Welcome! We are now on to challenge #2 and we are going to get you working on your holiday cards!
What could be more fun then combining a current trend with a holiday card? Ombre is everywhere - fashion, home decor and most definitely paper crafting! So for today's card I wanted to share how to create a very sparkly ombre look.
I am loving the Memory Box dies and used three separate dies for this project - the Classic Ornament, Crisp Bows and Bitty Scallops. Doesn't this Crisp Bow make THE perfect ornament hanger when turned upside down? (I am going to let you in on a little secret - we have another brand new release arriving soon and you are going to LOVE what is in store --- yes, I have to tease just a little. I wish I could share the details, but I'm sworn to secrecy. Watch Facebook for updates in the next couple of weeks! :-D)
To begin I adhered some Be Creative Tape to a piece of Natural White cardstock and then diecut the ornament in the Vagabond.
Remove the backing and apply glitter to one half of the sticky shape. Carefully pick it up and gently shake the glittered surface to disperse the glitter unevenly into the center section. Then dump the remaining glitter off the surface avoiding the lower half of the ornament. Burnish only the top 1/3 of the ornament with your finger to embed the glitter into the sticky surface, leaving the center section untouched.
Leaving this center section alone will allow the second color of glitter to join in with this first color for a perfect ombre look.
Add the second glitter color on the lower half and shake the ornament ever so slightly to allow the red glitter to mix with the center section. Again dump the excess glitter off the lower edge of the ornament to avoid getting red glitter on the top 1/3 of the ornament.
Your project should look similar to the photo above. Now burnish (burnishing means to rub the glittery surface with your finger --- by rubbing the surface with your finger you will embed the glitter in to the adhesive and achieve a beautiful, velvet like surface) the entire ornament surface. I went back over the surface several times with my finger to make certain the glitter was firmly embedded in the adhesive before proceeding with the next step. I did not want any stickiness to be left for the gold leaf to affix to.
Adding dimension to this glittery surface is easy when using Design Adhesives. I like to cut the individual shapes out of the adhesive strip before applying to make it easier to keep my designs separated.
Remove the backing from the adhesive element and position. Place the backing behind the ornament and then press the adhesive firmly against the glitter surface and rub in to place using your finger.
Trim away excess adhesive and remove the backing to leave adhesive exposed.
Apply gold leaf flakes to all the exposed Design Adhesive elements and press the gold leaf flakes firmly into the adhesive using your finger.
The easiest method of removing the excess gold leaf from your project is to use an inexpensive bristle brush as shown above. Swirl the brush over the surface of your ornament and the bristles will remove the excess gold leaf and at the same time burnish the gold leaf into the adhesive. There is nothing that looks as elegant and expensive as gold leaf!
TIP: Collect excess gold leaf in a tupperware container and save for use next time! It is incredible how long this product will last if you save your bits and reuse!
Can you imagine this glitter ombre technique as a sky behind a manger scene, beautiful evergreen trees, Christmas bells... the list goes on and on, and on!
So now it's your turn - head into your craft room and pull out your holiday season celebration stamps and papers. Create a card or project for Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa and/or any celebration your family recognizes during the holiday season! Join in the fun!!!
stamps: Hero Arts Music Collage
ink: Adirondack Meadow Dye Ink, Antique Linen Distress Ink
paper: Neenah Classic Crest Natural White, Graphic 45 Christmas Emporium 8x8 Paper Pad, Memory Box Crimson Notecard
accessories: Glitter Ritz - Apple Red & Kiwi Green, Be Creative Tape, Fancy Frames Design Adhesive, Gold Leaf Flakes, Memory Box Dies - Classic Ornament, Crisp Bows, and Bitty Scallop, Pearls
HOLIDAY CARD CHALLENGE
We hope that this challenge helps give you a jump start on your holiday cards :-D Create a card to use this upcoming holiday season!
Once you have completed this challenge please be certain to link directly to that specific project in our WCMD Challenge Blog Candy post!
BLOG CANDY
What is your favorite current trend and do you see it reflected in the paper crafting world? Be certain to leave your answer in the comment section on this post to be entered in a random drawing for the following goodies.
All comments must be made by 11:59pm Pacific Time on Sunday, October 2nd to be eligible.
