Pearlized Christmas Arch

Simon Says Stamp and Show would like you to "Just Add Pearl" to your projects this week; be it adding a pearl accent, a strand of pearls, Perfect Pearls or Pearlized mists, we would love to see that pearl creation this week.

Inspiration came in the form of paint and texture for me this week in my pearlized Christmas arch.

I really wanted to try a different colour palette this week for my Christmas creation and that colour came in the form of  Claudine Hellmuth's Studio acrylic paint in modern red, perfect for a traditional Christmas piece, toning down the vibrancy a little with snow cap Paint Dabber. No Christmas creation would be complete without a touch of pearl which I have added using Liquid Pearls white opal through a Dylusions Let It Snow stencil (Kaz has a great video HERE on this technique). Add into the mix some Melissa Frances cream pearls and my arch is pearlized to perfection!

I began my framed arch by adding texture in the form of texture paste, ensuring there were lots of bumps and lumps and then setting aside to dry. Once completely dry I painted with modern red paint but it still needed something else and after much thought I decided to dry brush a little snow cap Paint Dabber over the top to give my piece more of a Christmas feel.

My focal image comes in the form of the reindeer cut from mountboard using the Reindeer Flight die, I adhered six layers together to give fabulous dimension to my reindeer and so that he appeared to stand away from the frame.  I added texture to the reindeer in the same way and then painted as with my frame.

I needed a contrast against the red and decided to add JOY to metal foil using Alpha Parts and colouring with Alcohol Inks gold mixative and a touch of cranberry. I then added gold pearl gems to the outside of my frame to coordinate with my JOY label.

25 has been added to the top of my arch cut from mountboard using the Mini Reindeer and 25 die. I coloured the 25 with snow cap paint dabber and once dry I used the ticket stamp from the Odds and Ends set using fired brick ink to stamp part of the text onto the numbers.

For a little more interest I have added a Christmas muse token and mini bauble to the reindeer's neck tied with natural twine.

For more great ideas please pop over to the Simon Says Stamp and Show blog and take a look at my fellow team members they have created some inspirational projects. Remember there is also the chance to win a $50 prize from Simon Says Stamp.  I always look forward to seeing your creations each week.

Thanks so much for stopping by and leaving a comment, much appreciated.  Enjoy your week. Tracy x x  

Products Used:

Claudine Hellmuth Studio Acrylic Paint - Modern Red

Paint Dabber - Snow Cap

Dyan Reaveley Dylusions Let It Snow Stencil

Melissa Frances Cream Pearls 

Liquid Pearls - White Opal

Tim Holtz Alterations - Reindeer Flight Die and Mini Reindeer & 25

Ranger Metal Foil Tape

Tim Holtz Idea-ology - Alpha Parts Newsprint, Christmas Muse Tokens and Baubles Pearls

Alcohol Inks - Gold Mixative, Cranberry

Distress Ink - Fired Brick

Tim Holtz Odds & Ends Stamp Set

Twine