52CCT - Theme ....

....  Morning all!  I'm back with our new challenge at 52 {Christmas} Card Throwdown.  I had lots of fun picking the challenges this month, particularly this week's!  I've gone for the theme of "The Twelve Days of Christmas", which, I think you'll agree, means you have plenty of scope with the challenge.  And I'd better apologise now, as this is a very photo heavy post.  I made a card for every day of the twelve days!  Here they are:

Stamps: Hampton Art Graphic 45 - 12 Days of Christmas; Waltzingmouse - Frame It, Alpine Christmas
Inks: Versamark; Versafine - Onyx Black
Dies: Spellbinders - Squares Lg (S4-126) #6, Squares Sm (S4-128) #7; Lil' Inkers - Stitched Squares #5
Accessories: White Lustre Card; Anita's DP - Classic Black Christmas, Classic Red Christmas; My Mind's Eye DP - Kiss & Tell; Embossing Powder - Clear, Black Tinsel, Red Tinsel, Green Tinsel, Gold and Silver; Various metallic/glitter card; Ribbons

I started by stamping all the frames and sentiments, embossing them with clear powder and die cutting them all.  I went through my stash for a selection of metallic/glitter card and cut the mat layers.  After die cutting the square with the stamped frame I stamped and embossed all the images - I used my stamp-a-ma-jig to make sure that the images were centred.  I decided to make three sets of four - square, portrait and landscape - changing up how I decorated the cards.  The square cards all have an extra mat layer cut using the stitched square and the inside of each features a backing mat of the matching paper and a simple sentiment.  For the portrait cards I added a ribbon beneath the square image, which was adhered with dimensional tape.  As before the inside has a mat layer of coordinating paper and a Christmas verse.  For the landscape cards I was going to make them all with a bow, but that is a bit bulky to post, so I added ribbons which had been wrapped around metallic card.  Here are the insides for each of the three sets.

As always, you can find more inspiration by checking the cards produced by our Design Team and by our Guest Designer, Pat.

Before I go, a little bit about the carol The Twelve Days of Christmas.  It was first published in England in 1780 without music as is likely French in origin.  The melody that is now associated with the song was written by Fredric Austin.  It is a cumulative song and since 1984 the cumulative cost of all the items in the song have been used a fun economic indicator.  Here are the lyrics:

On the first day of Christmas
my true love sent to me:
A Partridge in a Pear Tree

On the second day of Christmas
my true love sent to me:
2 Turtle Doves
and a Partridge in a Pear Tree

On the third day of Christmas
my true love sent to me:
3 French Hens
2 Turtle Doves
and a Partridge in a Pear Tree

On the fourth day of Christmas
my true love sent to me:
4 Calling Birds
3 French Hens
2 Turtle Doves
and a Partridge in a Pear Tree

On the fifth day of Christmas
my true love sent to me:
5 Golden Rings
4 Calling Birds
3 French Hens
2 Turtle Doves
and a Partridge in a Pear Tree

On the sixth day of Christmas
my true love sent to me:
6 Geese a Laying
5 Golden Rings
4 Calling Birds
3 French Hens
2 Turtle Doves
and a Partridge in a Pear Tree

On the seventh day of Christmas
my true love sent to me:
7 Swans a Swimming
6 Geese a Laying
5 Golden Rings
4 Calling Birds
3 French Hens
2 Turtle Doves
and a Partridge in a Pear Tree

On the eighth day of Christmas
my true love sent to me:
8 Maids a Milking
7 Swans a Swimming
6 Geese a Laying
5 Golden Rings
4 Calling Birds
3 French Hens
2 Turtle Doves
and a Partridge in a Pear Tree

On the ninth day of Christmas
my true love sent to me:
9 Ladies Dancing
8 Maids a Milking
7 Swans a Swimming
6 Geese a Laying
5 Golden Rings
4 Calling Birds
3 French Hens
2 Turtle Doves
and a Partridge in a Pear Tree

On the tenth day of Christmas
my true love sent to me:
10 Lords a Leaping
9 Ladies Dancing
8 Maids a Milking
7 Swans a Swimming
6 Geese a Laying
5 Golden Rings
4 Calling Birds
3 French Hens
2 Turtle Doves
and a Partridge in a Pear Tree

On the eleventh day of Christmas
my true love sent to me:
11 Pipers Piping
10 Lords a Leaping
9 Ladies Dancing
8 Maids a Milking
7 Swans a Swimming
6 Geese a Laying
5 Golden Rings
4 Calling Birds
3 French Hens
2 Turtle Doves
and a Partridge in a Pear Tree

On the first day of Christmas
my true love sent to me:
12 Drummers Drumming
11 Pipers Piping
10 Lords a Leaping
9 Ladies Dancing
8 Maids a Milking
7 Swans a Swimming
6 Geese a Laying
5 Golden Rings
4 Calling Birds
3 French Hens
2 Turtle Doves
and a Partridge in a Pear Tree

That's all - congratulations if you've got to the end of this post!  I'm really looking forward to seeing your creations based on the song.  See you soon.