Ooops, not sure how I forgot to post this card on the blog (must have been a little bit busy!)

For Christmas this year I was super-busy (as usual) and didn't have a whole lot of time, initially I wasn't going to make cards at all as I really HATE the production line.  BUT guilt kicked in once I began receiving Christmas cards from my stamping friends here in Australia, so I caved and made a seriously limited number of handmade cards.

What I used:

• White Gesso (Global or Golden brand)
• Starburst Stains from Lindy's Stamp Gang: Voodoo Violet Blue and Frosty Forest Green
• Christmas Collage stamp from StampIt
• French Flair set from Stampin' Up
• Versamark Watermark ink pad
• Midnight Pewter Obsidian embossing powder from Lindy's Stamp Gang
• White and red cardstock
• White Sharpie paint marker
• Red stickles
• Paint brush (a fan brush works well)
• White adhesive pearls
• Adhesive clear crystals

 What I did to create the Brushed Gesso Background:

1. Cut white card to size.
2. Dip only the very tip of the paintbrush into the Gesso (you want the brush with barely any paint) and apply in a broken crosshatch pattern to cardstock.  Apply some areas of paint thicker than others, as this will ensure more variation in final colour.  Leave majority of card un-painted.
3. Leave paint to dry (can dry with a heat gun if impatient). 
4. When touch dry, apply Starburst Stains (or sprays) over the top of the paint.  Apply paint in random patches over card, cover about 50% of card with each colour.  Make sure to cover whole card, do not leave any white areas.  When applying Starbursts, apply more thickly in some areas than others, to enhance the colour variation of the final piece.  Leave to air dry for best results.
5. Your background needs to be bone-dry for this next step to work so be very sure!  Stamp Christmas collage using the Versamark watermark ink pad, over your coloured Brushed Gesso background.  Preyy stamp firmly onto background as the gesso means that your paper is not completely flat like it would normally be.  Remove the stamp and emboss with Midnight Pewter Obsidian embossing powder.
6. Cut out each piece of the collage and re-assemble onto a piece of red cardstock, mount this panel onto white card stamped with French Flair stamp.
7. Embellish individual collage panels with Stickles, pearls, crystals and white Sharpie to finish.

And there you have it a quick and easy Christmas card!  If you'd like to 'see' me create the background for this card you can watch it on my YouTube channel.