Poinsettia Star

Hi all.  I bought this Sue Wilson star die before Christmas which is getting its first outing here, after having been looking for the Aurora Star which was not available anywhere.  The lovely Di Wray enabled me to get this one instead, which is really pretty too and has a couple of edges to cut out the star as well as the pretty central area which will cut into the card, so lots of ways of using it, so that you Di.  I also used a Tim Holtz 3D Texture Fades Quilted Embossing Folder which makes a pretty background.  I very rarely complain about something but this no way gives a 3D effect with deep embossing and the plumped up look of a quilt.  Luckily I got it very reasonably as a Black Friday deal, but had I paid the full price I would not be impressed.  It is a very thick folder which does not work with the Big Shot plates they recommend and I did eventually find a sandwich which worked but the thickness of the actual folder does not translate into deep embossing....right, moaning over...lol.

I cut the star out using the largest stitched die and used the cut into the card die for the pretty central area.  I decided to add a piece of silver behind and decided to use my Versamark and heat embossed with WOW Silver Glitter Embossing Powder and cut it with the slightly smaller die to add behind the ornate white front die cut.  I stuck this together and added a piece of foam to the back to give it a bit more dimension, and also added some Wink of Stella around the outside edge.  I then embossed the Quilt EF and tried highlighting the stitched lines on it with some Pebeo Silver Gilding Wax using a piece of tissue over my finger and rubbing it gently, but as the stitches aren't very raised it did go on the background a bit, but decided it still looked pretty.  I then remembered I have a Sakura Starlight Pen which gives a sparkly finish, and so I when over all the stitches with this and was happier with the look.  I finished this by cutting into a square and added a silver mirri layer behind it.  I placed the quilted layer onto the 6" square card and heat embossed the sentiment below using WOW Silver Metallic EP, and finally added the star to the centre.  

If anyone has the TH Quilted EF and has achieved better results, perhaps you could let me know what you did.  It is still pretty but isn't quite what I had imagined it would look like.  

Thank you for visiting me here today and I'll see you again soon.

I am entering the following challenges:

Rudolph Days Challenge - January 2024 - Anything Christmas Goes.  This is the last challenge post as Maureen has sadly decided it is time for her to give it up.  I know we all appreciate all the hard work you have put into running the challenge and I hope that you and Al will have many happy years in your new home.

ABC Christmas Challenge - 'A' is for Anything Christmas/"B" is for Berries.
The Holly and Ivy Christmas Challenge - No. 155 Anything Christmas Goes.
Merry Little Christmas Challenge - No. 54 Anything Christmas Goes.
Simon Says Wednesday Challenge - Add Some Texture.
NBUS Challenge - No. 58 Where we use our Never Before Used Schtuff.