Mixed Media Christmas Card

The December challenge starts today at Anything But Cute and Niki is our hostess this time.  She is calling it You've Got Happy Mail.

She describes the challenge this way:

"We all like Happy Mail right? That feeling of being spoiled rotten when you receive a handmade card from someone is better than being wrapped up in a soft blanket near a fire, sipping on a hot latte. So, for this challenge I would love to see your mixed media Christmas cards, tags, ATC's or whatever papercraft you are mailing to a friend! Just make sure they are inspired by the spirit of the season!"

I love this theme and was especially happy to know that I could meet my commitments as a Design Team member and add to my stash of cards for family and friends.

The vintage image that I found somewhere online became the driving force behind this card design.  I used a piece of card stock to make the background.  First I covered it with Peeled Paint Distress Ink and then I took my natural sea sponge and dabbed on some Antelope Brown and Silver Moss Ink from FW.

The snowflakes are from a Recollections set and are stamped on a piece of transparency with Adirondack Snow Cap Ink, covered with Recollections Snow Embossing Powder and carefully heated.  If you wave your heat tool over the embossing powder and don't get too close, you will not melt your transparency.

Next I die cut some pine branches from Impressions Obsession and inked them with Evergreen Bough and Forest Moss DI.

The poinsettia was cut from a Marianne Creatables die and painted with Pearl White Metallic acrylic paint from Deco Art.   The petals were shaped and layered and then some little white beads were added to the centre.

I added a row of lace from my stash across the bottom and then added my vintage Santa image.  I dyed some seam binding with a mixture of Forest Moss, Evergreen Bough and Peeled Paint DI and made a loopy bow that I tied with a piece of burlap string.  I rubbed a little charm with some Renaissance Treasure Gold wax paste and hung it from the burlap string.

Then I used my fingers to dab some Golden Light Molding Paste on the Merry Christmas, which was cut from mat board by my husband on his laser cutter.  Once it was dry, I coated it with some Stardust Stickles.

This challenge runs until January 4th so I hope you will join us with your mixed media happy mail.

I am going to enter this card in the following challenges:

Cardz 4 Galz - Vintage Christmas
Scrap and Craft - Christmas Cards
Time Out Challenges - Snowflakes are Winter's Butterflies
Stampavie and More - Shabby or Vintage
The Crafty Addicts - Anything Goes/Celebration
A Snowflake's Promise - Winter/Christmas
Holly Jolly Christmas Challenge - Embossing
Always Playing with Paper - Make a Non-Traditional Christmas Card
Craft-Dee Bowz - Anything Goes with a Handmade Bow
Glitter N' Sparkle - Include a Bow