Christmas Greetings Vignette Box by Emma Williams
Hi friends! Happy Sunday! Please join me in a very warm welcome back to special guest Emma Williams with this GORGEOUS Christmas display piece! Read on for all the details and enjoy!
Hello everyone! I’m so happy to be back on the SSS blog today and can’t wait to share all the details of my Christmas Holiday project for 2024. This vintage style make was inspired by shopping trips with my Mom who loved Christmas so much. She would always make sure we went on our trip every year and I would always come home with a special bauble that to this day, still adorns our Christmas Tree.
So with this in mind, I wanted to create a special piece for this Christmas and I used some of my favourite idea-ology products from Tim Holtz’s Christmas release, together with mediums from Ranger Ink to make a project to remind me of some very special times….
So, let’s begin…
For this make I used the two largest sized boxes in the set of 4 Tim Holtz Vignette Boxes.
I began this make by covering each of the four sides of the smaller vignette box with 4, (1 for each side) of the ephemera pieces from the Emporium Layers pack. I also cut three separate pieces of the red and white striped paper from the Christmas Backdrops pack that I adhered to the three sides of the larger box, you don’t need to attach any paper to the base. At this stage, I also chose an Emporium Layers piece that I will use on the inside of the larger box, which we will come to later.
Using a Sanding Tool, I sanded the edges of the ephemera layers on the box to knock back the shiny surface of the ephemera pieces ~ this will help to create more of that vintage feel. I then used the Walnut Stain Distress Crayon around the edges and blended the colour with my fingertip. To complete the boxes, I covered the top of the smaller box with a panel of the plaid design from the Christmas Backdrops pack.
With both boxes covered, I applied a coat of white gesso onto the inside of the larger box, as I wanted the wood to be a lighter colour before adding the lights. I drilled a small hole through the centre of the small box, and aligning it with the larger box, I drilled a hole so that I could thread the lights into it. At this point you don’t want to secure them into position because we need to add the background to the larger box.
I wanted the background on the larger box to be set slightly forward inside the box itself ~ I didn’t want to attach it directly to the back of the box. After choosing my Emporium Layers piece, (to see the piece I chose to use see step 1), I created a “faux’ back by adhering the ephemera piece to a panel of mount board, cut the same size as the layer.
I attached 1cm square wooden blocks/cubes to the back of the layered panel. I had these in my stash but you can also use foam pads. I then placed this piece into the back of the large box and stuck it into position.
Once the background is in position, I adhered the two vignette boxes together with Matte Collage Medium and allowed these to dry thoroughly, before attaching the lights onto the inside of the larger upright box. I placed them around the inside edge, wrapping them around the box a couple of times and fixed them into position with a small amount of hot glue.
FRAME AND SIGN
Now to create the front of the box, and for this I used a combination of a baseboard frame and transparent snowy acetate from the Christmas Baseboards and Transparencies pack. I attached the acetate directly to the inside of the frame using red line tape before fixing the completed frame to the front of the vignette box using Matte Collage Medium.
On either side of the frame I attached one of the Candy Cane pieces from the same Christmas Baseboards pack. I began by covering the backs of these pieces using the red and white striped paper that I had previously used on the box itself ~ this will ensure the back of the box looks finished when you turn it around. Using Matte Collage Medium along the edge of the Candy Cane baseboard piece, I adhered each piece to either side of the box and set them to one side for the glue to dry and the pieces to become secure.
Moving onto the sign that sits on top of the stacked boxes. For this I used the Christmas Greeting Baseboard Ephemera piece, sanded the edges and then covered the back with some more of the red and white paper so that it will all match perfectly when you turn this piece around. To ensure that the sign stands upright, I placed two struts to the back and for this I used offcuts from the Etcetera Facades, but you can use anything you have to hand in your stash ~ you just need it to be substantial enough so that it will allow the piece to stand up.
With my struts in position and painted with a touch of Candied Apple Distress Paint, I attached the sign to the top of my box and once dry and in position.
To complete the structure, and add the finishing touches, I added a further Emporium Layer strip piece at the back of the box, adhering it across the base.
I then added a “door step” to sit in front of the window frame, using the smallest sized Bracket Etcetera Trim, which I covered with the same red and white striped paper.
We’re now ready to add some of the icy magic and for this I used a combination of Mica Flakes and Snowfall Grit Paste. I applied the Snowfall paste to the top of the frame, around the panes on the window frame itself, and finished with some around the top of the sign and on the tips of the Candy Canes.
Before I then applied a drizzle of Glossy Accents over the top and sprinkled the Mica Flakes. Carefully tap away any excess flakes to reveal the icy magic.
PAINTING THE TOY SOLDIER
The boxes are now ready to decorate and I began by painting the soldier. For this I used a fine detail paintbrush and the following colours of Distress Paint: Black Soot, Gathered Twigs, Candied Apple, Uncharted Mariner, Frayed Burlap and Lumberjack Plaid. For the details including his rosy cheeks, I mixed the minutest amount of Candied Apple with Gesso to make a light pink and then used a Gold Posca Marker to add the gold stripe to his hat and his buttons. Once the paint was completely dry, I scuffed it up to add chippy paint marks before adding a touch of Snowfall Grit Paste to his hat and shoulders.
TREES and WREATH
With the soldier attached in front of the window frame, I moved onto making the trees and began applying a light coverage of gesso to the tips of each tree. This will form a resist technique when applying the colour.
I allowed for the gesso to dry before placing the trees in a splat box, and spritzing each tree using Speckled Egg and Rustic Wilderness Distress Spray Stain. You will notice that the gesso resists the inks and therefore leaves the tips white, creating a snowy effect.
Wrap the trees in a paper towel to remove any excess ink and either you can leave them to dry naturally, or gently heat dry before adding the glitter. For this I squeezed a small amount of Glossy Accents onto my craft mat and spread it out to form a thin layer. Roll each tree in the accents to coat the tips only and then working quickly, sprinkle Rock Candy Glitter over the trees, tapping away the excess.
Once the trees are dry, I painted the wooden bases with Lumberjack Plaid Distress Paint and allow to dry before attaching them to either side of the window frame using Matte Collage Medium to secure them into position.
To create the wreath, I applied the gesso to the tips of one of the Woodland Garlands before spritzing the garland with Rustic Wilderness Distress Spray.
Allow for this to dry and then twist the wired garland to create a wreath, cutting away any excess garland and then attaching the two ends with hot glue. I added a sprinkling of Rock Candy Glitter before tying a small piece of red ribbon into a tiny bow and attaching it to the top of the wreath. Adhere the wreath to the frame using hot glue.
PARCELS AND BAUBLES
To create the tiny gift packages, I used a 1cm wooden cube and covered two cubes with offcuts of Christmas Backdrops paper. I then tied them with some twine before attaching them around the toy soldiers feet.
I also added some baubles to the base of the box, because no Christmas project is complete without them. I placed the various sized baubles in separate containers before adding drops of the following colours of Alcohol Inks; Ember, Turquoise and Lettuce. Once the baubles are completely covered in the ink, I then attached them to the box with Glossy Accents.
Finally, I added the “025” Remnant Rub, to my box. These come from my Tim Holtz idea-ology stash and if you don’t have them, then you can always write the number by hand.
All that’s left to do is add that final dusting of shimmery vintage goodness, and I sprinkled Mica Flakes all around the base, on the front and back of the project.
I really hope you love what I’ve created and enjoyed the techniques I’ve used to bring the scene to life…it was such a fun piece to make!
Thanks so much for stopping by today and I want to wish everyone a Joyful Holiday Season, and a Happy Christmas and hoping you all have a peaceful and happy New Year! See you again in 2025! –Emma x
SUPPLIES:
|
Thanks so much for stopping by, and thanks to Emma for being our guest!
Just Because Paper Hugs: Yippee for Yana
Hi friends! Please join me in welcoming back the oh-so-talented and amazing Yana Smakula! (Please note: our dear friend Yana is Ukrainian. To show support to our brothers and sisters in Ukraine, please see Yana’s post HERE.)
Hello, crafters, this is Yana Smakula for Simon Says Stamp! Welcome back for another Yippee For Yana video! I’m creating a Valentine’s Day card with the new To Love release products.
I’m a fan of grid card layouts as they are easy to make and super fun to fill. And my today’s card features a 2×2 love-themed grid.
I first stamped the open envelope with the letter from the Love Letter stamp set in Memento Tuxedo Black ink. I colored the inside of the envelope using R39 and R35 red Copic markers making the inside of my envelope red and the outside white. I added a touch of C1 to the edges of the envelope to create shading. I fussy cut the image using scissors – it is a simple one, so I managed just fine using detail scissors from Simon Says Stamp.
Next, I cut the circle+heart using the coordinating die from the Circle Sentiments stamp set using red cardstock. For the rest of the grid, I white heat embossed 2 sentiments: “Love you, love you, and adore you”, a postage stamp, and an arrow on the Sea Glass panel trimmed to 3 ¾ x 5” and foam mounted my panel onto A2 top folding card base.
I used foam adhesive to add the other image and finished my card by adding red red sequins from the Hot Tamale mix. Have fun stamping!
WATCH THE VIDEO:
SUPPLIES:
|
Ways to support Ukraine:
If you are looking for ways to support Ukraine, we encourage you to visit this page on Yana’s blog:
Thanks so much for stopping by, and thanks to Yana for being our guest!
DieCember® Weekend Sale! 20% off Spellbinders!
Hi friends! To continue to celebrate our love of dies, please enjoy 20% off all in-stock Spellbinders products NOW through December 22nd with code SPBD24 at checkout! Please enjoy!
Psst..Still looking for the perfect gift or a stocking stuffer?!
