A Gnome Christmas, a card plus a history lesson

Gnomes are solitary , mischievous, domestic sprites responsible for the protection and welfare of the farmhouse and buildings. They live in forest niches.

So how did they get associated with Christmas?  Until last year I don't recall Gnomes being part of Christmas.  It turns out they have come to us from Scandinavia.

In northern European countries they are typically depicted as short men or women donning red caps. The folklore traces back to the late 18th and 19th centuries, where they were tasked with various chores around the house, and when humans didn't cater to their little gnome needs, they acted out.

They have become tied with Christmas when they are associated with bearing presents.  Unlike the traditional North American present bearers aka Santa who lives in the North Pole, these Gnomes pop out of their forest niches come Christmas Day, and walk through the front doors of homes to hand deliver presents.

How they are able to break into people's homes with their giant hats covering their eyes remains a mystery to me.  But then, how does Santa Claus get down the chimney?

So that's a bit of a history lesson, in case like me, you were wondering...

This year, there is a stamp set entirely devoted to Gnomes - a "Gnome Christmas". If you love to colour, this is the stamp set for you. This is my first, of probably many, Christmas Gnome card.

Masking was used to stamp these two images after which they were coloured with Stampin' Blends. Shimmer Crystal Effects was added to some areas of the images. They were then die cut using the Celebration die, and matted with a wood grain pattern of the Poinsettia Place DSP  die cut with a larger Celebration die. The edges of both were sponged with Soft Suede ink and before adhering the two layers together two colours of ribbon were adhered vertically to the mat layer.

The Old Olive card base was layered horizontally in the middle with two strips of Crumb Cake embossed with the Greenery Embossing folders.  Again, the edges of both of these strips were sponged with Soft Suede ink.

The die cut images were added to the card front using dimensionals. Two sprigs die cut with the Forever Fern dies in Real Red, were added under the right upper die cuts.

The sentiment was stamped on a strip of Whisper White punched at both ends using the new Banners, Pick a Punch and added below the images using dimensionals.

Supplies Used:
Stamp:  Gnome for Christmas
Inks:  Black Memento, Stampin' Blends, Watercolour pencils, Soft Suede
Papers:  Old Olive, Crumb Cake, Whisper White, Poinsettia Place DSP, Real Red
Accessories:  Celebration dies, Banners, Pick a Punch, Glitter Crystal Effects, Dimensionals , 3/8"double stitched Real Red ribbon, 5/8" Crumb Cake ribbon