Frilly and Funkie Christmas in July Challenge: Rustic Woodland Christmas Greeting Card
Hello, Friends! It’s time for another challenge at the Frilly and Funkie Blog. The one and only Cec is our hostess this go round, and the theme is “Christmas in July.” With that in mind, I broke out a bunch of my Tim Holtz goodies to create this Rustic Woodland Christmas Greeting Card. Let’s see what Cec has to say about this fun challenge.
Challenge Theme: Christmas in July
You might be experiencing summer heat but let’s think cool by getting a head start on Christmas preparations. Your vintage or shabby chic creation could be a card, something to present a gift in or a decor item for the house or tree.
Rustic Woodland Christmas Greeting Card a la Tim Holtz “Dapper”
This was a fun card to make! You wouldn’t normally think of using Tim Holtz “Dapper” paper collection for Christmas, would you? But I found patterns in it that hit exactly the right rustic note for this card creation.
This 5″ x 7″ top fold card reminds me of taking a wintry walk in the woods. After distressing, matting and layering my designer papers I got busy with my die cutting machine. It was so much fun to die cut all these various elements from Dapper papers and then make them look like Christmas paper.
First, the sentiment from Doodle Greetings #1 was stamped in Jet Black Archival ink onto the grid paper from the collection. Then I heat embossed with clear embossing powder. Next, I lightly sponged some Pine Needles Distress Ink to add just a touch of color. This step actually helped the sentiment to pop off the page.
Rustic Woodland Christmas Greeting Card: Tattered Florals
It is just me, or is it hilarious to think of making Christmas flowers from paper with a cigar band pattern? But that’s exactly what I did here. Here’s how I did it:
- First, cut 6 squares of Dapper cigar band paper into 3.5″ squares.
- Next, stack the squares on the frayed flower in the Tattered Florals Die.
- Then, run the stack through your machine all at the same time. All six layers will die cut beautifully as this is a steel rule die.
- Now, flip half the flower layers over to the print on the reverse side of the paper.
- Next, spritz the petals with Candied Apple Distress Stain Spray. Heat Dry.
- Then, Sponge the flower centers with a little Fired Brick Distress Ink.
- Now, shape and stack the petals. I shaped each layer a little differently for more fullness.
- Finally, fill the flower centers with hot glue, then pour in Gilt Trip Prills. Let it set a minute, then tap off the excess Prills into a funnel tray.
Rustic Woodland Christmas Greeting Card: The bow cluster
This Vintage Christmas plaid ribbon was exactly right for the bow cluster. I tucked in some gold eyelash ribbon, a little greenery and a Tim Holtz snowflake charm to complete the cluster. I filled out the floral arrangement with some of the die cut greenery.
Rustic Woodland Christmas Greeting Card: The Frame
Tim’s Ornate Frame is one of my all time favorite dies. I cut it twice here: once from Dapper paper and once on heavy weight chipboard. The chipboard pieces are painted with Prima Gold Crackle Texture Paste, then sponged with Vintage Photo Distress ink. I cut the chipboard frame in half, then glued the Dapper frame to it so that it was slightly offset, letting the gold peep through. The frame is surrounded with bits of greenery that I hit with a little Mica Spray.
The lovely deer was also die cut twice from Dapper paper, then layered together with small foam dots.
The Inside Story
Once again, I turned this card into a gift by adding a simple gift card pocket.
I matted this lovely vintage image onto forest green cardstock, then scored and folded it.
Add a tea bag to the pocket, and maybe a gift card and you have a lovely Christmas gift!
After stamping and embossing another image from Doodle Greetings #1, I sponged and colored the image. This was matted onto a long panel of ivory text paper. I left lots of room to write a newsy Christmas note here.
Now it’s YOUR turn
You’re invited to play along with the Frilly and Funkie teams in this fun Christmas in July challenge. Simply create your own vintage or shabby chic Christmas in July project and then link it up on the Frilly and Funkie blog. You have until midnight on Tuesday, August 1st to join the party. You can find the specific details HERE.
The Frilly and Funkie gals will be stopping by to admire your lovely creations. At the end of the challenge the team will choose their top four picks. Our first place winner will be invited to join us for a Guest Designer spot at Frilly and Funkie. Three additional talented participants will receive badges to display on their blogs. Everyone who enters and adheres to the challenge guidelines will be entered into a drawing to win a $25 spending spree at The Funkie Junkie Boutique!
I hope I’ve inspired you to break out your paper pretties and get your craft on. If so, I’d love to hear from you in the comment section below.
Thanks for stopping by!
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Kathy, this card sent a happy little Christmas shiver down my spine! This may very well be my favorite Christmas card of the season with those delightful layers and GORGEOUS cigar band paper flowers! the Ornate Frame is my favorite die, too and you have used it perfectly here with the layers and crackle! My favorite bit, though has got to be the ‘measured’ doe–I never tire of this sweet die! Lovely rustic card, my friend! Sending hugs!
WOW, WOW, WOW Kathy! You take layering to a whole other level and this is a triumph! Imagine receiving this as a card/gift – you’d be on top of the world happy! I love the combination of die cuts with those Dapper papers xx
What a beautiful card! It’s simply amazing!
Kathy, this card is so lovely. I can just picture someone sitting in front of a fire on a winter day opening this card and enjoying a cup of tea. Having the card within a card is great for Christmas gift cards and other treats. I know that I’ll be using various elements of your design as I begin my holiday cards! Thanks for sharing this.
Whoa….I love this bouquet of gorgeous die cut paper! You have mastered so many techniques on this card. Beautiful vintage design and colors. Stunning, and I love the inside gift card holder.
Wonderful eclectic and rustic vibe! Always such beautiful layering. Love your choice dies and those DP flowers. Wonderful! Happy Christmas in July. <3 Hugs, Autumn
Hi Kathy, a truly rustic feel about this one, and very beautiful as well. Love whole concept, image, the bow, the flowers, just beautiful. thank fro sharing……..think I had better start on Christmas too,
Kathy, this card is lovely. Great for men and women, alike. I can just picture someone sitting by a fire on a winter day opening this card and enjoying a cup of tea. The card within a card is perfect for tucking in a gift card or Christmas treat. Thanks for sharing another wonderful creation.
Kathy, the rustic tone of this card is delightful. I can just picture someone sitting by a fire on a winter day, opening this card and having that cup of tea! The card within a card is perfect for adding a Christmas gift card or special holiday treat. A great design for men and women, these card elements will be a model for my future Christmas cards. Thanks for sharing it.
What a lovely card. I think I could manage everything but the bows. Just no luck with making them. Perhaps in another post you could step out how you do your bows. that would be most helpful when making cards. Absolutely love this concept. and all the layering. thanks as always for sharing.
Hi, Theresa! Thanks so much for this lovely comment. If you’d like to learn how I make my bows, you can find some wonderful tutorials on YouTube. Really Reasonable Ribbon has a whole series of tutorials for using the Bow it All Tool, which is what I use to make my bows. I’ve watched the videos repeatedly, and practiced a lot to develop my own style. They are short and easy to follow. I think you’d like them! Happy bow tying!
Beautiful! I loved seeing the rustic flowers using the dapper paper. The die cut leaves tucked in all over the background are gorgeous! Fabulous Christmas card! A present all by itself!