Less is more, banner and bling ...

..... I've managed to play in my craft room today - yea!!  And I've made a card for three challenges - I think this is the only way I'm going to be able to keep playing in my favourite challenges!!  And the challenges for this card are:

• Less Is More - LIM52 - a sketch from Chrissie and Mandi, but with a few instructions - (a) the card must be landscape, (b) it must be rectangular and (c) the band must remain in the vertical position
• Jingle Belles - JB12-03 - a banner holiday, where we must use the blog's banner as inspiration for our card
• 52 {Christmas} Card Throwdown - 52CCT-5 - the theme for this week is to use embellishments, specifically rhinestones!!

I really like this sketch from Chrissie and Mandi - so many possibilities, and will go into my notebook for use again.  I took my colour inspiration from the Jingle Belles banner - bright red, soft grey, soft green and some shimmer too - perfect Christmas colours, and it was easy to add some bling!  I masked off the vertical band and sponged on distress ink, then I flicked on water to give a subtle impression of falling snow.  While masked I stamped the holly leaves in the same colour.  To define the edges of the band, and to echo the grey and shimmer in the Jingle Belles banner, I added holographic silver border peel offs.  I stamped the Christmas tree in London Fog and coloured the image with Promarkers, cut it out and attached it to the card with dimensional tape.  I added lots of red gems to the tree.  I finished off with a simple sentiment stamped in bright red with a tiny gem on the dot of the i!

Stamps:  Chocolate Baroque - Christmas Flourish; Waltzingmouse - Nutcracker Sweet
Inks:  Distress - Evergreen Bough; Stampin' Up! - Poppy Parade; Memento - London Fog
Promarkers:  Green, Mint Green, Terracotta, Cinnamon
Accessories:  Silver holographic peel offs; Red gems and card from stash

I had a really busy day yesterday.  Now that things are progressing with going to the States, I spent most of the day compiling a list of what we're taking and doing a valuation for insurance purposes.  Scary!!  I  had a phone call from my Aunt - her friend has asked me to make a 21st birthday card.  I got a few details, emailed a couple of sketches, and will be making that card later today.

I had a lovely time in town this morning - did a bit of shopping at the local market and enjoyed the bright winter sunshine.  It might be cold, but it's so beautiful.  That's all for now - must get back to my craft room and get started on the 21st card!  See you soon.