Hang a Stocking

Morning all!

The latest Concord & 9th festive release hit the store last week, and once again there was plenty of temptation and a lot of scope to use new sets like the Stocking Stamp & Stitch set with some older items.

I must confess, that's one of my favourite things about making Christmas cards – pulling out favourite supplies from previous years and using them with my new additions.

For the backdrop to my card today, I figured the Concord & 9th Boughs & Holly stencils would be the perfect place to start.

This set of 6 stencils creates a wreath background and a greenery background.

Since I had my inks out, I decided to stencil the greenery background onto white cardstock, and the wreath background onto a rustic cream cardstock to make two cards in one go.

Once the backgrounds were done, I trimmed them down slightly so that the panels could be mounted on a solid cardstock background. I even got the Corner Chomper out for the cream background for extra flourish!

Then it was time to cut the Stocking elements and do a little stitching.

The stitching is super easy and adds a lovely finishing detail with that texture. I've got a fair bit of felt in my stash, so I may also try some felt stitched stockings down the line.

I added a sprig of holly to the cuff detail and some Glossy Accents on the berries.

Finally, I needed to add a sentiment somewhere, so I grabbed the Joy stamp from the Stocking set and stamped it on one of the banners from The Greetery's Sentiment Suite Basics die set and nestled it behind the stocking, adding a little sparkle with a tiny gem.

I also stamped the heart from the Stocking set on the small tag from the Sentiment Suite Basics set and tied it with silver thread so that it would dangle from the stocking. It just adds that perfect finishing detail.

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With the wreath stencil background, I mixed things up a little and went a little retro.

I needed a sentiment that would fit inside the wreath, and I immediately thought of the Tagged Elegance set from The Greetery.

I cut a slightly larger circle of aqua cardstock to mount the sentiment on, but first I snipped all around the edge to create a fringed look.

I then grabbed some snowflakes and a bow that I'd cut for past Christmas projects but hadn't used yet and arranged them behind the sentiment.

I think this combo turned out rather well, and I do like the warmer tone of those same ink colours on cream cardstock.

Until next time, happy crafting!