Saturday, December 5, 2015

Happy Mail for Anything But Cute!



I am thrilled to be a Guest Designer over at Anything But Cute for Niki's challenge to make a mixed media Christmas card for the "You've Got Happy Mail" challenge!  As Niki says, "We all like Happy Mail, right?  That feeling of being spoiled rotten when you receive a handmade card from someone is better than being wrapped up in a soft blanket near a fire, sipping on a hot latte.  So, for this challenge, I would love to see your mixed media Christmas card inspired by the spirit of the season."


I decided on a double gate-fold style, to give me a bit more real estate since I don't do "small" well, lol!  This is a photo-heavy tutorial, as is my wont.  I make stuff up as I go, so I like to keep a visual record of what I did.  Feel free to breeze through to the end, as you wish.  You can see the finished card, all sides, at the end, as well as the list of my mentors, for whom this card is meant as a hearty Thank You!!


I started with a 6 x 12 inch piece of fairly heavy card, and smooshed it around in three Distress Paints: Picket Fence, Hickory Smoke, and Antique Linen.  I used paints and not ink, because the paint will be permanent once dry, and act as a protective layer for the card - along the lines of putting gesso down.  I covered both front and back....since both would show.




 Then I scored the card at 2, 4 8 and 10 inches.




Next I ran each end through my Big Shot, using the Tim Holtz On-The-Edge snowflake die.  Each time, I taped the edge to the die to keep things straight while going through the rollers.


Kinda fun, and I like it so far....



I colored the card by sponging on some Hickory Smoke and Stormy Sky Distress Inks. And that is when I realized that by cutting first, I did not get my snowflakes colored, or treated in any way....and being already cut now, they would be too fragile to manipulate. Oops, and ok, back to the beginning!

This time, after smooshing my card through the same Distress Paints, I colored it with the same Distress Inks, and flicked some water to get a snow-falling feel.  Again, I did this to both sides.

And THEN I scored it.


 Here it is folded - all sides are now the same in terms of finish....


I once more cut the snowflake edges exactly as I  had before, but this time I used scrap card that I had colored like the card base.  Then I applied Indigo Blu's Morris Dance gilding flake to both sides of the snowflakes.  I still wasn't sure how I was going to attach these, but I liked them.  















After fooling around with some ideas, I ended up flaking them entirely....isn't that variegated flake stunning?!



Next, I wanted to create a scene, using trees and off stamping to create some distance.  (Thank you, Butterfly!)  I tore some scrap into "hills", and sponged the top edge with Weathered Wood Distress Ink to create some rolling hills....



Then I stamped with both little tree stamps from the Stamping' Up "Ornamental Pine" set, using Library Green Archival Ink to create a forest on the entire inside of the card, by stamping off several times with each stamp.


I spared the "wings" from stamping, as these will fold in to become the front of the card, and I knew I would be using those gilded snowflakes there, somehow!


I wanted some snowy effects, so I grabbed my Distress Clear Rock Candy glitter, which I applied with a tea infuser spoon, per Tim Holtz, on top of some texture paste (here from Finnabair's Art Basic line).


The sparkle is quite soft and lovely....like dry powder snow.


Alas, it does not photograph well so well when I  give you the full picture thus far...


Next, I stamped the sentiment (from the same set) using Cobalt archival ink, as I wanted to pick up on the blues in the sky.  I masked the sentiment and splattered some diluted Picket Fence Distress Paint for an enhanced snowy look.






Now, to those snowflake edges.  I glued them to the folded edges of the front "gate", only along the straight edge of the die-cut, as I wanted the flakes to have some dimension.
 Here is the card so far....

 



On to the back of the card.  I decided to keep going with the snowflake motif, and used some things hanging around the desk.  These were meant for a little holiday mobile.... I cut a bunch of snowflakes from various dies.  Then I sprayed them with Distress Sprays in Pumice Stone, Faded Blue Jeans and Broken China, using lots of water to douse them in lots of fluid color.  Once dry, I embossed them using the Tim Holtz flourish folder.


Since these were originally meant for the little mobile, I had made them two-sided, using Clear Rock Candy glitter on one side ... using spray adhesive and my spoon tea infuser as previously described.


On the other side, I used a new glitter from Tonic Studios called Nuvo.  




I layered a large snowflake with several other smaller ones, for a medallion on the back, and scattered other snowflakes around to emulate falling snow.  You can see the glimmer of the Nuvo ... it has that blue-green cast in certain lights...the mobile didn't get made, but I am glad I can use the pretty snowflakes here.

Here is the finished card closed from the front,



and the back...


and then open, front and back



This is meant as a thank you card to all of my mentors, and a holiday card to anyone visiting.  I appreciate each and every one of you.  Thanks so much for stopping by, and if you've time, please do comment - I love hearing from you!  xxx Lynn




I am also entering this at:









21 comments:

  1. Wow Lynn, I so enjoyed watching all the steps of how your card came to life! The gilding on the snowflakes is so shiny, what an elegant addition to the stunning border! You really created a beautiful winter scene with that snowy sky and all the fabulous trees. So many wonderful techniques and they all come together in frosty harmony!! Thank you so much for being our Guest Designer at Anything But Cute this month and thank you for listing my name on your Merry Christmas list!! What an honour!! Sending big Christmas hugs to you. Pamellia DT :)

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  2. Oh, MY GOOOSHHH!!! Lynn, your card is absolutely GORGEOUS!!! I loved it when I first saw it at Anything But Cute, but now when I see all the details, I am totally smitten! What a lovely snowy scene you have created and those snowflakes, both front and back are simply AMAZING!!!! Oh how I wish I were a butterfly on your wall when you were crafting this! Thank you so much for being our very special Guest Designer at Anything But Cute this month and sharing this wonder with everyone! PS I see Sara up there, and I'm going bold and assuming that could be me! So, I will say THANK YOU for including my name on your special list; I am deeply touched and honored! Big hugs to you!

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  3. Absolutely STUNNING Lynn!!! Beautiful snowflakes galore and my personal favourite, the Morris Dance Mega Flaked edges - so glad you're loving them!!! Jenny x

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  4. Wow Lynn, what a stunner this is! The background you created with the trees is just sumptuous, full of light and shade (yes, I can see Alison in there too), the flaked snowflakes on the edge just shimmer and shine beautifully. And then there is the back of the card - OMGoodness, what a fantastic job you did with that, the muted tones, the hints of shimmer (I need to get some of that Nuvo!!), I am almost lost for words.about the whole card, it is incredible. It has been wonderful to have you as a Guest Designer at Anything But Cute, you are a very talented lady. How lovely of you to say thanks to those people you have been inspired by too. You are a real gem. You may want to consider adding this to the AVJ challenge this month.... Hugs, Anne xx

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  5. Love love love this!!! I'm a huge fan of sparkle and glitter and metallicy additions. The snowflakes are gorgeous! Thank you for sharing with us over at Emerald Creek Dares!!
    Cathy - DT Member at Emerald Creek

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  6. This is beautiful! WOW! Love all the details, Thanks for joining us for our Festive Emerald Creek Dares Challenge

    Karon DT

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  7. Lynn, I just came back to say thank you for joining in our 'Vintage Christmas' challenge at A Vintage Journey! Hugs, Anne xx

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  8. Wow, wow, wow Lynn, this card took my breath away, - it is simply STUNNING!!! Both the front and the back, - such beauty! I love the colours you used and can just imagine how shimmery it must be in real life. Such a wonderful design too with those snow flakes on the sides. One of my all time favourites of yours!!! Oh and of course thank you for adding it to our challenge at a Vintage Journey, and by the way, it would also fit the "Make a Scene" challenge at Country View Crafts, if you wanted to add it there..... xxxxx

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  9. What a glorious card, Lynn - from the beautiful snowflakes, both front and back, adding shimmer and dimension and such glorious detail, to the wonderful forest scape with such depth (you're welcome!!). A really fabulous design with those folds so that it keeps revealing extra delights - this would be some very happy mail to receive. Thank you so much for the shout out, and for including my name in your lovely list. I love that Craftyblogland offers us all so much inspiration as well as positive support and feedback. Thanks so much for playing along at A Vintage Journey, and I see Astrid has already suggested CVC too. Hope to see you there.
    Alison xx

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  10. Love this card Lynn and the vi tae appeal is perfect for our challenge. The background is amazing and your stamping is so effective. The snowflake on the edge die looks amazing too

    Great to have you on board with us and I am sending you my best wishes over the festive season
    Annie x

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  11. Huge congrats on your Guest Designer spot at Anything But Cute! You have done a smashingly detailed and gorgeous card for our challenge! I lurve this card! Lol. The folding is something I have never seen before and your snowflakes-amazeballs! You know I am a huge fan of metallics and you knocked it out of the atmosphere with all of your shimmer and sheen! Hot diggity dearie. I am so happy you were able to incorporate those from snowflake gilded panels-wowzers! This is gorgeous head to toe and front to back! You are so very sweet to add my name to you list. As an artist the greatest compliment we can recieve is to inspire others. Your post just made my day! Thanks bunches! Hugz to you muffin! ~Niki

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  12. What a wonderful card full of great techniques and different effects, for a fabulous effect. Thanks for the inspiration and the way you honour your sources is lovely.

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  13. Quite a bit of work went into this make!!! WOW! Gorgeous final result :)

    Hugs

    Samra DT for Anything But Cute
    Paper Talk with Samra

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  14. Wow! This is incredible! The gilded snowflakes are absolutely stunning.
    Thank you for joining us at Emerald Creek Dares!
    ~~julia~~ Emerald Creek DT member

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  15. What a fantastic card. I love the folds and the different treatments of the snowflakes. The inside stamping is fantastic and reminds me of winters up north of where I live. This is simply stunning. I am so glad you could join us as Guest Designer.
    Hugs!
    Cec

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  16. Congrats on your feature, this is such an amazing project! I am dying to get this die! Ha! You've used it so beautifully and have made me want it all the more - well done ! Hugs, Autumn

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  17. I really LOVE the flakes on the snowflake edges - how beautiful are they! and to open up onto your lovely snowy pines and then have the snow - in large flakes continue on the back - a beautiful fold up card creation! Thanks for joining us in the AVJ challenge! Julia xx

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  18. Firstly, huge congratulations to you on your GD spot!!!!
    This card is sublime and it is so much more than a card, I'd call this a gift from the heart.
    The colours are exquisite and the use of the flakes brings such a decadent touch and the scene you created is so magical, I want to wrap up all cosy and step into this scene, with only the crunch of my feet on the newly fallen snow the only noise in the forest. Adore this creation so much.
    Blogland is the most special of places, especially when there are blogs such as yours to visit, with the most inspirational of art and one of the loveliest of people.
    Wishes
    Lynne

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  19. I love everything about this card! The gilding flakes on the snowflake edgings are stunning, the beautiful snowy effect with the glitter and pine trees is magical and I love the snowflakes on the back, they are so, so beautiful. I love your techniques and I really must investigate Nuvo as I am totally in love with that greeny/blue sheen to the glitter - just gorgeous.
    Big congratulations on your guest designer spot - it's very well deserved, and I am so pleased I've met up with your through blogland - I learn something adn I am inspired by your beautiful art every time I visit!

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  20. Love your card. Love all the different details you have added to it. Thanks for joining us at Emerald Creek Dares.
    -Katelyn DT member at Emerald Creek

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  21. I love the way you made trees! Amazing card! Thanks for joining us at Card Mania Challenge

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