Tim Holtz Meets Graphic 45

I suppose I am giving some of you a big SHOCK by designing Christmas cards.

If you're surprised about this, it's because you know I don't make many cards and have even been known to buy the Hallmark variety...Gasp!


I've always admired cardmakers who create spectacular pieces on such a small canvas.  So, when I was invited to teach a card class at Urban Scrapbook,  I thought, "Heck, yes! I'm going to give it a whirl!"

Using the new Graphic 45 Christmas Emporium collection and the Tim Holtz Mini Paper Rosette Sizzix die, I designed 5 cards and thought I'd share a few of the details with you.

The Graphic 45 Christmas Emporium paper pack...beautiful vintage papers!

 Here is the first card....

On Santa's Knee

The background is inked and embossed kraft paper, plus I used real Wood Veneer paper (Thin) from Creative Imaginations to design the mantle.

I used Fired Brick Distress Ink and the Prima Brick mask/stencil to alter the piece of kraft paper.

Then I embossed the "brick wall" with a Tim Holtz "Gridlock" embossing folder to create more texture...

After embossing, I lightly inked the raised design with Vintage Photo Distress Ink.

I also embossed the top of the wall with a Tim Holtz Wood Grain embossing folder...

...and inked the raised design again with Vintage Photo.

Close up of Wood Grain wall and wreath

The wreath is made with two medium rosette flower strips attached together.  I found it helpful to create a stable base for this wreath to sit on, so I made a "donut" out of scrap paper....

Here is the Paper rosette die I used on each card

The red ribbon is actually plain cream rayon ribbon (seam binding) coloured with Fired Brick Distress Stain.  Crumple it while still wet with the Stain and let dry in a crumpled ball to obtain the worn out vintage look.

Distress Stains come in so many different colours and allow you to transform any piece of seam binding!

The second card is called "JOY"...

I used 3 Tim Holtz dies to create this card....

I was a little sneaky with the "upon a time" alphabet and actually used the "Y" as the letter "J" because I didn't like the shape of the J in the original alpha.  Just cut off the arm of the Y and you have a J!! I should have been a rocket scientist...or a brain surgeon :)

The third card is named "Wishful Window" ....

The mother with children looking into a store window is an image from a piece of the Graphic 45 paper, which I fussy cut.  Then I framed the window with real Wood Veneer paper, inked with Walnut Stain Distress Ink.  The small mini rosette is accordion folded and adhered as an awning across the top of the window.

Off-white cardstock becomes swirly snow with a Tim Holtz "Swirls" embossing folder.

 The snow banks are cut and layered below the window. Then I added clear Stickles to the raised design to add some sparkle...

 This time I coloured the plain ribbon with Stormy Sky Distress Ink. 

To do this, you press the ink pad randomly on the ribbon (I didn't want solid coverage, so I missed some spots), put it in a plastic sandwich baggie, mist with water, then crumple and let dry.

Voila!  A lovely vintage blue ribbon is born!

The fourth card is "Christmas Carols"...

To age the carol music paper pieces, I used Crackle Accents and Walnut Stain Distress Ink.

With a paint brush, add a medium thick coat of Crackle Accents and let dry completely, about an hour or more.

When the Crackle is dry, ink the whole surface with Walnut Stain, mist with water and wipe off with a tissue or paper towel. The dark ink stays in the cracks, making them more visible.  Now you have beautiful vintage music paper!

The die cut elements are from the new Tim Holtz Festive Greenery Sizzix die.....

I cut the pieces from off-white Bazzill cardstock

....and then transformed them with a variety of Distress Inks....magical!

All the inked pieces and a small paper rosette are adhered to a piece of black cardstock and sprayed with Perfect Pearls "Heirloom Gold".

I love this Festive Greenery die...so pretty and versatile!

The fifth and final card is titled "O Jolly Christmas Tree"...

I wish my kids looked like this on Christmas day :)

The Christmas tree is made with 2 medium rosette strips, separated into pieces...

TIP:  Ink all the pieces before you assemble and layer into a tree.

Sookwang tape is the best adhesive to adhere the tree layers together.

Stack up your layers and adhere along the accordion folds.

Adhere the sides of the tree rosette pieces so they lie flat and you get a tree shape.

Also, I cut a 4" x 2" triangle shape to use as a base for the tree...adhering the rosette tree to a base will stabilize it and help it keep a nice shape. Oh, and the tree trunk is a little strip of real Wood Veneer paper inked with Walnut Stain.

Side angle of flattened sides of tree.

Fabri-Tac liquid adhesive by Beacon Adhesives is wonderful for this because it dries VERY quickly.

I also use Fabri-Tac as the adhesive for all the rosettes.  Some people prefer a hot glue gun, but I'm not a big fan of burning off my fingerprints :)

Hope this inspires you to make some Christmas cards....or at least start your shopping :)

GIVEAWAY!!!!!!!!!!!!
And my early Christmas present to you....if you comment on this post and are a "Follower" of my blog, you will be entered to win a kit to make ALL these cards!! I'd also love to hear which card is your favourite :)  Thanks for visiting!