Anything Christmas

Hello everyone,

Today's card was crafted for the latest ABC Christmas challenge which is 'A' for Anything Goes.

The card base is Recollections Pearlized Gold dry embossed with a Cuttlebug Winter Wonderland folder. The vertical strip is Stampin' Up Garden Green and Cherry Cobbler. The ribbon is Michael's Special Value. The images are Stampin' Up Delightful Decorations stamped on Very Vanilla in Cherry Cobbler and Wild Wasabi and heat embossed with Close To My Heart Silver Pearl. The embellishments are Close To My Heart Bitty Sparkles.

I've had this layout ruminating in my brain for quite a while and I'm really happy with the results. This is a great stamp set and it is really effective when punched out.

I hope you enjoy this card and come back to SPI again soon.

Gisèle

Frosty

Hello everyone,

Today's card fulfills a multitude of great challenges. I had only planned to use three challenges but when I looked over my list, it worked for a bunch of challenges. The latest ABC Christmas Challenge is 'V' for vertical with a great sketch to follow. Today's Artful Inkables is a blue, silver and white card. Today's Cards for Men is an anything goes challenge as long as it is for a man. The Flourish Timeless Tuesday Challenge was to embellish with anything but buttons or bows. Papertake Weekly is looking for sparkly and bright. Finally, this week's Tuesday Throwdown was to focus on a sentiment. Whew! I'm glad I didn't plan for all of these otherwise a card likely wouldn't have happened.

The background paper is DCWV Pastels card stock. The navy layer is of unknown origin from the stash, likely Recollections. The silver paper is Recollections and is textured with the Sizzix Ornaments plate. The white strips are Stampin' Up Whisper White textured with Sizzix Small Dots. The ribbons are from Michaels, Celebrate It Holiday and Home & More Classic Collection. The sentiment is Close To My Heart Magical Season stamped in Nick Bantock Charcoal Grey and heat embossed with Silver Pearl. The sentiment was cut and layered with the Spellbinders Labels Three die. The embellishments are Close To My Heart Licorice Opaques.

I love, love, love this card. The blue, silver and white is a favourite colour combination and perfect for a man-card. I was tempted to add some silver Stickles but I figured that would move the card away from manly and I really wanted to craft a card that I could pass along to a male colleague. There is enough sparkle in the ribbon.

I hope you enjoy this card and come back to SPI again soon.

Gisèle

ABC Ornament

Hello everyone,

I realize it is really early for Christmas cards but seriously, if you make Christmas cards, you have to start early. Though I really love making Christmas cards, I've not really been in that Christmas card making mood. That being said, there are challenges out there that really inspire me. The current ABC Christmas Challenge is O is for Ornaments and, next to holly, I love crafting all things ornament-related.

The background paper is atd Under The Tree. The red layer is of unknown origin from the scrap bin and is textured with the Sizzix Ornaments plate and highlighted with Tattered Angels Dazzling Diamonds Glimmer Mist. The remaining paper is Stampin' Up Tempting Turquoise and Whisper White. The image is Inkadinkado Holiday Silhouettes stamped in Color Box gold then heat embossed with Stampin' Up clear embossing powder. The sentiment is Impression Obsession Christmas Sentiments. The embellishments are Hero Arts Metallic Decor.

I really like this ornament card. The colours are lovely with the Tempting Turquoise adding just that non-traditional splash of colour. I love the image. This Inkadinkado set is really compelling given all the tiny images incorporated within the overall image. I suspect you'll see many of these images as I get into the swing of Christmas cards.

I hope you enjoy this card and come back to SPI again soon.

Gisèle

Christmas in April

Hello everyone,

I know, I know it's too early for Christmas if you're a normal person. Cardmakers however, are already thinking Christmas because the cards don't make themselves you know. I actually had packed up my Christmas stuff because I'm not really ready to think Christmas. This week's ABC Christmas Challenge is holly which is my all time favourite Christmas image - I couldn't resist. I also loved today's Clean & Simple sketch challenge so I decided to combine the two into a Christmas card.


The card base is Recollections. The green and white layers are Stampin' Up Green Galore and Whisper White. The Whisper White is textured with Sizzix Holly & Berries. The red printed paper is atd Under The Tree. The image is Hero Arts Winter which is highlighted with Xmas Red Stickles. The sentiment is Impression Obsession Christmas Sentiments.

I love this card! Maybe I'm missing Christmas cards more than I thought or it is the combination of holly and the sketch but I think this is a great card.

I hope you enjoy this card and come back to SPI again soon.

Gisèle

ABC Christmas Challenge Blog Hop

Hello everyone,

Just a quick post for now. I'll have a card for you later today.

I just finished a blog hop! One of the blogs that I visit fairly regularly is ABC Challenge which uses a different letter of the alphabet to inspire a card. I think it is an ingenious blog. These great cardmakers have now created a second blog, ABC Christmas Challenge which will be run every other week. If you play along, by the end of the year, you'll have a bunch of Christmas cards ready to go. How clever!

Anyway, to be eligible for some prizes you have to blog hop your way through the Design Team's blogs and make a post. Too easy if you ask me, I love to surf and the projects were just beautiful.

I hope you have a chance to SPI on the ABC Christmas Challenge.

Gisèle