Why helllloooooo lovelies! Can you believe it is December already!?! I sure can't. I am so very thankful that everything is looking up and my family is doing well. We had a scare with my beloved FIL but he is improving every day. Thank goodness! And I am also thankful for such an amazing team at Anything But Cute. Every lovely lady on our team is talented, sweet, supportive, plus we all communicate terrifically. This year we decided to do Secret Santa gifts
and my chosen one is
Autumn! She is a kind and caring lady, not to mention a totally stellar artist so I had to pull out the big guns for this card! Cards scare the daylights out of me and I always have such a hard time with the design. This little card took me 3.5 weeks! Yikes and haha all at the same time right? Here is my gift to the fantabulous and wonderful Autumn!
I started with brown card stock and cut the TH paper to size. No measurements because I eyeball everything. Then I used my sanding block and sanded the TH paper to help showcase the holiday words. The edges were distressed.
Next came the Santa picture (a lovely gift from
Bubbles, aka Pamellia, last Christmas). I had a play on words since we are doing a secret Santa and thought this pic was perfect for the theme. Not to mention so very festive and perfect for the Holiday!
I heat embossed the ornate frame with about 4 different embossing powders and then glued the Santa picture to the frame. I also wrote on the back of the frame the year, and date so Autumn remembers where it came from. :)
The front was made to look like glass by using a thick layer of Glossy Accents. Yes, there are air bubbles but that's okay by me. A plaid bow, some jingle bells and Santa is good to go.
I then heat embossed a chippie word and added some more goodies and a snowflake charm to the front of the car. I think I mostly used hot glue and glossy accents for adhering everything. And of course the "snow" is a circle stencil with some glittery embossing powder sprinkled over it and the snow on the edges of the card is made using the DecoArt snow writer.
Now for a secret: I just had to add a special touch and make Autumn a keepsake she could put on her Christmas tree so I added Velcro to the back of the ornate frame Santa so it can be taken off of the card. It's an ornament in disguise! Happy Secret Santa Autumn!
And that's all for this cards folks! But, wait there is more! Here is a sneaky peaky of the gift I received from the gloriously sweet and talented Branka of Vintage Handmade. You just have to go visit her blog to find out the amazing details of this rustic and gorgeous design! I absolutely love it!
It looks even more fantabulous in real life and the textures and crackle are spectacular! Thank you very much B and Merry Christmas! Hugz and Carpe Diem! ~Niki
I would like to share my Santa card with these challenges:
I'm totally celebrating Christmas and the giving season!
I made a dangle ornament and used a metal snowflake charm like the one in the picture.
Well, you may say that cards scare the daylights out of you, but you obviously are overcoming your fear! This is a gorgeous design, and I love how you've included the removable ornament! I've been trying to figure that out! When I saw the sneaky peek, I immediately got the pun, and I had a giggle when I saw your comment about the "Secret Santa". You sleigh me!(Geddit?) Great little festive details and a sentiment that is so fitting for Autumn! Wonderful make, my friend! Sending a big hug on a job well done!
ReplyDeleteHow genius to use the Glossy Accents on the front to make it appear to have a glass front! Your stenciling is impeccable, and really looks like perfectly formed snow flurries! I'm dreaming of a white Christmas! (sing along, now!)
Gorgeous card you sent and gift received, enjoy! Hugs, Valerie
ReplyDeleteIt would have taken me a whole lot longer to come up with a design where the ornament is removeable - how clever are you??? Your card for Autumn is a real stunner Niki, I love the vintage looking Santa and the Glossy Accents give him an even more aged/vintage look. The background is beautiful and reminds me of falling snow and I love the treatment you gave to the frame. Quite beautiful!! Big hugs, Anne xx
ReplyDeleteWhilst I am here, thank you so much for joining in our Winter Magic challenge at A Vintage Journey... xxx
ReplyDeleteHi, it's me, again! Thank you for linking this beauty up at Emerald Creek Dares for our Winter Wishes Dare! Hugs! Muffin.
ReplyDeleteWow Doc, this is amazing!! I think red and green is my absolute favourite colour combo for Christmas projects, especially the big plaid bow. That is exactly how my Mom decorates and so this takes me right back home to my childhood! And your removable ornament is just genius! I love the gold embossing powders and I'm so glad to see you got some use out of the decoupage images I sent you. FUN!! Autumn is so lucky to get such a gorgeous card and a Niki original ornament to boot! Awesome Doc! hugs :)
ReplyDeleteOh wow, this is absolutely stunning, Niki!! Autumn is so lucky to have received this amazing card!! I love the texture and the beautiful Santa!! The frame is gorgeous!! Each detail is amazing!! I love the plaid bow and the beautiful bits you added!! It truly is spectacular!! Love, love it my sweet friend!! Have a great weekend!! Big hugs :)
ReplyDeleteLisa
A Mermaid's Crafts
I'm the same with cards - for some reason they are terrifying! But I think you've overcome that and then some - what a fantastic vintage Father Christmas ornament, and the snowy drippy background is so cool! A wonderful festive gift for Autumn.
ReplyDeleteAlison x
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteOh wow this is amazing. Thank you for joining us at http://creativeartistemixedmedia.blogspot.co.uk/ Creative Artiste Challenge Blog for challenge 2I Anything Goes Mixed Media and the sponsor is Scrapmatts. Hugs Jackie DT
ReplyDeleteAwesome card! So much work but it came out perfectly.
ReplyDeleteWooooow, Niki, you brought me back to my happy childhood with this exquisite Christmas card! What a genius idea to create a card and an ornament, all in one! Brilliant! That plaid ribbon is fantastic and perfectly matched your amazingly beautiful vintage design! A real stunner with a glorious frame! Bravo! Autumn is a lucky lady, indeed!
ReplyDeleteThank you so much, my lovely, for such kind, sweet and warm words! I really enjoyed creating a Christmas card for you and I am so proud and honored to call you a friend!
Sending lots of love to you! Branka xx
Amazimg project! Very beautiful card. Thank you for joining us at TioT.
ReplyDeleteOh Niki, this project thrills my heart in every way! I just love that you made a card just for me and used some of your favorite layering techniques. What a gorgeous dimensional project this is and the ornament that pops off is the perfect addition! I am oh so thrilled to have this beautiful in my home to treasure year after year. Thank you for creating it just for me and for sharing the awesome wooden dies, stamp and stickers!!! You are the sweetest, most generous crafter I know and I just love you. Biggest Christmas hugs, Autumn
ReplyDeleteHow exciting is it that this treasure which I own and adore is a top 5 project at Try it on Tuesday! Yay for you Niki! I'm so thrilled for you. Hugs, Autumn
DeleteTruly gorgeous make!!! Love the traditional colors and that gorgeous background!
ReplyDeleteHugs
Samra
Paper Talk with Samra
Stunning festive card.
ReplyDeleteJulie x
Niki...this card is absolutely gorgeous!! Love the layers and the little berries and bits you added. (also love the plaid!)
ReplyDeletebeautiful card and tutorial ! Thanks for playing with us at Creative Embellishments :)
ReplyDeleteA fabulous card Niki,
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing at TioT
Avril x
That is a fabulous card! Thanks for joining in the Creative Embellishments challenge.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful Christmas Card Niki! I love all the colours and textures you've used on the card. Thanks for playing along on the Southern Ridge Trading Company Blog.
ReplyDelete-Katelyn DT member at Southern Ridge Trading Company