Saturday 1 September 2012

Yuletide Greetings

The September referral program for Artistic Outpost is ANYTHING GOES, that's right you can choose your own theme using any of the fabulous Artistic Outpost images and you can enter as many times as you like.

I decided to use the recently released MIDWINTER plate to create my Christmas Card.
I began by creating my textural snowflake background which I thought would be easier to follow with step by step pictures.
These are the products I used to create the background, a piece of thick card or mountboard, palette knife, Gesso and Dylusions stencil.
Apply the Gesso through the stencil using the palette knife. I quite like texture so I did not smooth out the Gesso too much
Hopefully you can see the fabulous dimension and texture the Gesso gives when applied through the snowflakes and SNOW text. I left this to dry for a few hours before applying any colour.
The next step is to apply acrylic paint over the snowflakes, I used Claudine Hellmuth's sky blue paint, pouncing the paint onto the card to ensure all the crevices were covered with colour.
The next step really makes the snowflakes pop. Simply add a little white acrylic paint over the top, the key here is to not use too much paint.
I stamped the image from the MIDWINTER plate onto white card using black archival ink, blending broken china ink around the edges and added a little snow for texture.  Yuletide Greetings was stamped to the top corner, again using black archival ink.  For further interest I also added two wooden snowflakes coloured with silver paint dabber.
Snow was again painted in the same way as my background, adding silver paint dabber to the edges.  For further dimension I also added a wooden reindeer painted with silver paint dabber.
I could not forget the inside of the card and so added the wonderful reindeer from the MIDWINTER plate, adding a little broken china ink at the base of the reindeer to ground him, so that he does not appear to be floating. I love adding an image to the inside bottom corner, I feel it adds to that professional finish.

Please link your creations HERE for your chance to win a fabulous prize.

Thanks so much for stopping by. Tracy x x










16 comments:

Redanne said...

Hi Tracy, your card is beautiful and what a wonderful technique with the gesso. Great tutorial too. A x

Words and Pictures said...

Hi Tracy, thank you so much for sharing the secrets of that glorious background in such detail! It's such a beautiful card... the snow on your main image also looks amazing!
Alison x

Brenda Brown said...

Just love the texture you have created and great to see the making of it. Beautiful eye catching colour and fabulous design.
Have a great weekend.
hugs {brenda} xox

Sarah Anderson said...

beautiful, love that stencil

Ink Art Designs said...

such a beautiful background! Love the colours and the texture. Thanks for sharing.
Dot x

Sandy said...

Tracy wow this is unbelievable.
Fantastic work and design.
xoxo

Helen said...

I love that - the stencil is fab (must get that!)it is a beautiful card - but your gesso must be quite thick as mine would never give that texture... it's too runny!

CraftLein* - enjoy creativity said...

What a wonderful card. That inside stamp is so much fun. You open a BEAUTY of a card and find the amazing deer inside!! FUN!!


Love from The Netherlands,
Leintje*

Anonymous said...

Gorgeous and the texture adds that certain something to this card and the addition of the reindeer.
Wishes
Lynne

Inkypinkycraft said...

another beautiful piece, love the texture you have created using the stencil and gorgeous colour as always! trace x

Michelle Webb said...

Ooo Tracy this is wonderful, I love Dyan's new stencils, you've used them so well, its a great idea. Beautiful colours and stamps too. The inside is a gorgeous touch. Really love it. Michelle x

Anita Houston The Artful Maven said...

Love this technique with the gesso...always turns out well. The snowflakes are prize worthy!!! Fab background!

Lynn Stevens said...

I can't get over how so many of you are getting your Christmas cards done. Beautiful Tracy!
hugs Lynn

Jenny Marples said...

Great texture technique on this card. Thanks for the step by step. Must try it. Hugs, Buttons x

Lisa Somerville said...

Stunning Christmas card Tracy - love added Gesso through the stencils!

Suzanne C said...

Love that texture on the background and the letters! The elk on the inside is brilliant! Beautiful!