52CCT - Sketch ...

....  Good morning everyone.  I do hope that you all had a wonderful Christmas and a Happy New Year.  Over at 52 {Christmas} Card Throwdown it's time for our first challenge of 2014.  You have seen our lovely new look blog - thanks going to Mynnette for this fresh look.  We have some new DT members - more of that soon.  As always our first challenge is a sketch and here's my take:

Stamps: Waltzingmouse - Alpine Christmas, Folk Art Christmas Additions
Inks: Versamark; Stampin' Up! - Cherry Cobbler, Old Olive, Soft Suede, Crumb Cake
Dies: WMS - Folk Art Christmas; SU - Apothecary Accents Framelits
Accessories: White Lustre Card; SU Card - Cherry Cobbler; Copics; Clear Embossing Powder; Cuttlebug EF - Winter Wonderland; Velvet Ribbons; Gems

Love Mynnette's sketch.  For the theme I'm using the last challenge of 2013 from Merry Monday - MM#88; I didn't think I'd get to play along, but the DT extended the deadline so I'm just getting in under the wire!!

I decided to use traditional colours and made the card base from Cherry Cobbler (love this rich colour).  I cut a panel of white card and embossed it with snowflakes, added some velvet ribbon to the corners and adhered the whole lot to the card base with dimensional tape.  I stamped the sentiment on white card, used a die to cut it out and the same die to cut a mat layer in Cherry Cobbler.  I cut the mat layer in half and adhered behind the sentiment.  I finished the front with my favourite reindeer.  I inked up the stamp with Versamark and then Soft Suede and heat embossed the image with clear powder.  I cut it out with the matching die and then added some colour to the flowers and leaves.  I adhered the reindeer with dimensional gel.  I used my Copics to colour the gems to match the ribbons.  For the inside I cut a panel of white card and stamped snowflakes around the edge and a lovely Christmas message in the middle.

I know that we've only just had Christmas, but it really is never to early to make a start on your cards for this year.  To be honest I don't need much encouragement to make Christmas cards - I love them!!  Check our blog for more inspiration cards from the rest of the Design Team - as always, they are fab!

We've had a really lazy week since getting back to the States.  We had a quiet New Year's Eve (I only just managed to stay awake) and New Year's Day.  In fact, the whole area has been quiet, largely due to the amount of snow that has fallen.  Our first couple of winters in Michigan were very mild, but I think we're seeing more of what a Michigan winter is like!  It was lovely yesterday with blue skies and sunshine, but it didn't get above -11°C (12°F) and the forecast is more of the same!!

I spent an hour clearing one half of the drive yesterday morning, it was so cold I thought my fingers and toes were going to fall off!  We have ordered a snow blower which should arrive by 15th January - I think it'll get some use this year!

Jonathan and Kathryn are back to work and school respectively next week, so it's back to a normal routine.  See you soon.