AWH Heart of Christmas #12

Christmas with Sparkle of the Season Easel Card

Hello. Welcome to Valley Inspirations with Andrea and the Art with Heart Team 2021 Heart of Christmas Blog Hop. 

So glad you are joining us for this Heart of Christmas Blog Hop. I love creating for Christmas and even with a changing week and limited time, I had fun with this week's card. I hope you like this swirly wreath easel card:

I love the Sparkle of the Season bundle for many reasons, no less because i can't resist some form of a wreath at Christmastime. I used a couple of the circular die cuts from the coordinating Seasonal Swirls dies. While I used the one with pine fronds and holly leaves I mainly used the swirls with stars. As this latter one was smaller, I cut it at one point and stretched it out and added a second opened swirl to form a larger circle.

The circular swirls with stars die was used to cut 2 swirls from the lighter mauve Silver Foil pack. As mentioned above, the swirls was clipped and spread to form a larger circle using the 2 dies cuts. The same die was used to cut another 2 swirls from Shimmery White card-stock and the pine and holly swirl die was used to cut another swirl from the same card-stock.

The Shimmery White swirls were then water-coloured with Balmy Blue, Fresh Freesia and Polished Pink Classic Stampin' ink using the mid-sized Water Painter. While they were left to dry, Basic White card-stock was dry embossed with the Snowflake embossing folder from the Wintry Embossing Folder set. This is such a beautiful embossing folder.

The foil and water-coloured swirls were layered on top of each other over an embossed Basic White panel. This panel was mounted onto a piece of Fresh Freesia card-stock. A sentiment from the Sparkle of the Season stamp set was stamped in Fresh Freesia ink and again in Versamark ink and heat embossed with Silver Emboss powder and a Heat Gun. The lines of the sentiment were separated and the word "sparkle" fussy cut from the embossed first line. The other first line was adhered with Mini Dimensionals across the swirly wreath and the embossed "sparkle" added on top to highlight that word.

The Thick Basic White card-stock base was scored in half and the top half section was scored in half diagonally from corner to opposite corner. The card was folded and burnished along the score lines with a Bone Folder. The first couple of photos show the card standing up for display. The photo directly above looks at the diagonal fold (from above) and the last photo shows the card flat as it would be for placing in an envelope. As the card is square when closed, a specially made envelope could be created or if posting, a normal Basic White C6 Envelope could be used. I'll probably create a custom sized envelope from retired DSP. It's a great way to use left over DSP and make room for all the luscious new Designer Series Papers.

The inner layer of the card also had a Basic White snowflake embossed panel mounted on a piece of Fresh Freesia card-stock. The second line of the sentiment was also added with Dimensionals. The smallest snowflake from the So Many Snowflakes dies was used to cut 6 snowflakes from Basic White card-stock. Two snowflakes were adhered together to strengthen the snowflake, which was added to the inner layer to help hold the folded card front to stand.

The back/bottom of the card is also layered with Basic White and Fresh Freesia card-stocks for a place to add your hand written personal message.

The other four snowflakes were adhered to the swirly wreath and some of the gorgeous Blue Sparkly embellishments were added to the centre of each snowflake to add that bit of sparkle. A little Wink of Stella also subtly added more sparkle, but this hasn't been captured in the photos.  I've just realised that I didn't add my usual obligatory bow or ribbon/twine trim. I don't think it needs it - what do you think?

Thank you so much for spending time with me on my blog. I'm so glad you made the time.

If you are in Australia, don't already have a Stampin' Up! demonstrator and would like your own copy of Stampin' Up's 2021-2022 Annual Catalogue and or the July - December Mini Catalogue & Saleabration Leaflet then let me know and I will be delighted to send them to you. Don't forget, Sale-a-bration finishes very soon - the end of September is nigh. Please don't hesitate to make contact with any other queries about this project or Stampin' Up!. 

To continue with the blog hop, click on the "onto the next" graphic below and you will be taken to the blog of the very special Sharon Davern. I always look forward to checking out Sharon's creations as well as everyone else's. Sharon is also this week's Blog Hop Host.

Hope to see you next week for another AWHT Heart of Christmas Blog Hop. There is so much Christmas inspiration to share using Stampin' Up!'s products. Don't delay with your  preparations for  Christmas so you can minimize some of the stresses of the silly season. Also, don't forget the weekly Colour Creations Blog Hop by the Art with Heart Team that launches every Wednesday at 8.00pm AEST.

Stay well, stay safe and be kind to yourself and others.

Andrea XXX

  

As mentioned, it is always a delight to see everyone's creations and the way they each use the amazing Stampin' Up! products. I am sure there will be gorgeous Christmas projects on show. Don't miss checking out each blog. 

If at any time you find a broken link and the next blog doesn’t come up or you started part way through, please head to the blog of this week’s host for the Heart of Christmas Blog Hop, Sharon Davern, and she will have the list of all Art With Heart Team members who are participating in this blog hop. Do check out her beautiful creation while you are there.

#heartofchristmas #heartofchristmas2021 #awhtheartofchristmas