Inspiration: Mojo Monday #545
After finishing my last card, I wanted to keep going with the Hello Christmas collection, so I started playing with the chipboard pieces and layering paper elements to get something going. I've mentioned in my last post that Carta Bella has changed the way they do their chipboard elements: the pieces are not cut all the way around, they are now held in place with little tabs. This make it quite hard to get the images out without tearing anything. I find it even harder on the smaller pieces, like the mittens and the holly circle I used on this card. If you look at the right mitten, the top edge is slightly uneven because of how it broke from the packaging. I'm not super thrilled about this change. I wonder if this is permanent or just something the company was trying for this release.
This card is fairly simple, but features a whole lot of layering. I initially thought I would have to go oversize to accommodate the doily but I finally came back to a regular A2 size. I was finding the initial layout a little blah, but then I remembered this trick about using double-sided tape around a piece of paper to add fine glitter, so I pulled out my gold glitter and 1/8" score tape to create a sparkly border. This totally changed the whole card and gave life to the layout.
The sentiment was stamped on green patterned paper and as mentioned before, I capitalized on the fact that I have a container of white embossing powder that yellowed over time and now it look perfect when used with vanilla-based papers. For the second doily, I used the tree-pattern paper, which is why I also added the chipboard tree image. I added a few more chipboard pieces and puffy stickers, as well as pearls and sequins to finish off the layout. A black envelope was decorated to match.
I used to not want to use my chipboard pieces on cards. In my mind, they were more expensive embellishments that needed to be saved for layouts or more special projects. Thankfully, I am slowly moving past that mental block. In this collection, the chipboard pieces also happen to be smaller and the packs have way more of them, so maybe that is why I'm changing my tunes. I've also realized this year that the craft supplies have really started piling up over the years and now, I realize that there really is not point in hoarding. Just use it and enoy it - and make room for more, as the company never seem to run out of fun new stuff to offer and tempt us with! I also don't have infinite space, so I need to keep the supplies moving.
On a side note, I've used my Metallic Thread from Altenew on many of my latest creations. It took me a while to get my hands on it, as it kept selling out, but I am really loving the three beautiful colours included in the pack and the texture and shine it has. Be advised that the ends have a tendancy to split (it's a three-ply thread), but aside from that, I am thoroughly enjoying using this product.
Supplies
Stamps: Ce que j'aime à Noël (Greatest Part of Christmas - Stampin' Up!)
Cardstock: Handsome Hunter (Stampin' Up!)
Patterned Papers, Puffy Stickers and Chipboard Accents: Hello Christmas (Carta Bella)
Ink: VersaMark
Accessories: Doily Die (Recollections); Decorative Doily Duo Die-namics (My Favorite Things);
Mini Stapler, Gold FIne Glitter, Stampin' Dimensionals, White Stampin' Emboss Powder, Festive Farm Baker's Twine,
Distress Tool, Wonderful Gems (Stampin' Up!); Vintage Shimmer Pearls (Studio Katia);
A2 Midnight Black Envelope (envelopes.com); Vanilla Cream Sequin Mix (Little Things from Lucy's Cards);
Enchanted Gold Metallic Thread (Altenew)
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