Wednesday 21 November 2018

A little sparkle on a dull day...

Hello friends, hope you are keeping well. The weather has been chilly and grey here the last couple of days, perfect weather for some crafting, - so I am in full Christmas Card making mode. I have made nearly 20 cards so far, but don't worry, I will not show them all, - today I will share just a couple made with some of my Tim Holtz stamps:
I'll keep this post quite short, as these are busy times for us all, just a few close ups and some product info:

This one uses the Holiday Greetings stamp set. The background was done with Antique Linen and Frayed Burlap Distress Oxides. I stamped some trees from a much older set in the background, using Iced Spruce Doxide.
The main stamp was stamped in Ground Espresso Doxide and then clear embossed, I also added some white pencil for snow,
The main card was mounted on a piece embossed with the Lumber 3D folder, coloured with Distress Inks in various brown tones and then I applied a layer of Crazing Medium with a palette knife, a cool trick I learn from my lovely blog friend Sara Emily from Saras Closet  After the crazing medium had dried I then rubbed in some Distress Crayon with a damp finger, to bring out the cracks. I also drew in some stars with a white gel pen and added a little sparkle with Diamond Stickles.
The second card was done in a very similar way, - the bird is from the Simon Says Stamp limited edition stamp set and was coloured with a mix of Distress Markers and coloured pencils

I then finished it with a die cut coloured with Doxides and then I added just a tiny bit of Distress Glitter in Vintage Platinum, it looks really sparkly in real life but it all gets lost in the photo.

Well that's it, hope you are all having a good week and are not too busy. I'll try and visit soon...

xxxxx



20 comments:

Valerie-Jael said...

Your cards are all fantastic Astrid, one lovelier than the other. Have a great evening, hugs, Valerie

Redanne said...

Your cards are so beautiful Astrid, beautifully vintage looking and the crackling looks amazing. I just love the bird and wish I had got that stamp now.... Hugs, Anne xx

Meggymay said...

Gorgeous vintage cards Astrid.
Yvonne xx

Words and Pictures said...

These are lovely - perfect vintage styling. I just love how the background fades into muted tones and the coach comes right to the foreground - really clever.
Alison x

Tracey@Hotchpotchcreations said...

These really are beautiful Astrid, such pretty images and your backgrounds really bring out that vintage style. I've cut those deckle edge dies so many times recently i'm beginning to dream of cutting them. It's nice to see you are in full Christmas mode, I'm beginning to think I may never get there this year.
Big Hugs Tracey xx
P.S so sorry i've not visited as often as usual but as you know life's a little up and down at the moment x

Let's Art Journal said...

Your Christmas cards are beautiful! I love the stamps that you used, both the little bird and the coach and horses give a lovely vintage look especially with the fabulous wood effect background that you created 😁. The clear embossing powder really makes the image pop over the pretty background too - perfect! Thanks for the inspiration 😁. It's been a lot colder here too although we have still had sunshine. Stay warm and enjoy the rest of your week! J 😊 xx

My name is Erika. said...

Wow Astrid. These are just beautiful. It's hard to believe you create those images with stamps. They look like images from a magazine. Well I should say I can believe you made them but they are pretty amazing. I hope your weather improves. We are in the deep freeze with way too much snow for November. It eels like January here. Have a wonderful rest of your week. hugs-Erika

Kate Yetter said...

I haven't seen these stamps before but they sure are beautiful! That glitter certainly gives it a bit of wintry sparkle. I especially love the card with the bird.
Kate

Maryann Laursen said...

As usual you´ve made some amazing cards here, and like the rest here, I´m really impressed of the beauty you always manage to get into them, and these are no different. I must confess, that I especially love the little bird here, it really speak to me in some odd way, and even though they´re both sooo beautiful, it just win a tiny bit before the other one, but your work is truly amazing on both of them.
Have a wonderful week-end ahead here now everyone.

brenda said...

Beautiful vintage creations Astrid, they could have popped right out of a Victorian home with all the lovely aged treatment. Been enjoying the ones you put in Instagram as well.

B x

froebelsternchen said...

OMG how beautiful these cards are! It's a joy to look at them!

Happy day!
Hugs, Susi

Margaret Mifsud said...

Your Christmas cards are so beautifully vintage Astrid .. love them!! Gorgeous colour palettes and beautifully created backgrounds .. absolutely stunning!! Hoping to get started on mine soon. Have actually got my Christmas stash out of the cupboard .. I guess that is sort of a start??!! LOL!! Have a great day!! hugs xx

chrissie said...

Always love to see your makes and ideas Astrid. Your stamping is so beautiful and the use of embossing and then the die cut makes everything so special

Have a great day

Love Chrissie xx

Dorthe said...

They are amazingly beautiful, Astrid, the backgrounds so douse and outfaded , and effects of crackle , the glitter, everything together creates these most stunning cards.
Hugs, Dorthe

Paper Wishes said...

These are lovely Christmas cards. You are so good at putting your own sensibility into your work the bird card looks so different to the other cards I have seen using the same stamps. Beautiful gentle timeless cards. x

Annie said...

Stunning Christmas cards Astrid and I so love those amazing stamps xx

Sending huge hugs
Annie xx

ann barnes said...

These cards are just gorgeous Astrid! The layering and touches of white pencil for snow, they all add to make simple beautiful pieces. Thank you for sharing your wonderful talents! xx

Patty O'Malley said...

Lovely cards, Astrid!

Julia Aston said...

What lovely vintage designs on both of your wonderful cards Astrid! love the brown and tan colors and the beautiful stamps you used! xx

sarascloset said...

Oh, my heavens, Astrid! Every time I visit your blog I am treated to something so beautiful I can't believe my eyes! These cards are incredible, and I love, love, LOVE those gorgeous textured 'wood' backgrounds to compliment your lovely focal panels. (Thank you for the sweet shout out, my friend!) These have got to be the two prettiest Christmas cards I've seen! Sending hugs!

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...

One World One Heart

Photo

FEEDJIT Live Traffic Feed

Birthday Card

Birthday Card
Just got a whole lot of new stamps from a brilliant place called the Stamp Smith. This is the image that I first saw on Docraft and really liked. I asked the friend who has used it in an ATC, where she got it. Well she borrowed it from a friend who got it from ebay as a one off. But.... it had a title. I googled the title, and hey presto found the site. They have great stamps and offer a really friendly fast service. I highly recommend them!

Gothic Arch Trifold inside

Gothic Arch Trifold inside

Back of Gothic Arch Trifold

Back of Gothic Arch Trifold

Gothic Arch Within the Heart

Gothic Arch Within the Heart

Gothic Arch, the Key

Gothic Arch, the Key