For today’s alternate project ideas I decided to make more of the Real Red part of the colour scheme. In the kit this is limited to the Baker’s Twine and banner piece, but it was also the colour of the tissue in which the kit contents were wrapped. And that was where my alternate projects began…

From my stash I cut a 4″ x 5-1/4″ piece of Real Red Card. Then I scrunched up a 5″ x 6″ piece of the red tissue paper into a tight ball before opening it up and spreading out the tissue until it was almost flat.

With that done I squeezed some Multipurpose Liquid Glue (Tombow) over the Real Red card. To create a very thin (almost dry) layer of the glue I created a pad by wrapping some cotton wool in Saran Wrap. Then I used this pad to quickly smear the glue over the whole of the card surface. As soon as this was done I placed the tissue paper on top of the card and pressed it down. Now my card had a really interesting textured layer that is said to resemble silk.

While the faux silk piece was drying, I then repeated the process on a 2″ x 4″ piece of Real Red Card. This would be used for my second project. For now though, I set both pieces aside to dry while I prepared the rest of the pieces for my alternate card.

PEACEFUL NOEL CARD

For my card base I decided to stick with Real Red Card. Using my Paper Trimmer I cut and scored the card, then folded it along the scored line and sharpened the crease with a Bone Folder.

Next I cut a 4″ x 5-1/4″ piece of Basic White Card. From the Peaceful Christmas Stamp Set I took the line of trees and inked it up with Shaded Spruce ink. Then I stamped-off onto scrap paper to remove some of the ink before stamping along the bottom of the Basic White piece. Finally I glued this layer inside the card base so I’d have somewhere to write my message.

Going back to the Peaceful Christmas kit I took one of the “Noel” die-cut pieces, the vellum trees and a plaid layer. I began by cutting 1-5/8″ x 4″ of the plaid piece and then started arranging the various elements. It was at this point that I began singing “red, gold and green” as so often happens when I’m making Christmas cards. But how to add the gold? Then it came to me…

Using my Saran Wrapped cotton wool pad I covered the “Noel” die cut with a thin (almost dry) layer of liquid glue. Next I pressed some Gilded Leafing firmly onto the glue and then began to rub off the excess with my fingers. In no time at all my die-cut word looked very different and I was ready to put everything together.

ADDING THE VELLUM TREES

First, using liquid glue I attached the “Noel” to the vellum trees. Then I turned the assembled piece over and put liquid glue on the vellum, but only where I could see the word stuck on the other side. This would mean that the glue wouldn’t be seen on the finished project. With the adhesives in place I could now fix the word and trees onto the plaid piece.

TIP – Here’s a video I made some time ago explaining how I hide regular glue when attaching vellum.

Now that the faux silk pieces were completely dry I used Paper Snips to cut around the 4″ x 5-1/4″ layer and trim off the excess tissue. Then I attached the layer to the front of my card base with Stampin’ Dimensionals.

Finally I used Stampin’ Dimensionals to mount the layered sentiment onto the background and my card was complete.

MERRY CHRISTMAS TAG

For my second alternate project using the Peaceful Christmas kit I decided to make a coordinating gift tag. I’d already made the 2″ x 4″ faux silk base, so I just needed to trim off the excess tissue with Paper Snips.

Next, using the oval hole option on the Detailed Trio Punch I added a hole at one end. Then I threaded some of the Real Red twine from the kit through the hole and tied it in a simple knot.

Going back to the plaid layer left-over from my first project I cut a 1″ x 2″ strip. Then I added that towards the bottom of the tag with Stampin’ Dimensionals.

With that done I took a white label from the kit and stamped “Merry Christmas” onto it using Shaded Spruce ink. Then I flipped over the sentiment and added Stampin’ Dimensionals to the back. However I didn’t attach it to the tag just yet.

First I took one of the vellum pieces from the kit and cut off the tallest tree and the short one beside it. Then using the Stampin’ Dimensionals on the back of the sentiment I attached the two together. Finally I added a little liquid glue to the vellum, but only where I could see it stuck to one of the Stampin’ Dimensionals.

To finish off I pressed the sentiment and trees onto the plaid strip and my coordinating tag was done.

With the focus on red, today’s projects have a very different look to the ‘as designed’ cards from the kit. For an alternate project using the trees card base from the kit see yesterday’s blog post Peaceful place for Christmas cards.

GIFTS GALORE

Did you know that you still have time to subscribe to Paper Pumpkin and get the November kit called Gifts Galore. In this kit you’ll find everything you need to create 9 good sized treat packages. The kit has all the prepared card pieces, cellophane bags, a mini ink spot and an exclusive photopolymer stamp set. New subscribers even get an acrylic block included in their first kit so you really can get started immediately.

If you’ve never tried Paper Pumpkin kits now is the perfect time to start. If you don’t like the kit when it arrives just let Stampin’ Up! know right away and they will work with you to make it right. That’s what they call their “satisfaction guarantee”. In fact that guarantee doesn’t just apply to your first kit, it covers every kit they send. So you really don’t have anything to lose and everything to gain. Go on, subscribe now and take Paper Pumpkin for a test drive.

MORE PEACEFUL CHRISTMAS IDEAS

Of course today is all about the A Paper Pumpkin Thing blog hop. So for even more alternate projects using the Peaceful Christmas kit make sure you hop over and visit the rest of the team’s blog posts. You’re currently at number 2 Tracy Elsom.

PRODUCT LIST

Refills for the Peaceful Christmas kit are available while stocks last. Please note that the Refill Kit only includes the consumables (card, twine, etc) and NOT the ink spot or stamp set, hence the lower price. Meanwhile, here’s the list of other products I used when making today’s alternate samples.