October Creative Challenge – Count Down to Christmas

Hi everyone!  It’s time for this month’s Creative Challenge with My Favorite Things!  The MFT Design Team Creative Challenge is a monthly feature where we are challenged to explore our creative side using a specific theme, product, or technique.  This month we will inspire you with an assortment of ideas to help Count Down to Christmas.

I will actually not use this project until MUCH closer to Christmas, but in case you didn’t realize it, Christmas IS only 63 days away.  EEK!

I used quite a few Die-namics dies as well as the Brick Wall stencil to create an 8″ x 10″ count down frame.

I began by mixing a bit of acrylic paint into Gesso then wiped it over the Brick Wall stencil which was laid atop Primitive Cream card stock.  Once dried, I mixed a few drops of Hot Fudge ink (refill) into water and brushed (somewhat sloppily) over the bricks, being careful not to brush between the bricks.

The numbers were die-cut from Paver Red card stock, cardboard and then magnetic photo paper.  Behind the bricks I adhered more magnets to hold the numbers.  I used Chalkboard Frame Die-namics (cut down to size) to create the frame around the count down phrase.  “Days until” was stamped in Timber Green ink using Typewriter Alphabet and “Christmas” was stamped in Paver Red ink using Holiday Subway Art.

The mantle (created using a piece of Chalkboard Frame and Western Backgrounds) is raised on foam tape with pieces of Winter Wreath cut from Timber Green card stock tucked in and glued atop to create garland.

The stockings were stamped and die-cut using Stitched Stockings and Stocking Trio Die-namics, and raised on foam tape.  I stitched tiny Paver Red and Timber Green buttons to each.

Finally, the “mat” around the assembled piece was created using the woodgrain stamp from Western Backgrounds, stamped onto Kraft card stock using Hot Fudge ink.  After stamping, I lightly sponged over the “wood” with more Hot Fudge ink.

While I had all of the supplies out, I decided to create a matching card.

Instead of using the Gesso to create the brick, here I mixed a bit of Kraft ink (refill) with water into a mini Mister and sprayed over the Brick Wall Stencil.

The sentiment, from Cheerful Christmas Greetings (free to you this month with any $60 purchase), was stamped in Timber Green ink and raised on foam tape.

Inside, I stamped a second sentiment from Cheerful Christmas Greetings and added a Paver Red border strip from Stitched Stockings.

Be sure to check out the MFT blog for direct links to more Christmas Count Down inspiration!

Thanks for visiting today!  🙂