Anything But Cute Mixed Media Challenge # 8 You've Got Happy Mail

Hello Everybody!It's time for a new challenge at Anything But Cute, and the tremendously talented and always delightful  Niki is our hostess this time.  She chose "You've Got Happy Mail" for her theme. For her challenge I made a wintry Christmas card using some old patterned papers,  two of my favorite dies and lots of mixed media products. It seems I'm having a hard time getting away from the snow theme this season! I'll tell you some details about the challenge, but first here's a shot of my card.

For this challenge, Niki would love to see some mixed media Christmas cards, tags, ATCs or whatever papercrafts you are mailing to a friend, inspired by the Spirit of the Season!

My first layer is white card stock painted with Distress paint, Brushed Pewter, around the edges.  Once dry, I swiped texture paste through Tim Holtz  Holiday Knit stencil using just the "stars", and let dry.  I blended over the dried texture with Hickory Smoke Distress ink. Not too much of this layer shows, but I know it's there.

My next layer is printed paper from my stash; I figured it's time to start dipping back into my unused printed paper supply!  I thought the images were perfect for my snowy card.  Using Tim Holtz Snow Flurries Texture Fade, I applied Versa Mark watermark ink to the indented side of the folder.  I inserted my paper and ran it through my Big Kick; this left the ink on the background .  I used clear embossing powder and heat embossed. I distressed the edges and  lightly painted the snowflakes with Picket Fence Distress paint as well as around the edges.  Any that got on the background I could wipe off, because it is embossed. Next came a little texture paste in the same way followed by a dusting of Rock Candy Distress Glitter just around the edges. Not too much glitter on this card...just a hint of sparkle!

For the silver backing to the top layer, I brushed on Brushed Pewter Distress paint just around the edges, dried and stamped Hero Arts snowflakes in Watering Can Archival ink.Check this out! I layered this with a panel which was a happy result of an experiment. I used some unloved printed paper and debossed it with the Snowflake Flurries embossing folder, placing my paper so the printed side would have the snowflakes recessed into it. After pressure embossing, I swiped the raised areas with Versamark ink and heat embossed with Ranger clear embossing powder. When I flipped my paper to the unprinted side, Voila'! What appears is a subtle smokey/icy background with crisp, white snowflakes without the use of any paint, ink, or spray! Cool, huh? I distressed the edges and wiped some texture paste on them and sprinkled with Clear Rock Candy Glitter as before. When layering this on the silver panel, I purposefully offset it, just for a little fun.

The snowflake is Tim Holtz Snowflake Rosette cut from card I painted using gesso and Distress stains in Tumbled Glass and Stormy Sky.  After die cutting and assembling the rosette, I swiped texture paste on with my finger and once again sprinkled with Rock Candy Distress Glitter. Edges have Hickory Smoke and Black Soot blended on them. Gotta love that snowflake rosette! I'd paper my walls in them if I had enough paper!

I stiffened some string with Stiffen Stuff and twisted it up into a loose bow. I added a few foliage die cuts from Tattered Lace. The sentiment from Tim Holtz Small Talk Occasions, a painted plastic snowflake from my stash, and a few 1/2 pearls coated in Rock Candy Distress Glitter finish this snowy card.

That's it for today!  I hope you are inspired to enter our "You've Got Happy Mail" challenge! You've got an entire month, so I hope you'll find some time to join in!

I would like to enter my card into the following inspiring challenges:

-Mixed Media World MMW # 9 Anything Goes

-Frilly and Funkie 'Tis the Season!

A Vintage Journey Vintage Christmas My Tim inspiration comes from his Distress line of paints, stains, and inks, techniques--versions of Blended Stains and Marbled Stains from CCV2, his wonderful Snowflake Rosette, and vintage quality to everything he makes.

-Emerald Creek Dares Bringing Bits of Cheer Let the Festivities Begin!

-Cards For Gals #10 Vintage Christmas

Scrap and Craft # 16 Anything Christmas

-Addicted to Stamps and More Challenge # 173 Holiday

-Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge Let It Snow

-Scrappy Land Challenge #31 Anything Goes Tattered Lace and Sizzix dies used.

-Papertake Weekly Anything Goes

Thank you for visiting today and for all your inspiring comments!  I read and appreciate each one! 

Hugs and Blessings!

Sara Emily