Welcome to today's Guest Designer, Sara Emily !

Hello and welcome ! Today we are welcoming another very talented lady who is well known in blog land. Sara Emily of Saras Closet was the DT's chosen winner of the Make it 3D challenge and was invited to join us as Guest Designer for a day. Let's move on to hear from Sara Emily:

Hello! My name is Sara Emily, and you might know me as sarascloset, which is the name of my blog and also where I do most of my crafting. I live in Wilmington, North Carolina in the USA, just minutes from some of the most beautiful beaches on the East Coast. I am married and have 17 year old boy/girl twins and boy/girl twin kitties.

I’ve dabbled in many crafts from stain glass to up cycling discarded furniture and the occasional handmade Christmas ornament. I’ve even given a variety of art mediums a try in high school and college.  When my sister became seriously ill several years ago, I promised her a homemade card until she was better.  I made and sent her a daily handmade card for about 18 months without fail. So, I’ve had lots of practice and love making cards!

When Sue told me the theme was “Grungy Christmas”, I almost jumped for joy!  My favorite style is vintage/grunge, and I knew exactly what I was going to make. Since I’m a little behind with my greetings this season, I decided to make a Christmas card.

   

I started with my base layer of card stock and applied gesso, Distress stain and texture paste and embossed using brass embossing powder. I think my stains may have still had a little moisture when I embossed, but I love the look. I gave the edges a good distressing for a grungy look.

I stamped the plaid layer with background image I picked up at a yard sale, so I don’t know the make. I used a brayer to apply paint to the image, placed my card on top and rolled with a second brayer. I dried with a heat tool then spritzed the card well with water. Next I spritzed with Distress Stains, and dried with a heat tool, adding more water until I was happy with the effect.  More distressing and blending of ink on the edges and a little splash of water for those lovely droplets! This was Tim’s technique from his November tag, if you remember.

The frame is Tim Holtz Ornate Frame (cut from Grunge board, of course!) painted with gesso, crackle paste, Tarnish Brass Distress Paint and highlighted with DecoArt Raw Umber Antiquing Cream.   I added some poinsettias cut with Tim Holtz Tattered Poinsettia die and embossed them with his poinsettia Texture Fade. I coloured with Distress paints, inks and Stickles.  I chose a Tim Holtz Holiday Collections stamped image to place in my frame and a Tim Holtz Handwritten Holidays die cut for my sentiment.

Thank you Sue and the entire Stamps and Stencils Design Team for allowing me to join you today!  I am so excited to be crafting alongside such a talented group of artists! If you would like to see more photos of my card and details, please visit sarascloset.

Hugs and Christmas Blessings!

Sara Emily

 

Thank you Sara Emily for sharing such a fantastic Christmas card ! I'm sure this has provided lots more inspiration for the current challenge of Grungy Christmas. 

If you would like to join us for a day as Guest Designer make sure you join in with the current challenge.