Friday 7 December 2012

RUSTIC CHRISTMAS

I have made many Christmas cards this year and many have been in icy blues so I thought this time around I would go for a more rustic look. Anyone who knows me will know that I am a huge fan of rustic Christmas decorations and the whole rustic look, in fact my Christmas tree and most of my decorations are quite rustic. I few days ago I was informed that there is a fantastic competition taking place at the moment all of the details of which you can find HERE. There are some fantastic prizes, the first prize being a mini IPad (which my daughter would love), second prize is £100 of Hobbycraft vouchers (which mum would love) and third prize is £50 of Hobbycraft vouchers (which mum would also love).
I decided to create a rustic pop up card using the fabulous Karen Burniston Pop 'n Cuts die combined with the fabulous SPRUCE image from 100 Proof Press. The front of my card has an embossed panel embossed with the leaves texture fade coloured with brushed corduroy and vintage photo Distress Inks to add to that rustic feel, spritzing with a little water to give a little more interest to the background.
The SPRUCE is my focal image stamped on a styled label and matted onto a piece of black card to lift a little from the embossed background. I have added a little text in the background using the Ephemera background stamp from Artistic Outpost using coffee archival ink, subtle addition but adds so much more interest to the background and gives a perfect backdrop for the SPRUCE. I added the fabulous tattered poinsettia to the bottom corner, cutting a few extra layers for added dimension, I love it.  I coloured each layer with brushed corduroy ink, adding vintage photo to the edges, adding an antique button for further interest.
I cut a tiny circular tag from white card, stamped with the Ephemera background stamp and added TREE to the top along with "festive" using a Chitchat sticker. The edges of the tag have been coloured with vintage photo ink for definition.  I added some natural twine to the top of my decorated piece to add to that rustic charm.
This is the INSIDE of my card, I so love the Pop 'n Cuts they add so much interest and fun to the interior of a card, I love them.  I cut the pop up element from Kraft card again to add to the rustic feel, stamping the SPRUCE to the bottom corner to echo my focal image on the front of my card.
I cut a heart from the central panel and added JOY to the interior again colouring with brushed corduroy and vintage photo ink.  I cut a large snowflake from white card, stamped text from the Artistic Outpost Midwinter plate and coloured with Distress Inks. To add some contrast I also added some pearl snowflakes. I cut a tag from white card, added the Ephemera text to the background and added the sentiment from the Artistic Outpost Midwinter plate and sponged the edges of the tag with walnut stain Distress Ink, adding natural twine along with two wooden snowflakes for added dimension.
The two wooden snowflakes have been coloured with Distress Inks and a little antiqued bronze Distress Stain added to the edges for a little sparkle.  I have added several seasonal words using Chitchat stickers.
A larger snowflake has been added to the bottom of the pop up, again I have stamped this snowflake with the Ephemera text, colouring with Distress Inks, adding antiqued bronze Distress Stain to the edges.  To complete, I have added more seasonal Chitchat stickers.

Thanks so much for stopping by. Tracy x x

28 comments:

Paula Whittaker said...

love the rustic tones of this card - the inside bottom part would even make a great card front in itself....super work as always Tracy.

Sonia said...

Wow. Thats fantastic. Love the card!

Hugs
Sonia

flutterbycrafter said...

Wow gorgeous card xx

Barb Cady said...

Tracy I think this is the best Christmas card I have seen this year, I really love it, the browns mixed with the blue, the stamps and the clever pop up, its just blooming marvelous! You are very talented, Hugs Barb x

Asia King (aka Joanna K) said...

Oh this is gorgeous Tracy, full of rustic charm! I love how you can make the grunge and distressing look so elegant! xx

Marja's Stamp Addiction en Marja's Creativity said...

Beautiful this rustic colors/ So stylish, wonderful work. Love the combination and the blue tree.
Thanks for your visit to my blogs.
Lovely greet and nice weekend
Marja

Jenny Marples said...

Love the rustic feel of this Tracy, and the inside is a real surprise. Its not often that so much care and attention is paid to that part of the card. Hugs, Jenny x

Inkypinkycraft said...

I love the colurs youbhave used, the flower is fantastic..just a beautiful card, I think it is woderful! Trace x

Anonymous said...

Hi Tracy, I love the colours you have used for this gorgeous card. Have a great weekend. X

Redanne said...

This is such a wonderful and beautiful card Tracy. It oozes rustic charm and the inside is such a wonderful surprise and so elegant. Good luck with the competition, those are great prizes! Hugs, Anne x

Crafting Queen said...

Wow this is one stunning card. Love the rustic look.

Annie said...

This is right up my street Tracy. I love the front and then comes the surprise.

Thank you so much for sharing this wonderful project. Hope you are lucky in the draw x

Annie x

Alison said...

Fantastic card Tracy, so much to see! x

Karen B said...

Tracy! This is stunning! I love everything about it but especially the way you stamped the text on the suspended snowflake. I love the way that looks and how it turns a greeting into a texture. Will be borrowing that idea!

Words and Pictures said...

The perfect colour combination, as far as I'm concerned... that spruce stamp looks absolutely stunning in blue, and this is by far my favourite poinsettia that I've seen this year! Gorgeous rustic twine, gorgeous pop up feature - this is simply glorious, Tracy!
Alison x

Michelle Webb said...

This is amazing Tracy, so much work, and so perfectly put together. It's so clean and gorgeous distressing. Beautiful, Michelle x

Anita Houston The Artful Maven said...

What a beauty!!! Love the warm tones and tree! The twine is a perfect touch!

Sandy said...

Really beautiful card.
Wonderful flower and design.
Stunning vintage design.
xoxo

Unknown said...

Fab card Tracy. The inside reminds me a bit of those Victorian specimen jars with the labels. Very cool :-) Maddy x

Marjie Kemper said...

Wow, Tracy! I was loving the outside and not even realizing how much more eye candy was waiting inside. This is totally beautiful!

Lynn Stevens said...

You've blown me away again!!!
Drooling over this one!
hugs Lynn

Jacquelene L. said...

Beautiful card, so different. Very inspiring. I really like the stamped snowflake sentiment and the spruce tree stamped again on the inside.
Jacquelene L.
Canada

Suzanne C said...

These pop up cards are so clever and beautiful! Love the shades of blue and brown. Gorgeous!

Lori said...

Fabulous, I just love that tree stamp!

Chris said...

WOW Tracey....a totally inspirational card, so much love and work, it's so very beautiful inside and out. Chris x

scrappymo! said...

This is fabulous. I hope you win! So many gorgeous details and the rustic look has a bit of an edge to it!

JansArtyJunk said...

Oh so much rustic goodness....lots of lovely detail...I got an email also about this comp recently...but yours looks like a winner!!..Good Luck Tracy x

Anna-Karin said...

Wow Tracy! This is fabulous! Love the rustic feeling of the card, all the different snowflakes and of course the wonderful pop-up.