Merry Christmas - stencilling, gilding, embossing

Gilded ornaments on a stencilled background are featured on my card today showcasing Kraftin' Kimmie Stamps, Cosmic Shimmer Glitter Kiss with a stencil by Simon Says Stamp, and embossing.

Putting It Together

I love stencils! 

For the background of my background, I used a stencil brush to tint pearl cardstock with emerald.

I adhered my green panel to a plastic sheet with repositionable adhesive so I could stencil side to side. I anchored the stencil on one side with Purple Tape and used a silicon brush to spread the two-tone Glitter Kiss paste.

The panel looks even more amazing in person.

I then had the bright idea to use gliding flakes on the ornaments. I stamped each with glue on black heavy cardstock.

I let the glue dry to a bit tacky before I rubbed the gilding flakes on the stamped ornaments. After fully covering the stamping, I used a soft makeup brush to brush away the excess (and save it for another day. I tried to contain most of the mess in a coffee filter as I worked with the oh so light flakes. So I wouldn't blow the flakes all over, I would breathe to my side and hold my breath while I gilded.

Gilding flakes are messier than glitter but the results are gorgeous.

I fussy cut the ornaments leaving a thin black margin. On the wide ornament, after gilding, I embossed "Merry Christmas" in black. I dry fit them on the background and liked the way they look together.

I die cut ornament toppers from an ornament die set from leftover cardstock I had covered with Cosmic Shimmer for a different project and glued the toppers to the ornaments.

After playing with several possible layouts, I turned the background on the side and dry fit it with just three of the ornaments with baker's twine. I liked how this layout felt, so it won.

Since the twine is a bit chunky, I used double-sided adhesive to adhere the background to the black matte. To help with positioning, I clip the release strips and turn them sideways. This helps to keep the adhesive from instantly bonding allowing a little wiggling. Then, when everything is in place, press down between the strips, slip them out, and press down all around firmly. I used foam mounting tape under the ornaments to give them more dimension.

I then added it all to a white top-fold card base.

Inside, I stamped a sentiment and another ornament. I used masking on the ornament to add the topper and chain.

Supplies

Challenges

Kraftin' Kimmie Stamps: Stencils
Simon Says Stamp Work It Wednesday: Ho, Ho, Holiday
Watercooler Wednesday: All About Occasions
Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas: Make Your Own Background
Incy Wincy: Make Your Own Background
Simon Says Stamp: Christmas
Crafty Gals Corner: Christmas
Christmas Crafts All Year Round: Christmas