Shabby Chic Tim Holtz Santa
Colorize Santa Greetings
The main feature of this card is a shabby chic Santa. I used the Tim Holtz Colorize Santa Greetings Die Set from Sizzix for it.
Tim Holtz Colorize is basically paint-by-numbers but with colored die cuts. On the backs of the Colorize dies there’s text. Usually a color name and a number. The color refers to the colors used in the picture on the front of the packaging. Number 1 is usually the darkest and then they get lighter as the numbers go up. That makes sense, because you’ll use number 1 as your base and then you layer lighter pieces on top of it.
In my cut list above, the third column contains the die names.
I used Recollections 110 lbs cardstock and glitter cardstock for the die cutting. The names of the cardstock packs are listed in the first column in the cut list. Here’s a list with links:
I actually cut each die twice and stacked the die cuts for stability. In hindsight that may have been overkill. My finished Santa is a chonky boi. 😂
Gesso
I want this card to be shabby chic, so I’m using a lot of gesso. Over-simplified, gesso is thick, matte white paint. People who are into shabby chic often use gesso to unify the color scheme. It’s similar to how in a vintage card, you’d use brown to unify the color scheme.
My gesso is by Vicki Boutin, but any white gesso will work.
I’m applying gesso to the edges and haphazardly across the surfaces. It’s important not to be neat and tidy with the application. Go for artistic brushwork. That’s part of the appeal of shabby chic. It shouldn’t be perfect.
If there are lumps of gesso, I use a nail file to remove them. I want the surface to be smooth to the touch.
When I’m done assembling the Santa, I add more gesso so I get the unified look I’m going for.
Tim Holtz Tree Line
Next I turn my attention to the Tree Line die cuts. I cut them from turquoise and teal cardstock. I apply two sloppy coats of gesso aiming mostly for the tops of the trees and branches to give the impression of snow.
Dry Embossing
While that’s drying, I dry emboss the background. I’m using a lighter shade of blue for it. That’s something I really like about the Recollection cardstock packs - I get four shades that look good together.
I’m misting the back of the cardstock with my Tim Holtz Mister before I emboss it with a Tim Holtz 3D embossing folder called Engraved. I just love the texture it gives!
Tree Line Again
Returning to the two Tree Line die cuts, I only cut one of each color of the Treeline die. That’s OK for the one in the back, but the one in front needs to be sturdier or it will get crushed.
So I’m cutting two pieces of Accent Opaque 100 lbs to go behind the green Treeline. I glue one to the back the way it came out of the die. From the other one I cut off the top and use it to keep the green tree line level once it’s glued down.
First I glue down the blue tree line high up on the background and with the left edge showing. Then I glue the green tree line on top with the right edge showing. Staggering them fools the eye, so you can’t tell that it’s one die cut that’s repeated twice.
Then I cut off the excess from the back.
Bottom Edge
With the forest in place, I don’t like the bottom edge. So I apply more gesso to it. I also cut a thin strip of white glitter paper and apply it to the bottom of the edge. Now it looks more finished!
I get out a card base and glue down my background with the two Tree Line die cuts. While the background glue is drying, I glue the string to the Santa.
Greeting
Next I cut the letters for my greeting with the alpha dies included in the Santa Greeting die set. I cut them once from Accent Opaque 100 lbs and once from white glitter paper and stack them.
The letters spell God Jul, which means "Merry Christmas” in Swedish. I’m Swedish and I’m planning on sending this card to one of my Swedish friends for the holidays. That’s the beauty of having alphabet dies included! I can spell out a greeting in any language that uses the Latin alphabet.
I place the Santa on the background and realize that it won’t be level. So I die cut two of the Santa base from Accent Opaque 100 lbs and stack the bottoms behind the Santa. Now it sits level, so I can glue it down.
Once the Santa is in place, I can add the greeting. I glue the letters to the belt.
That finishes my card. I think this Santa turned out super cute and I love all the texture in the background!
Video of creation of this card.
YouTube Product Links
Sizzix Tim Holtz Colorize Santa Greetings Die Set https://shrsl.com/4enkm
Sizzix Tim Holtz Engraved Embossing Folder https://shrsl.com/4fknf
Sizzix Tim Holtz Tree Line Die https://shrsl.com/4fknh
Vicki Boutin Gesso https://amzn.to/3vuauQT
Recollections White Glitter Cardstock https://amzn.to/3TN6ILP
Recollections 110 lbs cardstock Rose Petals https://amzn.to/3TONsh2
Recollections 110 lbs cardstock Ballerina https://amzn.to/3vl8ACj
Recollections 110 lbs cardstock Ocean https://amzn.to/3TO8BYK
Recollections 110 lbs cardstock Coffee & Cream https://amzn.to/3vo8Kss