We decided we were going to make our own ‘unprecedented times’ by beginning to decorate for Christmas now in order to increase our merriment factor.

Yes. It’s true.

The tree isn’t up yet, but our stockings are hung by the chimney with care. We’ve decked a few ‘halls’ (okay, the piano and the buffet). And more will be coming probably by the week’s end. Between that and having all my 12 Days of Christmas designs done in September, it’s been a rather unprecedented year all around here. ;)

But that’s okay by me (maybe not Dan so much). I’m happy to feel the merry. And I’m thrilled to see this Merry page by our Miss Sheree.

 

 

 

 

So like seriously, this just makes me all sorts of happy! Sheree’s choices of stamping and wood and details is divine. sigh. And those little wood shapes…that would be the super fun collab I had with Jessica at Color Cast Designs! It’s so fun seeing those little designs in wood (insert clapping hands here). And OMG, that Minc’d background paper in gold using the words from Merry News? Ack!

Here’s Sheree to tell us about it and share a little process video.

Today I have a Christmas themed layout to share with you featuring the awesome new Jordan Numbers XLstamps, the Block of Joy, Home for Christmas stamp sets and the digital version of the Merry News stamp set.  This layout also features fun wood veneer pieces that were a collaboration between Kerri Bradford Studio and Color Cast Designs based on past stamp sets that Kerri designed…some of my favourites!

First up I stamped the year using the Jordan Numbers XL, a phrase from Home for Christmas and the “Falala” stamp from Block of Joy onto some scrap white cardstock.  I then cut out each piece to use on the page.

I created my own gold foil patterned paper using the text stamp from the digital version of Merry News.  To make the paper, I opened up a full-sized page in Photoshop, brought in the text stamp and positioned it at an angle, then repeated it over and over until it filled the whole page.  I tried to line everything up as much as possible.  I then printed the text paper with my laser printer and ran it through my Minc with gold foil.  I used this text paper behind my photo and for a strip across the bottom of the page and I love that it brings a subtle touch of gold to the page!  (I still have plenty of gold foil text paper to use on another project now too!)

I arranged everything on the page and worked out where to place my chosen wood veneer pieces.   Once the spacing was worked out, I adhered all the stamped pieces down and added machine stitching before sticking all the wood veneers into place too.  I love that the wood veneers are so thin and they have their own adhesive backing…so easy!

To finish off the page I added a little branch embellishment and some gold stars.