Friday 6 November 2015

Oh Christmas tree for AVJ

Hi Everyone, it's November (eek how did that happen???????) and it's a new challenge at A Vintage Journey with a very unusual but brilliant theme from Nikki. She has called it
'Baby you're a firework' 
and she has described it for us - "Fireworks are a big part of celebrations at this time of the year. Be inspired by them to create a Tim style project; think distress glitter, bold colours, ink and paint splats and fun. Go on, light up that night sky".  Well when thinking about what I could do for this I had some new goodies arrive and in the box was Tim's new 'Sparkle' embossing folder, it immediately reminded me of fireworks and as I am in a mission to get my Christmas cards done I was off making four of them.


Playing with a mix of brushos and distress inks and Tim's new woodlands dies and the sparkle embossing folder I created what was going to be a quick and easy card (so I thought!) that can be sent through the post. However, as always with my 'overthinking' this became a longer project than anticipated. I just can't leave things looking unfinished to me and have to keep playing adding more and more details until I am satisfied with it.


So to begin I embossed a piece of card and painted it with gesso, dried it and mixed brushos and distress inks to get that lovely blended watery look. (1)
I inked the edges with broken china and ground espresso and sanded back the twinkles until they were white again. (This is how I thought I was going to leave them). (2)


Having diecut the tree from dark green card I painted areas with decoart ice crystal glitter paint and when that was dried I added some glossy accents in places and sprinkled on clear rock candy glitter.


When dry I adhered the tree to the card and used watery ground espresso, pine needles and forest moss distress inks to paint in the gaps in the tree. Although you can still see the twinkles through you get a more defined colour to the tree.


It was at this point I felt it need something else (see how I have to add the details?) so I mixed some crystal glamour dust with white gesso and painted on some glistening snow to the tree also adding some to the bottom of the panel to give the effect of snowy ground.


I then used a quickie glue pen to add some glamour dust to most of the top sparkles really making them twinkle. Now things were coming together, but I walked away from it and did something else before coming back the next day.


I wanted to create a couple of borders to go behind the panel, one is Tim's tattered lace strip die the other is the waste from the trellis frameworks die which I dipped in broken china and vintage photo distress inks before stamping Tim's ledger stamp in watering can archival ink.


To provide an embellishment I die cut the snowflake on the edge die using old glitter card I found in the cupboard......


.... but it was rather plain and as I looked around for something to 'pretty' it up I was reminded of the work that Annamarie (of Annamarie Designs) does which looked beautiful on her stand at Ally Pally in September. I had bought some of the natural accents and combined it with a bow and tiny punched flowers. I also added some watery distress ink to it all to make it look a bit more grungy.


With the waste from the glitter card I punched some little stars using Tim's small star punch, edged them with ground espresso and adhered them to the panel. (here I go again adding more detail again!!!!).


Anyway once assembled I am really quite pleased with the overall effects and have made four of these that can be sent out at Christmas - I just hope the snowflake embellishment holds up in the post.


So there's my firework link, sparkles in the background with a wintry tree in the foreground and lots of glitter and bold colours in the background too.


Thanks for joining me today I hope we will see you over at a Vintage Journey and remember the theme is not about fireworks per se, it is more about using inks etc with splats and splashes on your project. With glitter and that twinkle pattern I think I have lit up the night sky.

We look forward to seeing your linkup at the AVJ blog and how you interpret Nikki's fab theme.

Have a great month before the chaos, I mean fun really starts.

hugs Brenda xxx





28 comments:

S@ndy Diller said...

Wonderful make Brenda - Love all the sparkle and shine. S@ndy xx

Annie said...

A gorgeous Christmas card Brenda and a good start too!!!! I plan to start next week!!!!
As you say you are a stickler for details and there sure are plenty here x love the background and the way you finished the beautiful tree. The detail on the snowflake really finish your card off a wee treat x TFS

Have a lovely weekend
Annie x

Daniele said...

totally amazing as always, love the backgrounds
x

Words and Pictures said...

I think these are stunning! The backgrounds are to die for - colour, texture and a touch of sparkle - what more could you ask for? - and the snowy trees, glittering with frost, look amazing.
Alison xx

toni said...

Ooooooo! Winter wonderful! Love the colours, textures in fact everything about these ! X

Suzanne C said...

Gorgeous Gorgeous GorgeouS! I love the sky you created with the beautiful mix of colors and then you made them into beautiful holiday cards! Wow!

Patty O'Malley said...

Love these cards, Brenda! I just got that tree die and can't wait to use it.

Juliz Design Post said...

Beautiful cards Brenda and great techniques. The Christmas tree is on my wish list.
Julie x

Julia Aston said...

what a beautiful background you created with your inks, embossing and sparkle Brenda! Love the darker tree and the pretty die cut strips behind! Julia xx

Astrid Maclean said...

Beautiful cards Brenda!! All that extra effort and special touches were totally worth it!! The effects on the tree and the "fireworks" look super and the whole lay out it just brilliant!!

A Pink said...

Gorgeous cards! Brenda Love all those added extra touches. Thanks so much for sharing how you created these beauties! So inspiring . xx

Deb said...

So beautiful Brenda, the touches of glitter and sparkle just make this card shine and your attention to detail is as always spot on. Thank you so much for sharing with us how you created these beautiful cards, the folks who receive them are so very lucky! Deb xo

Meggymay said...

Winter trees at their stunning best. Fabulous cards and design.
Yvonne xx

rachel said...

just love these brenda and I'm so glad you didn't walk away - all the details are just amazing! hugs rachel x

sally said...

Lots of loveliness here & I bet they are even better IRL! I'll just have to make do with imagining what they really are like lol....


Sally

sarascloset said...

Your Christmas cards are Heaven in paper and ink! I love your sparkly backgrounds, and think I must add that embossing folder to my list! I have the tree die, and now am so inspired to get it out and give it a whirl. I just love how you have made it glisten and glow! So pretty, and anyone receiving one of these cards will certainly be in the Christmas spirit! Hugs!

Nikki Acton said...

Stunning! xx

Jenny Marples said...

It's brilliant that you took these the extra mile (or three!) as the trees, die cut layers and kraft make the backgrounds work perfectly. Jenny x

Lys said...

Wow! Brilliant! I love the work with the brushos, but you added so many little details that finish a wonderful result!

Anita Houston The Artful Maven said...

Stunning and every detail brilliant! I LOVE the background, just gorgeous! PINNED!

Redanne said...

Oh wow Brenda, your cards are stunning, I love the twinkly bits on the trees and the way you made the embellishment in the style of Anna Marie (love her designs too). This is a unique an wonderful interpretation of the theme! Hugs, Anne xx

Barbara said...

Wow! I love your cards! The trees are wonderful, background is amazing and color palette is my favorite, blue and green! perfect work! barbarayaya

sherry107 said...

just stunning! I love ALL that you put into this!
sherry107

Marcie Lovett said...

Beautiful cards! Came over from Tim's blog to see the details.

Julia Aston said...

Brenda! did you see Tim Holtz highlighted your card on his blog for Christmas ideas??!!! Congrats to you!!! Julia xx

Cocofolies said...

Hi Brenda!
Love love love this set of Christmas cards, so stunning and so beautiful wow!!!!...
I've seen that they are among Tim Holt's worthy bloglinks, this is so well deserved.
Sorry to not come more often on your blog, but life is so hectic sometimes and we are all so busy.. However, I still love what you do, you will never cease to amaze me.
Wishing you a merry Christmas and happy New Year 2016, full of success and joy.
Hugs, Coco xxx

Diane said...

Brenda,
Love, Love, Love the card. Great choice of colors and techniques. Thanks for the inspiration. Enjoy the Holiday Season.

Daria said...

Gorgeous cards! Thank you for sharing the details.