Saturday, December 5, 2015

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

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

37 comments:

  1. Holy macaroni Sara, I'm head over heels for this frosty beauty!! You had be at 'blue' haha! I love that you pulled out some old printed papers, as someone new to this product, I am really finding I enjoy the subtle and fun patterns you can make with an already patterned piece of paper. Your embossing powder background really added a wonderful shine, like when a crust forms on the snow and the sun reflects off of it!! Your layered snowflake rosette is brilliant, can't keep from scrolling back up to look at it again and again!! What an incredible icy creation just full of merriment and wonder! Well freaking done my friend!! hugs :)

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    1. Geez, I totally forgot to say Thank you so much for joining us at Frilly and Funkie for our 'Tis the Season' challenge! Hugs, Pamellia DT :)

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  2. Sara, your vintage layered Christmas card is completely brilliant! Loving that distressed look, your wonderful snowflake and a touch of Rock Candy Distress Glitter! That string is such a perfect addition to the entire design! Absolutely beautiful, my friend! I enjoyed reading your awesome post, as usual! Huge hugs! Branka xxx

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  3. Wow! This is awesome! Love all the layers and snowflakes! This reminds me of an old Victorian Christmas card! Thanks for playing along with us at Scrapy Land Challenge #31!

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  4. I shall just put that in my book of ideas to try and come back too because I LOVE the sound of your happy experiment - its turned out fantastic! Well done you - you have started a trend! Great card so fab! Cxxx

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  5. What a great idea to use Versamark in an embossing folder - will definitely be trying that soon! Love how your card turned out - marvelous layers and all that yummy texture - fabulous! Thanks so much for your kind comments - and yes, that is YOU on my list! xxx Lynn

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  6. Oh wow, this is stunning, Sara!! The texture is amazing!! Wow!! The layers and details are just perfect!! I love the shine of the embossing powder background!! This is absolutely gorgeous!! I love, love it!! Thank you so much for playing along at Scrapy Land!! Have a great weekend!! Big hugs :)

    Lisa
    A Mermaid's Crafts

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  7. Love the layers and wonderful details on how you made this. Lots of work went into embossing and painting the paper which came out gorgeous which gave the paper that distress and beautiful texture appearance. Thank you for sharing your beautiful card with us at Scrapy Land and can't wait to see your next wonderful project or card with us again. Nancy Hill, Scrapyland Designer Team

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  8. Loved the distressed look! All the layers are amazing on this creation, especially the snowflake layer! Thank you for sharing with us over at Emerald Creek Dares!
    Cathy - DT Member at Emerald Creek

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  9. Stunning! This really is a special card! I love all those scrumptious layers and as for the Snowflake rosette......mmmmmm! Winter Wonderland is rectangular -who knew! Hugs, Chrisx

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  10. Your make is truly beautiful and I would love to feel it. It appears to be the kind of Christmas card (is it a card?) that one has to hold in their own hands to really appreciate. I can literally feel the texture just from seeing it. Do you think I like it? Oh yeah!
    Sandy xx

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  11. What an absolute stunner Sara, I love how you took the paper and 'changed it up' and the snowflake is to die for with the touches of gesso and distress glitter to bling it up, but not too much. A totally stunning card - I am off to have another look at it now... Hugs, Anne xx

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  12. This is soooooo lovely! The frosty touches on cardstock, the silver edges peeping through, those glorious snowflake rosettes...and all that wonderful texture and layering. You really know your way around mixed media! I need to come take some lessons!

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  13. Dearie, you have done it again! This is absolutely stunning and gorgeous all rolled up into a lovely blue festive bundle of awesome sauce! I love your layers and your color combos. Your use of so many techniques along with the EF and EP! Glorious mixed media design. Every time I look at it I see something new. I needed to be in your brain while you were making this! Amazeballs!

    I keep reading this over and over and am flabbergasted about the technique. How did you do that? I am going to see a movie but will be back tomorrow to read it again! Hugz to you muffin and Merry Christmas! ~Punkin

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  14. WOW this is stunning! What gorgeous details! Thanks for joining us for our Festive Emerald Creek Dares Challenge

    Karon DT

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  15. Sara, I just came back to say thanks so much for joining in our Vintage Christmas challenge at A Vintage Journey! Hugs, Anne xx

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  16. This is absolutely gorgeous Sara x wonderful layers and fabulous texture. Great co,our combination too x thank you so much for joining in with us at AVJ and best wishes to you for a wonderful Christmas and New Year

    Hugs Annie x

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  17. a beauty of a card!!! thanks for joining us at Emerald Creek Dares!!

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  18. This is such a beauty. Loving the colours, the textures and the layers and isn't it great when you get happy accidents, especially when they are fabulous, like yours? Thank you for the inspiration x

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  19. brilliant <3
    Absolutely beautiful
    corinne defrance

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  20. Wow! Awesome layering, Sara! LOVE your beautiful Christmas card!

    Thank you for sharing it with us at Emerald Creek Dares!

    Claudia x

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  21. Absolutely gorgeous girlfriend!! And duh! I never would have thought to use unwanted paper!! Good idea- instead of just stashing it in the barn! haha!
    You are awesome and wonderful! and just too durn cute to boot!!
    hugs, Jackie

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  22. What a pretty and so winterry card Sara! Love that fancy snowflake as a focal point!
    Hugs

    Samra
    Paper Talk with Samra

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  23. This is one gorgeous project, Sara! I just love the layout of this card design. The beautiful colors are so perfect with the black sentiment and the awesome rosette! Fabulous! Congrats on all your wins this month, you've done beautifully!

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  24. Loving this frosty card with that beautiful snowflake and all the lovely layers. You have recycled and transformed to create such a beauty.
    Hugs!
    Cec

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  25. Oh my goodness this looks heavy from all that mixed media yummy product! I love all the shimmery blues and snowy flakes. Always fun to pop in and see what you've whipped up! Thanks for sharing with us at Emerald Creek Dares Bringing Bits of Cheer Challenge :)

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  26. Stunning card! Love all of those gorgeous layers!! Great texture!

    Thank you very much for joining us this week at the Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge Blog!

    hugs...
    Melissa

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  27. This is absolutely STUNNING, Sara. I love it, and I would be absolutely DELIGHTED to have you stop by and share your amazing creations with us at Word Art Wednesdays. We have weekly Anything Goes challenges, and we offer fabulous prizes as well. It would be a real treat to have you join us. I hope you will stop by.
    Karen Letchworth, Owner
    Word Art Wednesday
    www.wordartwednesday.blogspot.com

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  28. Gorgeous card, Sara! So many beautiful layers and textures, and I love the pastel blue palette! Thanks so much for playing along with us this week at ATSM!

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  29. What a stunning creation. Love it.
    Thanks for joining us at Cardz For Galz this week, hope to see you again soon
    Hugs Sharon DT

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  30. What lusciuos layers of blue and white snowiness Sara! Wonderful textures and sparkle! thanks so much for joining us in the AVJ challenge! Julia xx

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  31. A beautiful card, gorgeous details. Thanks for joining us at Cardz 4 Galz. We hope to see you re-visit. Caz DT.

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  32. What a wonderful wintery creation! I am so impressed with the lovely background you created, and that snowflake really steals the show! Thank you so much for joining us at The Frilly and Funkie Challenge!
    Hugs,
    Nancy

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  33. Wowzer - and this may be my favourite of the lot. A really stunning creation, Sara - a showstopper of a card, but in a really gentle, frosty way!
    Alison xx

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  34. Stunning, stunning layers of beauty here Sara Emily! Thanks for joining us at Frilly and Funkie. Jenny x

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  35. Absolutely Stunning ! Sara Totally love this card - one of the best I've seen this year imho , Thanks for joining us at a Vintage Journey . Amanda xx

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