25 Days of Christmas Cards: Day 25 "Happiest of All Seasons!"

Hi Everyone!

Well, today is the very last day of the 25 Days of Christmas cards. Thank you so much for all your kind comments and +1's on Google and reshares and likes etc. It has been a lot of fun. Make sure to stay tuned until the very end of post for a special surprise.

Today's post will also be my final post on the blog for a little while...I'm tuckered out with crafting and blogging at the moment, so I'm going to enjoy the holidays with my family; and then see what happens perhaps around February.

Two cards side by side for you to see. Enjoy your holiday season with your family and friends and once again, thank you so much for your support!

And now for that special surprise I promised at the beginning. I have made a short video of all of the cards featured in the series. These are the side by side comparisons of mine and Kristina's cards. I thought it would be a nice way to wrap it all up as well as to give you a chance to see your favorites again. 

No challenges for this card today. Just too busy to sort through and link it up. Have a Very Merry Christmas and I'll see you all again soon!

25 Days of Christmas Cards: Day 24 "Merry and Bright"

Hi Everyone!

Today's card is a cute design; but I did find it was a little impractical because you can't really stand it up. I think if I were to do it again I would maybe turn it sideways. Ok, I know this is super short post; but I'm sure you are as busy as I am at the moment!

The two cards side by side as always for you to see. Thank you so much for coming to see me again and I'll see you tomorrow for the very LAST Christmas card of the season!!

25 Days' of Christmas Cards: Day 23 "Winter Wyn"

Hi Everyone!

Today's card is a super cute round card featuring an adorable "Winter Wyn" digital image from Tiddlyinks.
I printed her out on Neenah solar White 80lb card stock and colored in with Copic markers. I cut the round card base out using my Cricut. I decided she had a little too much white space around her, so I added a few sequins for a little sparkle and bling.

Here are the two cards side by side. Have a great day, thanks for visiting me, and I'll see you tomorrow for Day 24!

Challenges:

1. Brown Sugar Challenges: Christmas
2. Chocolate Coffee and Cards: Christmas (2nd Entry)
3. Completely Christmas: Anything Goes Christmas
4. Jingle Belles Rock: Anything Goes Christmas

25 Days of Christmas Cards: Day 22 "Happy Holidays" Shaker Card

Hi Everyone!

Today's card is my first attempt at a shaker card....and it's also probably my last!! Ugh, this card was such drama to put together that I almost completely gave up and thought about not having a card for day 22!
Perhaps one day....waaaayyy in the future I might try it again; but definitely not anytime soon! Kristina and Jennifer McGuire made it look SO easy; but I tell ya, I just struggled with it!!

Things are getting busy around here with final Christmas preparations this week, so these last few days of Christmas card posts are going to be quick and easy. Here is the side by side of my card and Kristina's. Thanks so much for visiting me; and I'll see you tomorrow for Day 23!

25 Days of Christmas Cards: Day 21 "Deck the Halls"

Hi Everyone!

Today is a super simple square card featuring a digital image from this set  that I purchased from the Striped Elephanst Etsy shop. I maneuvered the digital image of the lights into a square on Microsoft Word and then used that as a guide to print the image on to a piece of Kraft card stock.

I colored each of the little light bulbs in with a Peeled Paint and Fired Brick distress marker; and then covered each one with some glossy accents. The sentiment is from a set I got at Michael's. I attached the Kraft card piece to a Neenah Solar white 110lb card base measuring 4 1/4 x 4 1/4. 

Here are the two side by side, as always for you to see. Have a great day; and I'll be back tomorrow for Day 22!

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25 Days of Christmas Cards: Day 20 "Christmas Carolers"

Hi Everyone!

Today's card is a long card measuring 6 x 3 1/2. When I made this card, I knew immediately that I was going to give it a very special teacher friend of mine. I just thought it was the perfect card for her! The scene of happy Christmas carolers is a digital image from a source that I cannot remember at the moment; and I am so sorry for that. I will try to go back later and see if I can scroll through my history and match it up. For now, just know that I am grateful to have found it.

I printed the image from my computer on to some Neenah Solar White card stock and then also onto some regular computer paper for the mask. I colored the image in with various copic markers and then covered it with the mask before sponging the background with distress inks. I used the same inks to create the background of the card base. The sentiment is from Holiday Filigree by Inkadinkado. 

This card took a bit of time to make; but I was so pleased with the result! I hope you like it as well.

Here are the two cards, side by side for you to see. Have a great day; and I'll see you again tomorrow for Day 21! 

Challenges: 

1. Creative Card Crew: Anything Goes

2. Cuttin and Stampin: Christmas

3. Holly Jolly Challenge: Christmas

4. Tuesday Throwdown: Christmas

25 Days of Christmas Cards: Day 19 "From the Heart"

Hi Everyone!

Today's card features some non traditional colors and elements. This was a card that looked quite easy to duplicate; but actually took a bit of patience to line up the hearts properly. I used a piece of Simon Says Stamp Khaki card stock for the base. I stamped the background using the Hero Arts "Plaid" background stamp with Memento Luxe Wedding Dress ink. I have to be honest and admit, I don't remember from which stamp sets I pulled the little heart stamps. I stamped them with Soft Sky (Stampin' Up!) Peacock Feather, Crushed Olive, and Worn Lipstick Distress inks.

I covered each heart with some Wink of Stella clear glitter pen and also with glossy accents. You can see where I muddle the application of the glossy accents especially on the top hearts. :(

The sentiment is from Verve and I stamped it in Khaki ink.

Here are the two pictures side by side. Have a fantastic day, and I'll see you tomorrow for Day 20!

Challenges:

1. Artistic Inspirations: Anything Goes/Christmas

2. Card Mania: Christmas

3. Crafty Cardmakers: Christmas (2nd Entry)

4. Dream Valley Challenges: Christmas

5. Incy Wincy Designs: Anything Goes Christmas

25 Days of Christmas Cards: Day 18, "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas"

Hi Everyone!

Today's card is simple card with a lot of little extra touches. It is a smaller card, 4 1/4 x 4 1/4 that will still fit into a regular envelope. At first, I struggled with this card, trying to figure out how I was going to recreate the wreath since I do not have the stamps or really anything close to what Kristina used. Initially, I thought I might try to cut one out using my Cricut; but then decided that was a little more work than I was willing to do for such a simple card.  I found the stamp I used at Michael's. I covered the outer wreath part and the sentiment with some masking tape and then embossed the center in gold. I took the masking tape off the other parts of the stamp and colored them with a Pine Needles and Fired Brick. I used my stamp-a-ma-jig to line up the outer parts of the stamp with the embossed center.

I cut the center panels and layered them as shown. I edged the larger center panel with the same fired brick red marker. I used the same embossing technique on the edges of the card that Kristina did. In the end, simple and cute!

As always, I leave you with the side by side. Thanks for visiting me! I'll be back tomorrow with Day 19.

Challenges:

1. Come and Get It: Merry Christmas
2. Christmas Card Challenge: CAS Christmas
3. Opus Gluei: Christmas
4. One Stitch at a Time: Anything Goes Christmas
5. Pile it On: Anything Goes Christmas
6. Sentimental Sunday: Anything Goes
7. Corrosive Challenges: Anything Goes

25 Days of Christmas: Day 17, "Furry Friends Happy Christmas"

Hi Everyone!

Today's card is for all you animal lovers out there. I found this adorable stamp set from Hampton Arts at Michael's and used them to create this cute little "gift giving" scene. I love the almost smug look on the kitty cat's face, like "See? I brought you something, aren't I the best cat you know?!" The dog is just happy to have all those bones to himself!

I stamped the images on to Strathmore watercolor paper in Rich Cocoa Memento ink. I used some distress markers with a water color brush to color them in and then used Weathered Wood Distress ink to watercolor the background.

I wrapped some May Arts Natural Twine around a side-folding Kraft card base and then stamped the sentiment at the bottom. I added the image panel with some foam dimensionals and then rounded the top corner with my We R Memory Keepers Corner Chomper to finish the card. 

Here are the two cards side by side for you to see. Not exactly the same; but I think my rendition captures the spirit of Kristina's pretty well! Once again, I thank you for visiting with me. Have a great day; and I'll see you tomorrow for Day 18!

Challenges: 

1. A Gem of a Challenge: Christmas (2nd Entry)

25 Days of Christmas Cards: Day 16 "Joy"

Hi Everyone!

Today's card was an easy one layer card that was quite easy and fun to put together.  I didn't have the ornament stamp set Kristina used, so I had to channel my creativity a little more! For the circles, I used the "Lots of Circles" stamp set from Simon Says Stamp with Green Hills Shadow Ink (Hero Arts)
and School House Red ink (SSS) on Kraft card stock

The inside images of the ornaments are from various Verve Stamps and embossed in white. I covered the red ornaments with the heart and the star with glossy accents. To finish the card, I added some dashed white lines around the edge. 

Here are the two cards for you to see. Thanks for visiting me again, and I'll see you again tomorrow for Day 17!

Challenges:

1. Chocolate, Coffee and Cards: Christmas

2. Crafts for Eternity Recipe Challenge: Christmas

3. Jo's Scrap Shack: Happy Holidays

25 Days of Christmas Cards: Day 15, "Snowflakes and a Snowman"

Hi Everyone!

Today's card features a softer color palette with snowflakes and this adorable snowman from Inkadinkado. I embossed the snowflakes with white powder and then blended some Tattered Rose, Tumbled Glass, and Milled Lavender Distress ink. I also embossed the bottom half of the card with a circles embossing folder and blended with distress inks as well.
I created the tag for the snowman on my Cricut. I created a mask for the snowman and did some more blending in the background.

I colored the snowman with Copics; and then added the white paint falling snow pieces, along with the twine bow to complete the card. 

Here are the two cards side by side for you to see. Thanks so much for visiting me again and I'll see you again tomorrow for Day 16! 

Challenges: 

1. Creative Knockouts: Tis the Season

2. Delightful Challenges: Bundle Up! Winter Theme

3. Outlawz Twisted Challenges: Anything Goes/ Fun in the snow! (optional)

4. Milkcoffee Challenges: Non Traditional Christmas Colors

25 Days of Christmas Cards: Day 14 "Snowman in the Night"

Hi Everyone!

Today's card is another of my favorites in this series. Once again, since I did not have a snowman stamp, I had to rely on a digital image. This digital image is called "Frosty in Wonderland"  from StarryNightsStudioCo Etsy Shop. I printed him out on to some Neenah Solar White card stock and colored him in with copics. I decided instead of masking this time, I would just fussy cut him out along with the tree. I blended some Black Soot Distress ink along the top portion of a piece of Navy card stock and along the edges as well to create a night sky.

 I adhered the Snowman/Tree image with some foam dimensionals to a top folded card made from 110# Neenah Solar White. I added some falling snows/ stars to the sky with my white gelly roll pen and also added some glossy accents and Wink of Stella to the snowman to add a little interest to him.

Ok, so now it's confession time: In the picture here, you can see that there is not a sentiment, just like there isn't one in Kristina's card. That blank white space at the bottom, however, bothered me SO MUCH!! So, after I took the photo, I actually ended up adding a sentiment. (Phew...I feel so much better now! Haha)

Here are the two cards side by side for you to see. Have a great day everyone. Thank you for visiting with me once again; and I'll see you tomorrow for Day 15.

Challenges:

1. Creative Moments: Anything Goes/Winter
2. Fab n Funky: Christmas
3. Fresh Brewed Challenges: Anything Christmas

25 Days of Christmas Cards: Day 13 "Santa Claus is Coming to Town" Gift Card Holder

Hi Everyone!

Today's card is actually a cute little gift card holder with matching envelope perfect for a stocking stuffer.  I used pattered papers from Simon Says Stamp Dec 2013 card kit. The image sentiment is from that same set from Michael's that I've used quite often. I stamped it in Simon Says Stamp "Hot Lips" ink and colored in the little Santa with a few light colored copics to add some shading. I secured the gift card holder with a little bit of baker's twine.

I created the envelope using the We R Memory Keepers envelope punch board and more patterned paper. Here are the two cards side by side. Thanks for visiting me and I'll see you tomorrow for day 14!

25 Days of Christmas Cards: Day 12 "Shiny Blue Christmas"

Hi Everyone!

Today's card features some embossing and watercoloring. I started with a piece of Strathmore watercolor paper and embossed it with the snowflakes embossing folder. Then I adhered it to a cutting board using strips of masking tape. I tried to get some of the stickiness off of the masking tape by peeling it off my jeans a couple of times; and I made sure as well, that when I adhered my paper down with it that I had even borders all around. This is what gave me the white frame around the colored center.

Next I used a watercolor brush with Faded Jeans, Evergreen Bough, and Tumbled Glass distress inks to brush on the color. I left the paper adhered to the cutting board until it was completely dry before removing the masking tape. While that was drying I embossed the sentiment with Versamark and silver embossing powder. As you can see, I had a lot of excess powder on my card...I must not have prepped it well enough with my powder tool :( I added the silver dashed lines and then adhered the colored panel to the left side. I added some white paint dots and some sequins for a final bit of interest. 

Here are the two cards side by side for you to see, as always. Thanks for visiting with me. Have a great day; and I'll see you again tomorrow for Day 13!

Challenges:

1. Craftin Desert Divas Linky Party: Christmas

2. Crafty Cardmakers: Christmas

3. Dream Valley Challenges: True Blue (2nd Week, 2nd Entry)

4. Get Creative Challenges: Christmas

5. Stamp and Create: Christmas

My Favorite Sugar Cookies

Hi Everyone!

Click here for Printable Recipe

Today I want to share my recipe for sugar cookies that I make every year at Christmas. Now, I know there are thousands and thousands of sugar cookie recipes out there especially this time of year. I am sure many of them are delicious! This, however, is the one that works best for me. I've tweaked it and learned little things over the years to ensure I have the softest, fluffiest sugar cookies.

Tips:

1. Use Full fat, real ingredients. That means REAL butter (no margarine etc) and whole milk
2. Make sure your ingredients are at room temperature; and let them come to room temperature naturally. Don't try to microwave your butter to soften it.
3. You'll get better results if you use a stand mixer. Scrape your bowl often.
4. Chill your dough. 2 hours at least...I leave mine overnight
5. Don't over roll your dough. Try to get as many cookies from the first roll out as you can.
6. Above all else: DON'T OVER BAKE THEM!! If you wait until the cookies look done...they will be OVER done. You want to take them out at the moment you ask yourself, "are they done?" and as long as they are slightly firm to the touch in the center.

The collage below shows the various stages of mixing the dough. Starting with the top left:
Cream butter and sugar, then add the egg. It will look like a curdled mess; and that is ok. Bottom left picture shows the mixture after you've mixed the butter, sugar and egg mixture on medium speed for about 2 minutes. Finally, once you add the flour, you'll see the mixture start to come together as in the last photo on the left.

I hope you have as much fun baking these as I do. Throw on some Christmas music and get your kids involved for a fun afternoon! Enjoy!

25 Days of Christmas Cards: Day 11 "Merry and Bright Christmas"

Hi Everyone!

Today's card features various images from Simon Says Stamp and Verve Stamps. For her card, Kristina did a lot of masking; and if it isn't obvious by now, the whole concept of masking tends to be better in theory rather than practicality for me! So, instead of doing a one layer card, I decided to add some dimension to my "windows"  I created the background by using Pumice Stone Distress Ink and my blending tools on to some Neenah Solar White card stock and then measured and cut the four squares in accordance with the images I chose.

Once the squares were cut, I added stamped, colored, and cut the images and then added them to the white squares. The little Rudolph head was stamped directly onto the white square and colored with Copic Markers. I added some glossy accents, liquid pearls and Wink of Stella glitter pen for final embellishments. I traced the edges of each square with a black pen to add a little depth. Finally, I stamped the sentiment and added the ribbon/twine

As always, here is the side by side photo of mine and Kristina's. Have a great day, thank you for visiting me and I'll see you tomorrow for Day 12.

Challenges:

1. Come and Get It: Christmas

2. Catered Crop: Anything Goes

3. Christmas Card Challenge: Christmas (optional color challenge)

4. My Perfect Life: Anything Christmas

5. Pile it on: Anything Goes Christmas

6. The Corrosive Challenge: Anything Goes

25 Days of Christmas Cards: Day 10 "Warm Holiday Wishes" Gift Card Holder

Hi Everyone!

Today's card is a great one to do if you are needing a gift card holder and a card all in one. This was a lot of fun to make. Plaid stamping is such a fun technique and easy to accomplish with border stamps. I used "Basic Stripes" by Clearly Besotted with Simon Says Stamp "Hot Lips" ink and then filled in the other areas with a white gel pen. I notice in the picture, however that the red looks a lot darker than it really is, though.
I didn't have any vellum to create the front gift card holder, so I just made my own little pocket with dark brown card stock and Neenah white card stock. The cup at the bottom is from Verve's "Delightful and Delicious" set. The sentiment is from SSS "Big Holiday Wishes" which I stamped in "Hot Lips" ink.

I hand stitched the edges together with some brown embroidery floss and then added the hearts as a final embellishment. I added a bit of Wink of Stella glitter pen and glossy accents to the larger heart for a little interest as well. 

Now, for the purposes of this picture, I just put in an old gift card so you could see the concept of the gift card holder, I actually planned to put a Starbuck's gift card in there before I give it to someone.

All in all a fun card to create! Here is the side by side, as always for you to see. Thank you, once again for coming by to see me today; and I'll be back tomorrow for Day 11!

Just a couple of challenges for today:

1. A Gem of a Challenge: Anything Christmas

2. Treasured Times Rubber Stamps: Anything Goes

25 Days of Christmas Cards: Day 9, "BIG Holiday Wishes"

Hi Everyone!

Ok, I have to confess this is probably my least favorite of all the cards I did for this project; and believe it or not it was also much more complicated to put together than I would have imagined. Once again, I blame it on a lack of masking materials because I had a hard time masking off a straight area for the sentiment. Finally got a decent area, though. I stamped the background of the Schoolhouse Red with Hero Arts "Circle Pattern" cling background stamp in Versamark ink to get a tone on tone look.

The sentiment is from the December 2013 card kit from Simon Says Stamp "Big Holiday Wishes" embossed in white. I put a white gel pen border around the sentiment; and some dashed lines around the edges of the card to complete the card. 

Here is the side by side for you to see. Thanks for stopping by and visiting me; and I'll see you again tomorrow for Day 10!

Challenges:

1. A Crafty Mess: Anything Goes/ Traditional Christmas Colors

2.Jingle Belles Rock: Anything Goes/Christmas

25 Days of Christmas Cards: Day 8 "Christmas Wishes"

Hi Everyone!

Today's card features lots of Copic coloring. Now, when it comes to copics, I have a very limited supply so I have to sometimes be creative in color combinations and do the best I can when it comes to shading etc. I love copics and the effect you get when using them; but gosh, I sure do hate how expensive they are!
Once again, I didn't have the same image Kristina did; but I found this digital image "Birthday Wyn" from Tiddly Inks and thought it made a fine substitution.
This was also another "masking project"  I printed two copies of the digital image. One onto Neenah White Solar card stock and one on regular computer paper to cut for the mask. I colored the image and then masked it so I could do the background by blending Tumbled Glass and Mowed Lawn distress inks. I also added some W3 and W5 copics under her shoes to give her some "ground" to stand on.

The card base is Fog from Simon Says Stamp; and the sentiment is also from SSS. I embossed the background panel with the Argyle embossing folder and wrapped it with some baker's twine; and adhered the entire panel with foam dimensional to the card base. Finally, and even though it's hard to see in the picture, I did add some clear Wink of Stella glitter pen to the presents. 

As always, I close the post with the side by side of my card and Kristina's. Let me know what you think!

Have a great day, thanks for visiting with me, and I'll see you tomorrow for Day 9! 

Challenges: Just a few for today!

1. C.R.A.F.T Christmas

2. Copic Marker Europe: Christmas (must use Copics)

               Skin: E00, E01, R20

               Hair: Y32, Y26

               Bow & Dress: R24, R27, R59

               Dress Trim, shoes and socks: W1, W3, W5

               Presents: YG17, YG25, BG72, BG75, YG95

                              V15, V17

3. DL.Art: Any winter holiday

25 Days of Christmas Cards: Day 7, "Sparkly Holiday Cheer"

Hi Everyone!

Today's card is a fun sparkly card, for sure! I loved the non traditional idea of using black for a Christmas Card. The sparkly snowflakes were so much fun to do. I used versa mark ink and some embossing powder I bought at Michael's. The snowflakes are from Inkadinkado and the sentiment is from the very much used set I've employed over the last few days!

Not really a lot else to say about this card. It was pretty easy to put together and I was quite happy with the final result! Here are the two cards side by side, as always for you to see. 

Have a great day; and I'll see you tomorrow for Day 7!

LOTS of Challenges for this one today!

1. Crafting by Designs: Anything Goes/All Christmas 

2. Crafting for All Seasons: Tis the Season

3. Crafty Creations: Embossing

4. Creative Moments: Winter/Anything Goes

5. Fresh Brewed Designs: Christmas

6. Inspiration Destination: Anything Goes

7. Nutcrafters: All that Glitters

8. Scrapper's Delights: Anything Goes/Non Traditional Christmas Colors

9. Simon Says Stamp: Christmas

10. Stampavie and More: Snowflakes

25 Days of Christmas Cards: Day 6, "Home for Happy Holidays"

Hi Everyone!

Today's card was another challenging re-creation for me, primarily because I did not have the set of dies that Kristina used for the housing scene. The closest I could come to a matching image was one from Hero Arts "Right at Home." I stamped it in Pine Needles Distress ink and then fussy cut the image and used W1 Copic marker to add a little shading around the edges and in the windows. I also free cut some "snowy slopes" from some white card stock.

For the background, I used a watercolor brush to paint Seedless Preserves, Pine Needles, Evergreen Bough and Crushed Olive across some Strathmore Water Color Paper and let it dry naturally. I find the color remains true if you let it dry on its own, as opposed to using a heat gun to speed dry.

The Christmas trees are from Simon Says Stamp which I stamped with pine needle ink, cut out and embellished with some stickles. The "Happy Holidays" sentiment is from the same set I used yesterday.

For the finishing touches, I added some snow to the sky with the a bit of blank canvas acrylic paint and then shaded in a bit of road/driveway shading under the house.

Thanks for visiting me again. I'll see you tomorrow for day 7!

Challenges:

1. Crafty Sentiments Design:  Anything Goes
2. Loves Rubber Stamps: Anything Goes
3. Papertake Weekly: Anything Goes
4. Party Time Tuesdays: Anything Goes

25 Days of Christmas cards: Day 5 "Arctic Season's Greetings"

Hi Everyone!

Welcome back for Day 5 of "25 Days of Christmas cards." If you are just joining me, let me fill you in a bit about what's going on at the blog these days. I am doing a series of 25 Christmas Cards inspired by Kristina Werner's Holiday Card Series. Each day, I post my interpretation of Kristina's card and then a side by side of mine and hers.

For Day 5, I used a set from Inkadinkado called "Christmas Characters" because it was what I had on hand that most closely matched the image Kristina used. One thing I have learned in making these cards this year is that I really really really need to get some masking paper! Masking the polar bear image was a little difficult and if you look at this card very closely in real life, you can see where I missed a few spots.
I'm not the best at copic coloring either....I need to get some lighter colored grey copics for "coloring" white areas; but again...you do the best you can, right?!

I created the background with Tumbled Glass, Broken China, Faded Jeans, and Black Soot distress inks and then added some shading with copics under the image to "ground" the sled. 

The sentiment is from a set I bought at Michael's a few years ago and have used surprisingly a lot! I embossed it with white embossing powder. I added some white studio paint "Blank Canvas" for the snowflakes/stars in the sky. I was quite pleased with the final result! I adhered the image panel to a standard sized card on 110lb Neenah solar white card stock. 

Here are the two cards side by side for you to see. Not too shabby if I do say so myself!

Once again, thanks for visiting me today, I'll see you tomorrow for Day 6!

Challenges:

2. Dream Valley Challenges: True Blue

3. Get Creative Challenges: Christmas

4. Incy Wincy Designs: Christmas (non-traditional colors)

5. My Creative Moments: Anything Christmas or winter

25 Days of Christmas Cards: Day 4

Hi Everyone!

The card for Day 4 presented the first challenge I really had with recreating one of Kristina's card. I didn't have the type of images she used and so I had to make some adjustments with images that I had. First, I decided to change the background and do a white base with stamped images from Verve's "Merry and Bright" in Cool Caribbean ink and Hero Arts Wet Cement. I colored the images in with Copic markers. I added the Cool Caribbean card stock to the bottom of the card with the sentiment embossed in white. I rounded the corners, and added the two ribbons. I punched a small heart and colored it with a copic marker and then covered it with red stickles and adhered it with foam adhesive.

Here are the two cards side by side. The final card was the result of 2 attempts that ended disastrously! But, I kept trying and ended up with something I really ended up liking. 

Thanks for visiting with me! I'll see you again tomorrow for Day 5

1. Amuse: Anything Goes

2. Christmas Card Challenge: Anything Goes (Must be Christmas)

3. Stamping Sensations Simply Christmas

4. That Craft Place: Anything Goes

25 Days of Christmas Cards: Day 3

Hi Everyone!

This card for Day 3 was a lot of fun to make and I was so pleased with the final result. This card was all about distress inks. Distress inks really allow you the opportunity to create some beautiful backgrounds and the best part is that there really is no right or wrong way to do it. I could have used a different variety of colors for this background and the result would have been just as stunning

I chose the following colors for my background: Antique Linen, Victorian Velvet, Seedless Preserves, Faded Jean and Black Soot. I used my ink blending tool and blended from the bottom up, using the Antique Linen first and then moved to the darker colors ending with the the black soot at top. I think this color combination gives a beautiful sunset into night time sky. 

The trees are from Stampin Up "Lovely as a Tree" set stamped in black ink. The sentiment is from Verve's "Unto Us" set. I stamped it in versa mark ink and embossed with white powder. I also embossed to small snowflakes from inkandinkado in white as well. I used a white jelly roll pen to add some other little snowflake/stars to the sky. 

Finally for a last little bit of embellishment, I put some Tombow liquid glue at the bottom of the trees and then sprinkled some white Crafty Fluff for snow on the ground. I trimmed the panel and then adhered it to a piece of Neenah Solar White 110lb card stock. 

Here are the two cards side by side. I think this card is one of my favorites in the series. I think it's one of the best interpretations I was able to do as well. 

Thanks for visiting with me again today, everyone! I'll be back tomorrow with Day 4!

Challenges: 

1. Hiding in My Craft Room: Freestyle

2. Inkspirational: Christmas (with optional no red or green twist)

3. Paper Creator's Craft: All About Christmas

4. Crafty Mess:  Anything Goes

5. Brown Sugar Challenges: Anything Goes

25 Days of Christmas Cards:Day 2

Hi Everyone!

Back with Day 2 of my 25 Days of Christmas Card Series. For this card, I wanted to create a window in the front of the card that showed the reindeer on the inside of the card. I cut a piece of kraft card stock to a standard size card and cut a 2 11/16 ciircle out of the front. Then I  cut a piece of patterned paper a little less than the size of the front of the card and cut a circle that was slightly smaller than the one I cut from the card base. I cut a circle frame of red polka dot paper and laid that on the INSIDE of the card against the back of the patterned paper circle which showed through the base. This is why you cut the circle a little smaller.
Finally, I cut a piece of acetate into a circle larger than card base circle and I adhered it to the inside of the card over the other circles. This is what makes your window.

I covered the inside of the card with a piece of Vintage Cream card stock and then stamped the reindeer from Verve stamps, "Santa's little Helper" set and colored him in with Copic Markers. I added glossy accents to his hat, and red stickles to his nose and the poinsettia on his hat. 

I white embossed the sentiment onto a piece of green card stock and then finished the front of the card with some sequins in the snowflakes which I adhered using Ranger Multi Medium Matte. 

Here are the two cards side by side. Kristina used an "outside looking in" reindeer image; but I didn't have this one; but I think the one I chose made a good substitute.

Have a great day! Thanks for stopping by and visiting with me, I'll see you tomorrow for Day 3