Christmas Cards

A couple challenges inspired me to make more Christmas cards.  They are my favorite to make.  As you'll see, these two are completely different.

First is my entry for Poppystamps Make it Magic October challenge.  I thought that would mean things like elfs or witches or mermaids.  Lucky for me, the challenge is actually to add some sparkle--right up my alley! 

I die cut Poppystamps 2014 Twirly Whirly Tree 3 times from white cardstock and once from the white/iridescent glitter cardstock from Memory Box Holiday Glitter pack.  All the pieces remained in place when I removed the tree from the die.  It was so beautiful, I decided to make the top tree green using Distress Oxide rustic wilderness.  Then I paper pieced the glitter cardstock pieces into the green tree.  So glad I did, as it's truly beautiful in person.  You can see the sparkle in my IG post.  Simple framing using Gina K rectangle dies and a favorite W&W sentiment finished the card.  I'll make another card with the glitter cardstock outline tree.  Can't let it go to waste!  I'm also entering WAW.

My other card is for the October Papertrey Ink Challenge with the color combo Classic Kraft, Vintage Cream and Scarlet Jewel. 

The PTI products I used are Joyful Florals stamp set/dies, Vintage Cream and Classic Kraft cardstock, Scarlet Jewel printed paper, Classic Kraft and Scarlet Jewel ink cubes, Scallop Stackers:  Small and Delicate Circle die.  The sentiment was gold embossed and the poinsettia centers were colored with a Pental gold Color Pop pen.  You can see the shimmer and shine in my IG post.  

Thanks so much for taking time to stop by.  If your blog address is in your profile or comment, I will visit you.

Note Card and Christmas Card

I love stencils, so didn't want to miss the JUGS challenge which is about to close.  I also wanted to make another Artichoke and Purple card for Color Hues, as my first card had very little purple.  Unfortunately, I missed the deadline.  

I started with a PTI Vogue Vases white diecut.  I found a stencil from a friend that looked made for the vase and it worked great!  After using CN9 Plumberry through the stencil, I lightly brushed over the vase with the leftover ink.  I "glazed" my pottery with clear embossing powder.  I colored the diecut greenery from Memory Box and Poppystamps with CN9 Artichoke.  The same ink was used with Memory Box Texture Distressed Grid stencil on green cardstock.  I've seen some cards I like with pops of white, so I kept Poppystamps Little Layered Asters white and used Plumberry to color the centers and brushed them with shimmer.  I splattered white gouache and added the panel to a slightly larger white card.  I'm also entering SSS Monday and WAW.

I'm happy to have one more Christmas card completed.  No dies, just stamping, and it's flat for mailing.

The background is SSS Poinsettia Background stamped in CN9 Evergreen.  NOEL is a very old Penny Black stamp which I'd forgotten about.  I opened my last jar of JudiKins Egyptian Gold embossing powder--so beautiful in person!  It's been in my stash a long time.  Would you believe it cost $2.50?!  I used a gold sparkle pen to color the letters and added Christmas Red Stickles to the berries.  You can get an idea of the sparkle in my IG post.  I'm entering SSS Wednesday and WAW.

Thanks so much for taking time to stop by.  If your blog address is in your profile or comment, I will visit you.

Altenew, Pinkfresh, Poppystamps

Short month, so I'm posting 3 cards today for challenges.  First is the Altenew September Inspiration Challenge.  The inspiration photo is a branch of beautiful apples, but the color combo of red, green and brown made me want to create a Christmas card.

The shade of red is not one I would have thought to use, but really like it.  I found a cardstock in my stash that was very close to the color in the graphic and used it for Altenew's Poinsettia 3D die set.  I brushed the petal edges with Coral Red and added a bit of shimmer with a pen.  The flower center and Fancy Peace sentiment were die cut from scraps inked with Mocha followed by Versamark so I could emboss with clear sparkle powder.  I found green cardstock in my stash that was very close to Fresh Leaf and embossed it with Altenew's Perfect Poinsettia folder.  I inked the edges with Fresh Leaf, but it was too similar.  So I used Olive Grove to deepen the corners and edges--does make a difference.  I inked the card front with Mocha to tie it all together and decided against any embellishments.  I'm also entering SSS Wednesday, TTTC 302 (Diecuts, Free, Embossing) and WAW.

Next is my entry for the September Pinkfresh Challenge using 3 favorite PFS products:  Delicate Wreath, Layered Wreath and Perfect Sentiments.  

I stamped the wreath in CN9 Artichoke, purposely making some random areas darker.  Then I overstamped in Delicata Golden Glitz for a beautiful shimmer.  I used the same inks for the card edges.  I colored a scrap with CN9 gorgeous Plumberry ink and then used it for the berries die from Layered Wreath.  After gluing down the berries, I covered them with glaze.  A long time ago I cut apart the one piece Perfect Sentiments so I could stamp directly onto cards.  Here I used Versafine Clair Acorn and then embossed with a matte clear powder.  Finished off with Artichoke splatters.  You can see the shimmer and shine in my IG post.  I'm also entering Color Hues and WAW.

I'm posting my September CCC card early.  It reached the recipient and I want to enter Poppystamps September challenge and WAW.  I used the colors and the sketch.

I masked off the area I wanted to ink blend with Altenew's Pinkalicious, Purple Wine and Ruby Red.  Then I dry embossed the panel with Altenew's Flower Bed 3D folder.  Poppystamps Layered Pointy Petals were inked in the 3 colors and I added Stickles.  The white branches are from CN9.  Poppystamps Scribble Hello was stacked and also covered with Stickles.  You can see the sparkle in my IG post.

Thanks so much for taking time to stop by.  If your blog address is in your profile or comment, I will visit you.

Friendship, Christmas, Birthday

I always loved the PTI Challenges and Blog Hops where customers could enter their cards.  So I was thrilled to see the August challenge.  Luckily, I have Pure Poppy, Tropical Teal and Green Parakeet ink cubes.  I used them with PTI Wild Blooms layering stencil set. 

As you can see, I gold embossed the flower details.  Hard to tell, but the Pure Poppy flower centers were embossed with clear sparkle powder.  Since Green Parakeet isn't very dark, I used Tropical Teal for the leaf details.  It worked great!  Love how the panel turned out, so I just die cut it with Scallop Stackers: Small and used Pure Poppy for the mat.  I added very small gold splatters and soft gold sequins.  The die cut PTI Scripted sentiment was stacked and gold embossed.  I've started keeping my favorite makes on display until I mail them.  Makes me happy each time I walk by.  I'm also entering JUGS and WAW.

I wasn't planning to make a Christmas card for Color Hues Navy and Teal challenge, but that's what I ended up with.  The Spellbinders Joy die didn't even get used last year and I really love it.

I tried to follow the directions for how to set your phone camera so it captures the color teal and doesn't turn it more blue.  No luck, but I wanted to enter the card anyway.  The cardstocks are really a navy blue and a teal about the same intensity.  I attached the diecut to a silver oval.  Stickles Glitter Glue that's a very close match to the teal cardstock was added to the flower centers and clear glaze was added to the holly leaves. 

I saved the teal glitter tape letters from the snowflake card in my previous post.  Glad to use them quickly.  I've sure gotten my money's worth from Altenew's Essential Sentiment Strips.  My camera captured this shade of teal without a problem.   

I attached the glitter tape to printer paper and then die cut SSS Stitching Butterflies.  I used a scrap of black cardstock for the bodies and lightly bent the wings forward.  Hadn't used the Altenew Flower Bed embossing folder for awhile and it was just the look I wanted for this card.  I'm entering DCD, SSS Monday and SSS Wednesday.

Edited:  Thanks, Linda.  You're right.  The glitter tape is more of a mint than a teal.  Guess that's why the color looks right in the picture.

Thanks so much for taking time to stop by.  If your blog address is in your profile or comment, I will visit you.

Friendship, Birthday and Christmas

We've been fortunate not to have any wildfires close to us.  So heartbreaking to see the destruction.  The smoke did finally make our air unhealthy the last few days and it's been too hot for me.  Fritz doesn't understand why I won't let him lay on the deck like usual.  I also had a sick day and haven't been motivated to blog.  But today I feel better, so here are a couple cards on my way to catching up.

First is the card I sent to Julia for the CCC July exchange.  I used the beautiful color combo of kraft, pink and gold.

SSS Leaf Tumble embossing folder was used with gold metallic cardstock.  It really gives a beautiful result and I've never had issues with cracking.  The flowers are a set from Pigment Craft Co that I've hardly used.  I stamped in Brilliance Pearlescent Brown and added gold Stickles to the centers.  You can see the beautiful sparkle in my IG post.  The sentiment is from Alex Syberia and I can't remember which branches I used.  The tiny pink butterfly is Poppystamps.

Next is a winter birthday card using 2 Waffle Flower dies for the first time:  Frosty Texture and Small Snowflake.  

I inked the snowflake with Altenew Volcano Lake which is a close match to the beautiful teal glitter tape I've had for years.  I attached the tape to cardstock and then die cut the dots and Altenew Essential Sentiment Strip Happy Birthday.  I usually think of navy blue for snowflakes, but really like the soft, pretty look of the teal.  These products will be great for Christmas cards, but I enjoyed making a birthday card first.  I'm entering SSS Monday via IG, SSS Wednesday, NBUS and DCD.

Here's the last card I made for Christmas in July.  Didn't get nearly enough done, so I'm also planning to do Christmas in August.😀 Actually, I usually make Christmas cards every month, as they're my favorites. 

This one uses the wonderful CN9 Boughs and Holly stencil pack.  The inks are Altenew Firefly, Grass Field, Cherry Sweet and Coral Red.  I inked the branches from a CN9 die set to match and added red and green splatters.  Waffle Flower Cardinal Duo diecut was colored using the matching stencil with Altenew Rhodolite, Cherry Sweet, Coral Red, black and PTI Honey Nut and Weathervane.  I used a glue pen to add touches of fine glitter to the bird, berries and branches.  You can see the sparkle in my IG post.  Birch Press Vintage Sentiment letters were stacked 2 high and inked with Cherry Sweet before being glued in place on the vellum shadow.

Thanks so much for taking time to stop by.  If your blog address is in your profile or comment, I will visit you.