A Shabby Chic Christmas Project...

Notice: It has come to my attention that Blogger has been having some technical difficulties and it would seem that my blog has been affected by one of the glitches involving comments.  In the recent fix, comments are now able to be left by a viewer if you open the blog post you are reading...from there a comment box will open at the very end of that particular blog page.  So sorry for the confusion!  Hopefully Blogger will have this sorted out quickly and normal operations will resume.  Thanks for understanding!

Welcome to another Heartfelt Creations Wednesday!
I'm so glad you have popped in for a visit!

This is the last week I will be sharing a project with you showcasing the Celebrate the Season Collection....for now...we do know that Christmas is on the way and I'm sure closer to the season I'll have more creations to inspire you!  LOL

But no worries...if you've caught the sneak peek of the next collection, you know we're carrying on celebrating the holiday season with the new Snow Kissed Collection!  Perfect for making more holiday creations, or for showcasing your winter themed scrapbook pages, chilly card creations, etc. I know you will fall in love with this one and I don't think stock will last long for the I Want It All Kit on this collection...so don't delay with placing your order!

I went in a little bit of a different direction for this weeks project!
Last week I took several classes with Finnibair!  They were amazing!
Now mixed media is not one of my strengths, so I was happy to learn a little more about it...so this week I decided I would try to put together a shabby chic piece of holiday decor!  (Wink Wink...in other words do a project with the new products I purchased before I forget how to use them!  LOL)

I opted to go with a different color palette than that in the Celebrate the Season Collection.  I wanted to show you that these same stamps and dies can be used in another way and in incorporated into any color palette you choose.  Vintage colors with a shabby chic look is one of my favorite looks...and hopefully you feel I was successful at putting this look together! 

Here's a look at how the project turned out...

I opted to go with a gold, white and copper color scheme.
I've stamped the sleigh, presents and poinsettias onto cardboard from the backing on my paper pack and brushed it with a light coating of white gesso.  I've stamped in VersaMark and then heat embossed with a fine detail gold embossing powder.

I've done some textured stenciling on the background of the canvas and have used some pretty remnants of lace, along with a partial zipper as my background layering!  My mom crocheted me some pretty flowers awhile back and I thought they would look perfect on this project lending to that shabby chic feel.  Of course there are some random buttons, some round pearls as well as as some half pearls.

Here's a closer look at the present filled sleigh and the shabby chic elements around it...

This is a piece that you can create in any color palette and would be so much fun to use as a decor piece during the holiday season.  The 8"x10" canvas was the perfect size to complete the project in a reasonable amount of time, and I think would look just awesome on the mantel above the fireplace where the stockings are hung!

Onto a closer look at the top poinsettia cluster and element grouping...

Here you see the buttons, crocheted flowers, pearls and lace that have been used as the layering elements.  If you look closely, you will also see the snowflake like die cut I've used from the Arianna Lace Die set.  Such a pretty die cut!

I hope you've enjoyed today's share.  I've included the full instructions at the end of the blog post, and believe me...it's not that complicated!  LOL
For me the hardest part is letting go of the perfect planning portion of the creation and just start gluing elements down allowing the project to take shape.

I encourage you to hop on over to the Heartfelt Creations blog for more holiday inspiration!
It amazes me every week how everyone comes up with something so different while using the same products!  While you're visiting, be sure to leave the designers a comment on their blogs...we love to hear from you!

Until next time...

Project Supplies & Instructions
Gift Wrapped Presents Cling Stamp Set, HCPC-3748
Celebrate the Season Cling Stamp Set, HCPC-3747
Ornate Sleigh Cling Stamp Set, HCPC-3745
Celebrate the Season Die, HCD1-7106
Ornate Sleigh and Presents Die, HCD1-7104
Arianna Lace Die, HCD1-747
Deluxe Flower Shaping Kit, HCST1-401
Designer Dries Clear Adhesive, 159723
Metal Tip for Adhesive Bottles, 352854

Other Products Used: 8"x10" white canvas, white gesso, Art Basics Heavy Body Gel, Art Basics Soft Gloss Gel, Art Basics 3D Gloss Gel, flat paint brushes, assorted buttons, scraps of ribbon, partial zipper, round white pearls, half pearls, fine detail embossing powder - gold, heat tool, thinner cardboard - such as from the back of a paper pad or cereal box, BigShot die cutting tool, crocheted flowers, ribbon roses, Memory Box Stencil - Modern Sprinkles, Lindy's Stamp Gang Sprays - Golden Sleigh Bells, Cattail Copper Brown and Clam Bake Beige, VersaMark Ink, Ranger Distress Paint - Tarnished Brass, Stickles - Diamond, Recollections Antique Copper Microbeads, palette knife

Using your stencil, palette knife and 3D Gloss Gel, apply the textured areas on the canvas where you desire and dry with heat tool.  Next select ribbon scraps, ribbon roses along with piece of zipper and adhere to canvas using Heavy Body Gel.  Moving along, adhere crocheted flowers, buttons and any other pieces you may want to incorporate onto your canvas once again using the Heavy Body Gel.  Paint a thin layer of white gesso onto a cardboard piece from a cereal box or the backing of a paper pad.  Cut one of each of the snowflake like die cuts from the Arianna Lace Die collection.  Adhere to canvas as shown using the Heavy Body Gel.  Give a quick drying to the canvas using your heat tool to set adhesive.  Using a paint brush, cover all elements with white gesso and dry using heat tool.  Spray the various colors of the shimmer sprays where desired, heating with heat tool between layers.  Next stamp the sleigh onto the white gesso covered cardboard using VersaMark ink and apply gold fine detail embossing powder.  Set using heat tool and die cut using coordinating die.  Apply the desired amount of each shimmer spray to the sleigh, shape  slightly and adhere to canvas as shown.  Repeat steps for the four gifts, as well as four poinsettia and holly berry pieces (two of each size) to create four single blossom poinsettia and holly pairings.  Die cut using coordinating dies, spritz with shimmer sprays, shape slightly and adhere to canvas as shown.  Next, add various sizes of round pearls in clusters where desired using Heavy Body Gel.  Set adhesive slightly with heat tool.  Add half pearls where desired around other focal points using Heavy Body Gel.  Paint with white gesso, dry and then paint with shimmer spray.  Using a fine paint brush and Soft Gloss Gel, paint a small amount of gel to areas looking a tad bare around other elements and adhere copper microbeads.  Using a small brush, dip into the various colors of shimmer spray and lightly sprinkle droplets onto canvas where desired, making sure to do this in stages, drying with heat tool between applications so drops don't continue to spread and become too large. Lastly adhere Stickles to flowers, sleigh, beads and wherever else desired.  Allow to dry.