A Vintage Christmas

A Vintage Christmas 
Hi there Everyone

Today is not only the start of a new challenge over at A Vintage Journey but it is my first official post as an AVJ Creative Guide. How exciting ! 

Lovely Annie is  hosting this months challenge and her chosen theme is 'A Vintage Christmas' and here's what Annie has to say

 'Use your dies, stamps, rub-ons, anything you choose to create a Vintage Christmas card , home decor piece or a gift for someone special ! '

 What a wonderful theme for December with the festive season upon us!

Over the years I have bought some lovely original Christmas decorations. Here's a couple of them

I always look forward to displaying them in my home and Christmas for me wouldn't be the same with out them so for Annie's theme I  have taken inspiration from my treasured Christmas decorations and created an original piece of Home decor that's rich in both texture and traditional Christmas colour .

So lets gets the Creativity started ......

The Background Panel 

I  created the background using Tim's 'Rusted Enamel' technique,  Fired Brick and Ground Espresso Distress Inks being my colours of choice . The technique can be found in Compendium of Curiosities Vol One, Page 41. Though it is quite a tricky technique to master its definitely worth trying.

I also added some script stamping around the edges of the background panel before adhering onto a cream card stock mount.

The Frame 

I die cut a piece of mount board using Tim Holtz Postage stamp Bigz die and cut away the centre to create a frame. 

I applied a coat of Gesso to the frame and once dry a generous layer of Deco Art Sand Texture Paste.

Once the paste had dried using a dry stippling brush I painted the frame with Distress paints (Ground Espresso and Tarnished Brass.) Using my finger I caught the rugged surface of the frame with Gilding Wax .

                          

Santa

Santa, taken from Tim Holtz  'Retro Holidays' stamp set is stamped on cream card stock using Potting Soil Archival ink  and coloured using Caran~Dache Watercolour Pencils. I inked around Santa using Distress Inks (Walnut stain and Ground Espresso) but felt it still needed something more so I masked  Santa and then Spritzed and Flicked . I love this technique it's such a simple technique but so effective- just the added extra my Santa image needed !

The Corrugated Panel 

I cut a piece of corrugated card (from an old box) to the required size and artistically tore (cough!) some of the top layer away to create a ragged look. Using my finger I randomly applied Tarnished Brass Distress Paint to the panel and Gold Gilding Wax before distressing the edges with Distress Inks (Walnut Stain and Ground Espresso). 

I then mounted this panel onto a piece of cream card stock before finally adhering to a piece of mount board. 

 Frame Decoration

The holly and leaves are die cut using Tim Holtz Festive Greenery Strip die and coloured using Distress ink (Forest Moss,Ground Espresso and Walnut Stain) . I applied a crackle glaze to the holly and once dry I rubbed Ground Espresso Distress Ink over the cracks to accentuate them more.

All that remained now was to bring everything together . 

My finishing touches are a length of natural jute ribbon around the background panel, a brass button topped with a deep red gem bead to embellish the holly arrangement, some Tim Holtz ideology , and a chit chat sticker 'Believe'! 

Well after all, I believe in Santa Claus don't you? 

I'm pleased with how my piece of home decor turned out and i am looking forward to displaying it alongside my much loved Christmas Ornaments this year. I think it will compliment them perfectly.

I hope you have enjoyed your time with me today, it was rather a long post I know, but I thought you would like to see and read the various stages of creating .

If this months challenge theme  'A Vintage Christmas' appeals to you then there's plenty of time to enter Head over to A Vintage Journey, where you can view more wonderfully inspiring projects by my fellow Creative Guides. 
 We would love for you to join us so be sure to checkout the rules and then go get those fingers inky. It maybe just the break you need from all the Christmas prep . 

Thank you so much for popping by today! Your visits, comments and follows are always very much welcomed and  appreciated. 

 I would like to enter my home decor panel into the following challenges: 

Frilly and Funkie - 'Tis the Season!

Thats Crafty- Seasons Greetings Challenge Dec 04 2015 

Mixed Media Monthly Challenge #19 Silver and Gold Challenge  

(I used Gold and Silver gilding wax ) 

Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge - Gentlemen

( Santa is a true gentleman and my Home decor panel is a suitable gift for a male )  

Craft Stamper TIMI Challenge - December 2015 'Take a Technique' - Sharing the Season!'

Now its time for me to go write my letter to Santa!

Look forward to seeing you again soon but until then I wish you all

 a lovely weekend

Take Care

 Amanda x