Tuesday 11 November 2014

Variations on a theme

Hello all and welcome.
Today I am sharing another set of textured Christmas cards.

I don't remember a year when I have enjoyed making my Christmas cards quite as much as this year.... Maybe it's because I started earlier, maybe it's also because I decided to keep them simpler (well for me anyway) without all the tons of embellishments I used to add to my cards.

This set is not so different from the last set I showed, but made in a slightly different way.
I used a beer mat for the base again, but instead of covering it with gesso, I added a scrap of neutral coloured scrapbook paper. I adhered it to the beer mat, and when dry, sanded around the edges.

Next I added texture through a stencil, I used the Memory Box Lathenay and Heartwood stencils for this set. I am completely in love with them. It was my blog friend Dee Adams who told me about these gorgeous stencils. She had used one of them on a beautiful card she made me a while back.
Each of the 3 cards are basically done in the same way, after the texture had dried I added 2 colours of Distress Paints: Pumice Stone and Antique Linen, blended them with a baby wipe and then did some spritzing with Tim Holtz Distress Spray in Walnut Stain and a Lindy's Stampgang spray called Cowabunga Copper.
The final steps were to highlight the texture with Treasure Gold in two different colours, White Fire and Copper. If you use the back (black side) of a bit of Cut n Dry blending foam, it's much easier to just hit the raised bits.

The sentiment is from the Tim Holtz Christmas Nostalgia set. The Santa images are from a sheet of Maja Vintage Frost basics paper. I cut them out and them embossed around the edges with Stampendous Ancient Gold embossing powder.

Thanks for visiting like always and hope you are having a good week.


31 comments:

Deborah Wainwright said...

I'm loving your cards Astrid. The texture and colours create such a vintage look which for Christmas is so apt. Thank you for sharing xx

Rosie said...

Wow, Astrid, these Christmas cards are sooo beautiful. Fantastic design

Redanne said...

I do love those Maja Santa images and you really have created the most wonderful textural background for them - simply gorgeous! Anne xx

Maryann Laursen said...

Once again you´ve done such an awesome job here Astrid. They´re sooooooo beautiful and well made, and I just so love the sentiment stamp, you´ve used on the last cards, it looks amazing hun.

Unknown said...

Exquisite cards.. This would stay on my mantle for a very lig time! Then I would save it and display again the following year as a piece of art! They are gorgeous, Astrid! Xx

chrissie said...

Truly your own invention Astrid and a wonderful one as well. These are amazing.

Thank you for sharing the idea

Love Chrissie x

maria's knutselplezier said...

Stunning cards dear Astrid I love them, great colours and structure, love the images !!

Greetings
Maria

massofhair said...

More fabulous Christmas cards Astrid, beautiful images and textures. I envy the lucky people who receive one so very soecial:-) xxx

Linda Coughlin, the funkie junkie said...

Beautiful textured backgrounds and lovely images. Love the way you have edged the images with embossing powder!

Hugs,
Linda

Paper Creations by Shirley said...

Another gorgeous three with beautiful textures. I love your vintage style which makes me want to run out and buy more stamps :) Have a great day, Shirleyxx

Maryanne said...

Another beautiful set of cards! I love the idea of using the beer mats for a base!

Pamellia said...

OK Astrid, I think I need to buy the house right beside yours, so I can learn from the master! These are absolutely my favourites! The damask texture is so gorgeous and I love how you faded it into the background to frame the shape of your wonderful images! What amazing colours, so vintage! Love them! big hugs :)

Dorthe said...

They are so beautiful, I love the Santa images you used, and the most wonderful stencils you framed them with! Fantastic colours ,too and your background with the different papers so great, Astrid.
Hugs,Dorthe

artwolf2009 said...

the Cards itself are wonderful presents

Juliz Design Post said...

Such beautiful cards, love them.
Julie x

pearshapedcrafting said...

These are beautiful, such a clever colour combination! Love those Santa images too! Chris

Anonymous said...

These are gorgeous Astrid! What a great idea to use beer mats, they're a nice solid base for that wonderful texture.
Alison xxx

Carol said...

I love these Astrid, the textured backgrounds set off those images perfectly. Carol x

Anneke said...

Wow wonderful cards Real Astrid. I love the look of these cards. It gives a warm feeling. Thanks Anneke.

Anita Houston The Artful Maven said...

LOVE LOVE LOVE!!! Old world feeling and sublime texture!

Corrie Herriman said...

Fabulously opulent cards ! Gorgeous !
Corrie x

Mrs.B said...

Loving the look of these cards with all their texture and gorgeous colours.
Avril xx

Meggymay said...

A gorgeous set Astrid, love the texture. Thanks for the tip about using cut and dry for the gilding.
Yvonne

experiments in paper said...

Gorgeous! Love what you are doing with the sprays, and thanks for the tip about how to hit the high points!

www.deeadamsart.blogspot.co.uk said...

Hi Astrid thank you for the mention here on your blog loving the cards good to hear you are enjoying yourself making them. Cheers Dee x

Terry said...

Astrid, I just adore your Christmas card trio! The texture is so rich and the vintage Santa images are stunning! Love these!

Barbara Rankin said...

Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful! I have a ton of those beer mats. Hmmm... the wheels are turning, Astrid. Thanks for the ideas and inspiration.

Dianne said...

SQUAWK, these are freaking GORGEOUSSSS, it certainly show all the fun your having with your cards, yup, yup, yup, I want to have some of that fun too, isn't it wonderful how you have inspired so many others you Rock Miss Astrid....

toni said...

Wonderful cards Astrid! There are so many things I love about these, colours, texture, imagery, let's just say I love everything about them ! Great work! X

Anonymous said...

Jaw dropping gorgeous! Astrid I think I can say these Christmas cards are the best I have ever seen. You are so talented. Love them! Karen.x

Anonymous said...

Wow! These are incredible. I can't choose a favourite from them all, because they're all equally gorgeous.

I've been M.I.A. for a handful of days, and am just catching up with posts. I'm so glad that I didn't miss this one. These are truly fabulous. Well done, Astrid! ~ Cobs. x

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