Cmas Card Challenge - December - Metallics

Metallics are a natural for Christmas cards. I used silver, white pearl and gold for the metallics on this card. I cut the words with the Sizzix "Join the Cheer" sizzlet strip. The ornament is on the strip as well. It was tedious cutting all the small pieces but I'm really happy the results. I wanted to hang the ornament and tried quite a few options before I chose this silver thread. I glued the words and the ornament onto a black layer that was embossed with the Swiss Dots folder. This was mounted onto a white card.

Cmas Card Challenge - November - Christmas Decorations

I chose ornaments as my decorations. I used a Cuttlebug embossing folder on red card stock and cut it into strips. I mounted that onto a textured pearl white strip of cardstock. I added texture with a stamp on the right hand side of the Hunter green card with white ink. The ornament stripe was mounted onto the green card to the left of the texture. I made a hole with a push pin and put a tiny white brad in the hanger of each ornament. I used a Stardust gel marker and added some bling on the ornament hanger and the central images. I brushed some white pearl ex on the outer edge of the ornaments to add definition to the shapes. I used a Stampin Up! greeting inked in white and embossed it with white detail powder.
I made 3 of these.
Total cards 85 so far.

Cmas Card Challenge - October - Natural Christmas

I decided on a wreath for my Natural Christmas theme. I started with a dark brown card. I used a Martha Stewart branch punch on several shades of green card stock to create my greenery. I cut the wreath's back layer with a Soft Suede Nestabilities scallop circle. I glued at least 18 branches around the edge of the circle making sure to keep it within the 4.25 width of the card. I then layered a smaller scallop circle over the middle covering the ends of the branches. I cut a very vanilla circle with Nestabilities die and chalked the edge while it was still in the die leaving a nice border. Then I stamped a Stampin Up! greeting on the circle in Chocolate chalk ink. I added the raffia bow above the wreath.
I made 6 of these.
Total: 82

Cmas Card Challenge - September - Non Traditional Color (2)

Here's the another card I made for this challenge but was having a hard time getting the colors right in a scan. I made a triangle tree of the 3 colors bright pink, green galore and turquoise. Embossed them with 3 different folders. Punched some small yellow stars for the top. Added hand drawn stars in the sky and snowbank on the ground with a thin black marker. The trunks were added with marker as well.

Cmas Card Challenge - September - Non Traditional Colors

I chose Turquoise, Green Galore and Bright Pink for my non traditional colors for my September challenge and nice textured white cards. I could not decide on one design so I made several. I don't remember the company which makes the rubber stamp greeting.

Top Left: The tree is a QuicKutz die so I cut each layer in a different color. The trunk was cut in black. I glued the snowflakes cut by the die in the sky. I drew by a hand a snowbank with a thin black marker.

Bottom Left: The tree is created by gluing narrow strips of pink and green card stock on a piece of turquoise card. I then drew the sweeping tree shape on the back of the white piece and cut it out with scissors. The trunk was cut from black card stock. The snowflakes were hand drawn with a thin black marker. I added a small yellow star at the top. The snowbank was cut from the leftover from the tree and laid in the opposite direction.

Right: Again a QuicKutz die which creates a tall tree which needed a taller card than an A2. The 6 pieces cut into the 3 colors and alternating the colors. Cut the stem in black. Added a yellow star at the top. The greeting stamped and I drew a border with a thin black marker.

I made 4 cards
Total so far 76.

Cmas Card Challenge - August - Christmas Glitters

I found this POW glitter paper at a local scrapbook store. It is gorgeous! Unfortunately, scanning does not do justice to it. The paper is plastic backed with created a bit of a challenge for the Sizzlet die.
I bought the polka dot paper at the same time because they worked together well. I found a dusty blue cardstock for the card. I created a gate-fold card with the split in the middle. I trimmed the designer paper to fit both sides of the card fronts. Then, I selected a taupe cardstock to cut the scalloped circle with my Nestabilities Classic die. The brown layer is cut with the coordinating Nestabilities circle dies. The word "Peace" was cut with a Sizzlet border die, recently discontinued by Stampin Up! I used a snail tape runner to apply glue to the back of the die-cut because it is very shiny. I wanted a touch of blue repeated so I use a Martha Stewart snowflake punch to add it.
I made 5 of these so bring my total to 72 cards.

Cmas Card Challenge - July - Around the World

I chose Mexico for this challenge. Which country would you choose? Father Christmas from England or SinterKlass from the Netherlands? What tradition did you grew up with? Leave me a comment.

Did you know that poinsettias come from Mexico? The plant is named for the first U.S. Ambassador to Mexico, Dr. Joel Roberts Poinsett, who introduced America to the poinsettia in 1828, after discovering it in the wilderness in southern Mexico. So what does a poinsettia have to do with Christmas? A Mexican legend tells of a girl who could only offer weeds as a gift to Jesus on Christmas Eve. When she brought the weeds into a church, they blossomed into the beautiful red plants we know as poinsettias, known as Flores de Noche Buena in Mexico (Spanish for "flowers of the holy night").

Cards on-line used a lot of bright colors so I selected a medium blue for the card. I stamped the five petal poinsettias in red with a set from Stampin Up then embossed them with Candy Red powder then used the matching punch on them. I used Green Galore for the leaves and held them in place with a tiny white brad. The tree which was embossed with the Victorian folder. I added a yellow star at the top of the tree. Color printed the greeting in red.

With all the classes in the last month I'm at 61 cards

I make 6 of these.

Total so far: 67

Cmas Card Challenge - June - Chocolate Red Cream

This is a color challenge using Chocolate, Red & Cream. I started with a chocolate chip card. I printed my greeting on cream card stock. I printed 6 on 1 8.5 x 11. I used my Creative Memories wavy cutter to cut the greeting into a snowbank. Then I cut the red with the same wave. I put these two together and scotch taped them on the back. I trimmed the red to make the piece measure overall 4" tall. Now the piece is 5.25 wide by 4 tall. This is glued to the card front. I cut the snowflakes out of cream pearl cardstock with my Sizzix sizzlets. I placed them over the red and used a push pin to make the holes and used tiny star brads to hold them in place. I made 6 of these so my total cards is 38.

Cmas Card Challenge - May - Reason for the Season

Jesus is the Reason for the Season

I chose this rubber stamp from Stampendous - Reaching for the Star. I stamped it with clear embossing ink on black card stock and gold embossed it. I trimmed the piece square on 3 sides and cut the bottom along the shape of the straw. I selected a black card and mounted smooth gold paper to cover the most of the front. I designed the greeting to fit next to the stamped image which about 3.25"x3.75". I printed "O Holy Night" on vellum in a nice font. I managed to get 6 on one page. I used deckle edge scissors to trim the left and right sides leaving the top bottom straight. I added a small gold star in the O to hold the vellum in place as I prefer not to use glue or tape on vellum.

Cards 6

Total to date: 32

Cmas Card Challenge - April - Winter

The theme for the Christmas Card Challenge for April is "Winter". What comes to your mind? Snowflakes, snowmen, sleds, skates, icicles, sleighs, igloos, penguins came to my mind.

I resisted going for the easy snowflakes. I found a sled on my Joys of the Season Cricut cartridge. Excellent. Now I needed a context for it. I decided on a fence with snowbanks. I cut the fence with my Sizzix die in tan card stock and added texture with a brush marker. I created my background with the Cuttlebug Swiss Dots embossing folder on white card stock then brushed Bashful Blue ink pad over the bumps to represent falling snowflakes. I cut a piece of white card stock with CM Wavy cutter to make the snowbanks. I placed them behind and in front of the fence after brushing the edges with the blue ink pad. I cut the sled in black and the layer in red then glued them together. I added the lines on the sled with a white gel pen. Then I leaned the sled against the fence. I color printed the greeting and embossed it with clear embossing powder. I ripped the edges and brushed the edges with a marker. Used some tiny red brads to hold it in place.

Join me in making Christmas cards all year long! Post a comment with a link to your card. I look forward to see your cards!

I created 6 of these cards.

Total cards = 26.

Cmas Card Challenge - March - Monochromatic

The theme for March is monochromatic. Choose a color and select several hues of it for one card. Select light, medium and dark hues of a color. Texture is a great way to add interest if the colors don't offer a lot of contrast. Texture can be added with fiber, embossing folders, thermal embossing, felt, flocking, ribbon, and much more. What comes to your mind? Make a card and add a link to your card in a comment on this posting. I'd love to see what you create.

I chose a card stock textured with columns in a cream color. I added a layer of vellum that has seasonal text printed in a gold color then embossed with Pastel embossing powder. This powder allows the base color to show through and adds a pearl look to it. I cut a Sizzix star from pearl card stock and placed it over the vellum. I placed adhesive under the star to keep the vellum on the card stock and the star to the vellum. I trimmed star to the card edge. I added cream colored brads in opposite corners to help keep the vellum in place.

I managed to get credits and inserts in all of them so far. That was my drawback last year.

I made 8 of these.

Total cards: 20

Cmas Card Challenge - Feb - Musical Christmas

Musical Christmas could include carolers, instruments, or hymns. What comes to mind?

I started with Bazzil Mocha Divine card stock. I printed a scanned image of the music for the "Little Drummer Boy" song on vanilla card stock (4 per 8.5x11). The quarter sheet was was trimmed, smudged with ink and I distressed it's edges. I wrapped the bronze organza ribbon around just below the song title, knotted it and trimmed it's ends. This layer was glued to the card front. I cut a matching oval of card stock with my Creative Memories oval cutter and then trimmed a sepia colored image of the Little Drummer Boy. This accent was then mounted on the card with 3D foam tape.

I made 6 of these.

Total: 12

Cmas Card Challenge - Jan - Vintage Christmas

My first Christmas card of the 2011 challenge! The theme is Vintage so I found a nice St. Nick, printed it and then cut it round with my CM circle cutter. I cut the turquoise ornament with my Cricut with the Joy of the Season cartridge. I cut the silver layers (holder & ball at the bottom), glued them on along with the circle element. I smudged the edges with a Old Olive Green ink pad. I selected a coordinating layer of parchment cardstock for the background. I used the Victorian Cuttlebug embossing folder which fit with the theme very well to add texture to this layer. All this was mounted on a pea green card. I added a satin ribbon and turquoise snowflakes mounted with ivory brads.

I made 6 of these.

I submitted these to Karen's Christmas Card Challenge and Sparkle Creations Christmas Challenge and Christmas Cards All Year Round.

2011 - Christmas Card Challenge

I was really happy with the results of Christmas Card Challenge last year so I'm running another one this year! What I have learned this year is that the cards need to be completely done. I needed to add inserts & credits on many this year which slowed me down.

I will be posting my cards the first of the month along with suggestions and encouragement to participate in the challenge. In the end, the objective is to get your cards made throughout the year and the themes are meant to be inspirational. Join as many months as you want. If you participate, please add a comment including the link to your card so others can be inspired. I'm looking forward to seeing your creations. Become a follower of my blog if you want to be notified of my postings.

Here's my list of themes with a few ideas next to each of them:

Jan - Vintage Christmas - St. Nick, Victorian images & colors, Antique Ornaments, Old Fashioned
Feb - Musical Christmas - Carolers, Instruments, Drummer Boy, Carols & Hymns, Nutcracker
Mar - Color - Monochromatic - several shades of a single color
Apr - Winter - Snowflakes, Snowmen, Penguins, Sleds, Skates, Sleighs, Igloos
May - Reason for the Season - Nativity, Manger, Stars, Angels, Wisemen, Bethlehem, Doves
Jun - Color - Chocolate/Red/Cream - any combinations of these colors
Jul - Christmas Around the World - Feliz Navidad, Poinsettias, Father Christmas
Aug - Christmas Glitters - use glitter on your card
Sep - Color - Non Traditional Colors - Pink, Lime Green, Teal, Turquoise, Kraft, and much more.
Oct - Natural Christmas - Pinecones, Mistletoes, Raffia, Pine Trees, Twig Wreaths
Nov - Christmas Decorations - Ornaments, Stockings, Candy Canes, Lights, Gingerbread
Dec - Color - Metallics - Gold, Silver, Bronze, Copper