Frosted Wreath

Hi Everyone.  Happy Tuesday.

Tonight's card uses Deck the Halls DSP, Metallic Gold card stock and  a Christmas wreath stamp from Flourishes.

I saw this fabulous sketch on 2sketches4you and realized
it was the perfect layout for the wreath stamp that I purchased.  I had been wondering how best to showcase the wreath stamp and this layout was perfect.  Don't forget to pop along to the website and see the great DT inspiration and submission projects.  I know you will find something to inspire you.

I love the Deck the Halls DSP.  I've really enjoyed using it on vintage Christmas projects, as well as more modern.  The mixture of the gold with the Cherry Cobbler is a combination that has inspired many of my Christmas cards so far.

I had tremendous fun coloring the wreath, but it did take ages!  However, it is one of the things that I find immensely relaxing.  It's kind of like yoga… you have to concentrate or you fall over… in the case of coloring… you have to concentrate or you go outside the lines, or put the wrong color on the paper! Not that I have ever done either of those things…no…. never! 🙂

I used Crystal Effects on the fruit and on the ribbon after I had colored the image.   Now… we get a few gorgeous frosty mornings in winter where the moisture in the air freezes and the world is coated in a gorgeous, frosty scene.  I decided to try to replicate that by creating spots on the wreath of frozen moisture.  I used crystal effects and dazzling diamonds glitter to get that effect.

Here's a close-up for you:

I really love how the oranges look shiny and ripe and the crystal effects and dazzling diamonds really does look like little spots of ice.

Here's the full card

When I was a child growing up in post-war England, it was usual to put oranges and nuts in Christmas sacks for children.  I'm not sure why….. maybe it was a way to ensure we got good quality fats and citrus in our diet….. mmmm…. maybe I need to go and check out where this tradition came from!  Well, the alternative was nasty… if you  hadn't been a good child, then you got coal in your sack instead!  Now, some would say I probably deserved coal in my sack every year… but I was a good little girl… promise… errr 🙂

Anyway, this wreath, with the fruit, really reminded me of Christmas when I was a child.  That's why I just had to buy it.  Of course, you could always color the image and make the fruit into baubles instead.

What sets this card off though is the gorgeous metallic card stock and the cherry cobbler and gold DSP.

I was really pleased with the card and had a tremendous time coloring it and putting it together.  Cutting it out, however, was a bit of a pain…. but Brenda will tell you that's the kind of thing I really do enjoy, even though I moan about it 🙂

On a personal note:  Thank you to those of you who left a comment about the videos and what you are looking for me to cover.  So far we have more ribbon videos :-), using nestabilities; the blue skater card, using the distressing kit; coloring techniques.  Let me know if there is anything else and I will add it to the list.

Prayers tonight for:  Bob and Nichole, Germaine (haven't heard from you in a while, my friend.  hope you are OK.)  John & Sue.  Arthur, T, Pri.  Lesley and Cyrus.

As always, thank you for spending a little time in my area of the stamping blogosphere.  Your visits, your support and your comments are always much appreciated.

Remember… hug someone – just because you can.

Hugs

Jaydee