The last challenge for the year is up over at Less is More. We’re onto ‘D’ in our alphabet themes and we’re looking for cards on the theme of ‘Deck the Halls’. I guess we’re going to see plenty of Christmas-themed cards – after all, it is that time of the year… My design team card continues the carol lyrics and features holly and berries:
How I made my deck the halls themed card
- Dreamweaver metal stencil: Holly Swirls [LJ891]
- Dreamweaver Embossing Paste: White
- Ranger / Tim Holtz Distress Spray Stain: Antique Linen
- DecoArt Extreme Sheen Metallic Paint: 24K Gold
- Ranger Enamel Accents: Classic Cherry
- Stampers Anonymous / Tim Holtz cling rubber stamp: Crazy Talk [CMS236]
- Ranger Archival Ink: Jet Black
- Acrylic paper sheet
- 6×6″ kraft card blank
Start by taping down the stencil to the textured paper and then apply the texture paste through it with a metal palette knife. Remove the stencil (I make a masking tape hinge on one end to help lift it cleanly) and wash it and the palette knife in water straight away. Allow the applied stencilled paste to dry – you can speed it up with a heat tool, but take care not to overheat and boil the paste.
Spray the page with the Distress stain, building up colour. Try drying as you spritz, add mists of water, dab and so on to get a mottled background. Dry thoroughly with a heat tool. Pop the stencil back onto the page (it’ll slot around the texture paste nicely) and wipe a baby wipe over the stencil, removing the Distress stain from the texture paste. Apply the gold metallic paint over the leaves only, through the stencil, using a short bristled small paintbrush. Take off the stencil and wash it and the brush straight away in water.
Add dots of the 3D enamel accents to each of the berries and allow to dry (preferably overnight according to the instructions). Trim to the required size, attach to the card blank and add the sentiment.