Believe

When I saw the challenge at Merry Monday this week to use a Santa , I instantly thought of the vintage Santa stamp I have had for many years that has never been inked. Loved it when I purchased it, love it still, his sweet face makes me happy! I believe I found it at Hobby Lobby or Michaels when I first started collecting acquiring a variety of stamps for different occasions. 

I began by stamping the Santa with Gathered Twigs Distress Ink on Neenah Solar White cardstock and die cutting it into an oval. The oval was then distressed with Antique Linen with more of the Gathered Twigs around the edges. I colored the glasses frames with Atyou Spica "Sand" and added a bit of Spun Sugar Distress Ink for Santa's rosy cheeks, followed by Stardust Stickles for his beard and eyebrows. 

And then came the difficult task of selecting papers from the stash of 6 x 6 paper pads. After many combinations, I decided on a vintage combo to complement the Santa. I assembled the layout, and then added the Taylored Expressions Dotted Lattice Embossing Folder to resemble quilting on the patchwork of papers. I have attempted to add ribbon and/or lace to the last few cards I've made, but without success. Finally, this card allowed the use of both and I was quite a happy cardmaker! I do seem to think every card needs a bit of ribbon to make it complete, but then I find that isn't always true.

The Penny Black "Believe" sentiment was die cut twice from Kraft cardstock and once from gold, then glued together to add more dimension to the design. A few gemstones were added along with a couple of Impression Obsession snowflakes coated with two layers of Clear Rock Candy Distress Stickles and a second completed card was added to the Attic's 2015 Christmas basket. 

Blessings,

 

Materials:

Cardstock: Neenah Solar White; Kraft; Recollections Gold

Patterned Paper: My Mind's Eye Lost & Found Christmas; Kaisercraft - Turtle Dove

Stamps: Rubber Stampede "Santa Collage"

Dies: Penny Black: "Exultations"; Impression Obsession: "Small Snowflake Set"

    Spellbinders: "Classic Ovals Large"; "Classic Ovals Small"

Ink: Distress Inks: Antique Linen; Gathered Twigs; Spun Sugar

Other: Taylored Expressions Embossing Folder: "Dotted Lattice"; Atyou Spica "Sand"; 

    Stickles: "Stardust"; "Clear Rock Candy"; Hero Arts Lace; Papertrey Ink Scarlet Jewel

    Ribbon; Recollections Clear Gemstones