Last Day of 30 Days of Holidays

      Here it is, my final card for the 30 Days of Holidays at Beccy's Place.  The last day theme is always "Do What You Love," kind of like Anything Goes but better because we get to use things we love.  For me, there are so many things I love to put on Christmas cards, but I think snowmen have to be at the top of the list.  Actually, if I could find a good reason, I'd do snowmen cards all year round.  :-D

     Today's card features one of Beccy's new snowmen, named Winston and released this year.  I thought he'd look great dressed in a burgundy hat and scarf with gold fringe and earmuffs.  I colored him with ProMarkers and added gold Stickles to the star.  I cut the image with a Tonic Studios die, then trimmed the corners with a Fiskars punch.  

     I wanted the card to sparkle so I dug through my stash of glitter CS scraps and pieced together the background on the card.  I love glitter and when it comes to Christmas cards, I always debate with myself about whether silver glitter or gold glitter is best.  In this case, I was able to use mostly silver glitter but the star has gold sparkle, so a combination of them is the absolute best!

     The image and the "Snowball Fight" sentiment were layered on, using a good amount of craft glue (which I've found is the most effective for attaching CS to glitter.)  Even the stickiest of double sided tapes tends to come loose and peel off of glittered CS after just a short time so glue it is.  

     Challenges:

As You Like It

Di's Digi Designs

Jingle Bells (sparkle & colors)

My Time to Craft

Polkadoodles

Send a Smile ...

     The Christmas season is really on top of us now but it's nice to have another 30 cards in my stash.  Ok, maybe 25 instead of 30 since I did use Thanksgiving as the holiday on 4 or 5 of my cards this month.  Still, my Christmas card stash is looking good this year because of all the other cards I've done between January and October.  I still have colored Christmas images waiting to be made into cards so I'll have several additional posts throughout December.

  

    In the meantime, Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Happy Snow Couple

      Once again, a new challenge has started over at FarmQuest Country Christmas.  Our theme is always "Anything Country Christmas Goes."  For today's card, I chose a clip art snow couple, happily dancing in the yard of their country home.

     The image started out in black and white but I used computer software to change it into sepia tone before printing it.  I love the vintage feel it gave the card.  I cut the image with a QuicKutz die and the sentiment was cut with a Tonic Studios die.  The background dp came from a DCWV stack.  I used very narrow, 1/8" ribbon which is wrapped around the card front and tied into a simple bow.

     Challenges:

Digi Choosday

Holly & Ivy

Lil Patch of ...

Outlawz Friday

Pammie's IP

Peace on Earth

     I hope we're going to see you playing along this month.  If you make something to enter into our Country Christmas challenge each month of the year, you'll have 12 cards done before the holiday rush hits you next Christmas.  :-D  Besides, we love being inspired by what you create and share with us.

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Snow Cowboy

      Time for the next challenge at FarmQuest, which always has a requirement that your projects have a "country" feel to them, plus a theme and this fortnight the theme is "Decorated Farmhouse Exterior or other structure."  I decided to combine a barn with Christmas decorations and a cowboy snowman; now I have one more family Christmas card finished.

     I printed the image in very light grayscale, then colored it with my Sanjoki markers and with white gel pen on the snow.  I cut the image with a QuicKutz die and made the frame for it from two scraps of CS which were on the desk.

     The background piece is dp I made myself using a red work embroidery pattern, sized down and then did copy/paste procedures several times to scatter the image over the paper.  I used the last bit of a washi tape roll as decorative ribbon, then added the image piece on top of it all.  I think it makes a great masculine card with a wonderful country flair.

     Challenges:

     That's it for this time.  Come play in our challenge, won't you?  It runs until December 26 and we love seeing what you create.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Pipsqueak and Snowman

      It's Friday and that means another challenge is starting over at Crafty Catz.  We always have an "Anything Goes" theme but we offer you an optional theme if you choose to use it.  The option this week is "Sparkle."  Our delightful sponsor this week is Last Minute Manda and they supplied digis for the DT to use.  I chose "Pipsqueak and Little Snowman."  This image set actually has 6 different snowmen so it's really a bargain!

     I chose to water color the image this time, then I cut it with a QuicKutz die.  I printed and cut the sentiment with an Avery Elle die, added it on top of the image piece and trimmed the corners to fit the card.  I made the card base from green CS and added a sparkly silver mesh ribbon on the right.  I also finished the inside front flap but forgot to photograph it.  Very quick and simple, overall.

     Challenges:

     I'm looking forward to seeing you play in our challenge this week.  Remember, it's always Anything Goes but since it's definitely the time for making Christmas cards, it shouldn't be too difficult to add a bit of sparkle and do the optional theme, too.  :-D  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie