52CCT - Sketch ...

... Good morning!  So, January flew by and we're at the first Saturday in February.  It's time for our new challenge at 52 Christmas Card Throwdown - 52CCT05-16 and our host this month is April. She has a lovely sketch for us to play with this week.  You don't have to use a Christmas tree as the focal image, and you can flip or turn the sketch, but we must still be able to see it in your finished card. Here's my take:

Stamps: Dylusions - One Two Tree; Uniko - Simply Said Christmas; Stampin' Up! - Warmth and Wonder
Inks: Distress - Lucky Clover, Twisted Citron, Cracked Pistachio; Versafine - Onyx Black; Dylusions - Lemon Zest, Fresh Lime, Cut Grass
Accessories: Watercolour Paper; Vellum; Copic Markers; Signo White Pen; Sharpie Black Pen; Dylusion Stencils - Bubbles, Blocks, Christmas Trees

I decided to stick with a tree as the focal image and had fun playing with my Dylusions stamps and inks.  I was showing Kat how to use Dylusion inks last week and had some pieces of watercolour card ready with shades of green. I cut a panel to fit the front of the card and added some background detail with various stencils and inks.  I defined some of the images with a black Sharpie and white Signo.  I stamped the sentiment directly on the card and coloured in the open sentiment with a Copic marker.  I didn't want to hide the lovely background so I made the vertical strip with some snowflake embossed vellum.  I stamped the tree on a scrap of paper, cut it out and adhered it flat to the front of the card.  On the inside I cut another panel of watercolour card for the mat.  On the white panel I stamped a simple Christmas greeting and added some stencil details.

Do visit our blog to see the inspiration cards from the rest of the team - they're gorgeous.  You've got plenty of time to play along - submission deadline is midnight (GMT) Friday 12th February (7.00pm EDT for those of us in the States).  Have fun!  That's all for now.

52CCT - Theme ....

....  Hello everyone!  Can you believe we've reached the middle of January already?  Time is flying by.  However, that does mean it's time for a new challenge at 52 {Christmas} Card Throwdown and this week I've a theme challenge for you.  You must use

BELLS

Here's my take:

Stamps: Waltzingmouse - Folk Art Christmas Additions; Winnie & Walter - The Big, The Bold and The Merry
Inks: Stampin' Up! - Real Red, Pacific Point; Memento - London Fog; Versamark
Dies: Memory Box - Cross Stitched Frames #3; WMS - Folk Art Christmas
Accessories: White Lustre Card; Silver Mirri Card; Silver Embossing Powder; SU Marker Pens - Real Red, Pacific Point

I've made a very clean, simple card today and used a couple of challenges.  I've used the colours from Colour Me! - CMCC#54 and I'm also submitting this to CASology - CAS#129 where the cue word is NBUS - "Never Before Used Schtuff".  If you don't know NBUS - check out Darnell's blog here. 

I started by stamping a couple of bells in Versamark, heat embossing with silver powder and then cutting them out with the matching die.  One cut out I added some colour to each bell using my aqua brush.  I stamped the sentiment directly on the card base.  I used dimensional gel to adhere the bells to the card and finished by adding this lovely silver cross stitch frame.  I used my NBUS - my new Memory Box dies for the frames.  On the inside I cut a silver mat and on the white layer stamped another bell and added a Christmas greeting.

For more inspiration using our theme of "Bells", check out the blog to see what the rest of the team have made.  I have to say that I really liked the thumbnail display last week - all those blues - looks so pretty!  That's all for now - have fun!

52CCT - Stash challenge ...

.....  Good morning!!  For our last challenge in February at 52 {Christmas} Card Throwdown, Jacqueline has come up with a stash challenge - we must use metallic papers on our card.  Here's my take:

Stamps: Stampin' Up! - Delightful Decorations, Contempo Christmas, Christmas Messages
Inks: Versamark; Real Red
Accessories: SU Card - Basic Black; White Lustre Card; Red Metallic Card; Red Satin Card; SU Punch - Christmas Ornament; Lakeland Christmas Banner; Clear Embossing Powder

I've used a number of challenges to make this card.  The layout is based on this week's CAS(E) this Sketch - CTS#65, the theme of bauble is from the inspiration photo at Festive Friday - FFC#25 and the colour is from Jingle Belles - JB:14:04 where the ladies want us to feature RED.  I made the card base from black card, cut a mat panel in bright red mirri card and a white panel.  I used red satin card for two ornaments; I stamped them both with Versamark, heat embossed with clear powder and then punched them out.  One of the baubles is a little distressed, which I rather like as you can still see the satin finish.  I stamped the centre ornament on white card.  I attached string to the back and adhered them with dimensional tape.  I ran the black strings over the white card, taped them in place and then used dimensional tape to attach the white panel.  So this card has some depth!!  I finished the front with a simple banner sentiment on red mirri card.  On the inside I cut a white panel, added a couple of ornaments and a simple verse.

For more inspiration with metallic papers, check out the cards from the rest of the Design Team.  I'm really looking forward to seeing what you make.  Last week's Christmas Landscape challenge was fab - so many lovely cards!  See you soon!