2021 Christmas Card Challenge - Refurbished Cards - Session 2

I continue my clean up of old cards and they need to be use or otherwise disposed of.

A beautiful manger scene which is simple and elegant.

I just added a brown texture card stock layer to the golden rod card base.

The manger layer was then adhered to the brown layer.

I added a greeting with a Stampin Up Modern Label in the the card color and a brown Word Window punchie.  This was adhered to the card front with 3D foam tape.

While shepherds kept their watching
Over silent flocks by night,
Behold throughout the heavens,
There shone a holy light:

I love the beautiful greens in this stain glass window of the shepherds in the fields.

I trimmed the window from the commercial card front.  It was not wide enough so I added a strip of purple to the right hand side.

The stained glass layer was adhered to the card front with 3D foam tape.

 

 

 

A well lit church scene inside a Christmas tree shape with gold foil stars all around.

I trimmed it and then layered it on a piece of white card stock.  Then added to a medium blue card base.

I added a Stampin Up Modern Label punichie greeting in blue. This was adhered to the card with 3D foam tape.

 
 

 

 

The name above all names "Jesus".  The reason for the season.  Gorgeous trio of candles with holly around the base. I added a green layer to the golden rod card base. Adhered the focal element with 3D foam tape.

 

The trip to Bethlehem on a donkey.  Mary pregnant with Jesus and Joseph leading the family to their destiny. 

Love the blues and purples in this card.  Adhered with 3D foam tape to a purple card.

I am really happy with these cards. 

Five more cards for the Christmas box.

2021 Christmas Card Challenge - Refurbished Cards

With the power off most of the day I had to keep my hands busy.

I decided to refurbish some commercial Christmas cards.  Use the A2 size is a bit challenging because the commercial cards are so much bigger.  It means finding a focal element and trimming to keep in the center of the element.

Here I chose the star and Rejoice as the focus.  The width was not full so I added a strip of gold on the warm deep teal card base.  The focal element was adhered with 3D foam tape.

 

This snowman seems to enjoying the Christmas season.  

I chose a card base that matched the twig arms which is a warm taupe color.

I just trimmed the snowman to leave an even border all the way around.  It was adhered with 3D foam tape.

I trimmed the candles then trimmed the scripture verse so that I could overlap these elements.

I chose a warm blue green card base.  This is in the portrait or tall orientation.

The candles were adhered with double sided tape then the scripture was adhered with 3D foam tape.

 

 

 

A sleigh ride is always fun at Christmas time.

I chose a deep red card base.  Once again choosing the focal point of the sleigh and trimmed accordingly. 

Mounted with 3D foam tape leaving a tiny border.

 

I am imagining headed off the a Christmas Eve service by horse and sleigh.

I chose a lavender card base.

The focal element was adhered with 3D foam tape. 

Each card had a seasonal insert adhered inside and a new envelope was matched to it.

A few more cards for my Christmas Card box!

I had to make do with not electric tools today so a paper cutter and tape worked really well.

Recent Photos

These are Christmas Candles that Mom has put in her window for years.  I just love them.  They are electric, red candles with clear plastic halos around the bulbs.  There is greenery on the front side.

I was home for 3 days over Christmas and the weather was very cold.  Plug in cars and stay inside as much as possible.  I'm so glad Mom and Dad can get their exercise in the hallways and stairways of their building now and do not have to go out in this cold.

I had to go outside in -30C degree weather to take this photo.  I have applied a watercolor filter to the photo.

This is so Christmas to me.

I brought home three of these clear plastic bells for my Christmas tree from my trip south to visit my niece a few days before Christmas.

Loving clear and glass things makes photography a challenge.  I set up the tripod and still took many shots to get a few in focus ones. 

We are stuck in a deep freeze here in Canada.  I know that areas on the east have lost power and received tons of snow so I am grateful "It's just cold!"  We have ski hills closed, New Year's festivities cut back or brought indoors.  I have been hibernating with tea, books and TV. We are going onto a week of crazy cold.

My Christmas have been placed on my card  holder.   Of course, much fewer than in others years.  There are some great ones though.  The 2 central ones in the photo are ones I especially like - the watercolor red poinsettia and the soft nativity in warm tones.  I received some lovely cards this year.















I finished this book this week which was recommended by my sister. It is a true account of the author's work in Pakistan to build schools to educate girls.  The book's title was inspired by a saying Haji Ali shared with Greg Mortenson: "The first time you share tea with a Balti, you are a stranger. The second time you take tea, you are an honored guest. The third time you share a cup of tea, you become family..."^.

<sup>I found a Christmas mug at the thrift store while visiting my niece before Christmas.  Upon some research it is by Johnson Brothers - Victorian Christmas coffee mug.  One of my favorite makers. 

The bow is more burgundy than red which does not quite match my color scheme but I am happy with my purchase.  I had several to pick from and this one was light in comparison to the others and it just felt right.

Sharing with Share Your Cup #277 hosted by Jan at Daily Cup with Mrs. Olson.

Through my Lens hosted my Mersad.</sup>