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Tuesday 10 November 2015

Christmas Card Experiment

Hello all and thanks for dropping by. I don't know about you, but I like making at least some of my own Christmas cards, so today I was playing with trying to find a basic design that would be relatively quick, fun to do and easy to send in the post, so no bulky embellishments.
So this is what I came up with:
The most fun was making the background panel, here you can see what it looked like:
I made it using a technique I discovered by chance. I shared it once before on the Shimmerz blog.
This is what you do: Cover a piece of dark coloured card with thick (rather old) heavy gesso. Press in the Tim Holtz Crackle layering stencil while the gesso is still wet. You can also paunce some scrunched up kitchen roll for more texture. Then add some sprays to creep in the cracks, and hey presto, background done....


Next I prepared the other elements.
A piece of Scrapbook paper (maja Design) cut with a snowflake die by Memory Boxed (Distressed Snowflake Collage) It has 4 dies, working a bit like the Tim Holtz mixed media dies. I put a bit of white card covered with glue and then Rockcandy Distress Glitter, for a sparkly effect, behind the snowflake opening.
Another die cut, - this one is from Crafters Companion.
A vintage Santa image, cut from another Maja Design paper, edged with Distress Embossing ink and then embossed with Stampendous EP in Antique Silver.
Various elements layered on top of each other and then couple of punched snow flakes finish it all off.

The whole thing was pretty quick to do, so expect to see more with variations on this theme.....

Hope you are having some creative time this week, - thank you for visiting today like always!


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34 comments:

  1. Candy C10 November 2015 at 13:56

    Gorgeous, Astrid.

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  2. Unknown10 November 2015 at 14:35

    STUNNING. ELEGANT. Thanks bunches for sharing Astrid. j.

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  3. froebelsternchen10 November 2015 at 15:05


    A very successful experiment. Just BEAUTIFUL Astrid!

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  4. brenda10 November 2015 at 15:16

    Anyone would be more than happy to receive this beauty Astrid. The postage thing has become a bit of an issue with the thickness and ever increasing prices

    B x

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  5. Dorthe10 November 2015 at 15:49

    I am in love Astrid, -with this beautiful and elegant christmas card. Such an amazing background, with the gesso and crackle die, wow, magic happens, and the sweetest santa , so lovely on top of the soft brown tones and cut out snowflakes !!
    I have been doing 22, cards myself this year, but here, as in UK, the postage is unbelivable expensive , and increasing to 2 uk pounds in January for only a Danish letter!! I don`t know how we can go on sending all over the world !!
    Hug from Dorthe

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  6. Meggymay10 November 2015 at 15:55

    A very beautiful card Astrid, love the background techniques.
    Yvonne xx

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  7. Redanne10 November 2015 at 16:23

    Such a beautiful card Astrid, I just love the wonderful Memory Box snowflake die and the vintage Father Christmas is wonderful. Hugs, Anne xx

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  8. Vintagehandmade10 November 2015 at 17:21

    Stunning card, Astrid! Your experiment turned out wonderfully and the background is fabulous! That Memory Box die is definitely on my wish list!
    Hugs! Branka xxx

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  9. Unknown10 November 2015 at 18:08

    Wonderful effects! Love your Christmas card! Xx

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  10. Kathy Bradley10 November 2015 at 18:47

    Astrid,
    So beautiful - I love the vintage feel and I love the old Santa images! The background is just wonderful!

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  11. rachel10 November 2015 at 18:49

    great background Astrid and thanks for sharing how you made it! Lovely card! Big hugs rachel x

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  12. Paper Creations by Shirley10 November 2015 at 19:03

    Gorgeous card art, it will be a gift to receive. I am also working on 'flat' cards but even yours above would be too thick for regular post here. I find it very expensive sending cards overseas. Thanks for the inspiration, love it! Shirleyxx

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  13. Ink Art Designs10 November 2015 at 20:07

    Oh I looove this Chrissy card Astrid! I think the background looks amazing,
    Dot x

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  14. Anita Houston The Artful Maven10 November 2015 at 20:13

    UBER GORGEOUS!!! Your experimentations are brilliant! LOVE this so much, the texture, the design, all fabulous!

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  15. Corrie Herriman10 November 2015 at 20:22

    This card is so elegant and stylish ! I will have to try your background technique, sounds like fun !
    Corrie x

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  16. experiments in paper10 November 2015 at 23:45

    Gorgeous card, and I love how detailed it looks- that background is amazing! So happy to learn about these Memory Box dies - absolutely love that touch with the Rock Candy behind! And also the embossed edge on the Santa image - well, ok, I love it all! Brilliant! xxx Lynn

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  17. Patty O'Malley10 November 2015 at 23:53

    Wonderful card, Astrid! I like the fact that it can be easily mailed.

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  18. Marisa Job11 November 2015 at 05:51

    Gorgeous card!! Beautiful background and colors!!

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  19. chrissie11 November 2015 at 08:40

    Sounds simple but looks amazing Astrid. Thank you for showing how you madeit

    Love Chrissie xx

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  20. Kerstin F.11 November 2015 at 15:01

    Your background is really fantastic!

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  21. Maryann Laursen11 November 2015 at 16:27

    Absolut gorgeous card here once again Astrid. You´ve just like always made such a wonderful card, and I love this technique, it looks so amazing.

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  22. Words and Pictures11 November 2015 at 17:45

    It's a lovely vintage style card - and with that background it has all the drama and crackle and texture you could possibly want. Hmmm... I suppose one needs to buy an extra pot of gesso and just leave it to stand for several years so that it gets old and stodgy!! Love the central image and those wonderful MB die-cut snowflakes. I can see that making variations on this theme will be a lovely thing to do.
    Alison xx

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  23. Jenny Marples11 November 2015 at 18:20

    Quite simply gorgeous Astrid! It's almost a shame to cover that crackle background. Jenny x

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  24. Mrs.B11 November 2015 at 19:22

    It may have been simple for you to make but it looks absolutely stunning, thanks for the link to the background, must check this out.
    Avril xx

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  25. Pamellia12 November 2015 at 12:55

    OK, genius technique, I am so trying that one Astrid!! I don`t have that specific stencil but I may try another that I have because the end result is just stunning!! I love your little Maja Santa image, such a great little focal piece! Stunning holiday card and perfect for mailing! hugs :)

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  26. Diana Taylor12 November 2015 at 19:00

    A simply beautiful card. I don't know whether to be depressed or thrilled as I have that snowflake set of dies and I haven't managed to create anything near as gorgeous as this with them, and yet I'm thrilled and inspired at the potential you've shown they have!! I love your background technique and shall definitely give that one a try - thank you so much for sharing!

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  27. Lynne Moncrieff12 November 2015 at 23:42

    Astrid
    This card is so very beautiful and elegant love the texture.
    Wishes
    Lynne

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  28. Jackie PN13 November 2015 at 13:22

    Astrid, this is just gorgeous and you are so talented!! I would love a class from you!!
    hugs,Jackie

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  29. Ruth13 November 2015 at 19:13

    A very beautiful and stylish card....wonderful. Ruth x

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  30. Margaret Mifsud14 November 2015 at 05:19

    Stunning card and I love the background you've created. Will definitely have to have a go at that one. Gorgeous colour and wonderful layers!! Adore this Astrid!! xx

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  31. pearshapedcrafting14 November 2015 at 23:09

    An excellent experiment I'd say - what a beautiful card! Chrisx

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  32. M@miogée15 November 2015 at 12:56

    Très jolie réa.
    Merci pour le tuto !!

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  33. Sheroliver16 November 2015 at 05:54

    Love the background and the whole card looks like fun and is very unique. Anyone should love to receive a card like this one. :)

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  34. A Pink22 November 2015 at 13:53

    Another fabulous Christmas card! Astrid . Adore your background love how you've used the snowflake die and such a lovely image . Thanks for sharing how you created this beauty x

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