Blessed is the Season

Yes...I keep saying that I've finished making all of my Christmas cards.  Well - I can't seem to stop.  What can I say...I love creating Christmas cards!  I don't know how I'll "change gears" once the holidays are over...lol  :o)   *** Edit *** This card won titles in all 3 of these challenges...very exciting for me!!!!!

I saw the color challenge over at the Play Date Cafe, and knew that I just had to play along.  Take a look at the inspiration photo that Sarah posted for us.  I love it!

Then, I saw this fun sketch on the Unscripted Sketches blog...and decided I would combine both challenges into one card.  Take a look at the sketch, below.

 * oops, I'm back with an edit *  I forgot that The Paper Players challenge #26 is to use heat embossing!  I meant to include this card in this challenge also.  You know what they say about the memory....hmmm...I guess they're right!  Here is Jaydee's Paper Player Plus Challenge ~

I was so intrigued by the colors combination of brown, gray and silver.   But...oh my...I struggled for a while.  My first idea just would not work.  I finally realized that I just needed to let go of it, and head in a completely different direction.  Ah-ha!  That worked...lol !
Anyway ~ on to the card.
I really wanted my focus to be on the color silver.  I ran some brushed silver card stock though an embossing folder (I love the texture!).  I also used sterling silver embossing powder for my sentiment, and on the brown card stock that I used in the 3 brads (these were made using the pewter build-a-brad kit from SU).  Oh, I also used a piece of silver cord for my bow.  I am SO pleased with this card!  Once I let go...and let my stamping mojo take a different direction, it was so much more fun!

I'm including several photos.  I had some difficulty getting the silver color of the sentiment to show.  I've also included a couple of closeup pics of some of the details.

Thanks for stopping in to take a look.  I hope you'll leave a comment.  I love reading them!

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The recipe:

Stamps: Blessed Is The Season (Gina K Designs)

CS: basic gray, brushed silver, chocolate chip, whisper white (SU)

Ink: close to cocoa (SU), Versamark

Emb. Powder: sterling silver (SU)

Punches: border and 1/2" round (SU)

Other: silver cord (Hirshberg Schutz & Co.) vintage lace trim (from an estate auction), emb. folder (Cuttlebug), silver metallic marker, used to edge the white cs (American Crafts)

Butterfly birthday wishes

Now that I've finished making my Christmas cards, I need to concentrate on some birthdays!
This card is submitted to 2 challenges.
Curtain Call color challenge Act 57 (over at Stacey's Stamping Stage):
Check out the beautiful inspiration photo that Stacey chose, for this week's color challenge.

 

 The Paper Players Challenge #25 ~ Nance's sketch challenge- check it out, below.

You can click on the links above to get all of the details for these challenges.

  *** Edit *** This card made "A Cut Above" at the Paper Players challenge.

It's fun to combine two challenges into one card!  I have to admit though...even though these are great colors, I struggled to make them work on my card.  I pulled out several packs of discontinued Stampin Up DSP, looking for a way to tie these colors together.  And....ta da!  I found this patterned piece that had nearly all of the colors I needed.  All I had to add was a piece of going gray CS, as the matting behind it.  Then adding the gray crystals pulled it together nicely.  A few dots of Stickles on the punched border added a little more sparkle.  You can never have too much sparkle...IMHO anyway!

Oh sorry...I'm rambling.  Here's my card   :o)

I included several pics, trying to capture the sparkle of the crystals and the Stickles.
Anyway, let me know what you think of my card.  I love reading your comments!
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Recipe ~

CS: tempting turquoise, basic gray, whisper white, cajun craze, chocolate chip (all SU)

DSP: sweet pea designer series paper pack (SU) - the butterfly & swirly circle were punched from this, too.

Ink: chocolate chip (SU)

Stamps: on your birthday, seeing spots - I used this on the envelope (SU)

Punches: border punch, butterfly punch, 1 3/4" round punch (SU)

Other: Stickles (Ranger), gray crystals (from my stash)

Color Throwdown & Little Red Wagon

I'm back for my second post of the day.  That's rare...but fun!
This card is going to 2 challenges:
Color Throwdown ~ Soft Suede, Kraft & Cherry Cobbler
Little Red Wagon ~ Do it in 3's (I used 3 punched images and 3 colors)

This is another card for my Christmas stash.  I'm almost done (I guess it's a good thing that I started in July, huh?)
I love this color combination.  I think it's so rich and warm.  I popped up the punched cs above a layer of dsp from Stampin Up.  I love this pack of dsp, great colors and prints.  It's called Deck The Halls.
Here's my card...the recipe is included below the pics.

Please let me know what you think...I love reading your comments!
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Recipe:

CS: cherry cobbler, kraft, soft suede (SU)

DSP: deck the halls (SU)

Stamp: peace (Recollections) ...btw...this is from the $1 bin at Michael's

Ribbon: this was white ribbon from my stash, that I colored with my cherry cobbler SU marker

Other: star punch (SU), border punch (MS), snowflake emb. folder (Cuttlebug), red flat back pearls (Recollections), twine

Crazy 4 Challenges card (C4C62)

The Crazies at Crazy for Challenges have challenged us to make a square card.  My card is VERY clean and simple, which I like...but it isn't easy for me.  I love to embellish!  But, this card is going to a family that recently lost a daughter as a result of a violent crime.  My heart goes out to this family, even thought I don't know them personally.
On to the card:
I colored my stamp with my SU markers for this image, then cut out the image and popped it up with dimensionals.  A border punch and a swiss dots embossing folder completed my card.  Very quick and easy card to make, but I think it's elegant.
Let me know what you think!