The Crafty Secrets designers do a monthly challenge, and this month's topic is Christmas! Crafty Secrets has oodles of wonderful vintage Christmas products, and I just love their creative scrap images. I created this card using the bird image from the Christmas Creative Scraps sheet, in addition to stamp images from Christmas Mail, and Artsy Banner. I started by repeatedly stamping the text block from Artsy Banner on the base of the card. I added snowflakes and the postage mark from Christmas Mail, inked all the edges, and added a good amount of crystal glitter for lots and LOTS of sparkle.
To give the birds some extra holiday spirit, I coated the image with Ranger's Rock Candy distress crackle paint. It's a clear medium that cracks when it dries, giving what ever you apply it to a nice, old-age cracked appearance. While the medium was still wet, I sprinkled on just a little bit of glitter. Ooooh, sparkle!
Here is an EXTREME closeup of the image after the crackle medium dried.
I added a little Happy Christmas sentiment banner, aged with brown distress inks and a bit of crystal glitter. And since the bird image reads "A Christmas Song", I thought it was appropriate to use a scrap of vintage sheet music on the card, too!
I guarantee you're going to want to see what marvelous projects the other designers share with today's challenge, so here are links to get you inspired!
Vicki Chrisman Team Leader
Pam Hooten
Heidi Blankenship
Linda Duke
Michele Kovack
Melissa Phillips
Flo Teixeira
Julie Campbell
Mary Hamer
Anna Wight (November Guest Designer) That's me!
Enjoy your day!!
Gorgeous! Crafty Secrets does the BEST vintage stuff, and you've used it to perfection.
Posted by: Shellie Daniel | November 28, 2010 at 09:08 AM
Anna that is so beautiful. Love the cracked look (gosh if I am cracked nobody would say that I am pretty!) Want to make my Christmas cards? : )
Wishing you, yours and all the fur babies a very Happy Thanksgiving!
Posted by: Beverly Blair | November 23, 2010 at 05:29 AM
You do shabby chic so well!
Posted by: Kathy Martin | November 23, 2010 at 04:59 AM
Beautiful! Love the rich colors of this card! So glad you are back! We missed having you! Have a wonderful holiday with your family!
Posted by: Michele | November 23, 2010 at 03:51 AM
Hi Anna, beautiful card and love the way you combined the text stamp with the sheet music and added the crackle and glitter to the birdies!
hey, what are you feeding those cows? They are popping out babies like crazy!
Wishing you and your family a wonderful Thanksgiving!
Sandy
Posted by: www.google.com/accounts/o8/id?id=AItOawkQfkJ2f7S08Dj4ArgezPDaQnp7aGzPg7c | November 23, 2010 at 01:16 AM
I'm impressed! However I have the same cracked and oldtimey look in the morning and nobody and I do mean nobody gives me rave reviews about it? Maybe I need more glitter.....or less aging around the edges...I have been stamping about tho...my toes have been getting cold,It's supposed to get down to 10 degrees or less tonite!.....Brrrrrr..... Love, Dad
Posted by: DK Wight | November 22, 2010 at 11:33 PM
So glad you're with us this month, Anna! I love your card--the crackle is perfect for this image!
I hope you have a wonderful Thanksgiving!
Julie
Posted by: Julie Campbell | November 22, 2010 at 10:45 PM
Beautiful Anna, LOVE the glitter and crackle... So glad to have you back ;)
Posted by: Linda Duke | November 22, 2010 at 06:36 PM
Love the crackle on this... fantastic! So glad to have you back with us!!
Posted by: Vicki Chrisman | November 22, 2010 at 06:21 PM
Love all the vintage beauty and warmth of this Anna. I got to see these darling English robins a couple of years ago while in Scotland and I love them. They are just as adorable on this gorgeously crackled card as they are IRL. Of course, that sheet music is PERFECT for this. BEAUTY--
Posted by: Michele Ghent | November 22, 2010 at 03:57 PM
Hi Anna! What a wonderful project! I just love the crackle paint! You have inspired me to get mine out and play! Hope to see more of your CS work!
Posted by: Mary Hamer | November 22, 2010 at 02:40 PM
What a gorgeous sample. Love how you used that crackle stuff on the birds. And all that glitter...sigh....just beautiful!
Posted by: Dee in N.H. | November 22, 2010 at 02:24 PM
Gorgeous! I love the sparkle and all special touches. That vintage image is just wonderful!
Posted by: Karen | November 22, 2010 at 01:19 PM
What a beautiful vintage X-mas card! Hope you have a wonderful december, enjoying to prepare for X-mas and having cosy days with all your cute animals at the farm.
Posted by: RitaK | November 22, 2010 at 01:00 PM
Oh I love the sparkle! - You do vintage wonderfully.
Posted by: Ida | November 22, 2010 at 12:43 PM
oh how BEAUTIFUL!!!
Posted by: jayne | November 22, 2010 at 12:42 PM
WOW, what a sparkly wonderful Christmas card. I think Iam going to NEED some of that crackle medium! Great look and easier than the traditional cracked glass method. Hugs...
Posted by: Carol Dee | November 22, 2010 at 12:29 PM
Oooooh! More luscious, gorgeous, sparkly goodness!
Posted by: Broni | November 22, 2010 at 12:01 PM
Anna, your Christmas card is Beautiful!! I love the image of the little birds--it's one of my favorites! Love the crackle and all of the glittery sparkle too!!
Posted by: Heidi Blankenship | November 22, 2010 at 10:22 AM
Anna, I adore the sparkle, the crackle and the music sheet. Cognratulations on your November Guest Designer gig. Good goin'!
Posted by: Gabriela | November 22, 2010 at 10:15 AM
Fabulous!
xoxo Karen Lee
Posted by: Karen Lee | November 22, 2010 at 09:57 AM
Beautiful and I love that crackle medium-another thing for my want list!
Happy Thanksgiving!!
Posted by: Bev J. | November 22, 2010 at 09:44 AM
Beautiful card Anna, as always you inspire me!
Posted by: pam hooten | November 22, 2010 at 09:18 AM