of the blossom for added dimension and random dots of Liquid Pearls form the center.

• The leaves were done in much the same way as the petals, but instead of crinkling them, I embossed them with Tim Holtz's Cracked texture fade, placed upside down.  With strategic positioning, I've found that the cracks perfectly emulate leaf veins.
• These were stained with Bundled Sage and a touch of Crushed Olive and spritzed with water.  Again, I dried them with a heat gun to lock in the dimension.
• The beautiful little vintage Christmas letter is from The Graphics Fairy.

Other Challenges:
The Graphics Fairy: Brag Monday #163
Sugar Creek Hollow: #38 - Kraft

Supplies:
Cardstock:	Papertrey Ink ‘Kraft’
Patterned Paper:	My Mind’s Eye ‘Lost & Found Christmas’ 6x6; scraps
SVG:	The Creative Pointe ‘Poinsettia’
Image:	The Graphics Fairy ‘Beautiful Envelope’
Stamps:	Stampin’ Up! ‘French Script’
Inks:	VersaMark; Distress Stains ‘Aged Mahogany’, ‘Bundled Sage’, ‘Crushed Olive’
Embellishments:	Doily; velvet ribbon; Liquid Pearls ‘White Opal’, ‘Bisque’
Tools:	EK Success punch ‘Graceful Heart’; mister; heat gun; SCAL; Cricut Expression; 3M foam tape; Glue Dots ‘Pop Up’; Tim Holtz paper distresser

Thanksgiving Greetings

Thanksgiving is fast approaching!  Sharing another card for the season of thanks today.

A Couple Details:

• Lots of layered patterns on this card.  Are you loving chevron patterns as much as I am lately?  They are everywhere and, while a classic design, are totally on-trend.  This subtle two-tone rust chevron paper from My Mind's Eye is just the perfect background for the vintage pastoral image.
• Sometimes the perfect ribbon is hiding.  This ribbon is actually from a Halloween  set that I just happened to pull out of the drawer.
• To make to flower appear more full, I layered two of the same flower and offset them slightly.

Challenges:
My Sheri Crafts: Challenge #098 - Give Thanks
Splendiferous Creations: Birds of a Feather Bloggers Challenge
Creative Belli Blog: Belli Challenge #156 - Harvest / Fruit
Scrapalicious: Being Thankful
Simon Says Stamp Challenge: Simon Says...Thanksgiving / Thank You
The Sisterhood of Crafters: Thanksgiving

Supplies:
Cardstock:	Stampin’ Up! ‘Really Rust’
Patterned Paper:	My Mind’s Stella and Rose ‘Mabel’ 6x6
Image:	The Vintage Moth 'Thanksgiving Greetings'
Stamps:	JoAnn
Inks:	SU! ‘More Mustard’; Distress Ink ‘Old Paper’
Embellishments:	JoAnn flowers; Me & My Big Ideas ‘Fall Stickers’; Cosmo Cricket ribbon ‘Haunted’; Making Memories ‘Lacy Brad’
Tools:	Glue Dots; Glue Dot ‘Pop Up’; scallop scissors; Tim Holtz paper distresser

Embossed Poinsettia Box

I'm honored to be the guest designer today at Anything But a Card.  I recently received an incredibly generous prize package of Lindy's Stamp Gang loot from them and I have had a blast playing with all the inks, powders, and micas.  This is some seriously fun stuff!

Today's poinsettia box uses both the Starburst Sprays and the micas.  There's a lot of details to tell you about on this project, so bear with me on the length of this post.  I promise it's cool and most likely something you haven't tried!

The Box Details:

• This now elegant Christmas box started life as the top portion of a LaChoy chow mein can.  I love recycling / repurposing what would otherwise just be consider junk!  I chose this particular can out of the stash because it's short and wide and perfect for a little trinket / candy box.  I should also note that the top was removed using a can opener that only cuts the seal, not the metal, leaving a safe edge on the lid.
• After cleaning my can, I embossed metal duct tape using the Sizzix Basic Grey Flowers embossing folder.  I aligned this on the base of the can and cut off the excess with a craft knife.
• The top has rings like most canned food cans, so I cut a cardboard circle to fit within the rim using my Cricut.  This circle was also covered in embossed metal tape before adhering to the lid.
• I then colored all the metal tape with Alcohol inks.  Mostly Cranberry and Red Pepper, with a little Silver, Gold, and Mushroom thrown in.  I pounced the inks on with a felt blending tool.
• To finish the rims, I busted out my new Vintaj Patinas.  These are so awesome!  I was expecting an Alcohol Ink-type consistency and application, but these are much, much thicker and you apply them with a brush.  It was so fast and easy to achieve the gorgeous gold leaf-like rims.  It's mostly Victorian Gold, with just a hint of Nouveau Silver added here and there.

• The final coat on the outside of the box was an application of Lindy's Stamp Gang Micas mixed in Future Floor Polish (now called Pledge® Premium Floor Finish with Future® Shine).  I used the Burnished Golden Leaf mica and it, along with the floor polish, really gave a lovely, shiny finish to the embossed metal.
• The inside of the box is finished off with a cardboard circle and a pretty frame / word art from The Graphics Fairy.  I again just didn't want to see the rings on the bottom of the can.  It's a nice touch too, that the inside of the can is glossy white.

The Poinsettia Details:

• The poinsettia is cut from scraps of red and green patterned papers using The Creative Pointe's "Poinsettia" SVG file.  I have loved this file for a long time...probably because I LOVE poinsettias...and will be wearing it out making these three-dimensional beauties!  When selecting your papers, be sure to use your darkest paper for the bottom and work to your lightest for the top.  This will give it the best dimension.

• After the pieces were cut, I embossed each layer of the blossom with a different pattern.  The bottom has the same Basic Grey Flowers embossing I used on the box, the middle layer is Birds & Swirls, and the top is Tim Holtz Damask.

• Then things got really, really, REALLY inky!!  I started with LSG Starburst Sprays, then added some Distress Inks, and finished things off with the floor polish / mica combination.  I absolutely love the effect of the floor polish on paper!  This allowed me to shape the petals and the polish adds just enough stiffness to lock the shape in place.  It also gives them a wonderful shine.  (I have been polishing everything but my floor since making this box!  LOL!)
• The leaves were done exactly the same except that I used the TH Cracked embossing folder.
• Each layer was added to the box lid with Pop Up Glue Dots to create even more dimension.
• The center was topped off with a brass snowflake charm.

Whew!  That's a lot of details!  Thanks for sticking with me.  I hope you've been inspired and have found a little nugget in there to spark a project of your own.

Challenges:
The Graphics Fairy:  Brag Monday #163
Southern Girls Challenge: #57 - Christmas
Little Red Wagon: Challenge #159 - Texturize It!

Supplies:
Patterned Paper:	My Mind’s Eye Lost & Found ‘Union Square’; scraps
SVG:	The Creative Pointe ‘Poinsettia’
Image:	The Graphics Fairy ‘Stunning Silhouette Frame – Christmas’
Inks:	Distress Ink ‘Barn Door’, ‘Walnut Ink’; Alcohol Ink ‘Cranberry’, ‘Red Pepper’, ‘Silver Mixative’, ‘Gold Mixative’, ‘Mushroom’, ‘Blending Solution’; Vintaj Patina ‘Victorian Gold’, ‘Nouveau Silver’; Lindy’s Stamp Gang Starburst Sprays ‘Ponderosa Pines Olive’, ‘Bougainvilles Fuchsia’, ‘Rhododendron Red Rose’, ‘Autumn Maple Crimson’
Embellishments:	A Charming Place charm ‘snowflake’; LSG micas ‘Oak Leaf Olive’, ‘Terra Cotta’, ‘Burnish Golden Leaf’; metal duct tape
Tools:	Sizzix Texture Boutique; embossing folders ‘Tim Holtz Damask’, ‘Cuttlebug Birds & Swirls’, ‘Sizzix Basic Grey Flowers’; Sure-Cuts-A-Lot; Cricut Expression; heat gun; Future Floor Polish; felt and foam ink blenders; Glue Dots; Glossy Accents; paint brush
Misc:	Recycled metal can

Thankful

Thankful.  

Are we really a thankful society?

It doesn't seem so.

There are many thankful individuals out there, but it seems that we as a society have lost what it means to be thankful, to appreciate our blessings, to earn and not expect. 

I am thankful.  

I am thankful for my family and friends and their love and support, for my home, for my job, for my fur balls.  I am thankful for the gift of creativity and the means to support my habit.  I am thankful for people who take the time to read my ramblings and view my creations and, if they are inspired, leave me lovely comments.

Some Details:

• All of the papers are of course from My Mind's Eye.  The combination of patterns and rich amber tones with black accents says vintage country mercantile to me.  Love it.
• I colored the pumpkin illustration with Distress Markers, then spritzed the entire image with water to blend / bleed the colors, just like Tim :-).  I then fussy cut the image and accented areas with Distress Stickles.
• The ribbon I used is simply too bulky to make a bow for a card, so I cut a couple lengths and tied them together with twine.  Sort of a faux bow! 

What are you thankful for this year?

Challenges:
Digital Tuesday: #186 Thankfulness
Going Grey with Scrap-Creations: Give Thanks
Party Time Tuesdays: PTT #94 - Happy Thanksgiving
Shopping Our Stash: Challenge #77 - Thank You or Thanksgiving
Pile It On: #46 - Let's Be Thankful

Supplies:
Cardstock:	Stampin’ Up! ‘So Saffron’
Patterned Paper:	My Mind’s Eye Lost & Found Two ‘Sunshine’ 6x6
Image:	Vintage Ephemera ‘Pumpkin illustration, 1911’
Inks:	Distress Markers; Distress Ink ‘Old Paper’; Le Pen ‘Black’
Embellishments:	Ribbon; vintage button; Distress Stickles ‘Peeled Paint’, ‘Vintage Photo’; Papertrey Ink rustic button twine
Tools:	Foam ink blender; Tim Holtz paper distresser, tiny attacher; SU! punch ‘1-1/4” square’; mister; EK Success punch ‘photo labels’; Glue Dots

Merry & Bright Ornament Card

This week's theme over at Card A Day Blog is "Christmas Ornaments".  I've really been on the vintage image kick lately, so I thought I'd mix things up and make a more modern card with fun colors and patterns for today's featured card.

Some Details:

• I couldn't stray too far from my favorites, so of course I had to use My Mind's Eye papers!  Love the bright colors and bold prints in the 12 Days of Christmas pack.  I made banners from three different paper patterns and overlapped them randomly on the card base.  A fourth pattern is layered horizontally as a thin band.
• I embossed the chipboard ornament diecut with Tim's Retro Circles texture fade, sprayed it with teal starburst spray, and gave it a coat of Future floor polish to stiffen it and give it a shiny finish.  Some Rock Candy Distress Stickles gives it an icy sparkle.

Challenges:
Crafty Bloggers Network: Challenge # 5 - Christmas Anything Goes
Fairytale Challengeblog: #54 - Embossing
Happy Campers: Challenge No. 4 - Use Bright Colours
Southern Girls: Challenge 57 - Christmas Projects
ABC Christmas Challenge: V is for Vibrant Colours

Supplies:
Cardstock:	Papertrey Ink ‘Aqua Mist’; Stampin’ Up! ‘Ultrasmooth Vanilla’
Patterned Paper:	My Mind’s Eye ’12 Days of Christmas’ 6x6
Stamps:	SU! ‘All Year Cheer’
Inks:	Lindy’s Stamp Gang starburst spray ‘Tibetan Poppy Teal’; VersaMark
Embellishments:	LSG two-toned embossing powder ‘Terra Cotta Rust’; Hug Snug seam binding ‘Ivory’; Darice baker’s twine ‘Red / White’; Stickles ‘Distress Clear Rock Candy’, ‘Frosted Lace’; ornament diecut
Tools:	3M foam tape; Sizzix Texture Boutique; Tim Holtz texture fade ‘Retro Circles’; Future floor polish