Vellum Circles

Another week, another 52 Christmas Card Throwdown Challenge. It's a colour challenge this week, white and metallic gold.

It's an easy challenge in some ways, it's obviously Christmassy, but then you have to narrow down the options, and try to find something interesting to do.

I tried to get my card done early this week, as I've been away at my mum's since Wednesday - I nearly managed it!

I decided to use a pack of vellum sheets, with gold Christmas patterns on, that I've had for ages. I selected sheets with small designs on, some were mostly gold, some mostly white. Then I cut circles (again - must do a different shape at some point!) with dies. As the vellum is so thin I could cut through all the sheets at once, so it was nice and quick.

I then arranged them over the card - I was trying to achieve a bokeh type effect, using translucence on the vellum where they overlapped.

The first layout was on a white background, with another sheet from the vellum pack. It didn't quite work, so I tried a gold background - which I liked better.

I started with a layer of the more gold circles, attached with glue dots...

...then added the white circles over the top, overlapping.

You can see I also added the word "Joy" to one of the circles, to give a focal point. I stamped in gold pigment ink then heat embossed in gold.

I thought about leaving the circles overlapping the edge, but in the end decided to trim it back.

This is where I got to on Tuesday night, before coming away. I like it, but have the usual issue with vellum or parchment, that the glue dots show!

So, I scoured the local shops here in the New Forest for something to add. I was going for white gems, but didn't find any big enough. So instead, I got gold sequins - maybe not what I'd have used at home, but actually, I quite like the effect - adds to the glittery, out of focus feel.

I'm not sure I've quite pulled off the bokeh effect, but I'll live with that. I think the design is attractive nonetheless, a bit different but undeniably Christmassy. Maybe one for a man's card (despite the sequins!).