Christmas In July

Hi everyone as hot as it I wouldn't mind if it was cooler. I was really thinking when I finished the first card that maybe I should have done one with snow. Lol! So I did.

With this being the fourth Saturday it is the Any Holiday challenge over at Hiding In My Craft Room. Those of us on the team have been asked to do Christmas or whatever Winter Holiday we celebrate for our inspiration piece. Laurie from Hiding In My Craft Room will be offering the prize for this challenge.

Here is my first inspiration piece:

I went and embossed with a Darice embossing folder my white card base. Then I applied two different colors of Soft Pastels. I blended with a soft cloth. Then I went and applied two coats of Paste Wax. Buffing in between. The first coat blended the Soft Pastels even more. Buffing the second coat added a subtle sheen.  If I wasn't so lazy I would have added more coats of the Paste to create more of a patina.

I opened in Silhouette Studio two images from Dover. I was fascinated with the star shape but it had a different circle image. When I saw this sweet girl with the holly I decided to use her. I drew a circle and filled it with black. After tracing and detaching the girl from the background I added her to the black circle. I decided to make the circle larger than the one on the star shape as well as to have the holly overlapping the circle. I took the star shape and in the effect mode tinted it green. After printing and cutting I applied a layer of paste wax before brushing on aqua Extreme Glitter. I wish you could see the jewel look of the star. The circle was printed and cut out and adhered in the center.

 

When I saw this vintage bird image at Graphic Fairy I knew I wanted to use it.  I've been wanting to do a half circle card and knew with the image detached from the background this would be perfect.

After drawing my circle and detaching the partial circle bird image in Silhouette Studio printing and cutting them out I started having fun.

I wet the circle and brushed Ken Oliver Liquid Metal on the front. Then I wrinkled tissue paper and covered my circle letting it dry. The tissue paper lifted some of the medium giving me a really soft look. I wish you could see the sheen I got from the liquid metal. When dry I folded my circle in half. The I realized I would have to have a section of the bottom trimmed off so my card would stand up.

Not wanting the ink to bleed I went and applied paste wax over the image after cutting it out. Once the wax was dry I buffed it. I managed to find my DecoArt Snow Writer but it would not come out of the nozzle even after I cleaned the nozzle. I unscrewed the nozzle and with a toothpick and my finger applied snow where there was snow in the image. I love the realistic texture it gave. After my snow dried I went and brushed Liquidtex Iridescent Medium over the snow and where the shadows are on the ground giving a nice sparkle and sheen. You can sort of tell in this closeup.

Using my new toy the typography plate from the Precision Press Plus I lined up the letters and stamped my sentiment using the letters that came with my press. Since it was my first time I didn't want to stamp directly on my card. 

There you have it my fun elegant vintage looking cards. Have you started making Christmas cards yet?

Wishing you Happy Frugal Crafting till we meet again!