Saturday 28 November 2015

Peaceful Forest

Hello all, Alison back with you again today and - wonder of wonders! - I have a card for you today.  I'm so sorry that I don't seem to have any process photos for this one - I got wrapped up in the creating - but it's honestly pretty simple, so let me take you through what I did to make it.


From the moment I saw Tim Holtz's Birch Tree Thinlits die, I knew I "needed" it, but this was my first chance to have a play.  I cut it out of white card and then started blending Distress Inks on to the trunks of the trees.


I used Pumice Stone, then Hickory Smoke, then some very subtle touches of Ground Espresso and Black Soot.  I also used a pastel pencil in dark grey to add some markings, and then softened them with some paper towel.


For the background between the trees, I used a sheet of Ranger Watercolour Paper.  I put Stormy Sky, Wilted Violet and Chipped Sapphire Distress Inks on to my craft mat (direct from the ink pads), spritzed the inks with water and pressed the paper down onto them.  I dried the result, then dipped and dabbed again and again until I liked the look.


I glued the two layers together and trimmed as necessary before using the Paper Distresser to give the edges some texture and dimension.


That panel is then matted onto another layer of white card, also distressed, and the whole thing is then glued onto some plain white folded card.


I cut the word from the Handwritten Holidays thinlits out of the same card...
... a little prayer in these troubled times.


I spattered Chalk Fresco paint with a fine paintbrush, including on to the white background.  I'm really enjoying white on white at the moment for some reason - perhaps its fragility reminds me of our own position here on earth.


Some simple stamping on the inside - using Wilted Violet and Chipped Sapphire combined on the stamp - provides the greeting.


I hope you like it, and I'll see you in December... here we go!

Alison


25 comments:

  1. Gorgeous, Alison! love the colours in the background. The tree die is a good one; I may need it...

    ReplyDelete
  2. This really is the most gorgeous Christmas card! Brilliant inspiration once again! Chrisx

    ReplyDelete
  3. The background colours are just gorgeous Alison and I love the shading on the trees - I love this die! Anne x

    ReplyDelete
  4. It is very beautiful, dear Alison, and so are your thoughts behind, we truly need peace here , and also beauty as created by you, here. What a gorgeous result with the white on white in the background, I so get it, that you love it ! and the trees are wonderful, too, I don`t have them, myself ,so you are lucky !!
    Hug from Dorthe

    ReplyDelete
  5. Love the non traditional colors and the use of this die! You are such a talent Alison! The color combo is gorgeous! ~Niki

    ReplyDelete
  6. So beautiful and non traditional; I love it !
    Corrie x

    ReplyDelete
  7. i adore this die alison and love how you've used it xx

    ReplyDelete
  8. Oh, that die is - forgive me - 'to die for...'! Sorry about that awful joke! I haven't bought any dies for a long time, but this post has seriously tempted me! I really love how you used this die. In fact the whole card is wonderful and beautifully seasonal! Lucky person to receive a piece of art like this. xx

    ReplyDelete
  9. How fun to see you make a card.... it's a great die and the way you have used it here looks super!

    ReplyDelete
  10. This is so beautiful and such gorgeous colours. Alison, your choice of word is so apt, I know I recently mentioned that for me it is a word I seem to be reaching for at the moment.
    Wishes
    Lynne

    ReplyDelete
  11. Fantastic, I love the colours and the image, great Christmascard!!

    Greetings
    Maria

    ReplyDelete
  12. Alison, your colors on your pieces are always so soothing and this one in particular has such a serene feel about it. I just love it!
    Jackie xo

    ReplyDelete
  13. Love love this card, wonderful Alison!!! You're a genius cardmaker whatever you say lol.
    And this new die is great, especially with the distress colors you used, the effect is so beautiful.
    Hugs, Coco xx

    ReplyDelete
  14. Gorgeous - love the contrast with the sky and the branches x

    ReplyDelete
  15. Fabulous idea Alison! Must get to using mine. Jenny x

    ReplyDelete
  16. It's on my wish list so I'm hoping Santa takes note of the links I'm sending him! Looks fabulous & reminds me of the wintry scene in the birch woods near our house:-)

    Sally

    ReplyDelete
  17. Love it, Alison! I love the thinlets! But, this is an extraordinary use of it in my book! Unique, indeed!

    ReplyDelete
  18. Wonderful coloring on the trees and the background!

    ReplyDelete
  19. So beautiful Alison, I adore that Birch Trees die and you have used it so perfectly here. I echo your wish for peace in these troubling times, thank you for sharing your beautiful card. Deb xo

    ReplyDelete
  20. Wonderfully peaceful Alison and love that serene colour palette too.
    Fliss xx

    ReplyDelete