52CCT - Theme & DT Call ....

... Hi! We're half way through October and it's only 10 weeks until Christmas! So I think our new challenge at 52 Christmas Card Throwdown - 52CCT41-16 might help to get you started on your cards. Of course, you may already have quite a stash. We have a theme for you this week - we want to see CHRISTMAS CRITTERS on your cards. Here's mine:

Stamps: Waltzingmouse - Little Deer, Flurries; Uniko - Simply Said Christmas
Inks: Memento - Tuxedo Black; Versafine - Onyx Black; Distress - Tumbled Glass, Broken China, Mustard Seed
Dies: Die-namics - Wonky Stitched Circles #5; Lawn Fawn - Stitched Hillside Borders
Accessories: White Lustre Card; Stampin' Up! Card - Soft Sky;  Copics; Wink of Stella - Clear; Glitter

I had lots of fun making this card. I used the sketch from the current Fusion Challenge - FUSION#59 for the layout. I cut a panel of white card the same size as the base and die cut a circle at the top. I stamped the tree on the card base. I punched a small circle and masked off an area for the sun, then I blended some blues to create the sky. I added some yellow to the sun. I stamped the deer, cardinal, and pile of presents on some scrap white card and coloured them all with Copics.  The critter stamps I used for this card faced the wrong way, so to get them facing the right direction, I used the mirror stamping technique that I'd seen on Jennifer MacGuire's blog. I adhered the circle panel to the card, attached the critters and parcels and then die cut some snowy hills. I added lots of glitter for sparkle. On the inside I cut a mat layer of pale blue card and added another little critter in the corner and a greeting too.

The little deer on the inside is exactly as the image stamps. Love the mirror technique, gives so many extra options for your stamps.

For more inspiration - do visit the blog to see more from the rest of the Design Team.

Don't forget that we're in the middle of a DT Call at 52 Christmas Card Throwdown. In order to be considered you have to do at least 3 of the 5 challenges this month. So if you've skipped the sketch and colours, you have to do the last three challenges this month. Full details are on the blog.

Kat and I have a crafting weekend planned. We are both attending classes by the awesome Dyan Reavley. Will share photos later. Have great weekend!

52CCT - Theme ....

......  Good morning!  Halfway through October already - time is flying by.  But it does bring us to our new challenge at 52 {Christmas} Card Throwdown.  April has picked a really fun theme for us this week - THE WILD WOODS.  I had fun making my card:

Stamps: Waltzingmouse - Frosty in the Meadow, Little Deer, Flurries
Inks: Versafine - Onyx Black, Vintage Sepia; Stampin' Up! - Early Espresso; Distress - Spiced Marmalade, Ripe Persimmon, Dusty Concord, Tumbled Glass, Weathered Wood, Hickory Smoke
Accessories: White Lustre Card; SU DP - Early Espresso; Copic Markers; Signo White Pen; Clear Embossing Powder

I had lots of fun creating my wood.  I started by stamping some of the tree trunks directly on the card using second generation impressions.  Then I stamped a couple which I embossed with clear powder.  Then I created the background using Distress inks - I went for an late evening sunset with a warm glow at the bottom of the image and the night sky starting to come in at the top.  I stamped another three trees in darker brown, heat embossed them with clear powder and cut them out.  I stamped the little deer and the bird on white card, coloured with Copic markers, cut them out and edged them with a black marker.  I adhered the extra trees and cute animals to the card.  I used a white gel pen to add some accents and some snow falling - see the snow on his nose!  I finished the front with a pun sentiment.  On the inside I cut a mat layer of design paper and added a greeting to the white panel.

As this card has features furry animals I'm submitting it to the current challenge at Cupcake Inspirations Challenge - CIC#331, and the sunset glow means I'm playing along with Inkspirational - INK#93 where the cue word is GLOW.

Do visit our blog to see what the rest of the team have made to inspire you.  Have fun and see you soon.