MERRY CHRISTMAS ORNAMENT

Here's my final project for the  Tim Holtz Media Team that I haven't had a chance to post yet.  It's been awhile since I've completed it, so hopefully I can remember all the details on how I created it.  I can't get enough of snowflakes, so when Sizzix and Tim Holtz came out with all these wonderful snowflake dies, I couldn't wait to use them.  My colouring isn't your typical Christmas colours, but I love the frosty, icy kind of look. When I combined the Distress Spray Stains in  Iced Spruce, Brushed Pewter and Picket Fence, I loved the result and that is how this ornament started.

 I started out die-cutting a movers & shapers Sizzix Cameo Frame from chipboard.  I used the Rectangle Movers & Shapers Magnetic die inside the die to make an opening.   This chipboard is white on one side, so my colours probably showed up better.  I would probably gesso or paint it white if it was natural coloured chipboard.

 I then sprayed a combination of Picket Fence, Brushed Pewter, and Iced Spruce Distress Spray Stain.

This is what my frame looked like.

Next I stamped my frame with the Tim Holtz Distress Damask stamp and Iced Spruce Distress ink. I wanted a faint pattern on my frame.  I embossed with clear embossing powder.

The edges were inked and a few parts of my frame with Iced Spruce Distress Ink.

For my little shadow box I die-cut the inside part of the Tim Holtz Matchbox Die using Core-Dinations Distress Kraft Cardstock. It's just slightly larger than the rectangle hole in the frame, but this helps hold in the snow under the tree and you don't see any glue when the box is adhered.

For the inside of my shadowbox, I cut out a rectangle piece from a Found Relatives Card Back.  I lightly sanded the edges and a few areas to give it a distressed look.

Next, I sprayed my rectangle piece with Iced Spruce Distress Spray Stain.

Adhere it to the inside of your matchbox.

I took off the base of a Tim Holtz Mini Tree so it would fit in the box.  The tree was sprayed with Iced Spruce and Picket Fence Distress Spray Stain.  I lightly touched the edges with Picket Fence paint.  Glue the tree to the bottom of the box (I used a glue gun).  The box can be adhered to the back of the open rectangle in your cameo chipboard die-cut.  I wanted it to be secure, so I used my hot glue gun and applied to the edges of the box.  Next I made some snow, using Tim's formula for sand that he used on one of his tags here, but changing the colouring for snow.  You'll need glossy accents, rock candy glitter, cement distress embossing powder (for that grey tint), clear utee, a small disposable mixing cup, and a craft stick.

After your ingredients are mixed, adhere this with glossy accents to the bottom of your shadowbox.  I filled up the snow to just above the frame inside. Add a Tim Holtz star to the top of your tree. Sorry for the bad photo, I had terrible lighting for this photo!

Now for the two large snowflakes on the top and bottom.  I used Ranger's water-colour paper and adhered a piece to some chipboard with Ranger's multi-medium.  I die-cut two snowflakes from Sizzix's Layered Snowflake.  I used the watercolor paper this time on plain chipboard, as I liked the way it absorbed the spray colour.

After the snowflakes are die-cut run them through your machine with the co-ordinating texture fade embossing folder that comes with this die.

Spray the snowflakes with the combination of Picket Fence, Iced Spruce, and Brushed Pewter.  

Once the snowflakes are dry, apply Glossy Accents randomly to the raised areas and sprinkle with Rock Candy Distress Glitter.  Set aside to dry.

To achieve the dimensional snowflakes, I also cut out of papered chipboard, the Sizzix Stacked Snowflakes, a set for each snowflake.  These were also sprayed with the same combination.

These snowflakes were also stamped with the Distress Damask stamp, but with Picket Fence Distress Paint.

These pieces were also highlighted with Glossy Accents and Distress Rock Candy Glitter.  Once they were all dry, I stacked the layers and adhered them together.

The Tim Holtz Gumdrops were used for the snowflake centres.  I coloured this with Alcohol ink (Silver and Pearl) and a bit of Iced Spruce Spray stain.

To adhere the snowflakes on the ends of the frame, I used pieces of foam. When you purchase Sizzix embossing folders, there are these rectangle pieces of dense foam in the bottom of the plastic packages.  I like to save these, they are great for craft projects.  I sliced one down the center, which ended up being the perfect depth for my frame.  Using my hot glue gun again, I adhered my snowflakes by first tucking the frame under one of the snowflake layers (second from the bottom) and the rest of the snowflake goes to the back of the frame.  I then adhered my foam piece to the snowflake and frame, touching the end of the box.

This is what your snowflake should look like.  Repeat for the bottom snowflake.

I cut out a Sizzix Tattered Curvy Banner from Core-dinations Kraft Cardstock.  After sanding the edges and painting the edges with Picket Fence Distress paint, I applied a Merry Christmas white rub-on from Tim Holtz.  Shape the die-cut and adhere to just below the shadowbox on the frame.

My snowflake charm hanging from the bottom is from Tim Holtz and is dabbed with Picket Fence Distress Paint, then Glossy Accents and Distress Rock Candy Glitter applied. 

Hang your snowflake from the bottom snowflake piece.

Dye some Tim Holtz Crinkle Ribbon to match with the same three colours of Distress Spray Stain. Tie in a bow and adhere to the back of the snowflake with a hot glue gun.

Here's a look at my finished project again.   Hopefully my directions make sense!  

Thanks so much for stopping by and visiting me here on my blog.  Thanks also to those who have left comments, I appreciate them so much!

Take care and enjoy the rest of the weekend!

Jan