Frosty!

Hello, again!  I'm back to use some more of my Christmas leftovers for the challenge at   Our Creative Corner.  And now it's back to that Tim Holtz snowflake again, as I made a wintry card for my sister, who is coming for a visit.  I wanted to make her a special card, and since it does not have to go through the mail, it can be really dimensional.  I used some fragile embellishments here, too, that would probably not survive a postal trip.

Nancy, at Frilly and Funkie chose "Winter Wishes" for this fortnight's theme, and I was instantly reminded of the cold frosty (not snowy) days we've been having here lately.  I've attempted to achieve that frosted look through use of glitters, sprays, embossing powders, metallic paints and color choices. This is one of those projects that just does not photograph well--perhaps with a better camera and a better photographer!

As for the Christmas leftovers, mine are from my Christmas tree and from some Christmas crafts I've posted throughout the year. (yes, even one from September-- my Christmas Assemblage Clock).  To list them:  Balsa wood leftover from a snowflake die cut--negative piece (shown below), snowflakes die cut from acetate waste packaging and hung on my tree, the silver cord I hung them with, some  pieces of a glittery, gold Christmas stem, some pieces cut from a glittery, gold vintage snowflake I used in my Assemblage Clock (still on my desk from September!!), acetate negatives from Movers and Shapers snowflakes I die cut, and a die cut poinsettia I was practicing Pamellia's UTEE techniques on (which can be found here in her amazing tutorial). I can guarantee you, these things did not look so good strewn all over my worktop, so this was a good opportunity for me to clean up!  I also needed my card QUICK, because my sister will be here tonight! It's great to have these pieces to build on.

Now, for some new stuff...Pumice Stone Distress glitter (LOVE!!!), and that cute little gumdrop (50% off at Hobby Lobby yesterday) both purchased specially for this card with my gift card I received from my generous family for Christmas. I did not know glitter until I found Distress Glitter, even though I have a drawer FULL.

Let's get started with how I did this!  First I gave the balsa wood a coat of gesso. Once dry, I painted with Distress paints to get an old barn-wood look (my sister is a barn-girl, but their barn is red--not the look I wanted). When that dried, I used texture paste through a TCW stencil, and while the paste was still wet, sprinkled on some Pumice Stone glitter.  Set that aside to dry.

This is the one I didn't use!

Next, I made 2 background papers, well actually a few more than that, but the others will be for a future project or 5.  The first BG paper is on a good quality gloss paper, using various Distress Paints spritzed with water to get my snowflake background (in the balsa wood cut out of finished card) drying between layers.  Once I achieved the look I wanted,  I  spritzed with Dylusions white spray and Ranger Perfect Pearls sprays, spritzed with water, and dried with a heat tool.  I used the included texture fade from the Layered Snowflake die set to emboss the snowflake.

The second background paper (shown below) is made with Tattered Angels Glimmer Mist Tattered Leather spray (gorgeous sparkle in person) through a Recollections stencil.  While still slightly wet, I spritzed with water to get a faded look.  When dry I inked with Tumbled Glass Distress Ink, and distressed edges with my distressing tool.

Now for those embellishments!  I took off the silver cord from my acetate snowflake ornaments I made for my Christmas tree (now safely taken away in the sanitation truck).  The little snowflakes were completely covered in Diamond Dust, and all I had to do is spritz them with Perfect Pearls spray.  The larger flake was made with the Layered Snowflake die and only the tips had been Diamond Dust-ed.  I left that one just as it was fresh from the tree.

If you look real hard you can see the clear acetate snowflake peeking out. And some of that red reflecting off the underlying layers! UGH!

I gussied up the gold foliage with embossing powder and chunky glitter using my new embossing dabber for the embossing powder and multi matte medium for the glitter.  Coverage wasn't the best, but it looked close to the effect  the gold glittery vintage snowflake parts had, so I stopped there.

The poinsettia (chosen because my sister is a grower in Missouri at her/hubby's farm Hilltop Farms, and in the fall they grow and sell gazillions of poinsettias) was red/white (again, not the look I was going for--so I had to alter it) and had a few layers of UTEE on it.  I spritzed the daylights out of it with Perfect Pearls Turquoise spray, and allowed it to puddle and dry.  Still not completely out of the red zone yet, so I wiped on some Brushed Pewter Distress paint, and sprinkled on some Pumice Stone glitter randomly.  It still has hints of red, but I'm happy with the look (I think it shows more with the lighting I used to photograph the card than in real life). The gumdrop was added without any further embellishment--perfect from the package.

I choose a light blue cardstock for the card base, and using an acetate negative (like a stencil) from the Movers and Shapers snowflakes I die cut for my tree in December (yep, I keep everything!),  I used the embossing dabber and white embossing powder to add a few snowflakes for my frosty scene.  We do get to see a flake or two here in the south.

The Christmas leftovers, all frosted up, were assembled, and now I have a beautiful card to gift my sister with when she arrives in a few hours!  I'm so excited!

This shot captures some of the layering and glittery-ness, as well as the larger clear acetate snowflake.  I snapped this in the morning natural light, but it is quite cloudy today, so not the best photo.

Thank you for visiting and if you leave a comment, it will be treasured! I will be guesting for Country View Challenges at the end of the month, so be sure to stop back--I have something really unique in store for you!

Warm Crafty Hugs!

I would like to enter this in the following inspiring challenges:
Our Creative Corner "Christmas Leftovers" Please see my list above for all the leftovers I used.

Frilly and Funkie "Winter Wishes Challenge" Winter here means lots of frost, but only a flake or two of snow.

Country View Challenges "Use Something New to You" My new products are in bold text above.

Inspiration Journal "Fresh Start"  I've given my old leftovers a fresh start, and I've used a few fresh new  products.  I'm also giving my work top a fresh start by cleaning up all the leftovers!

Crafting By Designs "Anything Goes"

Love to Create #149 "Add Snow Flakes"

Deep Ocean Challenge Blog #95 "Winter Dreams"

Fan-Tastic Tuesday Challenge #68 "Anything Goes. With A Twist-Use Something Re-Cycled" I've used re-cycled balsa wood off cuts from another project and other project rejects, re-cycled acetate waste packaging,  re-cycled bits from craft floral and snowflakes, re-cycled cording from ornaments, acetate die cut off cuts for stencils.

Craft Hoarders Anonymous January Challenge "Choose Your Challenge"  Coloring Medium:  Paint, spray mist, ink.  Fiber: cord.  Technique: Die cuts and Mixed Media.  Texture:  Distressing tool, embossing (heat and dry) and wood.  Embellish:  Bling and lots of found items!

Mixed Media Monthly #8 "Something New For the New Year" My newly acquired products are in bold text above. I also tried something new with old leftovers from previous projects.