Saturday Step X Step - A Joyful Christmas

Hello Everyone, Pamellia here! So glad you dropped in to Frilly and Funkie today, I'm really excited to be here after my long hiatus and today I'm sharing my Saturday Step by Step. I have put together a snowy Christmas card using some products that just arrived from The Funkie Junkie Boutique!!

- I pulled a piece from the new Tim Holtz Festive Ephemera Pack and then I cut a backing from the Tim Holtz Yuletide Mini Paper Stash, just a quarter inch around for the frame. I inked the edges with Ranger Archival ink Coffee and then distressed them a bit for a vintage look.

- I coloured a small panel with Ranger Archival inks Coffee and Olive, then I stamped the Fabulous Flourishes using Coffee Archival ink. I used the Gothic stencil and some texture paste to lay down a pattern and while the paste was still wet, I covered it with Rock Candy dry Distress Glitter.

- Now for some cinnamon sticks. I sponged a small piece of paper with Coffee ink and then dragged the ink pad across the page to create the natural grain that cinnamon sticks have. Then simply roll them up and presto, mini cinnamon sticks for your Christmas cards or gifts.

- I had an unused tag that I had cut using the Tim Holtz Tag Collection set, so I thought I would put it to good use. I coloured it with Distress ink Pumice Stone and then used a stamp from the new Graphic 45 Christmas Carol set. I stamped it twice creating a sort of tall Brownstone building. Turned out great after I fussy cut it out and hid the center part.

- I cut out and embossed a snowflake using the Sizziz Bigz Layered Snowflake die/embossing folder set, then I spritzed it with Distress Spray Brushed Pewter. I wanted a more white gold sort of look, so I dulled it down with a touch of Coffee Archival ink.

- I coloured a piece of seam binding using Distress inks Forest Moss, Crushed Olive and Shabby Shutters. I crinkled it up for a wonderful vintage Christmas feel.

- Waste not, want not. I used the end cuts from my little panel to create some small fishtail banners to add a little extra interest to the card. This is such a great way to utilize your scraps.

- I have received a lot of inquiries about how I create my snowy look on my Christmas cards, so I thought I would share that with you today. I use three different stages to create the look.

- First I sponge on some Picket Fence Distress Paint. This is an important step because the paint will create a barrier between any dye colouring and the snow on top, to help prevent the snow from absorbing the colours under neath.

- Second stage is to water down a touch of the paint, or you can use Distress Spray instead. Dip a small brush and splatter the card to create snowflakes of different sizes.

- The last stage is to use some thick Gesso, Modelling Paste or Ranger Texture Paste and apply it randomly over the previously sponged areas. Put it on nice and thick to create snowy peaks and while it's wet, toss on a little Rock Candy Distress Glitter for some added sparkle! Presto, a snow covered card!

Here are some photos of the finished card. Unfortunately, I couldn't capture the beautiful shimmer of the Rock Candy distress glitter, but it's there and it's very sparkly! I added a beautiful cranberry pick from Petaloo, a new line at Linda's shop...isn't it festive! The little mittens charm is also from Linda's shop, she has tons of adorable charms for the Christmas season!

I hope you enjoyed my tutorial . Please feel free to let me know if you have any questions. There's still lots of time to enter our current challenge "LET THERE BE LIGHT", where we are looking for your shabby chic or vintage style project with something that makes reference to light, this could be a lamp, lantern, rays of light or even gradients of colour that get lighter!. We'll be back first thing on Monday to announce the winners of our last challenge, so make sure to check in for that.

Thanks for stopping in!
Hugs, Pamellia :)

If you would like to try some of these wonderful products, they are available at The Funkie Junkie Boutique: