Wednesday, November 28, 2012

Graphic 45 Nutcracker Sweet Christmas Cards

I don't design very many card classes, but last year when I began teaching at The Urban Scrapbook, my first class was Christmas cards, using Graphic 45's "Christmas Emporium" collection.  Click HERE to see the blog post about those cards.

Before their 2012 collections were released, I already knew there was a good chance I would be working on G45 cards again this time of year.  When I saw "Nutcracker Sweet" I swooned.  Those lovely ballerinas.....so elegant and beautiful!

Well, the whole ballet theme took hold in my brain and I came up with 5 cards, 4 of them featuring ballerinas!
Here are some close-ups and details about each card...

"The Nutcracker" 
Yeah, he looks a little too serious to be nestled in white and pink chiffon. ha ha!




The base of this card is Tim Holtz Black Kraft Core Coredinations, which I embossed with the Sizzix wood grain embossing folder. I also embossed the green polka dot piece for the card's interior with the Christmas words folder.

Using my craft knife and ruler, I cut a window into the front of the card.
I adhered the embossed green paper inside.

I cut out the Nutcracker and adhered him inside so his head would appear in the window.

Using this Martha Stewart branch punch, I created some greenery below the window.


I coloured seam binding with Fired Brick Distress Stain, crumpled and let dry.  Then tied a bow and adhered with liquid glue.

 "Winter Wonderland"


The background is Bazzill "Pansy" purple card stock stamped with snowflakes, then glittered with "Lavender" glitter using Ranger's new Sticky Embossing powder.

This is the first time I used this Sticky Embossing powder and it's awesome!  But you  have to work fast because it cools quickly and then loses its stickiness.
I cut this American Crafts glitter paper to look like snowy hills.

Diamond Stickles came in handy for adding sparkle to the blue ballerinas...
I also added stickles to the Winter Wonderland tag

These dancers are popped up onto foam squares.
Yes, I know this card does not reflect reality and our ballerinas here in Canada do not dance in the snow like this! [But I do wish our snowflakes were purple!]

"Sugar Plum Fairy"

I cut the mini music sheets from the "Enchanted Journey" patterned paper.
The edges are sparkling with chunky clear glitter
 Here is how I created those glittery edges...

Add Glossy Accents or other clear drying adhesive along the edges of the mini music sheets.
Pour chunky glitter over the wet Glossy Accents.  Let dry for about half an hour.

I fussy cut the Sugar Plum Fairy and adhered her with foam squares, then added Clear Diamond Stickles to her wings and shoes.
Pink tulle is threaded through 2 punched holes in the bottom corners and tied in a bow.
 
"Clara and the Mouse King"

All images are cut from the "Holiday Magic" patterned paper.

To make the little vintage storybook, I cut apart the small book pages from the "Enchanted Journey" paper, misted them with water, crumpled, uncrumpled and then let dry. 

[Why oh why does Blogger insist on rotating my photos???]
After inking the edges with brown chalk ink, I layered the mini book pages using Sookwang adhesive tape.
 The top pages of this book are actually cut out together as one piece, then folded in the centre so it appears to look more like a book. 
I punched lacy borders along the bottom with a Martha Stewart edge punch.
I also misted Clara and the mini book with Perfect Pearls "Biscotti" spray to give them a pretty glimmer.

"The Blue Ballerina"

I used a scalloped edge punch around a piece of glitter card stock, then attached tulle to it before adhering the blue ballerina.   
The doily in the background is also misted with Biscotti Perfect Pearls spray. Plus, I added clear Stickles to her headband, skirt and shoes.  

Actually, this blue ballerina card could also serve as a birthday card for a little girl (or a big girl!)

 So tell me, which card is your favourite? I'm having a hard time picking mine! 

Hope you enjoyed looking at my Graphic 45 Christmas cards....I really enjoyed designing them :)









22 comments:

  1. Gosh girl, you just can't make a regular card now can you? lol. These are amazing up close. So many techniques...I'm in awe!

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  2. You absolutely AMAZE me, Kelly! Each card is an awesome and beautiful little work of art in and of itself. My mom and dad always took us to see the Nutcracker, or we went to see it at "Symphony Hall" in Allentown, PA, so you really brought back some great memories for me! I love them all, but i think the one of Clara holding the nutcracker is my favorite!!! And you showed us how you made them, too! I agree with Lynn - you can't make a "regular" card, can you????? LOL!!!

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  3. you ROCKED these cards wow.....I have some of that collection left and I want to play now LOL!

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  4. These aren't cards! These are works of ART! Love them and all the beautiful details! WOW! Some lucky people in your life are going to get some amazing cheer this year!

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  5. Soooooo pretty! Think the pink ballerina is my favorite.

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  6. These are beautiful cards Kelly. Thanks for sharing all your tips and techniques. I love them all but those purple snowflakes are something special!

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  7. love them all, but I think I love the winter wonderland card with the three ballerinas the bestest!! BTW, I have the same problem with blogger rotating my photos - I had read that it was a Canon thing, and the solution is to open your files and save them as a *.gif instead of a jpg. Gif files always seem to upload and display correctly.

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    1. I've had the same problem with rotating photos too - and I have a Canon - yup, confirmed it's a Blogger/Canon problem, and my solution was indeed to save as a .gif

      Lorena
      www.ScrappingCorner.ca

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  8. Oh man, oh man, oh man! I love them all. The Blue Ballerina and The Sugar Plum Fairy are my favorites. Wow. Love that you showed me so many of your tips and techniques. I still struggle a bit with paper and embossing powders and glue. Don't know why...but it's not easy for me...but you make it look like I can do it with all your great pictures and how-to's! Thanks!

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  9. OMG girl! These are so gorgeous!!! I love all the fabulous details!!!

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  10. Clara and the Mouse King is my favorite! I also love the embossed frame with the Nutcracker. All are lovely Kelly!

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  11. Kelly, these cards are really special. I shall follow your examples with these very nicely prepared tutorial. So much fun to be had with G45 and Tim products.

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  12. so Very beautiful cardt's and yes sooooo special



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  13. Thank you Kelly for sharing your talent and especially for taking the time to show us how you made these gorgeous gorgeous cards.

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  14. Your cards are SO beautiful. I am a member of the Hampton Art Design Team (the manufacturer of the G45 stamps among MANY others) and there will be a DT call sometime in March. You should apply - I think you might have a good shot! They are amazing to work for - my favorite DT I've been on. If you do apply - good luck! Happy Crafting! www.hamptonart.com

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  15. I'm also on the DT for Hampton Art, and I love what you've done with these stamps! Hope you'll try out - I'm with Britt. The team, the company, our DT leader are all superb.

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  16. Wowzah - that is some amazing work you have done with those stamps. I just bought two sets, and was searching the net for some ideas of how to work with them ... aside from copic colouring them.... you have done a breathtaking job! Thanks for sharing! I'll be back!

    Lorena
    www.ScrappingCorner.ca

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  17. Exquisite attention to detail. You amaze me, Kelly. These are absolutely scrumptious. Love them all. Can't possibly pick a favorite! Love seeing your process and final result. WOW.

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  18. I guess a simple email saying merry Christmas just doesn't reach the same standard! Sharon Pelech;)

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  19. hi,my fav one is the sUGAR pLUM fAIRY !! But it was atoss up between this one and Clara &the Mouse King...

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  20. Gorgeous! What kind of chunky glitter do you use?

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