Clean, simple, non-traditional Christmas ....

... Hi - it's time for our new challenge at 52 {Christmas} Card Throwdown.  It's the second week of the month and that means we have a colour challenge for you - shades of blue!  Here's my card:

Stamps: Waltzingmouse - Festive Foliage, Off Beat Backgrounds, Yonder Star
Inks: Stampin' Up! - Night of Navy, Bashful Blue; Versamark
Accessories: White Lustre card; Cameo - cut shapes; Glossy Accents; SU Card - Night of Navy; Clear Embossing Powder

For the layout I followed this week's challenge at CAS(E) this Sketch - CTS23 and I got the idea for a non-seasonal stamp from the current Waltzingmouse Christmas Card Challenge - WMSCCC04-13 .   I was also inspired by Julia's cards for the March WMS Christmas challenge.

I think this chevron stamp is one of my all time favourites.  I stamped the Night of Navy image first and immediately inked the stamp again with Bashful Blue and stamped, giving this lovely mid-blue shade.  I cleaned the stamp and then inked again with Bashful Blue and stamped.  In order to get placement of the stripes correct, I stamped them onto a separate sheet of card and cut out the panel - very easy!  This allowed me to move the panel around before adhering to the card base.  I used my Cameo to cut out a number of the WMS cut files that Claire has made for us - so much quicker then cutting by hand!!  I stamped the holly leaf trio in Night of Navy and attached them to the card with dimensional tape.  I finished the holly with some berries, stamped in Bashful Blue and covered with Glossy Accents. 

I didn't want to put a sentiment on the front as I didn't think it would work.  So I moved my sentiment to the inside.  I cut a mat layer in Night of Navy and one in White Lustre.  I stamped the sentiment in Versamark on the little dicut, heat embossed with clear powder and then inked over with Bashful Blue to reveal the sentiment.

I was having such fun with this card - and I had lots of holly leaf trios cut that I decided to make another card using the same design, but this time with traditional colours of green and red.

Stamps: Waltzingmouse - Festive Foliage, Off Beat Backgrounds, Compliments of the Season II
Inks: Stampin' Up! - Old Olive, Real Red; Versamark
Accessories: White Lustre card; Cameo - cut shapes; Glossy Accents; SU Card - Real Red; Clear Embossing Powder
This is one of those occasions when the second card works just that bit better than the original idea!!!  I love the blue holly, but the green and red really pop! 

Anyway, I can't wait to see your Christmas creations with our fabulous shades of blue.

That's all for now - see you soon.