Instructions

This card also features a pair of my very favorite holiday characters, Santa and Rudolph, made with the adorable new Cool Yule die set from Tim Holtz and Sizzix. These silly guys are sure to bring a smile to any of your card recipients this season.

I’ve got the complete tutorial to share, so let’s take a closer look.

Step 1: Begin with a Perfect Grey Card base and an A2 panel of LetterIt Ivory Cardstock. Trim down the Ivory Cardstock to 4” x 5.25”. Place the Organic Stripes Stencil over the Ivory Cardstock, and tape it in place on the backside using low tack removable tape. Ink over the stencil using a mini ink blending tool and Spun Sugar Distress Oxide ink.

Step 2: Place a small amount of Picket Fence Distress Paint and Ranger Perfect Pearl Perfect Pearls Powder onto a Non-Stick Craft Sheet, and mix them both with a little bit of water from the Distress Sprayer. Using a Ranger round artist brush, pick up the wet mixtures one at a time, and flick them onto the Ivory Cardstock panel. Later I decided to add in some Pewter Perfect Pearls, as well. So go ahead and do that now.

Step 3: Place the FaLaLaLa stamp from the LetterIt Christmas clear stamp set onto a LetterIt Acrylic Stamping Block. Stamp the sentiment in rows across the entire ivory panel using Candied Apple Distress Ink. Be sure to stagger the sentiment as you go.

Step 4: Center the second largest oval shape from the Sizzix Stitched Ovals die set onto the ivory panel, and hold it in place with a bit of removable tape. Run the panel through your die cutting machine. Set the center oval shape aside for another project, and retain the outside frame. Edge both the ivory panel and the grey card base with Spun Sugar Distress Oxide, and then adhere the ivory frame panel to the center of the card base.

Step 5: Die cut all the pieces for the Santa and the reindeer from the Sizzix Cool Yule die set. Die cut two extra Santa noses, as well. Use Distress Watercolor Cardstock to die cut the shapes, except for the following: Die cut Santa’s main hat, his nose, and Rudolph’s nose and scarf, from red cardstock. Die cut the eyes for both characters from black cardstock. Place strips of Idea-ology silver Deco Tape onto scrap pieces of Watercolor Cardstock, and then die cut the glasses and earmuffs.

Watercolor Santa’s face and the inside of Rudolph’s ears with Tattered Rose Distress Ink. Watercolor Rudolph’s head, neck, and one of the extra Santa noses with Antique Linen, Frayed Burlap, and Brushed Corduroy Distress Inks. Watercolor the antlers with Gathered Twigs Distress Ink. Set all the pieces aside to dry completely.

Step 6: Using an Ink Blending tool or sponge dauber, pounce Ranger Distress Embossing Ink onto the brim and pompom of Santa’s hat, his eyebrows, mustache, and beard, and the second extra Santa nose. Also do the same to the bridge of Rudolph’s nose. Coat each piece in White Embossing Powder, and heat set the powder using a Heat Tool. Edge all the white shapes with Hickory Smoke Distress Ink.
*NOTE: to make the embossing easier with such tiny pieces, temporarily attach them to a strip of scrap cardstock before dabbing with the embossing ink and adding the powder.

Step 7: Nestle the second and third largest shapes from the Stitched Ovals die set, and hold them together with removable tape. Die cut the oval frame three times from Watercolor Cardstock. Stack and adhere the frames. Dab Distress Embossing Ink onto the frame, and coat it with the White Embossing Powder. Heat set the powder until shiny and smooth, and then apply Hickory Smoke Distress Ink to the inside and outside edges of the oval using an Ink Blending Tool. Adhere the die cut oval frame to the center opening on the card base using Ranger Multi Medium Matte.

Step 8: Assemble all the die cut character pieces to create Santa and Rudolph. Add the silver glasses to Santa, and the silver earmuffs to Rudolph. Using a white wax pencil or gel pen, add highlights to noses, hat, and scarf. Place foam adhesive onto the back of the characters, and adhere them to the center of the frame. Cut the extra Santa nose pieces in half, and adhere them to the inside edge of the frame on either side of both Santa and Rudolph to look like hands.

Enjoy!