Dear Santa....Graphic 45 Christmas Emporium

The Christmas Emporium collection by Graphic 45 has really inspired me to create!

Here is a layout I designed for the Winter 2011 issue of Canadian Scrapbooker magazine using this amazing collection of papers...

I haven't scrapped many photos from my childhood and knew it was time to use this precious pic of my brother and I on Santa's knee when I saw the gorgeous G45 papers.

I dearly love this photo...it captures that innocence of the Christmas season, the belief in Santa Claus and all the magic of waking up Christmas morning to find presents under the tree.

I remember that blue jacket and fuzzy white hood trim, and especially those white galoshes.  Do those kind of winter boots exist anymore?  You know the ones...you wear your shoes INSIDE of them! And there is a rubber buckle at the top to tighten? Ahhhhh...memories of simpler times....

But I want to make clear that I am NOT labelling this design as a heritage page or vintage layout...ha ha!  I'm not that old, am I??

The edges are punched by Martha Stewart, the cream ribbon running along the bottom is Harmonie, the fabric stars are  KI Memories, the sticker alpha is Fancy Pants, the chipboard scroll corners and tree are Dusty Attic, and the chipboard ticket border is Graphic 45.

Here are some close ups....

I created a quilted background by stitching squares of patterned paper.

This Dusty Attic tree is painted with Gold Metallic Adirondack paint and backed onto black Bazzill cardstock.

I "pounced" the gold paint dabber onto the chipboard to give it a more metallic appearance.

This scroll corner is also backed onto black Bazzill cardstock.  The square bling is Recollections (from Michaels).

The base of the wreath is made from 2 Tim Holtz medium rosette strips (Sizzix die).

The holly leaves are fussy cut from the Graphic 45 patterned paper and covered with Ranger Clear Rock Candy Distress Stickles.  After they were dry, I layered them onto the rosette wreath base, using Fabri-Tac as my adhesive (fast-drying liquid glue).....an essential for me!  To finish off, I added Stickles in "Xmas Red" to the holly berries and a red bow.  I coloured white seam binding ribbon with Fired Brick Distress Stain, crumpled and let dry. 

Here is a closer look....

The leaves curl as the Rock Candy Stickles dries.

My wonderful Christmas Emporium paper pack from Graphic 45 is almost empty...boo hoo!  But I will enjoy looking at them on this layout for many years to come :)

Wishing you all a joyous Christmas and wonderful holiday season!