Fairless Stampin' Flair: A CRATE OF POINSETTIAS

Today it is time for a Christmas Card. Last week I indicated I was going to challenge myself to make a Christmas card using whatever stamp set I was featuring each week.

This week the challenge was too easy!

This Rustic Crate Bundle comes "ready for Christmas" with its Poinsettia bouquet ready to fill the crate. All I had to do was stamp the image and grab my Stampin' Blends (Real Red & Granny Apple Green) and color it and then die cut it with the coordinating Rustic Crate die.

Black and White with a pop of red has always been one of my favorite color combinations. So, for this card I decided to make a black and white background using the Double Embossed Enamel Technique. For this card I used the Countryside Blossoms embossing folder. To learn more about this technique, you can watch this Learning with Friends video that premiered yesterday on my YouTube Channel.

INSERT VIDEO LINK

To make the crate for this card, I simply die cut the crate from Basic White cardstock and then used a sponge dauber to lightly rub some Black Memento ink on the die cut. Since this die also creates an embossed woodgrain surface, by adding a little black ink, it makes the grain on the crate really pop.

I had to search my stash for a small "Merry Christmas" stamp and found this Happy Christmas in the retired Itty Bitty Christmas Stamp Set. It may be an old set, but it is a keeper! I die cut the sentiment with the new Deckled Circles Dies and then used a sponge dauber and Real Red ink to add a bit of color on the edges.

This Rustic Crate dies also include a die for the handle which was die cut from Basic White.

To complete the card front I wanted a bit of sparkle. What is a Christmas card without sparkle? I think it is a requirement, don't you?

So, I wrapped the card front with Glittered Organdy White Ribbon and added a gold Iridescent Pastel Gem in the center of each flower.

As I mentioned in my video, I typically make my technique sheets a little larger than I need. I do this for a couple of reasons. Sometimes the edges of a Technique Sheet don't turn out all that well and if the size is larger than you need, you can trim off any unsightly areas. But the BEST reason to make the technique sheet a little larger is because when you trim it down to size, you have leftover scraps to decorate the inside of the card and or the envelope. I didn't have much extra on this one, but I did have a couple of narrow strips that I could add to the inside and the front of the envelope. This ties the inside to the card front and by also adding a strip to the envelope it ties the whole ensemble together.

If you would like a tutorial with all the cutting dimensions, you can download a copy by using this link.

The products used are listed below.

Product List