On the Chocolate Baroque forum quite a few members were saying how stressed we were before Christmas because we had made the usual mistake of leaving it too late to make our Christmas cards. I was soooo guilty of that particular sin last year and even my special people didn't get handmade cards (hangs head in deep shame). So, lovely Sandra set up a friendly challenge to try and motivate us to get started early this year and today I'm going to share my first card for Christmas 2013!
We can make our cards to our own design choice but Sandra has also given a suggestion for each month and January's theme is Red and Gold so I decided to go along with that with the addition of ivory. I chose a deep burgundy red card for my A5 base and then stamped my chosen image from one of my oldest CB Christmas stamp sets (I can't find it on the website so think it's discontinued) onto parchment using Versamark ink and then heat embossed with Ranger Queen's Gold EP. I die cut the image using a Nestability label die and coloured the poinsettias with Sakura Sparkle pens. I haven't used these in ages and I do love the subtle sparkle you get with them (glitter is too much for me usually).
I then cut a different label die from ivory coloured card, edged both this and the parchment one with a gold Sakura Pen Touch pen and laid the parchment one on top, adhering with micro dot tape just under areas covered by the stamped image.
I then die cut some poinsettias from burgundy and ivory card using a Marianne die, with the centres cut from gold pearlescent card. I edged all the petals with the gold Pen Touch, shaped and layered them before adding them to my card. I die cut the swirls from gold pearlescent card using my Tim Holtz/Sizzix garland strip die. I love the two little swirls on there and use them a lot.
Then when everything was stuck onto the base card I risked the whole thing because I decided I didn't like the sentiment stamped onto a label but preferred it stamped direct onto the card so I took a deep breath and went for it, lol! Luckily I got it straight and in the middle ........... big relief!
This card turned out a whole lot more elaborate than I intended but at least that's one made. I do hope I can discipline myself to keep it up and actually increase my monthly Christmas card makes. After all 12 won't go far will they, lol!
Well, that's it for today. I hope if you're here in the UK you haven't been too inconvenienced by the snow this past week. Those of you who know me will be aware that I hate the blooming stuff. I agree, it has looked very pretty but not enough to make the inconvenience worthwhile. Yesterday I was pretty scared doing the school runs because I could barely stand up in either of the car parks and now the snow is starting to melt and it's raining so those poor folk flooded before Christmas (plus many more) have it all to go through again no doubt.
Enjoy the rest of your weekend folks and I'll be back again soon.
Hugs
Lesley Xx
