C24C - Snowflakes ...

... Good morning! I'm not sure where April went, but we're in May already!! It means that it's time for our new challenge at Christmas 24 Challenge - C24C#09. For the next couple of weeks we want to see your Christmas cards with SNOWFLAKES. Here's my card:

Stamps: Waltzingmouse Stamps - Warm Fuzzies, Compliments of the Season; Uniko - Stunning Snowflakes, Essentially Christmas; Stampin' Up! - December Wonder, Many Merry Stars
Inks: Gina K - Sea Glass, Turquoise Sea, Powder Blue, Blue Denim, Black Amalgam; Memento - Bahama Blue, New Sprout; SU - Balmy Blue, Bermuda Bay
Accessories: White Card; SU Card - Balmy Blue; Blue Linen Effect Foil Card; Gina K - Wreath Builder Stencil

I'm submitting this card to The Holly & Ivy Christmas Challenge - H&ICC#70 where it's Anything Christmas Goes.

I've used lots and lots of different snowflake stamps on this card. I used my MISTI and the Gina K 4" wreath builder stencil to build up layers of snowflakes in different colours. I trimmed the panel to size, adhered it to a blue foil mat layer and then attached the whole lot to a blue card base. On the inside, I cut a panel of white card and stamped a simple greeting with some more snowflakes.

Do visit our blog to see what the rest of the design team have created with the Snowflakes theme. That's all from me today. See you soon.

52CCT - Sketch ....

... Morning! I don't want to worry anyone, but there are only 16 Saturdays until Christmas! Today is the start of our new challenge at 52 Christmas Card Thowdown - 52CCT35-16. Our host this month is Fabiola and she has a super sketch to inspire you. I've gone for an ultra clean and simple look for my cards - yes, I made three!!!

Stamps: Stampin' Up! - Delightful Decorations, Christmas Messages, December Wonder; Clearly Besotted - All Occasion Sentiments
Inks: SU - Real Red, Crushed Curry, Dapper Denim; Versamark
Accessories: White Lustre Card; SU Card - Crushed Curry, Dapper Denim; SU DP - Real Red; SU Punch - Ornament; Iridescent Embossing Powder

I like the sketch - it can be simple or dressed up, but I decided to let the pretty Christmas ornaments shine! I was inspired to use primary colours by the challenge at Inkspirational - INK#116 and I'm playing along with Addicted to Stamps and More! - ATSM#209 where the theme is CAS.

To create the centre ornaments which have some sparkle, I first inked with Versamark and then the colour, stamped the image and heat embossed with iridescent embossing powder - I do love this look. For the remaining ornaments I simply stamped the coloured image. I used the matching punch to cut out the ornaments. I used the MISTI to stamp the sentiment - it makes stamping multiple images so easy - they are all perfectly lined up! I adhered the two plain ornaments flat to the card and used dimensional gel to attached the sparkly ornament. On the inside I cut mat layers to match the ink used and on the white panel added a greeting and some snowflakes.

I think I might make some more cards based on this design - it's quick, it's easy and it'll mail easily too. Here's a photo of all the cards together:

Do visit our blog to see more inspiration from the rest of the design team. You've got plenty of time to play along, deadline for submission is midnight (BST) Friday 9th September (7.00pm EDT). That's all for now - see you tomorrow!

52CCT - Theme .....

.... Hello and good morning!  We've reached the third Saturday of the month and that means it's time for our theme challenge here at 52 {Christmas} Card Throwdown.  Patricia has picked a fabulous theme for us:

O little town ...

I had fun with this challenge and have two cards for you:

Stamps: Stampin' Up! - December Wonder, Holiday Home
Inks: Memento - Tuxedo Black; SU - Elegant Eggplant
Dies: Spellbinders - Petit Ovals Scalloped Lg (S4-139) #4
Accessories: White Lustre Card; SU Card - Elegant Eggplant; Kanban - Christmas Mirri Card, Old Town Stacked Print

This card was so easy to make, it almost feels like a cheat!  I cut the gorgeous mirri card slightly smaller than the card and adhered it flat to the card.  I used dimensional gel to layer up the Old Town images, keeping it reasonably flat and then layered the finished piece on a die cut purple oval.  On the inside I cut a mat layer of purple card and stamped a simple greeting on the white panel.

My second card is totally different - more contemporary and it's a folding card:

Stamps: Stampin' Up! - December Wonder, Holiday Home, Mingle All the Way
Inks: Memento - Tuxedo Black
Accessories: White Lustre Card; SU Card - Real Red; Kanban -Christmas Town Tags; Copic Markers; Wink of Stella; SU Marker - Real Red

Again, this one was reasonably quick to make.  The tag images are all joined, so I simply lined the inside with plain white card on which I stamped some Christmas images and a fun greeting.  I added a faux stitched border using a red marker and this defines the inside of each panel.

In the photos above you can see the card opened flat to show the inside as well as see the whole of the front of the card.  I made a belly band to go round the card to keep it closed.  I cut a strip of red card, stamped a sentiment and added some stars and snowflakes, along with a bit of sparkle.

Do check out our blog to see the inspiration cards from the rest of the team.  Looking forward to seeing your creations - have fun!!!