"It's Beginning to Look at Lot Like a Merry Christmas Card" by Katrina Thompson

#artdecocreations #couturecreationsaus #ultimatecrafts

Hello and Welcome everyone. I've begun a new set of Christmas card creations using the beautiful new 'It's Beginning to Look a lot like Christmas" collection designed by Tina Higgins.
There are so many beautiful designs in this paper range. I have found great elements from the 12x12paper pad that card makers can use for design features. Today I have concentrated on the papers with the gorgeous dies and adhesive chipboard shapes.

To make the design features stand out and give the illusion of more layering you will see that I have cut 2 layers with each of the dies, overlapping them just off centre. This 'shadow' will give more depth to your card, so you will see one layer cut in the feature colour and the other in chocolate to become the shadow layer.

Create a square card base using the Carnelian and Battle Fatigue cardstock. Because this card is larger than 6inches you can't just halve the 12x12. So we create a hinge and by using 2 colours we give it a unique look also.

The finished card is 16.8cm square, so on the Carnelian you cut a panel 16.8 x 18.8 and fold one edge over 2cm to create a hinge to give the Battle Fatigue an area to attach to.

Cut a 15.5cm square from the Kahlua to mat the patterned design pictured below.

Cut the 'Christmas' word and the 'holly border' strip from the patterned paper at the top of the picture then cut a strip, as pictured, from the patterned sheet at the bottom of the picture below. Continue on to cut those strips in half as pictured.

1. Create the card base. Layer the panels together inking softly around the edges of the patterned panel with a coordinating colour.

2. Cut 3 layers of the Holly Frame Die in Battle Fatigue, Chocolate and Carnelian. Layer -off centre- the Battle Fatigue over the Chocolate and use the berries from the Carnelian for the corners.

3. Cut 2 layers of the Wreath from the Wreathed Wise Men Layering Die in Carnelian and Chocolate. Layer -off centre- the Carnelian over the Chocolate to create the shadow.

4. Attach the Holly strip over the dot/stripe strip pattern so it creates a nice border. Ink the edges to coordinate.

5. Cut the 'Merry' greeting from the 12x12 patterned papers and edge in a red ink.

6. Ink the 'Christmas' greeting in a red and tuck into an offcut from the Holly Frame.

7. Ink around the edges of the adhesive chipboard panel.

Attach the strips overlapping as pictured, 2cm in from the patterned edges.

Peel the backing from the adhesive chipboard and tuck it into the frame as pictured, yes it's a little sticky!!, then place the whole piece onto the centre of the card.