AECP Level 3 - Runway Inspired Card Making

Hey there, crafting friends!

Thanks for stopping by Paper Play today.  This post officially kicks off level 3 of AECP for me.  I have five courses to complete and then my final assignment will be to host a live class.  More about the class at a later date - today’s focus is on completing my first level 3 course, Runway Inspired Card Making.  This class was AMAZING and so much fun.  The content focused on getting inspiration for card designs from current runway fashions.  I started by making the decision to make three cards for the class - one female design, one male design, and one bridal design.  Bridal fashion wasn’t a focus of the course but I thought it would be fun to make a wedding card based on current fashion trends.  That decision made, I performed my research of current fashion trends and decided upon three styles to inspire my card designs.

Card 1 - Female 2024 Fashion Trend: Roses

According to Vogue, one of the leading fashion trends for women is rose prints.  I saw multiple rose print dresses that were stunning, but this one from Alexander McQueen truly stood out to me:

I loved the large rose and petals, and the A-line style.  I wanted my card design to have a large rose(s) and lots of petals.  However, I didn’t want to use a red rose.  I wanted to be different and chose two shades of pink instead.  Here’s my card inspired by this dress:

Here’s what I used to make it:

• Altenew Ambridge Rose Layering Stencil Set
  
• Altenew Happy Flowers Stamp Set - for the sentiment
  
• Tim Holtz Distress Oxide Inks: Spun Sugar, Victorian Velvet, Mowed Lawn, Rustic Wilderness
• White A2 card base
• 4”x5.25” black card panel
• Brutus Monroe Alabaster Pigment Ink
• Pink and green glitter gel pens
• Taylored Expressions Bits & Pieces Black Rhinestones

Here’s how I made it:

• Made three triangle cuts (top of black card panel, left & right sides) to mimic a neckline and waistline.
• Stenciled the base part of the roses with Spun Sugar Oxide Ink.  I chose this because I knew that the light shade of pink oxide ink on the black card stock would give the flower base the look of a sheer material, which is a way to add the illusion of texture to the card.
• Stenciled the second part of the roses with Victorian Velvet Oxide Ink.
• Stenciled the stem and base leaves with Mowed Lawn Oxide Ink and then added little touches of Rustic Wilderness Oxide Ink to add light shadows.
• Randomly stenciled leaves over the rest of the card panel with Mowed Lawn and Rustic Wilderness.
• Outlined the flowers and leaves with pink and green glitter gel pens to add some sparkle.
• Adhered card panel to base with double sided foam tape.
• Stamped sentiment onto black card stock scrap with Alabaster ink; once dry, adhered to card with double sided foam tape.
• Glued a black rhinestone where each notched triangle is located on the card.

I am extremely happy with how this card came out!  I think it’s a good likeness of the dress.

Card 2 - Male 2024 Fashion Trend: Patterned Cuffs

I have to admit that my research on male fashion trends was quite . . . interesting to say the least!  I didn’t see a lot that really spoke to me or that I could wear.  That said, I’ve always been a huge fan of patterned cuffs on a shirt.  You know, like the kind that the character Cam usually wore on Modern Family.  I own a lot these shirts and am a always drawn to shirts from designed Robert Graham; so I chose a Robert Graham style as an inspiration for this card:

I decided to go a little more bold with mine:

Here’s what I used:

• Altenew Organic Linen 3D Embossing Folder
  
• Altenew Painted Rainbow Outline Stamp Set
  
• Altenew Uplifting Sentiments Bundle
  
• Artistry by Altenew Alcohol Markers
• A2 sized navy card base
• 4”x5.25” medium blue card panel
• 6”x5.25” white shimmer card panel
• Brutus Monroe Alabaster Ink
• Brutus Monroe Clear Embossing Ink
• Brutus Monroe Raven Embossing Powder
• 3 white buttons

Here’s how I made it:

• Embossed the medium blue card panel with the Organic Linen embossing folder.
• Scored the white shimmer panel at 2” and used a stamp from Painted Rainbow to stamp the design with clear embossing ink to make the cuff design; added Raven embossing powder and heat set.
• Colored the cuff with alcohol markers; adhered the cuff panel to the medium blue panel so that the embossed cuff was in front of it and the remainder of that panel was behind it.  Used craft glue on the backside and double sided foam tape at the top of the cuff to give it a flared look.
• Attached card panel to card base with double sided tape.
• Stamped sentiment with Alabaster ink onto a strip of navy card stock; cut it outh with coordinating die; adhered to card with double sided foam tape.
• Attached 3 buttons tomthe left side of the cuff with craft glue.

I think that this card definitely gives the vibe of a shirt sleeve with a flared patterned cuff.  I’d wear it!

Card 3 - Bridal 2024 Fashion Trend: Floral Applique

Vogue was once again my go to source - this time for bridal fashion.  The trend that I decided to mimic is floral applique on the dress.  It’s such a pretty design element and one that I knew I could accomodate.  Here’s the pic of the actual gown that inspired my card:

I wanted to make a wedding card so that I could finally use the Enchanted Beginnings set.  Here’s a pic of my card:

Here’s what I used to make it:

• Altenew Enchanted Beginnings Bundle
  
• Altenew Folk Art Flowers Die Set
• Altenew Vintage Roses Stamp Set - for the sentiment
  
• Black A2 card base
• 4”x5.25” gold foil card panel
• White shimmer card panel
• Vellum
• Poece of white organza ( I cut apart an oragnza bag)
• Brutus Monroe Embossing Ink
• Brutus Monroe Raven Embossing Powder
• Nuvo Shimmer Glitter Gloss Pen
• Pearl gems

Here’s how I made it:

• Embossed the white shimmer card panel with the Enchanted Beginnings folder; colered the groom with Grey Shadow ink; decided on placement of couple on card; fussy cut the couple.
• Cut piece of organza to cover the train of the wedding dress and glued it down along the edges to the dress.
• Die cut nine flowers using die from Folk Art Flowers and vellum; adhered flowers to dress with craft glue; adhered pearls to center of flowers with craft glue.
• Used Nuvo Shimmer pen to add sparkle to top portion of dress and the applique flowers.
• Stamped sentiment onto gold foil card panel with clear embossing ink; added raven embossing powder; heat set it.
• Adhered couple to the card panel with double sided foam tape.
• Adhered panel to card base with double sided tape.

I think this card is gorgeous - and I’d be proud to give it to a couple as a gift!

That wraps up this entry on my Runway Inspired Card Making class.  This was by far my favorite AECP course!  I’ll be starting the next course and will have another post soon.  Until next time . . . be well!

BPM/IBFS - Life's Precious Things

Welcome back to Paper Play, crafting friends!

I'm really excited about this card that I'm sharing with you today.  It's another vintage themed card using the Silhouettes #1 stamp set from I Brake for Stamps.  I knew that I wanted to capture a nice town/village scene as soon as I saw the stamp of the photographer with the old camera.  I thought of him as being a photographer hired to capture the magic of a small town for a postcard.  There he stands, high up on the hill, focused down on the town below on a beautiful day.

Here's what I used to make it:

• Silhouettes #1
• Village #1 
• Postage Stamp Nesting Die Set

Here's how I made it:

• Die cut the postage stamp card panel using the largest postage stamp die in the set; blended some white pigment ink around the edges.
  
• Stamped the village at the bottom of the panel using Walnut Stain Distress Ink.
• Created a mask for the village using masking paper and adhered it to the village.
• Ink blended the sky with Salty Ocean Distress Oxide Ink; added some clouds using white pigment ink.
• Colored the village with alcohol markers and a white gel pen.
• Spritzed the panel with Antique Linen Distress Spray Stain to add some age and grunge.
• Adhered the sentiment ephemera to top center of panel.
• Stamped the photographer with black ink, fussy cut it out, and adhered to the panel with double sided foam tape.
• Adhered the card panel to an A2 Kraft card base that had grunge added to the edges with Vintage Photo Distress Ink.

 

 

I thought that the postage stamp shape would make a fun way to add a little something extra to the card.  This card looks like a quintessential New England town in the early 1900's.  Is it Massachusetts?  Vermont?  Perhaps New Hampshire?  It could be any of them!

Thanks for spending some time on the blog with me today.  What do you think of the card?  Do you like the vintage style?  I'd really enjoy hearing what you think!

Until next time . . . stay well!
 

BPM/IBFS - Make a Wish

Welcome back to Paper Play!

You can probably tell from my creations that I'm a fan of the vintage style.  I'm an old soul - I remember my mother telling me that as a kid.  I love photos, postcards, and newspapers from bygone years.  I love the smell, the feel, and to think about what life must have been like for them.  That's what drew me to the Silhouettes #1 stamp set from I Brake for Stamps.  There are so many nostalgic images to stamp and tell a story with . . . so many possibilities.

The first stamp that I wanted to create with is the one featured on today's card.  It's the silhouette of a family standing by each other and looking forward.  There's a lot of love to be felt from them.  I envisioned them looking out at the stars in the night sky and making a wish.  Perhaps they're enjoying a warm summer night or waiting for some July 4th fireworks?  Either way, I feel a sense of closeness and happiness when I see them.

 

Here's what I used to make it:

• Silhouettes #1
• Steampunk Romance: Digital Printable Papers for Journals, Cards, ATCs - paper for frame
  
• Scrap Divas A2 Front Shadow Frame 

Here's how I made it:

• Started by blending the sky backdrop on a white card panel; began at bottom with pink, worked up to purple, and then blended the blue.
• Stamped the image with black ink; stamped twirly leaf element in black on each side.
• Used the vintage handwriting digital paper from Steampunk Romance to make the shadowbox frame; added some grunge to it with Vintage Photo Distress Ink
• Attached the card panel to the back of the shadowbox frame with craft glue.
• Distressed an A2 Kraft card panel with Vintage Photo Distress Ink; attached shadow box to front.
• Used a fine tip gold metallic marker to add some stars into the sky.
• Added the Make a Wish sentiment strip to the shadowbox frame.

 

 

It's such a simple, yet beautiful, card that is perfect for a birthday, an anniversary, or just to say I love you.

I hope that you enjoyed this post and learning more about why I chose to create with this stamp.

Until next time . . . be well!
 

BPM/IBFS: A Vintage Dream

Welcome back to Paper Play, friends!

Do you enjoy Steampunk designs?  I find them fascinating and fun.  They combine my love for the vintage theme with elements of the fantasy and industrial themes.  I find it to be a fun way to tell a story using unconventional and, sometimes, abstract, items.  Blank Page Muse recently released a downloadable digital Steampunk kit designed by artist Pam Bray, and it includes lots of beautiful images, ephemera, and paper.  I used two of the papers from this kit to create this really fun encouragement card.

Here’s what I used to make it:

• Steampunk Romance: Digital Printable Papers for Journals, Cards, ATCs Pam Bray Designs
  
• Woman’s Head
  
• DREAM grunge distressed style word Art Rubber Stamp
  

Here’s how I made it:

• Cut a vintage paper sheet from the kit down to an A2 size panel and adjered it to the front of an A2 card base.
• Cut a written text paper sheet and a patterned paper sheet crom the kit down to 3.75”X5”.
• Used a deckle edge ruler to tear the patterned paper sheet in half on a diagonal.
• Adhered the written text sheet to the card base with double sided tape, and then adhered the patterned paper to it with double sided tape.
• Stamped the woman’s head onto a piece of white card stock several times; alternated the stamping between black ink and Vintage Photo Distress ink to achieve a more vintage look.
• Fussy cut the woman’s head, applied double sided foam tape to the back of it, and adhered it to the card base.
• Spread some gold mixed media paste across the top of the card and let it dry.
• Stamped the word dream in black ink on the dried gold paste.
• Adhered three pearl gems to the card.

I found this to be such a fun card to create!  This woman’s head stamp is so beautiful and full of detail, and I think that the combination of patterned papers behind it adds to the vintage feel.  The word dream goes so well with it as a sentiment, and this card could be used for so many different occasions.

I hope that you enjoyed reading about my inspiration for this card!  Until next time . . . be well!

BPM/IBFS: St. Paddy’s Day Step Card

Hi, friends!

Welcome back to Paper Play.  St. Paddy’s Day is only a week away, and today’s card is in honor of the one day when we’re all Irish!  Blank Page Muse recently released some fun mini calendar digitial papers, and I used the March set to create this fun step card.  Just download, print, and design!

Here’s what I used to make it:

• Digital Page with Small Calendar and Versatile Green-themed Images 2024 March Pam Bray Designs
  

Here’s how I made it:

• Printed out the kit pages on 65lb white card stock.
• Used a step card die from Amazon to cut the card base from kraft card stock.
• Used the die set pieces to cut coordinating decorative papers from the kit and adhered them to the front of the card base.
• Fussy cut each of the ephemera items that I wanted to use on the card.
• Adhered ephemera to the card base with double sided tape and craft glue.
• Colored two tooth picks with a dark brown alcohol marker, adhered a piece of ephemera to each, and adhered them to the card base.
• Adhered a white card panel to the back of the card to allow for space to personalize the card.
• Sprayed the front of the card with Antique Linen Distress Spray to add some age and grunge to the card.

This digital kit from artist Pam Bray makes it super easy to make a fun holiday card.  I hope that you enjoyed reading about I created with one of them!

Until next time . . . be well!

BPM/IBFS: Stamping on Wood with Romance Classic Stamps

Hey, friends!

Welcome back to Paper Play.  The theme of this post is vintage romance given that the month of February celebrates all aspects of love.  Today's creation may be used as a card, a mini-junk journal, or simply as a gift book.  The design is rather unique - but rather fun to make.  It was inspired by the Romance Classic stamps from Blank Page Muse.  I saw the images and immediately thought of the being displayed on thin wooden panels with a look similar to wood burning and coloring.  They're then bound together with waxed thread and faux leather front & back covers.

Here's what I used to make it:

• Romance Classic Couples Line Art Rubber Stamp Sheet Set SC92
• Birds & Clocks Rubber Stamp Set for the embossed clock on the cover
• LOVE word art rubber stamp SC88-08
• Timeless with Floral Spray Word Art Rubber Stamp 
• Everlasting Fancy E Art Word Rubber Stamp
• World Map Global View with Compass Art Rubber Stamp 
• Brutus Monroe Gilded Embossing Powder
• Various Tim Holtz Distress Ink Sprays
• Tim Holtz Walnut Staun and Tea zdue Distress Inks
• Wooden rectangle plates

Here’s how I created it:

• Stamped each of the couple stamps onto the wood plates using the walnut stain ink.
• Using a paintbrush, brushed various spray stains onto each of the wooden plates.
• Stamped words onto wooden plates with walnut stain ink.
• Colored each of the images with colored pencils.
• Added some grunge to the wooden plates with tea dye ink.
• Created front and back covers with brown card stock, chipboard, and spray inks.
• Once dry, used Gilded embossing powder and heat set images onto front and back covers.
• Stamped sentiment onto inside of front cover using walnut stain ink.
• Using a Dremel tool, drilled holes onto left hand side of plates.
• Aligned front and back covers with wooden plates and punched binding holes into each.
• Sewed the wooden plates and covers together with waxed thread to bind them together.

The project is now complete!  I think that this would make a beautiful and unique card. - there is plenty of space on each of the inside covers to write a message!  How fun is this?

Thanks for spending some time here with me today.  Until next time . . . be well!

BPM/IBFS: You Belong to Me

Hey there, crafty friends!

Thanks for coming back to Paper Play.  Today’s post is all about L-O-V-E.  I am what you might call a hopeless romantic.  I always have been.  I’m also not ashamed to say that music, movies, the news, and even commercials can make me tear up - especially music.  It speaks to me on a personal level.  I truly believe that there is a song for every occasion or moment.  With this in mind, I heard a song in my mind as soon as I saw these photo booth stamps on the Blank Page Muse website.  Do you know, “You Belong to Me”?  No . . . not the Taylor Swift song!  Or even the great Carly Simon pop song.  I heard the original You Belong to Me, made popular by Jo Stafford in the 1950’s:

See the pyramids along the Nile 
Watch the sun rise on a tropic isle
Just remember, darling, all the while
You belong to me

I used this song as the inspiration for my design: photo booth photos of two couples, a classic car, some vintage grunge showing the age of the card, and words in colors that remind me of that decade.  I framed the card panel with the black card stock of the card base.

I used the following Blank Page Muse products to create it:

• Vintage Image Photobooth Collage Rubber Stamp KIT KITPhb Slimline Card
• Classic Car Front end view Black Art Rubber Stamp
  
• Romance Classic Couples Line Art Rubber Stamp Sheet Set SC92
  

Here’s how I created it:

• Stamped classic car in black ink at the bottom center of card panel
• Filled in metallic accents on car with a silver gel pen

• Stamped the photo frames (from Deep Red Stamps) with three shades of Distess Ink (Tea Dye, Antique Linen, and Lost Shadow) to get the color I was looking for
• Stamped the couples with vintage photo and colored them in cool gray shades
• Added some aging with Antique Linen Distress Ink
• Adhered the photos to thr frames with double sided tape
• Decided where I wanted to place the photos so that I knew where to stamp the romantic words
• Stamped the words in various colors
• Affixed photos with double sided foam tape
• Added light grunge to the card panel with Antique Linen Distress Ink
• Affixed card panel to card base with double sided tape

Overall, a very simple card to create!  But it tells a deep story of two couples, from years gone by, the special times they shared together, and their love that grew stronger.  What better way to tell your special someone that you love them?

I hope that you enjoyed your time with me on Paper Play today.  I look forward to the next time.  Until then . . . be well!

BPM/IBFS: Winter Fun

Hi friends!

Welcome back to Paper Play.  Today’s share continues with the theme of my last Blank Page Muse post of celebrating through the eyes of childhood wonder.  The thrill of skating in the winter; gliding along as the snow gently falls.  The quote from Ralph Waldo Emerson is the perfect accompaniment for it.

Here’s what I used to make it:

Blank Page Muse Winter Wonderland Art Rubber Stamp Sheet Set https://blankpagemuse.com/products/winter-wonderland-art-rubber-stamp-sheet-set.html

Blank Page Muse Announced By All Sentiment Art Rubber Stamp https://blankpagemuse.com/products/announced-by-all-sentiment-art-rubber-stamp-tts124-04.html

Trees stamp from Tim Holtz

Blue foil card stock

Black card stock

Here’s I made it:

Cut a 1.5” strip of blue foil card stock and adhere to card panel with doible sided tape.  This becomes the ice.

Stanped the trees just above the ice on card panel with Indigo blue ink.

Splattered white ink to make snow.

Stamped the ice skaters onto gray card stock with blank ink; colored over the skaters with a metallic black market; fussy cut the image and adhered it to the card panel with double sided tape.

Adhered card panel to card base with double sides tape.

The vintage images are so beautiful and make me happy.  This is the perfect card to send as a hello to a winter weather lover!

Thank you for spending some time here with me today.  Until next time . . . be well!

BPM/IBFS: Sledding into the New Year

Happy 2024, friends!

Welcome back to Paper Play.  I hope that your 2024 is off to a wonderful start.  The new year is an opportunity for all of us to remember, reflect, start anew.  Today’s card celebrates that through the lens of childhood innocence and winter fun.  I hope we all sled into the new year with this in mind!

I fell in love with these vintage images as soon as I saw them on the Blank Page Muse website.  They reminded me of the hours I’d spend outside sledding as a kid.

Here’s what I used to make it:

Blank Page Muse Winter Wonderland Art Rubber Stamp Sheet Set https://blankpagemuse.com/products/winter-wonderland-art-rubber-stamp-sheet-set.html

Blank Page Muse Beyond the Border Christmas Set 1 https://blankpagemuse.com/products/beyond-the-border-christmas-set-1-clear-stamps-designed-by-pam-bray-pbcbbx1.html

Clear Embossing Ink

White Sparkle Embossing Powder

LawnFawn Yeti White Pigment Ink

Navy Blue Ink

Here’s how I made it:

Used a set of nesting rectangle dies to create a frame and then stamped the snowflake border on it using the white pigment ink.

Cut hills from white card stock, inked with clear embossing ink, sprinkled with white sparkle embossing powder, and set with a heat tool.

Adhered hills to card base with double sided foam tape.  Stamped Let it Snow and snowflakes onto card base with white pigment ink.

Adhered frame to card base with double sided foam tape.

Stamped the sledders onto white card stock with navy blue ink and fussy cut them out.

Adhered sledders to the hills with double sides tape.

Such a fun card to celebrate the new year.  I hope that you enjoyed reading about these beautiful stamps and my creative process.  I look forward to more time with each of you here on Paper Play in the coming weeks.

Until next be . . . be well!

BPM/IBFS - Here We Come A-Caroling

Welcome back to Paper Play, friends!

It's hard to believe that Christmas Eve is only four days away.  The weeks leading up to the holiday just seem to fly by so fast.  I was able to squeeze in a viewing of A Christmas Carol, which is one of my favorite Christmas movies.  (Side note: I enjoy both the 1938 and 1951 versions, but prefer the 1938 one!)  It always helps put me into the Christmas spirit.  That's why I knew that I had to make a card with the stamp featured on today's card - Vintage Style Christmas Carolers.  It looks like they stepped right out of Victorian England!

Here's what I used to make it:

• Vintage Style Christmas Carolers Art Rubber Stamp
• Beyond the Border Christmas Set 1 CLEAR Stamps designed by Pam Bray 
• Wishing You a Merry Christmas Stamp by Gina K Stamps
• Beautiful Christmas Tide Sheet Music Paper from Grabie
• Concord & 9th Cranberry Premium Dye Ink
• Altenew Evergreen Crisp Dye Ink
• Tim Holtz Distress Ink - Antique Linen
• Delicata Golden Glitz Pigment Ink
• Lawn Fawn Jet Black Ink
  
• Sizzix Clear Embossing Ink
• Ranger Clear Embossing Powder
• Ohuhu alcohol markers
  

Here's how I made it:

• Stamped the holly & berries stamp from the Beyond the Border set horizontally in alternating gold, evergreen, and cranberry rows onto a 4.5"x6.5" white card panel.
  
• Cut an oval from the center of the stamped card panel using an oval die.
• Ran gold ink along the inside of the oval and along the outside of the white panel.
• Cut the Beautiful Christmas Tide paper to 4.5"x6.5", stamped the carolers onto it using black ink, stamped it again using clear embossing ink, then applied clear embossing powder to the stamped image, and set it with a heat tool.
• Colored the stamped image with alcohol markers.
• Applied some Antique Linen ink with a blending tool.
• Placed double sided tape to the back of the card panel and adhered it on top of the sheet music paper.
• Placed double sided tape onto back of card panel and adhered it to a 5"x7" green card base.
• Stamped the words A Merry Christmas onto a strip of green card stock using gold ink, cut the strip to size, and adhered it to the inside of the oval with double sided tape.
• Ran gold ink around the edges of the green card base.
• Placed pearl stick on jewels in the corners of the white card panel

I really like this card.  It reminds me of A Christmas Carol and helps me feel the Christmas spirit.  I hope that you enjoyed today's post and wish you a wonderful holiday!

Until next time . . . be well!

Creating with the Gecko Galz - December 2023

Happy December, friends!

Thanks for stopping by Paper Play to see what's new.  It's hard to believe that the month is already half-way over and that Christmas is less than two weeks away.  I've been busy crafting design team monthly projects, gifts for friends and family, and Christmas cards.  Speaking of which . . . today I'm sharing my creations for the Gecko Galz design team.

First up is one of two tags that I created for our 25 Tags of Christmas event on the Gecko Galz blog.  Comfort and Joy was made by: shrinking a digital stamp from the Christmas Traditions set of digital stamps, coloring it, adding some grit paste, adding some grunge with Antique Linen Distress Spray Stain, framing it with these beautiful gold frames and a sentiment from the Compliments of the Season kit, and adding some ribbon.  I fell in love with this digital stamp as soon as I saw it.  It looks like an idyllic Christmas morning to me.

My second tag will be shared on December 22nd . . . stay tuned!

The next shares are all my creations for the December challenge.  The theme for the month was Winter Elegance.  My interpretation of the theme was focused on finding that elegance in everyday life.  I showcased the products used with bits of sparkle and glitz to add the elegance.

This beautiful Victorian winter shadow box was made with two different Gecko Galz collections.  The background picture is from Merry Little Christmas and the rest of the items are from  Christmas Spirit.  I started by painting the square wood shadow box with some Patina colored chalk paint, applied a coat of crackle medium, and then applied Oatmeal colored chalk paint over it.  This process achieved a crackle look that made it look like it was older and had been painted over a few times.  Once dry, I glued the background image inside of the box.  I then applied grit paste the a piece of styrofoam and glued it to the inside bottom of the box.  I fussy cut the images, glued stick pins to the back of them, and stuck them in place inside of the shadow box.  The sentiment was attached to the top with some double sided foam tape.  I sent this as a gift to my dear friend Kathy and I'm happy to say that she loved it!

My two Christmas cards were made with images and paper from Christmas Spirit and Compliments of the Season.  I love these images so much and wanted to showcase them in a beautiful way.  I aged the photos and background papers by distressing the edges with a plastic knife and then running some Tea Dye Distress Ink around the edges.  I also applied some of the ink to the paper for some added grunge.  The result is vintage Christmas cards that will bring a smile to anyone.

Last, but certainly not least, are my vintage Christmas ornaments made with images from Christmas Spirit.  They are SO easy to make and (now, I may be a little biased!) beautifully elegant.  The hardest part of making them is cutting the hole in the front of the ornament.  The ones that I used were made of a thicker plastic so I used by Dremel tool and the circular cutting blade to cut the shape.  It takes a little bit of a steady hand, but the blade glides through it like butter.  It may take a couple of passes to get the shape as you like it.  I then used the sanding attachment and sanded down the sharp edges.  Note that you may use an exacto knife if you don't have a Dremel tool, but it may take a little longer and require more pressure if the plastic is on the thicker side. It's all smooth sailing once the holes are cut!  I painted a base coat of chalk paint on each (Patina on two, Frost Blue on the other), let it dry, and then applied a coat of crackle medium.  Next, I added some extra fine white glitter to my top coat color, mixed it up, and painted it on.  I did also paint the inside of each ornament with a couple of coats of this glitter paint.  I used super glue to attach a small piece of styrofoam to the inside bottom of the ornament.  Once dry, I glued one of the images to that piece of styrofoam to keep them in place.  I had previously made outside decorative pieces with some moldable foam clay and moulds.  I painted them and attached to the ornaments with glue.  Grit paste was added around the hole to give it a little extra snow effect and dimension.  Here's a tip for you - the grit paste can also hide any imperfections made from cutting the hole!  Made an oopsie?  Cover it with grit paste or glitter glue!  Let's keep that secret between us, okay?!  The last step was to apply some gems (pearls and silver balls) to the ornaments.

I hope that you enjoyed reading about my inaugural projects as a member of the Gecko Glaz design team.  Let me know in the comments if you have any questions about the steps outlined above - I'll be sure to answer them for you!

 I wish you and your loved ones the merriest of holidays and my heartfelt best for 2024!  Until next time . . . be well!