Christmas Cloche

Morning all!

This year's festive line-up from Concord & 9th includes something for snowglobe addicts like me!

The Christmas Cloche die set and matching stamps can be used to create various Christmas scenes, and I couldn't be happier because I just love it when you have plenty of options in one set!

For the first outing of this die and stamp combo, I decided to make an aperture window to frame a wintry scene reminiscent of a snowglobe I saw in a shop the other day.

I often find with these types of projects that once you work out what elements and colours you want to use, it's much easier to prepare everything before starting on the actual assembly of your card.

Here's the full list of supplies I used:

• Concord & 9th Christmas Cloche dies and stamps

• Concord & 9th cardstock from the Assorted pack in the following shades: Tidepool, Juniper, Sweet Pea, Artichoke, Wheat, and Nutmeg

• Lawn Fawn metallic cardstock in gold and silver

• Hero Arts White embossing powder for the stamped sentiment (I reach for the handy Versamark ink cube to emboss smaller detailed sentiments like those in this set)

Plus:

• Coordinating inks to add some shading to the bow, pine boughs, tree, and deer

• White paint for snowy splatter

• White glitter cardstock for the ground

• Silver thread to attach the bells

• Patterned paper for the backdrop

• White gel pen to add highlights to the deer's nose and back

Assembly steps for the aperture:

1. Cut the large cloche from a panel of Tidepool cardstock.

2. Cut the gold cloche frame by taping the two cloche dies together to run through your die cutting machine.

3. Cut the smaller cloche from a piece of white cardstock that is smaller than the Tidepool panel.

4. Attach the gold frame around the white cardstock aperture, leaving the bottom unglued so that you can still stick the base under it later.

5. Attach the Tidepool panel to the white panel so the frame is nested inside.

Then it's just a matter of piecing in the elements at the bottom of the cloche by adding the base under the bottom edge of the cloche frame and also building up the layers with scrap cardstock on the reverse to create all the dimension.

The scene soon comes together and the dimension from the aperture creates the illusion of depth, without all the bulk of using foam pads or tape.

You could of course create a similar look with an acetate shaker window and mica flakes, sprinkles, or sequins for snow. The possibilities are endless!

Until next time, happy crafting!