A sleighful of gifts

A theme challenge at 52 Christmas Card Throwdown this week - Gifts.

I thought I'd incorporate these with a lovely sleigh stamp I've been meaning to use for ages (personal "use something I've had for ages and not used" challenge met!). I couldn't remember exactly what it looked like, I hoped it was full of presents, but it wasn't. So I thought I'd fill it, using a tattered lace present die.

I also thought I'd use black coated card (Clarity Card) - which is very dramatic, but difficult to use, as every mark shows!

I started by stamping with versa mark and heat embossing in platinum.

I added a line for the ground, although I wasn't happy with it so changed it later.

I then die cut the present, in black and in Centura Pearl hint of gold. I backed them with the opposite colour, and also in gold.

Thinking I might need a few extras, I cut out a corner die, to use for bits of presents peeping out from behind the big ones.

For the sky, I used a star cluster from Lavinia's stamps. They are in chateau mica powder (on versamark ink) which is a really good match for the platinum embossing powder.

I cut a slit in the sleigh image, along the top of the die, and arranged the presents through it. Once I was happy with the layout, I taped them in place from behind, with a bit of super sticky as well to make sure they were secure.

I cut another section of black card to go over the lower section, to hide the mess I'd made, with the ground line and finger prints etc. I stamped a sentiment from Clarity, and also edged it with a versa mark pen.

Finally, after trimming the image down (removing more fingerprints etc from the edge!) I ran the versa mark pen around the edge and heat embossed for a frame, then mounted on an A5 card base made from Centura Pearl hint of gold, to tie in with the presents.

I do like this colour combo, and I'm pleased with how the presents look in the sleigh, and the sleigh itself - the star pattern has come out beautifully. But I did battle with the glossy card - not an easy card to just knock out this one!